Quote for The Week: Craft a Life of Purpose

I got this quote from Joshua Becker's Becoming Minimalist Facebook Page. It is a simple but powerful message, as crafting an examined and purposeful life oftentimes involves difficult decisions to make and take. Decluttering one's life to unearth a meaningful one involves carefully weeding out all the nuisances you currently have: habits, material things, and even persons. When I say nuisances, I mean those that do not add value to the life you want to live. It is not about just taking out what you don't like or are too difficult, since there are some that may be hard to deal with, but you learn a lesson or two from them.

In my case, I have to examine the life I wanted to have, what purpose do I want? After examining and deciding that this is the kind of life I want to live in, then I list down what are the values I need to have in order to support the life I wanted to craft. What then are the major aspects of my life? I need to assess which contribute and which do not. It is hard, but I must wean off from those that bring me farther way from my goal, in order to spend more time to maintain, nourish, and cultivate those that matter.

To summarize,

• Examine what you want in life.
• Reflect what values you need, the principles and beliefs you live by.
• List what major habits, persons, material possessions you have - everything, not just the good and the bad.
• Carefully assess if they contribute to the life you wanted to live.
• Decide to remove those that do not add value.
• Maintain, nourish, and cultivate those that are important.

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Home Decor: The Charm of Paris Rentals

Ah, Paris. I have longed to visit that place I've been reading, watching, and hearing about. Apart from  French food and historic places, what I wanted to see and experience is that of Parisian rentals. There is something so simple, yet classic and elegant about the design of these rentals... well at least from what I saw so far in the internet, tv shows, and magazines. Just like Scandinavian style homes, I have been compiling photos of lovely Parisian rentals designs, which I hope I could replicate when we finally redesign our little Casa Pineda. Here's one rental that serves as my (current) inspiration.

Images from: Time and Place

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Money Matters: Organizing Bills

Back when I was single, organising bills was a pretty much a non-issue, since the only bills I paid were my credit card bills. Things get a little complicated when I got married (not only finances hahaha!), and at first I was able to cope with my bills payment by just remembering them. Thanks to age, kids, and additional bills, I had to resort to organising my bills payment. Thank goodness for the Internet, where people share their tips and tricks (and tools) to make life easier to manage.

I have been using this Annual Bill Schedule printable from Organizing Home Life, and I must say that I love, love love this (among her other printables, which are must-prints!).

Not only do I get to track what expenses are due for the month, but I could tick them off once I paid them already. Believe me, with the number of bills I needed to pay every month, this printable comes in really handy. The year is almost ending, so it is about time for me to edit and print it out. This is seriously a must-have. :)

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Beauty Loot: Picture Polish

I rarely get hit by the nail polish bug, but when I do, I hoard.

I remembered the days when my husband used to ask me if I was planning on setting up my own nail salon because of the daily deliveries of nail polish orders I had. That came to a halt when I got pregnant with my second child. I still wore nail polish, but rarely. In order not to waste all the polishes I had, I lent all of them to my staff at work.

Fast forward to now, here I am hoarding my favourite polishes: a-England, Zoya, and Picture Polish. Right now I am featuring the latest two polishes I got from my trusted online seller, Polish Please. Both are introduced this year, are 5-Free, and dries smooth on the nail.

First up is Bardot. It is a French baby pink jelly scatter holo, and described as "French in every way a sultry fashion forward siren." I could very well see the French in it once applied on my nails. This reminds me of Brigitte Bardot, so I guess the polish's name does suit it perfectly. The baby-ness of the pink is just gorgeous, while the subtler silver scatter holo makes it unique (well at least to me). This is a colour that anyone can wear anytime, be it at school (if allowed!), work, or at parties. Honestly I'm not into pink shades, since I am more of a red or burgundy type of girl, but this lovely polish had me at hello. It's currently what I'm wearing now. :)

Next is Karma. This was actually the first one that caught my eye when the nail polish bug bit me. I was so in love with it that I got heartbroken when I was told that it was out of stock and that it may take a while before it was restocked. I forgot about it until Polish Please sent me a Viber message informing me that it was already available (after months!).

The picture I took below did not do any justice to how gorgeous and rich the polish looked. According to the website, Karma is a vampy eggplant (purple) jelly scatter holo, inspire by the night sky. "Karma can be as radiant as the starry sky and mysterious as the dark night." Perfect description! The irony though is that under sunlight, the polish bursts with magical colour! Perfect for Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Love love love.

Ok, here's one more photo of Karma, just to have a better idea on how truly wonderful the colour is. Got this from Polish Please's IG account.

Lovely, right?

I'm currently eyeing Picture Polish in Bordeaux. See why.

However, in order to save on shipping costs, I need to order another one. I hope that by the time I do, it is still available!

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Van's List 1: Nudes and French Food

This marks the first of a series of blog posts that features my favourites for the week. Enjoy!

1. Charlotte Tilbury Very Victoria Matte Revolution Lipstick and Lip Cheat Iconic Nude

Lately I have been on a lipstick bing (will blog about it soon), and the latest lipstick loot I purchased were Charlotte Tilbury's Very Victoria Matte Revolution Lipstick and Lip Cheat (Liner) in Iconic Nude. I love the velvety smooth texture once I applied both on my lips. I must say that this one should be included in every woman's lipstick arsenal, for those days when you just want to have that muted elegance look.

I purchased mine via Instagram: Cebu Makeup Online

2. My Paris Kitchen by David Lebovitz

I finally got hold of this book! I've been wanting to have this book for the longest time (well, since it was first published), but was at first hesitant because I have purchased a lot of cookbooks in the past. My curiosity finally gave in, and so now I am happy as a clam. I have only read the Introduction and browsed through the pages (sorry I just received the book last night), but wow, I am loving it so far. Can't wait to try the recipes!

I purchased my copy online via National Bookstore.

3. Uniqlo IDLF Cashmere Crewneck Sweater

Are you also like me who can't get enough of Uniqlo's Ines de la Fressange line? If so, then you understand the excitement I felt when I found out of her latest collection. The pieces are obviously geared towards colder temperatures, but there are still a couple of pieces that are suitable to our warm climate. Take this beige cashmere crew neck sweater. Can't wait to wear this when I go to Tagaytay!

4. Zara Culotte Jeans

The culotte craze is here again, but unlike the past, the style today is somewhat more streamlined (not to flouncy). I have seen a lot of women wear this in basic black, so I was very happy to have chanced upon the jeans version in Zara. Just the right length and silhouette for me. Do check it out!

5. Givenchy Pepe Pandora Bag

This bag is in my Wishlist for some time now, but I haven't had the nerve to purchase one. I a loving the tan color, but perhaps I would wait for other colours to be available since this looks very close to the Alexa bag I have.Which reminds me... I should take that bag out this week!


6. Valentino Rockstud Pumps

Ahh, the very one that I would really really want to have soon. I have been wanting to get hold of the Valentino Rockstud shoes ever since the first version (flats) came out. Unfortunately, it was always sold out, until I gave up. Then the pumps came in. It's been years since I planned to get one, but until now I haven't gotten one. My sister even ended up purchasing one ahead of me! Why the hesitation? First, the color. I wanted the Italian Pop Grey for so long, but it seems it doesn't want to get owned by me. I have been waiting (until now), but so far, no notifications of its availability have ventured its way to my inbox. Second, the price tag. Ugh. Every time I decide to just get a neutral color (such as this lovely tan), I couldn't get myself to click that final button. Would've been easier if I was working (hahaha), but I think it really is just a matter of time before I do so. Until then, this remain's in my Wishlist.

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Van's Kitchen: Paella

Cooking Paella is a big deal in our household, so when we decide to have it as our main meal, everybody is serious and gets down to business.

Today was a trying day though, because the seafood ingredients were hard to find, even if usually these were available! I had to go to two markets and two grocery stores just to get hold of fresh seafood! There was that option of buying in advance and freeze them, but I have always been iffy about it, thus buying fresh ingredients on the day is very important to me.

At the end of it all though, cooking paella is so worth it. Just take a look the the finished product...

The photo did not do justice to it though, since I only used my phone to take a photo. We couldn't wait to dig into it, so there was no time to do those photo-ops. Hahaha.

Here's how I cooked our Paella. It is based on the Paella on the Grill by Bobby Flay. Thank goodness I got to watch it on Food Network, and I have been cooking paella this way ever since.

PAELLA

Ingredients:
1 kilo chicken cutlets
1 kilo clams, scrubbed
1 kilo mussels, scrubbed and debearded
1 kilo crabs (the alimasag type), cleaned, cooked, and halved
1/2 kilo jumbo shrimps, shelled but leaving the tails
1/2 kilo squid (medium size)
2 lemons, halved
1/4 kilo scallops
1/4 cup canola oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 cups chicken stock
1 large pinch of saffron (this is a non-negotiable for me)
1/4 cup olive oil (1 tbsp for the lemons)
1 Spanish onion, finely chopped
1 head of garlic - cut crosswise, then finely chopping the top half and retaining the lower half.
1/2 kilo chorizo de Bilbao, sliced thinly
2 red bell peppers, sliced thinly.
4 cups rice (I used 3 cups Sinandomeng and 1 cup malagkit or glutinous rice)
1/2 cup chopped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
1 /2 cup frozen peas, thawed


How to cook:

• Brush the chicken cutlets with some of the canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the chicken over low heat, making sure that the chicken does not get burned. Once cooked, set them aside.
• Meanwhile pour the chicken stock in a saucepan and add the saffron. Let it simmer until the stick is quite boiling. Add the clams and cook until they are open. Remove them to a bowl, discarding those that are not open. Add the mussels and cook until they are open. Remove to a bowl and discard those that are not open. Note: do not overcook! Set aside the stock.
• Brush all the seafood with canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill them until they are almost cooked through. Be careful not to over cook them! Set aside the grilled seafood.
• Brush the lemons with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill them cut side down for about 45 seconds, then set aside. 
• Heat the olive oil in a large paellera. Sauté the onions and garlic (even the bottom half of the garlic), then add the chorizos and bell peppers. 
• Add the rice and cook - stir it constantly for a few minutes. Add the chicken + saffron stock one cup at a time, stirring the rice a few times. Keep on doing so until the rice is almost cooked. At this point I don't stir the paella rice anymore. NOTE: I know some may disagree in stirring the rice, saying that this is a no-no, but I don't care. I've seen one show featuring Spanish food and in Valencia, the veteran cook was stirring the rice.
• When the rice is cooked, I arranged all the grilled chicken and seafood on top of the rice, burying them slightly here and there. Scatter the peas on top. I let the paella cook (low heat) for about 2-3 minutes. 
• Squeeze the juice of two lemon halves over the paella, and nestle the rest in the rice.
• Scatter the parsley on top of the paella. Serve hot.

Usually I serve Sangria, but in this case, I just opened a bottle of Pinot Grigio to go with the paella. By the way, for those who are looking for a good Pinot Grigio, I know that lately this type of wine is hard to find. However, I found a couple of bottles in M&S stores. :)

Enjoy cooking and eating. 

Always remember, cook for pleasure, eat with pleasure. :)

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Van's Kitchen: Shrimp and Artichoke Tagliatelle

Just like blogging, I rediscovered another activity that I love doing: watching food and cooking shows!

I was able to wrestle my way into watching TV, and was so happy to have chanced upon this wonderful recipe from the show "The Kitchen." This simple pasta dish blends two of my favourite ingredients: shrimps and artichokes.

I have made something similar before, but I used chicken instead of shrimps. Now, I am very eager to  cook this, and I am quite sure I will love it. This would be perfect on a lazy Sunday lunch, paired with a glass of Pinot Grigio. :)

Here is the recipe from The Food Network:

Shrimp and Artichoke Tagliatelle

Ingredients:

Shrimp and Artichokes: 
10 jumbo shrimp (U12), peeled and cleaned, cut in half lengthwise
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 artichokes, cleaned and chokes removed, cut into wedges
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup chicken stock

Pasta: 
Salt
1 pound fresh tagliatelle
2/3 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
Zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh parsley

For the shrimp and artichokes:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. 
• On a baking sheet, toss the shrimp with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the lemon juice and butter and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. 
• Roast until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. 
• In a medium saucepan, heat the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil over medium heat. 
• Add the artichokes and cook until seared and just browned, about 2 minutes. 
• Add the garlic and cook until aromatic. 
• Add the wine and cook until reduced slightly, 1 minute. 
• Add the chicken stock and bring to a slow simmer. Cook until the artichokes are tender and the liquid is reduced by half. 
• Season the mixture with salt and pepper.

For the pasta:

• Meanwhile, bring a medium stockpot of salted water to a rolling boil. 
• Boil the pasta until cooked, about 2 minutes (or according to package instructions). 
• Remove the pasta from the water and toss directly into the artichoke pan along with 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. 
• Cook and reduce the liquid, tossing the pasta, until the pasta is coated with the sauce. Remove from the heat and add the cheese and black pepper. 
• Add the roasted shrimp and its juices, lemon zest, butter, lemon juice, parsley and salt to taste.
• Toss the pasta until the butter has emulsified. 
• Plate and serve. 

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Healing and Forgiveness

I attended my first healing mass, and I thank God that I was given the opportunity to do so.

The healing mass was supposed to be a venue for the Anointing of the Sick, but what I learned (or shall I say re-learned) was that this Holy Sacrament can be given to anyone who feels he has physical, moral, spiritual, emotional illnesses. Three lessons that I learned, as perfectly relayed by Monsignor:

1. Healing is related to Forgiveness.

Healing is related to forgiveness in a sense that we are healed when we are also forgiven. All our illnesses are directly or indirectly connected with our sins (or the sins of the world), and when we are forgiven, not only is our spiritual nature healed, but in some way, our physical selves feel a "lightening of being." I don't know how else I should describe it, but don't you feel light hearted when you know that your faults are forgiven?

2. Jesus heals and forgives because He has compassion.

Truly Jesus Christ embodies what it is to be a compassionate human being. When I reflected on these words, I realised that we too can forgive others, and help in healing people, by simply being compassionate towards them. Any deed that we do for our neighbours, translates to an act of love and compassion that brings about their own healing.

3. God always heals and forgives, but are we willing to be healed and to be forgiven?

There is no doubt that God is love, God is merciful, God is forgiving. However, the words of Monsignor made sense when he asked "how willing are we to be forgiven, to be healed?" Yes, we do ask for forgiveness, and most certainly there are those days when we asked to be healed from our illnesses. Yet, how open are we to God's healing love and compassion? Is our openness unconditional, or do we only open ourselves up to a point?

I have countless ailments inside of me: physical, emotional, and spiritual, and have always asked Jesus to save me, to forgive me, and to heal my soul for me to be at peace. Often times when things seem to be too much, I tend to lose hope and shut the door. Yet, time and time again, God puts me in places and gives me opportunities to remind me of Love, Life, and Happiness. I need to be more open to God's healing grace, and let His will be done. I need to remind myself as well that all the crosses I bear create opportunities for me to be a true Child of God.


Photo credits: Crossover Media

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Quote for The Week: Wisdom and Courage

Along with the feeling of uncertainty and lack of confidence, it is fear that keeps us from doing what we must do. How many times did we feel that we know nothing, that we do not know what we want to do in order to live fully and not just to merely exist? Then, once we are blessed to have a nugget of enlightenment, we often feel scared, not only of the possible outcomes, but of the amount of effort we need to exert in order to accomplish our goals.

We often pray for wisdom and courage in order for us to go on and do what is right for us and for others. Yes, prayer is much needed to have an inspired and intentional living, a life full of magic and bliss.

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A New Beginning: The Magic of Bliss

After almost two years of being "offline," I finally mustered the strength and will to decide that yes, I must go back to blogging. I have been thinking about this for some time already, but never had enough will to do so. However, yesterday was the turning point for me, as thoughts of life, love, fear, and hope streamed through my mind, asking myself "what do you want to do with your life?"

What do I really want? In my thirty plus years of living, I have always convinced myself that I knew what I wanted in life, where I should be now, and what my future will hold. However, experiences and situations kept on making me realize too that maybe I'm not 100% sure of what I really wanted. Am I crazy?

Then I discover the words of Diana Vreeland:

There's only one very good life and that's the life you know you want and you make it yourself.

These words provoked me, and all the more fuelled my desire to go back to my plan of living intentionally, of doing the things that I love and add value to life. One of those things that I love is blogging/writing.

So here we are.

It is a new beginning, because for one, I have changed my blog title (and domain). "My Lavender Fields" have always been the name of my blog, as it connoted a feeling of peace, of serenity, of joy, and of nature. Lavender is one of my favorite scents and herbs, and I have always dreamed of one day visiting Provence and to be surrounded by the beauty of scent of lavender. However, due to some technicalities, I lost my blog domain, and though my domain name was called "My Lavender Field," it was never the same. I was never the same. I tried to keep it, but I completely lost interest.

Many times have I attempted to go back to my little virtual space, even going so far as thinking of new blog titles, but I never succeeded.

That, is, until yesterday. I just suddenly thought of the words bliss (thanks to one of the workshops I attended) and magic (saw the cover of the book by Rhonda Byrne), and out them together. Voila! The title gave me new life (at least in blogging haha!), and I acted like a mad woman while trying to revamp my blog. I just love my new blog title.

My blog is still under construction, but I do have plans to simplify further and have a focused content. It will still be similar to what I have been doing before, but I guess now I need to put more structure to it (but still being dynamic). It is still a blog about my thoughts, ramblings, and musings on the joys of living, but hopefully it will become even more helpful to readers (I hope I would have them back!) out there.

The Magic of Bliss.

Yes, I do believe in magic, and bliss is what I long for.

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