Under Her Skin - Susan Mallery

I'm looking forward to reading this new book "Under Her Skin" written by one of my favorite writers Susan Mallery. The book will be released in May 2009 and hopefully it will be available in my local library soon or i might have to buy it at Borders bookstore when they have discount coupons so that i can save some money. This is the first book under the Lone Star Sisters series and the plot seems interesting. Below is a brief description of the book i found from Susan Mallery's website:

"Heiress engaged to marry playboy!

Lexi Titan can just see the headlines. All of Titanville, Texas, will be buzzing, and wondering why. Not that she has any other choice. Faced with exactly thirty days to come up with two million dollars in cold, hard cash, she is out of options. Marry Cruz Rodrigues or lose everything—the day spa she built herself, her tyrant of a father’s respect. And the long-standing competition with her sisters for the family business.

The proposal is cold and hard. Cruz has money, success, smoldering good looks—everything but the blue blood needed to become a true member of Texas society. If Lexi agrees to be his fiancée for six months, lending him her famous father’s last name and his snobbish connections, he’ll hand her a check on the spot. And in six months they’ll go their separate ways.

But neither one is prepared for their long-ago shared passion to throw a wrench into what would seem to be the perfect deal…

Even Texas isn’t big enough for this family".

(Source: http://www.susanmallery.com/current_books.html)

Turn Off Your Worries

(Source: http://realage.typepad.com/youdocsdaily/2008/10/turn-off-your-worries.html)

Whatever you're stressing about probably won't kill you, but worrying about it can. When you cultivate a "this too shall pass" attitude, you boost your health in more than one way:

• It keeps your arteries younger than Beaujolais nouveau. Anxiety is so hard on your heart: Highly anxious people with heart disease are twice as likely as their more mellow-minded peers to suffer a heart attack or die. Give your body anxiety and it snaps into "Uh, oh, is that python going to be my dinner, or do I need to start running now?" kind of thinking. This fight-or-flight response comes complete with a racing heart, shallow breathing, dilated pupils, and increased blood flow to your extremities. Handy when facing the python, not so much when facing the CEO. Over time, this high-alert state causes needless aging of your blood vessels.

• Your memory stays more agile than a 10-year-old gymnast. Obsessive worriers have more than double the risk of cognitive decline compared with their more carefree peers, a problem linked to that artery wear and tear.

Here are some ways to keep yourself younger:

• Knock out your concerns by writing them down (along with potential solutions).

• Talk them out with people you love. Work on decisive plans of action for worries that won't go away.

• Settle your mind with activities like walking or lifting weights. It won't take long -- recent research suggests that as little as 8 weeks of yoga can drop your anxiety level.

• Bonus: Kicking worries to the curb drives up your motivation and concentration, too.

Leaving Work SIX On The Dot

According to a study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, staying late at work puts you at a higher risk for developing anxiety and depression. Stop trying to squeeze in one more task towards the end of the day. Instead, make a list of what must be done before the end of a work day, and stick to that list.

(Source: CLEO Magazine, Singapore, April 2009 edition)

Potato Farmland (Yishun)

I found out about this interesting takeaway food place (Blk 239 Yishun Ring Road, #01-1152, Singapore 760239, opening hour: 11.30am-9pm daily, closed on 1st and 3rd Sunday every month) which had opened in Yishun for a year while reading "weekend Today" newspaper, 25-26 April 2009 edition and am looking forward to trying out its interesting food offerings when i have the time. I have not heard of this place although i always go Yishun. I love anything with potato, potato salad, hash brown, french fries, mash potato etc.... and this food place offers over 25 kinds of potato snacks!!! One item highlighted in the paper is its "Mash "N" Spuds, which boasts thick cut fries, fried to golden perfection. These are topped with handwhipped Holland Coliban potato and a "farm fresh" hot brown sauce. Just thinking about it makes me hungry hehe :> You can also find out more from its website at (http://www.potatofarmland.com/home.php) and blog at (http://potatofarmland.com/blog/).

(Source: Weekend Today Newspaper, 25-26 April 2009 edition)
(Source: http://potatofarmland.com/blog/?paged=3)

Man U 5 Spurs 2 !!!!

Ronaldo scores again and twice in the match :>



(Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/)

A Lazy Afternoon Spent Swimming and Relaxing At Sembawang Shopping Centre

It has been so hot recently, daily temperature has hit 32 Degree Celsius these few days that i ended up cutting my hair short. I have also been going swimming more frequently this week to beat the heat or lazing around at the cafe near my place. Hubby and i spent the whole half a day on Friday at Sembawang Shopping Centre eating lunch at Aston and having yummy desserts at MOF.

Lunch at Aston:






However the air-con system in the shopping centre broke down for 2 hours and it was quite warm there. Luckily for the cool and sweet dessert and drinks at MOF!!! I love the Mango Kakigori ($6.80) which has homemade mango sauce on crushed ice, topped with fresh mango slice and soft serve. We also found out that MOF is offering 20% discount for all items during the weekday :> I'm not sure when the promotion will end so those who love its yummy desserts should go down soon!!! And all mango lovers should go try out its Mango Kakigori as i'm sure you would love it like hubby and me. The portion is so big that it is more than enough for 2. It is my number 2 favourite dessert there after Macha Imo.

Mango Kakigori

Shopping at Uniqlo & Dinning At Manpuku

I went back to Tampines 1 with my mum this week to shop at Uniqlo again as i won a 20% discount voucher playing its Uniqlo Surprise game online at (http://www.uniqlosurprise.com/). I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were no long queues for the fitting room or payment and it was a great shopping experience. I bought several nice and colorful tops and a comfortable pair of pant and my mum also bought a nice top. We were real pleased with our purchase and the 20% discount gave us even greater savings :>

Pictures of the stuff i bought at Uniqlo:








After all the shopping we decided to have lunch at "Manpuku" (#03-16/17/18, Tampines 1, 10 Tampines Central 1, Singapore 529539) a new Japanese theme restaurant like "Marche" where you are given a card to record your spending in the restaurant like "Marche". There are various stalls offering yummy Japanese food like Omu Rice, Curry Rice, the famous Hokkaido Ramen, Fruit Tarts, Ice-Cream, Sushi etc.... I was so excited and tempted by all the choices but too bad i can't try all of them as i only has one stomach hehe. I ended up having the Sho-yu Cha-Shu Ramen ($10.80) recommended by the stall assistant. I love the Ramen soup and the texture of the noodle which were real delicious. I'm gonna try the Sho-yu Tontoro ramen during my next visit as the stall assistant also highly recommended that :> My mum had the Chicken Cutlet Curry Rice ($10.80) and i love the curry sauce too!!! Our total bill was $23.10 which was quite reasonable for its cozy and nice dinning environment. Do give "Manpuku" a try the next time you are at Tampines 1. How i wish Uniqlo and Manpuku would open a branch in the North near my place as it is so far to travel from Sembawang to Tampines.

Aoba Hokkaido Ramen - Sho-yu Cha-shu Ramen

Just looking at the ramen makes me crave for more!!!!