What's Your Bubble?

I woke up this morning and, like any morning, I stepped into my bubble. I have many bubbles: happy bubble, sad bubble, b*tch bubble, super-confident bubble, ambitious bubble, optimistic bubble, pessimistic bubble, weak bubble, etc. I also have an I'm-not-sure-what-bubble-this-is bubble. You probably don't know it but you're in a bubble too. We all have bubbles. Some are strong and are like shields; others are weaker and can burst.

You see, yesterday I woke up feeling pretty normal. It was just a regular day. I wasn't feeling especially weak or sad but as the hours went by, I felt more and more susceptible to the things around me. Nothing dramatic happened but my bubble was weak. Usually, when small, insignificant but somewhat upsetting things happen, we bounce back up. Not me, not yesterday. Yesterday, every tiny, insignificant thing seemed to weigh a ton. It did not take long for my bubble to be pierced. By the end of the day, I was in my pessimistic, sad and weak bubble and I couldn't get out of it. I did not have my strong bubble to shield me and protect me from the day's ups and downs.

In any given conversation, you'll hear me say "I should blog about this!" and then I take out my little notebook and scribble down a few words. When I wasn't feeling at my best yesterday, I thought "I should really blog about this. Maybe I'll talk/write my way into a better mood." I have already mentioned that this blog is therapeutic and sometimes I become more convinced of it. 

I treat this blog kind of like most people treat their Facebook statuses: like a diary (more or less). I can just imagine some of you readers thinking "A blog is not a diary." When I wrote this blog post, I thought I shouldn't publish it. I thought people don't want to read a diary and they don't want to hear about the ups and downs of my day. Then I remembered that, in my first post, I had said that this blog will be relatable and honest. So here it is and here I am: completely honest and hopefully relatable (I know some of you can relate. We all have our "off" days like I did yesterday). And to all of you still thinking "a blog is not a diary", I welcome you to burst whatever bubble you're in and have an open mind.

I know this sounds weird but next time you feel sad, angry or upset, pop and step out of that negative bubble and step into your happy and strong bubble and don't let anyone or anything burst it!

Here's a bubbly recipe for you to try: Hokey Pokey (or Honeycomb). I find this recipe has a lot of charm and is very romantic. With an end result of glistening, golden shards of sweetness filled with tiny bubbles, how can it not be romantic? Imagine crumbling these sparkly, golden bubbles on vanilla ice cream or eat it as is (drizzled with chocolate if desired).

Do you know the chocolate CRUNCHIE? It's the crunchy, yellow part. The recipe is Nigella Lawson's. She calls it Hokey Pokey so I'll call it Hokey Pokey as well!

Hokey Pokey

Ingredients

- 1/2 cup sugar

- 4 tablespoons dark corn syrup

- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Directions

Put the sugar and syrup into a saucepan and stir together to mix. You can't stir once the pan's on the heat, though.

Place the pan on the heat and let the mixture first melt and then turn to goo and then a bubbling mass the color of maple syrup - this will take 3 minutes or so.

Off the heat, whisk in the baking soda and watch the syrup turn into a whooshing cloud of aerated pale gold. Turn this immediately onto a piece of baking parchment or greased foil.

Leave until set.

*If you want chocolate, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave or on a double broiler and drizzle on top.

Once it's set, bash the honey pokey into big golden shards.

                                                                                        picture retrieved from foodnetwork.com

2,857 Open Tabs.. Still Open!

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. I was cranky when I went to bed last night and hoped that I could sleep it off. I couldn't. Sometimes (more often than I would want), I get in a bad mood and just cannot snap out of it. I think too much. I think my way into bad moods and have so much trouble thinking my way out of them. Remember what I said in my first post?

 

A lot of damage can happen with 2,857 open tabs.

 

I then remembered a quote I read: One small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.

 

The first positive thought of the day was very easy.

 

Exactly a year from today, I will marry Mr. A!!! ☺

 

Of course, that thought put a great big smile on my face and I told myself that this time next year, I don't want to remember that I was upset for no real reason a year before.

 

Only 365 days left! ☺

 

Second positive thought of the day: It's Friday!
 

I cannot always rely on just my thoughts to get me out of an irritated mood. So I then tried to "lock in" my happiness by doing little good deeds that would make me and others smile. As I opened the door this morning to get into the building where I work, there was a woman several steps behind me. There was enough distance for me to let the door close behind me but instead, I waited and held the door for her as well. I know it's nothing significant but I was able to make her smile early in the morning  (when we all wish to still be asleep) and because smiles are contagious, it made me smile as well. Believe it or not, I genuinely felt better.

Here is a poignant video I saw a few months ago. I encourage you to watch it. You can take 5 minutes out of your busy day to watch this, right?

I am not telling you something that you don't already know. I am sure you have seen similar videos and heard such things before but have you let these videos inspire you? Have you let them influence your behavior of the day? Have you put the things you just saw in the video into action? You would be surprised how the smallest of things and the tiniest of good deeds can have a great effect on YOU and everyone.

I really need to remember all this next time I am in a bad mood. Sometimes my "bad mood phase" can last a few days. This blog is beginning to be very therapeutic for me.

Because I feel good now (well I feel better... feeling good is a work in progress), here is the recipe of a feel good, healthy food: Falafel Pizza. The "crust" is a giant baked falafel topped with veggies and goodies.

Falafel Pizza

Ingredients

Crust

- 1 can chickpeas (about 1.5 cups)
- 1 large onion
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 2 tablespoons of parsley
- 2 tablespoons of cilantro
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon hot red pepper paste
- 1 teaspoon salt

Toppings

You can really add whatever topping you want. I put:
- tomatoes
- olives
- lettuce
- radishes
- green onions
- parsley

Tahini Sauce (taratour)

- 1/4 cup tahini (sesame paste)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. Add all the Falafel "crust" ingredients in a food processor and purée.
3. Spray a cookie sheet with oil.
4. Put falafel mixture on the cookie sheet and spread it flat (about 3/4 of an inch thin).
5. Bake for about 25-30 minutes.
6. When out of the oven, top with any topping you want and drizzle with the tahini sauce.