Things to look up to..

Now and then I always look up to more and more life lessons. The simple one as I always said. This time it's a list of 10 point of life lessons about words that I found via educopark. You can call this list anything you want...rules, lessons, tips, anything. But the main things is to be able to know the meaning behind every point. It's good to know more about life and all the lessons about life that we can learn. After all, life is a never ending learning. Enjoy the list..

1] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble; it is a "steering wheel" that directs us in the right path throughout life.

2] Do you know why a car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the rear view mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on.

3] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

4] Allthings in life are temporary. If going is well enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going is wrong don’t worry, they can't last long either.

5] Old friends are like Gold! New friends are Diamonds! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a base of Gold!

6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!

7] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.

8] A blindperson asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision."

9] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

10] WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES; it takes away today’s PEACE.
If you really enjoy this, PLEASE pass to others. It may brighten someone's day...

(article source: educopark.com - image source: designerdigitals.com)

Heart and Mind

Have you ever think what are the roles of our heart and our mind? I think that in order to find any answer about our doubtness, we must be able to look deeply into our heart. Because, the heart can give us those answers that often our mind couldn't think of. So, what is the relationship of our heart and mind? I believe it has its own role for us. Logical thinking and a heart's feeling. I'm sure that if we can use both our heart and mind for its proper purpose, we will be able to identify the good and bad, the angel and evil, the possitive and negative, black and white and other things in life.

Heart and Mind

Is it the lassitude, what I am feeling or I am suffering and its increasing day after day, hour after hour. When I recall my past I feel I have done many things that I should not have done or should have done differently. But then, beings are bound to err. I remember the time when my emotion ate me up and then I decided to eat my emotions up and I succeeded too in that to some extant. But now I realize that emotions could have been used in better way. Life is so strange that I myself don’t know what I am trying to know. Is this usual phenomenon or I am the only exception?

I am trying to know, "what am I trying to know? What am I trying to do? What am I trying to get? Why so much of fear of failure, when I have failed so many times? Why am I feeling that I am bounded in my own confusions? Why am I not letting myself left with me only? Why am I not I? Question and questions but no answer No, human too are machines with an extra sophistication of having mind. They are running as they know that they cannot stop. Stopping would mean death. Isn’t that then is the easiest way to stop working?

There must be something else that is playing with us. We cannot stop working. It is not just because of stomach but the heart from where emanates and derives the emotions. You can ask then why mind rules the world if heart is so strong.

Because; Mind emits, heart absorbs Mind shows,

heart hides Mind fears,

Heart bears Heart is not to rule but to serve.

I may try using my mind to control heart

but the power of heart will always prevail over mind.

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."

- Albert Einstein -

(source from articlesbase.com - images from homegrownhospitality.typepad)

Sausage and Mozzarella...

Here's something really delicious to accompany you and the loved ones this weekend. It's called "Sausage and Mozzarella Calzone" by Pinch of Yum. Look at the image below..oh it's making me so hungry just by looking at it. I think it would be perfect for any occasion at any time...breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack or dinner. Don't you think so? Find the recipe below. Don't worry, it's the simple recipe. Happy cooking and have a great weekend =)

Sausage and Mozzarella Calzone (serves 8)

Ingredients:

• 4 frozen bread loaves (I used Rhoades brand)
• 1 lb. ground sausage
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 cup tomato sauce (pizza, pasta, marinara, whatever)

Directions:

1. Thaw the dough. I thawed mine for about 8 hours in the refrigerator. Then I took them out and let them rise again for about an hour until they were puffed up.
2. Brown the sausage. When cooled slightly, mix with sauce and mozzarella.
3. Cut each loaf in half. Roll it out and place about 1/4-1/3 cup sausage mixture in the middle of each calzone. Fold the tops over and pinch shut with a fork.
4. Bake for about 12 minutes at 400 degrees, or wrap and freeze!

(recipe and image by Pinch Of Yum)

Blessings..

Below is such a wonderful piece of reading. It's one of those I can use as a "life guide", the one that I can read again and again just to make me feel better. Not only it has good words in it, but it consists of blessings. How good it is when people always have blessings for you? Blessing is much like a prayer...a good one of course. I feel complete when my parents bless me to do the things I want to do. Don't you feel that way too? So, here's the reading about blessing from John O'Donohue, a poet and philosopher. Have a blessed day =)

"For Equilibrium, a Blessing:
Like the joy of the sea coming home to shore,
May the relief of laughter rinse through your soul.

As the wind loves to call things to dance,
May your gravity by lightened by grace.

Like the dignity of moonlight restoring the earth,
May your thoughts incline with reverence and respect.

As water takes whatever shape it is in,
So free may you be about who you become.

As silence smiles on the other side of what's said,
May your sense of irony bring perspective.

As time remains free of all that it frames,
May your mind stay clear of all it names.

May your prayer of listening deepen enough
to hear in the depths the laughter of god."
— John O'Donohue (To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Invocations and Blessings)

(image source: weheartit)

Another soul...

What's more beautiful than being madly in love with someone?

Nothing beats that feeling I guess.

Knowing that the one who you love, loves you back is an irreplaceable feelings.

Knowing that you are really special to someone.

Having another soul you can cling to is a splendid feeling.

Let you know that you will not be left alone in this world =)

(image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

Which dress..

Thinking about making a gown...but I can't make a decision between the two colors below.

Which one do you prefer?

Which color do you prefer?Market Research

(image source: coik.over-blog.com)

Charming rustic decor

I love rustic home decor. I think it takes courage and good taste to make a really great rustic decor. This time I found another amazing rustic home decor located in the historical region of Empordà, in Girona, Spain (via freshome). I believe that it's not easy to create such charming rustic home decor. The reason why I love rustic decor is the warmth feeling that it creates. Though there are some people who think that rustic decor is kind of dusty and chaotic. But I am still in love with it. When I first saw it, I knew it was located somewhere in Spain, the colors of the decor really indicate the location. Enjoy the splendid images of the decor below =)

(image source: freshome.com)

Touch..

Do you love to be touched? When I feel sad and low, a good warm hug can really cure me. It's like a remedy to my mood. A good touch is really important for me, it can give me the loving feeling. When my husband gives me a gentle hug or hold my hand tight in the crowd or even give me a small kiss on the forehead or giving me a comforting hug when I'm low, it gives me a splendid feeling, knowing that those acts show me that there's a person who really care for me and loves me. Here are 6 reasons we need to be touched from enlightr.

6 Reasons You Need To Be Touched

1. Feel connected to others. We are social beings.
2. Reduce anxiety. Simply touching another person can make us feel more secure and less anxious.
3. Bonding. Regular touch is one of the ways that we continually renew our bonds with those we love.
4. Lowers your blood pressure. Studies have shown that those that get regular touch often have lower blood pressure than those that don’t.
5. Improve your outlook. It’s harder to get into a pessimistic funk when you feel connected to others.
6. Give us the sensory input that we crave. All the various kinds of touch from butterfly kisses to deep tissue massage send our brains the physical inputs it needs to make sense of the world.

(article source: enlightr.com - image source: vi.sualize.us)

Turning 30!

Today is my birthday =) Yay...happy birthday to me. I can't believe I'm 30 y.o now. I don't whether to be excited or not hahaha just kidding. Of course we always have to be happy no matter how old or how young we are. Age is just a number, what's inside of you is the one that matters the most. So, today is my very first birthday as a wife and the first morning waking up on my birthday having someone sleeping beside me =) What a lovely morning to start a new day.

Anyway, I found this fun list of things about turning 30. I found it via michael-moniz. He listed down the reasons why turning 30 rocks =) Just for fun...Here's the list..

30 Reasons Why Turning 30 Rocks!

1. I get to check a new age group box on forms.
2. I get to say, “I remember when I was in my 20s”.
3. It is a milestone birthday.
4. It is more exciting to say “I am 30″ than “I am 29 or 31″
5. More exciting to blog for a week about your 30th birthday.
6. I get 10 years to prepare for turning 40.
7. I get to take the time to look at a new vision for my 30s.
8. I have stopped trying to find myself and started creating myself.
9. I get to start anew in my new age range.
10. I have great experiences from my past and so now I get to add new ones!
11. I can celebrate BIG for this birthday.
12. I have years to get use to being called sir.
13. When I get carded it is a compliment instead of them not thinking I am old enough.
14. All the life lessons I learned in my 20s, I can now apply to my life.
15. Don’t have to worry about being 30 because I just AM.
16. Get to read all the self help books about surviving your 30’s and nod in agreement with them.
17. Do not have to do it alone since many of my friends and my niece are turning 30 with me.
18. A major birthday like 30 means better presents!
19. If I have learn nothing else from Desperate Housewives, 40 is the new 30 and 30 is the new 20.
20. People naturally take you more seriously when you are in your 30s.
21. You get to smile when people can not believe you are 30.
22. No longer have to struggle to be an adult because you have years of practice.
23. 5 more years and I can be president.
24. Instead of stressing about acne, I can stress about wrinkles and white hair.
25. When I was younger 30 was OLD, now I feel 30 is young.
26. Don’t I wait for Santa to bring me a wii, I can go get my own.
27. I maybe turning 30 but I will still always be the youngest in my family.
28. Turning 30 makes you appreciate your 20’s and look forward to your 40s.
29. There is only on option to not turning 30, that is death. I say, “Welcome 30!”
30. Like the Christina song, “Keeps Getting Better”

(article source: michael-moniz.com - image source: favim.com & weheartit)

Potato...

I love potatoes. You can cook it however you want, I will still love it. My fave are mashed potato and baby potatoes. I can't stop eating when I see those two kinds of potato =) Here's one more potato recipe for you, simple one of course. I found it on Marcus Samuelsson's site.

But before that, I'm going to give you some information and fact about potato. Last night I was watching a news about nutrition and it was talking about what we eat everyday. I always a firm believer that we are what we eat. So, here's what we have to know before actually eating potatoes =) Here are some fact about potato from potato2008.org.

• The potato is a good source of dietary energy and some micronutrients, and its protein content is very high in comparison with other roots and tubers
• Potato is low in fat - but preparing and serving potatoes with high fat ingredients raises the caloric value of the dish.
• Boiling potatoes in their skins prevents loss of nutrients.
• Potatoes are important in many diets, but need to be balanced with other vegetables and whole grain foods.

Now here comes the recipe of Boiled new potatoes with cilantro pesto by Marcus Samuelsson

Ingredients:

• ¾ pound new potatoes, scrubbed
• 1-1½ teaspoons salt, plus to taste
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 2-3 tablespoons Cilantro Pesto (or other seasoning)

Directions:

1. Place the potatoes in a medium saucepan and add cold water just to cover. Bring the water to a boil over medium heat, and then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes can be easily pierced with a fork, about 8-10 minutes, depending on their size.
2. Drain the potatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the pesto and toss to coat. Serve while still warm.

(Potato info and images via potato2008.org- Recipe photo by Lindsay Hunt via Marcus Samuelsson)

Smallest act of kindness

I always love to talk about every act of kindness. Even if it's only the smallest act of kindness. You don't need to judge how big or small it is, the thing that matters the most is the sincerity of doing the kindness. It's how you do it not how big you can do it. Here's a short writhing by a famous American author/novelist Dean Koontz from one of his books "From The Corner Of His Eye" about act of kindness...about how the author explain on good and bad. Hope you like it =)

Not one day in anyone’s life is an uneventful day, no day without profound meaning, no matter how dull and boring it might seem, no matter whether you are a seamstress or a queen, a shoeshine boy, or a movie star, a renowned philosopher or a Down’s-syndrome child. Because in every day of your life, there are opportunities to perform little kindnesses for others, both by conscious acts of will and unconscious example.

Each smallest act of kindness—even just words of hope when they are needed, the remembrance of a birthday, a compliment that engenders a smile—reverberates across great distances and spans of time, affecting lives unknown to the one whose generous spirit was the source of this good echo, because kindness is passed on and grows each time it’s passed, until a simple courtesy becomes an act of selfless courage years later and far away.

Likewise, each small meanness, each thoughtless expression of hatred, each envious and bitter act, regardless of how petty, can inspire others, and is therefore the seed that ultimately produces evil fruit, poisoning people whom you have never met and never will. All human lives are so profoundly and intricately entwined—those dead, those living, those generations yet to come—that the fate of all is the fate of each, and the hope of humanity rests in every heart and in every pair of hands.

Therefore, after every failure, we are obliged to strive again for success, and when faced with the end of one thing, we must build something new and better in the ashes, just as from pain and grief, we must weave hope, for each of us is a thread critical to the strength—to the very survival of the human tapestry.

Every hour in every life contains such often-unrecognized potential to affect the world that the great days and thrilling possibilities are combined always in this momentous day.

— Dean Koontz (From the Corner of His Eye)

(image source: vi.sualize.us)

Happy Birthday..

Today is the birthday of my dearest husband, Mesza =) This is our first birthday celebration as a man and wife. June really is our month. Our wedding was on June 4th 2011, his birthday is today and my birthday will be on June 17th. Go June =) The month of cake and celebration. So, happy birthday. I can only wish nothing but love, joy and happiness.

(image source: weheartit.com)

Karton..

Hi everyone =) How's your weekend? This morning I found a really unique stuff made out of cardboard material by a company called KARTON. First time I saw it I thought it was only some kind of a "one-time" project by someone. But when I searched further about it, turns out that it's not only a "one-time" project but it's a mass commercial production. Below is the company profile and some of the products. Really unique!

The Art of Giving

Life is a give and take situation. Life is caring, life is sharing. Giving to those in need is can give you the best feeling afterward. Knowing that you've been able to make someone smile because of your help, even if it's just a little help. Here is a writing about the art of giving and hoe it relates to our heart. This is a short writing about giving called "The Economy Of The Heart" in which it works completely different from our common world of economy (source)

The economy of the external world, the exchanging of money and material goods, is simple. Give, and hope to get something back. Simple mathematics – your wallet gets lighter as you give.

But the economy of our heart is different, it is the direct opposite.

The more you give, the more you have!

This cannot be doubted; you must have experienced it for yourself.

The smallest example is enough:

when you play with a small child, and you laugh, and you give, and you kiss –

you must have felt the love within grow stronger."

(article source: urbanmonk.net - image source: weheartit.com)

I'm back and Married =)

Hi everyone..I'm baaaack. And I am a wife now..I'm married now =) Feel so happy and blessed. So sorry if I was away for a while because of those wedding things. But the most important thing is that I'm here now. So, the wedding went exactly as I wanted. All my friends, family and the invited guests were there. There were so many guests at the wedding, I had to greet all of them one by one for almost 3,5 hours. We were so tired but felt very happy. Here are some of the pictures from my "Akad Nikah" (Holly Matrimony) and also the wedding reception.

Greeting for you..

Hi everyone..I am aware that lately I haven't got the normal time for my postings because I've been busy preparing my Wedding which is in 2 more days, this Saturday. I feel so excited. So, today I have a chance to greet you all a good morning and a very nice weekend. I might be back here next week after my honeymoon and of course with lots of pictures from my wedding day =) Wish me luck and if you don't mind please send me a prayer for my wedding. A prayer will worth more than anything for me xoxo

(image source weheartit.com)