Every young lady should learn how to cook.

 

Sounds old fashioned? Maybe. But you don`t know when you`ll be needing some cooking skills—say you`re in alone in island and the only thing in there are bugs (and you`re allergic to them!).

 

Seriously, a girl`s got to  learn more than just to cook rice and pour milk over a bowl of cereal. And yes, one day, you`re gonna raise a family so why not learn a few recipes now?

 

I`ve listed some of the nicest websites where you can find easy-to-do recipes. Find your way through them and…Enjoy cooking!

 

• MarthaStewart.com | Rich, homemade, very American recipes.
• Rachel Ray | Delicious everyday food. Yum!
• Epicurious | International Recipes
• Food Network | Recipes you see on TV!
• My Recipes.com | Their photos make you extremely hungry!
• Del Monte Kitchenomics | Filipino food and Filipino ingredients!
• Aeri`s Kitchen  |  Simple, Easy-to-do Korean Dishes and Desserts
• Cooking.com | Like what they serve you in restaurants
• Bento.com | Easy Japanese lunch box recipes
• All Recipes | Classics you need to learn

I know it’s just supposed to be 10, but adding another one isn’t bad at all, isn’t it?

 

• Design Sponge | Who says a design blog can’t have superb recipes?

Have a great time cooking!

 How long have you been online today? Not doing homework. Not doing research. Just on Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace.

 

It`s embarrassing but I admit I`ve been for more than a couple of hours.

 

Hours I could have spent listening to God. Hours I could have spent cutting out all the noise and enjoying my fellowship with Him. I wonder how many hours I have wasted logging on Facebook, or checking if I`ve got new mail. If I saved the time I use for tweaking my blog lay-out, I would`ve had more time to pray, to sing, to keep my mind tuned to Him.

 

I know I`ve said it many, many times before. I`ll cut down time on Facebook. Won`t go online for a day. Not log on to Twitter for a week. But after a short while, I`m back to the old routine.

 

Social media had become really, really addictive. It gives us an illusion that we are always connected with the world, that we are never left out with the latest news even when we`re not really socializing. Catchy? Yah. We bought it.  Now, we know who is giving out a party, who got a new car. We know who had just went home from a trip to Hawaii. We`re never left out of gossip. We know who`s in a fight. We know who just got pregnant.

 

Little do we know, these social media that keeps us acquainted with the world is pulling us away, little by little, from enjoying our intimate relationship with Christ. How many hours devoted for prayer time have we missed because we stayed a little too late because of Facebook? Or do we even remember to pray after shutting down our computer?

 

We always have excuses. I always had. I`m doing a research. Doing homework. But while doing research, do I still have to be on Facebook? Nah. Lame excuse, right?

 

But do we ever realize that our enemy who is out to steal, kill, and destroy is getting an inch in our media addiction.

 

• Steal. The enemy steals your time with God!
• Kill. The enemy of your soul is also the enemy of your body. Staying up late for Facebook and other games will surely hurt you physically.
• Destroy.  He will try to destroy your health, your relationship with God because he wants to destroy your soul!

Let`s go back to simplifying our life and keeping our priorities straight. Facebook and MySpace, they`re not as important as our relationship with God, our relationship with our family, our studies… Your Facebook friends won`t always be there for you when you need help. But God, your family, and your real-life friends will always be there for you.

 

As for me, I`ll just go online on designated times. Just once a week, to check messages, reply to them, and to blog. It will be hard but we can do all things through Christ, right?

 

Looking forward to enjoy life as a Daughter of the Living God. Can`t wait for the day to say this girl`s a Media Junkie No More!

If you’re a media junkie, examine your addiction. Maybe its time to admit you have a problem. Maybe its time to start living more simply. For the sake of your soul, perhaps its time to find a new rhythm, new habits. Maybe God is calling you to flip the script on your media usage, relegating your tools to the role of servant through simplification, and, in the process, acknowledging the rightful role of the Master, Jesus Christ. Along the way may you find yourself with an expanded capacity to love others, to serve selflessly, to speak humbly, to be fully present. To be a blessing.

Ben Simpson

The Powerpuff girls were created by “Sugar and spice and everything nice”, although according to the cartoon, Professor Utoninium only had them made “extra special” by accident. Nonetheless, the Professor loved them and found them very, very lovely little girls.

 

Like the Powerpuff girls, we were also created with sugar and spice and everything nice. Okay, not sugar and spice…but definitely, with everything nice. ;) We were created in the image of the King!

 

But unlike our favorite cute, little heroines on TV, we didn`t come about by accident. We were formed and handcrafted by God. Every intricate detail was meticulously and lovingly formed by His hands. Could you imagine what were in His thoughts as He was making you? He must have smiled and thought how much He loves you.

 

Beautiful things don`t just happen by random explosions or freaky accidents, the same way flowers don`t come out of the milk spills we sometimes make. Every beautiful thing is planned and thought about for many, many days. Like how an architect plots a blueprint. Like how an artist toil to perfect his masterpiece. Like how a pianist carefully writes down his composition note by note.

 

Like how God creates babies in their mother`s womb.

 

Like how He created you.

 

So the next you feel that no one loves you, or you don`t have worth, look at yourself in the mirror.

 

The person that you see in there, is someone Jesus loves so dearly. So always put that pretty smile in your face, will you? ;)

Were there times when you felt you were too weak to have faith? Too weak to win over an area of struggle? To weak to hold on?

 

I certainly have. Many, many times. In fact, because I have failed so many times, I was too ashamed to face God and even though I know He forgives, I have given up on myself. I could not forgive myself for being weak and making the same mistakes over and over again.

 

The other day, I was making dinner and the radio was on in the kitchen,(My mom loves listening to radio while doing her chores) and this preaching was on the radio. The preacher was saying that many times in the Bible, we are commanded to “Stand firm”. It was not in a persuasive or begging tone but is given out is a command, like how a military commander would command his soldiers to do a military task.

 

Many times we forget that God sees us as soldiers, people who are strong, people whom He can trust. Yes, we are weak on our own, but haven`t He given us His Spirit? Isn`t Jesus with us?

 

The enemy seeks to destroy us. And he starts by whispering lies about who we really are. He knows that when we start doubting about our identity in Christ, he can easily lure us into his wicked schemes.

 

We are sons and daughters of the Living God. We are strong because He is our strength. He said that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. Our hearts and lives are hidden on Him. So let`s face the battle with courage because God is our Commander-in-chief. And we know that we can do all things things through Him.

I`m in for some hard work now that I had to get a new template for this blog. The old one was working well, but  things have to improve and changes, sometimes, aren`t as bad as they seem.

 

I will have to edit previous posts (which I am doing right now) and it may take a little while before everything gets done since there are pretty much plenty of pages to edit. I`m so sorry if overlapping images are causing you eye strain. I will try my best to fix things as soon as I can.

 

Anyway, I`ve got many things to share with you and I`m looking forward to see you here in the coming days.

 

Please feel free to leave comments. And sharing posts to your friends will be very awesome!

 

Much love.

Healthy food is essential to a healthy body. We all know about that, but due to our busy schedules, we often resort to fast food or just about everything fried or canned. But there are many ways to make healthy, nutritious food even when we`re in a rush.

 

I`m a fan of Aeri`s Kitchen, a Korean recipe website, because most of her recipes included ingredients which are commonly found in everyone`s kitchen. The other day, I tried her Tuna and Veggies Fritters which my sisters found really good, and today I tried out Aeri`s heart-shaped egg rolls.

 

 

The original recipe doesn`t include luncheon meat, but since there`s Spam in the house and we`ve got no spring onions. I thought maybe I should add something more than just carrots. I also used a little bit of red onion. It just doesn`t look identical as in Aeri`s because I toasted it a bit and I didn`t have much egg to join the cuts together. ;p

Adding vegetables not only make meals yummy but also extra nutritious.

 

Nom! Nom! Enjoy!

   The glimmers on my window are pictures that God paints  for me to share.

Today, I was not feeling alright. My heart was troubled about many things. I was thinking about all sorts of stuff that gives everyone a headache. Deadlines, Bills, Projects. And as crazy as I can get, I was grumbling. My heart was grumbling. And I was ready to go into the world, forget about His `cause, and get rich in any way that I could.

 

This morning, I was reading the book of Ecclesiastes. Throughout the entire book, the writer repeated over and over how running after riches is like chasing the wind. Many times, he said that we should enjoy life because life is short. At the end of the day, chasing after the things this world can offer is useless.

 

But there are just times when you feel like you really want to do more, earn more, and accomplish some more. You stop caring about the things that matter. And your heart is questioning why things are the way they are. No matter how hard you try, you just couldn`t understand. Why do you have to wait? Why do you have to struggle? Why shouldn`t things fall into the right place just like how it does for others?

 

Tonight, I found a puzzle piece of the answer.  And it really made me break into tears.

I read Gary Mollander`s Glimmers on Collide. It is about God opening “windows” everyday for us to see Him, to see  Him moving and taking care of us. Gary asks how aware are we about these “windows”. He says that some of us are more aware of them because of our present brokenness and helplessness. And if we are, as artists or storytellers, it is our job to “frame” these stories so others will also be aware of these “windows” where God could speak to them.

 

I realized how crazy I was. And right now, I am crying at the thought that whatever it is I am going through, God is using it so I can frame a window to help others see His hand every day. I think about my old posts on Facebook. I remember everything I`ve written on Multiply. The notes which people have “Liked”, the writings people say have inspired them are those which were writing during the times when I was helpless and broken. It is in broken times that we see clearly the  “windows”  that God opens up for us.

 

I know that whatever it circumstance I`m in, I could find the loving heart of God, even though I sometimes don`t understand His plans.

 

Right now, even though I still don`t understand many things, I would still chose to see the brighter side. I know there are pretty much plenty of beautiful things going on--if I would just see them through Jesus` eyes. It`s time that I open my eyes to another “window”.  It`s time to see the glimmers God is always putting up the windows He opens up for me.

 

Surely, he`s also painting up glimmers in yours. Try to see them and let others know what you find in there. I`m sure someone will find God and you will be encouraging many. ;)

Liz Lanuzo of Project Vanity is giving away cool stuff for The Great Asian Secrets Contest.

 

 

Here are the Contest mechanics.

 

1. Simply answer this question!

For the brides: The big day draws near and you have to look perfect. How do you plan to look your best? You're encouraged to talk about your gown, makeup artist, desired look, motif, beauty rituals, and how Asian Secrets can help you on your big day.

For the general readers: What are your beauty secrets? You're encouraged to talk about the beauty products, tips, tricks that you swear by, plus how Asian Secrets can be incorporated in your routine.

2. Blog your answer, post it as a note on Facebook, Twitter, and Plurk It. Don't forget to include four things: your answer to the question, the contest poster, mechanics, and link to the contest page. For Twitter and Plurk entries, include the hashtag #asiansecrets.

3. Post all the direct links of your entries in the comments page (below). Don't forget this step, because without it, we won't know you joined! Also include a valid email address.

Weʼll be picking the grand winners based on the quality of your answer and how well you promote your entry online. The contest will run from September 8 to October 1, 12 noon. We will be announcing the winner on 6pm. Good luck!

Click here to go the Liz` site: The Great Asian Secrets Giveaway: P40,000 Worth of Prizes!
.

Now it`s my turn to share my Beauty Secrets! 

 

1. I love natural, organic beauty recipes. I love using milk and a few drops of calamansi for facial mask. Olive oil and sugar make a good scrub. And honey is a good moisturizer (it is not sticky when applied on damp skin)!

 

2.  I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. What you get inside your body is as important as what you apply to your skin. I believe that if you are healthy within, it will surely reflect on the outside. I personally love tomatoes and leafy greens.

 

3. I regularly use pore strips. I don`t know about you, but isn`t it fun taking out those white heads and blackheads using pore strips? Have you seen Michelle Phan`s homemade pore strip recipe? Sooo cool!

 

4. I use virgin coconut oil as lotion. I know you`re thinking it doesn`t smell quite good, but of course, I only use it at night and not when I`m going out. It really makes skin smooth not to mention, the scent helps me feel sleepy easily. Perfect way to relax when you don`t have time for spa.

 

5. I exfoliate to get rid of dead skin cells. Dry brushing is a good way to remove dead skin cells. Just use a natural brush (a loofa would do, but not synthetic brushes) before taking a bath. It doesn`t only remove old skin cells but helps in circulation as well.

 

6. I check if my make-up is still in good condition because they could be a breeding ground for bacteria. I wash all my brushes regularly and check my make-up if they`ve expired. This is a good way to prevents break-outs.

 

 

7. I try to avoid too much sugar and salt `cause  sugar hastens the development of wrinkles and salt can make your cells trap more water thus, making you appear bloated.

 

8. I have sensitive skin so I use mild and non-soap products. I also make sure everything I use is labeled hypoallergenic. Being aware of your skin type and skin condition is necessary for you to find the right products suitable for you

 

9. I try to get enough sleep even if my job sometimes keeps me up until morning. I am fully aware that while we are sleeping that`s when our bodies work to create new cells, heal wounds, etc. So I sleep whenever I can.

 

Finally, 10., I try to smile a lot. Nothing makes a girl ever so pretty than by painting that beautiful smile in her face, right? 

 

My Favorite Products

• The Face Shop face masks
• Shiseido Benefique Whitening Face Lotion
• Nivea Whitening Day Cream
• Maquillage Liquid Foundation
• Maquillage Lipsticks
• Avon Lengthening Mascara
• Clinique Cheek Blush
• Mary Kay Lotion

 

Asian Secrets Lulur Whitening scrub has Green Tea and Vitamin E. It is also hypoallergenic and not as abrasive as other scrubs out there. So it really fits with my list.  And did they said it smells like Jasmine?!! Oh, that really, really made me smile `cause I love Jasmine tea and I can`t wait to see how it smells on my skin! Looking forward to try Asian Secrets` Lulur scrub soon!

Anyway, let`s stay beautiful and remember that real beauty comes from the joy overflowing in one`s heart. Beauty surfaces when a woman knows what she`s worth and every woman should know where her worth comes from.

And that comes from knowing that we are valuable, cherished and deeply loved by the God who created us and died for us—Jesus Christ. Now, that makes me feel really, really beautiful. ;)

“God saw everything that he has made and indeed, it is very good. “

http://www.projectvanity.com/projectvanity/2010/9/7/the-great-asian-secrets-giveaway-p40000-worth-of-prizes.html

 

Email: cathy_canaceli@yahoo.com

 

You might also like: Perfect Beauty

This morning, Ava and I went to the market, got things needed for day and I had a great time looking for ingredients for my next culinary project.

 

I found an easy Korean Tuna and Veggies fritter recipe on

Aeri`s Kitchen and thought that I should try it for breakfast.

 

And here`s what I came up with.

I didn`t get to plate it well `cause I`m busy eating a lot. It was soooo good! Perfect for vegetarians—who eats eggs! Kidding.

 

I tweaked the recipe a little though. We are five in the family and I only got a can of Tuna in oil so I had to use extenders to make more mixture. I added cucumber and a little flour. I also replaced the sesame leaves with petchay (white chinese cabbage or bokchoy).

 

I tell you, it`s soooo good. You should try the recipe yourself. ;)

It`s 4:15am and my stomach is grumbling. I was browsing through Korean lessons and found these pictures.

Cold Soybean Noodles

Cold Jellyfish salad

Stir-fried spicy pork

Now, my mouth is watering! Oh, that cold soybean noodle soup! Doesn`t it look yummy?

 

If only I could go all the way to the supermarket right now and get myself all the veggies and meat I need too cook for breakfast!

 

But I would only have to leave that to my imagination `cause there`s no way I`m gonna ever be in a supermarket at this time of the morning. The only thing we have in the house for breakfast right now is Energen. :p Will have to wait for Mom to wake up for her breakfast plans.

 

But at this point, I have no choice. Even though  I`ve had 2 packets of Energen earlier, I guess I would have to get my third… ;)

Kung pwede lang, cold soybean noodles!

 

It`s my 23rd birthday tomorrow. Each day I realize that I`m actually getting older. It`s exciting `cause getting older means you get to experience more things and I can`t wait about what God`s gonna do this year. But for some reason this week, these beauty product TVCs just keeps on showing up on TV  like crazy, frightening us girls about age spots and all. For some time, I hated the idea of growing older and I even wished it wouldn`t be my birthday any sooner `cause I want to stay 22 forever. 

 

It might sound foolish but ladies are often tortured with what media keeps on telling them about who they are and what they should be. This world has a very, very strange way of defining beauty. You  always have to have perfect skin. The perfect hair. The perfect eyes. The perfect face. Everything has to be perfect and flawless—like the girls on the magazines, like the girls on the TVCs.

 

You`ve got to have the perfect beauty. If you don`t. Well…you don`t have worth.

 

So the poor ladies…they have tried every anti-ageing cream in the market. Had their faces injected with Botox. Got a face-lift, a nose-lift, every single kind of –lift. Spent hours and riches on every gym equipment they could find. Still, they don`t look perfect like the girls on TV. They still don`t look as gorgeous as the cover girls on their favorite magazines. They still don`t look as sexy as Barbie.

 

And it`s so tragic how media had made girls believe in lies all these time.

We are in an imperfect world and every one of us will grow old. This world only made us believe that there is such a thing as perfect beauty.

 

     Beauty will flee. But there is one thing would not. Character.

“Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

 

Real beauty is in the heart. A woman can be beautiful inspite of her years if she fears the Lord the obey His will, if  she lives for Him and she does His commands. It doesn`t matter if she`s 23 or 30 or 90. It doesn`t matter if her tresses are blonde or gray. What matters is what`s going on in her heart, if she is pleasing her Master, if she is delighting herself in Him.

This morning, when I thought about getting a year older tomorrow, I don`t think about the fine lines and the wrinkles anymore. I`m just thinking about God`s faithfulness. When I`m 60 or 70 and I have all these lines on my face, I would not cry over them and hate that anti-ageing creams don`t actually work. When I look at them I would think about God`s faithfulness all through the years, all the years He has added up to my life, all the years He never left me as He promised.

 

So, let`s not be afraid of growing old. One day, just as He promised, God gill give us glorified bodies anyway, because we have Jesus in our hearts. Meanwhile, let`s enjoy this life and live for His glory, right?