Funny Police Pursuit

If you're going to get arrested, do it in style

Amazing Tips and Uses for used Coffee Grounds

Don’t let used coffee grounds go to waste. Use them around the house, in your garden or in homemade body-care products. Here are some handy and amazing tips/uses which I have researched on and collected from all over the web. 

Simple Body Scrub:

Mix ½ cup of used coffee grounds with 2 tablespoons of olive oil or coconut oil. Massage all over body while standing in the shower. Leave on for 10 minutes before showering. This mixture will exfoliate your skin. Add a few drops of vanilla extract or essential oil for a refreshing or soothing fragrance....this will make your skin feel great and smelling wonderful.

Body Salt Scrub: 
This rub will leave your whole body feeling soft and rejuvenated. 

Coffee Salt Scrub Recipe:
1 ½ cup coarse sea salt
1 cup coffee grounds (dried)
1 cup oil (I used coconut)
5-15 drops of essential oils

Recipe Directions: In a large bowl add coarse sea salt and coffee grounds and stir; place oil and essential oils into bowl and stir.  Store in air tight jar and use for those days when you need to need a good scrubbing.

Wake me Up Air Freshener: 

Perfect for your house or car. All you need is some coffee grounds and panty hose. You can easily make your own with a pair of ladies stockings and fresh ground coffee. Simply double-up the stockings, fill with coffee grounds and then tie off.

Exfoliating Soap: 

Add coffee grounds to melted soap (either from a homemade soap bar or from scraps of soap bars around the house) and allow hardening to make a light exfoliating hand or body soap with a subtle coffee scent. Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of coffee grounds for every 1 pound of soap.

Hair Conditioner: 
Add a teaspoon of used coffee grounds to your conditioner for extra soft and shiny hair.

Hair Treatment: 
Massage a mixture of 1⁄4 cup coffee grounds and 1⁄4 cup coconut oil into your scalp for a luxurious but deep clean. The caffeine can stimulate hair growth and give your locks fresh luster while dispelling build-up. The coconut oil will moisturize your scalp and hydrate dry strands of hair. Rinse out with an apple cider vinegar rinse. Note: This works best on dark hair, as coffee grounds may stain lighter tresses.

Unclog drains: 
Pour used coffee grounds down the sink or bathtub drain, followed by 3 drops of dish soap and a pot of boiling water. This will clean and clear the drain of clogs and built up grease.

Keep Cats out of your garden: 
Tired of your neighbors cats traipsing through your flowers? Just sprinkle some coffee grounds and orange peel where you don’t want them to walk. 

Freshen your flower Vase: 
Using a coffee-soil mix for your flower vase not only looks cool and lengthens your cut flowers’ life, it also acts as an air freshener in the room.

Flea Bath : 
When you give your dog a bath, add a tablespoon of used coffee grounds to the shampoo to help repel fleas. 

Deodorizer: 
Just like baking soda, used coffee grounds can absorb unpleasant odours. Combine a week’s worth of used coffee grounds in an open jar, then place it in the back of your refrigerator or freezer to naturally deodorise the space.

Scratch Remover: 
Reinvigorate scratched wood surfaces: Mix 1⁄4 cup coffee grounds with 1⁄4 cup warm water and 1⁄4 cup vinegar, let steep for an hour, then apply mixture to scratched wood surfaces using a washcloth. (For smaller scratches, use a cotton swab.) Let the stain sit for about five minutes for light-coloured surfaces, or up to an hour for dark-coloured surfaces, before wiping away. Note: If you are worried about the stain getting too dark, apply in small increments until you achieve the colour you want.

Hand Savior: 
Rub coffee grounds into your palms after handling smelly foods such as garlic, onion or even fish. The grounds will absorb the smell, as well as any oil that may have hitched a ride on your hands.

Cleaner:

• Scour Power. For a quick abrasive cleaner – mix equal parts of old coffee grounds and baking soda. Use to scour away grease and grime from your pots and pans. Rinse thoroughly. (Be careful of using this on surfaces that are susceptible to stains!)
• For a better-smelling garbage disposal, pour a tablespoon each of coffee grounds and baking soda down the drain to clean the blades. Note: This works best with newer disposal units. If you are unsure about your drain efficiency, consult your owners’ manual for tips.
• Before cleaning out your fireplace, sprinkle damp coffee grounds liberally over the ashes to cut down on airborne dust as you sweep them up.

DIY Candle: 
Want the warm scent of a coffee shop in your home without roasting beans all day long? Repurpose used coffee grounds into a homemade candle: In a small jar, place a metal-based wick in the center of the container, then fill the jar with alternating layers of coffee grounds and melted beeswax. (Allow the beeswax to solidify between layers.) This candle will release a subtle coffee scent that will help perk you up after a long day—without the caffeine.

Meat Tenderizer: 
Combine 1⁄2 cup coffee grounds with 1⁄4 cup ground pepper and 3 tablespoons kosher salt for a savory coffee meat rub. Sprinkle the rub on your favorite raw meat before grilling. (For best results use fresh, finely ground coffee.)

Fertilizer: 
Coffee grounds make a phenomenal fertilizer. They are slightly acidic, which is great for acid-loving plants such as blueberries, tomatoes, roses and hydrangeas. Plus, they attract worms, who love this gritty material. Coffee grounds help worms’ digestion, yielding great soil in return, and give worms a boost of caffeine, helping them work at double the speed. Dump used grounds into a compost bin or straight onto your garden.

Color Boost:

• Freshen up your autumn wardrobe. Add a pot of freshly brewed coffee and the grounds to a load of wash, toss in any brown clothing and walk away. The coffee stains the material and keeps dark colors looking great.
• Thanks again to coffee grounds’ acidic nature, you can deepen the blue color of your hydrangeas—or even turn pink hydrangeas blue—by composting with coffee grounds. Hydrangeas’ color is dependent on the pH of the soil. 

Control Pests:

• Use coffee grounds inside the home to repel ants. Sprinkle the grounds where ants commonly enter your house.
• Fill a can or jar with an inch or two of moistened grounds, then line the container's neck with extra sticky double sided tape. The scent will draw cockroaches into the trap.
• Although there wouldn’t be enough caffeine left in used coffee grounds to kill snails, slugs and other unwelcome garden pests, the pungent aroma will still deter them from disturbing your garden. Sprinkle around the perimeter of your plants. 

Seed Starter: 

Use coffee grounds to help start seeds. With a high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (almost 20:1), used coffee grounds will release nutrients, including nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, into the surrounding soil as they break down. This is great for young seedlings.

Reset your sense of smell: 
Sniff coffee grounds to clear your nose after testing or sampling different perfumes....this will 'reset' your sense of smell.

Pin Cushion : 
Filling your pin cushion with coffee grounds will prevent your pins from rusting. Plus, it’s like a sachet of good smells every time you use it. Make sure to dry them thoroughly first by spreading them on a cookie sheet and placing them in the freezer for an hour or two

Goodbye 2014

You made me cry, made me laugh…but it’s time to move on and face new challenges. 

2014 was very eventful and overwhelming. It was a year of good, of bad and even ugly for me, for Malaysia and for the World. My family and I have had to endure the grief and sadness of my niece's tragic and freak accident, deaths in the family and few other setbacks. The warmth and love of family and close friends though have made it all bearable. No “Happy New Year’ wishes, just prayers for everyone to have a better year, and prayers for the family and victims of Flights MH370, MH17 and QZ8501….and the flood victims back home.

I will cherish forever some memories of 2014. There was a balance of highs and lows and I am thankful and grateful for the many things in my life that make it meaningful….namely Family, Love and Health. May we all be blessed with a better and positive new year. 

Summer Fruit Cobbler

Summer is almost coming to an end and it was high time to prepare a typical summer dessert before the seasonal fruits become unavailable. You can in fact improvise and use any kind of fruit you have around. This dessert or comfort food is so simple, seasonal and delicious. I made mine with apples, blueberries, peaches and red currents. The merge of 2 sweet fruits with 2 sour ones gave it an amazing flavour and taste.

I totally loved how my apple and peach crumble turned out the other day so I cooked the fruit first in the same manner as the crumble before making the cobbler. You can use fresh or frozen fruits, but when in season, I would rather use all fresh fruit. 

Fruit Preparation :

Ingredients

20gm butter

60gm castor or fine grain sugar

1/3 cup orange juice

1 Stick cinnamon

1 Star Anise

1-2 medium sweet apples cored, peeled and sliced  (I used 2)

3 small or medium ripe peaches, sliced.

1 cup blueberries

1 cup red currents (used as a garnish with vanilla ice cream….but you can add in some to be cooked as well)

***Optional : 1 tsp nutmeg and 1 tsp cinnamon powder - I did add these 2 spices because I love the aroma of the blend of spices with fruit and sugar….amazing flavour!

Method :

Melt butter and add spices. Stir in the sugar until it becomes a light caramel colour.

Deglaze with orange juice. Add the fruits and cook for 5-8 minutes.

Set aside and prepare the cobbler batter.

Cobbler

Ingredients

1/2 cup or 4 oz butter cut into slices

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 - 1 cup granulated sugar (I used only 1/2 cup of fine grain sugar)

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

pinch of salt

1 cup milk 

Vanilla ice cream and fresh red currents for serving.

Method

1. With rack in the centre of the oven, pre-heat to 375° F. Put the butter into a 10-inch skillet or 3-quart baking dish and put the skillet or dish in the oven to melt the butter while the oven is heating.

2. Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until well combined. Add the milk and stir just until combined. A few small lumps are fine.

When the butter is fully melted, take the skillet out of the oven and pour the batter over the melted butter. Do not mix it together. Scatter the fruit over the batter, keeping most of it in the middle of the dish, rather than the edges. Do not mix it in, either.

Bake until the top is a rich golden-brown, 30 to 45 minutes (mine took 30 minutes).

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and some fresh currents.

Prep time: 15 min | Cook time: 30 min | Total time: 45 minutes

Bon Appetit!

Author : Nur Diyanah Magness / www.sweetsharings.com

Cheese and Rennet

It never really bothered me about animal rennet being in cheese when I was in Malaysia because all the cheeses sold were either halal or had no animal rennet in them. Living in Belgium now is completely different and I have to read labels to make sure that processed, packed or canned foods are animal free. The safest is of course to opt for vegetarian products…that is why I do much of my groceries from the Bio Planet. I LOVE cheese but I go for Rennetless Cheeses OR cheeses that contain emulsifying agents that are specifically vegetarian or microbial in nature. It’s truly a relief to know that there are non-animal sources for rennet that are suitable for consumption by vegetarians and people like myself. :) 

Cheese is a solid food made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep, and other mammals. Cheese is made by curdling milk using a combination of rennet (or rennet substitutes) and acidification. Bacteria acidify the milk and play a role in defining the texture and flavour of most cheeses. Some cheeses also feature moulds, either on the outer rind or throughout.

Rennet is an enzyme used to make most cheeses and which is usually derived from the lining of calves stomachs, though rennet from other animals such as pigs or goats can also be used. This is definitely not acceptable or welcomed by many people.

Cheese without Rennet

Some cheese varieties can be made without rennet. These include:

• Cream cheese
• Cottage cheese
• Quark
• Paneer
• Farmer's cheese
• Some types of mozzarella

These cheeses are generally soft and can be packed in liquid. The milk in these cheese types is coagulated using citric or other acids rather than animal byproducts.

The good news is that there are several sources of non-animal rennet that can be used in vegetarian cheese, so vegetarians can have their cheese and eat it, too! Animal-based rennet is expensive, so cheese makers have been searching for other forms of rennin for a long time. Fortunately, there are three other ways to obtain the enzyme.

1. Microbial Rennet is derived from moulds. Soft cheeses can be made using rennet that has been derived from bacteria. The bacteria itself is created and fermented under controlled conditions, to ensure that the mould is "clean" and safe for human consumption.
2. Genetically Modified or Engineered Rennet is derived from plants that have been injected with cow genes. It is made by combining bacteria or yeast with the calf genes that contain rennin. Once the initial rennet is made, it can be genetically modified and bio-engineered so that no further animal products are needed to continue reproduction. This type of rennet is safe for vegetarians as long as there is no further animal-based rennet used during the cheese making process.
3. Vegetable Rennet is made from certain vegetables that have coagulation properties as well. Several sources of plant-based rennet are perfectly suitable to make cheese. Some of these plant sources include: 

• Wild Thisel
• Fig leaves or bark
• Safflower
• Mallow
• Melon
• Stinging nettle

Companies are not legally required to disclose the source of the rennet, so unless the product specifically states a non-animal source for rennet, you won’t know and finding certified vegetarian rennet cheese can be tricky. There are a few other options for vegetarians who want to eat cheese without worry:

1. Any cheese labeled kosher is safe for vegetarians to eat. This is because kosher foods cannot contain any combination of meat products and milk. Check kosher specialty food stores or markets for these cheeses. 
2. Other alternatives include soy cheese and other non-dairy cheeses that are made from tofu.
3. There is even a product on the market that mimics parmesan cheese, but it is made from ground walnuts, called Parma Raw Parmesan Cheese Alternative.

The Green Dream

This juice is packed with vitamin B3, niacin and folic acid. Makes 200ml. I doubled it.

Basic 200ml recipe : 

250gm apple,

50gm celery

50gm kiwi

1/2 lemon

100gm avocado. 

Method : 

Juice the apple, celery and kiwi. Transfer to blender with avocado and whizz for 20 seconds. Decorate with kiwi slices if desired. 

Slurp away and enjoy! 

Xoxoxo

Nur Diyanah

 😛😘🍋🍏

Strawberry Yogurt Cheesecake Dessert

Ingredients for 4 servings:

200 g cream cheese

400 grams of yogurt 
130 g strawberries, some blackberries, 1 kiwi or any fruit. 
1-2 tsp natural Strawberry Flavouring
1-2 tablespoons powdered sugar 
5 g gelatine or agar agar (I had some of my halal gelatine which I brought from Malaysia)
250 g strawberries for decoration 

Preparation : 

1. Dissolve gelatin in 2 tablespoons cold water. 
2. Add 1 tsp natural flavouring and heat in a water bath. 
3. Stir until dissolved. 
4. In a bowl mix cream cheese and yogurt. 
5. Add gelatin mixture. 
6. Wash, clean and chop strawberries. beat them in a blender with 1-2 tsp natural strawberry flavouring. 
7. Strain the puree through a sieve to remove seeds. Add it to the remaining mixture, stir. 
8. Sweeten to taste with 1-2 tbsp sugar. 
9. Divide cream into 4 dessert glasses. 
10. Chill the cheesecake for at least 3 hours. 
11. Serve with fresh fruit. (I arranged kiwi slices on the side of glasses before pouring the mixture into the glasses.)

Cream Cheese Pudding

Creamy Vanilla Cream Cheese pudding, dressed with strawberry and fresh mint leaf. This is a cheat dessert. Have it creamy and sinful or have it diet friendly with low fat or fat free cream cheese and milk and instant vanilla pudding. 

Ingredients

🍰 8 oz cream cheese (fat free for the diet conscious)

🍰 2 cups milk of your choice

🍰 1 packet vanilla pudding (either regular or sugar and fat free)

Method

🍰 mix together milk and pudding mix as stated on packet with hand mixer.

🍰 Add softened room temperature cream cheese and continue to blend well with hand mixer until smooth.

🍰 Place in ramekins or individual containers and refrigerate for an hour or till firm. 

🍰Best Served with fresh strawberries and mint. 

Bon Appetit!

xoxoxo

Nur Diyanah Magness

Crostini with Goat's Cheese, caramelised onions and figs.

Something different I came up with this evening. Crostini with goats cheese, caramelised onions, figs and toasted nuts.

Goats cheese is not something everyone has a palette for because of it's strong mature flavour. I never used to like it but acquired the taste for it after experimenting with a combination of flavours and tastes that went well together. Caramelised onions have that tangy sweetness to it and figs with honey like sweetness, a perfect contrast with the cheese. 

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil and a little more to drizzle on bread. 
• 2 small Baguette rolls (2x150gm)
• 150 gm Goats cheese sliced 
• 150-200 gm cream cheese mixed with 1 teaspoon of any favourite herbs. I used rosemary, chopped fresh mint and a pinch of freshly ground pepper.
• 2 Large Onions sliced thinly
• 1-2 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
• 2 tableapoons Brown sugar
• Few soft figs sliced (soft center and not too dried)
• Fresh mint leaves
• Toasted almond flakes and sunflower seeds. 
• Honey or agave syrup (optional)

Method

1. Slice onions and fry with olive oil till limp, add balsamic vinegar and cook few minutes then add brown sugar. Cook till no liquid and onions brown and caramelised. Set aside. 
2. Baguette bread..cut into half and slice horizontally, halving it; place on oven tray.  drizzle or spray little olive oil on each slice and toast in the oven at 200C for 8-10 mins or till slightly brown and crisp. 
3. While bread in oven, Slice goats cheese and Mix cream cheese with favourite herbs. 
4. When bread is done, divide the onions equally on each slice. 
5. Place goats cheese slices on both ends of bread and add a blob of cream cheese mixture in the center of each slice on top of the onions. 
6. Dress with a mint leaf and toasted almond flakes and sunflower seeds. You can drizzle some honey if desired. 
7. Serve warm and immediately so the goats cheese slices melt just slightly with the hot toasts, making it a perfect texture. 
8. Best served with red wine. I personally do not drink alcohol at all, so I take it with NON alcohol red wine....yes it's a perfect match!! 

xoxoxo 

Nur Diyanah Magness

Mixed Rice Stuffed Aubergine/Egg Plant

Spicy Rice filled Eggplant/Aubergine with yogurt and salad.

This recipe was fully vegetarian but for my second try I added in some minced/ground beef....both ways tasted so good. 

Stuffed Eggplant/Aubergine ready for the oven

Ingredients

• Optional : 250 gm ground beef
• 1 cup basmati rice ( i just cooked extra to have extra fried rice on the side. 
• 2 large aubergines/eggplants
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large brown onion, halved, finely chopped
• 1 red capsicum, halved, deseeded, finely chopped (I used one half red and one half yellow)
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed (I used 5)
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander (I used 1 tsp coriander seeds)
• 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger (I chopped a thumb size dried ginger)
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh red chilli or 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric, fresh or dry is fine.
• 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh continental parsley - I used 3 stalks.
• 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind 
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup yoghurt. Greek, plain or fat-reduced...any will do perfectly fine.
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh mint (I had no mint so I just made a simple raita mix of chopped tomatoes and chives instead…just as good)
• salt and pepper to taste.
• pinch of garam masala or chilli powder for the yogurt (only if you like a spicy flavour)

Step 1

Cook the rice in a large saucepan of boiling water for 15 minutes or until tender. Rinse under cold running water. Drain well.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 200°C. 

Step 3

Meanwhile, cut the eggplants in half lengthways. Use a small sharp knife to cut a 1cm border around the edge of each eggplant half. Scoop out the flesh within the border, leaving about 1.5cm of flesh on the base of each eggplant half. Finely chop the flesh.

Step 4

Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. If you are using the ground meat, fry till brown. Add the onion and capsicum and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic, coriander, ginger, chilli and turmeric and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds or until aromatic. Add the chopped eggplant and cook, stirring, for 10 minutes or until eggplant is soft. Remove from heat.

Ground beef and capsicum

Step 5

Add the rice, parsley, lemon rind and lemon juice to eggplant mixture, and stir to combine. 

Fried Rice with ground beef

Step 6

Place eggplant shells in a large baking dish. Spoon rice mixture evenly among eggplant shells. Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until eggplant shells are soft and filling is golden.

Stuffed Aubergine/Eggplant

Step 7

Place the yoghurt and mint in a small serving bowl and stir to combine. I had no mint so I just added some chopped tomatoes and chives to the yogurt with a pinch of garam masala for a nice flavour. 

Serve with spicy rice-filled eggplant.

Yogurt Salad/Raita

I enjoyed making and eating this meal, was superb! If you like eggplant, Do try it too...you will love it! Bon Appetit!

Xoxoxo

Nur Diyanah Magness

Mothers Day, every day

There is one precious gift that any parent would want and wish for...and rightly so deserve, and that is to be in their kids daily prayers just as they have their kids in theirs. My mum has been there for me from the day I was born, through all my ups and downs even till today, even thousands of miles away... her love, support, care, advice, words and most of all, her prayers are with me. While appreciation for any parent should be every day of the year, most of us still love to extra appreciate mothers on this special day. I had no idea how hard (yet so rewarding and amazing) motherhood was until I got there myself. So my love and respect for my own mum and anyone out there who has ever raised a child grows more and more every day.

Although I really value the thinking behind Mother’s Day—recognition of our mothers and everything that our mothers have done for us - I think that part of being a mom is turning every day into Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is all about being appreciated for everything they do all of our lives every single day....and as a mother myself, I don’t need anything fancy to show me that.  I just need to look for signs of it in my daily living to turn every day into Mother’s Day. 

Happy Mother's Day to my very own amazing mom..and to all of you mummies and mamas out there!

Herb Potatoes and Eggs - Great anytime, anywhere.

Was totally bored with the usual daily breakfast and oats, So I cooked up something rather different from the norm. -- Herb potatoes and celery with eggs, dressed with a blob of humus, honey mustard and a side of Fresh avocado and tomato.

Ingredients

• Boiling potatoes, 4 small or 2 medium potatoes, rinsed and scrubbed
• 2 stalks celery sliced small
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1 tabs olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Generous pinch dried herbs or spices, such as oregano, basil, Italian herbs, tarragon, thyme, herbes de Provence, paprika, or ground cumin.(optional).  I added a little mixed masala, rosemary, thyme, basil, dried coriander.
• 3 large eggs
• 1 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup grated or crumbled cheese, such as aged or extra-sharp Cheddar, pepper Jack, feta, goat cheese, Gruyere, aged Swiss, provolone, or regular or smoked mozzarella. 
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs, such as basil, parsley, cilantro or dill (optional)

Directions

• 1. Dice the potatoes pretty small but not super tiny. (You want them small enough so they more or less fit in a single layer in an 8-inch nonstick skillet and will cook quickly. Aim for about 1/2 inch dice–no larger.) 
• 2. Combine the potatoes, water, oil, and salt in the skillet over high heat. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat slightly, cover, and set the timer for 5 minutes. Let the potatoes cook, stirring once or twice if you think of it, while you prep the rest of your ingredients. By the end of the 5 minutes, the water should have just evaporated and the potatoes should be barely tender and maybe even have started to brown. 
  
• 3. Uncover the potatoes and use a spatula to loosen them from the skillet. Cover again and cook over medium to medium-high heat until lightly browned, stirring occasionally, 2 to 5 minutes longer. If using dried herbs/spices, sprinkle them over the potatoes now. 
  
• 4. In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Pour the eggs over the browned potatoes, strew with the scallion, and scramble until the eggs are just set, maybe a minute or so. Sprinkle the eggs with the cheese and fresh herbs, remove the skillet from the heat, and let the whole shebang stand until the residual heat melts the cheese and finishes cooking the eggs. (If you don’t mind losing a little crispness on the potatoes, you can cover the skillet so the cheese melts more quickly and evenly.) Scoop the mess from the skillet, place it onto plates, and pass the forks. 
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

Adapted from culinary 

Avocado, Banana and Cucumber Salad.

Great for a snack or salad before main course.

Recipe :

2 avocados,

2 bananas, 

1/2 cucumber, 

1 cup croutons , 

1/2 cup raisins, 

yogurt vinaigrette. 

Mix all ingredients together. 

Easy, fast and delicious!

Enjoy! 

Much Love..

Nur Diyanah  Magess

Light at the end of the tunnel

Life isn't always at it's best because dreams could be crushed and hearts broken with any kind of let down. You may be just about to give up as you cling to shreds of your life, trying to find for something with the hope of getting back up again. Finding the light at the end of the tunnel is possible if you seek it, so hang in there. 

Realize that whatever you may be going through can be overcome eventually...cultivate patience. Life is like the sea, it can be calm and it can be fiercely rough, has it's ups and downs and nothing is permanent. It will get better at some point. Being patient helps you to ponder on things calmly.  This state of mind is temporary and happiness is a choice. So if you refuse to believe you are suffering, you really cannot suffer. 

Be positive, and this is not denial of the situation, it is about balancing your loss for what you still have and getting out of the rut gradually. It is about looking for the good behind the bad and being grateful for what you still have in your life like health, family, friends, a helping hand and most of all, life itself, to be able to wake up to another new day. You can inspire another person by pulling through than giving in to despair. Whatever it is that makes you unhappy, remove it from your life and take control of whatever you can control. Plan to move towards that light at the end of the tunnel by getting beyond whatever it is that is pulling you back. Find for HEALTHY escapes to maintain a sane and peaceful mind...be it spiritual or activities to engage in. Be strong to to say NO to temptation to engage in unhealthy and wrong escapes which will only pull you down deeper or into a new darkness. 

Much love...

NDM

Love isn't always Magic

As I walked the streets of Canterbury last weekend, I observed two youngsters writing in chalk on the walkway little bits of poetry, haiku, quotes and phrases all along the street. I really appreciate such creativity...a really unique way of expression. Very few people stopped to read these bits of words shared, and most just ignored it and walked on. It is really a pity that many these days forget to appreciate and enjoy the simple things or 'stop to smell the roses' in life. I read everything that was in my path and even snapped a few with my iPhone. "Love isn't always magic"....I guess this is true in reality ...but I am too much of a romantic at heart to want to believe it and this can be really tragic at times. 

Much love,

Nur Diyanah Magness

No Goodbyes...Just Cherished Memories

Few months ago my mum's second sister passed away from cancer and I was blessed to see her during her last days. Yesterday, 23rd Sunday 2014 at 10.10 pm Malaysian time, Cancer took mum's youngest sister away from us too. I was in Holland when I received the news. Words are inadequate to express how one feels at times like these but I was relieved that she was finally at peace and no more in pain.

Though she never showed it but she was suffering in silence. She always put a strong front and helped others with council and in any way she could. She led a full life of helping others and right to the end she was still counceling and giving. Aunty Betty was a dedicated nurse and councillor...she touched many lives and was an inspiration to many.

Aunty Betty with one of her grandkids

Those we love remain with us for love itself lives on, and cherished memories never fade because a loved one’s gone. Those we love can never be more that a thought apart. For as long there is a memory, they’ll live on in our hearts. They walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard but always near...still loved...still missed and very dear. Wherever they are....They will always be in our hearts. With sincere heartfelt sympathy...I wish my cousins and our family members the peace to bring them comfort, the courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in their hearts. 

• To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. - Thomas Campbell
• Oh heart, if one should say to you that the soul perishes like the body, answer that the flowers wither but the seed remains. - Kahlil Gibran

• The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen. - Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

• Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. - Dr. Seuss
• He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man. - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
• 
  

Expat in Belgium

It's been few months now in Belgium and I have connected with other Malaysian families only once through a pastry class organised by the Malaysian Embassy. The was fun and more of a gathering connecting with other Malaysians and of course had a good spread of Malaysian favourites. The most important thing is that this one crucial meet made me feel not so alien anymore. I am adapting well and surprisingly, I love the cool weather....I can do anything at all without kicking up a sweat and it somehow gives my skin a healthy glow. 😎😊😘

The Malaysians I met that one time all live a distance away, far from train stations and they are busy with their own lives busy with family and kids. Most of them are posted to Belgium on a 2 year contract by the Embassy. What I would love to have now are friends living close by to where I live...ones who I can connect with in real time at ANY time....as companions for shopping, exploring common interests...those who are familiar with the train routes to help me familiarise with it so that I will be a little more secure taking it on my own without getting lost......companions that I can meet up with for coffee occasionally.

I have no complaints of boredom or being alone though....my time is well filled up with lots of stuff in house now too and I do meet up with the BTB group once or twice a week during their rehearsals and gigs and sometimes for pizza and chat. The beauty of this group is that it consists of a Mauritius, two Belgians and a Dutch...and with myself thrown in....that makes a mini cosmopolitan 'muhibbah' group!

On the note of Pizzas...it's really amazing that the Turk pizza and snack shops can be found in almost every area. I have to say that the pizza I had last week was way better and tastier than Pizza Hut or Dominoes pizza back home in Malaysia. They had many varieties ...100% Halal...with or without meat and many of which are suitable for vegetarians as well.

The kebabs, burgers and grilled meat plates are also simply delicious..and of course halal...and it's even double or triple the serving size than what we get back home.

The weekends are never boring...there is always something to do or somewhere to visit. I realise though that it is VERY necessary to learn either Dutch or French...best if both, to be able to move around with ease on my own and be independent. Not everyone here is able to speak English and sometimes I have to rely on sign language in supermarkets...lol. I am living in a Flemish area, so learning Dutch will be first on the list. I am also in the midst of paperwork with the commune for preparations to live in Belgium...yes I have finally decided to live in this Country that I once complained so much about being boring and slow paced. I guess my priorities or rather, my needs, and perspective of life has changed to a certain degree. It's really all in the mind and I am very grateful to my family and friends for giving me the support to make solid changes in my life. When the mind is closed...everything seems impossible and scary.....but when you keep an open mind, you will be able to see so many possibilities and positives. 

For a start, I have been exploring the different food stores that sell specific ingredients and  food items be able to bake my speciality cakes and cook typical Malaysian dishes whenever I crave for such . 

Chocolate Cheese Brownie Bars

I am now an expert though at the art of improvising ingredients to get almost the exact taste of certain Malaysian dishes. Typical home made 'sambals' and special 'rempah' and curry mixes are not a problem either as I have discovered an Asian supermarket in Brussels which has a wide variety of spices and speciality ingredients from various countries. 

Photos of my various travels, adventures and foods are shared on Instagram @sweetsharings and these include snaps from previous visits to the beautiful medieval towns in Belgium, France, Germany and Holland. I should start a private online photo blog as there are thousands more which are not on IG either....all for future throwback posts. 

My focus now is to get started on my Language classes. Feeling quite eager and enthusiastic about it. There is not much else to tell just yet as I am still with baby steps exploring all possibilities of having a quality and fulfilling life...apart from the Spiritual aspect that is. I have to admit there are many moments when I miss home very much...especially my girls and family...but belief and trust in God keeps me strong. Keeping myself busy creating in the kitchen is an escape that also helps a great deal with coping and adapting. 

😘😘 

Nur Diyanah Magness

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