November 26, 2012

Rosemary Baked Chicken with Vegetables

Last Thursday was Thanksgiving and even though it is not customary here to celebrate Thanksgiving, I thought of cooking something that would make us feel like it's Thanksgiving here. Also it is a testimony of the many things I am thankful for, especially as it was a challenging year for us. I am thankful that somehow we have survived quite a difficult year and we are looking forward to much, much better years ahead of us. It is really true that no matter what the circumstances, we always have something to be thankful for.


This is Rosemary Baked Chicken with Vegetables. The recipe was from McCormick's Rosemary Baked Chicken with Potatoes which I tweaked a bit. Also I opted for vegetables such as zucchini, bell peppers and carrots. I also made Buttered Marble Potatoes to go with this (not seen much on this picture).

I am thinking about doing this yearly and next time I will be inviting family and friends because one of the most important things to be thankful for is the love from family and friends.


November 3, 2012

Practicing to be More Self-Confident

When I was in high school and college, I was kind of insecure because of my being overweight. I have this school of thought that designer clothes, branded shoes and accessories would make me more attractive and popular. But as I mature and met really good friends who would look past my physical attributes, I have learned that self-confidence is what makes people attractive. Most people would want to be surrounded by other people who do not doubt themselves or has a defeated attitude. Also now that I have a family of my own, I realized that self-confidence is needed to commit to earning a living and providing for the family. Since this is a prerequisite to success, how can you practice to have this trait?

Draw positive feedback.  Focus on the positive things you do, the daily successes you achieve and be proud of them. Build on the things that you have accomplished such as finishing a major task, having a job, or just finishing up your to-do list.

Step up your game.  Having trained your mind to building up on your everyday achievements does not mean that you have to stop from there.  It will not hurt to always try to go up to the next level. Shoot for a higher reward. If you are an employee, try to get promoted. If you are a student, try to excel and get an award. It is such a heady feeling to be able to conquer the obstacles that have come your way. This encourages you to go on and do not give up.

Gain confidence from obstacles. You have to look at life as a challenge because these challenges make life worth living. Make the crises in your life stepping stones not in terms of making more money or being more attractive, but also in conquering your own fears. Pretty soon, this process of setting a goal, overcoming challenges and never quitting until you have achieved that goal will be established in your mind and will help you boost your self-confidence.