My Collection Of Spoons

My Collection Of Spoons

 

Most people I know collect one thing or another. I hardly know anyone who doesn’t have a tiny obsession with a strange object. Let me share with you the object that I love to collect: spoons. Yes, you read that right; I love to collect silverware. Many people are likely wondering why, out of all of the possible objects to collect in the world; I have chosen to collect spoons.

 

Well, great question. My answer began fifteen years ago when I took a traveling writer for a magazine. I got the opportunity to travel to all of these fantastic places throughout the U.S. and around the world. As I began my travels, my friends and family started asking me what I would bring them back from each location I visited.

One morning, I was in a coffee shop when it hit me with “spoons!” I wasn’t prepared for how traveling would cause me to bring souvenirs to friends and family. The idea had never crossed my mind. As I made my first road trip across the country, I began thinking of ideas in my head for what I could bring back from all of the foreign and exotic places I traveled, or even from the state next door.

An Invigorating Family Past Time: Sports Activities

An Invigorating Family Past Time: Sports Activities

 

If you feel bored, listless, and out of shape, you need a new pastime. Sports activities will get your blood pumping and help you get back into shape. Not only will you be getting good exercise, but you will be starting a valuable family pastime. Sports activities are a great way to spend time with your kids. So get up off the couch, put down that soda, and get out in the yard for a bit of touch football.

 

If touch football is not for you, why not play a little kickball with your kids. Set up a diamond similar to a baseball diamond. Now the pitcher rolls a large softball, like a playground ball, on the ground to the “batter.” The batter kicks the ball in kickball and runs to first base. Since the ball is soft, the fielding team can throw the ball at the runner to get him out. Since the kicker will almost always kick the ball and foul balls are rare, this is a classic game to play with young kids and others who are not very athletic.

If You Love Cappuccino….

If You Love Cappuccino….

 

A type of coffee called Fair Trade coffee produced a little differently than other types of coffee. By “produced differently,” we do not mean that the beans used are inferior or that the coffee produced will be different. The purpose of Fair Trade coffee is to protect coffee workers, and any coffee grower or producer in this organization agrees to make sure that the people who harvest and sort coffee products are treated fairly.

 

In the United States, we consume a great deal of coffee. Most people can’t imagine starting their day or finishing a meal without a cup of coffee. But we never think about how coffee beans are produced, harvested, and shipped. We drink it and take all of that for granted. But maybe we should think about fair treatment for coffee workers.

If You Love Expresso

 

If You Love Expresso

Coffee is grown in over seventy countries, from Indonesia to Brazil. Yet the total production of coffee is relatively small because it is such a fussy plant. Even though we call it a coffee bean, this is a misnomer. The little pod that is roasted, ground, and brewed is the fruit's seed that grows on the coffee tree. The coffee tree grows to twenty feet as a rule but can reach 45 feet. Most of these seeds come in pairs. One, called the peaberry, looks like cranberry with a sweet pulp and is covered with a silvery membrane. Coffee grows in a band of about 25 degrees to the north and south, near the equator that encircles the world. The concentration in this area is because coffee requires temperatures between 60F (15C) and 70F (21C) and rainfall of six inches per month or more. In addition, coffee needs specialized soil that is loamy and well-drained. High humidity found in mountain areas is also ideal. Diffused light and light breezes are also part of perfect conditions. Since oxygen is scarce at these altitudes, the trees mature slowly. All of these conditions cause the output of coffee to below.

 

A coffee bean can grow in lower altitudes, robusta or Coffea canephora, and it is also disease resistant. For these reasons, it is used for the majority of coffee. But coffee gourmets will insist on high-altitude coffee arabica.

Indian Recipes And Indian Spices: History, Present, And Benefits

 

Indian Recipes And Indian Spices: History, Present, And Benefits

For centuries south Asian region has been rich. Rich with its spices and food recipes. For years, the part lured various crusaders to invade the area. Beginning from the 14th century, the Moghuls invaded and ruled the Indian subcontinent for three centuries. And then came the extraordinary voyages of Christopher Columbus taking upon the long, arduous journey and Vasco De Gama of Portugal, all because of the lure of a wide variety of spices in the sub-continent.

 

Vast fortunes have been made and squandered, powerful rulers seduced, ailments cured, and nations discovered. All in the name of spices. Spices have always cast a spell on our imaginations. Spices flatter our senses; our sight with their vibrant colors, our smell with their enticing fragrances, and our taste with their distinct unique flavors.

You Can Be Romantic!

 

You Can Be Romantic!

Why do so many people believe that they don't have time or take the initiative to be romantic? 

Maybe most people don't think they are creative enough to be romantic. Everyone is creative! The definition of being creative has the ability or power to create. The word develop offers a much broader meaning than most people accept when it comes to the process of being able to come up with something original or well thought out.

 

Gifts traditionally romantic, like candy and flowers, are lovely, but sometimes you need something that goes one step further. If your spouse enjoys flowers, you don't have to settle for roses because they can sometimes become unexciting after a while! Present them with something completely original, such as a daisy or another flower where petals can be counted. Ask them to play the childhood game they love me, they love me not, and watch them pluck the petals as they go. However, don't allow for the possibility of them arriving at they love me not. Count the petals before you present the flower to your spouse and trim it so that there is an odd number of petals for the right outcome!

Valentine's Day, a Peek inside Us

Valentine's Day, a Peek inside Us

 

"It's a Hallmark holiday," claim the skeptics. It would help if you had a card, a present, a meal in a restaurant. You're obliged to spend, spend, spend.

 

But Valentine's Day precedes consumerism, corporations, greeting cards, civilization, and even Christianity. It is an expression of what it is to be human. While everyday pressures squeeze the romance out of life, Valentine's day is an island of corny indulgence in a giant sea of cynicism.

 

One early attempt at valentine romance saw me commit several days to prepare. Roses, a three-course meal, as exotic as a slightly green eighteen-year-old could muster, and on top of that, a singing waiter (an extroverted mate dressed up) to serve the food.

 

In retrospect, the menu was bizarre. Raw cauliflower and carrots with mayonnaise and curry powder dip. A slightly watery stir-fried rice dish (I didn't have a filter to strain the rice). This was laced with an over-generous helping of chili peppers; all teenage boys first learn to cook with chili peppers, for dessert, strawberries and bananas with a chocolate dip. Ah, the deep hormonal motivations of eighteen-year-old boys. Everything was in place, and my mate, the singing waiter, completed my love trap.

A Mini Landscaping Lesson

A Mini Landscaping Lesson

 

Landscaping has often been likened to the painting of a picture. Your artwork teacher has doubtless told you that a good picture should have a point of chief interest, and the rest of the issues go to make the central idea more beautiful or form a delicate setting for it. So in landscaping, there must be in the gardener’s mind a picture of what he desires the whole to be when he completes his landscaping project.

 

Should you include lots of bare open lawns in your landscaping theme? A large extent of open luscious green lawn space is always beautiful. It is restful.

 

This type of open landscaping adds a feeling of space to even small grounds. If you cover your lawn space with many trees, with little flower beds here and there, the general effect is choppy and fussy. A bit like an over-dressed person. Not the most visually appealing result from your landscaping efforts.

The Inspiring Dance of Clouds

The Inspiring Dance of Clouds

The clouds in the sky are as usual for all of us as the sun rises and the sunsets. We pay no attention to the beautiful dance of the shadows that can inspire us to live a pleasant life. Have you ever thought of the clouds? From where do they come? Where do they go? What do they do in the sky? How can they bear the harsh sun directly?

 

As I said, where do the clouds come from? Think about it? It is as if they come from nowhere. And it is as if we go to a place unknown to all of us. None of us thinks about them. But they stay peacefully in the sky, moving slowly with the wind. Some clouds have beautiful shapes, some are in a cluster, and sometimes we see a lone cloud in the sky. They all look so peaceful and serene. As if they are the masters of peace, showing no disturbance at all.

 

And look at the colors of the clouds. Most of them are white, as if someone has spread pure white cotton in the sky. Soft and silky in texture, white in color – innocence personified. The birds know something about the clouds because they often meet the clouds. What must they all be talking about with each other? All mysteries of the world that we refuse to admire.

Creative Notions

Creative Notions

People seem to believe that only a select few can unleash a steady flow of creative genius. That is not true at all. The fact is, creativity is very much like a muscle that needs to be exercised to give out great results consistently. If you don’t practice harnessing creative thinking, this skill will very much atrophy into inexistence. But keep working, and this skill will soon come to you in a snap.

 

So how do you unleash your creative thinking? Well, the first thing is to become a human sponge. No, we’re not talking about just sucking the blood out of every living being available; we’re saying that you should take in as much knowledge and learning you can find. Read everything available — good and bad, and keep your mind open to the infinite possibilities of the universe. The more you know, the more you’ll want to know, and the more your faculty of wonder will be exercised. Prepare to be amazed at little facts that add a bit of color to your life.

What is Important in Life?

 

What is Important in Life?

When we are healthy, we seldom think about what it feels like to be sick. But when we are really and truly ill, all we can think about is being healthy again.

 

No matter how much wealth we accumulate in this world, it is virtually useless without good health. This is tied closely to the knowledge of our mortality. Deep down, we all know that we only have a handful of decades on Earth, and then it’s over.

 

In light of that, what becomes essential then? That is indeed an interesting question. Money cannot be necessary because we can’t take it with us when we die. What is necessary can’t be our possessions because, once again, they are not going with us. Having money and possessions is very temporary. Those things cease to matter to us when we die.

 

Some turn to their relationships when they realize this. They feel that family and friends must be the most crucial thing then. Yet, we will lose contact with family and friends when we pass away.

 

Some people die and then come back. They call this the near-death experience. Many of those people talk about what they saw in the state of death. They also talk about how they feel, which is almost universally excellent. A few reports are going to a terrible place, but most feel good. They are free from the pain and suffering of their mortal bodies.

What is Love, and How Do I Get It?

What is Love, and How Do I Get It?

 

What is love? Everybody uses the word love in daily conversations. There are millions of movies and songs based on love, but do we know what it is?

 

Here are some Greek definitions of love:

 

Eros: romantic love, physical longing, deep intensity, and intimacy. It is drawn to what it finds desirable or beautiful–often knowing no limits and searching without satisfaction through many objects of desire. Often initial love attracts a couple.

 

Philips: characterized by sharing, companionship, and shared values, exemplifies friendship-based and brotherly love. It is more comprehensive and less self-seeking than eros.

 

Storge: family love between parent/child or two incredibly close people. It is instinctive and does not need to be required.

When thoughts become things

 

When thoughts become things

We've all heard the saying that "talk is cheap." We've listened to it so often it's become a cliche. Like most cliches, the law of familiarity has set in and keeps us from actually absorbing the phrase's true meaning. We've grown so tired of hearing it that we don't listen to it anymore. The fact remains that talk is cheap. It is easy to talk about things, and most people do. Most people talk about a great game regularly. However, the difference in people is not in what they say they will do but in what they do.

 

We don't judge people by what they say but rather by what they do. We believe people by their behavior and by their actions. This is because deep down inside, we all know that words have no real power to create anything in themselves. It is only when the words are backed up by action that you have the power to make any actual results. The ironic thing is that although most of us know this, we get caught up in accumulating knowledge. We learn something and get interested in the results we think the information can produce. In pursuing the results, we often confuse it with getting more information, so we accumulate tons of information and knowledge without having the impact we wanted in the first place.

Would you instead fly or be invisible?

 

Would you instead fly or be invisible?

Recently one of my son’s favorite TV stations surveyed children. They asked kids which superpower they would rather have: the ability to fly or invisible?

 

To me, it seemed to be a no-brainer–to fly most definitely!

 

First of all, I think the ability to fly offers a lot more opportunities for fun, adventure, and freedom. Just think about being able to go anywhere, anytime you want, without worrying about traffic, road conditions, or gas money!

 

While being invisible offers a range of opportunities, it seems so sneaky to me that I feel uncomfortable even thinking about it.

 

My son agreed with me. He thought flying would be a lot more fun. There is no surprise there as he is a physical child who enjoys being on the go.

 

Then I started to think about the question. What does our choice say about us? I think I would want to know why a child would choose invisibility over flying. I would fear that a child who decided on that option already felt invisible or wished they were. I would worry about their self-esteem and security in social interactions.

You are Magic

 

You are Magic

Magic (ma-JIC): an extraordinary power or influence seemingly from a supernatural source. The attempt to define magic is difficult at best. It is used more like a word to describe than one that can be determined. The same can be said for who you are. We attempt to define ourselves, yet no adequate comments exist to describe the complexity of who we are. We can explain what we look like, the type of work, our ethnic heritage, or gender. Yet, that comes nowhere near the truth of what animates your being. You are a mystery. You are magic.

 

Historians, philosophers, scientists, and theologians have been searching for the origins and meaning of existence since the beginning of time. Various religions have been born out of an attempt to define the indefinable. We often pursue the endless pursuit to determine who, what, and why. We measure ourselves against others and their accomplishments. Each day, we are deluged with media images of what is acceptable or unacceptable. There is an ongoing quest to explain the unexplainable. You are who you are, and that is ever-changing. You are deliciously indescribable. Each moment you are remade. Every morning when you open your eyes, you begin a new journey. The choices and decisions that you make color and change who you are. You are an indefinable, magical being. Have you forgotten this? Have you allowed the world to take away your magic? Each time you have a thought or task and give it life, you create! From preparing a meal for your family or painting a picture. Everything you do adds a different dimension to who you are. Life is a mystery, and by accepting this fact, you become one with it and more able to maneuver through it.

“What Makes You Tick?” 10 questions you should ask

 

“What Makes You Tick?” 10 questions you should ask

“What Makes You Tick?” 10 questions you should ask yourself: a preparation for self-improvement.

 

Be all you can be, but it’s not always in the Army. I often see myself as somewhat contented with my life the way things are, but of course, it’s hard to think of anything else when there are real issues to be discussed.

 

Still, I aspire for something deeper and more meaningful.

 

So we’re all pelted with problems. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, or can they? Honestly, it shouldn’t bother or hinder us from becoming all we ought to be. Aspirations as kids should continue to live within us, even though it would be short-lived or as long as we could hold on to the dream.

 

1. What do I want?

 The question of the ages. So many things you want to do with your life and so little time to even go about during the day.

“A Better You” Your seven days program for self-improvement

“A Better You” Your seven days program for self-improvement

I seem to lost count on how many times I’ve read and heard of celebrity marriages failing almost left and right. Not that I care (and I don’t), it seems strange that we often see movie and TV stars as flawless people, living the fairytale life of riches and glamour. I suppose we all have to stop sticking our heads in the clouds and face reality.

 

There are many ways to lose your sense of self-esteem, regardless of how trivial it could get. But whatever happens, we should all try not to lose our sense of self.

So what does it take to be a cut above the rest? Here are some things you can think and improve on that should be enough for a week.

 

1. Know your purpose

 Are you wandering through life with little direction – hoping that you’ll find happiness, health, and prosperity? Identify your life purpose or mission statement, and you will have the unique compass that will lead you to your truth north every time.

 

This may seem tricky at first when you see yourself to be in a tight or even dead end. But there’s always that little loophole to turn things around, and you can make a big difference to yourself.