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DIY Potpourris
Our sense of smell plays a huge part in determining our mood. After all, when you go into a room, would you rather smell sweet roses or rotten eggs? What’s more soothing, the smell of lavender or the smell of cigarettes? I think we can safely say that a good smell makes for a good ambience. There are many ways to make a room smell good and one of the easiest ways is by using potpourris. (Ironically, did you know that potpourris in French means rotten pot! but anyway, that’s beside the point.) Potpourris can be found in many shops and supermarkets and can be bought in a variety of…
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Spanish Omelette or Tortilla
Spanish tortilla are a deep omelette containing sliced potatoes and possibly a little onion. Some people confuse the Tortilla with Frittatas, which are Italian, probably originating from the Spanish version, and can contain any meat cheese and vegetables you happen to have to hand including potatoes and pasta. There have been too many festivities and our stomachs are now paying for it! It’s time for something light. Try out this quick and easy recipe which will help your lighten your heavy stomach and ease your busy lifestyle. We give you the Spanish Omelet or Tortilla (that’s what it’s called in Spain). Ingredients 6 eggs (beaten) 2 onions (peeled and sliced) 3 large…
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Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
it’s strange how one action can hurt in such a variety of ways, whatever the circumstances are. I’ve been in relationships that have fizzled out and others that ended in a big bang. I’ve been the person to end it, and I’ve been the person who’s been dumped. It seems that no matter the manner in which it happens, breaking up is always hard to do. You first encounter the pain of breaking up when you’re very young, although you may not realize it. I don’t mean that in the Freudian sense, where leaving your mother’s womb will leave with you a feeling of betrayal and hurt that you’ll carry…
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Colds, Coughs & the Flu
Can you believe the weather we’re having? We can’t! We’re all wrapped up in warm clothing and fighting over who gets to sit closest to the heater. But if you want to prevent coughs, colds and the flu which are common during winter, fighting over the heater is not the solution. With more of us spending time indoors, it’s easier for germs to spread. Keep in mind the following tips to prevent the spread of illness. Get a flu shot. Flu shots are especially beneficial for those with weakened immune systems, the elderly or those who come in contact with a lot of people. Check with your doctor for more…
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Open Minded… Or Mindless?
The expression open-minded seems to confuse many people. While I argue for open-mindedness with certain people, they speak back to me in a rather dismayed tone and only when I dig deeper into their understanding of the word, do I start to see what they mean. Open mindedness is so often confused with the word decadence. If a girl is “open minded”, in the narrow minded sense, it means she is a heavy drinker and smoker, she dresses a little too immodestly and has too many male friends! Open mindedness is about opening your mind; it’s as simple as that. Heard the expression “don’t judge a book by its cover”?…
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Throwing A Party
Are you throwing a party in the coming weeks? Our tips may help you. While most of the ideas you see here are basic common sense, it can be of great help as a checklist during the sometimes stressful last days before a large party. The secret to hosting a wonderful party is remarkably simple: Create a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where people feel welcome. And it all starts with you. If you’re a nervous, anxiety-ridden host, you’ll end up with nervous, anxious guests. But, if you set the mood, relax, and enjoy yourself, so will your guests. Successful parties always cost more than expected. Plan to spend at least 1…
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Taking Ownership
New Year is coming. This year I am looking forward to it. That wasn’t always the case. New Year can be a confusing time, yes there’s all the celebrating, the joy, the hope, the ambition… but with it comes painful self-evaluation, assessing achievements or lack of them, the memory of unfulfilled goals and unrealised dreams. I remember one particular New Year a few years ago. I had had the worst 3 years of my life. 3 years filled with personal problems, professional problems, family problems. It was a bad time. With the increase in problems, came the decrease in my self-esteem and the appearance of a mild depression. I felt…
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Relationship Rescue Review
If there is one book that will force you to take a long good look at yourself, and at your relationship, this is it. And boy is it worth the read! Relationship Rescue by Dr. Phil I am not a fan of self-help books. I usually find them cheesy and condescending. Dr Phil, however, is honest (brutally so!), simple, and very wise. Going through a difficult time in my own relationship, I wanted a book that would challenge me to honestly evaluate what needed to change between us. I found just the thing. Dr Phil’s strategies are based on simple logic: You own your relationship, so you are responsible for making things…
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Sweet Potato Pie
Thanksgivings is upon us and who doesn’t love a good hearty pie as a dessert for that special meal. There’s a lot to choose from out there, from Pecan to pumpkin to apple and blueberries. But here’s one more sweet potato pie recipe coming your way! You can also substitute the sweet potatoes with pumpkins in this recipe. Ingredients 4 medium sweet potatoes 2 eggs 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract pinch of salt 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1 stick butter 1/2 cup of evaporated milk 1 unbaked pie crust Instructions Boil sweet potatoes until soft, peel and beat till no lumps. Add remainder of ingredients, beat until creamy. Pour…
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Your Child’s Self-esteem
Our concept of self is an important part of our life and it begins very early. At around eighteen months a child can recognize him/herself in a mirror or in pictures. As this concept (and language) develops the child will be able to describe him/herself, first in physical terms (i.e. I’m a girl, I have brown hair, etc.) and later (around eight or nine) more psychological and abstract terms (I like to play, I don’t like to fight). This is when he or she begins to feel distinct as he/she realizes that he/she is an individual. An important concept that develops along the way is self-esteem. Self-esteem is an evaluation…
