SAFE HAVEN

10 STEPS TO HAPPINESS

We all want to feel happy, and each one of us has different ways of getting there. Here are ten steps that you can take to increase your joie de vivre and bring more happiness into you life. 


1.    Be with others who make you smile.  Studies show that we are happiest when we are around those who are also happy. Stick with those who are joyful and let rub off on you.

2.    Hold on to your values. What you find true, what you know is fair, and what you believe in are all values. Over time, the more you honor them, the better you will feel about yourself and those you love.

3.    Accept the good. Look at your life and take stock of what's working, and don't push away something just because it isn't perfect. When good things happen, even the very little ones, let them in.

4.    Imagine the best. Don't be afraid to look at what you really want and see yourself getting it. Many people avoid this process because they don't want to be disappointed if things don't work out. The truth is that imagining getting what you want is a big part of achieving it.

5.    Do things you love. Maybe you can't skydive every day or take vacations every season, but as long as you get to do the things you love every once in a while, you will feel greater happiness.

6.    Find purpose. Those who believe they are contributing to the well-being of humanity tend to feel better about their lives. Most people want to be part of something greater than they are, simply because it's fulfilling.

7.    Listen to your heart. You are the only one who knows what fills you up. Your family and friends may think you'd be great at something that really doesn't float your boat. It can be complicated following your bliss. Just be smart, and keep your day job for the time being.

8.    Push yourself, not others. It's easy to feel that someone else is responsible for your fulfillment, but the reality is that it is really your charge. Once you realize that, you have the power to get where you want to go. Stop blaming others or the world, and you'll find your answers much sooner.

9.    Be open to change. Even if it doesn't feel good, change is the one thing you can count on. Change will happen, so make contingency plans and emotionally shore yourself up for the experience.

10. Bask in the simple pleasures. Those who love you, treasured memories, silly jokes, warm days, and starry nights: these are the ties that bind and the gifts that keep on giving.
 
Happiness and fulfillment are within your grasp, but sometimes just out of reach. Understanding what works best for you is the first step in finding more of it.

Filipino Cuisine

Mabuhay!


Throughout the centuries, Filipino cuisine has been a constantly evolving amalgamate of Oriental and Occidental influences. Chinese, Malay, Arab, Spanish, and American explorers and settlers have each contributed to the regions colorful culinary delights. Hence, the variety and difference in tastes - which makes it unique. One of Filipino cuisine's most dominant attributes comes from the Spaniards, whose cuisine is at the source of nearly 80% of all Filipino dishes. 


Below are some recipes that truly show the richness and simplicity of good "Filipino" food. Feel free to enjoy!!

ADOBO

Typically pork or chicken, or a combination of both, is slowly cooked in vinegar, cooking oil, crushed garlic, bay leaf, black peppercorns, and soy sauce, and often browned in the oven or pan-fried afterward to get the desirable crisped edges.

AFRITADA

Chicken and/or pork and potatoes cooked in tomato sauce.













BISTEK TAGALOG

Strips of sirloin beef slowly cooked in soy sauce, calamansi juice, and onions.













CRISPY PATA

Deep fried portions of pork legs including knuckles often served with a chili and calamansi flavored dipping soy sauce or chili flavored vinegar for dipping.











EMBUTIDO

A meatloaf shaped in the form of a sausage.









HAMONADO

Stuffed pork roll coated in a sweet sauce.
Humba Eastern Leyte Meat dish





KALDERETA

A dish made with cuts of pork, beef or goat with tomato paste or tomato sauce with liver spread added to it.









LECHON

A dish made by roasting a whole pig over charcoal. It is often cooked during special occasions. A simpler version has chopped pieces of pork fried in a pan or wok (lechon kawali). Also refers to a spitted and charcoal roasted marinated chicken (lechon manok).




MECHADO

Name derived from mitsa meaning "wick" which is what the pork fat inserted into a slab of beef looks like before the larded beef is cooked, sliced, and served in the seasoned tomato sauce it is cooked in.








ESCABECHE

Referring to both a dish of poached or fried fish that is marinated in an acidic mixture before serving, and to the marinade itself. Can refer broadly to sweet and sour dishes.

PAKSIW

Generally means to cook and simmer in vinegar. Common dishes bearing the term, however, can vary substantially depending on what is being cooked. Paksiw na isda is fish poached in a vinegar broth usually seasoned with fish sauce and spiced with siling mahaba and possibly containing vegetables. Paksiw na baboy is pork, usually hock or shank, cooked in ingredients similar to those in adobo but with the addition of sugar and banana blossoms to make it sweeter and water to keep the meat moist and to yield a rich sauce. Paksiw na lechon is roasted pork lechon meat cooked in lechon sauce or its component ingredients of vinegar, garlic, onions, black pepper and ground liver or liver spread and some water. The cooking reduces the sauce so that by the end the meat is almost being fried.

Give me back my comfort zone!

No, really, don't make me leave my comfort zone.

For some reason, all sorts of people or thing seem determined to push you out of where you're comfortable to where you're .. . well ... uncomfortable. which is bizarre enough that it's worthwhile to find out why.

Ju

Fireworks!!

A stirring classical soundtrack booms over the dock and two rockets soar into the air, exploding with a deafening bang over the bay, lighting it all in a dazzling canopy of sparkling orange and white that's reflected in a glittering shower over the still calm water of the bay. My jaw drops as several more rockets fire into the air and explode in a kaleidoscope of color. I can't recall ever seeing a display this impressive, except perhaps on television, and it never looks this good on TV. They're all in time to the music. Volley after volley, bang after bang, and light after light as the crowd answers with gasps and ooohs and ahhs. It is out of this world. On the pontoon in the bay several silver fountains of light shoot up twenty feet in the air, changing color through blue, red, orange, and back to silver and yet more rockets explode as the music reaches its crescendo. My face is beginning to ache from the ridiculous grin of wonder plastered across it. For the finale a volley of six rockets shoot into the dark and explode simultaneously, bathing us in a glorious golden light as the crowd erupts into frantic, enthusiastic applause.

Season of giving

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! 

Who does not love Christmas? It is the season of love, giving, sharing, smiles, family, friendship, happiness, hope, faith and a lot more! Aside from that, it is only in this season where everywhere and everything is shining with light and colors. Christmas is mostly anticipated by everyone for a lot reasons: 

First, is our parents salary bonus. Who wouldn't love that? 

Second, christmas trees and lights. Suddenly, you can feel that Christmas is near when you see christmas decor along the streets or in your neighbors house. 

Third, Sharing. It has already been like a tradition among my friends to share our blessings to people who are less fortunate. Every December, me and my friends gather up to plan our agenda (to feed a number of street children) on the same day as to our Christmas party. Coming up with a simple snack and walk along the streets and pass on the food to the children is our routine. It has been a heartwarming activity and it is just a pity to stop. As much as possible, we wanted to continue doing this as long as we can. It feels good. Trust me. :)

LASTLY, fireworks! Tell me someone who doesn't love it. .Personally, I can watch it all day. . . 

Though Christmas is not part of the menu for my family, it never gave me a reason not to love it. I love this season! I mean, who doesn't? It is the season of giving and receiving, smiles and happiness, hope and love, family and friendship, and faith. Everyone is happy and complete for a lot of reasons! 

that's it for now,

CHEERS! 

Bookish. . .now?

This is so unexpected. I've never been really fond of reading, until now. And now I'm done reading the books. I feel bad! I so want more!! soo OA!! :)) :(


Well, I am not really sure if I am happy or sad right now. Though I have been eager to finish the whole book last week because it is already causing me too much trouble, like sleepless nights, no interest in food (which is not normal :D), less time with my family during my free time, and worst is I couldn't concentrate on my studies because I always wanted to read the damned book. It is weird because this is a first. Like I said, I wasn't really very interested in books before. Not only if someone would encourage me to. I've read like less than ten books in my lifetime. I don't mean school books but more of Stephenie Meyer, Jack Canfield, E.L. James and etc kind of books. All of which are greatly influenced by my loving cousins! ~Oh I love them! They are so good at books and telling stories that ignites me to READ. Yes. They just bring out something in me that I never thought existed (In a good way! :D). 


This might sound corny but the books I read and actually finish are in line with Romance. . .and Fiction. I like reading stories about people and their experiences in love because somehow I get a picture of how it feels. . . and also how it would hurt. I also like the feeling of "kilig". No one can really blame me about that, I am a college teenager! ;D 


Maybe the sad thing about getting to love a book is actually finding the end of it. Every time I open a book and eventually if I learn to love it, I have the tendency of getting so attached to it not wanting it to end. Depends. . . I don't know. I am also confused with this paragraph. Let's move on. . .


On the other hand, the one thing that I love about books is that it portrays characters that are somewhat hard or impossible to find. It usually portrays perfect personalities, a dream guy perhaps, a perfect relationship. We all know that people like that are becoming scarce and that the word perfect is not really applicable to people. Books can give the glimpse of a perfect life that a person can imagine and fantasize to the not so perfect reality. 


So now that I thought of it, maybe I will be reading more this Christmas break! I just hope I could finish it in time before class resumes in 2013! and hopefully get a diploma! :) Cheers! 


*last week of classes for 2012.. goosh! So help me God! 


P.S. Any good books to share? I would be more than happy to hear about it! :))) 


k.thanks.bye!"