_Ok Ok I know. I have not posted any of the 50 life secrets and tips for AGES! It has been about a week, to be exact. I have been slacking, so here to make up for it, some new entries, and pictures! Enjoy!

Don’t take life so seriously! Learn to laugh at the little things and this whole “existence” thing will be a whole lot easier. Be amused by your mistakes and failures and be thankful that you learned your lesson and won’t mess up like that again. And most importantly do things that you enjoy! Life is not strictly business, it can be mixed with pleasure.Think positive thoughts. When you find yourself thinking a negative thought, stop it immediately by any means necessary. Slap yourself in the face, yell something positive at the top of your lungs or jump up and down. Do whatever it takes to get back to a positive mindset as such is essential for continual happiness and success.Read books. No explanation needed.Get in the sun. Superman was completely re-energized when he flew out to space and soaked in some rays and you can do the same right outside your front door (if you live in a constantly dreary place, my apologies). The sun feels amazing: your entire body will be coursing with warmth and life.Help others. I’ll just give you a plethora of reasons why this is a MUST

1. 1. Helping people has a ripple effect. If you help someone they will feel more obliged to help someone else, and so on. Pay it forward
   2. You grow by giving and helping others. It can change you in ways you never expected
   3. Your relationship with that person will become stronger
   4. It’s the most fulfilling thing you can do on this planet. It not only feels amazing physically, you also feel like a good person
   5. You might be able to call in a favor later when you need some help
   6. Karma (if you believe in it)
   7. Because there are more people in this world than just you
   Set aside a specific time to worry each day. Ponder all of your problems and anxieties during that time so that they will not distract you during work or moments of pleasure. This way you can be extremely efficient with your time and avoid focusing on negative things as much as possible. If you get all of your worry out of the way and have the mental fortitude to keep from reverting back to them, you will be much happier on the daily.Be honest at all times. Lies lead to nothing but trouble. Being known as trustworthy is an excellent trait to maintain and essential to having integrity.

_Happy New Year Everyone!

I am so excited for tonight! New years Eve is always such a good time!

But... what about tomorrow morning? You know what I am talking about...

The throbbing headache. You don't want to get out of bed. You certainly aren't looking forward to that cold bowl of stale cereal.

So...here's the scoop. This Plum Clafouti has been in my family for YEARS! It is a breakfast favourite, even though it is traditionally a dessert. Make it up the night before, and just warm it up, or... pop it in the oven to bake in the morning (SO EASY!) and soon your whole house will be filled with the warm aroma of cinnamon and plums.
 
This recipe makes 8 servings. Unless you eat like my family. Then count on it serving 4!
Ingredients:
6tbsp white sugar (divided)
14 Italian prune plums (Halved/pitted)
3 eggs
1 and 1/3 cups milk
2/3 cup all purpose flour (you can substitute whole wheat flour for a more savoury flavour)
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Butter a 10 inch pie plate, and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sugar over the bottom.

2. Arrange the plum halves, cut side down, so that they cover the entire bottom of the pie plate. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sugar over the top of the plums. In a blender, combine the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar, eggs, milk, flour, lemon zest, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Process until smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour over the fruit in the pan.

3. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and lightly browned. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

Nutrition
InformationServings Per Recipe: 8Calories: 186 Amount Per Serving

• Total Fat: 3.1g
• Cholesterol: 83mg
• Sodium: 92mg

Amount Per Serving

• Total Carbs: 34.9g
•     Dietary Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 5.6g

Tonight, my family and myself visited the Vancouver Christmas Market downtown, at the Plaza at the Queen Elizabeth Theater. 

The place was humming with activity, even though it was a Tuesday! Everyone was smiling and having a wonderful time. The atmosphere was wonderful, and the weather was mild enough that we didn't have to wear 8000 layers!

My only negative for the evening was the prices of the items for sale at the Market, $8 for one  bratwurst is a bit steep for me, and $15 for a stick of fruit covered in chocolate is ridiculous. 

But for the entry price of $5, we had a great evening spending time with family and friends, and exploring our city! 
To see more pictures, please CLICK HERE! For more information on the Christmas Market, please click here.

Wowza! What a busy couple of days! I apologize sincerely for missing yesterday's "50 Life Secrets" posting! To make up for this, I will post 3 tonight, one for yesterday, one for today, and one for tomorrow, just in case!

So here you go!!!


7. Even more specifically, live in THIS moment. Even 10 minutes ago is the past. If you live purely in this moment you will always be happy because there is nothing wrong in this split-second.

8. Smile more often. Whenever you get a grin on your face, your brain is releasing serotonin, the happy hormone. Smiling is the natural way to force yourself to be happy. Many people even smile for five minutes straight in the morning to get themselves in a great mood for the day. It is a very powerful tool that is utilized less and less as we grow older and need happiness more than ever. Just remember that while happiness leads to smiles, smiles also lead to happiness.

9. Drink water. Hydration is tremendously important for overall health. Soda has absolutely ZERO nutritional content; it’s like pouring a punch of sugar and syrup into your cup. Instead, fill it with life-replenishing water. It may taste plain at first if you’re coming off of a heavy soda-drinking streak, but you’ll soon find yourself addicted to it. 10 glasses per day is optimal, how many have you been getting lately?

         Happy Sunday Everyone! As a special treat, I have decided to feature #5 and #6 from the list "50 Life Secrets And Tips" instead of just #5! 
           I have also recently found an extension of this list online, so make sure to keep checking back for more in the future! 

So here you go, #5/#6! Enjoy!!

           5. Get fit!It’s ridiculous to think that we have one body, one sole means of functioning, and people are too lazy to take care of themselves. Fit bodies lead to better health, confidence and more success with romantic endeavors. I’d say those are 3 very good reasons to get in shape.

            6. Learn to focus only on the present.The past is unchangeable so it is futile to reflect on it unless you are making sure you do not repeat past mistakes. The future is but a result of your actions today. So learn from the past to do better in the present so that you can succeed in the future.

_4. Remember people’s names so that they feel appreciated and for your own future benefit when you want something from that person. To do this, say their name back to them when they introduce themselves. Then repeat the name in your head a number of times until you are sure you have it. Continue to use their name in conversation as much as possible to remove any chance of forgetting it. If you’re still having trouble, make up a rhyme about their name: “Dan the Man” or “Natalie flatters me.” -50 Life Secrets and Tips

Ok, I know it sounds kind of crazy. And I highly doubt that you have a life sized tea cup hanging around that you can wallow in. But if you have dry, itchy skin in the Winter, if you have oily skin, maybe prone to breakouts, or if you just want to do something good for your skin, try this! You will love it! I promise!

Next time you have 20 minutes (I know... how rare is THAT these days?) run yourself a nice, hot bath. While it is running, throw in a couple of Ginger tea bags. I like Yogi Organic Ginger tea. Soak in it, and while it steeps, breathe deep and RELAX!

I have found that tea really helps control the oils on my skin naturally, without stripping the essential oils that your skin requires to stay hydrated in the Winter. Try it, and see if it works for you, too! 

If nothing else, it smells amazing!


***Disclaimer: I am not a Doctor, nor do I claim to be. This is a home remedy that I have found works for me. It may not work for you. I was not paid by Yogi to write this. I just love their tea!***

So, Vancouver has been spreading salt on the roads like crazy in anticipation of snow. Unfortunately, for anyone who can relate to: wearing black, and putting something in the trunk of the car, you know that you will have lovely big white-gray salty smudges all over you. Joyful. And Triumphant. 
Well, I fought back at winter, ladies and gentlemen! I braved the cold (I know... I am a wuss.) and washed my car! With the hose! In the driveway! Three times to get the salt off! While my neighbors laughed at me! 

And after a steaming hot rum-and-eggnog-latte (yummy!) I was even brave enough to DETAIL INSIDE said filthy car. 

_3. "Develop an endless curiosity about this world. Become an explorer and view the world as your jungle. Stop and observe all of the little things as completely unique events. Try new things. Get out of your comfort zone and try to experience as many different environments and sensations as possible. This world has so much to offer, so why not take advantage of it?" -50 Life Secrets and Tips