Good morning inspiration

“If you’re someone people count on, particularly in difficult moments, that’s a sign of a life lived honourably” – Rachel Maddow. “When you embrace your difference, your DNA, your look or heritage or your religion or your unsual name, that’s when you start to shine”- Bethenny Frankel. “if you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing”-Margaret Thatcher

Orange Chiffon Cake

I don’t know about you guys but I love orange flavour in baking. This elegant cake is simply divine  fantastic. Bright, vibrant orange flavour comes from plenty of fresh orange juice and orange zest. The cake is light, airy and moist. Perfectly sweet without being overwhelming. Time to get your family and friends together for dinner and surprise them with this refreshing dessert. I hope you guys will give it a try 🙂 If you do, please let me know how it turned out for you.

Backpacking 28 countries for 8 months…

 

“I told a lie to my father that I was going to travel in Korea for a week. That’s how I started backpacking 28 countries for 8 months alone. As growing up in a conservative family, that’s the only way to convince them. At that time, I was stuck in the situation of my family’s obligation and working pressure in Japan. One day, I lost my family member after long care, and then I felt that I need some break before losing myself. At the beginning of my trip, I didn’t know how to enjoy my first freedom that I haven’t got for long time. For example, whenever I felt happy, my tough memory in Japan flashed back. I felt that “old me” was monitoring me with jealousy from the sky, and it made me feel guilty about my decision. In China, people mistook that I was a lost child, so a lady kept holding my hand. In Wales, I missed a bus in mountain; my first hitchhiking attempt was succeeded because a kind family picked me up. In Laos, when I visited a small village without electricity, the moon was bright enough to allow me to walk in the forest at night, and rice fields were shining all over place by reflection of the moon. The great nature and people were enough rehabilitation for me to heal. In Vietnam, I had a motorbike accident and lost my memory. In Morocco, I was chased by young guys with knives. Although I faced dangers in my trips, I didn’t regret my decision, because every single moment was precious for me. It was my first and biggest rebellion in my life. Looking back now, I never thought that I had a hidden power to continue 8 months backpacking. Before the trip, I was very weak, powerless, and I sacrificed my life for somebody’s sake. But what I believe now is- you are the one who find your hidden power inside you, not by someone. You have to be bold and courageous to change your situation even if it looks impossible to do so. During my trip, one traveler told me such “Don’t live somebody else’s life”. This still keeps motivating me. Women tend to sacrifice their life for somebody. But you have to be a main character of your life”.

9 lives…

“This concept just came to me as I was contemplating this blog post. I was thinking about how I could possibly write something from a position of empowerment or power or “I’ve got it all together” when I so don’t have it all together; I started thinking “but I’ve had it together before, what happened?”. In thinking about this I came to the realization that we never have “OUR LIFE” (I have capitalized this on purpose as though it is one big thing) together. My life, I realized, is actually a series of small lives…

The power of your passion

“I believe it is important for everyone to find something they are passionate about. For me, it is team sports. When I was younger I became a synchronized swimmer. It taught me about teamwork, dedication, friendship, sacrifice, expression and probably every good quality that makes me who I am. I just loved the water and always felt safe there. If I had a bad day at school, or when my boyfriend broke up with me, or when my cat died, or when I was feeling stressed out, as soon as I jumped into that pool all those problems seemed to disappear. It was my outlet. I didn’t realize how important a role it played in my life until I stopped swimming when I was 18.

Rustic homemade peach galette

I decided to make one of my favourite summer desserts this time – Peach Galette. This is a simple, honest and delicious recipe of galette, made with fresh yellow peaches tossed with some sugar, butter and vanilla. I have a love for home made crust; I make several batches of dough in advance, and just wrap them in plastic wrap and keep it in the freezer until needed. If you have never made homemade crust before, you will be surprised at how easy it is to make it. Make this peach galette while peaches are at their best 🙂

Versatile Blogger Award-Thank you

I hope that everyone is doing well and enjoying this beautiful summer. I have been very busy lately but finally I made some free time for my blogging community. I would like to thank one of my favourite bloggers – Auntie Doni, for nominating me for Versatile Blogger Award, I am so happy and humbled. Thank you very much!

If you wish to learn what is life in Hawaii like, to see some beautiful sunsets and scenery, to learn few Hawaiian phrases or to find many delicious recipes (cinnamon buns  and chunky apple sauce are one of my favourite ones) then that’s the blog to visit 🙂 – My kitchen in the middle of the dessert.

Inspiration

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall” – Confucius

The courage to share with the world…

“Empowerment – the word means different things to different people. For me, the road to empowerment means challenging and overcoming my fear of criticism. Looking back over my younger days, I remember some crucial moments when I let my fear of criticism get the best of me. Literally my BEST evaporated under the stress of fear and humiliation. My younger, less confident formative years were filled with a debilitating fear of criticism. But around the age of 15, I started to find my courage. In our high school, we had a Friday night coffee house set up in the library, for aspiring folk singers like myself to take the stage and entertain the crowd with a couple of songs.

empowerment quotes

“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“Do what you feel in your heart to be right-for you’ll be criticized anyway. You will be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t” – Eleanor R.

“The giving of love is an education in itself” – Eleanor Roosevelt