Author: MS

Lifestyle: Figuring Out If You Are Happy

Published by

Feeling philosophical lately – so please bear with me. In the American Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson incorporated a statement borrowed from Locke’s pursuit of happiness and made it people”s inalienable right: Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  This is what the American dream is based upon and those entering this great land do so welcoming the  ideology. But does happiness really matter? In a series of new studies led by psychologist Iris Mauss, the more value people placed on happiness, the less happy they became. This was part of the sermon on Sunday, something I have questioned for a while now – is happiness truly something we need to aim for and measure our entire existence upon to achieving ‘whatever we consider to be happiness.’  Or is content the right way of thinking? The Father speaking to his congregation attempted to explain that happiness should not be something we search for but rather, finding contentment by seeing all the good in our lives, should lead to a tranquil and peaceful existence and that should …

Food: Eggs Florentine and Bread Pudding Cake

Published by

Having breakfast/brunch over the weekend with a few friends and I figured I’d take another approach to the usual breakfast I normally opt for. The safe one, with granola of sorts, fresh fruit platter, and good coffee.  But this time around, since we plan to meet up for a walk across land’s end in San Francisco, a heartier breakfast is in order. On another note, in case you are interest past those living in the U.S. – why wearing white after Labor Day is questionable.

Some Thoughts For The Weekend

Published by

This week flew by quickly, I guess because my calendar was packed with some positives which left me feeling more accomplished than stressed over what I didn’t get done. I love it when that happens, and I wish I can make that happen every week. In fact, that is the plan – to acknowledge my accomplishments so that I can feel less anxious. To-do lists help, just in case you are wondering. But even still, there are lots that go through my mind on a constant basis, and some topics are worth a mention here to see if you wish to share you opinion on any of them. For instance… In listening to a boss berate an employee the other day at the office, I couldn’t help but feel the need to hand him a how-do book or refer him to a website which might help his style or approach. In case you are curious, read on What would you do if you ran into an ex that meant the world to you – but …

Food: Thai Chicken and Noodles

Published by

I love Asian fusion or simply Asian inspired food and this recipe for Thai Chicken and Noodles is something worth sharing in today’s ONLY Food series: INGREDIENTS 8 ounces wide rice noodles 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce or liquid aminos 3 tablespoons oyster sauce 1 tablespoon Thai fish sauce 2 teaspoons honey or maple 2 tablespoons sesame oil or extra virgin olive oil 1/2 pound boneless chicken breast, cut into strips (optional) 2 shallots, thinly sliced 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated 1-2 red Fresno peppers or jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped 4 green onions, chopped 1 medium zucchini, cut into ribbons or chopped 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 2 carrots, cut into ribbons or chopped 1 cup fresh Thai basil or regular basil, roughly chopped {more} What’s your favorite Asian Dish?

Food: Gluten-Free and Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Published by

Today is all about food – so you’ll see back to back posts about eating. Maybe because I am hungry since this plant-based diet I am trying out, but not yet ready to talk about until I see results.  But, this recipe about Gluten Free & Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies is something I cannot pass up sharing since from the grocers you can either find gluten-free OR Vegan in products, but seldom the two combined for those with the severest food allergies. Recipe 1 1/4 cup oat flour 1 1/2 cup almond flour 1/4 cup cornstarch 3/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/8 cup pecans (roughly chopped) 2 tablespoons all-vegetable shortening 1 cup dark brown sugar   {I am going to use Coconut sugar instead} 1/4 cup granulated sugar  – {coconut sugar instead} 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoons vanilla 4 ounces baking chocolate (roughly chopped) {more} and just in case you haven’t seen this pic from my previous post, I am sharing it with you again. 

Decor: Fresh and Clean

Published by

I laughed when I decided on the title of this post  – fresh and clean – something I overhead someone telling her baby after giving her a bath. So, in honor of the statement, I share some fresh and clean, and airy decor ideas for your home renovation project or just a bit of sprucing up: {Source}

Fashion: Backpacks Are In

Published by

If you live in a tech city and need to commute to work, while working on your commute, the backpack is the ideal bag-of-sorts to consider. I do, and it has helped a great deal since I converted, especially when the train breaks down in San Francisco, and you find yourself walking a great distance sometimes, so the backpack helps. Not to mention the lunch, the shoes, the laptop, and everything else but the kitchen sink women need to feel whole while outside of our homes. 🙂 Check out these stylish ones… and do you prefer a handbag over a backpack? {source}