... and two cups of coffee.

Dear S.,

I wanted to share this story I found on the internet with you. It made me happy. Please take the time to read it, it is worth it!

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the two cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous “yes.”

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things – your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions – and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else – the small stuff. ”If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”

source is "The Radical Uprise", an amazing blog run by Jetta Vegas. it's all about Positive Mental Attitude. Whenever you feel that you need something to cheer you up or motivate you, go to her page and you will find what you are looking for:
http://theradicaluprise.wordpress.com/2011/06/04/a-mayonnaise-jar-and-two-cups-of-coffee/

(... time and space for a cup of coffee or some other onzin/Unsinn like wearing matching turbans in order to concentrate better :p )


Love,
M.

baking > complaining.

Dear S.,

Instead of complaining, I'll talk about baking.

1) baking asks your full love and attention and therefore takes your mind off everything else.

2) the smell of something baking in the oven makes you feel home.

3) baking attracts friends and good talks.

4) eating something someone else baked especially for YOU is one of the biggest pleasures in culinary terms...

5) ...just as it is a great source of joy for the baker to watch other people enjoy their piece of baked good.

6)baking shows your ability to work concentratedly and precisely and with lots of Hingabe on a project.

7) kneading shortpastry, rolling out a yeast dough or beating a batter with your hands is a great outlet for your fears and frustrations.

8) a piece of pastry in your mouth prevents you from needlessly complaining about your life.

9) eating something baked is the best thing to do to fill in your breaks from work and study. It provides you with new strength and energy and satisfies you.

10) having to bake something is a great excuse not to work or study for a while.


that said, here is what I baked yesterday: carrot cake. Darling J., was here for dinner, and while N. made some gorgeous lasagna, I searched all my cupboards for baking material (note to self: always have a decent stash at home in the future). I wanted something with a fresh ingredient, fruit or so. Carrot was the next best thing- carrot cake it is.





The little carrot is a real carrot I carved into the right size. together with some fresh thyme, I find it looks much better than the normally used marzipan carrots.
The day before, we had you, M. and T. over for a small dinner party, the topic was white food ;) we had asparagus risotto and cheesecake. mmmh. A cake a day....
I really enjoyed you all being here, quality time :)

love, m

top!

Dear S.,

my latest sewing project- a top for myself. I used plain ikea- toile for the whole piece; in the front, I layerd a lace- fabric on top of it.





oh and here are Charlie and her neighbour boy sweetheart, tiger:




I'm having a bit of a rough time uni- and lifeplanning wise atm; so I'll keep this post short and simple and not moan all about it. Maybe I'll do that in my next post, who knows :p

LOVE! m.