My Carrot Thoughts...

Salam & Hi

Alhamdulillah...we are in 2012.

It is good to reflect oneself at the end of the year so that the new year resolution is more achievable ; ) But am not gonna talk about all that here. I think most of us are familiar with such ritual and those big word.. I asked my Cheekyface, what is his new year's resolution and his straight answer is " I wanna have another birthday party!" :D Now that is do-able,InsyaAllah...may Allah bless him and all of us another year to live well, happy and free.

I started 2012 with my first bake of the year, the Carrot and Walnut cake, specially made for my Cheekyface who has requested this for more than a month now. He made a strong emphasis that it has to be a cake, not cupcakes, so here it is...welcoming the new year in all its goodness and awesome cream cheese blanket!

I only get to enjoy a slice of it this morning and while scooping through the entire slice, I read on some new year thoughts. Found this lovely thoughts on How to Stay Young  at this site of which I'm sharing with all of you along with some "Carrot" thoughts of my own:



1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her. - Disagreed. I want to be there to play with  my grandkids and the numbers are essential to me. I am happy that towards the end of 2011, I am finally on the right track (well, except for the last week of large feast of potluck nasi kandar - irresistable! ; P)


2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.- Hmm, maybe I should edit and update my FB friends list...go finger!


3. Keep learning. Never let the brain idle. " An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's. - Learning how to cook better Malaysian dish/kuihs..already in the pipeline. Wanna learn more on photography  and taking up art skills again...or perhaps learning Arabic too? Wish me luck!

4. Enjoy the simple things. - Yes, more of something that does not involve eating, maybe? Like sitting out at my balcony in the cold winter and just breathe. Like closing my eyes for few seconds and smile to the next person I see....or lie on the carpet and look at the ceiling, thinking of my loved ones back home... 


5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.- Well, I certainly don't wanna die laughing, but perhaps smiling. That's it! To smile without any reason more this year ; )


6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is God & ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive. - I believe so.  I did cry on some occasions last year and still there would be this year, am sure. That is part of life one should accept and redha'. Sometimes good things do fall apart for better things to fall together. Allah knows best. Let's just be brave and carry on and try our very best to be better everyday, in every way.


7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. - Indeed. So is this Melthoney.  It keeps me going ; ). And faith in the Almighty. you get nowhere without it.


8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.- Isn't this contradictory to item no.1?I thought so! I'm on my way to running on the treadmill! Yayyyy!


9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is. - This is deep. Perhaps it isn't all bad. Guilt trip is ok to reflect and refresh with asking for forgiveness. "I am sorry", I should say that more eventhough I am not guilty per say. Sometimes, it just make other people feel better, happier. So let's be :)


10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. - Oh dear, I love u, I love u, I love u like a love song and I keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat!

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.- Well said. Me love it!


Well, just my Carrot thoughts of the Day..Here's wishing you the very best of many great things to come in 2012. May Allah bless us all with true love, great health, more wealth and warm hearts to receive His Nur and hidayah...InsyaAllah. 

And thanks from the bottom of my heart for keeping Melthoney on your side to this new great ride. Enjoy your piece of cake lovelies....Hugs!