I do use aloe vera gel whenever I need help to hold portions of my hair in place, otherwise it’s more for healing breakouts, burns, cuts or as a moisturizer. Hub uses it as a shaving cream. It’s a very handy thing to have around the house and in the luggage.

When I was in Amazon today looking for stuff strictly non-Clara, at some point I came across the Clara glass kettle (which I hope to get one or an equivalent someday) and then, soon after I wandered off to track down more Clara-stuff for this *etc* show off. This unplanned course of action constantly happens whenever I’m at Amazon (or Etsy)!

Covering personal information like name, address, etc on no-longer-needed mailers is made easier with this blockout stamp from PLUS Stationery. No prying eye will be able to decipher anything. According to the demo I saw at Tokyu Hands, it covers better than striking with a permanent black pen. Selling for 814 Yen (about SGD 12.50/USD 8.30)

This piece of orchestral music comes from a Korean drama. I like to listen to it because it’s a sweet melody but with a racing tempo, that’s not unduly loud.

It opens unsuspectedly as a sentimental adagio, gradually picks up speed, hastens you on, cools off at an appointed time, then gives chase again! And with the sound of slamming cymbals, it calms down to end. So this is exactly the kind of rendition that makes me pump up the volume!

A few months ago, I did a WordPress upgrade for Bloomize and my other blogs, without using a plugin. It was my first attempt at upgrading since the day I started on WP in um…2006. I know I should have upgraded ages ago but I can’t help myself at being really comfortable with ancient versions.

But at last I went forth to collect these steps and took them in order to upgrade without a glitch:

• Do a backup at phpMyAdmin.
• Backup all WP files into the hard drive.
• Deactivate all plugins.
• Download the new version from the official WP site. Unzip and extract to the hard drive.
• With the exceptions of wp-content and wp-config.php, upload + overwrite every other WP related file over to the web server via FTP.
• Login to the blog and click on the link shown to complete the new installation.

Jots:

• An existing theme or plugin might not be compatible with the new WP version. Checks can be done at WordPress Theme Compatibilities or WordPress Plugin Compatibilities.
• Keep backup files from the Theme and Plugins directory, especially after making changes to the theme or any of the plugins.
• Ensure these files are not deleted from the site during an upgrade.
• Useful link:
  Codex/Upgrading WP (detailed instructions)

The “Once Upon A Time” collection at Birdz N Beez is all about jewelry set with vintage watch parts. Totally gorgeous, I say. TOTALLY.

10 Clowns Don’t Make A Circus: And 249 Other Critical Management Success Strategies
by Steven Schragis and Rick Frishman

Waiting for Your Cat to Bark?: Persuading Customers When They Ignore Marketing
by Bryan and Jeffrey Eisenberg

The Anatomy of Buzz: How to Create Word of Mouth Marketing
by Emanuel Rosen

Guerrilla Marketing: Easy and Inexpensive Strategies for Making Big Profits from Your Small Business
by Jay Conrad Levinson

Filters that boost the integrity of water.

A big thank you to Ruth for featuring Bloomize in the March 2009 issue of Singapore Home & Decor magazine! It is such an honour!

And it feels wonderful to be home-grown on Singapore soil!

[p.s The 2 images above are from Toilet paper dolls and Knottingpedia - tassel knot makeover]

When in Tokyo, I saw daily reports on TV mentioning that 25th March is the forecast for the blooming of cherry blossoms in the city. And since the flowering season is gradually coming to full swing all across Japan, let me host a little hanami of a different kind using the one and only Sakurasaku glass.

Since cold glasses leave behind water marks, why not change those ring marks into ume blossoms instead? Then when they have all evaporated, just fill up the Sakurasaku and enjoy the hanami once again.