Sink or Swim

Every website design has a website factor. On this article, they have compiled some of the best websites out there and highlighted each site’s “wow” factor. Whether it’s a mouseover effect, a very subtle animation, a color switch or something simple as cool typography, these websites really know what it takes to make the viewers go “WOW!”.

Navigation effect – http://www.face-face-face.com

Tree animation and featured projects slider – http://www.floridaflourish.com/

Slider effect on project thumbnails – http://riotindustries.com/

Cool 3D rotating effect when you click on any of the projects – http://www.workatplay.com/

This site really is a drag! Click to find out why. http://www.ericj.se/

I was browsing this site on adhd symptoms and learned the following:

It can affect children all day and everyday, whether they are in school, playground or at home.

Children with ADHD has a hard time focusing, sitting still and completing tasks. They also find it hard to control their impulses even if they know how to behave.

Most common signs and symptoms to check if your child has ADHD:

- They are easily distracted and find it hard to follow instructions

- They have trouble following directions

- They make careless mistakes

- Forgetful, trouble waiting in turn, interrupts others

- Cannot stay seated for long

Before our generation, we just term this is as being overly active or the effects of too much sugar. But now, there’s a name for it and even a medication to cure the said condition.

If only we could diet from shopping. We spent too much on Christmas gifts lately that I had to get some from our Disneyland budget. This is definitely going overboard and I really need to stop. It’s not like there’s a Fastin version for shopaholic people like myself. But looking at the bright side, most of the stuff we bought we’re not only on sale but exactly what our friends and relatives would love. So in the end, we still managed to save money. Christmas comes only once a year after all.

Some tips when shopping:
1. Check out the October and November sales. Most toy stores hold a 50-70% off / warehouse sales on these months.

2. No matter what it is you’re buying online whether you’re just registering for a domain, make sure to check out websites offering free coupon codes. I got a $4 off just now when I renewed me domain name with GoDaddy.

3. Use cash if you can so you’ll know when you’re spending too much. Credit cards can give us a sense of having too much money when in reality, our debts are just piling up.

4. Just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean it’s a good buy. All the items I purchased as gifts are things that I wouldn’t be able to afford unless they are on sale. I don’t buy things that I don’t need and don’t even remotely like just because it’s cheap.

5. This one never fails. Make a list and stick to it. My husband tends to shop for people who’s not on the list so I always write the list with him to make sure that we haven’t forgotten anyone.

Photo and list snagged from coedmagazine.com

The Book of Eli

The Green Hornet

Alice in Wonderland

The A-Team

Twilight Sage: Eclipse

Date Night

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I – Can’t wait for this!!

Ironman 2

Arrested Development

The Expendables

I always say that December is our most expensive month of the year. Aside from buying gifts and holiday trips, there’s the annual credit card renewals and yearly payment of all our insurances. We are already paying up to 5 insurance packages as of this year and might add another one now that baby #2 is on its way. I’m checking out the free insurance quotes online just to have an idea of how expensive it is to get a new policy now compared to five years ago. Luckily, we’re just about done paying my first child’s educational plan so we can now afford to get a new one for our next baby.

I know I’ll never be able to experience any of the cancun honeymoons now that I’m married with kids. For one, there’s now way I can leave them while me and the husband are enjoying ourselves. Two, even if we take them with us, I doubt if they will enjoy the romantic atmosphere of any of the hotels in Karisma that is designed specifically for honeymooners.

However, there’s this hotel in Karisma called Azul Beach Hotel that caters to family vacations.

By providing everything a family needs and all kinds of entertainment for both kids and adults, parents are guaranteed to have an enjoyable and stressful trip. If you think you’ll never experience a candlelight dinner by the beach anymore, think again. At Azul Beach Hotel, the staff can prepare one for you while your kids are having fun at any of the beach activities the hotel has to offer. I like how everything is just a short walk away and how the rooms can sleep up to three children and have connecting rooms. You can still enjoy your privacy without worrying about the kids or feeling guilty that they are not having fun just like you.

I love collecting free Wordpress Themes especially if they are similar to ones being sold for $20-$50. These are very good I tell you so make sure to download or bookmark.

FREEmium wordpress theme

ZinePress: A Wordpress Magazine Theme

Zinmag Futura

Infinity

A longer list can be found here.

Saturday 9: Don’t Talk to Strangers

1. Tell us about a night that you spent with someone who was a stranger, yet by the end of the night you were very close.
I always go on art weekends when I was younger and I meet a lot of interesting people there. When I was working too, I always go out and meet people from all walks of life. One or two of them would always end up inspiring me and changing the way I look at life.

2. When is the last time you rode the bus?
Just last Saturday on my daughter’s field trip.

3. Describe the last time you stood up for a cause.
Can’t remember. Isn’t that sad? I guess I’m too busy to notice what with juggling career and family life.

4. What is something you would like to do, but you’re afraid of the risk(s)?
Skydiving. This goes on top of my bucket list.

5. What would you most like to accomplish before the year is over?
Finish all my deliverables so I can enjoy New Year. Whether it’s about designing, writing or researching for Ferrari parts for a client, I’d like to wipe all my to-do list clean.

6. Name something you’ll miss about 2009.
My pre-pregnancy body and carefree life. By the time I give birth next year, our house and life will be upside down again.

7. If you could invent something, what would it be?
A machine that can determine the future.

8. What first got you started blogging?
To blog about my first born.

9. How did you find this meme?
From an online friend.

I’ve never been to destin fl but I sure would like to settle in a place like that when I get old. I can’t think of a better view to wake up to every morning than a long stretch of white sand with surrounded by blue calm waters. Just last night, I was watching this show from Travel and Living and they featured a retirement home surrounded by the beach. I wouldn’t mind having to live there if I can be near the water but my main goal is that I’d be rich enough to purchase my own beach property by the time I’m 55-60 years old.

…until seven more months.

Diet plans, weight loss pills and strict exercise regimen.

Skinny jeans, stilettos and very tight tops that won’t let you breathe.

Waking up early or leaving the house if I don’t feel like it.

Doing all projects that fall on my lap. I now outsource them so I can take it easy.

Play nice with clients from hell.

Taking care of everyone. Now they take care of me

Stumbled upon a very nice collection of artworks at Smashing Magazine this morning.

These artworks are designed to inspire and stir your imaginations. I for one couldn’t figure out how they did these in Photoshop but you bet I’d be more than willing to learn. I hope they’ll feature a tutorial next on how to do one of these.

Shadow Chen, China

Igor Scekic, Croatia

David Fuhrer, Switzerland

Jerico Santander, Spain