Soup - Comfort Food

 It's been raining all day down here. And when it's raining, I often find something to eat or something warm to drink. today I was craving more into comfort food. Having a comfort food on a rainy day is one of the most wonderful thing right? I browse along the web and found this perfect recipe..simple and of course comforting. It's a chicken pot pie soup by Gina's Skinny Recipe. Look at the image below, looks so delicious isn't it? Well...hope you'll try the recipe. Have a comforting moment =)

Chicken Pot Pie Soup
 
Servings: 9 • Serving Size: 1 cup
 
Ingredients: 

• 1/4 cup flour (to make gluten-free use 2 tbsp cornstarch instead)
• 2 cups water 
• 4 cups fat free milk
• 1 large celery stalk, chopped
• 1/2 medium chopped onion
• 8 oz sliced baby portabella mushrooms 
• 2 chicken bouillons
• fresh ground pepper
• pinch of thyme
• 10 oz frozen classic mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, green beans, corn)
• 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed small
• 16 oz cooked chicken breast, diced small
• salt

Directions:

• Create a slurry by combining 1/2 cup of the cold water with flour in a medium bowl and whisk until well blended. Set aside. 
• Pour remaining water and milk into a large pot and slowly bring to a boil.  
• Add celery, onion, mushrooms, chicken bullion, thyme, fresh pepper, frozen vegetables and return to a boil.  
• Partially cover and simmer on low until vegetables are soft, about 20 minutes. 
• Remove lid, add potatoes and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.  
• Add chicken, and slowly whisk in slurry, stirring well as you add.  
• Cook another 2-3 minutes, until soup thickens, adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve.

(recipe and image via skinnytaste.com)

Dealing With Self-Centered People

Hi everyone, it's me again back in here on a lovely Monday. It's a bit cloudy here but it's been a while since the last time it's raining in here so I guess it would be lovely if I can hear some raindrops falling =) Hope you all had a great weekend. I was just browsing on the net just now and found an interesting article about dealing with self-centered people. Have you ever been in a situation that needed you to deal with some selfish or self-centered people around you? If I were in that exact situation, I would be very patient, well at least I will do my best and try hard to be as patient as I can. The reason is because I don't like to sweat small stuff. I rather just ignoer it than be sensitive about things that I'm dealing with. I believe we all have been in that kind of situation. But I guess we all have different approach on how to deal with the same situation. This article I found was written by Roya R. Rad, MA, PsyD (Self Knowledge Base & Foundation) via Huffington Post. Below is the paragraph showing you about hoe to deal with self-centered people. 

How To Deal With Self-Centered People

What to do:

1. Don't be their door mat, and have clear boundaries with them.  
2. If you have to defend yourself, make it short and to the point since they are not the best listeners, and have a thick wall guarding their self-image. 
3. Don't buy into their arrogance, don't feed their excessive sense of self-importance, stay true to yourself and be sincere. 
4. If you get into a position that you have to assert yourself, don't attack them, but show that you don't agree. 
5. Don't get attached to them. 
6. Have an open mind and be tolerant. 
7. Be patient. 
8. Learn to observe and evaluate their behavior objectively.

At the end, try to not hate self-centered people. Have compassion for them since they usually have had a past that created a wrong type of self-protection mode for them. There is a part of them that they don't like and are trying hard to cover. While many people have had pasts that are not perfect, nor close to it, self-centered people are lacking the skills to address these issues in a productive way. Instead of facing it, they are hiding it. At the end, remember that you can have compassion for someone, but at the same time hold them accountable for their actions and have clear self-boundaries.

(image via weheartit)

Virtual Break

Weekend is here =) Have you got any ideas what you're going to do on the weekend? My weekend, as always, is full of family time. It's a great opportunity to meet those family memebers you haven't got a chance to meet on the weekdays. And of course, on the weekend I always take a break from blogging and stuff. I think it's a good idea that we need to take a break from something once a while. I found this short article from HealthCentral regarding ways to a happier you. One of those ways is to take a virtual break. I think it can do us good considering that we will have more time to spend by doing other things. So, below is what "Take A Virtual Break" means according to HealthCentral. Have an amazing weekend everyone...

Take A Virtual Break

More than 30 percent of American adults spend at least seven hours a day looking at electronic screens.  It’s worth noting then that a recent study concluded that those who aren’t glued to technology are less stressed and more productive. Designate a time each day--perhaps an hour--when you will go “tech-free” and focus your attention on relaxation and organizing your thoughts.  If an hour seems long, consider the amount of time it takes to clean your home, go for a walk, or cuddle a pet.  

(article by HealthCentral - image source: skinnysticks.tumblr)

DIY Favor Box

I'm feeling a bit crafty lately. Craft is my thing, you can call it a hobby. I feel happier when I've done some successful craft. So, of course this post will be something about craft. This time I'm posting a DIY Tea Stained Favor Boxes that I found on Style Me Pretty. Favor boxes have to be good since most of the time, we give those boxes to someone else. Below is the visual step-by-step tutorial. Don't worry, it's not complicated =)
Hope you like it...

Box Supplies:

• Unfinished wooden boxes
• A cup of black brewed tea
• Sponge brush,
• Scrap paper
• Several tea bags

Label Supplies:

• Chalkboard paper
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Chalk pen
• Tape or adhesive

1. Dip the brush in brewed tea and paint the wood boxes. Use some scrap paper to catch the drips.
2. Be sure to get all the nooks and crannies of the box, even the insides. Let the box dry, then apply additional coats if you want a deeper color.
3. Cut the labels if necessary to fit on top of your box. Use a pencil to sketch out the label. You can do names for table place cards or cute sayings for favors.
4. Use a chalk pen or white marker to trace over your pencil lines.
5  Adhere your finished label to the top of the box with tape, glue or adhesive.
6. Fill the box with your favorite tea for your guests to enjoy!

(image and instruction source: stylemepretty.com)

Maybe...

Maybe...it is such a short word but can be very confusing at times. Maybe can also be regret, hope or thoughts. These are 15 maybes we should consider, a list I found on Amazing Posts. 

15 Maybes You Should Consider

1. Maybe. . .we were supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.
2. Maybe . . . when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don’t even see the new one which has been opened for us.
3. Maybe . . . it is true that we don’t know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don’t know what we have been missing until it arrives.
4. Maybe . . . the happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
5. Maybe . . . the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can’t go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.
6. Maybe . . . you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and want to do.
7. Maybe . . . there are moments in life when you miss someone — a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child — so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them more.
8. Maybe . . . the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.
9. Maybe . . you should always try to put yourself in others’ shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.
10. Maybe . . you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.
11. Maybe . . . giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don’t expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn’t, be content that it grew in yours.
12. Maybe . . . happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.
13. Maybe . . . you shouldn’t go for looks; they can deceive; don’t go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.
14. Maybe . . you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy
15. Maybe . . . you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying.

(article source: amazingposts.com - image source: realmabovetheclouds.tumblr.com)

Brilliant Quotes

Hello Monday =) Nice to be back here on a new week in November. Time flies so fast, don't you think? So, I am just going to post these brilliant quotes for you. Especially for those who kinda hate Monday. Although I do hope none of you hate Monday because I think when you hate certain days, you will not be able to start the days with a happy feeling, therefore the rest of the days will not be as good as it can be. So, have a great Monday..

(image via)