Nope – that is not how my study room looked like – but I would like it to be some what like this – but you should see all the things that gets piled up on my study desks and room.  We are invaded by the kids gadgets – from MP3 players to cameras – to cellphones and the movies and games they throw just about everywhere in the house.  And since they refused to charge their on game systems or cellphone – they all end up on my desk most times.

So I said enough was enough – I needed to get some of their stuff outta my study and table – so i started with one at a time – since one needed a new alarm clock – i bought one that can dock their MP3 players – so they can charge their own MP3 players in their own room.  Next month – I’m going to find something else to organize all their movies and games -  if i keep getting them something they can use – maybe finally by Christmas – i can be rid of the messy gadgets lying all over my desk and study.   What about you?  do you have the same problem with your kids things?   They keep buying gadgets – like the ipod nanos and another one has an ipod touch – but it all ends up on my desk somehow – they don’t know how to take care of their stuff – so it’s up to me to find them gadgets that can keep them organized from now on.

We have a loft just on top of our garage that we had turned into for the kids – to hang out and to play their drums.  For the longest time – we didn’t do much except throw a bit of cushion and a futon around – but the kids wanted to turn them into like a game room – and a place to entertain their own friends.  When I saw this decor in a restaurant we had gone to – I took this idea – and used paper lantern  and filled the loft with them.  Now to get the lights inside some of them – and we will be all set – so that the girls can have their little corner as well.   Yes ! asian influence and the girls loved them – they now think that i’m a genius – hahah!

The spouse and I looked into investing in some properties that were newly built in the city and we went for a viewing last week.  The open house was during the weekend and it was a nice little place – a little ways from the middle of the city and the price seems reasonable enough for us.

They said this  year is for the buyer’s or buyer’s market as they called it – but such a huge investment needs re-thinking and re-planning.

We figured if we buy this for investment for now and when we decide to move to the city – this could be our own home?  So it’s not really a waste if we don’t get to rent it out as often as we want.

What do you think?  a condo investment is a huge commitment – we have to tighten our belts and no more Louis Vuitton for me for the time being.

Preparing for our yearly BBQ last week – i ended up decorating my backyard a wee bit to welcome all the guest that i invited.  Friends and family in the neighborhood were all invited for our yearly BBQ. Weather was so awesome last week – we were really glad it all turned out good.

Just a little touch up for an empty corner.

Getting the outdoor table set

My centerpiece for the day – do you like it?

]]> http://www.trenduk.org/2010/08/bbq-weather/feed/ 0 http://www.trenduk.org/2010/08/outdoor-plants/ http://www.trenduk.org/2010/08/outdoor-plants/#comments Sat, 14 Aug 2010 15:12:55 +0000 Trendy Chick http://www.trenduk.org/?p=1237

If you know me or my blog by now – you know i love plants and flowers and I love the blooming ones or the unique looking plants – like the ones below this post.  So we hop around town and look at greenhouses during the weekend and I would just admire them and have some idea what i should buy or plant for the following year during spring.

Some people have such awesome luck – their garden just bloom – where else mine – i need professional help – I just don’t have the green thumb.  I do read a lot about gardening but I just don’t have the patience – so I rather let the pro take care of my garden.  This year – we hired someone to mow the law and keep the shrub in order.  What about you?  do you have as much trouble?  I would love to grow some orchids but I know I would just kill them.

Landscaping contractors are hard to hire around here – the ones that I’ve found so far are those who are doing it freelance and that’s not really what i want.  Why?  because there is no guarantee on the work and if anything should happen when they are working around my house – i don’t have disability insurance or any kind of insurance for them.  And if they are freelance – like the guy who fixed my shingles two years ago – there is no guarantee about their work either.

But if you hire someone who are professionals with credentials not just recommended by the neighbor – you know that you won’t be liable – because his company would take care of any injury insurance.  You never know what may happen during work – and since I don’t have them on payroll – i can’t even get worker’s compensation if they get into an accident.  So the moral of this story is – if you are getting work done around the house – make sure you hire a professional with a contract and receipt.

We just came back from PEI and the kids had collected tons of shells from the beach – and what better way to use the shells than to decorate our bathroom with these shells.  First – they will remind the kids of their vacation in PEI and everyday can be a beach day.  What gave me the idea was actually from long ago – you see many years before i moved to Canada from Asia – the seashell thing was very popular – everyone wanted a beach home but can never afford it  – as you know how expensive land is back home – so since we cannot buy a beach home – some smartie pants interior decorator thought about it and everyone followed suit. More on my beach bathroom for the kids later.  Stay tuned now.

This is just an idea but not what I am going to do – but you can think about it – if you like something like that.

I thought I should let you in on a little secret – I have a sunroom in our house but until recently – it was used as a storage room instead. Every spring – I tell myself, we are going to fix up our sun room and so that I can finally have a place of my own to relax – while i do my work and watch the children play from inside.  You all know I do a lot of natural acne product reviews and like anything work that one do – you need to have a conducive place to work in – a room to call your own.  So the study room is now the spouse’s while i use my sun room as my own and double it up as my reading room.  As you can see – it is not fully decorated – but like my blog says it all – one room at a time – this is a start and i’m darn proud of it.  In the next few months – you will see me transform my sun room to a “ME” room.  Afterall, the lady in the house needs her own space too – we always think of our children first and then the spouse – now it’s your turn to have a room or even a corner just for yourself.  Want share some ideas of your “personal” space with me?

The girlfriend from home bought a new home and needed an insurancespecialists and who wouldn’t – with a condo like hers.  I have to say that i’m darn proud of the girlfriend because 20 yrs ago – she was but a receptionist at the hotel i work for. But look at how stylish the decor of her home is right now and a high flyer too.

Everything is so modern and this really makes me want to go home too – because here in Canada – i haven’t seen such good work.  Even the house that we are in – has lots of flaws.

Not many people can afford outdoor pools like that but back home – you can see a pool in every condo you buy.  Sure you have to share them with other tenants in the building but it sure beats going to a public pool right?  Are you tempted to go to Asia and settle there now?  sure looks very enticing to me.

]]> http://www.trenduk.org/2010/07/homes-in-asia/feed/ 0 http://www.trenduk.org/2010/06/no-frill-bathroom/ http://www.trenduk.org/2010/06/no-frill-bathroom/#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:00:49 +0000 Trendy Chick http://www.trenduk.org/?p=1154

We wanted to give the kids their own bathroom – so they don’t have to scream and fight over it every morning – but in order to have an extra bathroom – it has to go into the basement.  The bathroom won’t cost much – but the plumbing and the sectioning out the space in the basement that would cost us.  A no frill bathroom was what the kids requested – the boys – so we saw a sample of the above in a showroom in town and priced them up and yes – this summer – work starts for a new bathroom for the boys.  The boys are excited – what do you think?  the price to pay for keeping the peace at home.