The Second Phase (the 2nd time around)

Today, marks the first day of the second phase of my life. The past 50 years of my existence is nothing short of excitement and full of memories both happy and otherwise. The first phase of my existence is full of blessings and.....  

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YES, THERE IS A STORY BEHIND THE ABOVE POST. I promise.

The Light from Paradise

The dusk is gathering, snowflakes dancing around the lazy newly-lit LED street lights, stopping on the skyscrapers and accumulating on it. Walking along the obscure road for thousands of times, today, it’s so different, a kind of complicated pain burst out from his chest. It seems that the whole world are to be drowned by the pain.

Suddenly, a sweet voice, from far to near, floating into his ear. “The distance street lights shining like countless stars, and the stars looks as if the LED street lights.” the voice is his beloved, who carries a pair of eyes as shining as Led industrial lighting solutions. Moreover, what the girl like best is LED butterfly street lights. However, it’s regrettable that she passed away. From then on, his ambition is to make out the most beautiful LED street lights , to make the girls eyes exist forever, After several decades, he works in the most successful LED street lights company, the lights on the whole street are made by his own company. To create a bright enough LED street lights used in outdoors, he overcomes lots of technical obstacles. Such as, how to radiate under the situation of high power, how to control junction temperature, and how to waterproof, dustproof as well as moisture proof. Compared with traditional LED Street lights, the light made by his own company are more energy efficient, stable but less maintain cost. What’s more? It can be used in garden, municipal roads, urban street, and all kinds of places that need high luminance of lighting condition.

He hastened his steps, seeing the light given out by LED street lights, he feels that she is beside him. His mood is better, thinking that environment is changed by heart, as long as there is light in one’s own heart, the one you love is always beside you.

Staycation Perks - Getting back to old hobby

Staycation is awesome. It's cheaper and stress-free. Though, it is a little challenging to make things around the house interesting but I got my creative juices flowing so far like cleaning the cellar for example. LOL This summer, I was able to do some of the items in my "To Do List" (finally) which have been there for as long as I can remember.

Yeah, after I was done organizing my craft area and sorted out my drawers and put away all my fall, winter and spring clothes in totes and some  went to Goodwill... (Yeah, did I tell you I have some kind of an OCD issues?) now I need to move on to the next item in the list... painting.

GF-Paleo Veggie Breaky Pizza Cups

Since it is summer vacation, I don't have to wake up at 4 AM to prepare to go to work. Yup, I turned off the alarm as soon as the last school bus left the school ground. LOL But there is one important thing about not going to work that make me so excited about - breakfast! Yup, now I don't need to eat the same stuff every morning. I can have the luxury of time to cook breakfast which is my favorite meal of the day. So, this morning I made myself a "Gluten Free-Paleo Veggie Breaky Pizza Cups.

This recipe is easy. I will not lie to you, I cheat with the dough. I used the store-bought GF pizza dough made by Portland Pie Co. I just prepared it the day before. I made 2 single serving flat pizza crusts and 6 pizza cups which I brushed with EVOO and baked at 350 degrees in the oven. I froze the 2 flat pizza crusts and put the cups in the fridge for my breaky.

GF Banana-Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins

It's officially my Summer Vacay here in my neck-of-the-woods so the kitchen smells like heaven. Well, it's because when I am not working, I am constantly eating. And when I want to eat I need to cook. And so yes, I find time to cook and bake and yes.... do some gardening.

So here I am hungry still after I had my herb salad with strawberry slices drizzled with homemade honey mustard dressing.

So I decided to finally make another experimental baking. I have been craving for oatmeal lately but I am so tired of eating it the traditional way so I went to Pinterest for inspiration for muffins or cookies with oatmeal as the main ingredients. And viola! It didn't disappoint. I found one and as I usually do, I made a little tweaking and alteration to suit my needs and whatever ingredients I have at hand.

Brown Rice Crispy Squares

I got a lot of request for recipes for all the food I created and posted in Instagram and Facebook. The pressure is building up so I guess I need to post one right now.

Here is one of the recipes that I want to share - my Homemade Brown Rice Crispy Squares.

Homemade Brown Rice Crispy Squares

Ruthi's "Cancer-Fighting" Brown Rice

I love rice. I had to admit that I eat more rice now than when I was still in the Philippines. Though rice is a staple in the Philippines, I tried to avoid eating rice back there for some stu*pid reasons.

Brown Rice with Cod-ala-Ruthi

GF-Paleo Donut Holes

Since I started posting my food experimentations in Instragram and FB, I was asked by a lot of my friends to share the recipes. And a lot of times I promised that I will blog about them. Too bad I am too busy and too lazy to blog about it, especially when I am too hungry to eat my dish right away. But I'm not gonna lie, I'm not good at remembering how I cooked the dish because most of the time, I just threw in whatever ingredients I found in my fridge and whatever available seasonings I have on hand. However, most of my experimental dishes are pretty much the same. They only vary in main ingredient so I can surely come up with some recipes to blog soon. I only need to find time to do it, though.

The Countdown of ALL Countdowns

It's the final countdown! In few hours another chapter ends and a new one begins.  That signifies not only the New Year but that of "Yours Truly's" different countdown of sort (which hopefully will have another blog if "yours truly" will not be lazy).

This year is no doubt another good year just like the rest. With all the ups and downs I've been through I can say that I did passed year 2014 with flying colors. There were times that I almost doubted my power to overcome the obstacles that came my way but with God's grace and the unconditional love of my family and friends, I was able to survive the year with stronger faith in God and in myself.

The Most Sought After Brownie

I turned gluten free this year. Long story. When I get the chance I'll write about it.

Anyway, yesterday I posted on Instagram and FB my first ever brownie I baked for myself after half a year of avoiding it. Though I bake brownies every now and then but they are just for my Sweetest. And yes, I wasn't tempted to try them even just once.

SPOILER ALERT: This is NOT my original recipe so I am not taking credit for it. (If you want the original recipe - click HERE) I found it in Pinterest and just want to share it here because a lot of my FB friends are asking for the recipe. So here you go... by popular demand - The Flourless Sweet (a.k.a. Kamote) Potato Brownie

You will need...

The Very First Man I Fell in LOVE With

I can't remember the first time I fell in love with him. But there is only one thing I am sure - no one ever loved me the way he did.

And I have never loved a man the way I loved him. I still think about him every single day. I miss you so much. Happy Birthday, Dad!

A Grateful Heart Thursday: My Miracle

I was crying like a baby... sobbing non stop... tears running down my cold cheeks... head spinning like crazy as I struggled holding my breath and my mobile phone all at the same time. I was trying to make sense of all that was going on right under my nose, but to no effect.

It was one of those rare phone calls that I hate to receive since I left home. I was talking to my friend and former colleague from home trying to grasp the essence of our conversation. Her voice was firm and full of conviction. Her tone was strong and filled with total resignation. Her breathing was deep yet consistent. She was cool, calm and collected.

"Be strong, Mare [a term we used to address each other because her first born is my Goddaughter]." She said in a matter-of-factly way.

“If it is God’s will for me, then I have to accept it.” She sustained as I continued sobbing and said nothing but “Mare”

"This is just one of the mysteries of life and we have no choice but to accept it with faith in our hearts" She continued saying and assuring me that… EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY.

But I am not OK! Neither is she!

She is not OK! SHE HAS LUNG CANCER!

Fun is Over! Back to Work!

This is a very quick post. I am just killing time. As of this writing, some of the teachers and ed techs are looking for a parking spot at the Middle School and the others are already having coffee in the cafeteria. Today is the start of our 3 days in-service training.

Igot the urge to post this to say the least that I did have a great summer and can't wait for the school to be over. hahaha. Though, I know it has not even officially started yet. Official start of school where I work is after Labor Day.

Anyway, I really did have a great summer. Hope you all had the same.

#Just Sayin'

Isn't it funny that the sun that rises and sets in any part of the world is one and the same? But the sunrise and the sunset in the place called home is the most breathtaking one. - Ruthi Gregoire