INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

Enjoy The Little Things

14 AUG 2020 ∞ BY LINA SAKAY DELA ROSA

Enjoy The Little Things

Our children help to remind us to appreciate and enjoy the little things during this challenging time. Little things that make them happy and enjoy life make us draw into our inner-child self. Our children continue to inspire us with their curiosity, creativity and imagination at play, even in mundane things.

One ordinary, cold Saturday morning, my daughters decided to venture outside to pick some flowers and foliage and gather sticks from our yard. My eldest daughter said she’ll be making a tiny fairy shop selling food of assorted leaf salad and flower petals for tea. My youngest daughter pressed flowers onto the freezer paper to make interesting art for display. Still brimming with energy and excitement, they decided to surprise me with a mother and daughter matching bracelets for the three of us. They finished their projects smiling and proud, satisfied with their imaginative creations. I saw how simple and ordinary things can give great wonder and delight to my children. It’s not perfect, but they were perfectly happy about it.

My eldest daughter’s little fairy food shop.

She used gum nuts, flowers, foliage, sticks and fabric to make her beautiful craft project.

My youngest daughter made pressed flower art using daisies and leaves.

Pretty matching bracelets for the three of us.

A little tap into our sense of childlike wonder can go a long way in looking at the brighter side of life. It can help us stay calm and positive in difficult and challenging times. We can always learn a thing or two through the eyes of a little child.

DECORATING IDEAS

Roses Are Pink

10 JUL 2020 ∞ BY LINA S DELA ROSA

Roses Are Pink

It’s winter here down under, and my husband and I have recently pruned our roses. I miss looking at these romantic flowers in their full bloom. Roses are one of my favourite flowers, and I love them for their fragile but profound beauty and aroma. When we were building our house years ago, I always imagined looking at the gorgeous pink climbing roses blooming in our backyard. For several months, I was on a mission for the perfect pink climbing rose. After countless research and scouring the internet, I finally found the one. Pierre de Ronsard (also known as Rosa Eden) climbing rose has large cup-shaped blooms that vary from creamy soft blush to full mid pink colour. The flowers have a delicate scent and the foliage dark green and glossy. It grew vigorously, bloomed repeatedly and is drought resistant from my experience. Though I would love to grow them covering arbours or arches, our small backyard suited us to grow them in a garden bed with white trellises.

I used to buy fresh flowers, but buying them has not been very easy on the wallet. Now, I just cut flowers and foliage from our backyard, saving me tons of money. I love how fresh flowers brighten up our rooms. Aside from being a beautiful decor element, it makes us happy. It connects us to nature, reduces stress and promotes a sense of peace and calm.

I must always have flowers,
always, always.
Monet

My own arrangement in a coloured glass vase.

I love arranging my roses tightly in short or shallow vases. I sometimes add foliage from our other plants to add colour and texture. You don’t need to buy new vases to create beautiful arrangements. Tap into your creativity and resourcefulness and use recyclable mason jars, existing teapots, sugar or tea creamers, coloured glasses, pitchers, bottles, tin cans and more.

I used an old loose leaf tea jar for this small arrangement.

We bought our Pierre de Ronsard climbing roses from Poyntons, a beautiful local nursery with a cafe-restaurant and homewares shop in Melbourne. You can also find them in your local Bunnings and other nurseries.

An abundant show of blooms in our backyard.

If you prefer the lighter colours of pink and white than the traditional red like me, you might want to check the other varieties to find the perfect pink rose for you.

Ballerina Shrub Rose

Blushing Pink Iceberg Rose

Coconut Ice Rose

Jane McGrath Floribunda Rose

Manita Climbing Rose

Queen Elizabeth Hybrid Tea Rose

Pierre de Ronsard Climbing Rose

A close up of our Pierre de Ronsard rose.

Which pink rose do you like best?

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Start Each Day With A Grateful Heart

18 OCT 2019 ∞ BY LINA S DELA ROSA

Start Each Day With A Grateful Heart

It’s been a long time and I’m back with a more grateful heart. We went to Canberra last weekend for a fun, inspiring and spirit-filled Family Conference. It’s a weekend of family bonding thru music, pastoral teachings, activities and games. It’s heartwarming to see small kids and the youth taking part in praise and worship with great enthusiasm and joy. At their young age, they have started to learn the value of faith and family in their lives.

The mass celebrant shared that a person who has gratitude lives a happier life. After hearing those words, I felt a warm feeling of appreciation and calmness in my heart. As I reflected on it, I asked myself several times “Didn’t I know this all along?”. Why is it that when I heard someone say it, it felt like I just learned something new and meaningful? Maybe because with all the busyness of life, combined with the challenges we face each day and devices distractions, we forget how blessed we are, how we are loved by our family and friends, to look at the brighter side of things, and to focus on what’s more valuable. We owe to ourselves to say thank you to God and be grateful for all He has done. Let’s strive to let go of all our worries and things we can’t control. May we all find peace and contentment in God always.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Once in a while, we need to be reminded to start each day with a grateful heart.

RECIPES

Healthy Smashed Avocado Toast

15 MAR 2019 ∞ BY LINA S DELA ROSA

Healthy Smashed Avocado Toast

Smashed avocado toast is one of my favourite breakfast or brunch meals. I find it quick and easy to make, and it’s very healthy and filling for my hungry tummy. I love it on a whole grain bread lightly toasted, topped with a fried, poached or scrambled egg. If I’m in a rush, I just thinly slice it and add on the toast.

Avocados are affordable when in season. I love its buttery and creamy flavour that there are days when I like eating it on its own. Choose one that’s ripe and ready to eat. You’ll know when it’s ripe when the avocado yields to firm gentle pressure.

I am sharing with you the recipe of my favourite smashed avocado toast. This recipe is versatile, and there are many varieties you can do. Serve it with warm coffee or tea, and you’re all set and ready to start your day healthy and bright.

HEALTHY SMASHED AVOCADO TOAST

Serves 3-4 persons.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 slices of bread (thick-sliced whole grain bread)

• 1 whole ripe avocado (or 2 small)

• fresh lemon juice (1/4 slice of lemon)

• pinch of salt and pepper to taste

• half-sliced garlic (with skin on, optional)

DIRECTIONS

1) Toast 4 slices of wholegrain bread.

2) Slice avocado in half, remove the seed and scoop out the flesh into a bowl.

3) Mash the avocado very well with a fork.

4) Squeeze lemon on the mashed avocado.

5) Add salt and pepper to taste.

6) Rub the garlic on each toast.

7) Spread the mashed avocado generously onto each slice.

8) Serve while toast is still hot!

Try drizzling your toast with olive oil or balsamic vinegar. I also like topping it with my preferred soft cheese like brie, camembert or feta. How about thinly-sliced or chopped tomatoes, smoked salmon, sliced hard boiled eggs, chopped herbs like chives or parsley, chopped nuts like walnuts or almonds, thinly-sliced fresh red chili or chili flakes, greens like arugula or baby spinach?

I love topping my avocado toast with fried egg. Add more freshly-cracked black pepper!

I read that the Duchess of Sussex, Megan Markle, loves avocado toast. She makes time to make it for her friends, served with tea and chocolate truffles. I made it last week for breakfast and downed it with green tea. Since I don’t have expensive chocolate truffles at home, I’m contented to cap my meal with a Cadbury milk chocolate from my daughters’ school fundraising drive. Marvellous!

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Happy Christmas And A Hopeful New Year

24 DEC 2018 ∞ BY LINA S DELA ROSA

Happy Christmas And A Hopeful New Year

Christmas is my favourite holiday. It’s a time when families and friends from around the world gather together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It’s a time of giving, remembering and forgiving. It’s a time to look back, correct our past mistakes and better ourselves. It’s also a time to look forward to the new year to come, being hopeful and excited to accomplish our plans, pursue our passion, learn new things and check our bucket list.

My family and I wish you all a peaceful, healthy and happy Christmas! May you and your loved ones be blessed with the healing, love and stability you all deserve. Let’s all look forward to a meaningful 2019, knowing that we all have a purpose in life and God will lead us in fulfilling that.