Yin-Yang

Here's a small guide for all the lovers of "yin & yang" concept. I am one of those lovers. I do believe that there's always good and bad about everything, I believe that life is all about balance in which the good and the bad somehow complete the dynamic of life. 

(image via greatist.com)

Bruschetta

I love eating bruschetta. The good thing about bruschetta is that it's easy to make, it can make your tummy full and of course it's delicious. I can eat bruschetta both for an appetizer and main course =) Here's one simple bruschetta recipe for you by Apron and Sneakers. Who knows you might want to try to make it for the weekend. 

Bruschetta al Pomodoro & Asparagi 

Ingredients:

Serves 4

• 4 slices of sourdough bread 
• 250 g. tomatoes (the sweetest variety that you can find), finely chopped
• Fresh basil, minced
• Salt
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, halved
• 4 - 6 asparagus spears, grilled & chopped

Directions:

1. In a bowl, mix the tomatoes, asparagus, basil, salt and extra virgin oil. 
2. Grill both sides of the bread on the barbecue grill (the best), in the oven, on a griddle or even in a bread toaster.  
3. Rub one side of the bread with halved garlic, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil then spoon the tomato and asparagus mixture on it.  
4. Serve while hot.  

(image and recipe by apronandsneakers.com)

Self Expressions

We often find ourselves in a difficult situation to express our feelings. I often be in that kind of situation. I sometimes find it hard to really express my feelings, although I really want to let people know how I really feel at that time. How about you? Have you ever felt that way too? I think in an appropriate situation, it is important to be able to express what we're feeling inside just to let other people know our feelings. I found an article on Life Is Now about the importance and the benefits of self expression. Below are some part of the article. 

Self Expression – The Benefits

• You learn more about yourself.  You might think you know yourself well but the more you find and express the further you can go.
• You build your self esteem and confidence.  There is nothing more attractive than someone who knows themselves well and isn’t afraid to share it.
• You face difficult emotions.  Having a way to express yourself means that you are more likely to face and work through challenges in your life.  Not having a way to express difficult emotions means that you are more likely resist and suppress them.
• You feel more joy.  Joy is a more substantial emotion than happiness.  Happiness is fleeting, it comes and goes.  The joy of self expression is something only those who have experienced can know.  There is no comparison.

(article via life-is-now.co.uk - image via weheartit)

Quote of the day

Clouds come floating into my life, 
no longer to carry rain or usher storm, 
but to add color to my sunset sky.

Rabindranath Tagore 

(image via weheartit)

Coincidence..

Serendipity, coincidences, similar path are those things that can lead us to somewhere we're supposed to be. Somehow there's always this thing that can make us do things we don't want to do but yet guided us to someplace we're supposed to be. I do believe in such things. Life is full of promises and full of ways to connect us with those things that can lead us to the path we're supposed to take. I found an interesting article on healyourlife.com, it is about coincidence and how we can actually find signs that can lead us to the syncronicity of life. The article was written by John Holland, internationally renowned psychic. Below is the list of what he said to be the six tips to connect with synchronicities. 

Coincidence...Or Something More?

When the Divine nudges you.

SYNCHRONICITIES AND SO-CALLED coincidences are clear signs that the Divine Source is knocking at your door. Sometimes it could be a soft tap or for those times when you’re not really paying attention, it could be a louder bang!

When “source” uses synchronicity as a method of communicating, it can manifest itself in some pretty unique ways, which I call my divine nudges.

Have you heard the same phrase or saying from a number of different people in one day?

Do the same numbers keep showing up over and over in your life?

Has someone mentioned the same person you were just thinking of?

Have you met someone out of the blue who answered a question that you were just asking yourself?

These are all signals that you should pause, be open, and pay attention to these signs, but most important: to acknowledge that the source is trying to send you a message.

Here are six tips that will help you tap into and work with synchronicities:

1. Pay attention to meaningful synchronistic events and coincidences. The more you do this, the more they will guide you.
2. Notice when you run into people unexpectedly. Really listen to what’s being said in the conversation and the hidden message that could be there for you.
3. If there’s a certain problem in your life, try to let it go and let synchronicity play its part.
4. What you’re saying to the Divine Source is: “OK, show me! Let me be aware and act when the answer or guidance is being presented to me.”
5. Get a journal and start recording any synchronistic events. This will allow your intuition to become even more aware when source is knocking on your door.
6. Believe that Divine nudges are possible. A positive attitude enhances the experience, just as a negative attitude will shut it down.

(article via healyourlife.com - image via weheartit)

A House In Perth

This is the time when I fall in love with another home decor. Seeing an amazing interior is like  sipping your coffee early in the morning. It never fails. Here's a refreshing home somewhere in Perth, Australia. I can say it's a mix of chic and eclectic. It's bright but at the same time it somehow gives us the warm feeling of a homey place. You can see the images below (via). 

                          

(images via foureyedwonder.com)

Keep In Mind

There are some things that we have to always remember. It doesn't mean that we have to remember those things but there are some things we have to keep in mind. I found this 11 things we need to keep in mind via Marc and Angel. My favorites are point 2, 3 and 6. Below is the complete article. 

Here are 11 things we all need you to keep in mind…

1. You never really know how much the people around you are hurting.  You could be standing next to someone who is completely broken inside and you wouldn’t even know it.  So never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.  And remember that there are two ways to spread light in this world: You can either be a flame of hope, or a mirror that reflects it.  Be one of the two every chance you get.  
2. The most important trip you will likely take in life is meeting others half way.  You will achieve far more by working with people, rather than against them.  Giving someone else a voice, and showing them that their ideas matter, will have a long-lasting, positive impact on the both of you.
3. Relationships don’t create happiness, they reflect it.  Happiness is an inside job.  Relationships are simply the mirrors of your happiness; they reflect it and help you celebrate it.  They are mirrors because they are a perfect reflection of your thoughts and beliefs.  To reflect means to encourage you when you feel weak and challenge you when you feel strong, thereby returning you to your center.  And to celebrate is to share the natural ease and joy of living from your center – of living in the now with clarity.
4. Compassion comes back around.  The son who tends to his chronically ill mother, ignoring his own exhaustion; the neighbor who gives a helping hand, even as his own needs go unanswered; the one who donates a couple dollars to someone in need, even if she has to break her last five dollar bill to do it.  Maybe you don’t hear the names of these unsung heroes in the news, but surely the universe hears their names and treats them accordingly.
5. Timing is everything.  There is a time for silence, a time to let go and allow your friends to launch themselves into their own destiny, and a time to cheer for their victories, or help them pick up the pieces, when it’s all over. 
6. Actions are the loudest form of communication.  What you do speaks so loud that others will have a hard time hearing what you say.  So practice what you preach or don’t preach at all – walk the talk.  And remember that there is often a major gap between what someone says and what they do.  Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
7. A healthy relationship keeps the doors and windows open.  Plenty of air is circulating and no one feels trapped.  Relationships thrive in this environment.  Keep your doors and windows open.  If a person is meant to be in your life, all the open doors and windows in the world won’t make them leave.
8. People are more what they keep silent than what they say.  Pay attention to their quiet gestures.  If you cannot understand someone’s silence, you will have a hard time understanding their words.  Read The Definitive Book of Body Language.
9. What others say and do is often based entirely on their own self-reflection.  When you have people speaking to you who are angry and upset, and you nevertheless remain very present and continue to treat them with kindness and respect, you place yourself in a position of great power.  You become a means for the situation to be graciously diffused and healed.  A Zen teacher once said, “When somebody backs themselves into a corner, look the other way until they get themselves out; and then act as though it never happened.”  Allowing people to save face in this way, and not reminding them of what they already know is not their most intelligent behavior, is an act of great kindness.  This is possible when we realize that people behave in such ways because they are in a place of great suffering.  People react to their own thoughts and feelings and their behavior often has nothing directly to do with you.
10. Sincerity is giving without expectation.  Good character and true friendship is all about how a person nurtures another person who is vulnerable and can give nothing in return.  So when you have been through tough times and come out the other side, look around you.  The people still standing beside you are your true friends.
11. Not every relationship is meant to last forever.  Some people aren’t meant to stay in your life.  Some people are just passing through to bring you something – perhaps a lesson you need to learn, or memory that makes you smile years later.  When the time comes, it’s okay to let go and move on with your life.

(article via marcandangel.com - image via weheartit)

Lovely Advice

I once said that we can only give advice to other people when they ask us to give them one. But if they don't ask, it's better for us not to give the advice. I really agree on how it works because I usually hate it when people just give me advice when I don't need one. Sometimes we tell other people out story just to let them lend their ears to hear our story. But here's a piece of lovely advice I found. I am not giving you advice to do the things I posted below. Just something that will hopefully can make your weekend brighter by reading the lovely advice below. Have a great weekend everyone.

(image via pinterest)

Fashion Tips..

Fashion advice and tips are always needed. Not because I don't feel confident on what I'm wearing but just to give an idea on what looks good or not on our body. Don't you think so? Because sometimes what we think is suitable for us may not be suitable or acceptable in the society. I love seeing infographic of drawing on fashion tips and advice. Below are some of the images that I love. 

(image sources: one, two, three)

Common Grammar Mistakes

I've got to post this article. It's about common grammar mistake. No matter how detail we can be, there can always be something that slip out of our mind and sight. I found this article on Litreactor. I posted some of the mistake below, you can read the complete article by clicking here. 

20 Common Grammar Mistakes That (Almost) Everyone Makes

Below are 20 common grammar mistakes I see routinely, not only in editorial queries and submissions, but in print: in HR manuals, blogs, magazines, newspapers, trade journals, and even best selling novels. If it makes you feel any better, I’ve made each of these mistakes a hundred times, and I know some of the best authors in history have lived to see these very toadstools appear in print. Let's hope you can learn from some of their more famous mistakes.

Who and Whom - This one opens a big can of worms. “Who” is a subjective — or nominative — pronoun, along with "he," "she," "it," "we," and "they." It’s used when the pronoun acts as the subject of a clause. “Whom” is an objective pronoun, along with "him," "her," "it", "us," and "them." It’s used when the pronoun acts as the object of a clause. Using “who” or “whom” depends on whether you’re referring to the subject or object of a sentence. When in doubt, substitute “who” with the subjective pronouns “he” or “she,” e.g., Who loves you? cf., He loves me. Similarly, you can also substitute “whom” with the objective pronouns “him” or “her.” e.g., I consulted an attorney whom I met in New York. cf., I consulted him.

Which and That - This is one of the most common mistakes out there, and understandably so. “That” is a restrictive pronoun. It’s vital to the noun to which it’s referring.  e.g., I don’t trust fruits and vegetables that aren’t organic. Here, I’m referring to all non-organic fruits or vegetables. In other words, I only trust fruits and vegetables that are organic. “Which” introduces a relative clause. It allows qualifiers that may not be essential. e.g., I recommend you eat only organic fruits and vegetables, which are available in area grocery stores. In this case, you don’t have to go to a specific grocery store to obtain organic fruits and vegetables. “Which” qualifies, “that” restricts. “Which” is more ambiguous however, and by virtue of its meaning is flexible enough to be used in many restrictive clauses. e.g., The house, which is burning, is mine. e.g., The house that is burning is mine.

Lay and Lie - This is the crown jewel of all grammatical errors. “Lay” is a transitive verb. It requires a direct subject and one or more objects. Its present tense is “lay” (e.g., I lay the pencil on the table) and its past tense is “laid” (e.g.,Yesterday I laid the pencil on the table). “Lie” is an intransitive verb. It needs no object. Its present tense is “lie” (e.g., The Andes mountains lie between Chile and Argentina) and its past tense is “lay” (e.g., The man lay waiting for an ambulance). The most common mistake occurs when the writer uses the past tense of the transitive “lay” (e.g., I laid on the bed) when he/she actually means the intransitive past tense of “lie" (e.g., I lay on the bed).

May and Might - “May” implies a possibility. “Might” implies far more uncertainty. “You may get drunk if you have two shots in ten minutes” implies a real possibility of drunkenness. “You might get a ticket if you operate a tug boat while drunk” implies a possibility that is far more remote. Someone who says “I may have more wine” could mean he/she doesn't want more wine right now, or that he/she “might” not want any at all. Given the speaker’s indecision on the matter, “might” would be correct.

Farther and Further - The word “farther” implies a measurable distance. “Further” should be reserved for abstract lengths you can't always measure. e.g., I threw the ball ten feet farther than Bill. e.g., The financial crisis caused further implications.

Different Than and Different From - This is a tough one. Words like “rather” and “faster” are comparative adjectives, and are used to show comparison with the preposition “than,” (e.g., greater than, less than, faster than, rather than). The adjective “different” is used to draw distinction. So, when “different” is followed by a  preposition, it should be “from,” similar to “separate from,” “distinct from,” or “away from.” e.g., My living situation in New York was different from home. There are rare cases where “different than” is appropriate, if “than” operates as a conjunction. e.g.,Development is different in New York than in Los Angeles. When in doubt, use “different from.”

Affect and Effect - Here’s a trick to help you remember: “Affect” is almost always a verb (e.g., Facebook affects people’s attention spans), and “effect” is almost always a noun (e.g., Facebook's effects can also be positive). “Affect” means to influence or produce an impression — to cause hence, an effect. “Effect” is the thing produced by the affecting agent; it describes the result or outcome. There are some exceptions. “Effect” may be used as a transitive verb, which means to bring about or make happen. e.g., My new computer effected a much-needed transition from magazines to Web porn. There are similarly rare examples where “affect” can be a noun. e.g., His lack of affect made him seem like a shallow person.

Nauseous - Undoubtedly the most common mistake I encounter. Contrary to almost ubiquitous misuse, to be “nauseous” doesn’t mean you’ve been sickened: it actually means you possess the ability to produce nausea in others. e.g., That week-old hot dog is nauseous. When you find yourself disgusted or made ill by a nauseating agent, you are actually “nauseated.” e.g., I was nauseated after falling into that dumpster behind the Planned Parenthood. Stop embarrassing yourself.

(article via litreactor.com - image via weheartit.com)

After A While..

It's raining here in y place and out of nowhere I found this poem by Veronica A Shoffstall. It's quite hard to find the biography of her but for sure I love the poem she wrote back in 1971. The title is "After A While". Every words make sense. It's like learning a new wisdom in life. I can't say anything more about the poem. It's so worth to read. 

After a while… 

by Veronica A. Shoffstall (1971)

After some time you learn the difference, 
The subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul.
And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning,
And company doesn’t always mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts,
And presents aren’t promises.
And you begin to accept your defeats,
With your head up and your eyes ahead,
With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build all your roads on today,
Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans,
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn,
That even the sun burns if you get too much,
And learn that it doesn’t matter how much you do care about,
Some people simply don’t care at all.
And you accept that it doesn’t matter how good a person is,
She will hurt you once in a while,
And you need to forgive her for that.
You learn that talking can relieve emotional pain.
You discover that it takes several years to build a relationship based on confidence,
And just a few seconds to destroy it.
And that you can do something just in an instant,
And which you will regret for the rest of your life.
You learn that the true friendships,
Continue to grow even from miles away.
And that what matters isn’t what you have in your life,
But who you have in your life.
And that good friends are the family,
Which allows us to choose.

You learn that we don’t have to switch our friends,
If we understand that friends can also change.
You realize that you are your best friend,
And that you can do do anything, or nothing,
And have good moments together.
You discover that the people who you most care about in your life,
Are taken from you so quickly,
So we must always leave the people who we care about with lovely words,
It may be the last time we see them.
You learn that the circunstances and the enviroment have influence upon us,
But we are responsible for ourselves.

You start to learn that you should not compare yourself with others,
But with the best you can be.
You discover that it takes a long time to become the person you wish to be,
And that the time is short.
You learn that it doesn’t matter where you have reached,
But where you are going to.
But if you don’t know where you are going to,
Anywhere will do.
You learn that either you control your acts,
Or they shall control you.
And that to be flexible doesn’t mean to be weak or not to have personality,
Because it doesn’t matter how delicate and fragile the situation is,
There are always two sides.
You learn that heroes are those who did what was necessary to be done,
Facing the consequences.
You learn that patience demands a lot of practice.
You discover that sometimes,
The person who you most expect to be kicked by when you fall,
Is one of the few who will help you to stand up.
You learn that maturity has more to do with the kinds of experiences you had
And what you have learned from them,
Than how many birthdays you have celebrated.

You learn that there are more from you parents inside you than you thought.
You learn that we shall never tell a child that dreams are silly,
Very few things are so humiliating,
And it would be a tragedy if she belived in it.
You learn that when you are angry,
You have the right to be angry,
But this doesn’t give you the right to be cruel.
You discover that only because someone doesn’t love you the way you would like her to,
It doesn’t mean that this person doesn’t love you the most she can,
Beacuse there are people who love us,
But just don’t know how to show or live that.
You learn that sometimes it isn’t enough being forgiven by someone,
Sometimes you have to learn how to forgive yourself.
You learn that with the same harshness you judge,
Some day you will be condemned.

You learn that it doesn’t matter in how many pieces your heart has been broken,
The world doesn’t stop for you to fix it.
You learn that time isn’t something you can turn back,
Therefore you must plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure.
You really are strong .
And you can go so farther than you thougt you could go.
And that life really has a value.
And you have value within the life.
And that our gifts are betrayers,
And make us lose
The good we could conquer,
If it wasn’t for the fear of trying.

(poem via purenourishment.wordpress.com - image via pxleyes.com) 

Milkshake Recipe

Milkshake hmm what came up in your mind first time you hear the word milkshake? Instantly I was thinking about something sweet, smooth and cold. This is a weekend recipe for you. It's a recipe of Chocolate Cake Batter Milkshake by Averie Cooks. It's quite unique, isn't it? I am posting this because I have never heard this kind of recipe, a milkshake using cake batter. But surely this will taste good. Enjoy! Have a great weekend. 

Chocolate Cake Batter Milkshake

Makes about 12 ounces, 1 large milkshake or 2 smaller portions

• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup or 1 large scoop ice cream
• 1/2 cup boxed devil’s food cake chocolate cake mix* or boxed brownie mix
• 2 to 4+ tablespoons chocolate syrup, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• whipped topping for garnishing, optional
• sprinkles for garnishing, optional

Directions:

1. Combine milk, ice cream (I have made this with vanilla cookie dough, vanilla, and chocolate ice cream – use what you have), cake mix, at least 2 tablespoons chocolate sauce, and vanilla in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
2. Optionally, before serving, dip the rim of the glass in whipped topping or run ice cream-dipped fingers around the rim so it’s moistened and sticky. Dip the moistened rim into a shallow bowl with cake mix, graham cracker crumbs, or sprinkles. Garnish milkshake with whipped topping, sprinkles, a drizzle of Nutella, peanut butter, or chocolate syrup as desired. Serve immediately.

*Notes: Make your own cake mix by combining approximately 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, and 1 tablespoon flour.

(recipe from averiecooks.com)

Respect..

I am loving the quote I am posting below. In fact, it's the first time I've ever read it. It's a quote from Arundhati Roy, an Indian author and political activist. The quote below opened my eyes and also my heart. Reminders of how we should always think and behave. My most favorite line is this one "To respect strength, never power" 

To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. 

To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. 

To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. 

To respect strength, never power. 

Above all, to watch. To try and understand. 

To never look away. And never, never to forget.

Arundhati Roy, The Cost of Living

(image via weheartit)

Mix Patterns

My current fashion that I like to wear lately is to mix different pattern. For example, I can wear polkadot shirt and wearing tiny stripes of scarves at the same time. I used to be afraid to combine different pattern in clothes that I was wearing but not anymore Once a while we can always have fun in the way we wear our clothes, as long as it's now too out of the line =) Won't look good for sure. So here are some of the image of pattern mixture that I found via Pinterest. 

(all images via pinterest.com)