LET US ENJOY THE FESTIVE SEASON, MAKE THE MOST OF THE SITUATION THAT WE ALL IN AND REFELECT WHAT CAN BE LEARNT GOING THROUGH THE TOUGHEST TIME THAT HAS AFFECTED THE GLOBE.

 

AND SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

rather choke on greatness than nibble on mediocrity

Let's do what we love, and let's do a lot of it

It always seems impossible until it's done

When you have a really bad day, try and treat the world better than it treated you

Work until you no longer have to introduce yourself

Always find time for the things that make you feel happy to be alive

Go the extra mile, it’s never crowded

DREAM

 

In life, many thoughts are born in the course of a moment, an hour, a day. Some are dreams, some visions. Often, we are unable to distinguish between them. To some, they are the same; however, not all dreams are visions. Much energy is lost in fanciful dreams that never bear fruit. But visions are messages from the Great Spirit, each for a different purpose in life. Consequently, one person's vision may not be that of another. To have a vision, one must be prepared to receive it, and when it comes, to accept it. Thus when these inner urges become reality, only then can visions be fulfilled. The spiritual side of life knows everyone's heart and who to trust. How could a vision ever be given to someone to harbor if that person could not be trusted to carry it out. The message is simple: commitment precedes vision.

- High Eagle

RECYCLED OLD LIGHT BULBS INTO CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Traditional Portuguese Christmas Recipe

Rabanada is the Portuguese  equivalent of French toast, also known as Tipsy Slices. To make it, you take slices of wheat bread and soak them in milk, wine, or sugar, slather them with eggs and fry them. When ready, they are usually coated in sugar and/or cinnamon, or drizzled in honey.

This is a Portuguese tradition, and was originally created as a dish made with stale bread, in order to use food slightly gone bad instead of throwing it away. 


Recipe
1 French loaf (one day-old  bread is best)
2 eggs
125ml milk
5ml grated lemon rind
oil for frying


Syrup
500g sugar
250ml water
1 stick cinnamon
50ml Port wine


Cut the bread into slices about 2 cm thick. Beat the eggs and place in a soup plate. Mix the milk amd lemon rind and pour into a separate soup plate. Dip the bread slices into the milk and then the beaten egg. Fry in hot oil. Drain well.


To make the syrup, boil the sugar and water for 3 minutes. Dip each fried bread into the hot syrup and then place in a deep serving bowl. Add the cinnamon stick and Port wine to the remaining syrup, bring to the boil and pour over the slices of bread.


Variation
Sprinkle the bread with cinnamon and sugar after frying.
These tipsy slices can also be dipped in red wine. 

Christmas Teddies for my tree.

 

GOOD THINGS ARE COMMING.

 

IF YOU ARE DEPRESSED YOU ARE LIVING IN THE PAST.

IF YOU ARE ANXIOUS YOU ARE LIVING IN THE FUTURE.

IF YOU ARE AT PEACE YOU ARE LIVING IN THE PRESENT.

INNER PWACE BEGINS THE MOMENT YOU CHOOSE NOT TO ALLOW ANOTHER PERSON OR EVENT TO CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS.

GOD WHEN I LOOSE HOPE, HELP ME TO REMEMBER THAT YOUR LOVE IS GREATWR THAN MY DISAPOINTMENTS AND YOUR PLANS FOR MY LIFE ARE BETTER THAN MY DREAMS. AMEN

Best 60s Dancer Boy Ever - The Nitty Gritty

“Golden milk” for cold, flus, depression, and more (in a recipe that actually tastes good…)

 

Turmeric is fast becoming a popular remedy for just about
 everything that ails you. It is particularly powerful as a 
wintertime cold and flu remedy. I have added some to just 
about every tea I have put together this season. Turmeric in
 milk is a great option as well. The flavor is pleasant and offers 
a change from the tea. Traditionally, turmeric milk has been
 used for colds, congestion, headache, and sore throats. 
Turmeric is a depression-fighter as well. Adding more to 
our diets is one great brain building strategy.

TURMERIC MILK INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups of milk (or substitute coconut milk)
• 1 teaspoon dried turmeric (or one-half inch fresh turmeric thinly sliced or diced)
• 1 teaspoon dried ginger (or one-half inch fresh ginger thinly sliced or diced)
• A sprinkle of black pepper.
• Honey to taste

1. Place milk in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add turmeric, ginger, and pepper. Stir well if you are using the dried spices.
3. Let the milk begin to simmer — small bubbles will form on the sides of the 
4. saucepan. Stir.
5. Allow to heat for another minute or two being careful not to let the milk overheat. Continue to stir at this point to get better heat distribution and so that you don’t end up distracted in your kitchen and end up with boiled turmeric in your burner pans (*cough*).
6. Turn off heat, cover, and allow the mixture to sit for ten minutes or so to improve the infusion.
7. Strain the milk through a strainer if you have used fresh ingredients.
8. Serve warm.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             .http://www.freshbitesdaily.com/

How to Make Stepping Stones – with a Cake Pan

I made these stepping stones using a mould iron frame that a friend made for me. It was fun and easy making them.

I found this cool idea of making stepping stones.

You don’t need a fancy schmancy mold to make garden stepping stones;

 all you need is a non-stick cake pan! And you won’t even ruin the pan!

I stumbled on a new – and EASIER way to make mosaic stepping stones;

 it’s called the indirect method and it involves contact paper. I think these

 would make awesome favors or gifts for a garden wedding. Just get your

 maids together on a Saturday afternoon and have a stepping stone party. 

They’re inexpensive to make – and they don’t require much skill.

You will need:

• Round non-stick cake pan (You could also use a heart-shaped pan)
• Vaseline
• Contact paper
• Old plates or saucers that you don’t need (I got mine at the thrift store)
• Glass gems
• sea glass (optional)
• concrete
• marine varnish
• Mosaic Glass Cutter (Optional. I did not use of of these, but if you want
•  more precise cuts, this is the way to go.)
• chicken wire or other type of wire mesh
• safety glasses
• rubber gloves
• dust mask
• hammer
• bucket
• trowel
• water

Put your safety glasses on. Place a plate or saucer inside a cloth bag or 

cover with an old sheet or towel, and smash it with a hammer. If you have

 a mosaic glass cutter, use it instead.

Place your cake pan on your contact paper, and trace around it.

Cut out the contact paper circle. Remove backing and place inside

 pan sticky side up. Add your mosaic pieces to the contact paper 

with the desired design facing down. Press each piece down so

 it is firmly stuck to the contact paper. Leave enough space between

 the pieces so that the cement can fill the spaces in between – 

but don’t leave too much room. (When I make my next stepping 

stone, I will move the pieces a bit closer together.)

If you are happy with your design, place the design back into the pan

 with the sticky side up. Head outdoors, put on your dust mask and

 mix up your concrete according to the instructions on the bag. It will

 be the consistency of porridge when it’s ready.Meantime, cut a square

 piece of chicken wire or wire mesh to fit inside the stepping stone. 

This will help to support it. Also, line the inside rim of your cake pan

 with Vaseline for easy releasing.

. 

http://www.intimateweddings.com/

Dog Wants a Kitty

Man Is Horrified When She Sits Beside Him On The Plane. 2 Hours Later, His Mind Is Blown

                                                        

I've been hearing this forever: "it's what's inside that counts." It can be so difficult to see beyond the exterior that the statement sounds blatantly untrue. A person's physical appearance does arouse primal responses (i.e. a low waist-to-hip ratio in women represents fertility, which makes this a desirable feature, etc.) but we are more than animals reacting to biological triggers. People who can think and feel are able to look past these distractions and, sometimes, get a glimmer of true beauty. Some women just don't need anything else; some women are so spectacular, they're mythical.

“Hi! How are you?”

The woman smiled as she took the seat beside me. She had to lower herself slowly, squeezing her ample bottom into the seat, filling all available space.

Positioning herself comfortably, she plopped her enormous arm on our common armrest. Her immensity saturated the space around us, shrinking me and my seat into insignificance.

I cringed and reclined towards the window.

She leaned towards me...

 ...and repeated her greeting in an upbeat, friendly voice. Her face towered above my head, forcing me to turn to look at her. “Hi,” I replied with obvious loathing.

I turned away to stare out the cabin window, sulking silently about the long hours of discomfort I was going to experience with this monster beside me.

She nudged me with her meaty arm. “My name is Laura. I’m from Britain. How about you? Japan?”

“Malaysia,” I barked.

“I’m so sorry! Will you accept my heartfelt apology? Come, shake my hand. If we’re going to spend six hours side-by-side on this flight, we’d better be friends, don’t you think?” A palm waved in front of my face. I shook the hand reluctantly, still silent.

Laura started a conversation with me, taking no notice of my unfriendly reactions.

She talked excitedly about herself and her trip to Hong Kong to see her friends. She rattled off a list of things she was going to buy for her students in the boarding school where she was teaching.

I gave her one-word answers to her questions about me. Unperturbed by my coldness, she nodded as she made appreciative comments to my answers. Her voice was warm and caring. She was considerate and obliging when we were served drinks and meals, making sure that I had room to maneuver in my seat. “I don’t want to clobber you with my elephant size!” she said with utmost sincerity.

To my surprise, her face which repulsed me hours before...

...now opened into extraordinary smiles, lively and calm at the same time. I couldn’t help but let down my guard slowly.

Laura was an interesting conversationalist. She was well read in many subjects from philosophy to science. She turned a seemingly unimportant subject into something to explore and understand. Her comments were humorous and inspirational. When our topic turned to cultures, I was pleasantly surprised by her intelligent comments and well-thought-out analysis.

During our conversation, Laura managed to make every cabin crew who served us walk away laughing at her jokes.

When a flight attendant was clearing our plates, Laura cracked several jokes about her size. The flight attendant roared with laughter as she grabbed Laura’s hand, “You really make my day!”

For the next few minutes, Laura listened attentively and gave pointers to the flight attendant’s weight problem. The grateful attendant said before she rushed off, “I’ve got to work. I’ll come back later and talk to you about it.”

I asked Laura, “‘Have you ever thought about losing some weight?”

“No. I’ve worked hard to get this way. Why would I want to give it up?”

“You aren’t worried about cardiovascular diseases that come with being overweight?”

“Not at all. You only get the diseases if you’re worried about your weight all the time. You see advertisements from slimming centres that say, `Liberate yourself from your extra baggage so that you are free to be yourself.’ It’s rubbish! You’re liberated only if you’re comfortable about who you are, and what you look like any time of the day and anytime of the year! Why would I want to waste my time on slimming regimes when I have so many other important things to do and so many people to be friends with? I eat healthily and walk regularly; I’m this size because I am born to be big! There is more to life than worrying about weight all day long.”

She sipped at her wine. “Besides,...

...God gives me so much happiness that I need a bigger body to hold all of it! Why would I lose weight to lose my happiness?” Taken aback by her reasoning, I chuckled.

Laura continued. “Folks often see me as a fat lady with big bosoms, big thighs and a big bottom that no man would even bother to cast a glance at. They see me as a slob. They think I’m lazy and have no willpower. They’re wrong.” She held up her glass to a passing flight attendant. “More of this magnificent wine, please.” She smiled sweetly at the attendant. “Great service from your crew. May God bless all of you.”

She turned to me, “I’m actually a slim person inside. I’m so full of energy that people won’t be able to keep up with me. This extra flesh is here to slow me down, otherwise I’ll be running everywhere chasing after men!”

Laura paused before she said thoughtfully, 

“You know, the relationship between men and women is so complicated. Women worship men and call them, `Honey’ until they find out they have been lied to, and then they turn into bitter gourds! Men love women so much that they see them as their soul mates until they look at their credit card bills, and then women become devils with tridents!”

Laura’s enthralling conversation had turned the flight into something thoroughly enjoyable.

I was also fascinated by the way people were drawn to her. By the end of the flight, almost half the cabin crew was standing near the aisle by us, laughing and joking with Laura. The passengers around us joined in the merry-making too. Laura was the center of attention, filling the cabin with delightful warmth.

When we waved goodbye to each other at the arrival lounge at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport,

I watched her walking towards a big group of adoring adults and kids. Cheers sounded as the group hugged and kissed Laura. She turned around and winked at me.

I was stunned, as the realization set in:

Laura was the most beautiful woman I had ever met in my life.

http://diply.com/

A Beautiful Prayer