Thanks for checking out Olivia’s Bits and Pieces
Bringing you amusing and interesting facts, quotes and sometimes just plain useless tidbits…others, a moment to reflect, smile, or laugh or touch your mind, body and soul.
ENJOY…Again, thanks for visiting the site. We look forward to seeing you at the Coffeehouse. Have an awesome day and spread a contagious smile to someone else. It’s good for the soul…yours and theirs.
Happiness is the only true measure of personal success. Making other people happy is the highest expression of success, but it's almost impossible to make others happy if you're not happy yourself.
With that in mind, here are nine small changes that you can make to your daily routine that, if you're like most people, will immediately increase the amount of happiness in your life:
1. Start each day with expectation.
If there's any big truth about life, it's that it usually lives up to (or down to) your expectations. Therefore, when you rise from bed, make your first thought: "something wonderful is going to happen today." Guess what? You're probably right.
2. Take time to plan and prioritize.
The most common source of stress is the perception that you've got too much work to do. Rather than obsess about it, pick one thing that, if you get it done today, will move you closer to your highest goal and purpose in life. Then do that first.
3. Give a gift to everyone you meet.
I'm not talking about a formal, wrapped-up present. Your gift can be your smile, a word of thanks or encouragement, a gesture of politeness, even a friendly nod.
4. Deflect partisan conversations.
Arguments about politics and religion never have a "right" answer but they definitely get people all riled up over things they can't control. When such topics surface, bow out by saying something like: "Thinking about that stuff makes my head hurt."
5. Assume people have good intentions.
Since you can't read minds, you don't really know the "why" behind the "what" that people do. Imputing evil motives to other people's weird behaviors adds extra misery to life, while assuming good intentions leaves you open to reconciliation.
6. Eat high quality food slowly.
Sometimes we can't avoid scarfing something quick to keep us up and running. Even so, at least once a day try to eat something really delicious, like a small chunk of fine cheese or an imported chocolate. Focus on it; taste it; savor it.
7. Let go of your results.
The big enemy of happiness is worry, which comes from focusing on events that are outside your control. Once you've taken action, there's usually nothing more you can do. Focus on the job at hand rather than some weird fantasy of what might happen.
8. Turn off "background" TV.
Many households leave their TVs on as "background noise" while they're doing other things. The entire point of broadcast TV is to make you dissatisfied with your life so that you'll buy more stuff. Why subliminally program yourself to be a mindless consumer?
9. End each day with gratitude.
Just before you go to bed, write down at least one wonderful thing that happened. It might be something as small as a making a child laugh or something as huge as a million dollar deal. Whatever it is, be grateful for that day because it will never come again.
I have always loved quotations. Throughout history words of great leaders have inspired, comforted, persuaded and motivated us. Enjoy these great quotes:
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life – Berthold Auerbach
Life is like playing the banjo, just stick with it. Steve Martin
The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time…
Abraham Lincoln
No one can make you inferior without your consent…
Eleanor Roosevelt
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
2012 Music Events and Festivals
2012
April 6-7, 2012 - Florida Old Time Music Championship (FOTMC)
Pioneer Florida Museum, Dade City - www.fotmc.org
May 4-6, 2012 - 17th annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival - downtown St.
Augustine and also at the amphitheater
http://gamblerogersfest.org/performers2011.html
May 18th - 20th, 2012 - Celtic Festival, Ormond Beach
http://ormondbeachcelticfestival.com/
May 25th - 27th, 2012 - Florida Folk Festival - White Springs
http://www.floridastateparks.org/folkfest/default.cfm
September 25th- 26th, 2012 - Old Time Music Weekend @ Stephen Foster
http://floridastateparks.org/stephenfoster/events.cfm
November 9 - 10, 2012 - Dulcimer Retreat at Stephen Foster
http://floridastateparks.org/stephenfoster/events.cfm
15 Who-knew? uses for your microwave
More than a popcorn popper, this versatile appliance was underutilized―until now.
1. Disinfect and Deodorize Sponges
Don't throw out the kitchen sponge that smells like last night's salmon. Soak it in water spiked with white vinegar or lemon juice, then heat it on high for 1 minute. (Use an oven mitt to remove it.) This will also disinfect any sponges you used to wipe up the juices from a raw chicken.
2. Cook an Entire Dinner in Under 10 Minutes
Not just the TV variety. We mean braised salmon with green beans and mashed potatoes. Use the microwave for any recipe that calls for braising, poaching, or steaming. Just subtract about three-quarters of the cooking time. Remember to stir liquids often to redistribute the heat, and always take the food out a minute or two before it's completely done, since it will continue to cook.
3. Disinfect Plastic Cutting Boards
Wash the board well, rub it with the cut side of a lemon, then heat for 1 minute.
4. Soften Brown Sugar
Keep the sugar in its plastic packaging, add a few drops of water, and heat on medium for 10 to 20 seconds.
5. Decrystalize Honey
Honey that has solidified can be brought back to liquid life by uncovering the jar and heating on medium power for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
6. Proof Yeast Doughs
Yeast doughs that normally take an hour or more to rise at room temperature can be proofed in the microwave in about 15 minutes. Place the dough in a very large bowl and cover with plastic. Place an 8-ounce cup of water in the back of the microwave with the bowl of dough in the center, and set the power as low as possible (10 percent power). Heat for 3 minutes, then let the dough rest in the microwave for 3 minutes. Heat for 3 minutes longer, then let rest for 6 minutes. The dough will double in bulk.
7. Heat up Health Aids
You use a microwave to reheat your coffee, so why not use it to heat and reheat gel packs for headaches? (Don't do this with a metal-wrapped pack.)
8. Warm Beauty Products
Warming up a hot-oil conditioning pack for your hair takes about 10 to 20 seconds and feels marvelous, as does briefly heating up a moisturizing facial mask. (Stir the mask and test the temperature with your finger before applying to your face.) And if hot wax hardens when you're only halfway up your calf, reheat it in the microwave. It's much less messy than using a double boiler.
9. Roast Garlic
It takes 45 minutes to roast garlic in the oven but less than 8 in the microwave. Slice off the top of the head to reveal all the cloves. Place the head in a small, deep dish, season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of good olive oil. Spoon 2 tablespoons of water into the bottom of the dish, cover it with plastic wrap, and cook at medium power for 7 to 7½ minutes. Let stand for a few minutes before unwrapping.
10. Get More Juice From Citrus Fruits
A lemon or lime taken straight from the refrigerator is harder to juice than one left at room temperature or warmed slightly. To get the most juice, microwave citrus fruits for 20 seconds before squeezing.
11. Toast Bread Crumbs, and Coconut
The microwave toasts them in a quarter of the time it takes in a conventional oven. Spread them out on a plate and heat on high for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring every minute. Keep in mind that they will continue to toast for about a minute after removal.
12. Warm Tortillas
Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel. Microwave on high (power level 10) for 40 seconds to 1 minute.
13. Toast Pine Nuts and Sliced Almonds
Spread nuts on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high (power level 10) in 1-minute intervals, tossing in between, until beginning to turn golden, 4 to 5 minutes.
14. Make Applesauce
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 pound peeled and diced apples (Macintosh, Fuji, or Gala are best) with ¼ cup water, 2 teaspoons sugar, and ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon. Cover and microwave on high (power level 10) until the apples are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Mash with a fork or potato masher.
15. Make Homemade Popcorn
Place ½ cup popcorn kernels in a large microwave-safe bowl with 1 tablespoon olive or canola oil. Cover with a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high (power level 10) until the majority of the kernels have popped, 3 to 5 minutes.
Tea Totally
Not only is a sip of tea soothing, it’s good for you. Two small cups of green tea contain as much vitamin C as a glass of orange juice. Infusions of herbs, berries and flowers also add health boosting benefits. Don’t forget to add citrus for the full advantage of antioxidant absorption
MUSIC INFO…. DID YOU KNOW?
The first coupling of the words “rock” and “roll” came in a 1916 gospel recording, “Camp Meeting Jubilee,” sung by an unknown vocal quartet issued by Little Wonder Records. The lyrics, “We’ve been rocking and rolling in your arms… in the arms of Moses,” are a far cry from the early mainstream rock and roll that many concerned parents thought was the “devil’s music”. The first secular use of the words “rock” and “roll”, occurred in 1922 when blues singer Trixie Smith recorded “My Man Rocks Me(with One Steady Roll).” In 1951 Cleveland, Ohio disc jockey, Alan Freed, is credited for coining and popularizing the term “Rock and Roll” to describe the new style of music.
| 5 Minute Feng Shui for the Front Door |
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Hang a wind chime outside the front door.
Never attach dead or dried plants on your door.
The path leading to the front door should be curved, never straight
The front hall should be appealing – the paint fresh and a vase of flowers near the door whenever possible.
The area in front of the house and the door should be uncluttered.
If the front door looks straight through the house to the back door, block the view with a large plant or piece of furniture. Otherwise, the chi may pass straight through.
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With time, women gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.
Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, Good grief, look how smart I am!
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