The Power of Positive Thinking

Negative self-talk is the by-product of social conditioning. The way we were brought up, the beliefs that were instilled into us by our families, friends, teachers and the media have influenced the way we perceive ourselves and the world around us. Most importantly, these embedded beliefs dictate how we react to people and situations.

When we are aware of our thoughts, we become conscious of how much of our life situations and relationships are the results of our thinking patterns.

By changing our negative thinking patterns, we can control stress and release anxiety. We can also make important positive changes in our personal and working relationships.

Positive thinking techniques are used in psychology to treat some forms of depression and to build self-esteem. By maintaining a positive attitude, we can get the best out of our lives and drive ourselves to success and happiness.

Smile and life will smile back at you!

Coq au Vin - French Chicken (Dairy Free)

 Serves 4

Ingredients

1 Chicken

2 Carrots

3 Garlic cloves

2 Shallots

1 Spoon of Flour

1/2 Lemon

3 Spoons of olive oil

75 gr Alpro Soya Single Cream

1 Egg Yolk

1/2 Bottle dry white wine

100 ml Chicken stock

5 Sprigs of parsley, 1 bay leaf and 2 sprigs of thyme tied into a 'bouquet garni'

Salt, Pepper and ground nutmeg.

Method

Wash the chicken and cut it into equal medium-sized pieces.

Cook the chicken for about 5 minutes in a pan with the olive oil and the crashed garlic cloves. Remove the chicken from the pan.

Dice the carrots, chop the shallots and add to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes, then add the chicken. Add the flour and cook whilst stirring (1 or 2 minutes).

Add the stock, the wine, the herbs, a sprinkle of nutmeg, pepper and salt. Cook for 40 minutes, under low heat.

Remove the chicken and strain the sauce.

Add the Alpro Soya single cream, the egg yolk and the lemon juice to the sauce. 

Allow the sauce to thicken under very low heat whilst stirring.

Add the chicken and serve.

This dish can be served with mash, basmati rice or egg tagliatelle tossed in olive oil and dairy-free Parmazano grated hard cheese replacer (available in the UK from Sainsbury's, ASDA and Waitrose).

Bon Appétit!!

Where are they now? - When they were famous - Jody Watley

From her wikipedia's entry:

Jody Vanessa Watley (born January 30, 1959, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American, singer, songwriter, record producer, and founder of Avitone Records whose music crosses genres from Pop, R&B, Jazz, Dance and Electronic Soul. In 1987, she won the Grammy Award for "Best New Artist." Along with Janet Jackson and Madonna, she ranks as one of MTV Video Music Awards most nominated female artists ever, with six nominations for her ‘Real Love’ video.

I used to love her song 'looking for a new love' back in the 80s. I remember I used to put her tape on nearly every day as soon as I got back from school. She was also a trend-setter, who didn't have a skirt like the one she sports in this video, back then?

David Beckham Being Transferred from LA Galaxy to Paris Saint-Germain: What Would Victoria Say?

The Beckhams have become an household name in Los Angeles nowadays. Victoria as a former pop singer, now a glamourous footballer's wife turned designer and David as the star of the local soccer team LA Galaxy (does anyone watch soccer in LA?).

They are often photographed out and about at every important event with their celebrity friends, most notably Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes and former Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria, and Victoria has not made a mistery of how much she loves her glitzy life in LA. 

I doubt she would change all that for Ooh La La, Paris! Beside the language and culture barrier I can't imagine her designs being much popular there unless she teams up (again?) with Karl Lagerfeld à la Snoop Dogg.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills - Lisa Vanderpump is the Most Glamourous

She certainly has it all. Fame, money, a successful career as an enterpreneur and TV personality, beauty and glamour. But what strikes me most about Lisa Vanderpump, the British expat star of the reality tv show 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' is that with all her glamour, she still manages to appear more down to earth than the rest of the 'housewives' in the show. She hasn't succumbed to the plastic surgery addiction which is rife in the Beverly Hills circles of the rich and famous. Unlike the others she hasn't merely married a rich man. Instead, she has worked hard for her money and career. She is stylish and beautiful without ostentation. I believe she is a great role model for those women who aspire to be like her.

Light Egg-Free, Sugar-Free Biscuits

These biscuits are ideal for your afternoon tea. They are made with yoghurt and fructose and therefore they are free from refined sugars. They are also egg-free.

Ingredients:

1 Pot (125 gr) of natural yoghurt

Grated rind of 1 lemon

200 gr of plain flour

1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder

100 gr Fructose

A few drops of vanilla essence

Add extra flour or a  little milk (if necessary) to soften and work the dough.

Method:

Preheat oven to 190 C. Grease a baking tray.

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and work the mix into a soft dough.  Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto the baking tray.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes (or until cookies are golden brown)  in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking tray for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

The End of a Fairytale Marriage - Kobe and Vanessa Bryant's Divorce

Money can't buy you love or at least not eternal love. Kobe and Vanessa were the epithome of the modern-day Romeo and Juliet-style interratial union who went against all odds and against Kobe's parents wishes who did not approve of him marrying outside his race. Is it a case of opposites no longer attracted to each other? Or is there a third person who contributed to the break-up, having caught Kobe's wandering eye? Someone in the name of Carla DiBello, better known as Kim Kardashian's best friend, as reported by several gossip magazines.

DiBello is an Italian American friend of Kobe (not sure if she was also friends with Vanessa, certainly not anymore ;-P ). A lot of you who are fans of the Lakers player will know that having spent his childhood in Italy, Kobe speaks fluent Italian and is very fond of Italy and its culture. Well, at least Carla and Kobe have one thing in common. Will the divorce affect Kobe as a player? Let's just hope that he recovers quickly and he does not decide to retire as has been hinted recently.....GO LAKERS!!!!

How We Create Our Own Happiness

You have certainly already heard the old saying 'be careful what you wish for'. It practically summarises what creating your own destiny is about. You imagine it and it falls on your lap. You create the thoughts and life turns your thoughts into things. Thoughts become things. Bad things or good  things. That which you fear the most could meet you half way. In theory, according to the law of  attraction or creative visualization or quantum theory (we could go on forever as several names are used to define the same law), you can create the life you want by visualising whatever it is that you want to happen to yourself. Easy isn't it?
Not so much, unfortunately. This law only works if we imagine with intention and feeling. What we want to create will only manifest into our lives if we believe we have it already within our grasp, if we are sure that that is what we really want (law of intention) and if the thought of having such thing(s) gives us a feeling of joy. I have read several books on the subject including 'The Secret' and 'Creative Visualization' and I have also read some of the work of Dr Deepak Chopra. Mastering the Law of Attraction is not an easy task for a beginner like me and many others out there. I feel the most difficult part of it is 'the detachment from the outcome' or 'learning to let go'. When we are in desperate need of something that could change our life for the better  and make us happy such as finding our dream job, it is very difficult not to constantly worry about it and put the various 'what if' behind us....

For more info on th subject go to http://www.creativevisualization.com