Optimist or Pessimist

Pessimist or Optimist? Which one are you? I know few friends of mine who are pessimists. It seems for them that every situation is always a failure, never a success. I don't know why but they don't seem to be able to lift up their thoughts and hopes for better situations. They often said statements such as "We're not gonna make it", "This is going to be bad", "We'll fail this one" before they even started those things yet. I guess being a pessimist or an optimist is a choice and it is a result of an old habit. Therefore, whatever bad habits or thoughts that you have now, make sure you'll get rid of those and start to make good habit and good thoughts. Here's what we can learn about the two terms, from associatedcontent.

Pessimist

The Pessimist always views the world as bad, that everything will end up turning out wrong for them, they can never win. They believe that it doesn't matter what they do, something will always push them back to the bottom of the pile, and they will never reach the top of it. They're being destroyed most definitely, but it isn't by the world, or who is in it, it's by the person themselves.

Optimist

The Optimist views the positivity in the world. No matter what happens they know that this is simply a passing phase that will soon turn around. There is always something positive happening out of the negative, and believe in the good of the world. They worry, and stress less about things since they are viewing the outcome as ending up being something wonderful and great, but most of all they don't judge people because they love themselves.

The obvious moral being that a pessimist denies themselves of any Good that could possibly come from a situation. The amazing and wonderful things. All they see is the things that should of but didn't happen. Depending on if a person stable or unstable, will really depend on how they view life. Ever wonder what you are? Ask yourself some questions:

1. Do I speak to myself and my actions positively or negatively?
2. What kind of people do I surround myself with?
3. Do I have specific goals that I believe I can reach in the future?
4. Do I even see a future for myself, or am I living day-to-day?
5. Am I willing to change?

(article source: by Bee, Yahoo! Contributor Network via associatedcontent.com - image sources: flickr & vi.sualize.us)

Natalie Portman is now the new Miss Dior Cherie. I always love the commercial ad of Miss Dior Cherie Fragrance. The view of the commercial video and the print ad has always been so feminine. The colors of the video and also the background music always make a perfect combination to the whole advertisement. And as always, Sofia Coppola directed the oh-so marvelous ad. Below is the print ad and also the TV ad. Look at Natalie Portman, she really is the most beautiful woman on earth!

Space-Saving Indoor Spa

Imagine yourself having a small house but you want to have all the rooms you've been dreaming of such as a cool living room, a decent dining room, a space for relaxing, a foyer and an indoor pool/spa. Can you manage to fit all those rooms in a small house? Well, the owner of this house can manage to do it. See the image below to see how great it looks like. Found it via Dornob.

(all images from dornob.com)

Wednesday - Clear Your Mind..

What is your most favorite day of the week? Of course we don't need to mention those weekend days...other than weekend, my favorite day of the week is Wednesday. I don't know why but I just love Wednesday, turns out that I was born on Wednesday. Maybe that's why I love Wednesday. But for me personally, Wednesday is like a ""brand-new" day of the week. For example, it is a perfect day to start to loosen up a bit after a rough new week, after a busy Monday and Tuesday. Another example from another point of view is that Wednesday can be a day to start pumping up your energy when you have a bad beginning of a new week, in other words...a bad Monday and a bad Tuesday. By doing things right on Wednesday (in the middle of the week), chances are, you can make the rest of your week to become a great week (good Thursday and Friday). Does this make any sense to you? Maybe yes or maybe it's a nonsense for you. I just feel like spilling my words about Wednesday, since today is Wednesday =) Another great thing to do is to clear up the thoughts that have been going on in your mind for the last two days (Monday and Tuesday). If you have a fresh mind on Wednesday, you'll be able to absorb new thoughts ready for you on Thursday and Friday...

So, here are some tips to clear your mind by Elizabeth Scott, M.S., from About.com...

HOW CAN I CLEAR MY MIND?

1. Try Meditation.
Research shows that meditation can be helpful in facilitating forgiveness and letting go of rumination and negative emotions. Meditation carries many other benefits to it as well, so it’s definitely worth trying. One simple way to meditate is to find a place where you can sit and relax. Then simply "observe" your thoughts without becoming attached to them. Once you’ve noticed them, let them go and bring your focus back to the present moment.

2. Cultivate Mindfulness.
Related to meditation, mindfulness is a way of becoming fully immersed in an activity, rather than in your thoughts about other things. Mindfulness is a great meditative option for busy people. While it involves slowing down and focusing on one thing, it doesn’t involve stopping all activity the way traditional meditation does. (And, if you lead a busy lifestyle or have a Type A personality, it’s sometimes difficult to stop all activity without thoughts of all the things that you need to get done bombarding you, making it more difficult to clear your mind.) Completing one activity, such as cleaning a room, with mindfulness can be a restorative way to clear your mind and get things done too

3. Try Expressive Writing.
If your mind is filled with stressful thoughts, it may be helpful to give in to the thoughts. Through journaling, you can delve deeper into the topics that plague your mind (fully experiencing and examining your emotions), brainstorming solutions and examining different ways of looking at your problems (a helpful technique known as cognitive restructuring), which can help you it let it go. You may need to set yourself a time limit, though, so you don’t get stuck in rumination.

4. Distract Yourself.
Sometimes the best thing you can do to clear your mind is to change your focus. Get out and exercise with a friend. Get involved with a project or hobby. Lose yourself in a good book for a few minutes. (I personally find that activities such as tai chi and karate can clear my mind like nothing else.) This is an excellent way to bring positive activities into your life and take a break from stress and worry.

(article source: about.com - image sources: flickr & embaralhada.tumblr)

Joy versus Happiness

Which one is better? Joy or Happiness? What do you think? I think when we have been able to find joy, we certainly have found happiness too. And vice versa. I think joy and happiness are both in the same level of excitement. But, when you read the article below about "Joy versus Happiness" (via lessons4living), you'll have a different point of view of both terms. It is said that joy has a deeper experience than happiness, I agree on that statement. Whatever it is...what makes it good is that either joy or happiness contains good feelings within all of us =)

Joy versus Happiness

It is far better to seek "joy." Joy is related to happiness, but it is a deeper experience. In the search for happiness the individual focuses upon himself, but joy moves a person out of a self-centered preoccupation and provides an orientation towards others. Joy is an experience which connects us to that which is "Greater" than we are. It connects us to the creative power that is more than the "I" or ego. Joy gets us out of ourselves and in contact with this "Other" and with others. Joy can sustain us throughout the four phases of life. If we are willing to give up the search for happiness, we may find joy. It exists near the center of the wheel where happiness and suffering meet and intermingle.

To make such a move off the rim from happiness into suffering requires faith. Faith is also found at the center of the Wheel of Life. It is where Loss and Hope intersect. Faith comes from the action of moving towards the center. It is not that we have faith first and then act. We act first. Moving towards hope in the midst of loss gives birth to faith. This is a move that engages rather than avoids suffering. The creative power at the center of the wheel brings into being Faith and Joy. They exist in the context and container of Love, which is also at the center of the wheel. To love is to respect and value ourselves while breaking out of limited self interest and reaching out to others. It is Love, Joy, and Faith that give meaning to life, and they arise from being centered.

(article source: lessons4living.com - image source: helena1.tumblr & amandaricka.tumblr)

A Bowl Of Comfort

We all need and love comfort food. Don't you think so? Even better if it's really easy to cook and quick. So, here what you can do this weekend. Cook a "Classic Mac and Cheese". Sounds good, isn't it? Here's one very simple recipe from Sing For Your Supper. Look at the image below...yum yum yum =) Have a great weekend everyone...

Classic Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 1 pound elbow macaroni pasta
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
• salt and pepper
• 1 12-ounce can evaporated milk (feel free to use reduced fat milk)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed

Directions:

1. Boil the pasta until al dente then drain and set aside.
2. While pasta is boiling, make the sauce. Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Stir in the flour, ground mustard, salt and pepper and whisk for 1 minute. Slowly pour in the milk and whisk constantly until it thickens. Add the cheeses and stir until melted.
3. Pour the sauce over the macaroni and stir to coat. Serve immediately.

(image and recipe by Sing For Your Supper)

Four Arrangements...

Another great guidance and wisdom for us to live this life. This time is from Miguel Ruiz. He is a Mexican author. His most famous work that has been able to influence many people is called "The Four Arrangements". It's about how we can find ourself in a whole..within ourselves. Just those simple things that often do but we often do those things without thinking what those can do when we do those things sincerely. Here are the Four Arrangements:

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

- Miguel Ruiz -

(article source: goodreads.com - image source: pink-promise.deviantart.com)

Bright Colors...

Bright colors can surely brighten up your mood. That's what I get seeing the images from Coastal Living. I love bright rooms and bright decor....as long as the colors are in the right portion and on the right place. The images below can be some kind of decor inspirations for us on how to decor a a room with bright colors. I really love the second image, the blue room looks so fresh and lively.

(all images from coastalliving.com)

Blanco..

I don't know why but I just love this campaign of Spanish label Blanco, starring Alejandra Alonso by David Dunan. I found the images via Fashion Gone Rogue. All the images look so fresh and fun. Love the hair and the make up. It's all perfectly done. Just the right style that I love in which you don't look "overdose" with all the clothes you're wearing but you still can look stunning and stylish of course.

(image source: fashiongonerogue.com)

Food and Wine

Here's a guide for your weekend =) A guide of calories you will take during weekend. I am free from diet on weekend, it's like a present for me to be able to eat lots of food and beverage during the weekend. How about you? However, I always think first before I'm going to eat or drink something. I always compare this food to another food...the best one the one with a good taste and big portion but comes with a small calorie amount! That's the perfect meal for me =) So, I found this really good food and wine comparison made by Ray Isle. Ray Isle is a Wine Editor from Food & Wine. He made a calorie comparison between wine and certain fast food. Therefore, you'll be able to know which one to take..the wine or the food. Have a nice weekend. xoxo

(image source: foodandwine.com)

Wandering by Hermann Hesse

I've never heard about Hermann Hesse before. But last night when I was surfing on the net I found this really great work of Herman Hesse. Herman Hesse was a German-born Swiss poet, novelist and essayist that received a Nobel Prize in Literature back in 1946. If you read the writing below, you'll know instantly why he won a Nobel Prize. The words he use on his writing is so deep but on the other hand it is very understandable. Below is the excerpt from Wandering, published on 1972. Really is a beautiful piece of writing...

"For me, trees have always been the most penetrating preachers. I revere them when they live in tribes and families, in forests and groves. And even more I revere them when they stand alone. They are like lonely persons. Not like hermits who have stolen away out of some weakness, but like great, solitary men, like Beethoven and Nietzsche. In their highest boughs the world rustles, their roots rest in infinity; but they do not lose themselves there, they struggle with all the force of their lives for one thing only: to fulfill themselves according to their own laws, to build up their own form, to represent themselves. Nothing is holier, nothing is more exemplary than a beautiful, strong tree. When a tree is cut down and reveals its naked death-wound to the sun, one can read its whole history in the luminous, inscribed disk of its trunk: in the rings of its years, its scars, all the struggle, all the suffering, all the sickness, all the happiness and prosperity stand truly written, the narrow years and the luxurious years, the attacks withstood, the storms endured. And every young farmboy knows that the hardest and noblest wood has the narrowest rings, that high on the mountains and in continuing danger the most indestructible, the strongest, the ideal trees grow.

Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life.

A tree says: A kernel is hidden in me, a spark, a thought, I am life from eternal life. The attempt and the risk that the eternal mother took with me is unique, unique the form and veins of my skin, unique the smallest play of leaves in my branches and the smallest scar on my bark. I was made to form and reveal the eternal in my smallest special detail.

A tree says: My strength is trust. I know nothing about my fathers, I know nothing about the thousand children that every year spring out of me. I live out the secret of my seed to the very end, and I care for nothing else. I trust that God is in me. I trust that my labor is holy. Out of this trust I live.

When we are stricken and cannot bear our lives any longer, then a tree has something to say to us: Be still! Be still! Look at me! Life is not easy, life is not difficult. Those are childish thoughts. Let God speak within you, and your thoughts will grow silent. You are anxious because your path leads away from mother and home. But every step and every day lead you back again to the mother. Home is neither here nor there. Home is within you, or home is nowhere at all.

A longing to wander tears my heart when I hear trees rustling in the wind at evening. If one listens to them silently for a long time, this longing reveals its kernel, its meaning. It is not so much a matter of escaping from one's suffering, though it may seem to be so. It is a longing for home, for a memory of the mother, for new metaphors for life. It leads home. Every path leads homeward, every step is birth, every step is death, every grave is mother.

So the tree rustles in the evening, when we stand uneasy before our own childish thoughts: Trees have long thoughts, long-breathing and restful, just as they have longer lives than ours. They are wiser than we are, as long as we do not listen to them. But when we have learned how to listen to trees, then the brevity and the quickness and the childlike hastiness of our thoughts achieve an incomparable joy. Whoever has learned how to listen to trees no longer wants to be a tree. He wants to be nothing except what he is. That is home. That is happiness."

— Hermann Hesse

(excerpt source: goodreads.com - image source: wikipedia.org)

Baked Egg...

Time to take get to the kitchen. What are we going to make this time? This time I'm choosing Baked Egg with Basil-Mint Pesto by Project Foodie. Would you just look at the image of the food below? Looks so tempting and oh-so delicious. I really love the taste of egg combined with herbs. It gives a really unique flavor melt in your mouth. So, let's get down to business, below is the recipe..

Baked Egg with Basil-Mint Pesto

• Ingredients (serves 4):

• 1/2 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 8 slices baguette (1/2 inch thick), cut into rounds or on a slight diagonal, depending on the shape of the baking dishes
• 1/4 cup fresh goat cheese at room temperature
• 8 eggs
• 4 teaspoons chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Butter four 5 x 1-inch gratin or crème brûlée dishes or coat them with nonstick spray and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Pulse the basil and mint in a food processor until finely chopped. Add the garlic, 1/8 teaspoon of the salt, and half of the pepper and pulse to combine. With the processor running, slowly add the olive oil.
2. Toast the baguette slices and spread each with ½ tablespoon of the goat cheese. Arrange 2 slices in each baking dish. Top each slice with about ¾ teaspoon of the basil mint mixture and gently spread to cover.
3. Break the eggs, one at a time, into a small cup and gently pour 1 egg over each slice of toast. (The eggs may slip off the toast and the toast may float, but don't worry, they will bake just fine.) Sprinkle the eggs with the remaining salt and pepper. Top each dish with 1 teaspoon of pecans.
4. Bake the eggs for 12 to 16 minutes or until the egg whites are set and the yolks are to your preferred doneness.

(recipe source: projectfoodie.com)

Control Your Emotion..

We can control our emotion by knowing and realizing our true emotion. I think it's very important if we can control our emotion in a way that it gives us time to reflect and to think what we should do next. Thinking both with hear and your logic sense. I found some points or steps that we can consider when dealing with emotions. I found it from wikihow.com. The title of the article is called "How to Gain Control of Your Emotions". I point out 3 points, click here to read the other 5 points (steps).

• Recognize that emotions don't just appear mysteriously out of nowhere. Many times, we're at the mercy of our emotions on a subconscious level. By recognizing your emotions on a conscious level, you're better able to control them. It's also good to recognize an emotion from the moment it materializes, as opposed to letting it build up and intensify. The last thing you want to do is ignore or repress your feelings, because if you're reading this, you probably know that when you do that, they tend to get worse and erupt later. Ask yourself throughout the day: "How am I feeling right now?" If you can, keep a journal.
• Ask yourself, "What is another way to look at the situation that is more rational and more balanced than the way I was looking at it before?" Taking this new evidence into account, you may conclude that your job is safe, regardless of your boss's petty annoyances, and you're relieved of the emotion that was troubling you. If this doesn't work, however, continue to the next step.
• Make a choice. When deciding what to do, it's important to make sure it's a conscious choice, not a reaction to another, competing emotion. For example, if someone insults you and you do nothing, is it your decision, or is it a response to your fear of confrontation? Here are some good reasons to act upon:

1. Principles - Who do you want to be? What are your moral principles? What do you want the outcome of this situation to be? Ultimately, which is the decision you'd be most proud of? This is where religious guidance comes into play for many people.
2. Logic - Which course of action is the most likely to result in the outcome you desire? For example, if you're being confronted with a street fight, and you want to take the pacifist route, you can walk away--but, there's a good chance that burly drunk will be insulted if you turn your back. Maybe it's better to apologize and keep him talking until he calms down.

(article via WikiHow - image via here)

Ride on...

Life is an emotional roller coaster. I am sure positively it is. No one can be happy all the time and no one can be sad all the time. It's all about balancing feelings and emotions. You will never know what it feels like to be happy if you don't know how it feels like to be sad, and vice versa. So, imagine that you're riding in a roller coaster of life, full of ups and downs..highs and lows...what is the best thing you can do? For sure the best thing you have to do is to buckle up..hold tight and just go along with the ride. There's no way you can stop it and it's impossible for you to jump. Therefore, you might as well enjoy the ride although it is okay for you to be afraid or scared at some point of the roller coaster ride. That's what life is about. The last moments of my life has been like a roller coaster ride. I've gone through a mixture of emotion and feelings. There were times that I feel happy, there were sad moments, there were times when I feel so worried about things and there were also times when I feel like disappointing some people and feel like being offended by some people. It's all there...different kinds of feeling and emotion. But I do know and I do realize that those things I've gone through are there to make me stronger or even to make me be thankful (when I'm at my happy moments). I know that certain thing happen for a certain reason. We are living in a world in which we can't control what other people are doing or will do to us. But for sure we are responsible for our own actions that will lead to our emotions and feelings. Whatever it is, we just have to go through with a positive attitude and surely the moment will pass you by. And in the end, you'll be the one carrying a big bag full of experience of emotions and feelings...

(image via here)

Dance in the rain..

Whoever said the statement or the quote above is absolutely right. I am 100% agree with the statement. Life can sometimes offer us hard times but it's not about how you stand right there waiting and hoping for the stormy moment to pass but it's more about learning how to cope with things you have to deal with. So, rather than just stand there and do nothing, you might want to enjoy the storm that passes you by and take the best of everything. Storm might usually bring the rain, and while it happens, you might want to take a chance to enjoy the rain and just to dance in the rain. While we should focus on how to pass the storm, at the same time we should also be able to take the positive side of everything. Bad things don't always bring negative things and negative outputs but on the contrary..those things can make you grow stronger. And most importantly is that you'll be able to appreciate every little thing that passes you by...good and bad. Have a great weekend ... xoxo

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Life is a continuous lessons. Now is the time for life lessons from Ralph Waldo Emerson - an American lecturer, philosopher, essayist and a poet. Emerson had certain ideas such as individuality, freedom, the ability for man to realize almost anything, and the relationship between the soul and the surrounding world (source). I have always been a big fan of him. His words from his many quotes seems to be perfectly put and somehow it can be your guidance to live this life. My two most favorite quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson are:

• "To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
• "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Below is the list of 7 amazing life lessons from Ralph Waldo Emerson found on enlightr.com.

7 Amazing Life Lessons from Ralph Waldo Emerson

1. Aim Above The Mark. “We aim above the mark to hit the mark.”
2. What You Always See, You Stop Seeing. “If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years how man would marvel and stare.”
3. Conquer Daily. “He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.”
4. Work on Yourself. “The sum of wisdom is that time is never lost that is devoted to work.”
5. Repair Your Character. “No change of circumstances can repair a defect of character.”
6. Think Bigger. “In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine.”
7. Make Yourself Necessary. “Make yourself necessary to somebody.”

(source: enlightr.com - image source: Lin Pernille Photography)

Hello March

Let us all say "Hello" to March..a new month is here with us. How do you feel entering a new month? Some people always said that when life seems to move really fast, then life is good for you, meaning that you enjoy living your life. On the other hand, when you feel like life is moving really slow, that means you don't really enjoy the moment and the life you're living.

Wikipedia said that "The name of March comes from ancient Rome, when March was the first month of the year and named Martius after Mars, the Roman God of war." As for myself, just like the name itself, March is the month in which you have to "march" to the future. Literally march as in go forward and make your own way to the future. March along with those who are important in your life and those who can make life really amazing.

However, what's more important is to keep on moving. Slow or fast...make sure you're moving and make sure that you're moving forward =) Whatever it is, when you do all the things you're doing with love and a sincere heart...you'll make everything good as the output. Have a great first day of March -xoxo-

“Daffodils that come before the swallow dares, and takes the winds of March with beauty.” William Shakespeare

(image via weheartit)