Born to Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture by Juliet B. Schor
I was recommended to try reading this book from a friend. Read the review from TheSimpleDollar.com, I decided to borrow this from the local library.
It didn’t take me long before I gave up reading.
The author was an economist, trying to find the connection between the economy, and the commercialism that has affected the children of today. Parents buying (or consuming) brands, labels, clothes, influencing their kids with those ideas and concepts. Advertisers and marketers also contributed to this trend, as such many children and teens learn to associate themselves with brands, and this probably contributed to the increasing trend of unhappy children and teens. How much is enough?
I went through 3 chapters, the line spacing was tight, I was tired and the writing style wasn’t as engaging. This would be helpful to those who may be researching on this topic, or doing a module on consumer behaviour.
For me, the topic was dry, coupled with the points mentioned above, it just makes the book more difficult to read.
End result: I returned the book to the library 2 days later.
Financial Abundance
I chanced upon this blog entry on inviting financial abundance into your life.
See A Penny, Pick It Up – Erin Pavlina
I want to work less and have more time for family, friends, my interests and life. I’ve come to a point where being in a formal job seems to be taking too much of my time away from life. My day job is ok, I want to have more time to do my own thing, and to do that, I want financial prosperity and money to flow freely into my life.
Understanding that money is a means to an end, how do we attract it into our life without slogging our life away? Having that thought is a start, I’m also aware that I’m not the type that will go and analyse the stock market to a tee. The numbers would bore me after awhile. As long as I get the general idea and overview, I’m happy.
I know many people out there feel this way, but we haven’t gotten to the understanding that we don’t have to work hard to have money or a life.
Money is only a means to an end, not the end itself.
The Celestine Prophecy – An Adventure by James Redfield
I first read this book earlier in the year, recommended by cityhermit. I took a long time to review this because I didn’t felt that I can do this well.
The premises for the book is on the main character, who after hearing from a long time friend, decided to go to Peru to learn more about The Manuscript. The Manuscript dates back to about 600 BC and predicts a transformation of the human society. There are different segments, also known as insights, describing a particular insight to our life. As we go through these insights sequentially, we as humans would evolved spiritually and move into a very different environment from where we are now.
As the character decides to go on an adventure to learn more about the Manuscript, he gets to meet different people, sharing with him each of the insights. He also experiences those insights and understand the deeper meaning behind each segment.
In this book, there were 9 insights that were shared. The first 2 insights talks about an awareness of the mysterious occurrences that changes one’s life, the feeling that some other processes are operating. The 2nd insight puts our awareness into a longer historical perspective, awakening the consciousness and putting things into perspective.
As the story goes on, we are brought into an adventure as the character goes in search of each of the insights, relating concepts such as control dramas, chakras, energy fields into the story.
Why this is a good read:
The story, being an adventure first, brings me into the world of the main character. Literally I’m joining the hunt for the insights of the Manuscript. First time when I read this book, I was just enjoying the “ride”, finding out what’s to come next in the story.
Reading it the 2nd time, I tried to understand each insight better and how it all comes together with the other things I’ve learnt spiritually. Religion, chakras, energy, evolution of human society, psychology, science….all coming together through the story. It doesn’t explain each of the concepts in detail, for it’s still a story, not a paper on each item.
Entertaining and engaging, I decided to purchase a copy, and I got the entire series: Celestine Prophecy, Tenth Insight, and The Secret of Shambala (the 12th insight).
Incidentally, we have 12 strands of DNA which is another story…
Checklist for parents-to-be (Sterilisers)
For at least the first year, it is important that the feeding bottles are properly washed, and sterilised to prevent bacteria contamination.
There are 2 forms of sterilising: boiling method, or by chemical tablets.
Boiling method
This method uses the steam generated to sterilise the feeding bottles and teats. The equipment used could be either taking a big pot of water, boil it, then put the bottles and teats in, or by steam sterilisers.
With the convenience these days, many parents would consider getting a steam steriliser. There are many types and brands in the market, again, not all are made equal.
Most brands offer either the electrical steam steriliser or the microwave steam steriliser. I can only comment on the electrical steam steriliser which is what I’m still using now.
Avent
Avent steam steriliser can accommodate up to 6 wide neck bottles at one round of steaming. One of the models has a special rack for sterilising the Avent breast pump and this would be useful for parents who are using their brand of products.
The 2 models in Avent’s range complete a steam cycle in 6-8 mins. For more details, check their website or the actual model in the stores.
NUK
Our friends got this for us. The NUK steam steriliser is able to accomodate 6 milk bottles, and because of the height of the tray and the cover, we are able to sterilise the bottle caps with the teats as well. The steam steriliser opens up to reveal mid-way of the bottle and the accessories tray, allowing you to access the bottles easily.
The sterilising cycle takes about 15mins to complete, and 60ml of water. To clean the metal plate (it is important to keep this clean and free from deposits for the steam cycle to complete in the same time), use 1 part vinegar, 2 parts water and leave it for 20-30mins. Then wipe off the solution. Be careful not to put in too much solution that will cover over the metal plate and touch on the plastic areas, as it will corrode the plastic areas.
How did I know? I was a “victim” of being too enthusiastic with the vinegar solution. After 8 months of using the steriliser, we found that it was leaking, because there was a hole near the metal plate area.
Lucky Baby
Another steriliser that a friend gave to us, the design for the steriliser could fit teats and 6 bottles, however, the cover was too short, so we can’t sterilise the NUK bottle caps.
The steam cycle is less than 10 mins. It uses more water than the NUK steriliser, and because the design is such that you have to reach inwards to put in the bottles, after steaming, do not attempt to remove the bottles immediately. It’s not as accessible, and I feel that it’s hard to pour the water into the sterilising plate.
Pigeon
This steam steriliser can fit up to 6 milk bottles, milk teats and accessories. The steam cycle finishes in 6 mins. The design is similar to the Tollyjoy version, where you open the steriliser from the top and most parts of the tray is deep within the steriliser. The package comes with tongs for retrieval of bottles.
Chemical sterilising method
This uses sterilising tablets, you can put one sterilising tablet into one container filled with water, and put all your milk bottles and accessories in. The sterilising takes longer, and I personally feel that it leaves a chemical after-taste/smell, so it’s best to rinse the bottles and accessories with boiled water before usage.
Be prepared for a lot of washing, cleaning of bottles and milk teats during the intial period. The newborn babies always seem hungry 
