As I start shopping for items for the basement, I got a little obsessed with oil and vinegar cruets.  My dining table is of an espresso color and I figured that white accents would look great.  Below are some white oil and vinegar cruets I found online:

Click images to shop

CB2 oil and vinegar bottles

Sagaform® Tapas Oil and Vinegar Set

Mint Salad Song Cruet Set

Apollo Drizzlers

Read on…

How much do you remember from your Geography class? Test your traveler IQ at Travelpod.com. It tests your knowledge of famous cities, landmarks, capitals and more. It’s fun!

I was lucky to click only 4km away from New York City. First of all, the map is too tiny for me, that even though I know exactly where NYC is (as you know I live here), I can’t click the exact location on the map. Click here to try it…

(via GeekSugar.com)

I try to write reviews whenever I can from products to hotels. But the one thing I’ve been trying to look for is a site where people can post reviews of health professionals.

I’ve only gone to two doctors more than once and I’m not very satisfied with their services. I’m still looking for doctors. Besides referrals from other doctors and friends, I want to read reviews from other patients as well.

Read on…

I was browsing through my Discover Card account online and for the first time, I clicked on ShopDiscover and discovered that I could have at least 5% cashback on a lot of the purchases I made online.  I just recently purchased a laptop from HPShopping.com using my Discover card and I just found out a few minutes ago, that if you click on the HP link from ShopDiscover, I could have gotten 5% cashback!  That’s almost $60!  Well, now I know.

So for all of you, Discover card holders, if you’re shopping online, log in to your Discover card account first and check.  You can get 5% to 20% cashback.  Participating online retailers include Apple, Barnes and Noble, Circuit City, Oriental Trading, Overstock, Walmart, Zappos.  If you don’t have an online account set up yet, go register now!

I decided to buy John a home theater speaker system and Buy.com had the speakers he want on sale.  Since the speakers were 53 lbs (!!!), I decided to ship it to him directly.  However, I wanted it to arrive after Christmas so it would be a surprise.  I would just give him a wallet on Christmas eve and in it a gift receipt for the speakers.

So I ordered it on the 18th and chose the free shipping which was supposed to take 5 to 9 days.  Then today, John called me asking me if I bought him something from Buy.com.  The speakers were delivered today!  It actually arrived yesterday but noone was home to sign for it.  That was only two days!  So there goes my surprise.

I don’t know if I’m gonna be upset or not.  But overall, I commend Buy.com for doing a great job.  They probably thought I wanted it shipped by Christmas, but I just couldn’t afford the shipping lol.

My brother just bought an HP laptop and I took pictures of it beside my old Dell.  Of course, when it comes to performance, the HP is a lot better.  My Dell was bought February 2005.  The things I don’t like about the HP is the screen that’s very reflective (see 1st photo) and the touchpad that’s a bit sticky (for lack of better word) for not-so-dry hands.

I have gained weight and a couple of my very old pants don’t fit anymore.  I’ve always been a slacker when it comes to working out.  Add that to my appetite and my weight is bound to suffer.  I guess I really have to get my butt out of this chair and have a little discipline.

I just found out that Discover card doesn’t allow different shipping and billing address when ordering online.  This is pretty annoying if you want to buy a gift for someone.  I had to use my Mastercard, but I’ve always used my Discover card for everything.

I just enrolled to Premium Transitcheck (unlimited Metrocard valid for 1 year) and now MTA is raising it from $76 to $81 a month.

I called my doctor’s office several times to see if my results were in.  I didn’t even ask to know what the results say, I just wanted to know if they came in and they couldn’t even tell me that.  They told me they were very busy and they will have to call me back.  They didn’t call me back until the third day I’ve been leaving messages.

(image via minnipauz.com)

NICKNAMES

If Laura, Suzanne, Debra and Rose go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Suzanne, Debra and Rose.

If Mike, Charlie, Bob and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.

EATING OUT

When the bill arrives, Mike, Charlie, Bob and John will each throw in $20, even though it’s only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller, and none will actually admit they want change back.

When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.

MONEY

A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he wants.

A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn’t want.

BATHROOMS

A man has six items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Holiday Inn.

The average number of items in the typical woman’s bathroom is 337. A  man would not be able to identify most of these items.

ARGUMENTS

A woman has the last word in any argument.

Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

Read on…

I’ve been trying to look for this bottle or container (circled in green).  I don’t even know what it’s called.  But I haven’t been successful.  If anyone has seen it or anything similar or just know what it’s called, I would greatly appreciate it if you could share the info.  I really would like to buy a couple of these.  I’m a little obsessed lol.

Click image to enlarge

I got the photo from the current Ikea Kitchen catalog if that helps.  Thanks!

Photographing indoors is still a challenge to me.  First of all, I don’t have an external flash and I rely on the built-in flash.  Most of the time, I don’t like to outcome of the pictures I used flash with.  I usually like the colors that come out of the non-flash photos.  However, I have to up the ISO and my subject better not be moving.

With built-in flash

Ambient lighting

With built-in flash

Ambient lighting

I’ll hopefully learn something when I start classes in the Spring semester.  I might have to buy more equipment, but I just have to accept that I’ll be spending more this time.  I need to start saving…