13 Applications on my iPhone

We are part of the iNation. :) Mr. Rojo got me an iPhone several months ago courtesy of Uncle Sam with the stimulus check. Anyway, with the new upgrade that allows us to be able to use third party applications, it makes me love my iPhone even more.

Here are the top 13 applications that I have on my iPhone. Let me know if you guys have any other applications I should download.

1) Sudoku - My favorite past time game.

2) Brain Tuner Lite - This is a quick game that supposingly helps with your brain. Mr. Rojo beats me on the record but yet sometimes he still forgot the milk.

3) LockBox - A great free application for your personal info and password.

4) iDoodle2Lite - Great application when you bring your kids to church and want them to be quiet.

5) reMovem - Another great game that even a 4 years old can play.

6) Stanza - An ebook to-go.

7) Fring - Skype anyone?

8) Cellfire - A must for a couponer.

9) Balance - An easy app to track my sanity fund. See.. we each got a certain amount each month that we can use to buy whatever we want.

10) Facebook - Well, we need to learn what is FB before Miss J starts using it right? I wonder if FB will be here 10 years from now.

11) Pandora - Great personalize radio.

12) Pageonce - A good application to see where you stand with your financial accounts. Right now I just use them for my utility bills. I don't know.. I still don't feel comfortable including my bank accounts yet.

13) Urbanspoon - Can't go anywhere without this app. We gotta eat, right?

13 Ways to Save on Gas

We are on the national news for the gas shortage. It's mind boggling to think that we will be in this situation when we are no where near where the Hurricanes went. But here we are running out of gas. So here are some ways to help save these precious black gold during this crazy time.

1) Consider carpooling - In Atlanta, not only you will save money on your own gas, you might get a chance to win free money each month.

2) Combine trip to avoid excessive driving.

3) Clean up your car especially your trunk and remove all the junk that causes more weight on your car.

4) Check your tire pressure regularly.

5) Maintain your car with regular maintenance and tune up schedule.

6) Fill up your gas tank during the coolest time of the day.

7) Don't top of your gas tank. Too much gas will leak out.

8) Buy regular grade gas when possible. Only buy premium if it's required by car manufacturer.

9) Utilize cruise control on a long distance driving. Maintain steady speed will help minimize the gas consumption.

10) Slow down... Driving too fast will consume more gas.

11) Travel smarter by checking out your route and look for the shorter, safer, straighter route.

12) Watch out for the heavy foot. Slowly accelerate will help save gas.

13) Bigger is not better. If it's time to get another car, look for more fuel efficient car. Smaller car will cost less in overall.

13 Fall Activities I love to do

Fall is here. I love Fall season. The weather is cooler. The leaves change color. It's time to get out my sweater and light jacket. There are so many things to do during Fall.. Here they are.

1) Pumpkin patch farm - I love taking the kids to the pumpkin patch farm and pick out their own pumpkins.

2) Corn maze - Another fun fall activity we did a couple years ago. I would love to do it again.

3) Six Flags Over Georgia - We want to take Mr. Z to see the new Thomas World in Six Flags. I don't like to go to the amusement park during Summer. It's way too hot for me. Right now, it's perfect weather to be out and about.

4) Mini-vacation to Destin - It might seem weird to go to the beach in Fall. But from what I heard, October is a great time to go to Destin. The weather is cool enough to enjoy more outside in the Sun and warm enough to enjoy the beach. The crowds are gone so we don't have to fight with long line in restaurant or traffic.

5) Camping in the backyard - Yeah.. we are not that adventurous yet to camp in the campground. So for now, I will take my backyard as a baby step for Mr. Rojo.

6) A trip to a cabin in Gatlinburg - Our first cabin trip to Helen was so memorable that even now Mr. Z is still talking about it. So I would love to take them to another cabin trip in Gatlinburg. Maybe we might even hike the trail in the Smokey Mountain Park.. who know?

7) Amicalola Fall - A day trip to the fall will be a nice change for this Fall. I'm sure we will get to see beautiful colorful fall up there in the mountain.

8) Sawnee Mountain Park - This brand new park is so close but yet we haven't been there. Time to get off from our couch and do some fun stuffs there.

9) Cumming Country Fair & Festival - A small town fair that big enough for us. The kids loved it last year. We will go back again this year.

10) Visit Cabbage Patch Hospital - Because it's so close and we just have to go there.

11) Biltmore Estate - A visit during Nov will allow us to see the Christmas decoration. I can't wait.

12) Apple picking - We don't have that many apple orchards for us to go picking. So I'm still up in the air on this one. The one we went last year, I wasn't too impressed.

13) Halloween Trick-Or-Treat - I don't know what they want to be this year yet. I'm not much into fancy dress or costumes. But I just love walking around the neighborhood with them.

13 TV Shows I'm watching

The Fall TV season has started.. oh.. I can't wait for all the shows to come back, old or new. Here are my 13 shows I am watching or will be watching this season.

1. Lost

2. Heroes

3. Fringe

4. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

5. Grey's Anatomy

6. Brothers & Sisters

7. One Tree Hill

8. Gossip Girl

9. Prison Break

10. Army Wifes

11. Burn Notice

12. Desperate Housewifes

13. 24

Can you tell I'm a TV junkie? So tell me, what are your shows?

13 Things We Need for Soccer

We recently signed Mr. Z up for the soccer. This will be his second year playing soccer. But it will be his first year playing with the real league. I think calling it a league is a loose term. How much can you do with a 4 years old. Anyway, I have 13 things that we need for his soccer game.

1. Soccer shoes

2. Shin Guard

3. Socks

4. Soccer ball

5. Team jersey

6. Sunscreen

7. Water bottle

8. Lawn chairs with umbrella

9. Snacks

10. More snacks

11. Camera

12. Games for sibling

13. Juice or Capri Sun after the game

13 Ways to Say 'Hello'

Hello is a very common and widely use word for greeting. Today I want to explore how people around the world say 'Hello'.

1) Sa-Wad-Dee : This is Hello in Thai - my native language

2) Kumusta : Hello in Tagalog - where Mr. Rojo's parents came from

3) Hola : Hello in Spanish

4) Ni Hao : Hello in Chinese

5) Guten Tag : Hello in German

6) Ahn Nyeong Ha Se Yo : Hello in Korean

7) Selamat Pagi : Hello in Indonesian

8) Yia Sas : Hello in Greek

9) Bonjour : Hello in French

10) Konnichiwa : Hello in Japanese

11) Aloha : Hello in Hawaiian

12) Buon giorno : Hello in Italian

13) Namaste : Hello in Hindi

13 Family-friendly Things to Do in Destin

Oh.. Destin.. The famous white sugar sand beaches and brilliant emerald-green waters in Florida. I'm so looking forward to visiting there. Here are things we can do as a family in Destin. Of course, beach time will take up most of the time we will be spending there. But whenever we have a break, here are some of the things we can check out in this area.

1) Enjoy the beach - I mean why would we drive almost 7 hours there if we don't go to the beach, right? This will be my primary activity.. Beach time. Pick a spot, put down your towel and let the kids lost themselves in building the sandcastle while you soak in the sun. There are various public access beach areas. Then at night you can go crab hunting with your kids for the experience that they will cherish forever.

2) Check out Airforce Armament Museum - Kids can check out this extensive collection of weaponry and interactive displays including vintage military aircraft. Best of all it's FREE admission.

3) Gator Beach - Enjoy the fun family adventure and the opportunity to feed live alligators. They also offer educational alligator shows. You can take a stroll through the educational wildlife exhibit area that is FREE to public.

4) Emerald Coast Science Center - Take the kids to enjoy science at this science center. Kids will have fun and learn more about science at the same. The admission is also very reasonable. $5 for adults and $3.50 for kids (3-12). Also check out 2 for 1 price on Sunday.

5) Florida's Gulfarium - Explore this beachfront park and enjoy 3 live marine shows.

6) Village of Baytowne Wharf - Take a stroll in this quaint village in Sandestin and enjoy the live entertainment throughout the year.

7) Track Family Recreation Center - For the one stop family activities, the Track has something for everyone. You can enjoy mini-golf, bumper ride, go kart or kid town for your little one and thrill ride for the mom & dad.

8) A trip to Seaside and Beaches of South Walton - A short ride from Destin and you will be in the South Walton beach area including Seaside, the white picket fences town that is made famous by Jim Carrey's movie - The Truman Show.

9) Fishing at the Okaloosa Island Pier - There is no need to rent a boat to go out fishing. You can test your fishing skill at this pier at more afforadable price. Even if you are not a fisherman, you can still enjoy watching others catch a big one there.

10) Shop at the Silver Sands Outlet - Our trip won't be complete without a visit to at least one shopping mall. But if you have one of the best factory stores here, it will make the trip even better.

11) Visit Florida Caverns State Park - This is one of the few state parks with dry caves and is the only Florida state park that offer cave tours to the public. Cave tour lasts approximately 45 minutes and there are other outdoor activities for visitors like camping, swimming, fishing, picnicking, canoeing, boating, hiking and bicycling. Cave tour fees are $8 for age 13 and up and $5 for 3-12.

12) The Zoo - Northwest Florida - Get up close and personal at the Zoo with more than 1,300 animals. The best feature is you can take a ride on the Safari Line Limited Train which winds through more than 30 acres of free-roaming wildlife. The admission fees are $11.50 for adults and $8.25 for children (3-11).

13) Big Kahuna's Water and Adventure Park - For the day that you want to take a break from the beach, Big Kahuna is a perfect family adventure park suits for the whole family. Make sure to check the calendar as this park opens seasonally. I have seen mixed reviews on this park due to staffs and service. So do your research before buying tickets as it's not cheap.

13 Painless Ways to Save $100

Inspire by Money Saving Mom I have come up with my own 13 Painless Ways we save $100 this year.

1) Pack our own lunch: We have cafeteria in our office but that still costs a lot more than packing our own lunch

2) Pack Miss J lunch: Last year I had Miss J bought lunch at school. But after a few months, I decided that I can give her better lunch and I can also see how much she eat. Plus packing her lunch has saved $$$ along the way.

3) Join CVS game: Before learning the CVS rope, we typically spent close to $800/month for our grocery and Health&Beauty products. But now we have saved probably more than $200 from learning and utilizing CVS program

4) Cut coupon for grocery shopping: Cutting coupon not only help reduce the cost of grocery but I think it forced me to be more vigilent in our spending habit. I admitted that in the past I don't even look at the price of the products we bought for our grocery. But now, I will only buy if it's really on sale and I have coupons for them.

5) Change our life insurance and save $1000/year: We have had our term life insurance for several years now. But lately I read that the life insurance price has come down. So I figure I will try to see what kind of the quote we will get. Surprisingly even though we were older (than when we first got the first policy), we pay less for the same exact coverage. So I spent about 30 minutes online to fill up the form for both Mr. Rojo and myself and now we saved $1000/year.

6) Drive our smaller car more often: We have 2 cars. The Hyundai Sonata is our regular car that we used to use on the daily basis. And we also have Totota Corolla. Lately, we have been using the Corolla more because it has better gas mileage. Sometimes I will miss my leather seat in the Sonata but I think the saving is worth it.

7) Change Blockbuster Online plan: After reviewing our entertainment budget and how often we watch the movie, we decided to switch the blockbuster plan to a cheaper plan but still allows us a few movies per month.

8) Use water filter pitcher for water instead of buying bottle of water.

9) Get books from library instead of buying books

10) Use homemade cleaner (aka vinegar) instead of buying chemical cleaner for general purpose cleaning

11) Make my own pancake: Ok... I'm not that good to make it from scratch yet. I still use Bisquick for pancake but it sure saves us a lot more money than buying Eggo frozen waffle. If I can do it, anyone can too.

12) Start herb garden: Well, I can't really take a full credit on this one since anyone who knows me know that I can't keep any plant alive. My MIL has been a big help in getting us started. I bought the seed and she nurtured them and now we enjoy our own basil on the patio.

13) Read all saving blogs to learn about deals/freebies.. I can't thank you all money saving bloggers out there enough how much they have helped me save hundreds by posting about deals they found.

13 Uses for Vinegar

Since I started to try eliminate the chemical cleaner and save on the money we spent buying cleaning products, I have been looking at using vinegar. Here are a fraction of uses for vinegar. This edition I will focus on the cleaning in the Kitchen.

1) Clean the microwave by boiling a solution of 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. This will loosen splattered on food and deodorize.

2) Clean the grease buildup in an oven by wiping with a cleaning rag that has been moistened in distilled vinegar and water.

3) Clean the kitchen faucet and remove hard water stains by put vinegar on a cloth and let it sit on the back of the kitchen faucet.

4) Clean the coffee maker by fill the reservoir with vinegar and run it through a brewing cycle. Rinse thoroughly with water when the cycle is finished.

5) Clean the dishwasher by running a cup of vinegar through the whole cycle once a month to reduce soap build up on the inner mechanisms and on glassware.

6) Clean wood paneling by using a mixture of 1 ounce of olive oil and 2 ounces of distilled vinegar in 1 quart of warm water. Moisten a soft cloth with the solution and wipe the paneling. The yellowing is then removed by wiping with soft, dry cloth.

7) Clean a teapot by boiling a mixture of water and vinegar in it. This will wipe away the grime.

8) Clean and deodorize the garbage disposal by making vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through.

9) Get rid of cooking smells by letting a small pot of vinegar and water simmer on the stove.

10) Freshen a lunchbox by soaking a piece of bread in vinegar and let it sit in the lunchbox over night.

11) Clean the refrigerator by washing with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar.

12) Clean stainless steel by wiping with a vinegar dampened cloth.

13) Remove stubborn rings caused by wet glasses being placed on wood furniture by rubbing with a mixture of equal parts of distilled vinegar and olive oil. Rub with the grain and polish for the best results.

So what other ways you use vinegar in your household?

13 Thai Food I Miss

It's true that there are a lot of Thai restaurants in the US. But I have to break the news to all Thai food lover that the variety we have here is nothing compare to the food we can eat, consume, stuff-till-you-hurt in Thailand. Here are just some of the Thai dish I really miss.

1. Thai Boat Noodle (Kuay-Tiaw Ruea) - This is my favorite noodle dish. The traditional dish was originated from the way they sold this noodle by way of boat. Hence, boat-style noodle. The dish is spicy and tasty.

2. Thai Ox Tail Soup - The muslim influenced dish from the Southern part of Thailand is always on the top of my to-eat list whenever I go back to Thailand. The soup is clear not as stewy like the caribbean style (I do love that as well). The taste is more sour and spicy. The meat is so tender that it falls off the bone.


3. Streamed Curry Cup (Hor Mok) - My favorite to-go food in Thailand. It's convenient food that I can eat so many of them in one sitting with just rice. Made from fish, coconut milk and basil leaves and steam in the banana leaf cup. Oh.. How yummy!


4. Steamed Shrimp with Glass Noodle (Koong Op Woon Send) - This delicious shrimp dish is cooked in the clay pot with glass noodle seasoned with soy sauce, oyster sauce, whole peppercorn and topped with green onion, chinese celery and cilantro. It seems like an easy recipe but hard to pull it off. In Thailand, I don't bother to learn how to cook this dish.. Just have to find the best restaurant for this one.


5. Thai Rice Noodle with spicy curry (Kha-nom Jeen) - Fresh rice noodle topped with curry and fresh vegetable. This dish can be had in various way depend on what kind of curry you like. We have fish curry (Nam Ya), sweet curry (Nam Prik), spicy Southern style curry (Nam Ya Pak Tai). It's also perfect food for people on diet since you can load it up with fresh veggies of basil leaves, bean sprout, cabbages or other kinds of vegetable you like.


6. Flash-fried Morning Glory (Phat Phak Boong) - A quick dish for a late night meal. It's a very quick and easy dish that is best when eat while it's still hot.


7. Stir fried Rice Noodle (Pad See Ew) - This is one of the popular dish in Thai restaurant here but they have it all wrong. Pad See Ew in Thailand doesn't have any other veggies in there.. No broccoli or pepper or onion. The real Pad See Ew is a really simple street food in Thailand. It is made with rice noodle, egg, pork, garlic, dark soy sauce, and chinese broccoli. It's easy recipe but hard to make it taste good. The taste should be on the sweet side and a bit oily.. Yup.. It's so good that it's so bad for you.


8. Southern Thai Rice (Khao Yum) - This is my favorite breakfast when I was a kid. We were from the Southern part of Thailand and there are several dishes that you can't find it anywhere in Bangkok. Khao Yum is part of the Southern food. Basically, it's the rice salad with boo-doo sauce on the top. The topping for Khao Yum has a lot of nutrient in there including fruits, veggie and seafood. It's all-in-one dish. The taste can be very distinctive and might not be for every taste buds. But this is my childhood dish. I miss it dearly.


9. Sweet Stewed Pork & Egg (Kai Pa-Lo) - A chinese dish that I have had since I can remember. It's good for especially for the 2nd or 3rd days after it's been cooked. We used to boil more eggs and dropped it in for later days. Perfect with steam rice.


10. Thai Sukiyaki - Thais are pack creatures. We like to stay in group especially when we go out and eat. Sukiyaki is a perfect get together meal. But it might make Americans feel uneasy when you have to dip your food in the pot that share by everyone else. You will think that we don't want to eat something like hot soup in Thai's hot tropical climate..but you will be surprised.


11. Liver Salad (Tap Waan) - Another side dish that you can typically see serving with sticky rice. This is another Thai salad dish with young liver. The liver has to be cooked at the right temperature for the perfect soft and sweet taste. It's not easy as liver can give a real bad taste if you don't know how to cook it.


12. Chicken and Rice (Kao Mun Gai) - This one dish wonder is my favorite.. You will notice now that I have more than many favorites. I can't pick just one. It will depend on the mood. This is a rather simple dish.. The rice is cooked in chicken stock and make it rich-fatty taste and then topped with chicken. Served with chicken stock soup and ginger&soy bean sauce.


13. Thai Fish Cake (Todd Man Pla) - This side dish is served with spicy dipping sauce and garnish of cucumber. The fish cake are made from soft fish, green beans, and starch.

OH.. Boy!! I'm starving!!! What are the food you would love to have right now?

13 Things to Do in Chattanooga

Chattanooga is only about a couple hours drive from Atlanta. We have been there once for a day out with Thomas The Tank Engine train ride. But we are planning to go back there again. Here are some of the fun, family-friendly things to do in Chattanooga.

1) The Tennessee Aquarium: This is one our must-do list our next trip to Chattanooga. The aquarium is situated right on the waterfront in Chattanooga downtown with small water creek between the two buildings. The ticket price is $19.95 for adult and $12.95 for child (age 3-12). There are also several combo tickets for IMAX, River George Explorer and Creative Discovery Museum.

2) Inclined Railway: Hop on the trolley-style railcars that take you up the side of Lookout Mountain in one of the steepest passenger railway. It was a really fun experience when we went there last year. Once you get to the top, you can enjoy the view from the Lookout Mountain and check out the little gift shop there. You can purchase ticket online for $14 per adult and $7 per child (3-12). They also have Lookout Mountain Triple Play ticket (including Incline, Rock City & Ruby Falls) for $42 per adult and $23 per child.

3) Creative Discovery Museum: Check out the hands-on children's museum. Especially now till September 28, you will get to have the adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog. The ticket price is $8.95 for anyone older than 2 years old. However, we consider getting a member with the children museum since one of the highest level of membership is the nationwide level that allows you to enjoy free admission to various children museum nationwide through the Association of Children's Museum reciprocal program.

4) Rock City: Go up the Lookout Mountain and check out Rock City featuring massive ancient rock formations, gardens and see 7 States (on a clear day)

5) Ruby Falls: Hike to Ruby Falls, the 145 foot underground waterfall beneath the Lookout Mountain's surface.

6) Bluff View Art District: Take a nice stroll in this historic neighborhood filled with restaurants, coffee houses, art gallery or take a break at one of the gardens, plazas or courtyards.

7) Walnut Street Bridge: Cross the Tennessee river on one of the longest pedestrian bridge from Chattanooga's downtown to the North Shore. Enjoy the leisure walk over the river.

8) Coolidge Park: Take a break and bring the kids to the Coolidge park to enjoy the restored 100 year old carousel and an interactive play fountain. Admission fee is $1.00 for adults and $0.50 for children 12 and under.

9) Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: All aboard!!! Go ride with the TVRail that offers a wide variety of rides to suit your needs. Check out the schedule and price online. Also check out for special ride like Day Out with Thomas or North Pole Limited during special events.

10) Chattanooga Choo Choo: Stay in the one of the coolest hotel. The Chattanooga Choo Choo by Holiday Inn offers the train fanatic a chance to sleep aboard an authentic train car. Oh.. Mr. Z had a blast last year when we stayed there. He couldn't stop asking when the train will move. The hotel area also features several trains that they can enjoy and nice garden in the middle of the area. Lovely.. lovely place!

11) Chattanooga Nature Center: For the nature lover, this is a great place to visit. Explore the Blue Heron boardwalk, Wildlife Wanderland and Discovery Forest Treehouse. The admission fee is relatively low $7 for adults and $3 for children (4-11)

12) Southern Belle Riverboat: Take a river cruise along the scenic Tennessee River on the Chattanooga Riverboat. With current promotion of Kid is free for every paying adult, it's a great deal. There are several types of cruise to choose from ranging from sightseeing, lunch or dinner cruise. There will be one that suits your need.

13) Chickamauga Dam Reservation: Picnic by the Dam and enjoy the view. For the outdoor enthusiasts, enjoy fishing, boating and swimming at this no-fee reservation.

13 Ways to Be Green and Save your Green ($$)

There are a lot of people including myself that thought or still think that going green equal spending a lot of money. But recently, I found out from my own experience that going green is actually helping to save your green bill in your own pocket. Here are 13 ways to go green and save your money.

1. Go for more fuel efficient car - Well, without having to explain it I think this one is a no brainer. Not only we help reduce the pollution but we will also help our own wallet. We sold our mini-van about 6 months ago and opted for a smaller and a bit better gas mileage. Oh.. how we glad we did that even before the gas price rises up to over $4/gallon.

2. Increase A/C temperature by 2 degrees - We use fan at night and set our thermostat to 78 degrees. In the beginning, I am afraid it might be too hot. But so far no one complains. Our electric bill remains the same even though the unit price has increased.

3. Wrap up our water heater - With the investment of about $15 for the water heater blanket, I will be able to save on our energy bill for that amount within a few months. Lower energy means less pollution and also saving on our high energy bill.

4. Change to CFL light bulbs - We started off with the most used room like our kitchen table, bathroom and laundry room. The saving has also shown. We still have a few more rooms to change as soon as I can get it together to do so.

5. Brown bagging with style - Packing your own lunch by far the most recommended way to save money. But if you want to pack your lunch with style why not bring your own utensils as well. Not only you will feel better eating from the real spoon and fork but you will help reduce the plastic consumption as well.

6. No more bottles of water - We bought Brita water filter pitcher. Just fill up with our water and put it in the fridge. Voila.. We have our own water without wasting on the plastic bottle. If we want to go out, we fill it up to our reusable bottle.

7. Forget the gym.. just run - After a few months of paying the gym membership that we haven't used, it's time to pull the plug. Mr. Rojo started running instead. With an investment of a great running shoe that costs about the same of one month of the gym membership but it sure will last longer than one month. We have saved on the gym membership and gas on driving there. I guess now I need to get my runnin shoes out and join Mr. Rojo.

8. Use cold settting for washing machine - We hardly use hot setting for our regular loads of laundry anymore. I find that our clothes are just as clean with cold setting. Plus it will use less energy when we forego hot water.

9. Don't buy books. Use the library card - I admitted I have never been to public library before in Florida. Until recently I didn't know how to get a library card. But now we check out children books from the library all the time. Not only we save money from buying the book, we are reusing the books so less trees will be killed to make those books.

10. Going slower - Gasp.. This will be one of the thing that Mr. Rojo probably never thought I would have done. Driving at speed limit. I have the thing for getting to my destination with the less amount of time possible. But lately, the gas price that clocks in at more than $4/gallon really got me rethink my driving. So I tried to drive slower.. really slower.. at around 65 mph. And guess what it does help me to get more miles from my car.

11. Grow your own organic vegetable - With the increase in the awareness about organic food, you can easily find organic herb and vegetable from the home improvment store. So it's not that hard (for people with green thumbs at least) to have your own organic vegetable garden. I did try and I think if I would have bought those plants instead of seed I would be more successful.

12. Use reusable grocery bag - If you shop regularly at Whole Food, you might already know that not only you will help the environment by using your own reusable grocery bags but you will get some money for using it as well. Whole Food gives back 10 cents for each bag your bring when you shop there. Not bad.. If the bag cost $0.99 it will only take 10 trip for it to pay for itself. What are you waiting for.. Go get your own bag. :)

13. No more birthday invitation card - I recently have been using evite for the kids' birthday invitation. It has so many benefits that I don't think I will ever go back and use typical invitation cards anymore. For one, it's Free. And we don't be wasting the paper to send the card. Also we typically get better response whether they will be able to make it or not. And it has so many designs that I can pick from.. What not to love!

13 Organic Food We Eat

I have started buying more organic food for several months now. I know.. I am one of those people who like to follow the trend especially if it's a good trend. So here are food that I have replaced with Organic items.

1. Milk - This was my first priority when we started out. Since the kids drink a lot of milk.

2. Egg - I originally went with Cage Free eggs but then my more-informed friend told me that it wasn't that much different between Cage Free and non-Cage Free since the definition of Cage Free means chicken get certain hours of cage free. So I decided to go all the way Organic instead of paying premium for Cage Free.

3. Strawberries - Miss J loves strawberries! And it's one of the top Dirty Dozen list of fruits and vegetables.

4. Grapes - I admitted sometimes it's hard to find organic grapes. But whenever I found one, I grap it.

5. Apples - Apples are great for lunch box. And again it's one of the Dirty Dozen.

6. Salad - I bought Organic salad from BJ. A large box for $4.79 isn't bad. The price is very comparable to normal salad bag from Publix.

7. Pancake - I made pancake in a big batch from organic flour. It's actually cheaper than buying frozen pancake from Eggo.

8. Pasta sauce - I scored a good buy from Big Lots for Organic Pasta Sauces. It is a good quick and easy dinner for us.

9. Blueberries - I bought a big frozen blueberries from Costco and used it for pancake. Sometimes Mr. Z just munched on it like a snack..

10. Frozen Green beans - Costco has such a great selection of organic food and one of my favorite is frozen green bean. I swear it tastes better than conventional one.

11. Strawberries Jam - Ok.. I admitted I bought this on a whim at Whole Food Market but I think it's a good buy. Since strawberry is on the list, I figured the jam will be too. Plus we don't use it a lot so one bottle last us for a while.

12. Chicken Broth - The price for conventional chicken broth vs organic one is very comparable. I think it's worth the investment.

13. Diced Tomato - With great coupons and sale, I stocked up on Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomato. We used that in a lot of our recipes so it's a really good buy. After all, I paid less than buying conventional diced tomato.

13 Countries I Have Visited

This week Thursday Thirteen is all about the countries that I have visited. I don't list it in any particular order. Enjoy!

1) China - I went there during a couple of business trips with the company I used to work for. What a great experience! We got to see the Great Wall, Forbidden City and shopping at Silk Street. If we have a chance, I will go back in a heartbeat.

2) Hong Kong - We went there a couple years ago during our family trip back to Thailand. It was like a family reunion trip with my mom, my sister, my brother and my cousin. We had so much fun there. What a lively city and the food was incredible and exotic.


3) Mexico - Our recent cruise had a stop in Cozumel. We only spent a day there. So I know that I will have to go back there to experience and explore more of this beautiful country.


4) Cayman Islands - Love it, love it, love it!!! Another port of call on our recent cruise trip. Oh what a beautiful beach! I think I can just stay there by the beach all day long.


5) Jamaica - Colorful and interesting country. We didn't get to explore much this trip. But I know that we will find another opportunity to go back and be more adventurous next time.

6) England - I went there about 10 years ago with my mom and my brother. Big Ben, London Bridge, Trafalgar Square and Harrod's.. Too little time, too many things to do. I need to go back there before my friend moves away.

Picture by fraise

7) Switzerland - On the same trip to London, we also went to Switzerland. Checked out watches and stayed in a beautiful B&B. What a beautiful country!!

8) Germany - I couldn't believe it has been 10 years already from that trip. We stopped by Heidelberg. Checked out the castle and enjoyed lunch at the town square.

Picture by mattwyn

9) Italy - Rome.. what can I say.. No need to explain. We have to go back. One trip is not enough for this country full of history and great architectures.

Picture by RZen

10) Scotland - A business trip took me to this lovely country. We got to check out the Edinburg castle and visited Glasglow in Ireland. Very peaceful place. I would love to go back there with Mr. Rojo.

Picture by sZelee

11) France - Shopper heaven.. Not so much for me at that time. As a poor student, I didn't get to enjoy all the brand name stores. But who can forget your experience in Paris. There is no other city like it.

Picture by idreamofdaylight

12) Bahamas - The Carribean paradise. Our first visit was for our honeymoon and followed by our first cruise. We had a great memory there for blue ocean and great snorkel.

13) Singapore - Another great oppotunity from my ex-company. We got to live there for over a month. What an experience!

Picture by travellingzenwolf

Since a handful of the countries I visited were from way before the digital camera era, I didn't have the digital copies of those pictures. Thanks to the internet I am able to find great pictures from other flickr users.

Check out other TT participants here.

13 Fun (Free) Things to Do This Summer

This week edition of my Thursday Thirteen is up a bit late. But better late than never..

Here are list of things you can do with your kids during Summer for free or very affordable in and around Atlanta area.. or even other states. Since we can't just live by the beach all Summer long.. :)

1) Free Family Films Festival @ Regal Cinemas - Check out Regal Cinema for your local theatre for a free kids friendly movie all Summer long. Movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday from Jun to July.

2) $1.00 Movies for Charity with AMC Summer MovieCamp - It's not free but it's for a good cause. For a dollar, you get to watch movie with your kids at AMC theatre. Their shows are on Wednesday at 10AM. Check AMC website for your local participation theatre.

3) Free Family Films @ Movies 400 - This one is closer to home. It's in Cumming area. Every Tuesday & Thursday at 10AM all Summer long you can watch free movies with your kids. You can also get good discount during the show for $1 popcorn and $1 drink. Or bring a can of food to support their food drive and receive a free popcorn. Check Movies 400 site for schedule.

4) Free VBS class at your local church for one week - Check out Lifeway VBS Outrigger Island program for the free one week VBS program at your local church

5) Go to your library - Most library will have Summer reading program with story telling. At Forsyth county, they offer a program every Thursday at 10AM and 1:30PM and also every Saturday at 5PM and 6PM (for some of the week). Check out the website for event of the day.

6) Swimming at your local park - We live not too far from Gwinnett county. I have to say I'm impressed with their Park and Recreation area. The aquatic center there is a little water park by itself without the same cost of the high price water park. We did it recently and will be going back there again all Summer long.

7) Pick your own strawberry - It's the season of picking berries. Check out this site for your local pick-your-own farm. The Washington Farm that we went was fun and we wouldn't mind going back there again.

8) Fishing at Rainbow Ranch Trout - I have never been there but got the information from my friend. I drive pass by it all the time. It looks like a fun day out. There are picnic tables that you can enjoy your lunch and a little fishing. Your kids won't be disappointed as fish there is quick to bite the bait. Check out their website for direction and pricing.

9) Dairy Tour at Mayfield Dairy Farm - For a short drive go to Braselton, GA to tour the milk operation. But if you are an ice cream lover, you might want to check out their Athens, TN location. Check out here for direction.

10) Hiking to the Amicalola Falls - Just a short drive from downtown Atlanta and even shorter drive from my house. I haven't been back since last year to see if the water has come back yet. But the trail is easy enough and there are several entry points to accomodate different level of hikers. Then you can enjoy a picnic at the park or drive up for a lunch buffet at the lodge.

11) Water Tubing in Helen - With less than 2 hours drive from Atlanta, it's the perfect day trip for a quick change of scenary and fun summer day. The water tubing is one thing that we didn't get a chance to try when we went there recently. This Summer it's high on our to-do list.

12) Picnic in your backyard - Pack things up and trek back to your own backyard and enjoy a nice day out in the backyard.

13) Visit Miniature Petting Zoo @ Tanglewood Farm - Kids will love to see over 100 miniature farm animals and enjoy the trip back to the past. Located in Cherokee county it's a fun day out for the whole family. Visit their website for more detail.

13 Things I do to Save on Vacation

A late edition for Thursday Thirteen from me today..

I have been very lazy to blog and crazy getting ready for our cruise. So today I want to write about things I did to save for our vacation and things I plan to save during our vacation.

1. Plan vacation during off-peak - I know that not everyone can take their kids out during school year and I'm not at all promoting that. I'm sure my kids would like me to promote that ideas. :) But if your kids are still in Kindergarten like mine, one week before the school break will help a lot. We planned our cruise one week before the end of the school year and was able to save over $500 on the total cruise for a family of 4. The last week of school is pretty much all fun and party. So I don't think they will miss much. Unless you don't want to miss school party.

2. Research about your destination - With the current 21st century information-highway, it's easier than ever to find any information you need from the internet. Heck! You are reading my blog so I'm sure you can google about your destination. Find a forum dedicate to your specific destination. People is really kind out there and they are willing to share their information.

3. Think outside the box - Instead of booking hotel rooms wherever you plan, think about a timeshare rental, a house, or a cabin. Not only you will get a bigger space, you can also cook your own food. A lot of people might argue that they don't want to cook during their vacaion, but pouring cereal to a bowl with milk isn't that hard to do.

4. Power of a group - If you have a group of friends that you think can still be your friends after vacationing together, it might be a good idea to plan a vacation together and share the cost of renting a house.

5. Cruising with Guarantee room - This is a controversial one. So I will just base it on my own opinion. I like booking a cruise with Guarantee room. It's the cheapest room available but you will have a chance of getting upgrade. My first try I get Inside 4G instead of 4A. So even if I don't get a balcony room, I still get a room on the higher deck than if I would have gotten from booking a specific room.

6. Plan ahead and setup your budget - This is pretty new for me. I normally never thought about how much we will spend during our vacation till we saw the credit card statemet. But this time, I have planned everything. Setting up a budget helps me to find a way to save on the unnecessary expenses.

7. Comparison shopping - This goes without saying.. Like every other kinds of purchases, you must comparison shopping to find the best price. But do keep in mind that with traveling and vacations, you have to compare it Apple to Apple. The cheapest one might not be the best one that suit your family situation. So read all the fine prints!

8. Be a Traveler not a Tourist - The reason most of us travel is to see the world, to experience different cultures and people.. So don't be afraid to explore and venture out from the tourist trap. If you want to have American food then eat at home.. you don't need to fly a thousand miles away to eat in McD in Thailand!

9. Using Coupon - Huh? How is it related to vacation you might ask. Using coupon for my grocery shopping has helped me to save on my grocery budget and allow me to add those saving to my vacation fund.

10. Find free things to do - You don't need to do all the tourist stuff when you visit a city or country. With a little research, you will find that there are a lot of free stuffs you can do in each city. Go to the park, enjoy a picnic by the beach, check out the playground or museum and my favorite.. people watching!

11. Don't Procrastinate - This is a tough one for me to adapt to. I normally don't think far enough in advance. After live here long enough, I start to understand the power of advance planning. So if you know where and when you want to go, then put it in motion and start booking it. You normally will get discount for early booking. Unless you can drop everything in a pinch then last minute deal might be your take..

12. Check out your own backyard - Vacation doesn't have to always be about this expensive trip to Europe.. A day trip to a neighboring state or even city can be the best memory your family create. Check out events and make it a weekend trip.

13. Dig out those Mileages - We all have several mileages accumulating that you have never looked at. Well, now it's time to dig them out and see what can you redeem from those mileages. It might help pay for your airline tickets, your car rental or your hotel rooms. Don't let it go stale in your wallet.

So now you have it. My 13 tips to save on your next vacation. What are your tips?

Check out other Thursday Thirteen participants here.

13 Rides We Love in Disney World

We are a Disney Family. We have been there several times that I lost count. It helps that we used to live in South Florida which is only a few hours away from Orlando and our ILs have timeshare there also a bonus.

So here are my Thursday Thirteen for this week. The rides we love in Disney World.

1) Pirates of the Caribbean - Ok. I admitted I love it because last time we went we had no wait time at all. It was a nice ride and we love the movie. I think even if we have to wait in line we would enjoy looking at all the deco that they have in there.

2) Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin - This is an interactive ride that is fun for the whole family. Also the fact that Mr. Rojo loves game also helps. But I think I beat him last time we rode it. :)

3) It's a Small World - Good ride to do when you need a break from a hot day. But be ware that the song might stay in your head for the rest of the day..

4) Tomorrowland Transit Authority - It's an old ride that doesn't get much attention. But I think that's why we like it. There is no long ride and you get to enjoy the view even a peek at the Space Mountain.

5) The Barnstormer @ Goofy's Wiseacre Farm - Well, this is more of Mr. Z's favorite than mine. It's a little kid version of the roller coaster. The ride gives you a taste of real roller coaster but can they make it a little bit longer? I think the ride lasts about 15 seconds.

6) Walt Disney World Railroad - Having an Train-obessed son, this is a must on our itinerary. It's a good way to get from point A to point B and save your energy from walking and bumming to other millions guests in the park.

7) Kilimanjaro Safaris - Ok.. It's not Africa but I guess for our family this might be as close as we will get in the mean time. We haven't been there for a while so I'm looking forward to going back there our next trip (whenever that might be).

8) It's Tough to be a Bug - A fun 3-D show that we enjoy. I also won't mind the long line to get to the show as we had fun trying to spot the animals craving on the big Tree.

9) Festival of The Lion King - I love this show. Mr. Rojo didn't get to see the whole show so we need a repeat just for him. :)

10) The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - This one is the ride before kids. I love it but for now we probably need to put it on the list after kids are bigger.

11) Mission: SPACE - Another fun experience that I love. I know that I will never join NASA or have enough money to pay my way to the Space Station. So for $70 I will get just a little tiny bit of experience. I will take it!

12) Epcot Pavillions - It's not the same as going to each country yourself. But it's just a good way to browse and eat around the world. :)

13) Kali River Rapids - A fun ride that is not too intimidating as other rapid river from other parks (like the one in Island of Adventure - Love that one). But it's good enough to enjoy a few thrill in the Animal Kingdom.

Here it's my list for this Thursday. There are more rides that I would love to do but those are new and I have never tried it yet. So I'm sure I will have more to my list later on!

Check out other Thursday Thirteen here.

13 Things I will pack on my cruise

I know it's still a few months away before I will go on my cruise. But I can't contain my excitement. Along with my obsessive compulsive to have to start planning as soon as I can. Today Thursday Thirteen will be about 13 things I will pack for my cruise.

1) Sunscreen - A must for a vacation in the carribean

2) Sunglass - No amount of hat will be enough to block the Sun. Plus I don't want to squin my eyes on my picture.

3) Croc - I need to get a new croc that is not a winter version. Need an original croc or maybe a more girlie looking one.

4) Bonnie - I don't want to test myself so I'd rather be safe than throw up. ;)

5) Swimming suit - Of course, we can't go on a cruise without getting in the water.

6) Leapster game - No.. not for me but when you travel with your kids you also pack for your kids. And I will say most of the stuff on my packing list will be for them.

7) Waterproof card container - I can use that on the beach day so I don't have to worry about losing my stuff

8) Goggle - Gotta have it since I wear contact lens.

9) Snorkel gears - We are not the regular snorkeler (is it a word?). But I know that I would rather get my own since this will not be my last carribean vacation.

10) Digital Camera - A must in our vacation. I'm still debating on the waterproof case which cost more than typical low-end digital camera. So I might just pick up a cheap waterproof disposable camera in that case.

11) Extra batteries - I know that where we go will have pretty everything we can get. But I just don't want to get put in a situation where we run out of the batteries and I can't get it.

12) First Aid kit - With 2 kids, we are bound to have some accidents so bandage in Princess and Spider will help sooth their pain in the pinch.

13) Our Passports - Can't leave the house without it. Now with the new rule in effect. For us, we have no issue of applying for passport. I got that cover 6 months ago. :)

This is just the main things but I'm sure there will be more in my suitcase.

13 Things to do in or around Atlanta

This week Thursday Thirteen I got the idea from the blog posted by the Atlanta Traveler. Since I live here, I think it's more appropriate to talk about things we can do in or around Atlanta area that are kid-friendly .

1) Georgia Aquarium - You can't come to Atlanta and not visit the GA Aquarium - The World's Largest and Most Engaing Aquarium. With its unique design you can explore the aquarium at your leisure.

2) World of Coca-Cola - This brand new museum dedicated entirely to Coke is one thing that we have yet to visit. It sits next to the GA Aquarium in the downtown area. If you are a coke memorabilia collector then I guess you can't go wrong here. Plus who can resist tasting nearly 70 different products from around the world.

3) Centennial Olympic Park - Spring is right around the corner so it's time to check out what is on the calendar at the park. With the new All Children's Playground and variety of events like Music @ Noon or Wednesday WindDown, it's no surprise that this is one of the best thing to do when you are in Atlanta. Plus it won't hurt that all these events are Free.

4) Atlantic Station - This modern mixed-use district with the concept of Live, Work and Play in Midtown is a good stop for any visitors or local. The area surrounds by various restaurants, shops, movie theatre. There are also various events throughout the year.

5) Imagine It! Children's Museum - A great place for children of all ages. Perfect to take a break during a hot day in Hotanta if you come to visit during Summer or cold day in winter. With calendar fulls of events, no wonder parents keep coming back here.

6) Zoo Atlanta - A good size zoo perfect for family with small children. It's not too big to overwhelm little kids but enough to keep them interested. Don't forget to visit the Panda exhibit! And if you feel too tired, you can always hop on the Train express for a short break.

7) Atlanta Botanical Garden - A great place to visit especially during Spring and Summer. They have variety of flowers and plants and special exhibits throughout the year. Also with little kids in mind they will get to explore in the Children garden perfect for the pint-size visitors.

8) Stone Mountain - This Atlanta Theme Park is one of the top destination for visitors. However, Stone Mountain is not just about the theme park, you can also have a good fun weekend with your friends and family in their picnic area. You don't need to pay for the park ticket but you will have to pay for the parking per vehicle. There are also lodging inside the park and golf course. This is what we call all-in-one.

9) Chattahoochee River National Park - A great park along the Chattahoochee river on the Northern part of Atlanta. This park stretch over 48 miles along the river. Visit the headquarter to check out any special activities or go on a picnic in the park. For more active families, you won't be disappointed in many outdoor activities like hiking, walking, rafting or river tubing.

10) Piedmont Park - The favorite in-town park next to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. This park has everything for everyone in the family even your fur friends. The dog park, playground, picnic area and swimming pool just to name a few.

11) Fernbank Museum of Natural History - The Fernbank Museum of Natural History is a great place to visit especially with your children. They will get to explore, learn and connect with the cultures and the history around the world. Plus, it won't hurt to have the Dinosaurs in the middle of the lobby for them to check out in awe.

12) Underground Atlanta - A unique market in the heart of downtown Atlanta. It's a fun place to shop and eat. We love the chicken wings at the food court. By far, it's the best we have had and who would have thought that it's in the food court.

13) CNN Inside Studio Tour - Another tourist attraction in downtown area. It's fun to check out what is really going on behind the scene. One of the longest escalator ride I have ever tried. If you are afraid of height, brace yourself!


Here it is folks, my Thursday Thirteen. What are on your list to do around town?

13 Destinations for my Vacation

Sometimes vacation is all about our imagination. It will be nice to get to go on a real destination on your dream vacation.

As I have so much time on my hand (apart from working, cooking, taking care of our home, cleaning, etc..), I have come up with 13 destinations that I would like to go on my vacations. These are not the finite list as I refuse to limit my own dream. I want to go places.. different places, different cultures.. Only time will tell.

For now, enjoy my Thursday Thirteen.

1) Hawaii - This is my top destination. It's just something about the beach that always attract me.


2) Italy - I want to go back there and be able to take my time and get to travel the whole country especially Venice, Rome and Florence


3) Greece - Again something about the ocean.. It's that blue sky with the crisp clear ocean. Plus Greek food is one of my favorite.


4) Australia - This might happen sooner if I can manage the budget. When we go back to Thailand next trip, I want to try to have a side-trip to Australia. After all, it will cut the flight time by half.



5) Ireland - This one is for Mr. Rojo. He thinks he has an Irish blood.

6) Switzerland - I don't know how to ski but I would love to go ski there. Does that make me sound a bit insane?


7) Japan - Technically, I have been there countless times except I only set foot on their airport. I don't think that count.

8) China - Especially Shanghai, it's the Western city of China.



9) Mexico - It won't be right not to visit and get to your our neighbor, heh?



10) California - I have been there 10 years ago. But I think my one trip doesn't do justice to that State. I would love to go back to San Diego, San Francisco and LA (this one mainly for Thai food)

11) Las Vegas/Grand Canyon - Whatever happen in Vegas, stay in Vegas. :)


12) Fiji - We can always dream, right?

13) Brazil - I would love to visit the Amazon and take in the vibrant culture.


That's it folks. My list. So where are your dream destination?