Curry Udon

Sometimes with a busy schedule, it might be difficult to cook a healthy meal. However, I found this to be a fast and easy way to cook a nutritious meal that gives me energy to study into the night!

Ingredients:
Broccoli
Red and Yellow Pepper
Frozen Udon
Curry Sauce

Cook:
Boil hot water and cook frozen udon for about 3 minutes.
Stir-fry broccoli and red & yellow pepper with olive oil.
Add curry sauce to the vegetables. Add cooked udon to the mix. Cook for another 2 minutes.

Prep & Cook Time: 10 minutes

polaroids

in the digital era, we have learned to take multiple photos without weariness of film. one person didnt smile... well thats okay. just retake the picture until you get the sign of approval from every subject in the photograph. however, with polaroids, there is a sense of excitement as the photographer clicks the tiny circle that will forever capture that exact moment since polaroid films are...pricey. you dont want to "retake" a polaroid. you are satisfied with how it turns out, and move on to the next scenery. there is no photoshopping, no light enhancements, and definitely no filters. i wonder what it would have been if we stuck to just polaroids and didn't evolve into the technological enhancements we see today. these innovations are quite splendid, but sometimes, its nice to go back to the basics, the natural. do you agree?

something to digest

i came across this quotation, and thought it was a good reminder for myself and hopefully for you as well.

"A woman who fears the Lord will not run away from God to satisfy her longings and relieve her anxieties. She will wait for the Lord. She will hope in God. She will stay close to the heart of God and trust in his promises. The prospect of departing into the way of sin will be too fearful to pursue; and the benefits of abiding in the shadow of the Almighty too glorious to forsake."
-John Piper

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas

my favorite holiday is approaching.. christmas! what i love about this season is how we are able to celebrate Jesus' birth while looking back at our year and seeing how amazing God is, with all the blessing, grace and mercy He has for us!

this is the first time i am able to sit down, and actually write christmas cards to some special people in my life. when starting to write these cards, i realized how lucky i am to have meet all these wonderful people, and how i wish i could write a card to anyone and everyone who has left an impression on my life. it was really nice to just take time out of my busy schedule, sit at my desk, and just hand write these cards. it made me definitely nostalgic but also excited to see what surprises God has in store for all of us in the coming year. the many memories made this past year has been stored in my mind (plus iphoto) and i will always look back to the year 2013 as a year where i grew mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. now lets see what 2014 has in store for me.. plus where i will be at this time next year, and what i would be writing in these cards as well. after finishing these cards and putting in my mailbox, it gave me a tinge of happiness, hoping that this card will be cherished as much as i cherish these people :)

christmas is truly the season to be jolly, grateful and merry <3

two words

first off, this is the prettiest thank you gift card ever from Starbucks. this holiday season has been a big blur. after graduating, i feel like life is on x3 speed. getting involved in different areas of interests and learning new things in life daily has kept me on my feet.

on the last day of class, one of my student's parents gave me this. at first, i was startled for about ten seconds, and then it sunk in. just a gesture of saying "thank you" can do so much, something i feel this generation is slowly forgetting.  receiving this and a hand-written card just gave me the fuzzies. i honestly enjoyed teaching my 5th grade students and spoiling them with treats, but to be recognized in this way really made a big impact on me. it was sort of like a pat on the back. i definitely realized how grateful i am to be doing something i enjoy, and also, that i should say thank you more often as well. not just a swift "thank you" when someone holds the door open for me, but a genuine, real one. i feel that sincerity can go a long way, even if its just those two words. it is so easy to live life, forgetting to say these two words when a kind act is done, but sometimes, it is so important to stop and look around you.  how blessed we are to be living where we are, in whatever circumstance we are in. let us all live strongly and thankfully.

note to self: thank you

apple cider & fireplaces

in the midst of holiday season, there is nothing more perfect than ginger bread cupcakes. i have to say, baking during this month and the next brings somewhat peace. i always thought baking was a great stress reliever, but the fact i can share these treats with the ones i love is such a blessing. as a baby baker, i like to follow recipes since i am not brave enough to venture to the unknown world of baking. recipes have detailed instructions, steps to follow and if we don't follow it exactly, something might be off, either the taste or appearance. i hope i can break out of this bubble of following recipes, and instead create my own. lets say that it is my goal for this winter. although my oven will not be too happy, i hope to nurture that side of my brain which i like to call "creative-ish."

note to self: bake bake bake

the coffee life

peppermint white chocolate. while we are still in the midst of fall season (the leaves have not even turned their traditional colors of red, yellow and orange), winter season is slowly approaching. I can't wait to hide myself behind big bulky coats, and scarves and hats. peppermint is my all-time favorite, whether it be on fresh chocolate cookies or mixed in with my warm fuzzy-feeling drink.

my friends and I spontaneously discovered this dessert place, and I have to say, this place has the best coffee hands down. Although I am not much of a coffee guru, and still have not come to appreciate hand dripped coffee, I still enjoy myself these type of drinks quite often. the guilty pleasure of sweetness, with the caffeine that will provide me with energy for the coming day, whats not to love about it. this makes me wonder what life would be without coffee, an important catalyst to many peoples lives. would we be less functional? or on the other hand... would we push ourselves to sleep more? coffee has been in this culture for so long, sipping that warm coffee at 7AM while reading the newspaper. Well, the desire of pretty much everything paperless has made it convenient (or less) to get the news of the day, either from the computer or television. I also sense that transition of coffee, the symbolic meaning that I correlate it with, to a source of need and dependency. can we function without it in the society we live in now? well that's for us to ponder...

note to self: how about some tea?