Creating Your Destiny

Below is a great quote to start the weekend and to close the working days =) The quote is about creating your destiny with your own hand, your will and your mind. No matter what happens, we always have to face life's ups and downs. Who knows where the road might lead us as long as we have the willingness to do our best, I am sure we're going to be at the place we've always wanted. Have a great weekend =)

“You can't hang around waiting for somebody else to pull your strings. 

Destiny's what you make of it. You have to face whatever life throws at you. 

And if it throws more than you'd like, more than you think you can handle? 

Well then you just have to find the heroism within yourself 

and play out the hand you've been dealt. 

The universe never sets a challenge that can't be met. 

You just need to believe in yourself in order to find the strength to face it.”
― Darren Shan, Hell's Heroes

(image source:weheartit)

Clever Ceral Bowl

I came accross this website, hiconsumption.com, and saw this cereal bowl...and I'm like wow, this is exactly what I need. After all this time, how come no one (including me) never thought about inventing this cereal bowl. Look at the image below. Isn't it amazing? It's a really clever idea. The bowl is called "Obol Never-Soggy Cereal Bowl.". I have always wanted my creal to be crunchy, I think most of us always wanted it to be like that too, but at the same time I want it to mix well with the milk...and surely this bowl is perfect. 

Control Your Emotion

How hard is it for you to control your emotion? Once or twice I find it hard to control my emotion. This doesn't mean that I show people what feelings I am having at certain moments but the hard effort that I often had when trying to hide the feelings I shouldn't show at certain moments. I think there are times when we have to be able to control our emotions, although there are times wen we have to be able to show trully our emotion and how we feel. For those moments that require us to control our emotions, here's an article I found from WikiHow about controling your emotion. 

How to Control Your Emotions

1. Put your emotions into a "box theory". This is when you get whenever you feel sad or hyper. Make an imaginary box and visualize your emotions going into the box and the lid being closed. This is good because it allows you to forget about those emotions for a while, but beware not to let them fester in there because when they escape there will be an emotional over load and you wont know what to do. This is a short term emotional control for quick fix situational changes.
2. Control your emotions mentally. Mental control is the best if you are remembering a situation or are in a situation where you need to keep in control. An example would be a relationship break up. Emotions are part of your state of mind, and with enough mental control you can choose how you feel. Say to yourself 'actually I don't want to feel like this, I want to feel like that', and although the other emotion may still linger it will die down and eventually you won't feel it as much.
3. Start the day in a positive way. Nobody wakes up and thinks, "Today I'm going to have a really awful day". Most people wake up and don't even think about the day ahead. Try this: "Today is going to be a good day?" This way, you start the day having a positive outlook on life. Try being as nice and positive to everybody and set yourself simple little tasks during the day, for example, "Today, I shall eat five pieces of healthy fruit or vegetables" or "I shall smile at that boy or girl I have liked for ages".
4. Talk about how you feel. The best way to solve something that's upsetting you is talking to someone, even if it's your dog. Talking about things helps to make things clearer and tends to help your brain sort out situations.
5. Scream. Find a wide, open space where you are not likely to get a lot of attention and shout as loud as you can.
6. Just talk to yourself when you feel more calm. When you feel that you can talk to nobody, just talk to yourself, and maybe that would help you feel more relaxed.
7. Punch a pillow. When you are angry, or you need to let your emotions out privately, just go into a closed room, where nobody will bother you, and let your stress come out sometimes. Punch a pillow, and it will slowly put you in a calm position.
8. Detach yourself. If you are close to emotional overload or don't want anyone to know how your feeling; take a step back from yourself and your emotions. Pretend you're looking at them from someone else's point of view or just shove them deep down and try to forget about them.

(article source: wikihow.com - image source: weheartit)

Ways to Indulge

What do you usually do to indulge yourself? Many people have ice cream or chocolate to indulge themselves, or mybe for some people they go shopping to indulge themselves. Different people have their own unique way to indulge themselves. I do realize that indulgence can come in many fomrs but most of all, little things can be those precious indulgence for most people and for us also. I found this article called "10 Little Ways To Indulge"on Real Simple. Maybe it can give you a little hint for indulgence. Have a great weekend =)

10 Little Ways to Indulge

Happiness vs. Pleasure

I’m not a happiness guy—there’s nothing new that I can tell you about how to live a

fulfilling life. Instead, I am interested in the more concrete topic of pleasure. What’s the difference? Happiness is a prolonged state of being that is influenced by a variety of factors, ranging from a person’s relationships to her religion to her genetic predispositions. Pleasure, on the other hand, is a purely instinctive reaction with a brief life span: 30 seconds to an hour or two, tops. And while happiness can be elusive at times, sources of pleasure are fairly easy to come by.

Play That Song You Love So Much. Repeat

As any preschooler can tell you, repetition nurtures pleasure. When you experience something more than once, you notice more details about it each time, thereby increasing your enjoyment. That’s why you love revisiting that jazz standard, favorite roast chicken recipe, and beloved old Woody Allen movie. Of course, you can overdo it. The effect of repetition on pleasure is an inverted U: You appreciate something more and more over time until, abruptly, it becomes repellent to you. Which is why no one you know can bear to listen to that “I get knocked down, but I get up again” song anymore.

Seek Out the Sommelier

In all areas of our lives, our sensory reactions are affected by the depth of our knowledge. Take wine, for example. If you want to enjoy it more fully, you don’t have to shell out hundreds for a bottle of Château Lynch-Bages; you simply need to learn about the vino you are already drinking. Buy a wine encyclopedia, take a class—or head to a restaurant with a sommelier who likes to educate patrons during the meal. You won’t just think about wine differently; you will taste it differently.

Read (or Watch or Participate in) Something That Takes Your Breath Away

A recent study found that people seek out newspaper articles that inspire awe—that hard-to-define feeling we get when we’re exposed to great beauty, power, or accomplishment. This pleasurable tickle is uniquely human and can be achieved in multiple ways: praying, watching nature programs, and reading stories of personal triumph, to name a few. Whatever gives you that lump-in-your-throat feeling, pursue it any way you can.

Grin and Bear It

Isn’t it annoying when you’re a little blue and your friends and family tell you to smile? Well, like it or not, smiling is a mood booster. Here’s why: People react better to you when you look happy, leading to a reinforcing cycle of good vibes. Plus, thanks to something called “facial feedback,” looking happy (oddly enough) fools your brain into thinking that you are happy.

Give

Humans are altruistic by nature: If we act generously, we feel joyful. Go ahead and try it. Go to the website of a favorite charity and make a donation. It doesn’t have to be a lot—just enough to get a small burst of pride in your chest.

Make the Bath as Hot as You Can Stand It

Psychologist Paul Rozin has argued that people get a kick from “benign masochism”—that is, controlled exposure to low-level discomfort (think spicy chili peppers and saunas). Maybe we love the endorphin rush. Or just the delightful contrast when we ultimately escape from the pain. Regardless, it pays to pamper yourself occasionally with a bit—but just a bit—of suffering.

(article source: realsimple - image source: weheartit, weheartit )

Vibrant White Apartment...

This is one of those "must-post" postings =) It's an amazing interior design I found via Desire To Inspire. It is said that the apartment was designed by Maison Hand. What I like most about the interior is the color...white is my fave color. The white color domination makes the space looks vibrant and also spacious. Not only about the color but the placement of the rooms are so amazing. The hidden bed behind the curtain is what makes this apartment unique.Really really really love it! 

Like The Moon...

This is a sincere quote I just found on Goodreads. It's a really thoughtful quote to start a new week. The quote is about being honest. Being honest to everyone and most importantly being honest to ourselves.

“The moon will never lie to anyone. Be like the moon. No one hates the moon or wants to kill it. The moon does not take antidepressants and never gets sent to prison. The moon never shot a guy in the face and ran away. The moon has been around a long time and has never tried to rip anyone off. The moon does not care who you want to touch or what color you are. The moon treats everyone the same. The moon never tries to get in on the guest list or use your name to impress others. Be like the moon. When others insult or belittle in an attempt to elevate themselves, the moon sits passively and watches, never lowering itself to anything that weak. The moon is beautiful and bright. It needs no makeup to look beautiful. The moon never shoves clouds out of its way so it can be seen. The moon needs not fame or money to be powerful. The moon never asks you to go to war to defend it. Be like the moon.”

― Henry Rollins, Solipsist

(images via weheartit)

Happy Relationship

How is your relationship with your couple lately? Do you find it hard to re-create the spark? I think it's really important to always have the sparks alive for a couple. Because at the end of the day, it's your partner who you can count on when, for example, your day went bad, you had a fight with someone, your jobs troubled you or when you just need someone to talk to. I believe this is how your partner feels to. That is why the sparks between us and our partner has to always be re-created. I know sometimes each one of us got bored because of the routine tasks or maybe the daily situations, that is why being in a happy relationship is really important to our life.  So, how to re-create the spark between you and your partner? How to keep your relationship alive? I found an article with the title "Seven Easy Ways to Ignite the Spark in Your Relationship" written by Melody Brooke, MA, LPC, LMFT on BlogCritics.org. Hope it is good enough for you and for all of us who need a refreshment in our relationship with our partner. 

"Seven Easy Ways to Ignite the Spark in Your Relationship"

1) Love is an action: Show your partner how you feel about them every day, at least once a day. Do this even if you are in different states or countries. Show your care, don’t just speak it. Saying “I love you” doesn’t deepen a connection unless it’s accompanied by actions. Leave love notes under your partner’s pillow when you are going to be out of town. Make sure the tires in his car have enough air in them before he leaves town. Hug her every time she walks in the door. Think to get her favorite flower once in a while, for no reason. Fix the leak in the bathroom he’s been complaining about. Wipe up the counter and pick up after yourself like she has been asking.

2) We are all kids at heart: Recognize that no matter how grown up your partner seems, they are really a little kid inside. (Oh yes, and so are you.) We are all really just kids that have bodies that have aged. Inside all of us are the unmet needs of our childhood as well as the playful, spontaneous, joyful child that we once were. Throughout the time you spend with your partner, see if you can notice the kid inside them. Respond to that kid just as you would to a kid who has not yet grown older.

3) Bedtime sharing: If you live together, go to bed at the same time, together, every night. This is huge. That means turning off the TV, the night-light and the phone. This is your time together. Cuddle and talk, make love if the urge strikes, but that is not the point. The point is to talk about your day, your worries, and your hopes. Discover that in spite of all the time you have spent together, you still don’t know each other. If you don’t live together, or are not together for whatever reason, talk on the phone after you climb into bed.

4) Don’t let things slide: When your partner says or does something you don’t agree with or that upsets you, tell them. Don’t just let it slide. This doesn’t mean making a mountain out of molehill, but be sure to give things that upset you the energy that they deserve. Pretending that something doesn’t matter doesn’t make it not matter. You may think it’s not important but over time these things add up and cause resentments and distance. You may not always have time to process the conflict at that moment, but at least let your partner know that you are having a problem and that you will need to discuss it later. When you go to bed together that night, discuss it, if you haven’t already.

5) You are not enemies: When you are in a conflict with your partner, stop your arguing for a moment. Breathe deeply. Start thinking about what you love about this person, and what you are grateful for about them. Then remember that they are not your enemy. In the middle of a conflict it sure can feel that way. It can seem that they are attacking you and you are the victim. Instead of arguing your case back to them, listen to what they are saying and, more importantly, what they are feeling. Respond to what they are feeling. Own what you can about your part in whatever has upset them; this doesn’t mean agreeing with them, only that you can see that you have done something that upset them.

6) Touch well, touch often: Touch your partner as often as possible, and get them to touch you as often as possible. Skin to skin contact increases a hormone called oxytocin, the hormone of love. Oxytocin increases trust and a sense of safety; it reduces stress and increases sexual arousal. Most men and many women are touch deprived. In many cultures parents are taught not to “baby” their children and they interpret this as not cuddling them. Touch increases our overall sense of well being.

7) Play together. Be playful in your interactions. Have a sense of humor in times of stress. Find something playful to do that you both enjoy and make it a priority to keep it in your schedule. Play is critical to our sense of connection to others, and to our joy in life. In our culture we tend to get so serious and think that if an activity is not goal-directed it has no purpose or meaning. Yet play expands our ability to think, develops creativity, and gives us a sense of joy. Playing together in both structured and unstructured ways develops trust and engenders caring.

Staying connected requires time and commitment to the relationship. If you are willing to do all seven of these things, your relationship will flourish. Even if you just do a few of them, your relationship will fare better than many, certainly than those who first walk through the door of my counseling office. 

(article source: blogcritics.org - image source: weheartit, loveit.com)

Japanese Potato Salad

I am craving for potato salad! I can always make one for myself at home. But I guess I wanted to find another potato salad recipe. Have you ever tried Japanese potato salad? It tastes so good, I always have one when I', at the Japanese restaurant. So, I guess I'm lucky to find this recipe at the right time. It's a recipe of a Japanese potato salad by Pickled Plum. Surely going to make this today =)

Ingredients

• 2 medium size potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 medium size carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 thumb size ginger, peeled and grated
• 1/2 English cucumber, cut in 1/4 lengthwise, finely chopped
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp sake
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• salt and freshly ground pepper

Cooking Directions

1. Boil potatoes and carrots until tender but still a little firm.
2. In a bowl, pour a little salt and sugar over the cucumbers (about 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 1/2 tsp sugar), mix with your fingers and leave to marinate for about 15-20 minutes. Drain and squeeze the excess water from the cucumber, rinse quickly under cold water and squeeze again.
3. In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, carrots and ginger.
4. With a potato masher, mash about 1/2 of the mixture, add cucumber, mayonnaise, sake, sugar, salt and pepper and mix well with a spoon or spatula.
5. Adjust taste and texture (by adding more mayo) to your liking. Serve.

(image and recipe by Pickled Plum)

Lessons..

School is important, education is important. Being educated at the best school is more than anything when we're still in school. But sometimes not all lesson were taught in school. Life lessons in particular. Life lessons surely are important considering we're living a life in a society that require us to involve in the social life. So, what are those life lessons they should teach us in school? I found the list via Random Stuff. Have a great Monday =)

8 Life Lessons They Should Teach In School

1. Always be completely honest with yourself - and others

Honesty, so they say, is the best quality – and it is, even if being honest means taking a risk. Be honest with yourself about your character, your behavior, your personality and your faults. Extend that sincerity to others and you will become someone of integrity and principles, who can hold their head high.

2. Grades and awards aren't everything

Sure, it’s great to get top grades and to collect prizes and awards when you’re in school. But, actually, none of those baubles mean anything to anyone else out in the big bad world. What’s important is that you know what it takes to achieve those grades and that you take that hard work ethic into other areas of your life.

3. Find a career or hob that you love

One of the first lessons of life we learn as soon as we leave school is that a fabulous job is not just going to land in our laps – especially not these days. Everyone wants a job that pays well, but money isn’t everything. You will spend a lot of time at work in the course of your life, so, it is important to be happy in what you do. Even a dream job is just a means to an end, a way to pay your bills and buy what you need – don’t let your job become everything that matters about you.

4. Don't be afraid to look stupid

Are you afraid to ask questions because you worry you’re going to look stupid? Here’s one of the most important life lessons: no one knows everything. And you’re only going to look even more stupid if you’re not willing to ask a question, even if the answer seems obvious.

5. Steer clear of debt

It’s a simple piece of advice: don’t spend more than you earn. Keeping to that might be tougher than it looks. Don’t be enticed by banks that look cuddly and friendly when offering you cheap loans and credit cards because all they care about is making money.

6. Nobody owes you anything

Reality check, ladies, the world does not owe you a living. You are not entitled to walk into a great job, drive off in a fast car or move into the house of your dreams. One of the life lessons they should teach in school will tell you that you can have these things but only if you work hard. No one will hand you anything on a plate.

7. A friend indeed

You can learn plenty of social skills through interaction with your classmates, but the value of friendship is one life lesson we rarely learn at school. Good friends are hard to find. So, learn who your genuine friends are. They are the ones, who want nothing from you, but will give you everything in return. You can learn plenty of social skills, but the value of friendship is one life lesson they should teach in school. And don’t be jealous of friends’ success. Be happy for them, because if they are genuine friends, they will be happy for you when you do well.

8. Always expect the unexpected

Things go wrong. Life rarely runs smoothly. Go ahead and make plans but be ready for them not to work out as anticipated – or not to work out at all. That, my friends, is one of the key life lessons. Life is unpredictable, often accidental, usually impromptuous and occasionally wonderful – come on in, you’re going to love it.

There’s no test at the end of the 8 Life Lessons They Should Teach In School because the true test starts once you’re actually out in the real world. Very often there’s no indication of pass or failure, because we all measure our success and achievement by our personal sets of values. The best life lesson is simple: do your best to make you and your loved ones happy!

(article source: myrandomstuff.se - image via: paulandirea.tumblr)

Secrets..

Have you ever wonder why people keep secrets from you when it's not supposed to be a secret they should keep? Sometimes I wonder why people do that. Maybe it's because we think differently from that person who keep secret from us. Maybe what we think is not a secret to be kept might be different to the other person. The other person might think that actually it is a secret they should keep from us. I don't really know the right answer or reason for this. But what is someone told you a secret, their secret? Would you be able to spill your own secret too or would you just be the one who listen and keep their secret? I can claim myself as the one who can keep secret because I know I would not be happy if there's a person who I trust tell another person my secret. How about the quote below? It's about secrets of us and other people's secrets. Maybe it's good for us to be able to tell someone our secret or two when we think that by telling our secret, there will be less burden. What do you think?

"What we hunger for perhaps more than anything else is to be known in our full humanness, and yet that is often just what we also fear more than anything else. It is important to tell at least from time to time the secret of who we truly and fully are . . . because otherwise we run the risk of losing track of who we truly and fully are and little by little come to accept instead the highly edited version which we put forth in hope that the world will find it more acceptable than the real thing. It is important to tell our secrets too because it makes it easier . . . for other people to tell us a secret or two of their own . . . ”

- Frederick Buechner, Telling Secrets -

(image via favim)

Another Swedish Decor

Here's another amazing, warm, enchanted Swedish home. There's always something to look up to when it comes to Swedish decor, don't you think so? I can always feel the warmth seeing Swedish home decor. This one is  two-story house located on Bjurfors in Stockholm, Sweden. Found this home via 1kindesign. 

(all images via 1kindesign)

Food Tips...

Here are some "food tips" that can somehow make your life easier =) Found it all via Food World. Often we think too hard or too complicated about something when it turns out that clever things can be done without us making it complicated...

Stay Creative

It's a brand new week in a new month. Welcome September. Wow, is it me or the time flies so fast? In three more months more or less, we'll have another new year. So, what's you agenda for this week? How about being more creative towards anything? I found this nice list about ways to stay creative via mobypicture. Being creative is amazing. I live to try new things and be creative with the things I already have. It doesn't take a genius to be a creative person as long as you have the willingness and the effort to be one =)

(image source: mobypicture.com)