tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91818605734537782162024-03-13T01:33:12.438+01:00Sunflower KissesStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-18971427181365745382013-02-20T20:45:00.000+01:002013-02-20T20:48:32.704+01:00Awake and living in the present<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Every</b> phase of the
cycle of life has its gifts and its challenges. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Each stage is <b>temporary</b> and
ultimately gives way to a new phase.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">This is what makes each phase
precious: it will never last.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Fully embracing
wherever you are in the cycle of life is the very essence to happiness.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Happiness is not a desti<span style="font-size: small;">nation but a journey. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even when<span style="font-size: small;"> an event seems unfortunate there is always a<span style="font-size: small;"> hidden opportunit<span style="font-size: small;">y<span style="font-size: small;"> to learn, to grow, to <b>evol</b><span style="font-size: small;"><b>ve</b>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-76118737684312079772013-02-19T23:53:00.001+01:002013-02-19T23:55:03.730+01:00Gratitude<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">To realize how truly blessed we are, we should list all the things for which we are grateful <span style="font-size: small;">o</span>ften. (every day if possible<span style="font-size: small;">)</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<u><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">M<span style="font-size: small;">y gratitude list<span style="font-size: small;"> of the day:</span></span></span></span></span></span></u><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful to have a beautiful<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> and</span> healthy daughter who makes me laugh every day.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful for<span style="font-size: small;"> being at home <span style="font-size: small;">with <span style="font-size: small;">her</span> every day.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful for this forced vacation<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">that allows me to <span style="font-size: small;">s<span style="font-size: small;">pend more time with <span style="font-size: small;">her</span> and focus on my<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">perso<span style="font-size: small;">nal</span></span> and professional development</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful to live in Swit<span style="font-size: small;">zerland.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful to have my <span style="font-size: small;">six </span>senses working well.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful for <span style="font-size: small;">THIS moment.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful for <span style="font-size: small;">being alive.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful <span style="font-size: small;">to </span>be<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>who I am.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful <span style="font-size: small;">for the beaut<span style="font-size: small;">iful people who surround me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful to know LOVE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">When we are grateful we release positive <span style="font-size: small;">energ<span style="font-size: small;">y which attracts positive energy.</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-86207512646940310572013-02-15T00:14:00.000+01:002013-02-20T21:07:43.739+01:00music.love<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">I listened to this song <span style="font-size: small;">on February<span style="font-size: small;"> 14, <span style="font-size: small;">2013</span></span></span> as I browsed through the aisles of a perfume shop<span style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/bQKXClp-u9U?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">It touched my heart. It <span style="font-size: small;">depicts real love. </span>And I wanted to share it with you.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I <span style="font-size: small;">stopped celebrating Valentine's day a <span style="font-size: small;">while ago as I think that love should be <span style="font-size: small;">shared e<span style="font-size: small;">very<span style="font-size: small;"> day and not just because it's Valentine's day.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">However, 2 years ago, on F<span style="font-size: small;">ebruary, 14, 201<span style="font-size: small;">1, I found out I was pregnant with my beautiful princess, Leilani. This is the only reason why this day <span style="font-size: small;">means so<span style="font-size: small;">mething to me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-41057816960121387562013-02-09T01:40:00.000+01:002013-02-20T21:07:18.077+01:00A brand new kind of me<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have <span style="font-size: small;">slowly been changing since <span style="font-size: small;">I became a mother. I am becoming more me.<span style="font-size: small;"> I am less afr<span style="font-size: small;">aid of <span style="font-size: small;">expressing m<span style="font-size: small;">yself. I don't know what exact<span style="font-size: small;">l<span style="font-size: small;">y <span style="font-size: small;">triggered this</span> but <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">that</span>'s not very important.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">What is important is <span style="font-size: small;">me <span style="font-size: small;">feeling happ<span style="font-size: small;">ier<span style="font-size: small;"> and more comfortable. I am taking more actions to accomplish goals I set for myself. I a<span style="font-size: small;">m going after what I want and I <span style="font-size: small;">try </span>to live for me<span style="font-size: small;"> first</span>. My daughter inspires me to just be and just <span style="font-size: small;">aim for <span style="font-size: small;">what makes me happy and just go for it without worr<span style="font-size: small;">ying about <span style="font-size: small;">it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have been feeling <span style="font-size: small;">changes happening in me, in my life and even when</span> I don't see <span style="font-size: small;">the change yet <span style="font-size: small;">I feel it coming. W<span style="font-size: small;">hether <span style="font-size: small;">good or bad is not imp<span style="font-size: small;">ortant. It's the lesson learn<span style="font-size: small;">t from the experience that matters<span style="font-size: small;"> the most. I am growing and I like it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was recentl<span style="font-size: small;">y fired <span style="font-size: small;">for the first time in my life. After <span style="font-size: small;">almost 4 years <span style="font-size: small;">with the compan<span style="font-size: small;">y. It was a surprise but a blessing. I am no<span style="font-size: small;">w home (and will be for<span style="font-size: small;"> the next 2 months or more if I don't find anothe<span style="font-size: small;">r <span style="font-size: small;">work opportunity</span></span>), spending time with my daughter <span style="font-size: small;">and witnessing her evolution, and it is great. This is also an <span style="font-size: small;">opportunit<span style="font-size: small;">y for me to lea<span style="font-size: small;">rn more about myself an<span style="font-size: small;">d the path I want to take in my career. I have this drive<span style="font-size: small;">/</span>motivation since 2012 to make changes, to follow my heart, my instincts an<span style="font-size: small;">d reach<span style="font-size: small;"> my goals</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>.<b><span style="color: purple;"> <span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> And I feel <span style="font-size: small;">I am on the right path.</span></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I look forward to what the universe has in store for me. I am very excited and o<span style="font-size: small;">pen to receive all the great<span style="font-size: small;">ness it has reserved for me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I just wanted to share this with you.<span style="font-size: small;"> I felt a need to write without thinking about whether people will be interested in reading<span style="font-size: small;"> my thoughts. I <span style="font-size: small;">feel that I will post on <span style="font-size: small;">the</span> blog more often and mor<span style="font-size: small;">e on anything that inspires me. I tried to have <span style="font-size: small;">spe<span style="font-size: small;">cific topics<span style="font-size: small;"> posted on it but rarel<span style="font-size: small;">y felt inspir<span style="font-size: small;">ed to write and this could explain why <span style="font-size: small;">I <span style="font-size: small;">have not posted anything in a while.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">2013 is a new year<span style="font-size: small;">, w<span style="font-size: small;">ith a brand new kind of me<span style="font-size: small;"> and I am read<span style="font-size: small;">y to <span style="font-size: small;">sei<span style="font-size: small;">ze opportunities.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Go<span style="font-size: small;">d bless you all.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stephanie </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-50529127000150290792012-03-09T11:37:00.003+01:002012-03-09T11:39:44.170+01:00music.love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Her voice is so beautiful and this song touches me deeply.<br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/fWpfTtZae_s/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fWpfTtZae_s&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fWpfTtZae_s&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-81173430792987361722012-03-03T23:29:00.000+01:002012-03-03T23:29:10.997+01:00music.love<div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I heard this beautiful voice today and loved it...Just wanted to share with you!</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/otFJs0gE00I?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-68928988872186099582012-01-29T17:45:00.000+01:002012-01-29T17:45:14.096+01:00coconut oil: hair nourishing treatment<div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have treated my hair several times with this and every time I am satisfied with the results. My hair looks healthier and moisturized. It has brilliance and feels protected.</span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The procedure I follow:</span></div><ol style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">I wet my hair a little bit so it can be damp. I think it helps the treatment penetrate it better.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> I heat coconut oil in the microwave for about 40 seconds. The amount of oil depends on the length and thickness of your hair. I like my hair to be well saturated with it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">I separate my hair into several sections and "finger detangle" it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">I coat each section of my hair with the hot oil (from roots to ends).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">I make a bun and put on a plastic cap to cover my head for at least 20 minutes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">I rinse my hair with warm water and wash my scalp with soap.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">I let the soapy water from my scalp wash down to my ends.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">I rinse my hair with warm water</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">I apply one of my favorite hair conditioners and detangle my hair with a wide tooth comb</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> After detangling, I rinse my hair with cool water.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Style as I want.</span></li>
</ol>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-3866465291075520562011-09-26T00:17:00.001+02:002012-01-29T17:39:27.767+01:00cream cheese pound cake with raspberry coulis<div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are photos of the latest cake recipe I tried. The recipe was found on <a href="http://annies-eats.net/2009/04/24/cream-cheese-pound-cake-with-strawberry-coulis/">Annie's Eats</a>. She made it with a strawberry coulis and since I did not have any strawberries I opted for raspberries.</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was very moist and delicious. I will definitely make this again for a special occasion.</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So far, I have tried two recipes from Annie's Eats and they both have been successful and this makes me trust the recipes she tries and posts on her site. I am going to try another of her recipes soon.</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RFy6KKm-tTE/Tn-muRAIgKI/AAAAAAAAAKo/Se7h0dPPuXA/s1600/DSC_1706_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RFy6KKm-tTE/Tn-muRAIgKI/AAAAAAAAAKo/Se7h0dPPuXA/s400/DSC_1706_blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-56920499155860351592011-09-15T10:39:00.000+02:002011-09-15T10:39:50.003+02:00August 1: Swiss National Holiday<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fireworks in Sion, Valais</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nhvDDyhZGVk/TnG3yBhNZSI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/gtUKK1O_o8k/s1600/DSC_1555_sepia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nhvDDyhZGVk/TnG3yBhNZSI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/gtUKK1O_o8k/s400/DSC_1555_sepia.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iZO6VE1a9Uk/TnG4EnkJg_I/AAAAAAAAAKU/SMQZkzowkdU/s1600/DSC_1580_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iZO6VE1a9Uk/TnG4EnkJg_I/AAAAAAAAAKU/SMQZkzowkdU/s400/DSC_1580_blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OtnNtPpbjoc/TnG4S2QVjSI/AAAAAAAAAKY/N4EAPWsOc0A/s1600/DSC_1589_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OtnNtPpbjoc/TnG4S2QVjSI/AAAAAAAAAKY/N4EAPWsOc0A/s400/DSC_1589_blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-91986044245319427692011-09-15T10:15:00.000+02:002011-09-15T10:15:45.190+02:00raspberry lime sheet cake<div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last month, one night, around 1 am, my husband was craving something sweet with raspberries. I was not sleeping and was browsing different websites on food so I told him that I can bake him something if he wants. I found a recipe on <a href="http://annies-eats.net/2009/08/26/raspberry-lime-sheet-cake/">Annie's Eats</a> and had all the ingredients I needed. So, I decided to bake a raspberry lime sheet cake and he offered to help me.</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We made the cake quickly and waited for it impatiently to be done. I was delicious!!!</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-emneY3Uvp-M/TnGz4qUA1FI/AAAAAAAAAKM/7L3_ePT1geY/s1600/raspberry+lime+sheet+cake+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-emneY3Uvp-M/TnGz4qUA1FI/AAAAAAAAAKM/7L3_ePT1geY/s400/raspberry+lime+sheet+cake+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-72127529243588893132011-08-28T00:12:00.000+02:002011-08-28T00:12:23.820+02:00The Lost Movement [UK Stand Up]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VaXH3pmZMLI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-54697741329063709622011-08-27T00:41:00.000+02:002011-08-27T00:41:43.029+02:00cupcakes from sweet dreams café<div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is a cupcake shop in Lausanne, Switzerland named <a href="http://www.cafesweetdreams.com/">Sweet Dreams Café</a>. It's owned by an American young woman. </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I tried some of her goodies a while ago and liked the strawberry cheesecake cupcake. The one I ate was nice and moist with a delicious strawberry filling. The vanilla orange and double chocolate cupcakes did not impress me. The cakes were dry and the frosting tasted too much like butter. I felt like my arteries were getting clogged and my body fat increasing as I was eating them so I just stopped.</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photos of the mini cakes:</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CWrwE67he2M/Tlge8kCfC7I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/u-w4cMh2Fw4/s1600/cups1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CWrwE67he2M/Tlge8kCfC7I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/u-w4cMh2Fw4/s320/cups1.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ujQJQV_PHxg/TlgfI7Mo2iI/AAAAAAAAAKA/bJrY1Q9fjJQ/s1600/cups2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ujQJQV_PHxg/TlgfI7Mo2iI/AAAAAAAAAKA/bJrY1Q9fjJQ/s320/cups2.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F1epqcaudJI/TlgfUg8r1WI/AAAAAAAAAKE/t8vGH-RxU6U/s1600/cups3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F1epqcaudJI/TlgfUg8r1WI/AAAAAAAAAKE/t8vGH-RxU6U/s320/cups3.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qyreF9_SOBc/TlgffHWNXvI/AAAAAAAAAKI/MYF_DgO2PJw/s1600/cups4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qyreF9_SOBc/TlgffHWNXvI/AAAAAAAAAKI/MYF_DgO2PJw/s320/cups4.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-32920156814457266172011-08-27T00:10:00.001+02:002011-08-27T00:12:53.265+02:00Gluten-free, lactose-free: a baking adventure - 2nd try<div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As promised <a href="http://sunflowerkissss.blogspot.com/2011/07/gluten-free-lactose-free-baking.html">here</a>, I am sharing the results of my second attempt at baking a lemon cake with gluten-free flour. I used the same recipe with another type of gluten-free flour from the same brand, <a href="http://www.schaer.com/en/">Schaer</a>.</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Firstly, here are some photos of the first attempt:</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BoTb7QLFBwU/TlgVqbygJoI/AAAAAAAAAJs/g0qD10LT_yY/s1600/1er+gateau.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BoTb7QLFBwU/TlgVqbygJoI/AAAAAAAAAJs/g0qD10LT_yY/s320/1er+gateau.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> As you can see the cake did not cook properly. It's too dry on the outside and the inside is not moist at all.</div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPBIDt0iiYk/TlgWKkjN-xI/AAAAAAAAAJw/gL1L3zQi2b4/s1600/1er+gateau2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPBIDt0iiYk/TlgWKkjN-xI/AAAAAAAAAJw/gL1L3zQi2b4/s320/1er+gateau2.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The second try looks so much better and tasted really good. Moist, fluffy, light!</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Ls95uAZwM8/TlgWxKZy84I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/IHVH-30vjN8/s1600/2eme+gateau.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Ls95uAZwM8/TlgWxKZy84I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/IHVH-30vjN8/s320/2eme+gateau.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPyoFLKOlfE/TlgXNQdYuyI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/D_ug9OsIv8w/s1600/2eme+gateau2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPyoFLKOlfE/TlgXNQdYuyI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/D_ug9OsIv8w/s320/2eme+gateau2.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-60971937266835199492011-07-30T19:33:00.000+02:002011-07-30T19:33:31.224+02:00music: pigeon john<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I found a new song to rock to this summer: "so gangster" by pigeon john. I love it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/RZdoYCUKk-U?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-21910030921302807322011-07-30T19:28:00.000+02:002011-07-30T19:28:46.896+02:00social networks: why i stopped facebooking<div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I stopped connecting to Facebook (the only social networking account I had) last year. I don't remember exactly when but it feels like it was ages ago.</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At first, I questioned whether I would 'survive' not seeing updates from my family (who live on another continent) and friends. It was fun to browse through their photos but this activity would usually last hours. </span><span style="font-size: small;">During these hours, there is so much that can be accomplished. And, I have lots on my to-do list that I would postpone when facebooking: reading books, studying, spending time outdoors, improving my baking skills, blogging and more...</span></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But the most important part of my life I neglected was <b>living it</b>. I mean <b>being present</b> in real life and disconnected from the virtual world. </span><span style="font-size: small;">I began to realize that I wasn't living my life fully and was speaking less often with my close family members because it was comfortable to do nothing and just browse through Facebook profiles. Plus, I was giving less attention to my husband, who suffered from it. </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When I made the decision to deactivate my account I was beginning to feel disgusted with facebooking. The reasons: </span></div><ul style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Some family members and "friends" were only connected to me to look at my life on facebook but never said a word to me</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A friend made a negative comment to me because I liked too many photos of another friend</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Anything you put on Facebook is no longer yours but their property (so they can do whatever they want with your info)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">People who are not friends and don't plan on being would ask to be "friends". I ask myself why? (maybe to add to their collection of 1000s of "friends")</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Facebook became a chore with all these updates to catch up on, profile picture changes to remain fresh, comments to make, friend requests to ignore, etc...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">I was watching for hours photos of people living their lives instead of living mine!!!</span></li>
</ul><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was in the middle of a cleaning phase: getting rid of unnecessary items in my home, wardrobe, etc. Then I thought why not do the same in my social life. So, I deactivated my Facebook account.</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The people who are really connected to me have my phone number and email address. If they want to know how I am they will call or email me. This is the phrase I repeated to myself the first week of my Facebook detox. I don't miss it at all and when I think about whether I would go back I feel weight on my shoulders. It's stressful! So, no thank you!</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I feel lighter, spend more quality time interacting with my husband, talk a lot more often with my close family members, go outside more often to explore the natural world around me...Basically, I am living in the present moment and breathing.</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19y4e36tSQU/TjQ_C9vkVZI/AAAAAAAAAJg/SCR28CmvDwY/s1600/sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19y4e36tSQU/TjQ_C9vkVZI/AAAAAAAAAJg/SCR28CmvDwY/s400/sunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-32433293166962128132011-07-17T22:21:00.000+02:002011-07-17T22:21:52.037+02:00fried plantains<div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love these! I grew up eating Haitian food and it's usually one of the side dishes or snacks.</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RphBGrnuVVQ/TiNCQWM6ggI/AAAAAAAAAJM/L4SB5WmqpmY/s1600/DSC_1084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RphBGrnuVVQ/TiNCQWM6ggI/AAAAAAAAAJM/L4SB5WmqpmY/s320/DSC_1084.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wz3qLNJ0DAw/TiNCtUqPv9I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/Ek99FURcWRQ/s1600/DSC_1085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wz3qLNJ0DAw/TiNCtUqPv9I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/Ek99FURcWRQ/s320/DSC_1085.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">With a little bit of salt and voilà! </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-saOT_G_6hME/TiNDLJXSkII/AAAAAAAAAJU/b3Ueq-akbh4/s1600/DSC_1086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-saOT_G_6hME/TiNDLJXSkII/AAAAAAAAAJU/b3Ueq-akbh4/s320/DSC_1086.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-76609335684264548492011-07-13T16:54:00.001+02:002011-07-13T16:54:26.130+02:00A walk by the lake: Lac Léman, Switzerland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love walking by the lake during my lunch break. I work very close to this beautiful place.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;">Yesterday, it was very warm outside. There were some people swimming or just lounging in the shade.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNGFIL-oWBk/ThzH8EUDL2I/AAAAAAAAAIw/9PeltRZHAoc/s1600/Photo0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNGFIL-oWBk/ThzH8EUDL2I/AAAAAAAAAIw/9PeltRZHAoc/s320/Photo0001.jpg" width="320px" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;">This lake is named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lac_l%C3%A9man">Lac Léman</a> and is located in Switzerland.</div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yNWFbkmHYzc/ThzIGHD2WiI/AAAAAAAAAI0/vfCfmAPK5gk/s1600/Photo0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yNWFbkmHYzc/ThzIGHD2WiI/AAAAAAAAAI0/vfCfmAPK5gk/s320/Photo0002.jpg" width="320px" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;">Where I take my walks is in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouchy">Ouchy</a>. As you can see, the streets are very clean. This is how it is in the majority of Switzerland.</div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zzAka_m86Us/ThzIPxAGNRI/AAAAAAAAAI4/ojKdMYXYt4o/s1600/Photo0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zzAka_m86Us/ThzIPxAGNRI/AAAAAAAAAI4/ojKdMYXYt4o/s320/Photo0003.jpg" width="320px" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;">I stopped here to look at the rocks in the clear water.</div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sIn7PfpGZIA/ThzIYVmRPFI/AAAAAAAAAI8/RefZwLLnd_A/s1600/Photo0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sIn7PfpGZIA/ThzIYVmRPFI/AAAAAAAAAI8/RefZwLLnd_A/s320/Photo0004.jpg" width="320px" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;">Some boats were passing by.</div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--8KkGGU2f94/ThzIlTlqsRI/AAAAAAAAAJA/ji0UxO-ZBSE/s1600/Photo0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--8KkGGU2f94/ThzIlTlqsRI/AAAAAAAAAJA/ji0UxO-ZBSE/s320/Photo0005.jpg" width="240px" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;">We can rent these boats to go out in the water by pedaling. I've done it a few times and it's fun.</div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CZrMQTPVfmY/ThzIv3adX2I/AAAAAAAAAJE/DnXFumcC48s/s1600/Photo0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CZrMQTPVfmY/ThzIv3adX2I/AAAAAAAAAJE/DnXFumcC48s/s320/Photo0010.jpg" width="320px" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;">Walking back to work. There are some nice restaurants in this area.</div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-guldJ1oBCnE/ThzI6NxMWlI/AAAAAAAAAJI/fzlC2kwWnLs/s1600/Photo0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-guldJ1oBCnE/ThzI6NxMWlI/AAAAAAAAAJI/fzlC2kwWnLs/s320/Photo0011.jpg" width="320px" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;">So, that was my lunch break walk this week. I do it whenever I am working in the building close by and the weather is great.</div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-40021409619817601852011-07-08T12:03:00.001+02:002011-07-10T22:04:40.745+02:00Gluten-free, lactose-free: a baking adventure<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This week, I baked a lemon cake with gluten-free flour and lactose-free butter but the result was not so tasteful.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The cake was not as moist and fluffy as I expected it to be.</span><br />
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</div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I realized that it's probably due to the type of flour I bought. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ERDaF3fJRmc/ThbT2RA48hI/AAAAAAAAAII/MnVWnbDgtto/s1600/farinnamehl.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ERDaF3fJRmc/ThbT2RA48hI/AAAAAAAAAII/MnVWnbDgtto/s1600/farinnamehl.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On the package it is stated that it's great for crêpes, pasta or a sauce thickening agent. However, I didn't notice it until last night because on the front of the package it is stated that the flour is great for all culinary applications.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia;">I went to another shop and bought another flour mix from the same brand and will try again the same recipe to see whether the result will differ.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lcp7-tvfL5w/ThbT4CQUeqI/AAAAAAAAAIM/mmpsguBxRWg/s1600/mixpatisserie_en.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lcp7-tvfL5w/ThbT4CQUeqI/AAAAAAAAAIM/mmpsguBxRWg/s1600/mixpatisserie_en.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia;">There is a third flour mix from the brand that I did not find in the shop but seems to be right for cakes.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia;">In the USA, I could just walk to Whole Foods or some health food shop and find any ingredient I need for baking gluten-free desserts but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valais">here</a>, in Switzerland, it is a lot of work to find certain items (not just food...everything!!!) and the ones I finally find are too expensive. (This is one of the reasons why I miss New York so much and why I buy from international online shops).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia;">Now, let's bake! Results will be posted soon.</span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-5563358243400376242011-07-06T17:25:00.033+02:002011-07-14T19:04:43.684+02:007 things about me: Stylish Blogger Award<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm very happy and grateful to have received the Stylish Blogger Award from </span><a href="http://www.merelymarie.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">merely marie</span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">. Sweet of her to have chosen me. Thanks, Marie! This motivates me to keep blogging.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>The rules of the award are to:</b><i> </i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>• Thank & link back to the person that awarded you this award</i><br />
<i>• Share 7 things about yourself</i><br />
<i>• Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers</i><br />
<i>• Contact these bloggers </i><i>& </i><i>tell them about the award</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i></i><br />
</span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Seven things about me. What can I tell you... </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">#1. My husband and I are expecting our first baby in October. <i><span style="color: #e06666;">We're so happy, excited, nervous and a mix of other feelings while we wait to meet this blessing.</span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">#2. I live in Europe without any of my family members. </span><i><span style="color: #e06666;">They are all living in New York where I used to live before I met my Swiss husband.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">#3. Sometimes I'm so sad to be so far away from my family, missing them so much, that I cry. </span><span style="color: #e06666;"><i>I hate that I miss so many special moments with them. Time goes by too fast and life can seem really short.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-small;">#4. <span style="font-size: small;">I love cooking and baking. <i><span style="color: #e06666;">I dream to make a business from this passion one day.</span></i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">#5. I am learning to speak German. </span><i><span style="color: #e06666;">I just finish the beginner's course and am moving on to the next level. For me, it's not too hard and speaking English helps in understanding certain words. I dream of speaking it fluently. Fun fact: In Switzerland, they speak German (more than 60% of the population), French, Italian and Romansh.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">#6. I would love to travel more often, exploring new environments and cultures. </span><i><span style="color: #e06666;">So far, I have been to Italy, France, the Canary Islands of Tenerife and El Hierro and some US States. I live in Switzerland and visited some parts of it as well. It's a very beautiful country.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">#7. One of my favorite songs: "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/LanCLS_hIo4/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LanCLS_hIo4&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LanCLS_hIo4&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Now, moving on to the bloggers I'm awarding (I didn't find 15 as suggested by the rules of the award). Some are not recently discovered but I feel they deserve this award too:</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://zarnasrunway.blogspot.com/"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">zarna's runway</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">, </span></b><a href="http://www.peaceloveandprettythings.com/"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">peace love and pretty things</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">, </span></b><a href="http://hairspiration.blogspot.com/"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">natural belle</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">, </span></b><a href="http://fortheloveofcooking-recipes.blogspot.com/"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">for the love of cooking</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">, </span></b><a href="http://curlychics.blogspot.com/"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">curly chic</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">, </span></b><a href="http://lesaventuresdecaroline.blogspot.com/"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">food and everything in between</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">, </span></b><a href="http://facesbytamara.blogspot.com/"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the collective musings of tamara</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">, </span></b><a href="http://www.beautyfash.com/"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">beauty fash the curvy chronicles</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">, </span></b><a href="http://fashiondujourdaily.wordpress.com/"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">fashion du jour</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">, <a href="http://lovealexandra.blogspot.com/">love alexandra</a>, <a href="http://sexloveliberation.com/">sex love and liberation</a>, </span></b><a href="http://thefablifeproject.com/"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the fab life project</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">, <a href="http://www.majormusthaves.com/">major must haves</a> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">and</span> </span></b><a href="http://redsummeradventure.blogspot.com/"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">red summer adventure</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">.</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Have a wonderful day!</span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-8591682731081628022011-06-23T10:48:00.005+02:002011-07-06T17:24:51.035+02:00Reflection on Life: Happiness<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">The other day, I had an interesting conversation with someone about happiness.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">We discussed what most people in our society consider to be happiness nowadays, how they forget to live in the present, always searching for an instant gratification that will soon be replaced by another because they are never satisfied with what they have, trying to fill up a hole with depthless elements.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">The following poem (not written by me) states perfectly how I feel about happiness and living in the present (not yesterday, nor tomorrow). </span><br />
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<i><span lang="FR-CH" style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: FR-CH;">Poème du Bonheur</span></i><span lang="FR-CH" style="mso-ansi-language: FR-CH;"></span><br />
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<i><span lang="FR-CH" style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: FR-CH;">On se persuade souvent soi-même que la vie sera meilleure après s'être marié, après avoir eu un enfant, et ensuite, après en avoir eu un autre... <br />
Plus tard, on se sent frustré, parce que nos enfants ne sont pas encore assez grands et on pense que l'on sera mieux quand ils le seront. <br />
On est alors convaincu que l'on sera plus heureux quand ils auront passé cette étape. <br />
On se dit que notre vie sera complète quand les choses iront mieux pour notre conjoint, quand on possédera une plus belle voiture ou une plus grande maison, quand on pourra aller en vacances, quand on sera à la retraite... <br />
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La vérité est qu'il n'y a pas de meilleur moment pour être heureux que le moment présent. Si ce n'est pas maintenant, quand serait-ce? <br />
La vie sera toujours pleine de défis à atteindre et de projets à terminer. Il est préférable de l'admettre et de décider d'être heureux maintenant qu'il est encore temps. <br />
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Pendant longtemps, j'ai pensé que ma vie allait enfin commencer, ' La Vraie Vie! 'Mais il y avait toujours un obstacle sur le chemin, un problème qu'il fallait résoudre en premier, un thème non terminé, un temps à passer, une dette à payer. Et alors la vie allait commencer ! ! ! ! <br />
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Jusqu'à ce que je me rende compte que ces obstacles étaient justement ma vie. Cette perspective m'a aidé à comprendre qu'il n'y a pas un chemin qui mène au bonheur. <br />
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Le bonheur est le chemin. Ainsi passe chaque moment que nous avons et plus encore : quand on partage ce moment avec quelqu'un de spécial, suffisamment spécial pour partager notre temps et, que l'on se rappelle que le temps n'attend pas. <br />
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Alors, il faut arrêter d'attendre de terminer ses études, d'augmenter son salaire, de se marier, d'avoir des enfants, que ses enfants partent de la maison ou, simplement, le vendredi soir, le dimanche matin, le printemps, l'été, l'automne ou l'hiver, pour décider qu'il n'y a pas de meilleur moment que maintenant pour être heureux. <br />
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LE BONHEUR EST UNE TRAJECTOIRE ET NON PAS UNE DESTINATION ! <br />
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Il n'en faut pas beaucoup pour être heureux. Il suffit juste d'apprécier chaque petit moment et de le sacrer comme l'un des meilleurs moments de sa vie.</span></i><span lang="FR-CH" style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: FR-CH;"> </span><span lang="FR-CH" style="mso-ansi-language: FR-CH;"></span><br />
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<u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">In English:</span></u><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Poem of Happiness</span></i><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">We often convince ourselves that life will be better once we're married, </span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">and then once we've had a child, and then another</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Later we feel frustrated because our children aren't yet big enough,</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">and we think things will be better when they are older.</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">We're sure we'll be happier once they've got past a certain stage</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">We tell ourselves that our life will be fulfilled when things are better for our partner,</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">when we get a nicer car, or a bigger house, when we're on holiday, when we retire...</span></i><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">The truth is that there is never a better moment to be happy than the present</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">If not now, when?</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Life will always be full of challenges and plans to finish</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">It's better to admit it, and to decide to be happy while there's still time.</span></i><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">For a long time, I thought my life was finally going to start, “Real Life”.</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">But there was always an obstacle on the path, a problem which needed solving, unfinished business, a time to pass, a debt to pay.</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">And then real life would start!</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Until I realized that these obstacles were my life.</span></i><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">This approach helped me to understand that there is no path which leads to happiness.</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">The path IS the happiness.</span></i><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">This is how each moment we have passes, and what's more</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">when we share that moment with someone special, special enough to be spending time with us, we are reminded that time does not wait.</span></i><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">So, we must stop waiting till we've finished our studies, had a pay rise, got married, had kids, seen the kids leave home, or simply Friday night, Sunday morning, spring, summer, autumn or winter to decide that there's never been a better moment to be happy. </span></i><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">HAPPINESS IS A JOURNEY NOT A DESTINATION!</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">We don't need much to be happy.</span></i><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">All we need is to appreciate each little moment and to cherish it as one of the best moments of our lives.</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">Thank you for reading.</span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-71130795710754046452011-02-17T16:06:00.001+01:002011-07-06T17:24:11.146+02:00Reflection on Life: Beauty<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it" - Confucius</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia;">I love this quote because it's very true. There is so much beauty in the world and so many people don't see it. It's unfortunate because this beauty could put a smile on their faces, lift their spirit up and make their world a nicer place to live in. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D2JzOmvNpH0/TV04zZdf1EI/AAAAAAAAAH4/ZjIkS94dT0s/s1600/monks.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D2JzOmvNpH0/TV04zZdf1EI/AAAAAAAAAH4/ZjIkS94dT0s/s400/monks.bmp" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDGzTczsOrw/TV040jV6g6I/AAAAAAAAAH8/aqVU6kMqgr0/s1600/ballerina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDGzTczsOrw/TV040jV6g6I/AAAAAAAAAH8/aqVU6kMqgr0/s400/ballerina.jpg" width="267px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CY8GsgK-Pqs/TV042kiJ_vI/AAAAAAAAAIA/mqccy3aiBMY/s1600/family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290px" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CY8GsgK-Pqs/TV042kiJ_vI/AAAAAAAAAIA/mqccy3aiBMY/s400/family.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dhPEF7CyShM/TV044_QfBKI/AAAAAAAAAIE/NIF0issb82U/s1600/chocolate+ice+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dhPEF7CyShM/TV044_QfBKI/AAAAAAAAAIE/NIF0issb82U/s400/chocolate+ice+cream.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-1211283825365042522011-02-10T15:39:00.001+01:002011-02-10T17:07:39.385+01:00Reflection on Life: Greatness<blockquote><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia;">“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." ~Marianne Williamson</span></div></blockquote>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-42590654459813810162011-01-31T22:49:00.000+01:002011-01-31T22:50:46.218+01:00Swiss Wine - white wine from Valais<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TUcsCl5zd0I/AAAAAAAAAHo/DNqQN5kvJRg/s1600/DSC_0397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="265" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TUcsCl5zd0I/AAAAAAAAAHo/DNqQN5kvJRg/s400/DSC_0397.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Angeline Vendange Tardive 2007</em></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This wine is delicious. Great to serve with appetizers or dessert. While cooking dinner with my husband we each had 2 glasses.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia;">It's white wine from Valais. It is very sweet, just how I like it.</span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-48476122594564286792011-01-31T22:29:00.001+01:002011-07-06T17:23:43.015+02:00Chocolate Zucchini Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TUcpU8n-xSI/AAAAAAAAAHk/QYB22rnzsrA/s1600/DSC_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="265px" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TUcpU8n-xSI/AAAAAAAAAHk/QYB22rnzsrA/s400/DSC_0143.JPG" width="400px" /></span></a></div><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I love chocolate cake! Here is </span><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chocolate-Zucchini-Cake-III/Detail.aspx"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the recipe</span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I tried. And it turned out really well. The texture was moist and chocolatey, the taste had no sign of the zucchinis in it and I enjoyed eating it. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TUclE3q-iwI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/wXvCvxsnfwk/s1600/DSC_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="265px" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TUclE3q-iwI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/wXvCvxsnfwk/s400/DSC_0134.JPG" width="400px" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TUcl4w8vBkI/AAAAAAAAAHU/Df5_jQWzwwk/s1600/DSC_0135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="265px" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TUcl4w8vBkI/AAAAAAAAAHU/Df5_jQWzwwk/s400/DSC_0135.JPG" width="400px" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TUcmwklZgAI/AAAAAAAAAHY/wH37FKxHY_0/s1600/DSC_0136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="265px" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TUcmwklZgAI/AAAAAAAAAHY/wH37FKxHY_0/s400/DSC_0136.JPG" width="400px" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TUcnquG7pwI/AAAAAAAAAHc/NbQto9YylN4/s1600/DSC_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="265px" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TUcnquG7pwI/AAAAAAAAAHc/NbQto9YylN4/s400/DSC_0139.JPG" width="400px" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TUcoa2iDJ1I/AAAAAAAAAHg/Hv60yuBcVZI/s1600/DSC_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="265px" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TUcoa2iDJ1I/AAAAAAAAAHg/Hv60yuBcVZI/s400/DSC_0142.JPG" width="400px" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I will certainly make this again. And next time, with creamy chocolate frosting.</span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181860573453778216.post-11829186881236697802011-01-14T17:15:00.000+01:002011-01-14T17:15:25.464+01:00Live. Love. Learn...<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>So much to learn and so little time...</em></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TTB2MymJmOI/AAAAAAAAAHM/YpV_U6zq1Os/s1600/tumblr_lc7mrwj5VV1qasbyxo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_f_iHz9r9AvA/TTB2MymJmOI/AAAAAAAAAHM/YpV_U6zq1Os/s400/tumblr_lc7mrwj5VV1qasbyxo1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01160009602955995637noreply@blogger.com0