It's been a long time since I last posted here. It is Saturday night and I am kind of stuck at home due to incomplete construction work right outside my house. My idle mind brought back some fond memories of blogging so I decided to post something tonight.
I can't believe how much has changed in my life since my last post. I feel like a different person. A calmer, happier and more satisfied person.
Today, I will share with you a secret that led me to feeling all these wonderful feelings.
The secret is letting go.
- To let go of all that is controlling you and holding you back from being who you really are.
- To let go of the things you depend on so much. All the things you think you are addicted to.
- Letting go of fears by facing them.
- Letting go of things/words that don't really matter on a deeper level.
By letting go, I do not mean depriving yourself.
It just means to loosen the tight grip you have on things and to live in moderation.
When you let go of those things that are indirectly controlling you, you are suddenly in control of yourself and you get the willpower to do ANYTHING you want.
Am I making any sense here?
There are a few things I have quit over time, I turned vegetarian, I quit drinking coffee (which was my biggest addiction), I quit eating chocolate, I quit 95% of gossiping (5% is from engaging in it unintentionally), I quit my job in Malaysia that I had practically dedicated my entire life to and I quit having fizzy drinks.
I did all these without any expectations. There are people who judged me by claiming it was a 'pact I had made with God' to get something by giving something away. That is bullshit in my opinion. All the above have led me to live an ethical and healthier lifestyle, and it was surprisingly very easy!
As a result of the above, I have started seeing the whole world differently and am more in control of my life.
My version of letting go may sound too extreme to some people, but my point is only to say that if there is something that controls your mind to the point of affecting you negatively, then loosen that grip on it. You will end up releasing a huge burden that you had no idea you were carrying :-)
Wishing you all a great weekend!
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Traveling with my Pet Shih Tzu from Malaysia to Tanzania
Hey guys!
Today I will share with you something that is valuable than gold to me!
It is my experience of traveling with my beloved Chica to Tanzania. Chica is my 3 year old Shih Tzu daughter.
Staying in Malaysia for 6 years, we decided to adopt this 2 month old little fur-ball of a baby who soon became the highlight of our days.
After 3 years with Chica in Malaysia, I decided to move back to Tanzania. There was no question about giving her away. Chica had to come with me!
I had a few annoying people suggesting to me to give her away or asking me to get another puppy back in Tanzania. I asked those people to give their babies away and make new ones at their new destination. Yeah, THAT shut them up!
Snub-nosed breeds have been banned from most of the airlines due to health risks in flight. They can only be permitted in-cabin if they meet the weight and height requirements of that airline. Shih Tzu's are usually medium-sized and unless they are very small puppies, the chances of meeting with the in-cabin requirements are very low.
I inquired with nearly ALL airlines. KLM, Thai Airways, Ethiopian airlines, Kenya airways and all those that travelled from Malaysia to Tanzania. NONE of them gave any positive response about in-cabin travel, and must I add that all airline companies in my experience give the worst customer service!
I finally got some hope from Thai Airways. Their seat dimensions were slightly bigger than other airlines, but due to the absense of a connecting flight, I would have to get permission from another airline (Ethiopian airlines in my case) to carry my baby with me in flight.
The agent for Thai airways asked me to get all the vaccinations done, while they got the approval. Ethiopian airlines (Bangkok office) on the other hand took 3 weeks to respond to a yes or no question, and the answer was a last minute no. He said only the ground staff in Bangkok could decide whether Chica could board the next flight or not. I hated the thought of being stranded in the middle of a strange country with Chica.
My only option was Cargo.
From online reviews and friends' suggestions, the recommended one was KLM-Air France cargo. They have the reputation of being the most pet-friendly airline with the biggest airline animal hotel.
That started another stressful journey of getting all the documents ready. After getting 90% of it done, I discovered Cargo could only be arranged by an agent. So I had to pay a hell lot of money to an agent for work that was mostly done.
It was however all worth it if it meant my baby could be in Tanzania with me.
Basically, the whole process requires following a tight timeline and the following steps:
- Firstly, Your pet must be vaccinated against all the diseases that are mentioned in the importing country's regulations. In my case it was Rabies (not given more than 1 year back), DHLP, and deworming. You can get this information from www.pettravelstore.com
- Try to get the vaccination done at least a month and half before the flight.
- 2 weeks before the flight, you need to apply for an import permit from the destination country with the attached inoculation record, international health certificate as filled by your licensed vet, and import permit application.
- The import permit has to be attained from the Ministry of Water and Livestock Development, through the Director of Veterinary services. This import permit is only valid for 2 weeks. So once you have that scanned document, you have to proceed to apply for the export permit from your departing country. The export permit is only valid for 5 days and that includes the flying time.
- Getting the export permit requires another check-up of your baby, together with inoculation record.
- Please note that it is best to have a friend/family member/agent visit the Director of Veterinary services in Tanzania personally as phone calls/emails will not be answered (at least not in my case).
- Get an airline approved carrier and make sure your baby can stand, sit, sleep and turn around comfortably in it. Make sure it is comfortable in it before its flight. It is going to be in there for a long time. You can get lots of advice from the link I posted above.
- Get your baby microchipped for safety. Tanzania doesn't require microchip, but some airlines do. In my case, during my attempt to travel with Thai Airways, I was told Chica would need it, so we went ahead and got it.
If you are sending your pet through an agent, the agent will send a vet over to pick her from your residence on the day of the flight, do one brief health check up, check her in at Malaysia's animal hotel, and the agent will then check her in at the airport.
It is advisable for you to attach your baby's mugshot together with all the documents.
Below is Chica's :) haha!
I was lucky to get updates on Chica every few hours as I was going crazy with worry. I could also track her status through the KLM-AF cargo website.
The first picture the agent sent me of Chica made me burst into tears as she looked really scared and lonely (below). If only I could travel with her :(
Below was the overall setup of her crate.
The base of the crate contained her favourite blanket, a Spongebob toy she loves and 2 layers of wee wee pads in case of accidents.
Unfortunately it all got crumpled up on her way to the airport.
There was a water bottle attached to the cage, as well as two additional plastic containers inside the crate, one containing dry kibble and the other extra water.
The top of her crate had some extra wee wee pads, dry food and treats in case she ran out of them and the animal hotel in Amsterdam would feed her.
Chica arrived perfectly in Tanzania. My family was there to receive her while I prepared for my own flight the next day. I was overwhelmed by the news, and so was her daddy through Skype, who was equally anxious to hear the news from Germany.
I am proud to say this has been the best decision for all of us, especially for Chica, who now has a bigger family, larger space to run around in, lots of love and kisses from everyone.
I would like to thank the following people for making it all possible.
1) Chica, for agreeing to make this big move with me and for being such a good sport. God bless you, my baby!
2) Mostafa for all the research, help and moral support while preparing for the move
3) Meera and Mom, for all the hard work and running around to make this possible from Tanzania side.
4) Bandar Puteri Veterinary Clinic and Surgery Team, for being so gentle and loving to Chica as she went on a weekly vaccination spree.
5) CTI Logistics (the agent), for making the final move possible
6) KLM-AF Cargo for their lovely animal hospitality.
7) Nadiya Paramayuda for all her tips and advice as she went through exact same phase with her Shih Tzu baby at the same time :) (what a coincidence)
8) Just Pets grooming (Ken and team) for making Chica look so pretty before her flight :)
This post was meant to be written over a month ago so it's long overdue, but it was important for me to share this whole experience. You never know who might need it :)
Please do leave your feedback or inquiries in the comments below and I will be glad to answer them all or add on additional information to the already long (boring?) post.
Today I will share with you something that is valuable than gold to me!
It is my experience of traveling with my beloved Chica to Tanzania. Chica is my 3 year old Shih Tzu daughter.
Staying in Malaysia for 6 years, we decided to adopt this 2 month old little fur-ball of a baby who soon became the highlight of our days.
After 3 years with Chica in Malaysia, I decided to move back to Tanzania. There was no question about giving her away. Chica had to come with me!
I had a few annoying people suggesting to me to give her away or asking me to get another puppy back in Tanzania. I asked those people to give their babies away and make new ones at their new destination. Yeah, THAT shut them up!
Snub-nosed breeds have been banned from most of the airlines due to health risks in flight. They can only be permitted in-cabin if they meet the weight and height requirements of that airline. Shih Tzu's are usually medium-sized and unless they are very small puppies, the chances of meeting with the in-cabin requirements are very low.
I inquired with nearly ALL airlines. KLM, Thai Airways, Ethiopian airlines, Kenya airways and all those that travelled from Malaysia to Tanzania. NONE of them gave any positive response about in-cabin travel, and must I add that all airline companies in my experience give the worst customer service!
I finally got some hope from Thai Airways. Their seat dimensions were slightly bigger than other airlines, but due to the absense of a connecting flight, I would have to get permission from another airline (Ethiopian airlines in my case) to carry my baby with me in flight.
The agent for Thai airways asked me to get all the vaccinations done, while they got the approval. Ethiopian airlines (Bangkok office) on the other hand took 3 weeks to respond to a yes or no question, and the answer was a last minute no. He said only the ground staff in Bangkok could decide whether Chica could board the next flight or not. I hated the thought of being stranded in the middle of a strange country with Chica.
My only option was Cargo.
From online reviews and friends' suggestions, the recommended one was KLM-Air France cargo. They have the reputation of being the most pet-friendly airline with the biggest airline animal hotel.
That started another stressful journey of getting all the documents ready. After getting 90% of it done, I discovered Cargo could only be arranged by an agent. So I had to pay a hell lot of money to an agent for work that was mostly done.
It was however all worth it if it meant my baby could be in Tanzania with me.
Basically, the whole process requires following a tight timeline and the following steps:
- Firstly, Your pet must be vaccinated against all the diseases that are mentioned in the importing country's regulations. In my case it was Rabies (not given more than 1 year back), DHLP, and deworming. You can get this information from www.pettravelstore.com
- Try to get the vaccination done at least a month and half before the flight.
- 2 weeks before the flight, you need to apply for an import permit from the destination country with the attached inoculation record, international health certificate as filled by your licensed vet, and import permit application.
- The import permit has to be attained from the Ministry of Water and Livestock Development, through the Director of Veterinary services. This import permit is only valid for 2 weeks. So once you have that scanned document, you have to proceed to apply for the export permit from your departing country. The export permit is only valid for 5 days and that includes the flying time.
- Getting the export permit requires another check-up of your baby, together with inoculation record.
- Please note that it is best to have a friend/family member/agent visit the Director of Veterinary services in Tanzania personally as phone calls/emails will not be answered (at least not in my case).
- Get an airline approved carrier and make sure your baby can stand, sit, sleep and turn around comfortably in it. Make sure it is comfortable in it before its flight. It is going to be in there for a long time. You can get lots of advice from the link I posted above.
- Get your baby microchipped for safety. Tanzania doesn't require microchip, but some airlines do. In my case, during my attempt to travel with Thai Airways, I was told Chica would need it, so we went ahead and got it.
If you are sending your pet through an agent, the agent will send a vet over to pick her from your residence on the day of the flight, do one brief health check up, check her in at Malaysia's animal hotel, and the agent will then check her in at the airport.
It is advisable for you to attach your baby's mugshot together with all the documents.
Below is Chica's :) haha!
I was lucky to get updates on Chica every few hours as I was going crazy with worry. I could also track her status through the KLM-AF cargo website.
The first picture the agent sent me of Chica made me burst into tears as she looked really scared and lonely (below). If only I could travel with her :(
Below was the overall setup of her crate.
The base of the crate contained her favourite blanket, a Spongebob toy she loves and 2 layers of wee wee pads in case of accidents.
Unfortunately it all got crumpled up on her way to the airport.
There was a water bottle attached to the cage, as well as two additional plastic containers inside the crate, one containing dry kibble and the other extra water.
The top of her crate had some extra wee wee pads, dry food and treats in case she ran out of them and the animal hotel in Amsterdam would feed her.
Chica arrived perfectly in Tanzania. My family was there to receive her while I prepared for my own flight the next day. I was overwhelmed by the news, and so was her daddy through Skype, who was equally anxious to hear the news from Germany.
I am proud to say this has been the best decision for all of us, especially for Chica, who now has a bigger family, larger space to run around in, lots of love and kisses from everyone.
I would like to thank the following people for making it all possible.
1) Chica, for agreeing to make this big move with me and for being such a good sport. God bless you, my baby!
2) Mostafa for all the research, help and moral support while preparing for the move
3) Meera and Mom, for all the hard work and running around to make this possible from Tanzania side.
4) Bandar Puteri Veterinary Clinic and Surgery Team, for being so gentle and loving to Chica as she went on a weekly vaccination spree.
5) CTI Logistics (the agent), for making the final move possible
6) KLM-AF Cargo for their lovely animal hospitality.
7) Nadiya Paramayuda for all her tips and advice as she went through exact same phase with her Shih Tzu baby at the same time :) (what a coincidence)
8) Just Pets grooming (Ken and team) for making Chica look so pretty before her flight :)
This post was meant to be written over a month ago so it's long overdue, but it was important for me to share this whole experience. You never know who might need it :)
Please do leave your feedback or inquiries in the comments below and I will be glad to answer them all or add on additional information to the already long (boring?) post.
Monday, October 15, 2012
I'm back!
There was a time when I used to blog about each thought, each idea, and then suddenly I went dead. What happened?
Workaholism hit me as usual. I got fully engrossed with work and had no time for anything else, and as it usually is with Routine, while some people like the stability of daily routine, I started to get seriously bored.
I knew it was time for change.
We all know change is not always easy. Especially when it is a big one. With big changes, come fear, risks and excitement. A special friend once mentioned this line to me "This will pass too" and this line gave me unbelievable courage to make these changes. Everything we go through is going to pass eventually, be it good or bad. So rather than holding on to the negative feelings of fear/resentment/nervousness etc, we should just remain calm and neutral to them and let them pass.
First step I took was to resign from my very nice job.
Next, I decided to move back to Tanzania, and start over a new life there.
I brought my little Shih Tzu puppy together with me and that involved many risks as well along the way.
Point of the story is, had I not taken these steps, I would never have enjoyed the fruits of it all, and I feel proud and optimistic about the future.
Workaholism hit me as usual. I got fully engrossed with work and had no time for anything else, and as it usually is with Routine, while some people like the stability of daily routine, I started to get seriously bored.
I knew it was time for change.
We all know change is not always easy. Especially when it is a big one. With big changes, come fear, risks and excitement. A special friend once mentioned this line to me "This will pass too" and this line gave me unbelievable courage to make these changes. Everything we go through is going to pass eventually, be it good or bad. So rather than holding on to the negative feelings of fear/resentment/nervousness etc, we should just remain calm and neutral to them and let them pass.
First step I took was to resign from my very nice job.
Next, I decided to move back to Tanzania, and start over a new life there.
I brought my little Shih Tzu puppy together with me and that involved many risks as well along the way.
Point of the story is, had I not taken these steps, I would never have enjoyed the fruits of it all, and I feel proud and optimistic about the future.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Recipe: Chicken and Mushroom Stir-fry!
Hi all!
Today I'd like to share with you this delicious recipe of mine. Read on if you like what you see :-)
Chicken and Mushroom Stir-fry
(serves 3 people (or two VERY hungry people)
You will need:
- About 350gms of chicken fillet (as shown in the picture below)
- About Half of a capsicum (cut as shown below)
- 1 Medium sized onion (Cut as shown below)
- salt and pepper to taste
- Garlic, chopped
- Ginger, chopped
- Mushrooms, sliced
- Tomato Puree
- Soy Sauce
- Oyster Sauce
- *Hot sauce
- *Parmesan Cheese (grated)
- *Potatoes for French Fries or frozen French fries
- Oil for frying
Method
For the Marinade:
- Wash the chicken nicely and cut into about 1-inch cubes
- Place these cubes in a container and add salt, pepper, 3 tbsp Soy Sauce, 2 tbsp Oyster sauce, 1 tsp of chopped garlic and 1 tsp of chopped ginger to it.
- Close the lid or seal with cling film wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
The marinade
While the chicken is marinating, you can keep yourself busy by frying your french fries, and preparing the veggies for the next stage.
The boring French fries-frying process.
After your have marinated your chicken for about an hour, fry it on medium heat till it's cooked well. Make sure you don't overcook or undercook it. Just observe it, and you will know :-)
Doesn't look that tempting yet, but smells delicious!
Now comes the fun part!
- Put 1-2 tbsp of oil in a pan
- Saute the mushrooms with 1 teaspoon of garlic, salt and pepper on medium heat
- After about 2 minutes, add onion and capsicum.
Love this combination!
- Saute for a few more minutes till you feel the onion and capsicum pieces begin to slightly soften.
- Now add about 2 tbsp of Soy sauce, 2 tbsp of Oyster sauce, 1 tbsp of hot sauce (depends on how hot you want it to be), and about 2 tbsp of tomato puree.
- Stir it and let it cook for a while.
- You can add half a glass of water to it to lighten the consistency.
- Now add your chicken pieces into it.
- Cover the lid and let the flavors combine and strengthen the taste for about 5-7 minutes on low heat.
- Make sure you are there to monitor it. We don't want to burn it at this stage!
Your chicken and mushroom stir-fry is now ready!
If you want, add grated cheese to your french fries and bake for about 5-7 minutes in your oven for an extra delicious treat!
...And Voila! My dear friends, your food is ready! Enjoy it!
I served mine with Arabian bread and these delicious mouth watering French Fries, you can serve yours with rice, veggies or anything you feel like having that day!
Have a great day everyone!
Health: A Miracle Cure for Sore Throat and Cough
Hey guys!
I hope you are all in the best of health and not affected by changes in weather as I am here. If you are one of the unlucky ones who have been attacked by a deadly cough that has not been cured in spite of several medications and herbal options, you have come to the right place.
The past 40 days have been hell for me. I have had this cough that really doesn't want to leave. I gave up hope on doctors after they prescribed 3 different antibiotics to me on each visit, which didn't work at all. I suffered the side effects of taking too much medication: weakness, loss of concentration, weight loss, depression and so on. I just gave up trying.
This is not one of those pages where I gush about a wonderful solution to something and ask you to pay for it in the end. This is a free miraculous cure that is found in your kitchen; offered from me to you with the hope that you will share it with everyone as it was shared with me.
Here's what you need.
- A Lime
- A tablespoon of Soy Sauce
Method and Directions:
- Cut your lime in half.
- Pour the Soy sauce into the lime
- Squeeze the mixture into your mouth and swallow it.
PS. DO NOT try to taste it. It is NOT a pleasant combination!
Some of you may wonder why we need the soy sauce. Well, according to my research, soy sauce neutralizes the acidity of the lime to make it drinkable. It does not really take any part in curing the cough.
I can proudly say that I am 95% better now; and what helped me is this mixture. Of course, along with that, I took lots of warm water, ginger tea and so on, but this is the one that brought immediate relief.
I thank this lovely lady I know for sharing this with me. It doesn't sound like much of a big deal, but if you have been suffering as much as I did, you will know how much it means.
Hope you all have a good day! In my next post, I will be sharing a delicious recipe that you don't want to miss, so please keep checking! :)
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Health: Let's go Herbal with Ginger Tea!
It's been nearly three weeks now since I have had my nasty, chesty cough. It is really annoying and I just can't seem to get rid of it. I have completed my antibiotics dosage, a bottle of cough syrup, lots of warm water, eaten lots of fruits and veggies, but nope! The cough wants to stay! Once I cough, I just can't stop. (Thank you for the slogan, Pringles!)
So yeah, I have gone through various kinds of medicines and decided to completely go herbal now.
I have now decided to turn to folk medicine, and the first one I tried is one from my own folks! (my sweet mother)
My mother always told me to boil a few pieces of ginger in water and drink it when I have a cold or fever, it instantly warms the body and makes us feel better.
Ginger, for many centuries, has been a natural remedy for various problems.
Below is a list of some of the ailments ginger can cure:
• Stimulates digestion
• Naturally freshens breath
• Relieves nausea, including dizziness from motion sickness
• Helps lower cholesterol
• Relieves gas and bloating
• Soothes common cold symptoms, including respiratory infections
• Eases menstrual cramps
• Relieves headaches
• Helps stop diarrhea
• Believed to have anti-cancer properties
(Source: http://stacienaczelnik.hubpages.com/hub/Ginger-The-Benefits-How-to-Use)
Today I decided on researching more about ginger. I found this really nice ginger tea recipe here.
Basically, you have to grate ginger, add crushed garlic and boil the mixture in water for a few minutes. Once it has boiled, add a tablespoon of honey and squeeze a wedge of lemon into it and drink it warm. You will feel the difference instantly!
I tried it today, it was really strong and the taste wasn't that good, but it really helped relieve my cough.
If you decide to try it, make sure you inhale it while it is boiling and while you drink it.
All the above ingredients have different health benefits.
Garlic is considered a natural antibiotic. Lemon boosts the immune system. Ginger has the above mentioned benefits and honey contains antioxidants that help sooth sore throat.
I think it is much better than all the stuff that we get at hospitals that apparently didn't work for me this time.
I will keep drinking this for a few days and let you know if it worked!
Have a great weekend guys!
• Stimulates digestion
• Naturally freshens breath
• Relieves nausea, including dizziness from motion sickness
• Helps lower cholesterol
• Relieves gas and bloating
• Soothes common cold symptoms, including respiratory infections
• Eases menstrual cramps
• Relieves headaches
• Helps stop diarrhea
• Believed to have anti-cancer properties
(Source: http://stacienaczelnik.hubpages.com/hub/Ginger-The-Benefits-How-to-Use)
Today I decided on researching more about ginger. I found this really nice ginger tea recipe here.
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Basically, you have to grate ginger, add crushed garlic and boil the mixture in water for a few minutes. Once it has boiled, add a tablespoon of honey and squeeze a wedge of lemon into it and drink it warm. You will feel the difference instantly!
I tried it today, it was really strong and the taste wasn't that good, but it really helped relieve my cough.
If you decide to try it, make sure you inhale it while it is boiling and while you drink it.
All the above ingredients have different health benefits.
Garlic is considered a natural antibiotic. Lemon boosts the immune system. Ginger has the above mentioned benefits and honey contains antioxidants that help sooth sore throat.
I think it is much better than all the stuff that we get at hospitals that apparently didn't work for me this time.
I will keep drinking this for a few days and let you know if it worked!
Have a great weekend guys!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Rambles: Operation H Begins Today!
If you read my last post, you will see that I was feeling blue prior to my 25th Birthday. Reaching Quarter of a century freaked me out a bit, but I was still happy that I was still on a roll with my work, balancing everything that I did, updating my blogs often and so on.
Then came the D-Day - my birthday. I had a great time celebrating with my loved ones. It was really overwhelming receiving all the wishes, cutting the cakes and feeling like a princess for a day.
Unfortunately, the same day, I started to fall sick. I got fever and sore throat, and I was like Uh-oh!
Since then, I have been fighting a never ending cold, on and off fever and horrendous cough (I thank my colleagues and housemates for bearing with the ugly sounds I produce as a result of that he he!).
Falling sick changes a lot of things. It sometimes makes one feel down, uninspired and weak. The same thing happened to me. I lost all my design motivation, fashion sense and my cheerfulness.
I became a grouch.
As I recover slowly, I have now decided to once again push myself to resume my life prior to falling sick.
I call this Operation H. H standing for Healthy, Happy and Hungry.
Image from: http://freelancefolder.com/self-motivation/
Healthy - Eating/drinking healthy again to stay fit, glowing and pimple-free.
Happy - Getting back to doing what makes me happy - hobbies, fitness, design etc
Hungry - Feel Passionate about what I do, and stay motivated to do more and more...and more.
So this is my plan, and I would love it if you would all do the same. Let's get the Operation H started, shall we? :-)
Have a great day you all!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Rambles: Birthday Blues
Guess what? In a week's time, I will be a quarter of a century old, and that makes me feel so...old!
I mean, I remember the time I was 18 and I always wanted to stay 18. Now here I am 7 years later, wondering what have I really done for my life, loved ones, my career?
In a week, I will be 25. In one week, I want to make a notable difference in my life.
I feel like I am doing last minute shopping here. Trying to get everything done before it's time!
I always used to multi-task, now I over multi-task. For instance, while am blogging right now, I have a video open for editing, a page on Groupon that I am read to sign up for, a video tutorial on on Youtube that I am watching and this other random website I have open. All this while I am sipping my morning coffee at my desk at work! It's a quiet morning so far, no pending jobs, so it's not bad for some personal pleasures.
Anyway, these are actually signs of panic, I guess, and that makes me feel...sad. For the past two years, I lived my life in routine work. Going to work, coming home, dinner, sleep. Nothing great done here, no socializing. Just daily routine.
It feels like I have suddenly woken up. I had been taking my life for granted. There is so much that can be done in every extra minute that we get. There is so much to do!
In fact, let me stop writing now and get back to my work. Let me try make this week the most remarkable week of my life :)
Have a great day!
Nooreen
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Rambles: Zero Expectations and a Positive Mindset
Hey guys!
Hope you all had a good weekend. Today I want to share with you my new motto in life.
It's having Zero expectations and a Positive Mindset
Have you ever experienced one or moreor all of the following:
- Been promised something and ended up not getting it?
- Been promised more than what you got?
- Had great plans with loved ones that ended up getting cancelled?
- Really cared about a friend who didn't give a damn in return?
All this leads to disappointment if you are really EXPECTING it and looking forward to it.
From what I feel, it is better to not expect anything till it actually happens, and then have a blast with it! Expecting something, waiting for it, no matter how confirmed it seems, is a mistake, because the universe works in strange ways, while we are looking forward to something, something else is happening on the other side that changes the turn of events.
At the same time, this does not mean that we have to do this in a pessimistic way. We can hold the excitement of it for when it really happens. Then there are no disappointments and only joy!
The keyword here is taking it easy. Not over-analyzing things.
Also, if you have a goal, don't rush it just to expect results. Enjoy the JOURNEY of achieving this goal. This will increase the chances of achieving it. Be passionate about the goal. Love working on it.
Success will eventually come, but if you only linger on the thought of expecting results, then you will only be disappointed.
Remember, this is just my opinion and if you can feel free to differ :)
Have a great day everyone!
Hope you all had a good weekend. Today I want to share with you my new motto in life.
It's having Zero expectations and a Positive Mindset
Have you ever experienced one or more
- Been promised something and ended up not getting it?
- Been promised more than what you got?
- Had great plans with loved ones that ended up getting cancelled?
- Really cared about a friend who didn't give a damn in return?
All this leads to disappointment if you are really EXPECTING it and looking forward to it.
From what I feel, it is better to not expect anything till it actually happens, and then have a blast with it! Expecting something, waiting for it, no matter how confirmed it seems, is a mistake, because the universe works in strange ways, while we are looking forward to something, something else is happening on the other side that changes the turn of events.
At the same time, this does not mean that we have to do this in a pessimistic way. We can hold the excitement of it for when it really happens. Then there are no disappointments and only joy!
The keyword here is taking it easy. Not over-analyzing things.
Also, if you have a goal, don't rush it just to expect results. Enjoy the JOURNEY of achieving this goal. This will increase the chances of achieving it. Be passionate about the goal. Love working on it.
Success will eventually come, but if you only linger on the thought of expecting results, then you will only be disappointed.
Remember, this is just my opinion and if you can feel free to differ :)
Have a great day everyone!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Recipe: Funky Veggie Omelette
Are you really, really hungry and need something appetizing to eat but have no patience to prepare something big?
Are you sick of eating the traditional omelette or sunny side up?
Here's a funky omelette recipe to your rescue!
What you need:
- A medium size tomato, chopped without the pulp
- An onion, chopped
- a clove of garlic, crushed
- chilli powder/pepper
- salt to taste
- mushrooms, chopped
- cheese (optional)
- potato cubes, fried (optional)
- a pinch of turmeric powder
- oil or butter
Method:
- Beat 2 eggs in a bowl, add in the tomato, onion, garlic, salt, turmeric, chilli/pepper. set aside
- Add a tbsp of oil or butter in a frying pan, and saute the mushrooms in it for a minute on low heat.
- Add the fried potato in it and spread out the mushroom and potatoes evenly over the frying pan.
- Add your beaten omelette mixture to it and let it cook for a while
- Flip the omelette to the other side, being careful to not break it.
- Cook for about 2-3 more minutes
- Add cheese to the omelette and fold it in half
- Tadaa! Funky omelette is ready to devour!
You can eat that plain, or with bread. It's really delicious!
Are you sick of eating the traditional omelette or sunny side up?
Here's a funky omelette recipe to your rescue!
What you need:
- A medium size tomato, chopped without the pulp
- An onion, chopped
- a clove of garlic, crushed
- chilli powder/pepper
- salt to taste
- mushrooms, chopped
- cheese (optional)
- potato cubes, fried (optional)
- a pinch of turmeric powder
- oil or butter
Method:
- Beat 2 eggs in a bowl, add in the tomato, onion, garlic, salt, turmeric, chilli/pepper. set aside
- Add a tbsp of oil or butter in a frying pan, and saute the mushrooms in it for a minute on low heat.
- Add the fried potato in it and spread out the mushroom and potatoes evenly over the frying pan.
- Add your beaten omelette mixture to it and let it cook for a while
- Flip the omelette to the other side, being careful to not break it.
- Cook for about 2-3 more minutes
- Add cheese to the omelette and fold it in half
- Tadaa! Funky omelette is ready to devour!
You can eat that plain, or with bread. It's really delicious!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Book Review: Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
Hi all! Today I will be writing a mini-review on this book I read recently. It is by Sophie Kinsella, and it's called Twenties Girl.
The young woman on the other hand has recently broken up with her boyfriend and is also undergoing problems at work.
With the great aunt, the young woman goes through several exciting adventures, and they form a great bond together.
As interesting as the story-line is by itself, there is something else that really touched me about it.
The great aunt was a really old and neglected person before she passed away. No one knew her or bothered about her. When she appears as a spirit, she is back in her twenties and has a lovely adventurous personality. It makes me realize that people don't really grow old, their body limits them to do the things they want to do. They would still love to dance, go out and do everything younger people do.
Growing older doesn't mean one has to behave in a limited way, that is depression, not ageing! It is all in the mind.
This book is a great read. It made me feel more alive and increased my respect for people of all ages and kept me entertained while it lasted! :)
Make sure you read it!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Beauty: Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom Eau de Toilette
A few weeks back, I got the Japanese Cherry Blossom Eau de Toilette as a gift. There are very few perfumes that I like because I prefer light scents that one can not sniff from a mile away. Those that do not cause headaches and are just good enough to make you smell good and fresh for a long period of time.
I am happy to say that this perfume is one of them. It comes in a 50ml bottle, which is not that big, but good enough for the price we pay for it. It has a romantic flowery/fruity scent and at the same time, it is not excessively flowery or fruity. It is just a perfect blend making it ideal for young to older women.
The packaging is really cute as well, it successfully brings out the "romance" concept of the perfume with the use of pink in its cover together with illustrations of cherry blossoms.
I love it, and I totally recommend it for all! :)
I am happy to say that this perfume is one of them. It comes in a 50ml bottle, which is not that big, but good enough for the price we pay for it. It has a romantic flowery/fruity scent and at the same time, it is not excessively flowery or fruity. It is just a perfect blend making it ideal for young to older women.
The packaging is really cute as well, it successfully brings out the "romance" concept of the perfume with the use of pink in its cover together with illustrations of cherry blossoms.
I love it, and I totally recommend it for all! :)
Monday, September 19, 2011
Rambles: How to Judge People
I have had this in my mind for a while and thought of sharing this Nooreenism with you.
- Judge people by their Morals, not their Religion
- Judge people by their Capabilities, not their Education
- Judge people by their Actions, not their Words
- Judge people by their Present, not Their past
- Judge people by who they are, not who we want them to be.
...But if possible, don't judge at all, for who are we to judge in the first place!
Live and Let Live :)
Friday, September 16, 2011
Beauty: My experience with MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation
A few months back, I posted a review on the Estee Lauder Mineral foundation and how wonderful it was.In spite of its wonderful qualities, I also mentioned that it didn't stay on for very long and had to be reapplied after a few hours (especially if you had to wear it all day long).
Anyway, recently, I decided to put my MAC studio fix fluid foundation again and due to its wonderful coverage with just a bit of product, I fell in love with it and began applying it on a daily basis.
image from http://megsmakeup.com/meghead/dvbourassa/fav-product-1/mac-studio-fix-fluid
Anyway, recently, I decided to put my MAC studio fix fluid foundation again and due to its wonderful coverage with just a bit of product, I fell in love with it and began applying it on a daily basis.
image from http://megsmakeup.com/meghead/dvbourassa/fav-product-1/mac-studio-fix-fluid
BIG MISTAKE!!! I didn't notice this immediately, but after a while I realized that I was breaking out everyday! a new zit every day on my cheeks!
I thought maybe my cleansing regime wasn't very good, so I made sure I was more careful and removed every trace of makeup. Then I thought it was because of my coffee addiction, so I cut down coffee. Nope! the pimples kept popping up!
Then one day, I felt strong nostalgia over my Estee Lauder foundation. I missed the natural radiant look it gave. So I put it on again, and as usual, reapplied over the next days (till now); and guess what? my daily zits have stopped!
I feel relieved to have finally found the cause and a solution.
But then again, we should also note that not everyone's skin is the same and what doesn't work for me can work for others. I have friends who use MAC foundation, and it doesn't affect them. My mother also uses MAC and she has no break outs.
suggest you give it a try if you want proper coverage, but if you have sudden break outs, you know what the cause is.
Please note that am not trashing this brand/product. I am just sharing my own personal experience with this specific type of foundation by MAC.
Thanks for reading, and have an awesome day everyone! :)
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Rambles: Recurring Number - everywhere!
Hello Bloggers and Blog readers!
I had taken a little break from blogging as I tried adjusting to my new lifestyle. With tons of things to juggle at once, it became a bit difficult to blog daily.
Well, here I am today, down with a cold and a perfect opportunity to share something personal with you all.
Have you ever learned about something or someone that we never knew existed and suddenly they're everywhere? on the radio, uttered from everyone's lips and on every billboard you see? quite common, right?
Now what would it mean if we saw this particular thing for years and years? without obsessing over it or deliberately looking for it?
That's my story.
I have been seeing a number for the past 4-5 years. It's the number 43. I know, there is a movie just like that (The Number 23); but I have been experiencing this before I even heard about the movie.
I don't know if there is any meaning behind it, but sometimes it gets a bit uncomfortable for me to see it everywhere. When I look at the time, its XX:43. If I look at my laptop battery status, its on 43%, when I look at the views on my Youtube video, its 43,000 and so on.
Once, I was in my room preparing to sleep in the dark, my phone was lying next to me, untouched. It suddenly does a network search and the backlight goes on, guess what I see? 10:43pm.
and then the light goes off again.
If I deliberately look for it, expecting to see it, it won't be there. It's just when I subconsciously look at something when I see it.
I was never one to believe in numerology or superstitions, but this thing really makes me wonder, since it's been going on for years now. After dad passed away, it stopped for a while. Now for the past 6 months or so, it's back.
I have heard several interpretations of it. Some say its a good thing, some say it's bad, I have no idea what to believe in.
Some people make fun of it and some people say it's just in my head. I feel you can't judge till you have experienced it for yourself. I have met a few people who see the same number or some other number and they are just as confused as I am, but with this confusion, I feel a sense of comfort, knowing that I am not alone.
If you bump into my blog and come across this post, and coincidentally happen to experience the same, please feel free to post a comment and share your story.
Have a good Sunday evening with your families and loved ones :)
I had taken a little break from blogging as I tried adjusting to my new lifestyle. With tons of things to juggle at once, it became a bit difficult to blog daily.
Well, here I am today, down with a cold and a perfect opportunity to share something personal with you all.
Have you ever learned about something or someone that we never knew existed and suddenly they're everywhere? on the radio, uttered from everyone's lips and on every billboard you see? quite common, right?
Now what would it mean if we saw this particular thing for years and years? without obsessing over it or deliberately looking for it?
That's my story.
I have been seeing a number for the past 4-5 years. It's the number 43. I know, there is a movie just like that (The Number 23); but I have been experiencing this before I even heard about the movie.
I don't know if there is any meaning behind it, but sometimes it gets a bit uncomfortable for me to see it everywhere. When I look at the time, its XX:43. If I look at my laptop battery status, its on 43%, when I look at the views on my Youtube video, its 43,000 and so on.
Once, I was in my room preparing to sleep in the dark, my phone was lying next to me, untouched. It suddenly does a network search and the backlight goes on, guess what I see? 10:43pm.
and then the light goes off again.
If I deliberately look for it, expecting to see it, it won't be there. It's just when I subconsciously look at something when I see it.
I was never one to believe in numerology or superstitions, but this thing really makes me wonder, since it's been going on for years now. After dad passed away, it stopped for a while. Now for the past 6 months or so, it's back.
I have heard several interpretations of it. Some say its a good thing, some say it's bad, I have no idea what to believe in.
Some people make fun of it and some people say it's just in my head. I feel you can't judge till you have experienced it for yourself. I have met a few people who see the same number or some other number and they are just as confused as I am, but with this confusion, I feel a sense of comfort, knowing that I am not alone.
If you bump into my blog and come across this post, and coincidentally happen to experience the same, please feel free to post a comment and share your story.
Have a good Sunday evening with your families and loved ones :)
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Recipe: Enter Paradise with my Good old Chai!
Nothing beats the feeling of enjoying a hot cup of Chai after a busy and tiring day! There are several different ways of making tea. Different people use different techniques and ingredients. It's more of a cultural thing.
I am here to share my recipe today. I have had people request me in the middle of the night to make tea for them in the past, so there must be something good about it :)
Ingredients: (serves 2)
2.5 cups of water
1/2 cup of skimmed milk
1.5 tsp Tea leaves
1 small piece of cinnamon stick - broken into tiny pieces
1 or 2 cardamom pods - slightly opened from one side
2 tsp sugar
*If you want to use evaporated creamer, use 3 cups of water and 1/4 cup of creamer instead*
Method:
- Add the water into a small pan and place it on low heat.
- Add water, sugar, tea leaves and the spices
- When it starts to boil, add the milk in it. You can increase or decrease the quantity of the milk according to your preference.
- Leave it to boil for some time.
- Sieve it into 2 cups and you hot refreshing aromatic tea is ready to relax you!
For better satisfaction, sip it with some nice relaxing music in the background and feel the stress leave your body and utmost peace enter your soul.
Feels like heaven, doesn't it? ;)
I am here to share my recipe today. I have had people request me in the middle of the night to make tea for them in the past, so there must be something good about it :)
Ingredients: (serves 2)
2.5 cups of water
1/2 cup of skimmed milk
1.5 tsp Tea leaves
1 small piece of cinnamon stick - broken into tiny pieces
1 or 2 cardamom pods - slightly opened from one side
2 tsp sugar
*If you want to use evaporated creamer, use 3 cups of water and 1/4 cup of creamer instead*
Method:
- Add the water into a small pan and place it on low heat.
- Add water, sugar, tea leaves and the spices
- When it starts to boil, add the milk in it. You can increase or decrease the quantity of the milk according to your preference.
- Leave it to boil for some time.
- Sieve it into 2 cups and you hot refreshing aromatic tea is ready to relax you!
 |
| (Image from http://www.careeningsegue.com/cool-pictures-tea-infusion-cups-mugs/spiced-chai-tea/) |
For better satisfaction, sip it with some nice relaxing music in the background and feel the stress leave your body and utmost peace enter your soul.
Feels like heaven, doesn't it? ;)
Saturday, May 28, 2011
5 tips to get rid of The Belly Fat
Ladies, if you are blessed with a naturally flat tummy, you are damn lucky! You should worship it! *humbly bowing down to your tummy*
If you are like me and the other less fortunate women in the belly department, I am here to help with what little I know.
Let us first understand that in order to have a flat tummy, we need to watch our overall health. Trying to get rid of the tummy alone will only be a temporary solution. We need to improve our lifestyle in general.
1. Fibers are a woman's best friend.
- Fibers are basically carbs that can not be digested. Fiber is present in plant-based food. Since it can not be digested, it aids in cleaning the toxins from the body, hence leaving us healthy and healing problems such as constipation.
Fiber also gives us the feeling of being 'full' within minutes and does not make us feel hungry often.
Because of the above reasons, it is advisable to include more fibers in our diet if we want to lose weight. , Let us not forget that is is also a VERY healthy option and does not necessarily have to be boring or tastless, you can always add some of your creativity in it so as to enjoy what you eat.
Some foods you can eat with high fiber content: Apples with the skin, beans, lentils, prunes, broccoli, baked potato, carrots and so on.
2. Say no to Sucrose!
- Okay so the simple sugars we consume, that give us what we call a "sweet tooth" is the most addictive and pleasurable form of sugar in my opinion. Fructose (from fruits) and Lactose (from milk) is the healthier form. Sugar, when taken in a limit, is good to provide us with energy. If in excess, it's converted to Fat.
So now we know what form of sugar is a wiser option for consumption to control our weight. However, consuming it once in a while should not be a problem, after all, what's life, if we don't live it, right?!
3. Crunches
- Start by doing crunches the proper way, about 20 times till you get used to it and then challenge yourself further by increasing the number of reps.
Below is one of the traditional types of crunches, as you gain practice, you can experiment with other types.
- Lie on your back with your knees bent, and place your hands on each side of your head. (refer to picture (a))
- Make sure your lower back is flat against the floor.
- Contract your abs and slowly life your shoulder blades about 30 degrees off the floor
- Make sure your neck is straight and your chin is facing up.
- Exhale while lifting, and hold this position for a few seconds (you don't have to hold your breath).
- Lower your shoulders slowly while keeping your abs contracted.
- Repeat.
- You can also do the same with your legs lifted up (refer to picture (b)), by moving your knees closer towards your chest while you lift your shoulder blades, and moving your knees away while lowering yourself. I personally find this more effective.
4. Side Dumbbell bends
- If you are one of those least fortunate people like me with body prone to side flabs (or love handles as some might call it), then this is the ideal workout for you.
All you have to do is hold a dumbbell in each hand, stand shoulder width apart. and bend on each side, as far as you can, till you feel the stretch, and then do the same on the other side. Repeat.
Make sure you only bend your waist and not your knees. Also make sure your dumbbells are not too heavy. This exercise can cause injury or back pain if it's not done properly. Don't overdo it.
5. Last but not the least, it is important to know that one can not spot reduce a part of your body. Accompanying the above with cardio, stretching and so on can make it easier to attain an overall good physique; making you feel fit and healthy! Accompany all the above with a lot of water and vitamins and you will be one healthy, happy person :)
Hope you found this post useful, special thanks to my personal trainer and nutritionist Mostafa for his special training and advice. Good Luck and have a good weekend!
If you are like me and the other less fortunate women in the belly department, I am here to help with what little I know.
Let us first understand that in order to have a flat tummy, we need to watch our overall health. Trying to get rid of the tummy alone will only be a temporary solution. We need to improve our lifestyle in general.
1. Fibers are a woman's best friend.
- Fibers are basically carbs that can not be digested. Fiber is present in plant-based food. Since it can not be digested, it aids in cleaning the toxins from the body, hence leaving us healthy and healing problems such as constipation.
Fiber also gives us the feeling of being 'full' within minutes and does not make us feel hungry often.
Because of the above reasons, it is advisable to include more fibers in our diet if we want to lose weight. , Let us not forget that is is also a VERY healthy option and does not necessarily have to be boring or tastless, you can always add some of your creativity in it so as to enjoy what you eat.
Some foods you can eat with high fiber content: Apples with the skin, beans, lentils, prunes, broccoli, baked potato, carrots and so on.
2. Say no to Sucrose!
- Okay so the simple sugars we consume, that give us what we call a "sweet tooth" is the most addictive and pleasurable form of sugar in my opinion. Fructose (from fruits) and Lactose (from milk) is the healthier form. Sugar, when taken in a limit, is good to provide us with energy. If in excess, it's converted to Fat.
So now we know what form of sugar is a wiser option for consumption to control our weight. However, consuming it once in a while should not be a problem, after all, what's life, if we don't live it, right?!
3. Crunches
- Start by doing crunches the proper way, about 20 times till you get used to it and then challenge yourself further by increasing the number of reps.
Below is one of the traditional types of crunches, as you gain practice, you can experiment with other types.
- Lie on your back with your knees bent, and place your hands on each side of your head. (refer to picture (a))
- Make sure your lower back is flat against the floor.
- Contract your abs and slowly life your shoulder blades about 30 degrees off the floor
- Make sure your neck is straight and your chin is facing up.
- Exhale while lifting, and hold this position for a few seconds (you don't have to hold your breath).
- Lower your shoulders slowly while keeping your abs contracted.
- Repeat.
- You can also do the same with your legs lifted up (refer to picture (b)), by moving your knees closer towards your chest while you lift your shoulder blades, and moving your knees away while lowering yourself. I personally find this more effective.
 |
| Picture (a) - taken from http://www.daily-fit.com/abdominals.html |
 | |
| Picture (b) - taken from http://www.examiner.com/home-fitness-in-allentown/fit-tip-of-the-week-crunches |
- If you are one of those least fortunate people like me with body prone to side flabs (or love handles as some might call it), then this is the ideal workout for you.
All you have to do is hold a dumbbell in each hand, stand shoulder width apart. and bend on each side, as far as you can, till you feel the stretch, and then do the same on the other side. Repeat.
Make sure you only bend your waist and not your knees. Also make sure your dumbbells are not too heavy. This exercise can cause injury or back pain if it's not done properly. Don't overdo it.
5. Last but not the least, it is important to know that one can not spot reduce a part of your body. Accompanying the above with cardio, stretching and so on can make it easier to attain an overall good physique; making you feel fit and healthy! Accompany all the above with a lot of water and vitamins and you will be one healthy, happy person :)
Hope you found this post useful, special thanks to my personal trainer and nutritionist Mostafa for his special training and advice. Good Luck and have a good weekend!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Rambles: Why I Turned Vegetarian: My Story.
It's been 2 weeks since I turned vegetarian. So far, there has been no regrets involved in my decision :)
Why did I make this decision? you may wonder.
Well, ever since I was a little girl, I was a true bird lover. I would feed pigeons, chickens and any kind of feathered species that would visit me at/outside home.
It was so touching to see the birds eat the food I fed them. I would even place a huge tray of water and watch the pigeons splash the water everywhere :)
There was a farm near my house, so whenever I opened my house gate, all the chickens would speed towards the gate and inside my house. That was the most adorable thing to watch. I learned new tricks everyday. I learned that when you want to call a chicken, all you have to do is make smacking sounds with your lips and they will come towards you.
Then I had to move house and leave all my feathered friends behind me. That was a very heartbreaking moment.
Now how is that related to vegetarianism? It's Simple. How could I eat my little friends?
That time, when I suggested this idea to my mom, she said that I was still growing and I needed sufficient amount of protein.
Now that I am all grown up (and overgrown :P) I feel its the perfect time for me to do that. I can now cook several healthy dishes on my own with different sources of protein. I can finally feel like am doing something worthwhile.
I also had a terrible visual in my head while having chicken salad two weeks ago that led me to me to be more sure of this decision and stop spontaneously.
I am finally at peace with myself :)
Hope you enjoyed my little story. Have a great day everyone! :)
*Please note that I am just sharing my story and am in no way trying to turn people off from eating whatever they want to eat, everyone has their own beliefs, and I respect that*
Why did I make this decision? you may wonder.
Well, ever since I was a little girl, I was a true bird lover. I would feed pigeons, chickens and any kind of feathered species that would visit me at/outside home.
It was so touching to see the birds eat the food I fed them. I would even place a huge tray of water and watch the pigeons splash the water everywhere :)
There was a farm near my house, so whenever I opened my house gate, all the chickens would speed towards the gate and inside my house. That was the most adorable thing to watch. I learned new tricks everyday. I learned that when you want to call a chicken, all you have to do is make smacking sounds with your lips and they will come towards you.
Then I had to move house and leave all my feathered friends behind me. That was a very heartbreaking moment.
Now how is that related to vegetarianism? It's Simple. How could I eat my little friends?
That time, when I suggested this idea to my mom, she said that I was still growing and I needed sufficient amount of protein.
Now that I am all grown up (and overgrown :P) I feel its the perfect time for me to do that. I can now cook several healthy dishes on my own with different sources of protein. I can finally feel like am doing something worthwhile.
I also had a terrible visual in my head while having chicken salad two weeks ago that led me to me to be more sure of this decision and stop spontaneously.
I am finally at peace with myself :)
Hope you enjoyed my little story. Have a great day everyone! :)
*Please note that I am just sharing my story and am in no way trying to turn people off from eating whatever they want to eat, everyone has their own beliefs, and I respect that*
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Rambles: Bad habits
Okay, so I discussed my good and healthy habits in my previous post. Now it's time for the bad ones!!!
1. Coffee, of course.
- People close to me know that I am a big time coffee-addict! I not only drink coffee, I also think coffee and sleep coffee. Okay, that's a bit of an exageration, but I do drink up to 3 cups a day and wish I could have more.
The bad thing about it is that I don't want to quit. I do want to reduce to 2 cups, but I really enjoy my coffee time!
Strange thing about that is that I used to hate coffee before, I used to have it as medicine during my school days, and now I yearn for its smell, its taste, its effect on me *sigh*
My third cup usually makes me feel dizzy, so I try not to have it in short intervals.
This is one bad habit that I am quite okay with.
2. Out of Focus.
This is a very shameful confession. I sometimes tend to lose my concentration while talking to a person because I end up looking at 'how' they talk to me, their body language, their confidence etc and I tend to lose focus on "what" they are telling me! So if you suddenly heard a "mmmm" as a response from me, it probably means I have drifted off to a psychological-analyzing-zombie state. lol! Don't freak out though, there is nothing bad that I think about the person. I just like to observe.
3. Thinking too much?
- I guess this is the worst habit I have. I tend to over-analyze EVERYTHING about myself. I can spend hours with myself, just thinking about things. My mind works 24/7. I also tend to read between non-existent lines when people say something.
4. Forgiveness.
I know forgiving is a big thing, but for me, I am either your best friend or your worst enemy. It is very hard for me to forget something. Even though I try to forgive, I will still hold a slight grudge against you. I tend to give my 100% to someone or something until I get let down. It's not like I would take revenge or anything, I just stop giving a damn.
5. Room Cluttered with clothes
- I have this very weird habit from childhood. My dad would always say he felt dizzy entering my room because I tend to pile up my clothes in a huge mountain on a selected location, e.g. a chair. till they reach a point of toppling over, then I finally put them back to their designated places :D
So, these are FEW of my bad habits/behavioral problems he he.
Enjoy reading! Have a great day everyone!
1. Coffee, of course.
- People close to me know that I am a big time coffee-addict! I not only drink coffee, I also think coffee and sleep coffee. Okay, that's a bit of an exageration, but I do drink up to 3 cups a day and wish I could have more.
The bad thing about it is that I don't want to quit. I do want to reduce to 2 cups, but I really enjoy my coffee time!
Strange thing about that is that I used to hate coffee before, I used to have it as medicine during my school days, and now I yearn for its smell, its taste, its effect on me *sigh*
My third cup usually makes me feel dizzy, so I try not to have it in short intervals.
This is one bad habit that I am quite okay with.
2. Out of Focus.
This is a very shameful confession. I sometimes tend to lose my concentration while talking to a person because I end up looking at 'how' they talk to me, their body language, their confidence etc and I tend to lose focus on "what" they are telling me! So if you suddenly heard a "mmmm" as a response from me, it probably means I have drifted off to a psychological-analyzing-zombie state. lol! Don't freak out though, there is nothing bad that I think about the person. I just like to observe.
3. Thinking too much?
- I guess this is the worst habit I have. I tend to over-analyze EVERYTHING about myself. I can spend hours with myself, just thinking about things. My mind works 24/7. I also tend to read between non-existent lines when people say something.
4. Forgiveness.
I know forgiving is a big thing, but for me, I am either your best friend or your worst enemy. It is very hard for me to forget something. Even though I try to forgive, I will still hold a slight grudge against you. I tend to give my 100% to someone or something until I get let down. It's not like I would take revenge or anything, I just stop giving a damn.
5. Room Cluttered with clothes
- I have this very weird habit from childhood. My dad would always say he felt dizzy entering my room because I tend to pile up my clothes in a huge mountain on a selected location, e.g. a chair. till they reach a point of toppling over, then I finally put them back to their designated places :D
So, these are FEW of my bad habits/behavioral problems he he.
Enjoy reading! Have a great day everyone!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Recipe: Veggie Burgers
Burgers are one of the most addictive foods loved by the majority of the world. Made in different styles and ingredients, there is a burger to satisfy every taste bud in the world. I am one of those people who loves burgers.
Going vegetarian recently didn't stop me from having burgers. I decided to make my own style of veggie burger! The key in making veggie burgers is to make it as yummy as possible in order to match the standards of the um...non-veg burgers.
Below is my recipe. I am sure as I get more practice in cooking vegetarian meals, the quality and creativity in my burgers will also improve, but for now, this worked great for me! I LOVED them!!
Ingredients:
Canned Chick Peas
Canned Green peas
Boiled Potatoes
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove of garlic, crushed/chopped
salt
pepper
chilli powder/green chilli, chopped
1 tbsp tomato paste
Breadcrumbs
1 egg
oil
Tomato, sliced
burger buns
Method
- Put the Chick peas, green peas and boiled potatoes in the blender or mash it all with a fork and set aside.
- Put 1 tbsp of oil in a pan and saute the onions until golden brown.
- Add garlic, chilli, salt pepper to the onions
- Add the tomato paste.
- Turn off the stove, mix the mashed mixture of potatoes and peas into the onion mixture, add a few table spoons of breadcrumbs inside it.
- Make patties from the mixture.
- Now take a bowl and beat an egg in it.
- Put some breadcrumbs in a separate plate
- Dip the patties into the egg, and then roll it over the breadcrumbs
- take a few tablespoons of oil in a frying pan and fry your patties on both sides on medium heat till it becomes nice and crispy from the outside
- Place the patties in the burger buns, followed by a tomato slice on top.
- Your delicious, crispy burger is ready to be devoured!
Going vegetarian recently didn't stop me from having burgers. I decided to make my own style of veggie burger! The key in making veggie burgers is to make it as yummy as possible in order to match the standards of the um...non-veg burgers.
Below is my recipe. I am sure as I get more practice in cooking vegetarian meals, the quality and creativity in my burgers will also improve, but for now, this worked great for me! I LOVED them!!
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| Delicious Veggie burgers (http://www.vegansoapbox.com/veggie-burgers-vs-beef-burgers/) |
*Please note that the image above is just for illustration purpose, and will be replaced once I have my own*
Ingredients:
Canned Chick Peas
Canned Green peas
Boiled Potatoes
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove of garlic, crushed/chopped
salt
pepper
chilli powder/green chilli, chopped
1 tbsp tomato paste
Breadcrumbs
1 egg
oil
Tomato, sliced
burger buns
Method
- Put the Chick peas, green peas and boiled potatoes in the blender or mash it all with a fork and set aside.
- Put 1 tbsp of oil in a pan and saute the onions until golden brown.
- Add garlic, chilli, salt pepper to the onions
- Add the tomato paste.
- Turn off the stove, mix the mashed mixture of potatoes and peas into the onion mixture, add a few table spoons of breadcrumbs inside it.
- Make patties from the mixture.
- Now take a bowl and beat an egg in it.
- Put some breadcrumbs in a separate plate
- Dip the patties into the egg, and then roll it over the breadcrumbs
- take a few tablespoons of oil in a frying pan and fry your patties on both sides on medium heat till it becomes nice and crispy from the outside
- Place the patties in the burger buns, followed by a tomato slice on top.
- Your delicious, crispy burger is ready to be devoured!
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