Straight from the heart

The rise and fall of soufflés

When you are a good cook and you get a recipe of a dish, it’s quite easy to follow the steps and perfect it. So, you’ve mastered the “how-to’s”, but have you ever wondered about the “why’s” or the science behind cooking? Take for example the making of soufflés – Why do you have to separate the egg yolks from the egg whites? Why do you add cream of tartar to the egg whites? Why should not over beat them? Indeed the culinary world is full of chemistry, which can cause your soufflé to rise or fall!

A soufflé is born

The star of any soufflés is the well-beaten egg whites, which contains only protein that holds the bubbles of air together. You want to separate the whites from the yolks without contaminating them with a tiny trace of egg yolk, which contains fat that will prevent the stabilization of the beaten egg whites. This is best done while the eggs are cold, because the whites hold together better.
Beating egg whites can create a foam, which is caused by first, unfolding the protein molecules through the force created by whisking, and second, from mixing air into the whites that makes the (hydrophobic) proteins lose their solubility, and allows them to aggregate and bond, thus, trapping the incorporated air in place.

Well-beaten egg whites have nice stiff peaks, while overbeaten egg whites look dry, because they have lost moisture and airiness. Overbeating makes the proteins release water and become unstable, causing the soufflé to collapse.

When the foam is done and ready to be mixed into the batter, you want a fast but gentle touch. Move quickly to prevent the air from leaking out, and fold gently to avoid crashing the bubbles.

I personally don’t use stabilizing agents when I make soufflés, but using copper mixing bowl helps stabilize the foam, as the copper ions assist in creating a tight bond in the sulfur in the egg whites. Also adding cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) or lemon juice changes the pH level of the egg to an acidic range, which helps neutralize proteins and encourages them to bond together.

Finally, when the soufflé is being cooked in the oven, the air inside it expands and inflates the soufflé. When it is taken out of the oven to be served and exposed to a cooler temperature, the air inside the soufflé contracts and deflates it.

Voilà! Le soufflé est servi – Chemistry revisited

Straight from the heart

LOA with a twist

Sometimes we meet the right person at the wrong time, and sometimes we meet the wrong person at the right time. After 3 months of long distance correspondences with my French connection and a couple of visits, I came to the conclusion that given another time and place, maybe we’d make a happy couple. C’est la vie!

For many people, including myself, I used to think that if a relationship didn’t work out, then what a waste of time and energy! But I’ve learned that what matters is what IS, not what was nor what will be, for we can’t do anything about the past and we don’t know what the future will bring. We only have now; in which we live in … in which we can do something about. We meet different people from different phases of our lives. Most come and go, and it varies how long we have them, but only a few will stay with us forever. No matter what we don’t own any of them at any point. We are only together on borrowed time, the reason we should spend quality time while we have them.

I only have good and fun memories of him and me. I’ve learned to embrace life just as it is presented to me. Not everything has to be taken seriously. Sometimes we receive surprises from The Universe, which we merely should be grateful for and enjoy without expectations or further analysis (like we women love to do!) What I attracted that day on the platform of St. Lazares station in Paris wasn’t the soul mate that I thought he would be, but my inner self – being grateful and letting go to welcome life’s many wonderful surprises. What I drew to me was the joy of living.

Straight from the heart

A Sequel to LOA at work

A friend of mine said that it bothered him that some people take advantage of the power of LOA by earning money from selling its principles through books and e-books. In a way, I can see what he means. Well – I did buy a book myself But I’ve only read the first few pages, then I surfed the net, and came to the conclusion, that LOA is quite simple. It is only us that make it complicated, and this behavior most probably gives the opportunists the idea to get money from it.

LOA is basically about likes attracting likes – How we are inside (mind and emotions) leads us to what we experience. If we worry, we focus on it. Thus, we actually end up experiencing what we worry about. If on the other hand, we relax and let go, then what is the problem??? The same principle applies to all aspects of our lives. So instead of using our energy on the negative, use it on the positive. This way you will keep on attracting the (positive) people, events and the things that you want.

There is a tiny secret though. You have to be truly grateful for what you have. “Focus on what you have, and you will have more. Focus on what you don’t have, and you will never have enough” – Oprah. What I’m saying is, LOA is enhanced by being grateful – by counting your blessings – no matter how bleak the situation seems to be.

In my latest blog I talked about LOA with regards to love – if we want to be in a bf/gf relationship, we have to love ourselves first and foremost. When we do so, love will naturally enter our lives, and we will be united with our soul mate. But I questioned if he was “The One”. Yes, I did. At the same time, I said, the answer was not important. What matters is what we have NOW. Furthermore, love is not confined within 4 walls. My definition of love is (almost) unconditional, and it is beyond time and space. Almost? Do I know it’s love? Ahh….so many questions! “Empty our minds. Be like water” – Bruce Lee. Let love flows naturally in its own pace. Que sera, sera. However, it doesn’t mean that we follow the path in complete blindness! It’s true we have to go with the flow, but once in a while, stop and assess the risks if they are worth taking.

Note: Mastering LOA requires awareness and constant practice. I’ve got a long way to go, and every now and then, I fall down. But I get up and keep going anyway…

Straight from the heart

The Law of Attraction at work

(At St. Lazares in Paris)
“Excuse me… Do you speak English?”, I said.

The man stopped texting on his mobile, looked at me and gestured a so-so movement with his left hand.

“Is this the station, where I could go to Magenta? I’m going to the airport.”, I asked.

“Which airport?”, he asked.

“Charles de Gaulle. I want to know if this is the correct platform, where the train heads for Magenta station.”, I said.

He shrugged his shoulders, smiled uneasily. Silence.

Feeling a bit desperate, I went to the map hanged on the platform’s wall to find Magenta. My plan was to use the point-point communication system, and hoped that he would understand me.

Yes! I found it! I looked to my right, and he was busy texting again. He was also full of smiles. I looked to my left, there were 3 Afro-Europeans talking among themselves. Hmm…Do I bother Mr. Smiley again or do I repeat myself and ask these 3 men? Oh well, it seemed easier to approach Mr. Smiley.

So I signaled for him to come over, and pointed Magenta on the map, and finally, he understood. He told me he was taking the same train, because he was also going to the airport – only – it’s Orly. That was good enough for me, I thought.

I felt relieved. We both went to “our” benches, and sat down facing each other. A few minutes passed and we boarded the train. I started making small talks, and in the process I learned that he was on his way to Spain for the summer vacation. Soon, the train stopped, and we got off. The next task was to find which train goes to CDG. He spotted the entrance to the platform, and a friendly French girl was also heading for CDG, so I joined her.

Mr. Smiley and I parted ways. Then it hit me! He seemed cute. I could have asked for his e-mail, but it was too late. When I got off the train in CDG Terminal 2, something made me turn back as if I was hoping that he would be there…Strange…Oh well…I discarded the idea and moved on.

The next day I turned on my computer and logged on to FB. A Friend Request. I wondered if this was another one of those, “Hi my name is XXXX. I read your profile and I find it interesting. I’m looking for a lifetime partner….” I clicked on the request. Hmm…this guy looked familiar. He wrote, “I think I met you in Paris”. OMG! It’s Mr. Smiley! How on earth did he track me down??? I gave no names, no emails, and telephone numbers. The only information he had about me was that I used to live in the Philippines, and I currently live in Denmark. Unbelievable!! (Spooky? Not really – Flattering? Yes!)

I immediately thought of the Law of Attraction. On that very same day, at that very same moment, our energies intertwined and synchronized. I just couldn’t get over this awesome twist of fate! In my manifestation, I ask The Universe that my soul mate will find me (among other specifications, which I think is too personal to publish). The day before I left Normandy (I was in Normandy for my friends’ wedding), I told the newly-wed guy, jokingly, that I’d find myself a French guy! Is this just a big coincidence? Or is it the Law of Attraction at work?

For weeks I’ve been floating and dreaming. I’ve butterflies in the stomach, couldn’t eat, and couldn’t sleep. I totally feel like a teenager, who’s having her first puppy love! But today, I found myself again, and planted my feet on the ground. I got too eager and excited about the future possibilities, that I lost myself and stopped living in the moment. I was missing the point. You see, it’s not about the outcome of this mysterious rendezvous! It is about me – that phase of life I’m in at the moment – my self-development. The Law of Attraction states that like attracts like. We see ourselves in the people, whom we are attracted to, whether they are good or weak qualities.

I’ve now known this man for a month through IM’s and Skype, and I’ve noticed that although we share the same interests like gore movies and sleeping, among others, we are actually very different. He’s sensible and cautious. Thinks before he speaks. I’m his complete opposite! I’m sensitive and impulsive. I act then I think. He cherishes security, while I am a risk-taker. Hmm…so where is the like attracts like in this case? Differences are healthy in a way they allow two different individuals to complement each other. They also add spice to the relationship. The magnet was his calmness and ability to go with the flow. In my manifestation, I also ask for a drama-free relationship, something like, “you and I against the world” rather than “you and I against each other”, which I’ve experienced all too often in the past. At one point I was totally drained, and felt I had no love to give. To be honest, we do have a big challenge – geographic location and age difference! I forgot to specify these 2 factors to The Universe! I’m not very particular about the age gap, though. It is an illusion. Furthermore, I am someone trapped in a body of a 30-year-old woman, possessing a mind of a 14-year-old!! (No wonder my mom is still after me every now and then!)

Once again this is beside the point. The main focus is about my personal growth: Emptying my mind and going with the flow. This part of me is there somewhere, but it’s underdeveloped. It’s time to awaken and strengthen it. This is where like attracting like comes in.

The beginning of “our” story seems almost Hollywood-like. When I dig deeper, however, the plot contains an even more profound love story, for loving oneself is the key to attracting love and loving another. When we love ourselves we create and develop an awareness that allows us to grow in all aspects of a human being to be this person we want to become. We take care of our body, mind, and soul.

But I can’t deny that there is another side to this chapter in my life, which ending remains to be seen, and only time can tell. Is he the soul mate that I am asking for? Or is he just passing through? The answer doesn’t matter, for it lies in the future. There is only NOW, and that is what matters the most!

I’m grateful that he’s in my life – although mostly cyber yet still one of life’s many wonderful surprises.

Straight from the heart

Letting go

All of us, at one point in our lives, experience letting go. We have to let go of things, memories, people and ourselves as well. The initial feeling is pain; however, it always leads to joy.

I remember tears rolled down my cheeks as I saw the emptiness of the apartment in Dangal St., Bacood, where I spent my childhood and early teens. Dirty waters had entered and flooded it some time in the 70’s due to a terrible storm. I thought it was so cool, because I didn’t have to go to school, and we were stuck upstairs! It was in this same apartment that my mom raised chickens, a turtle and a dog – the same place, where I first witnessed Peaches gave birth to cute, little puppies … where I made my younger sister cry a lot … where I would hide behind my grandma (for protection) , whenever my mom was mad at me … where I had my first crush and talked over the phone for hours… where love filled all its corners … a place I called home. After 10 years, we had to move. It was suddenly stripped off from life; left only with walls marked with white silhouettes of intangible furniture, and a floor with a couple of cracked tiles. Yes, it was only a simple, small apartment, and yet it contained my childhood and its many bittersweet memories. I was devastated, but smiled when I saw our new home.

Love and letting go: How hard can it be?!! I remember this French movie, which title I do not recall. A man and a woman met on a regular basis only to satisfy each other’s carnal desires. They didn’t even know each other’s name, and they never said a word to one another. Yet gradually she grew on him, to a point he asked her to leave the husband. She declined, and it broke his heart. Imagine the magnitude of pain when you’ve loved someone for years and have to part ways! Happily ever after is not always the case. At times, love means having to let go of the relationship. It doesn’t mean, though, that you’ve given up. It only means that you have accepted the situation between the two of you, and things are just the way they should be. Only by setting each other free can each of you fulfill his/her completeness.

Turning into a new leaf is most probably the scariest and most painful of all forms of letting go. When you realize your past has shaped you into who you are today, and that you need to break a bad pattern to become a better person, it can make you feel like a baby – fragile and scared yet curious as to how life will be. It’s like the metamorphosis of a butterfly. It has to go through egg, larva, pupa, and finally a beautiful adult butterfly.

We feel pain when we let go, because we cling to the things, the past, the people or even our old selves. Attachment prevents us from exploring possibilities, being creative and resourceful, attaining inner peace and enhancing personal growth. Acceptance (accepting what is – the shoes don’t fit) and letting go (going with the flow – another pair will ) sets us free. Freedom – freedom from fear (of the unknown) – is the key to happiness.

Straight from the heart

Trick or treat!

Yes, on Sunday the 6th March 2011, the children in Denmark will be dressed up as princesses, witches, super heroes or even as animals. The day is called “Fastelavn”, which originates from the German word, “Fastnacht” – “the evening before the fasting.” In the old days, a celebration was held a day before Lent, when people (Christians) observed fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline in 40 days as preparation for Easter.

Fastelavn is also influenced by ancient superstition and pagan ritual. People used to beat a black cat out of the barrel, symbolizing the fleeing of evil as the poor, petrified cat ran away after the barrel had been broken.

Today however, this ritual has become a children’s game during Fastelavn. With only a drawing of a black cat outside a wooden barrel that contains lots of candies, Danish children take turns in beating it. The first one to break it and release the goodies is named as “Kattedronning” or “The queen of cats”. The last one to knock off the last piece of wood from the barrel is named as “Kattekonge” or “The king of cats”.

To sweeten up the festival, “fastelavn boller” or cream-filled pastry buns topped with sugar icing, are served in almost all households. And similar to the American halloween tradition, Danish children visit their neighbourhood and sing “Fastelavn er mit navn” (Fastelavn is my name), when the door is opened. In exchange for the song, they’ll get candies that will satisfy their sweet tooth!

How about you? Who do you want to be this Fastelavn? How do you want your costume to look like? What will it be made of? How much candies do want to get? There is a saying, “Be careful what you wish for”. But not this time. Exercise the power of your mind, for ALL your dreams lie within your imagination!

Straight from the heart

Heart to heart – A valentine special

Last Friday was girls’ night, and my dear friend shared with us “The Secret”. Shhh….But I’m blogging, so I’ll blurt it out! She showed us one of the book series from Chicken Soup for the Soul, Life Lessons for Mastering the Law of Attraction: 7 Essential Ingredients for Living a Prosperous Life, and told us how it worked for her – i.e. in love and career, among others. I assure you she’s telling the truth as I’ve witnessed the developments. OMG! I’ve got to learn The Secret!!!

The first beat
I next day, after I recovered from my hangover, I rushed to the bookstore to find the book. Unfortunately, they didn’t have it (as usual), so I had to purchase it online. While waiting for its arrival, I started surfing for articles on the Law of Attraction. It’s basically about “like attracts like”. It sounds strange when we’re all familiar with the popular theory of “opposites attract”. It is well proven in magnetic poles, I suppose, but when it comes to love and relationship, recent studies question its validity. People seek partners with their same qualities, but claim to want someone who is different. So, like attracts like, and like thoughts attract like experiences. No wonder, life is what we make it! If we want love or success or money, all we have to do is to visualize them, and our energy will be channeled towards attaining them.

Damn! I’ve spent my entire life literally dramatizing on love!! Too much Hollywood and Mills & Boones in my teens, I suppose. While others have learned to differentiate illusion from reality, I’ve gotten stuck in my world of fairytales – believing that Prince Charming will soon come and sweep me off my feet! To make it even more dramatic, I added a touch of Filipino teleserye, characterized with barrels (not only buckets) of tears and high dosage of heartache. It was almost like a “no pain, no gain”- thing.

That is exactly the point of the law of attraction (about love and relationship). We don’t have to experience unnecessarily heavy drama to experience love and be loved. You see, there is nothing wrong in believing in fairytales or in our dreams. Believing is the key to achieving our innermost desires. But 2 important factors: First, we have to be completely honest with ourselves and know what we truly want. Second, it is crucial how we visualize our dreams. It is essential that we let positive energy flow into us and direct us to our goals. If we let negative thoughts and emotions in, our actions will be guided negatively as well. It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t feel sad or hurt or worried. We simply acknowledge and accept our negative emotions, and shift them positively. I know. It’s easier said than done, but practice makes perfect. A number of people use meditation as a tool. I always fall asleep as soon I begin to meditate, so I rely on my will power.

I’m glad I’ve taken the first step to enrich my love life.

Let’s join hearts, add some choreography and flashbeat – hubba hubba

Straight from the heart

恭喜發財 – Welcome, Rabbit 03/02/2011 – 22/01/2012!

This year is the Year of the Rabbit, which is associated with home and family, creativity, diplomacy, and peace. Rabbits are known for their quietness, gentleness, and persistence. Thus, the general forecast for 2011 is a relatively calmer year than the fierce Tiger in 2010 – on the world scene, as well as on a personal level. Let us cross our fingers that the crisis in Egypt will soon be over, that the hurricane in Australia, despite its monstrous power, will be merciful to many, and that we may achieve all our personal goals. We may not have control over natural catastrophes or it may be tough to stop riots, but we can surely manage our aspirations and objectives in life.

Remember, even though the Rabbit brings good predictions, it’s still up to us to focus and work hard to reach our goals.

Straight from the heart

Old habits

I remember these two lines and the melody from a song, which title or artist I don’t recall:

“‘Cause loving you is just an old habit,
And old habits are sometimes hard to break.”

There are different estimates to the amount of time it takes to form a habit. They range from 21, 30, 100 days or maybe even more! Are new habits that hard to develop? Do old habits really die hard? True – rarely does it take just 1 single day to create or break a habit, but it can be done. Here’s a true-life example.

I’ve not smoked in exactly 545 days! I didn’t attend any stop-smoking seminars nor did I read any quit-smoking books or see horrifying pictures of cancer-infected lungs. I woke up one morning in July 2009, and decided to change my lifestyle and live a healthier life. I decided I would love myself more. Until this day, while sitting in my kitchen, writing this blog, I am loving each moment of my smoke-free days. Not only do I feel healthier, but I feel alive in the moment – not trying to fill a certain emptiness or restlessness with smokes.

Of course, like many others, I did try to quit earlier. It would usually happen the day after smoking 40 cigarettes from a party, and it would last a couple of days. Other times, thinking that less was better, I would bargain and only smoke 5 a day, which started out well, but soon maintained a linear relationship as time passed. Obviously, I wasn’t ready to give up smoking (Was it really about s m o k i n g?), and I found myself in a catch-22 as the repeated failed attempts weakened my confidence.

Smoking for me was more psychological than a nicotine addiction. I didn’t love myself enough, and I didn’t believe I deserve better. Thus, I didn’t take care of my body the way I should. With a relatively low self-esteem, I saw my attempts (to quit) as failures rather than reaching and trying hard. According to Jillian Michael, there are no failures, only feedbacks which are entry points for learning. “If you don’t like the outcome of a situation, learn from it, make corrections and re-approach wiser and stronger until you achieve your goals”.

Although I got to know Jillian after I quit smoking, her insight is a good guideline for all of us, who want to break old habits. Strengthen it with decisiveness, and we can move mountains!

So, how did I manage to stop from one day to another? Simple. It was just a matter of decision – a decision that was of utmost importance and value to me and me alone.

Next time you think about breaking an old habit, don’t be Nike and just do it! First, search your heart and find out what you truly want, then decide. For me, it was my decision of loving myself that made me refrain from lighting another cigarette. Should you experience that you need more than 1 day, don’t despair. Remember the words of Jullian Michael.

And as the song goes,”..And old habits are SOMETIMES hard to break…” NOT always, but SOMETIMES. It’s your call

Straight from the heart

Thank you, 2010!

It’s only 3 in the afternoon, and from my mom’s place on the 4th floor of an old building in Chinatown, I can already hear party horns and firecrackers jamming out on the streets below. Then it hit me! Today is the 365th day of 2010!

If I were to sum up 2010, then I’d described it as, the year of the “ketchup effect”. Have you ever turned a ketchup bottle upside down and nothing comes out, no matter how many times you banged on the end? Then you tried even harder, and all of a sudden, it pours out? 2010 has been a year of growing up and awakening for me from almost all facets of life. I stopped being cynical and believed in true love once again. Never had I loved another so much and unconditionally, that letting go gave joy and peace in my heart. It was a privilege to experience this special kind of love – one, that knows no boundaries and goes beyond time and space, where silence sometimes speaks its power.

2010 has been the healthiest year of my life! It’s been exactly 529 days, since I last smoked a cigarette, and I’ve never been more physically active, organic and aware of proper dieting, which for me is eating a variety of everything (including my current favorite – chocolate molten cake) in moderation

2010 has opened the door to new friendships, while keeping and cherishing old ones. I specially enjoy the teasing and laughing (literally) for hours, so that my cheek muscles hurt! Merci, my dear sexy friend, H!

2010 has also been a tough year. Deaths and illness in the family was a major issue. Just 2 months after my grandma passed away, my aunt followed. Last time I saw them was in 2009, so I didn’t get the chance to say good-bye to them properly. Amidst the tragedy, another aunt and uncle got ill and were hospitalized. To add insult to injury, the dynamic and challenging situations at work compelled me to re-evaluate and develop a new career path, while I still liked my current job.

It seemed too much happened in so little time! And yes, I’ve cried my heart out more than a couple of times, and felt hope abandoned me. However, although pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. (Making it mandatory only gives wrinkles!) So, I looked inside, and summoned my inner strength and the patience that I’ve recently learned. I’ve decided to stay strong and positive, and be like The Fool (in a tarot deck), who’s on his way to a brand new beginning – whether that be in romantic affairs, or career, or intellectual and spiritual pursuits. Far from being sad and frustrated, I surrender and feel free, refreshed, young and energized.

This is my last blog of the year. Thank you, 2010, for without all the events and the trials that I’ve faced and experienced, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today.

Farewell 2010. Welcome 2011.

Happy New Year everyone!