~~How to De Stress~~

Picture it… you’re basking in the sun, pina colada in one hand, a gripping book in the other, the sound of waves lapping touch your ears, a coconut palm sways gently in the breeze. Now pinch your arm and bring yourself back to reality!

I bet you were starting to feel more relaxed already.

We all have those moments where we’re about ready to tear out our hair (or someone else’s) and it feels like everything is just getting on top of us. Now, take a deep breath because we’ve got some ideas on how to de-stress and keep you at the top of your game.

Have sex! NGEEE!!
Not only is it fun and a great way to work off extra calories but if you’re focusing on personal pleasures for you and your partner, guaranteed you won’t be thinking about any stresses of the day. Well, you shouldn’t be anyway!!

Movies
Sit yourself down in front of a DVD or head off to the movies. There’s nothing better than totally losing yourself in the big screen no matter what the genre.

Walk along the beach
The ocean has such a calming effect whether you choose to go for a walk along the beach, take a dip or just sit and take in the view. Soak in the salt air and it will seem that everything falls into perspective.

Blast your stereo
Put on some good vibe songs, sing at the top of your lungs and feel the release. For a bit of a retro vibe try 'Don’t Worry Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin. It’s gotta make you smile.

Massage
What can I say - always my personal favourite. I wouldn’t believe anyone who says they don’t feel completely de-stressed after a body massage. Aaaah, the sweet smell of aromatherapy oils as the weight of the world drifts away from you with each touch.

Hit the shops-YES!!!
Retail therapy – truly a girl’s best friend. Experience the thrill of successful shopping; it will put you on a high for hours.

Hug an animal
It’s a proven fact that hugging an animal will bring your blood pressure down and is very therapeutic. Plus who can resist snuggling up to a cute, furry face?

Bubble bath
Light some candles, add bubble bath, immerse yourself in the warm water and then to top it all off, moisturise your skin afterwards with rich body butter from the The Body Shop (hmmm brazil nut is sure to get you thinking of summer).

Break out a sweat
Hit the gym or do some exercise – it might be the last thing you feel like doing when you’re stressed out, and instead all you want to do is hit the choccies and wine, but exercising pumps up the endorphins (your happy hormones).

Write a list
Make a note of what’s on your mind, maybe you’re freaking out about something that will never in reality happen… or write down solutions you have, even just writing it all down can help you to
clear your mind

And if none of the above has you feeling calmer, grab your credit card, jump online and book yourself a ticket to a tropical paradise!!

~~Charles Schultz Philosophy~~

CHARLES SCHULTZ, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip, once published this interesting

philosophy, that I wanted to share. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read
straight through, and you'll get the point...

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America Contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor andactress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do? The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But theapplause dies.
Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their
owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier? The lesson is: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones
with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.
Some people try so hard to achieve an award, thinking that will be their legacy.
When in fact, they can leave an impact and make a lasting impression in their own backyard.
Like the COKE commercial says, "You're going to remembered, for the things you say and do!"

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today.
It's already tomorrow in Australia " (Charles Schultz)

~~Man or Woman~~

Do you see the man or woman? Or do you see both? Or are there THREE people in this picture. If you are missing it, the man is the brown moustache. The woman is looking to the left and you can see here eye and nose protrude from the left part of the image. There is also another face - the woman's chin is the nose for this third face, and the wrinkle in the womans neck is the mouth.

Now the next time you are at your local shopping mall, and you see a person that you just aren't sure if it is a man or woman, just remember this fun drawing and as you are trying to figure it out, remember that at least it's not as ambigious as this picture is!

~~Perfect Squares~~

Move your head close to the screen. Do the perfect blue squares appear to be distorted? Absolutely... this is due to the black lines in the back moving and twisting it in your mind. What an eye trick!

~~Change~~

here's a quote I would want to share to all... its from a boss...

“Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better. “

true and inspiring, isn't it!?

What is Change?

Change Is.....

Change is something that presses us out of our comfort zone. It is destiny-filtered, heart grown, faith built. Change is inequitable; not a respecter of persons. Change is for the better or for the worst, depending on where you view it. Change has an adjustment period which varies on the individual. It is uncomfortable, for changing from one state to the next upsets our control over outcomes. Change has a ripping effect on those who won’t let go. Flex is the key. Even a roller coaster ride can be fun if you know when to lean and create new balance within the change. Change is needed when all the props and practices of the past no longer work. Change is not comforted by the statement ‘just hang in there’ but with the statement ‘you can make it’. We don’t grow in retreat, but through endurance. Change isn’t fixed by crying, worrying, or mental treadmilling. Change is won by victors not victims; and that choice is ours.

Change is awkward -- at first. Change is a muscle that develops to abundantly enjoy the dynamics of the life set before us. Change calls own strength beyond anyone of us. Change pushes you to do your personal best. Change draws out those poised for a new way. Change isn’t for chickens. Change does have casualties of those defeated. Change will cause us to churn or to learn. Change changes the speed of time. Time is so slow for the reluctant, and yet it is a whirlwind for those who embrace it. Change is more fun to do than to be done to. Change seeks a better place at the end and is complete when you realize you are different.

Change is measured by its impact on all who are connected to it. Change is charged when you are dissatisfied with where you are. Change doesn’t look for a resting-place; just the next launching point. Change is only a waste to those who don’t learn from it. Change happens in the heart before it is proclaimed by our works. Change chaps those moving slower than the change itself. If you can change before you have to change, there will be less pain. Change can flow or jerk, depending on our resistance to it. Change uses the power invested in the unseen to reinvent what is seen. Change is like driving in a fog – you can’t see very far, but you can make the whole trip that way.

Change is here to stay.

heres another quote from my friend Steph...

People change for two reasons:
Either they learn enough that they want to..
or they've been hurt enough that they have to...

~~7 Keys to Happiness from the Inside~~

happiness...

state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

emotions experienced when in a state of well-being

Happiness, pleasure or joy is the emotional state of being happy. The definition of happiness is one of the greatest philosophical quandaries. Proposed definitions include freedom from want and distress, consciousness of the good order of things, assurance of one's place in the universe or society, inner peace, and so forth. ...

The following are 7 main areas that contribute to our level of happiness:

1. Focus on the Good in the World
2. Do What You Love
3. Create Positivity
4. Celebrate Who You Are
5. Put Yourself in Charge
6. Accept Your Own Perfection
7. Treat Yourself and Others Well

These are all areas that we have control over. Make your life work for you in these 7 ways, and you will increase your happiness.

~~A Carrot, an Egg and a Cup of Coffee~~

I came across this story today and I was moved to share it with you. Hope that you find the wonderful lessons in it that I did.

A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee… You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling.

It seemed as one problem was solved! , a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire.
Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me, what do you see?”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter
to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, “What does it mean, mother?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity … boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting.
However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. ! After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her daughter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? Author - Unknown

~~Finding Your Passion~~

True happiness comes when you "do" what you're most passionate about.

When you lack passion, you are at a disadvantage. You cannot focus or enjoy who you really are.

Without the energy and vitality passion provides, you fall into what is called “passion deficit,” the symptoms of which are all too common for a lot of people.

The Symptoms of Passion Deficit

Blaming — Blaming your unhappiness on others is the first and most glaring symptom of passion deficit. When passion is part of your life, you create your own happiness. Don’t look to others; energy and fulfillment come from within.

Longing — Even if you do not feel unhappy, you may think something is missing in your life. You might not know what you desire, but you know something is absent, that somehow and somewhere you should be doing more.

Discomfort — Sometimes a passion deficit surfaces not as a sense that something is missing but as a sense that something is wrong. You probably have experienced this at least once: something is out of sync — some element in your life is uncomfortable. Maybe you work in a field you dislike or for an organization that stifles you. Perhaps you are in a bad relationship.

PASSION is something that moves you in a very powerful way. Passion is an internal experience not an external event. Finding your passion means connecting your head with your heart, engaging that part of yourself that "feels" in a big, bold, spiritual way. For many of us, this is a challenge. Our busy, chaotic lives disconnect us from our feelings. And, when we act from this "numbed out" place, it's impossible to connect with our passions. Lifestyle Makeover Expert Cheryl Richardson offered at step-by-step plan on Oprah's website. Marianne Williamson says that when you find your passion at work, the financial freedom follows! “Passion is energy,” says Oprah Winfrey. “Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”

For Oprah, passion did not necessarily mean she always knew what she was doing. Reflecting on her early days as a broadcaster, Oprah claims, “I said I knew how to edit when I didn’t. I said I knew how to report on stories. When I went to my first city council meeting, I wasn’t quite sure of what to do, but I told the news director that I did.” Her passion and willingness to learn were what enabled Oprah to stick her foot in the door. “What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and work that fulfills you, the rest will come,” she says. “And, I truly believe, that the reason I’ve been able to be so financially successful is because my focus has never, ever for one minute been money.”

~~Pucca Baby~~

me baby look alike :P

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

~~Chicken, Garlic, and Sundried Tomato Pasta~~

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (16 ounce) package farfalle pasta
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated in water
• 2 tablespoons grated Romano cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large pot with boiling salted water cook farfalle pasta until al dente. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, melt butter in a large saucepan. Add garlic cloves and cook until garlic browns. Add the cream of chicken soup and milk, stirring until smooth. Stir in the dried parsley, salt, and ground fresh pepper. Let simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Add bite size chicken pieces and hydrated sun dried tomatoes. Simmer for 6 to 8 minutes. Mix in grated Romano cheese.
3. Toss cooked and drained pasta with chicken sauce. Serve warm.

~~True Values~~

"Love is like a rhino, short-sighted and hasty. If it does not have a way it would make one."

In today's fast moving world with all the many distractions - many of us forget easily their true values - waste time on wrong paths of life and suddenly life is over before it really started.

Take some time to think and feel what really matters to you - write down the first several points that appear truly of value to you in your life. Is it to have ...

1. a family - at home - being there for you, sharing all spare time with you ?
2. having a partner in life to hug you, to love you, to accept your love ?
3. friends that are there for you whenever you fall in life, when ever you need company or someone to talk to or help ?
4. job or money ?
5. career and recognition from other as a substitute of true love in our own relationship ?
6. freedom ? freedom to travel, freedom of doing business, freedom to select your job, education and home town ?
7. ... or do you have other values in your life ? If yes - which ones ?

Find the true eternal values of your life

The only efficient and most powerful way to actually support a true value is by:

• Living it as a living example without imposing it on anyone else
• Admitting such inner values to the outside world, to your family members, friends, colleagues at work or customers
• Improving your own way of living and realizing these - your very own - values of life
• Investing in the improvements, maintenance, free distribution and free peaceful and loving expansion of your values among all those who are interested in or want to follow your own living example as a result of seeing you more happy in your family and with your partner, more happy in business or job, more successful in all you do and of course more healthy than the average human being.

If your true values of life are in real harmony with your innermost divine being, your soul and heart, then of course you will be more happy than others, more successful than others and far more healthy - inner and outer health - than others. True spiritual values practiced in full harmony with God and hence with your own innermost spiritual being always result in excellent well being and happiness in all situations of your eternal life.

Posted by tEtAy at 5:05 AM 0 comments

Sunday, February 25, 2007

~~How Do You Communicate?~~

You Communicate With Your Ears

You love conversations, both as a listener and a talker. What people say is important to you, and you're often most affected by words, not actions. You love to hear complements from others. And when you're upset, you often talk to yourself. Music is very important to you. It's difficult to find you without your iPod.

How Do You Communicate?

~~8 Simple Rules to Attract a Man~~

By Debbie Magids, Ph.D.

So men are from Mars. It doesn’t mean you can’t figure out how to attract them! Really, the answer is just a couple of planets away – Venus, to be exact.

What makes a man feel attracted to a woman is the same as what makes a woman feel attracted to a man: how you feel in his presence. If he makes you feel good, you’ll be attracted, at least to some degree. If he makes you feel bad, well, no second date!

There are plenty of people out there – men and women – who can make a guy feel lousy. In order to feel good about themselves, men need to feel eight simple things:

• Needed
• Desired
• Challenged
• Funny
• Smart
• Interesting
• Important
• Powerful

If you want a particular man (or just want to lift someone’s spirit), you can use these eight simple rules to help attract a man:

NEEDED: Men need to feel needed. It gives them a sense of purpose in the relationship. Sometimes, when women act as if they don’t need a man, they end up alone and lonely. Of course, this is not to say that you shouldn’t be a strong, assertive woman. It means you should show your vulnerabilities, too. It’ll make him feel less intimidated because he feels vulnerable too, despite the way he may act.
Rule #1: Show your vulnerabilities to attract a man.

DESIRED: Men need to feel desired as much as you do. Many women make the mistake of playing hard to get. Yes, men need a challenge, but they also need their egos stroked. They have the same insecurities as women do, but usually don’t have a group of empathetic ears to rely on after a date. They need to feel that they are attractive to you – that you think they are sexy, handsome, cute, etc.
Rule #2: Compliment his looks, and you’ll look better to him.

CHALLENGED: Men are pursuers – it’s in their genes. Therefore, in order to attract one, you must have a strong sense of yourself: The biggest turnoff for a man is a woman who is insecure and needs constant reassurance from him. In addition, a little mystery is enticing to a man. Don’t give it all up too soon. Let him want to learn more and more about you.
Rule #3: Walk into a room like you own it, keep a few secrets to yourself, and be flirtatious to catch a man’s attention.

FUNNY, SMART, INTERESTING: Men gain a large part of their sense of self from being deemed to exhibit these three characteristics. Ask any man and he will likely tell you that he feels wonderful when the woman he’s interested in laughs at his jokes.
Rules #4, #5, and #6: Listen attentively, nod frequently, compliment him on how smart he is, and laugh at his jokes!

IMPORTANT AND POWERFUL: Men need to feel as if they are the most important person in your life. Moreover, there is virtually nothing more demeaning to a man than to be scolded in public, told what to do, or to not be the center of your world when you are together. Of course, this isn’t to say you have to sit pretty and ignore his bantering – just pick a private place to address personal issues, even if it means waiting, and speak respectfully, which you should expect in return.
Rules #7 and #8: When you are together, don’t look around at other men, compliment another man on his looks, or talk about other men.

Got this article from the bellsouth homepage at work... :P

~~Pursuit of Happyness~~

Loosely based on the real-life tale of how Chris Gardner tried to make it in the dog-eat-dog world of stock broker, The Pursuit of Happyness is a heartbreaking, yet ultimately rewarding tale of pursuing one's dreams to be someone, even when one's life seems to be crumbling all around.

“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is a phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence. They are our “inalienable rights” and what we as Americans hold to. Notice that happiness is not guaranteed in this statement. The world, the government, society as a whole does not owe any of us a great life. But we have every opportunity to pursue that happiness with every fiber of our being. Real life stock broker Chris Gardner did that very thing in 1981. His story is told in the new movie aptly titled, “The Pursuit of Happyness.”

First up, that’s not a typo. It’s supposed to be spelled like that.

check out this san francisco gate article about Chris Gardner's life and links to film what the bleep do we know

Yesterday, a friend and I ventured out to buy a DVD copy of Will Smith’s latest biopic “the pursuit of happyness” based on a time in the life of Chris Gardner of garder rich, llc. the film follows the life of Chris Gardner for 7-9 months as he struggles as an office-to-office salesman and (eventually) single father to becoming a stockbroker. the heartiest parts of the story are seeing Gardner's unyielding, yet difficult commitment to staying with his son and being a good parent despite potentially crushing circumstances. i expected the film to tap into my weepy, emotional side much more than it did. here are the possible reasons why i was not moved to gut wrenching tears throughout the film:

1. the underlying theme of the film is that what we can be, do , and accomplish needs not be dicatated by our present circumstances, where we were born or descended, or other past experiences beyond our control. i thought the fact that we learn very little about chris gardner’s past was a deliberate testament to this assertion…which is just fine with me. but, i would have liked to have more of a context for chris gardner’s life and eccentricities.
2. this lack of a presented past left me with many ‘why?’s. like, “why didn’t/ wasn’t chris able to go to college?” “why didn’t chris or his wife/girlfriend have any family?” “why didn’t chris appear to know anyone besides the guy who owed him $14?” i suppose the literature lover in me thinks having answers to questions like these would have made chris a rounder character.
3. thandie newton played the gardner’s wife/girlfriend. i hate to be so blunt, but thandie newton did a very poor job of portraying the immensely frustrated and economically poor laundry worker. though i don’t think she was meant to come off as a drug abuser, all of the neck rolling, cigrarette-smoking, and poorly contextualized emasculating (read: OVERACTING!) made her come off like a pedestrian crackhead.
4. i thought the film was uniquely illustrative of the possible mechanations of capitalism on the life of the working class. the reality is, that the modern world is not one in which people are valued because of their character or abilities. no, our worth is measured in how much we can cause to be produced and/or consumed within an hour. this was just as true about chris gardner’s life when he was pushing bone density scanners door-to-door as when he was pushing retirement plans for dean witter. instead of feeling glad when chris was chosen for the job after the internship, i had a small, but deep disappointed that even in the comfort of the fairy tale that is cinema, i was being coerced into appreciating and rooting for the devaluation of human life and potential.

But what feels most striking about this film is not its truth or accuracy, at least not in a technical sense. Rather, it's that the film does not seek blame or create unfounded obstacles for the character - particularly racial ones - instead enabling Chris' triumph as a personal one unencumbered by social or political context. Ultimately, this isn't the story of a black man learning how to succeed in a white world, or a poor person becoming rich, but the achievement of one man who looked past the litany of obstacles to which he could have easily surrendered. The fact that no one in the film looks down on him because of his sometimes unkempt appearance, much less the color of his skin, is a testament to the unfiltered purity of the real Gardner's story, and what makes the movie accessible to all audiences.

~~Pweety Dogs~~

~~How to Know The Right Age to Get Married~~

Earlier my friend and I were talking about an apparent love quarrel between her and the hubby. Well twas a simple issue that lead to complications when we started talking about it… it brought about things from the past and future… must have… should have… could have and what ifs!?... With all that… one question was raised as to “when is the right time to get married?”… Is it at a certain age like 24 or 28? Or when the right person comes? Like how can we know and tell that we are with the right person and that it’s the right time? Not that we are desperate and all… well I’ve done some research and according to an article I’ve read:

There isn't really an actual age that’s best to get married at. Everyone and every relationship are different and special.

But, maybe this can help you finalize your decision.

Steps

1. Make sure he/she is the one. You should know that through the worst, your mate will be there for you, and that you can grow together. If there is a lack of trust, reconsider
2. Think about school, and if you’re getting married will affect your education. It may be a smarter decision to finish school first. The truth is, as a new family you will need money in order to survive. Education is the tool to achieve that money and healthy lifestyle
3. Think about where you will go, or where your mate will go if you get married. Are you ready to move in with him or her?
4. Do a cost-benefit analysis of the situation. Will waiting to get married be more financially savvy? Will getting married now help taxes?
5. Make it a point to discuss financial issues with your partner. It is important for a sold union to know what to expect from the other.
6. How do you feel about your partner's family? Will they be very involved in your joint lives? How does your family feel about your partner? Consider how much you value the opinions of your family and assess the situation.
7. Can you talk to your partner about private issues easily? If not, then you might not be at the right stage in your life and/or your relationship.

Tips

• People often make the mistake of marrying at a young age, before they get through college and organize their money plans.
• Be sure to look at every angle of the situation before you decide. This is a life changing decision; it is important that you and your partner have similar and hopefully joint goals for the future.
• Think about what you want for yourself in the future and if your mate genuinely shares that with you.
• Pre-marital counseling is a really good idea.
• Remember: Marriage is not 'a walk in the park.' It takes serious work and effort from both partners. The honeymoon does not last forever!

Warnings

• Be sure you're getting married for the right reasons.
• NEVER rush into marriage. If you love each other, and the time is not yet right, wait.

~~What color is Your Brain?~~

My Brain is Orange

Of all the brain types, yours is the quickest. You are usually thinking a mile a minute, and you could be thinking about anything at all. Your thoughts are often scattered and random - but they're also a lot of fun! You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about esoteric subjects, the meaning of life, and pop culture.

What Color Is Your Brain?

~~Monday Recipe~~

Pasta with Roasted Vegetables

Ingredients:
8 oz. Rigatoni, Mostaccioli, or other medium pasta shape, uncooked
1 pound fresh mixed vegetables, such as:

• carrots
• squash
• turnips
• green beans
• red onions
• snow peas
• asparagus
• zucchini
• leeks
• fennel
• red or green bell peppers
• mushrooms

Salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp. vegetable or olive oil
2 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 500: F.
Prepare pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, slice or cut vegetables and place in a shallow baking pan, arranged in a single layer. Season with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning, and brush lightly with oil. Roast in a 500: F oven for about 10 minutes or until vegetables caramelize and brown, leaving any juice in the baking sheet. Drain and set juices aside. Chop vegetables into 1-inch pieces.
When pasta is done, drain well. Toss cooked pasta with vegetable juice, vegetables, vinegar, chicken broth and Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Each Serving Provides:

514 Calories

16.5 g Protein

89.6 g Carbohydrates

9.9 g Fat

2.6 mg Cholesterol

67.4 mg Sodium

Calories from Fat 17%

By had a different version... twas simpler but the taste was good... added tuna and aubergine... :P
Luved it!!! Try It!!!

By's version... :P

~~Kung Hei Fat Choi~~

The Year of the Pig

The twelfth animal that arrived was
the meticulous and resigned Pig.

1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

Lucky Numbers: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 16, 18, 34, 41, 48
Equivalent Western Sign: Scorpio
Element WATER
Color BLACK
Yin/Yang YIN
Direction NORTH-NORTH-WEST

Compatible with : Rooster, Ram
Less Compatible with : Pig, Rabbit, Horse, Ox, Rat, Tiger, Dog, Dragon
Least Compatible with : Snake, Monkey

Positive: The Boar can be sensible, sensual and sensitive, sweetly naive, caring, self-sacrificing, erudite, talented, open-handed, candid, outgoing, amusing, charitable, obliging, graciously hospitable and virtuous.
Negative: The Boar can also be hot-tempered, pessimistic, outrageously epicurean, earthy to a fault, sardonic, snobbish, snide, authoritarian, competitive, know-it-all, stingy, victimized and sometimes downright criminally mad at the world.

I've always been fascinated with the culture and traditions of the Chinese; my late grandfather is Chinese which makes me half Chinese. The Chinese has one of the richest and colorful traditions in history. One of our much anticipated celebrations is the Chinese New Year.

When Is It Celebrated?

Spring festival, or what is more known as the Chinese New Year, is considered one of the most important events in China. The celebration is based on the lunar calendar, so that the first day of the lunar year marks the Chinese New Year. Thus, the event falls between late January to early February. The celebration begins on the eve of the lunar New Year and continues on until the fifth day of the lunar calendar's first month. Next will come the lantern festival.

How Is It Celebrated?

Generally, we prepare for this holiday by making sure everything in our life is in order, or at least under control.

By this I mean the house should be clean, rifts or problems should be resolved, wear clean or new clothes, etc. At midnight there are fireworks and firecrackers to greet the coming of the New Year. The belief behind this is that the noise created by the firecrackers will drive away evil spirits.

What's In the Menu?

After the festivities, the family will sit down to a feast. A sticky rice pudding called nian gao (or "tikoy" in my native tongue) as well as dumplings is usually present in these feasts. Nian gao is also given to family and friends, the belief behind this is that the stickiness of the nian gao will hold or bond the family together. Also, because of its' round shape and sweet taste, it is said to bring good fortune and sweetness to one's life. In my home, we usually cut the nian gao into lengthwise pieces, roll it into beaten eggs and fried. It's delicious…

The tikoy is made up of ground glutinous rice flour, wheat starch, lard, water, and sugar. The type of the latter will determine the color of the pudding. So you have a choice of brown or white tikoy. I don't have the patience yet of making this which involves steaming for 2 hours. Why slave away when you can conveniently buy one from your Chinese grocers.

There is only one way I know, sorry, like to eat it - dipped in egg and fried lightly. I've seen it in some savoury dishes but it didn't quite appeal to me.

• As you can see above the tikoy had been sliced about 1/2 - 1/4 inch thick. You may slice it further to make it smaller. If necessary, chill the tikoy first in the fridge to make it firmer and not so sticky, thus, easier to slice and handle.
• Beat an egg in a bowl. Dip the sliced tikoy pieces in the beaten egg.
• Fry on low to medium heat in a pan (preferably non-stick) with a little oil for a few minutes. Turn over to the other side. Dish up and serve.

When warm, the tikoy is quite sticky so be careful when you eat it especially if you have artificial dentures. LOL ;) This is very nice as a snack with some Oolong or Chrysanthemum tea. Kung Hei Fat Choi !

~~My Famous Pinup~~

You are Marilyn Monroe

A classic tortured beauty You're the dream girl of many men Yet they never seem to treat you right

What Famous Pinup Are You?

~~A-Z Meme~~

I've been tagged by happy hearts so here goes!

Accent: Neutral I suppose… I admire a friend who has these scotish (slight) accent-makes me want to mimic her more than I consciously realize.
Booze: I don't drink much. LOL
Chore I hate: Laundry… definitely not for me. But I do hand wash at times
Dogs/Cats: Dogs and cats… luv ‘em…
Essential Electronics: Computer and microwave…
Favorite Perfume: Clinique Happy and Cool Waters by Davidoff
Gold/Silver: Only silver.
Hometown: Baguio

Insomnia: Yes.
Job title: PS
Kids: None,
Living Arrangement: Apartment – my own

Most Admired Trait: um… eyes I guess… dunno.
Number of sexual partners: Huh!?

Overnight hospital stays: mmm…
Phobias: Dead people… LOL!
Quote: At the moment an Einstein quote seems to fit my situation pretty well.

"If we knew what it was we were doing it wouldn't be called research"

Religion: Uhmm…
Siblings: One elder sister, 32 geeesse
Time I usually wake up: These days around 6am.
Unusual Talent: That’s for me to keep…
Vegetable I refuse to eat: Hmm, none that I can think of.
Worst habit: I'm pretty damn stubborn.
X-rays: Tons.
Yummy food I make: My favourite at the moment is sheperds pie
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio, Individuals born under this sign are thought to have a complex, analytical, keenly perceptive, inquisitive, focused, determined, hypnotic, and self-contained character, but one which is also prone to extremity, jealousy, secretiveness, possessiveness, stubbornness, cruelty and cunning.

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What we had for dinner (feb. 15)... nice eh!?

Classic Ceasar Salad with Iced Tea

Paella Marinera with Red Wine

~~A Testimony for a Friend~~

Funny how we complain and think about things and life…

Most people have many entanglements in life. They are busy with family, jobs, school—these are our responsibilities, and they are also a source of merits. Besides these duties, the most important thing we can do is to rediscover ourselves and to know truly who is the one acting and speaking. We learned many things in school, which most people consider to be wisdom.

Why are we in this world? What is the true meaning of life? Many wealthy people neither have an understanding of religion nor practice it. Even though they have many possessions, they feel that when they eventually die, they cannot take a single cent with them so why not eat, drink, and be merry now—enjoy life thoroughly and imprudently. From a worldly perspective, it seems to be a life of leisure, completely carefree.

I have a loving friend who has it all except for the fact that she’s broken hearted. She had everything planned accordingly and one day when dreams were becoming reality she lost the person she would want to share everything with. Well of course that’s another story of unfaithfulness that I will have to keep to myself for my friends privacy too.

Considering the fact that she has her family who are all healthy and wealthy plus US… her friends, she still wants the past. Is it really true love or martyrdom?

Love is best seen as devotion and action, not an emotion. Love is not exclusively based on how we feel. Certainly our emotions are involved, but they cannot be our only criteria for love. True devotion will always lead to action - true love.

Breakups are tough. They aren't all that tough when little is invested. But when there have been any seeds of hope or kindness sown into a relationship.. to see it grow for a time and then watch it pass away, it's tough. I say this in the aftermath of a recent breakup of my own. But after all the final things have been said, after some time has passed and the emotions have settled down.. There comes a decision to do one of two things. The choice is one that is very difficult to discern at first and sometimes very hard to look at. But it comes with its own reward. What I refer to is simply honesty.

Yes I know it is difficult to move on but how will we move on if we can’t and don’t stop thinking about the past and the past.

She really is doing well at work and everything is falling in place as to what she had planned but still leaving her with the question “Yes I have everything but what am I going to do with all that I have if I don’t have him, if he’s not here?” Hmm… Yes, she may have everything-material things, but it’s not making her happy. I fell for that however there’s this saying that “We can’t have everything.”

According to Mike Murdock’s book, “The Law of Recognition”

• Everything you need is already in your life. Merely awaiting your recognition of it.
• Anything unrecognized remains uncelebrated by you.
• Anything you refuse to celebrate eventually exits in your life. A gift, a miracle, or a Person.

Contentment really has nothing to do with circumstances, but it has everything to do with one's attitude.

To be content is to find satisfaction within your limitation or accepting things as they are. I find that though I am not happy with any debt I carry or the amount of savings I have, I am content. I accept that fact that this is where I am in life and now I must take the small steps to make the changes necessary so that my limitation will be expanded.

True, I have found that if I despise myself or blame someone else I lose the energy to make the necessary changes for expanding my limitation. Why? Because my energy is emotional. Though emotions are what can start a change in attitude or in habit, they are not what can keep the flow of progress’ that takes a change in mindset, after the emotions have faded.

Love, by definition, requires that we make ourselves vulnerable. Loving someone who loves us in return is the only thing I consider beautiful in this strange world of ours. But as it is said, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." True, we should choose our adventures with caution, but risk will always be a factor. Sometimes we get hurt or deceived, but if in the end we find someone who is of a same giving heart and takes joy in loving us as we do them... then the preservation of a kind heart will be its own reward.

Well, I may have you guys confused with everything in this post but this is just to let my loving friend know that “Everything happens for a reason”- there maybe a better man out there for her… When and how!?... “There is a time, place and reason for everything”- it may not be too soon but who knows… all we have to do is to wait patiently and accept the fact that we are blessed with what we have at this very moment.

“The most interesting thing about heart transplants is that one completely loses his own heart and be replaced with someone else’s yet still has the feelings for the same person he loves. This proves that love works in the mind of people but not in their hearts… bottom line, love is a state of mind. You’ll learn how to forget only if u try doing so…”
dr. burk greys anatomy

~~Happy Valentines~~

What is Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is a romantic day observed on February 14th. People send greeting cards called valentines to their loved ones. Many valentines have romantic verses, and others have humorous pictures and sayings. The most common saying is, "Be my Valentine."

Valentine decorations and cards can go on store shelves as early as the day after Christmas. Schools decorate their classrooms with paper hearts and streamers just for this occasion. The most common gifts to give on Valentine's Day are candy and flowers.

How did Valentine's Day begin?

The holiday of Valentine's Day probably came from the ancient Roman feast called "Lupercalia." In the early days of Rome, dangerous wolves lived in the forest nearby. The Romans called upon one of their gods, Lupercus, to keep the wolves away. A festival held in honor of Lupercus was celebrated February 15th. The festival was celebrated as a spring festival. Their calender was different at that time, with February falling in early springtime.

One of the customs of Lupercalia for young people was called "name-drawing." On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia, the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and put in a jar. Each young man drew a piece of paper with a name on it. The girl whose name was chosen would be his sweetheart for the year.

Legend says that the holiday became Valentine's Day after a priest named Valentine. Valentine was a priest in Rome at the time when Christianity was a new religion. The Emperor at that time was Claudius II. He ordered the Roman soldiers NOT to marry or become engaged. Claudius believed that as married men, his soldiers would want to stay home with their families rather than fight his wars. Valentine disobeyed the Emperor's order and secretly married the young couples. He was eventually arrested, imprisoned, and executed.

Valentine was beheaded on February 14th, the eve of the Roman holiday Lupercalia. After his death, Valentine was named a saint. As Rome became more Christian, the priests moved the spring holiday from the 15th of February to the 14th - Valentine's Day. Now the holiday honored Saint Valentine instead of Lupercus.

Valentine's Day
Is a wonderful way
To make "I love you"
Easy to say.

~~My Dating Persona~~

Read My Result
Take the Test

The Sonnet
Deliberate Gentle Love Dreamer (DGLDf)

Romantic, hopeful, and composed. You are the Sonnet. Get it? Composed?

Sonnets want Love and have high ideals about it. They're conscientious people, caring & careful. You yourself have deep convictions, and you devote a lot of thought to romance and what it should be. This will frighten away most potential mates, but that's okay, because you're very choosy with your affections anyway. You'd absolutely refuse to date someone dumber than you, for instance.

Your exact opposite:
Genghis Khunt


Random Brutal Sex Master
Lovers who share your idealized perspective, or who are at least willing to totally throw themselves into a relationship, will be very, very happy with you. And you with them. You're already selfless and compassionate, and with the right partner, there's no doubt you can be sensual, even adventurously so.

You probably have lots of female friends, and they have a special soft spot for you. Babies do, too, at the tippy-top of their baby skulls.


ALWAYS AVOID: The 5-Night Stand, The False Messiah, The Hornivore, The Last Man on Earth

CONSIDER: The Loverboy