Top 10 Benefits of Food Blogging

Spatula and whisk (to cook and bake)

It’s almost 3 months into my blogging journey. I’m still very passionate about it and find tremendous thrill and joy in blogging. I started off blogging about a number of things but as the days go by, I find myself more and more drawn into blogging about food. I guess the main reason is because I have always been very fascinated and intrigued by FOOD. On top of that I have to cook and eat everyday so why not. So, here I have come out with my:

Top 10 Benefits of Food Blogging

1. Everyone has to eat
   Everyone has to eat to live, weather pauper’s food or palace food. Food is of utmost importance, one of the basic needs of life. We started to eat the day we were born. When I craved for certain food and couldn’t have it, even a picture of it is very gratifying. The next thing is I’ll try to cook it. As long as I don’t give up I know I’ll get it right one day.
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The Beauty Of Colours

Ever imagine how life is like if everything around us is dull, grey or black in colour? I for one find Aberdeeen quite depressing during the cold winter months. Aberdeen is named a ‘granite city’ because most of the houses are built from granite. It looks dull, grey and gloomy in winter. On top of that, most people somehow love to wear dark or black winter coat. I think the cold also makes people smile less. So you can imagine the atmosphere and the life during such time.

Bright-coloured fruits

Why don’t people add colours to their fashion or their surroundings during the more gloomy days. You only get to see more colours during the summer months. I love colours. There’s much beauty in colours, especially colours from nature. Bright, cheerful colours excites and refreshes and makes you happy that you just want to smile. To me, bright, cheerful colours relax my mind and make my mind think better, more creative and more imaginative. They make me optimistic too.
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No Arms, No Legs, No Limits, No Worries

Happy or Unhappy?

How many of us are not contented, not satisfied, always frustrated and unhappy and not thankful of what we have and who we are? Do we constantly fret for what other people have…..their looks, their possessions, their achievements, their status, their families, their marriage, their children, their jobs, etc?

Progress Comes With Complications

As the world progresses , it also becomes more complicated and competitive in all ways. There’s constant complaining, constant comparing, constant accusing, unceasing dissatisfaction and discontentment, so much so many find themselves embroiled in the cauldron of self-deception. People have become increasingly dissatisfied even with themselves. They find it hard even to accept themselves and would go to great lengths to change their looks or generate money to keep up with their lavish lifestyle. Everyone wants to be a celebrity, to be rich and to be famous……FAST!

It Takes Time To Build Your Life
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A Fantastic Marriage Proposal

To all you guys out there trying to scratch your head how to propose to your beloved girlfriend to win her hand in marriage, I have a guaranteed fire-brand way to do that…….IF YOU DARE! It is fun, creative, effective as you will get a guaranteed ‘YES’ from the girl. What a great way to remember your marriage proposal!

You really need to watch this video to get some inspiration. I watched in great wonder, in awe, in joy, in tears and in amusement.  It’s such an awesome, fantastic marriage proposal. Is there anything as marriage proposal anniversary? What about celebrating wedding anniversary with marriage proposal anniversary?

Enjoy the video.

Do add and comment. It would be nice to know other interesting wedding proposals.

Thought of the day……

‘To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.’

Lao Tzu

Garden Flowers and Flower Cross-stitch

Flowers, flowers, beautiful flowers everywhere! It’s summer time in the Northern Hemisphere. Everything seems to become more alive. Not only does the longer daylight make people happier but also all the bright colours around from flowers. To me, the best is to be able to run in and out in cotton T-shirts without having to pull layers and layers over myself because of the cold. This is like the hot Malaysian weather!

Well, when I go to my garden everyday, my eyes always get drawn to the beautiful bush of bright, yellow coloured flowers. They look especially bright and beautiful under the hot sun and just brighten up my whole garden.

Bright, yellow Senecio flowers

I didn’t know the name so I asked a very nice friend of mine yesterday when she came to my place. She immediately said she’ll find out for me when she gets home and she did. What a really nice friend! She possesses all the characteristics of good friends in my post yesterday. I’m always very thankful for her friendship.

The name of the flowers is Senecio. This is a mid-summer yellow flowering shrub with soft grey foliage. It grows without complaint, and seems to recover from the hardest pruning sessions (inflicted whenever the gardener remembers).

This flower reminds me of a piece of cross-stitch which I made purely out of inspiration from a colleague. She was always there to show me her beautiful cross-stitch pieces and tirelessly encouraging me. With all her support and help, I chose the beautiful Senecio flowers.

Beautiful Senecio flower cross-stitch

This is the beautiful flower-cross-stitch that I made framed in gold frame. I am so proud to have accomplished that. The only problem is that I did not realize that the white portion will turn yellowish after many years. So, my next job is to restore it by cross-stitching the back-ground with white threads.

Isn’t it amazing how much we can accomplish when we have good friends who believe in us, support us, encourage us, help us and cheer us on? I am very thankful to have many good friends who actually inspire me to be a better friend.

Is there any particular flowers in your garden that attract you? Have you tried any cross-stitch? Have you been inspired by friends to do something? Do share and comment here below.

Thought of the day……

‘If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them.’

Henry David Thoreau

Teaching Toddlers in Scotland

I went to a local, community library in Aberdeen some time ago and was fully amazed to see a lovely, friendly bear mascot and a group of mothers with their toddlers there. There is a big area assigned to children for reading or doing other activities with their parents. I find it very inspirational.

The librarian assigned to that activity worked with the mascot beautifully to welcome the mothers and their little ones, teaching them songs and other activities. To me that’s such an awesome start to learning in a fun way. It’s also a very good way to get mothers out of the house to socialize with other mothers. In that way, they also learn from each other and get support and encouragement from each other.

The bear mascot with the librarian

Waiting to welcome mothers and their toddlers

Welcoming and cheering up a toddler

It was very entertaining to watch and I couldn’t help smiling along. It is actually so tempting to run up and give the big bear mascot a big hug but on second thought, I didn’t. What if he is a big man on the inside? That would be my most embarrassing moment!

How is toddler education in your area? Do share and comment.

Thought of the day……

‘The best way to raise positive children in a negative world is to have positive parents who love them unconditionally and serve as excellent role models.’

Zig Ziglar

The Amazing Wonder And Beauty Of Polar Bears

I have to admit that I love to watch animal shows, the only odd one in the family. Animals have a way of captivating my attention and warming my heart. There are a lot of useful life lessons that we can learn from animals. I’m always amazed at how adult animals take care of their youngs, teaching and training them all the skills that they need to live in the wild. They did this by spending lots of time playing with their young ones. Is there anything that we, as parents, can learn from them?

Back in Malaysia I always joked that I would go to North Pole to be with my polar bear friends when the goings got tough. As a reminder of my ‘fantasy’, Steven even bought a beautiful glass polar bear from UK when he went there for a business trip. He told me that one day my dream may come true! In 2003, we had to relocate to Scotland because of his job. On landing in March, I was shocked by the extreme cold …. zero degrees Celcius at night! More shocking still, we had landed ourselves nearer to North Pole. That’s like living in a freezer! I told myself that things should get better and I would not talk about going to North Pole anymore just in case my ‘fantasy’ comes true.

Glass polar bear from Steven - A reminder of my 'fantasy'

To me, polar bears look so pure, so graceful yet so magnificent. I didn’t realise they are so gentle and loving until I see this video here. It is so touching to watch. Enjoy.

Is there anything that we can learn from the polar bears? Please add and comment.

Thought of the day……

‘It’s not what happens to you that determines how far you will go in life ;it is how you handle what happens to you.’

Zig Ziglar

Dancing ‘The Sound Of Music’ At The Train Station

It takes courage, initiative and creativity to organize a surprise dance at a big public place like at the train station that will impress every age level. And that’s what happened at at Central Station Antwerp, Belgium. Even though it is part of an ad campaign for a reality TV show, I find it absolutely inspirational. What a way to bring something refreshing to a dull, stressful day from all the rush and work. It brings so much joy and a big smile on my face.

Enjoy the video clip. Keep watching and smiling if you need to. Why not just get up and dance along too? Life can be mundane and dull. Why not take a break just to sing a song and do a little dance? It will help you to relax every part of your muscle. Find something to laugh. We all need to keep learning and keep smiling to make each day a better day.

Thought of the day……

‘Winning is not everything, but the effort to win is.’

Zig Ziglar