Bank your babies cord blood for less

To all expectant families or those of you who are planning to have a baby in the near future, have you been seriously thinking about storing your baby's cord blood? What's that, you might ask. Well, cord blood is blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta at the time of birth. This blood has typically been discarded following delivery. However, once scientists discovered that it was a rich source of stem cells, umbilical cord blood became a viable substitute to bone marrow in thousands of successful transplants. Over 12,000 umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants occurred worldwide to treat over 75 different diseases. Also, cord blood stem cells are 100% match for the infant donor and 1 in 4 match for a sibling.

For more than a decade, Cryo-Cell Cord Blood Bank has been providing families a wonderful opportunity to cryogenically preserve their newborn's umbilical cord blood stem cells in a safe and secure environment. This service is called U-Cord, and it's an easy, painless way to help protect your family's future health. All you need to do is enroll before your baby's birth and a Cryo-Cell Collection Kit will be sent for you to take along to the hospital when the time comes for you to deliver your baby. Just call AirNet service after your baby's birth and they will pick up the sample from your room and deliver your baby's cord blood to Cryo-Cell within 36 to 48 hours of its collection.

Right now, Cryo-Cell is having a special limited time offer. From now until Sunday 6/28/09, families can save $725 on Cryo-Cell's U-Cord service. You'll receive a special pricing of $995 with your U-Cord Enrollment and get your Cancellation Fee waived. Just use the promotional code : HOT when you enrol. So, take advantage of this special discounted offer and enroll now to ensure a better tomorrow for your baby.

Thanks for the memories - RIP MJ

Michael Joseph Jackson

R.I.P
(August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009)

I was reading CNN on the Internet this afternoon and there was breaking news that Michael Jackson was brought to UCLA hospital due to a cardiac arrest. I followed the proceedings live on the Internet as well as on TV, wondering if it was just a mild attack or if it was serious. When Kevin came home, I told him that Farrah Fawcett passed away today and he said that he heard that on the radio at work. I then said that MJ's in the hospital, brought in due to a cardiac arrest and jokingly said that he might die. Kevin was like "Whaaattt? No wayyy...really?" I believe that was also the first reaction of many people around the world when they heard the news. It's hard to believe that someone so young, a non smoker (we think) and not overweight would be a victim of a heart attack. While eating dinner, the breaking news came on TV. Michael Jackson had passed away. We both sat there in disbelief, just staring at the TV, trying to comprehend the piece of news that we just heard. The King of Pop is dead.

I was shocked and mildly sadden by this. It's not that we knew MJ personally or that he is in any way related to us. It's just that Michael Jackson is such a public figure, he seemed larger than life. Also, although we might not know him personally but we sort of grew up with MJ. I remember wearing a single white glove all over the house for period of my life as a little girl or trying to imitate his dance moves in various music videos like Billie Jean and Beat it. I also remember watching those videos over and over again, wondering how he could come up with such amazing moves ( especially the Smooth Criminal video). I'm sure Kevin was also like all the other boys around the world, trying their best to moonwalk, secretly in their bedrooms, in front of the mirror :P As I grew older, I remember loving songs like Black or White, You Are Not Alone and Remember the Time. MJ came to Malaysia as part of his HIStory World Tour in 1996. I had the chance to go for the concert, together with a few of my cousins and a friend from school. The excitement of actually seeing MJ in person as well as all the hype of a live concert was totally out of this world. For a 17 year old, it was a dream come true. I had never ever seen such a world class performance before, with amazing backup dancers, special effects and a whole lot of pyrotechnics! Here is a short documentary someone made on YouTube about MJ's historical visit to Malaysia.

I guess I've pretty much grown up listening to MJ and even though I do not know him in person, his music was a big part of my childhood/teenage years. Thank you Michael for memories and the music...may you rest in peace.

Oven Bag BBQ Pork Ribs

I actually made this a couple of weeks ago but just never got around to blogging about it. Ribs were on sale at our local grocery store and we managed to buy a nice looking full rack of ribs for under $7! It was such a good deal.

We also bought a bottle of Stubb's Smokey Mesquite Bar-B-Q Sauce to be used as a marinade. Stubb's originated from Austin, TX and it's really really good. A sweet sauce with just the right combination of molasses and mesquite.

I cut the full rack of ribs into half (it's too large to fit into a large Ziploc bag), placed them in a large Ziploc bag and poured in the BBQ sauce to marinade the ribs. I left it to marinade for about 24 hours in the refrigerator.

When it's time to cook the ribs, place some flour into the oven bag, shake it and make sure that it evenly coats the bag. This is to ensure that the ribs doesn't stick to the bag while cooking.

Put the bag in a large baking dish and place the ribs it.

Tie up the bag and make sure you poke some holes in it with a knife (it's to allow steam to escape while cooking).

Pop it in a 350F oven for about 45 minutes.

Now it's time to prepare the sauce to baste the ribs later on. Scoop some dark brown sugar into a bowl.

Add in some BBQ sauce.

Pour in some Ginger Ale and mix all the ingredients together.

After 45 minutes, remove the ribs from the oven and cut open the bag. Baste the ribs with the sauce. Put it back into the oven for about 10 minutes. Continue to baste the ribs at 10 minute intervals for another 2 times.

Here it is! Tender and juicy BBQ ribs that just falls off the bones. Cooking it in an oven bag is the best way to ensure that you have juicy ribs that just falls of the bones.

I served the ribs with Mashed Potatoes and Italian Green Beans with Bacon. It's really easy to make. Just brown the bacon, remove it and drain away some of the oil from the pan. Add in the Italian green beans, stir fry it for a bit and return the bacon to the pan. Sprinkle on some black pepper, garlic salt and Parmesan cheese. Just continue to stir fry everything together for couple more minutes and it's done! There you go. A simple but yummy Southern style dinner.

Branson, Missouri is the place to be!

Yesterday was officially the first day of summer. The days are long, kids are out from school and summer vacation is here! Are you looking for somewhere to go to get away from it all? A place where there is plenty of fun things to do for both adults and children? Well, look no further. Branson, Missouri is the place to be this summer!

There is just so much to do in Branson. With over 100 live shows, Branson, Missouri is the "Live Music Capital of the World"! Not only that, it's also the Veteran's Capital of America. With so much to see and do in Branson it is hard to even begin to cover everything. Branson has live shows, attractions, theme parks, museums, dining, shopping, lakes, fishing, golfing, camping and so much more.

After a long day of fun and festivities, you would want to go back to some place equally awesome. What better place to stay than the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. Situated within the electrifying entertainment capital of the Midwest in Branson, Missouri, the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel offer guests access to shops, boutiques, restaurants, a river walk and other attractions. The new Payne Stewart Golf Club, which is managed by Hilton, is close by and features hole after hole of breathtaking scenery. Also remember to check out the packages offered by both hotels like the Golf package, Moon River package, Silver Dollar City, Romance package as well as a host of other exciting packages.

Branson has ongoing events for everyone’s entertainment this summer like the National Kid’s Fest at Silver Dollar City, the 10th Annual Clown Jam, live entertainment, theaters and much more. Both hotels are within easy driving distance of Branson’s championship golf courses, lakes, museums, theme parks and 49 live entertainment theaters. With so much to offer, this exciting vacation community is perfect for everyone!

German Potato Salad

I just love potato salads. It's a great summertime dish that is so flexible, you can serve it with almost anything. You can serve it as a side dish for fried chicken, pork chops, baked ham..the list is endless. It's also good for picnics and BBQs. There are so many different types of potato salads but here is the recipe that I always make. I am not sure exactly what kind of potato salad this is, but I think it's closest to the German Potato Salad.

First, clean the potatoes thoroughly. Then place it in a big pot of boiling salted water and allow it to cook.

While the potatoes are boiling in water, slice some bacon and fry it up in a pan.

Remove the bacon from the oil and allow it to drain on some paper towels.

Once the potatoes are soft and cooked, remove them from the boiling water and peel. Be careful, the potatoes are very very hot.

Chop up the potatoes into smaller cubes and place them in a large mixing bowl.

Add in 2 chopped up hard boil eggs.

Then, throw in the chopped onions.

Next goes in the bacon.

Scoop in a few dollops of mayo and mix everything together.

If you like, you can add in some sweet relish and mustard at this point. Mix it all up.

Crack in some black pepper and garlic powder.

Mix it all together well and it's done. You can sprinkle on some parsley before serving. So far, it's one of the yummiest potato salad recipe that I have tried so far. Try it, I'm sure you will like it.

FatPassport - Personalized Travel Recommendations

Both Kevin and I share the same passion for travelling. Nothing makes us happier than exploring new and exciting places, visiting foreign destinations as well as meeting and talking to fellow travelers and locals alike during our travels. We know that the best way to get good information about a new travel destination is to talk to fellow travelers and travels experts. Only one problem? Where do we go to find these people? We also know what is every travellers fear. If you take a trip to a place that's not a good fit for you, or if you go at the wrong time of year, then you're out a lot of money, and the precious trip that you were so excited about can be a disappointment. Right? Well, now there's a solution!

FatPassport is the answer! FatPassport is a new travel website that provides personalized travel recommendations based on parameters set by the user, including budget, time of the year traveling and interests. So, whether you're a backpacker looking for new adventures in exotic destinations, or a luxury traveler looking for a good place for rest and relaxation, with the click of a mouse, FatPassport can identify the best places that are right for you. These recommendations are based on the experience and insights of other travelers, including both seasoned Travel Experts, as well as other travelers like you. These insights are then organized into a database which can be searched by using FatPassport's unique Trip Engine, which uses sophisticated TripMatcher algorithms to match travel recommendations to each search.

The Trip Engine is just awesome. I tried searching for best destinations in Europe ranked by couples on a low budget with a medium tolerance of hassle, travelling specifically for sightseeing in the month of August. The search results were just amazing. Cities in Portugal, Spain, Cyprus, Scotland...just to name a few. Most of the places I myself have never heard of before. All I needed to do was click on the 'More Info' tab and I could read all kinds of reviews as well as look at a chart to see when is the best time to visit. There are also photos of the cities submited by fellow travelers, info on the various attractions, hotels and flight information as well as local tours!

So, the next time you have travel questions or if you are just looking for somewhere to go, remember to check out FatPassport. It's a one stop shop for all your travel needs.

Vegetable & Shrimp Sambal Tumis

Remember when I tried making Assam Curry Catfish and Curry Chicken with Tean's Gourmet paste a while back? Yeah, it turned out to be so yummy and authentic. Not only was it so good, it was really simple to make too!

Last week, I tried making some Vege and Shrimp Sambal Tumis with Tean's Sambal Tumis paste. It was even easier to make compared to the curry fish and chicken.

First, heat up about 4 tablespoons of cooking oil and fry some chopped up eggplants for a few minutes.

Once done, place them on some kitchen towels to drain and set them aside.

Using the remaining cooking oil in the pan, fry up some chopped garlic.

Add in some large shrimps.

Stir fry it with the garlic until it changes color. Add in some green beans.

Next goes in some chopped okra.

Lastly, add in the eggplants. Mix them all up together and stir fry on medium heat for about 2 minutes.

Now you can add in the sambal tumis paste. Stir fry the paste with all the shrimp and vegetable. A word of caution. The sambal tumis can pack in quite a punch in the spiciness department. I added in some sugar at this point (you do not have to if you have a high tolerance for spiciness). Continue cooking for about 2 minutes or so and it's done!

Wasn't that easy? A nice big pan of Vege and Shrimp Sambal Tumis. It was so so so yummy. I think it was the best out of the three Tean's Gourmet paste that I tried. I just ate it with a plate of hot steaming white rice and even had seconds!! Yeah, it was THAT good! :D

Hilton Hospitality awaits you in Branson!

Are you tired of all your usual summer vacation spots? Looking for somewhere new and exciting to go to but do not know where to go? Well, I know of a place where you can go this summer! Check out Branson, Missouri! Everything you’re looking for this summer is in right here in Branson, Missouri, the electrifying entertainment capital of the Midwest. Truly a remarkable vacation destination, Branson has more than 50 live performance theaters, three pristine lakes, 12 championship golf courses, an international award-winning theme park, dozens of attractions and museums as well as a shoppers paradise for both young and old.

And what better place to stay while enjoying all the shopping, entertainment and attractions than the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. Both Hilton Hotels are situated amidst the Branson Landing, giving guests easy access to shops, boutiques, restaurants, a river walk and other attractions. Not only that but only minutes away is the all-new Payne Stewart Golf Club that offers hole after hole of breathtaking scenery. Payne Stewart Golf Club is a tribute course honoring the life and legacy of golf legend Payne Stewart. This unique course is interwoven with stories of Stewart’s life and golfing experiences throughout his career at each of its 18 scenic holes. Whether you’re an avid golfer, new to the sport, planning an event, here for business or for pleasure you can enjoy the facilities of the Payne Stewart Golf Course.

The Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing, Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, and the Payne Stewart Golf Course which is managed by Hilton Golf, are all within easy driving distance of Branson’s lakes, museums, theme parks and 49 live entertainment theaters. With so much to offer, including great golf packages and other Hilton Hotel specials, this exciting vacation community is perfect for everyone! Enjoy being in the midst of all the action by booking your stay at either hotel today!

Happy Father's Day!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Thank you for being the
'bestest' daddy in the whole wide world...

xoxo

Simple Strawberry Shortcake

Here is a super simple recipe for making a dish of strawberry shortcake. All you need to do is basically just assemble it all together! It's really easy to whip up in minutes when you need something fast for dessert.

First, you would need some cake. I used Sara Lee's All Butter Pound Cake. It's really good and perfect to use when making strawberry shortcakes.

Line the bottom of a small dish with a slice of cake.

Scoop on some macerated strawberries on top of the cake.

Place another slice of cake on top of the strawberries.

Scoop on another layer of macerated strawberries.

Top it all off with a big dollop of whipped cream. There we go. It's such a delightful dessert and it's so easy to make. Enjoy!