Holiday...

Hello everyone. How's your weekend? My weekend plans were ruined because of the massive traffic jam and also the continuous raining down here. My husband had a plan to go to the zoo to bring our daughter and I was going to attend my friend's wedding party. Turned out that we couldn't do any of our plans. So we just stayed at home...enjoying family time and the raining of course.

So have you got any plan for this year end holiday? Whatever plans that you have, I hope that you'll have a great time. As for me, I'm not going anywhere but I am surely going to spend the holiday with my family. Merry Christmas to those who celebrate....I will try to make postings on holiday (hopefuly I can). But if I can't..we will surely meet again on 2013. Happy holiday xoxo

(image via weheartit)

Simple Rituals

Simple things can often be the most important things in our life or at least have important effect to our life. Below is a lost of 6 simple rituals that we can do everyday to create a potential day, written by Amber Rae from FastCompany. 

6 Simple Rituals To Reach Your Potential Every Day

Here are the six simple rituals he uses to perform at his highest, which you too can begin implementing right away:

1. Drink a glass of water when you wake up. Your body loses water while you sleep, so you’re naturally dehydrated in the morning. A glass of water when you wake helps start your day fresh. When do you drink your first glass of water each day? 
2. Define your top 3. Every morning Mike asks himself, “What are the top three most important tasks that I will complete today?” He prioritizes his day accordingly and doesn’t sleep until the Top 3 are complete. What’s your "Top 3" today? 
3. The 50/10 Rule. Solo-task and do more faster by working in 50/10 increments. Use a timer to work for 50 minutes on only one important task with 10 minute breaks in between. Mike spends his 10 minutes getting away from his desk, going outside, calling friends, meditating, or grabbing a glass of water. What’s your most important task for the next 50 minutes? 
4. Move and sweat daily. Regular movement keeps us healthy and alert. It boosts energy and mood, and relieves stress. Most mornings you’ll find Mike in a CrossFit or a yoga class. How will you sweat today? 
5. Express gratitude. Gratitude fosters happiness, which is why Mike keeps a gratitude journal. Every morning, he writes out at least five things he’s thankful for. In times of stress, he’ll pause and reflect on 10 things he’s grateful for. What are you grateful for today? 
6. Reflect daily. Bring closure to your day through 10 minutes of reflection. Mike asks himself, “What went well?” and “What needs improvement?” So... what went well today? How can you do more of it?

(article from fastcompany.com - image via favim)

Solitude...

I am completely agree with the quote below. It's about being alone once in a while. I do believe that we must be alone every once in a while to be able to speak to ourselves in order to know what we feel inside without having an interference from other thoughts from other people. This doesn't mean that we'll be a loner or lonely, it's just those little time we can spend for ourselves. 

 

 We must become so alone, so utterly alone, that we withdraw into our innermost self. It is a way of bitter suffering. But then our solitude is overcome, we are no longer alone, for we find that our innermost self is the spirit, that it is God, the indivisible. And suddenly we find ourselves in the midst of the world, yet undisturbed by its multiplicity, for our innermost soul we know ourselves to be one with all being.

- Hermann Hesse -

(image via favim)

Fluffy Pancakes

Here's a little something you can make in your kitchen this weeked. Is it just me or it's always good to have pancake anytime we want it? I love pancake, be it sweet or savoury. Look at the pancake image below...so very mouthwatering, isn't it? Fluffy warm pancake can always be the perfect comfort food...anytime! Here's a recipe of Lowfat Fluffy Buttermilk Pancake by The Realistic Nutritionist. Not only it's delicious but also lowfat..keep that in mind..lowfat. Words that can surely make you happy =) Have a great weekend everyone...

 Lowfat Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

Yields about 8 pancakes.

Ingredients: 

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• Dash of salt
• 1 1/2 cups low-fat buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Dash of oil for cooking

Directions: 

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda together.  Set aside. In another bowl, whisk the applesauce, buttermilk, vanilla and eggs together. Carefully add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients with a whisk (this will make the pancakes fluffy, do not stir with a spoon). Mixture will be chunky and lumpy (which is a good thing).
2. Heat about 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Add about 1/4 cup of batter into the pan. Cook pancake on one side until the batter starts to bubble. Then, using a nonstick spatula, flip the pancake. Cook another 3 – 4 minutes, or until both sides are golden brown.

Nutritional information per pancake:

Calories: 155
Fat: 4 grams
Carbohydrates: 26.5 grams
Fiber: 1 gram
Protein: 3.2 grams
Weight Watchers Points:  4

(image and recipe by nutritionfor.us)

Rainy Mood

Do you love rainy days? I love rainy days so much. I am not a gloomy person but I do love rainy days so much especially if I can spend the rainy days at home =) I don't know why but the sound of the rain and the thunder can somehow make everything different, in a good way. Staying at home on a rainy day, listen to the sound of the rain is a bless. For those of you who love rainy days just like me, here a gift for you. I found a website about rainy days. It plays a sound of rain  so you can always hear the sound of the rain anytime you want too. Below is the link.

rainymood

(image via pinterest)

Cultivating Happiness

I stumbled upon this list of ways to cultivate your happiness by A. Irvin via Chrysalides. Happiness can be found everywhere. You don't need to look far to find it. It's up to us whether we can make something happy for us or not. 

50 Ways To Start Cultivating Happiness Today

Oct15

SELF

1. Learn about yourself through introspection.
2. Define your core values and beliefs.
3. Define your own purpose and direction.
4. Love, value, and forgive yourself.
5. Prioritize self-care (get enough sleep, healthy diet, relaxation, etc.).
6. Live authentically.

RELATIONSHIPS

7. Cultivate positive, supportive, and reciprocating relationships.
8. Create healthy boundaries.
9. Teach others how to treat you by loving and respecting yourself.
10. Know the difference between dependence, independence, and interdependence.
11. Seek relationships that cause your world to expand (your world should not feel smaller).
12. Spend more time with inspiring people (and less time with negative people).
13. Be inspiring to others.
14. Don’t internalize or spread contagious negativity.
15. Learn to ask for help, when needed.

ENVIRONMENT

16. Simplify/organize your surroundings (get rid of excess).
17. Design/create a personal sanctuary.
18. Furnish your environment with inspiring materials (books, art, music, etc.)
19. Enjoy a pet.

EXPERIENCES

20. Be willing to learn and experience new things.
21. Develop your creative skills and talents.
22. Prioritize and schedule self-nurturing activities (pampering, self-care).
23. Volunteer for a social cause.
24. Seek peak experiences.
25. Don’t wait for someday (start enjoying life today).

EMOTIONS

26. Resist pessimistic thinking.
27. Keep things in perspective.
28. Accept that you can only control yourself and your own reactions.
29. Don’t sweat the small stuff and choose your battles.
30. Focus on the present (let go of the past, don’t worry about the future).
31. Smile more.
32. Increase your opportunities to share humor.
33. Don’t allow negative moments to snowball (learn to bounce back quicker)

STRIVINGS

34. Seek improvement over perfection.
35. Challenge your self-limiting beliefs (you can achieve more than you think)
36. Pursue meaningful goals.
37. Find what you love to do and make it your life’s work.
38. Redefine your beliefs about success (don’t confuse material acquisitions with success).
39. Appreciate/celebrate your accomplishments and personal milestones.
40. Give yourself permission to change your mind or direction when something isn’t working.
41. Remember to enjoy the journey as much as the ultimate destination.

CENTEREDNESS

42. Know that peace, love, and happiness are all generated from within.
43. Learn to channel your awareness and attention (where your attention goes, energy flows).
44. Learn to re-center and replenish using relaxation or meditation techniques.
45. Recognize discomfort and boredom as a cues for change (versus distress)
46. Seek fluidity over rigidity (become less resistant to change).
47. Seek moments of solitude.
48. When things change, embrace the new normal.
49. Be thankful for what you have now, and live within your means.
50. Practice gratitude.

(article via angelairvin.com - image via: weheartit)

Amazing Cabin..

If there's one place I could be right at this very moment. I'd choose this place. It's a cabin located in the French mountains that I found on 1Kindesign. The place is amazingly beautiful. It's rustic (which I love), warm and also eclectic. So very perfect. The interior really fits my style. Here are the images of the oh-so-lovely cabin. 

Be Kind ..

Below is a quote of Mother Theresa that I always turn into when things didn't run smoothly in life. I think I've posted it before but I think it's worthy to post it once again as a reminder. It's about being a king, forgiving and good person. It's not an easy thing to be one but I believe that we, as a human, can always be the best version of ourselves. Have a great weekend everyone =)

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. 

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. 

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. 

It was never between you and them anyway.” 

― Mother Teresa

(image via tres-little-birds.tumblr)

Mistakes...

In life...there were times when I regretted the things I've done or I haven't done. There were also mistakes that I regretted that make me feel like alway blaming myself for the mistakes I've done. Have you ever felt that way? For example, have you ever feel like you have failed to do something worthy for the one you love so much? What are you going to do about it? Do you blame yourself or you stand up, forget about the mistakes and continue doing the right thing to make it up?

I think blaming yourself on the mistakes is fine as long as you don't drown too long. I guess that it'll be worthy if we try to make it up as soon as possible. After all, we are only human that can easily make mistakes. We're not perfect but at least we tries our best to be the perfect person.

(image via sotrueteenquotes)

DIY Mug

This is such a great DIY idea for you if you have free time at home. It's called His+Her Sharpie Mug that I found on A Beautiful Mess. All you need is only a permanent marker. Write anything you like on he mug, make it for 30 minutes and done =) What a great idea ...

(image via A Beautiful Mess)