Posted on December 22, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Travel
It is time for our Christmas break. I would like to wish you all a happy and safe holiday season. Catch up with friends and family but remember to put your feet up and relax.
I am leaving you with some great reading for the holidays. Nicole Graham continues her series about travelling in Vietnam. Sit back, read it and relax.
Our 2 hour trip to Hoa Lu, south of Hanoi began just like every day… we got up at 7:00am for an early morning departure. By this stage my husband was questioning whether we were on a holiday because for him a holiday is about sleeping in and relaxation. For me it was easy to get up early because there is so much to explore and I was also very “click happy”.
Hoa Lu, was the ancient capital of Vietnam during the 10th century and today it is also known as “Halong on land.” When you see the sky shots of Halong Bay and Hoa Lu they are amazingly identical, the only difference is that the islands are surrounded by water in Halong Bay, and in Hao Lu, the mountains are surrounded in lush, greenery. Truly, the island and mountains structure and placement are identical - amazing!
Our driver than wound his way through the small country villages nestled in amongst the limestone mountains… some of the roads were so small that I was sure we could reach out and touch the walls of the houses as we drove by. As usual in the country side of Vietnam we saw cows, buffalos, goats and dogs meandering along and across the roads, land and waterways. Once we arrived at Van Lam Village we stopped in to have lunch at another local village, the speciality of the area is its goat dishes. I was a little hesitant but after trying some of the dishes, goat was actually mouth watering - especially cooked with all the Vietnamese spices.
After lunch we hopped on a Sampan for a spectacular 2 hour cruise through numerous waterways, beautiful rural landscape of limestone cliffs and rice paddies, to the stunning Tam Coc caves - Tam means 3 and Coc means caves. It was a funny boat ride because once out of the eye of the authorities, locals were on the water being very entrepreneurial - people offering to take your photograph; tuck shops on the water with crisps, fruit and cold drinks and craft markets selling anything from handmade bags to tablecloths.
As we passed others we realised that we will soon be in the same situation as they were… we were a captured audience! Our Sampan driver offered a range of handmade products from pillow cases to t-shirts. The driver opened up her silver box and tried to sell us everything even going as far as showing us photos of her family and her children. They were not going to let us get away easily. I bought 2 little hand sewn bags… it was difficult to say no. They’re definitely not shy.
After our sampan cruise we headed back to Hanoi to prepare for a 13 hour, overnight train ride to Danang, not far from Hoi An, which was our next stop on our Vietnamese holiday.
Posted on December 20, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Good Stuff
Do you live near Chadstone Shopping Centre here in Victoria? If you do I have a $100 voucher to give away. IT is for a skin peel or laser hair removal at Laser, Skin and Wellness Centre in Chadstone Shopping Centre.
First person to contact me can have the voucher!
Don’t forget, too, that I have an Aromatherapy DVD to give away. Leave me a comment to win that too.
Posted on December 19, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Good Stuff
Cherry Magazine is out now. It is a free online magazine for women who love to live full lives.
Cherry Magazine brings with it some excellent competitions for you as well as some wonderful shopping finds. It is free to read! There is a lot in it so take some relaxation time over Christmas so that you can read it in peace.
Oh, and for those of you who are over the whole shopping experience just look at the video on the Cherry website and it will make you feel much more calm about it all!
Posted on December 18, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Product Review
This is a new product (model number S9950) and it is promoted as being able to leave your hair smooth and shiny. It is described as a hair nutrition system because it treats the hair with oils as you straighten.
My own hair is fairly manageable but it does have a tendency to fly away so I decided to try the straightener out. I noticed that after using the sraightener my hair sat smoothly and it was certainly shiny. OK, so my hair wasnt the toughest test around. Seeking a tougher trial I asked my sister-in-law to test it out.
Her hair is thick, long and curly - the kind that frizzes in the wet and would give Shirley Temple a run for her money in the curl stakes. It is also quite heavy. Her hair was sleek and shiny after using the straightener, and the high heat was perfect for ‘getting through’ the hair. Some straighteners just can’t heat high enough to do the job properly.
The oils infused in the ceramic plates seem to make a difference in the end result. Sometimes hair that has been straightened looks dry and almost brittle. In this case her hair was left looking healthy and smooth. She was thrilled with the result.
The RRP for this product is $134. I would recommend it as a great deal. For people with thick hair this is a great find.
Specifications:
Ceramic coating incorporating a blend of moisturisers and conditioners for smooth and silky healthy hair.
Floating plates for even pressure on the hair.
Digital variable high heat control with LCD display 150-230C.
Fast heat-up for instant styling.
Auto shut-off after 60 minutes.
Heat Boost function to quickly get to the highest temperature.
Plate lock for storage.
Temperature lock function.
Heat proof pouch.
Posted on December 17, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Good Stuff
Today I am able to giveaway a copy of “The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy” DVD. This is open to Australian readers only due to the format of the DVD.
“The scents of essential oils have been used for thousands of years to bring physical health and mental serenity. In this instructional feature, leading aromatherapist Valere Ann Worwood demonstrates how to choose and mix essential oils to create a relaxed and fragrant atmosphere in which to refresh the body and mind. Learn how essential oils can be beneficial in treating colds and flus, healing cuts and bruises, and relieving aches and pains from arthritis to migraines and much more.”
If you would like to win this just leave me a comment here telling me why you want it and what your favourite oil is. I will announce the winner in one weeks time.
Posted on December 16, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Good Stuff
Be watching Blue Zamboo to see what is coming up next! In 2009 there are plans for more Virtual Shopping Tours, some fun events and lots of competitions.
In fact, why not check the blog every day to see what is coming up? You might accidentally miss a sneaky little event planned for after Christmas! Can’t have that, now, can we?
Posted on December 11, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Good Stuff
Did you know that doing crosswords and other word or number puzzles can help you to keep your brain healthy?
At Crosswords for Fun I read that “Adults with hobbies that exercise their brain are 2.5 times less likely to have Alzheimer’s disease. The evidence is clear.” Activity that involves bursts of concentration stimulate the brain so that it functions better. This can help delay the onset of conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Wouldn’t it be great if all we had to do to reduce the risk of all diseases was to play a game?
Crosswords For Fun is a great site that is building a community of crossword and puzzle lovers. It has membership starting at only $6.95 and there is also a free 14 day trial to see how you like the site. There are online puzzles to do and yes, they have their solutions.
Crosswords For Fun is also a great resource centre for puzzle enthusiasts with links to many different puzzles sites, puzzling books and even dictionary sites.
On your next day off give your brain some exercise with a crossword.
Posted on December 10, 2008 by Ms Feet Up in Good Stuff
If someone is dumb enough to offer me a million dollars to make a picture, I’m certainly not dumb enough to turn it down.
Elizabeth Taylor
Remember that other people don’t value you by the same scale that you use. Believe them when they compliment you or offer you something more than you expected. It is easy to put ourselves down but it is not easy to accept the value others see in us.
Hoa Lu, was the ancient capital of Vietnam during the 10th century and today it is also known as “Halong on land.” When you see the sky shots of Halong Bay and Hoa Lu they are amazingly identical, the only difference is that the islands are surrounded by water in Halong Bay, and in Hao Lu, the mountains are surrounded in lush, greenery. Truly, the island and mountains structure and placement are identical - amazing!
rural landscape of limestone cliffs and rice paddies, to the stunning Tam Coc caves - Tam means 3 and Coc means caves. It was a funny boat ride because once out of the eye of the authorities, locals were on the water being very entrepreneurial - people offering to take your photograph; tuck shops on the water with crisps, fruit and cold drinks and craft markets selling anything from handmade bags to tablecloths.
This is a new product (model number S9950) and it is promoted as being able to leave your hair smooth and shiny. It is described as a hair nutrition system because it treats the hair with oils as you straighten.
