Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015

2014 has come to an end, something I not the slightest sad about. For my family and me 2014 has been a year of stress and let-downs. Of course, this doesn’t mean it has been a year of waste. A lot has happened, I’ve finished my therapy, the progress I’ve made with my anxiety has been tremendous considered the difference from me sitting at home too afraid to even walk the dog to where I stand now. But the overall vibe of 2014 hasn’t been great, with my biggest setback the first and only week as a journalist, student, I don’t believe I ever had this big of a panic attack: no sleep, throwing up and many thoughts that haunted my mind. To be honest would this not have happened, I wouldn’t find my course. Something that fits and something I love doing in a group I feel comfortable enough to share the stories I’ve written, receiving feedback and also giving feedback. Which isn’t an easy thing for me.

As for 2015, not much will be needed to make it a better and more positive year. Although I still need to make progress in my anxiety, as I’ve noticed it is still a big thing that sits in the way. There are still many moments I want to start a conversation or when I just want to talk back, but no words will come from my mouth. The only words that in such a situation will come out are yes and no, those aren’t much efficient. It isn’t that my mind goes black, many sentences form in my head but nothing comes out. Another thing that bothers me is that I still get very anxious about the silliest things, that don’t need to be worried about.

                I will make an effort to be more positive and push myself to make progress. For a fresh beginning of a new year we decided to write all the negativity, all the things we do not wish to see back in 2015 on a piece of paper who we will set to fire. So that those things will stay in 2014.

On to my New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Write More!!The new year is going to be a year of writing. Writing for my blog, my course and other bits and pieces I want to write. Write, write, write!!
2. Draw/Paint.I used to draw every day, it was something I loved doing and created some piece in my head. I would love to pick up drawing and painting again in 2015, since I barely do it anymore.
3. Eat less crap!This is something my mom and I already made a start with the last couple of months, we have started to eat less processed food and making our dinner from scratch with fresh ingredients. January we will step up our game and stop eating sugar, of course, this doesn’t mean we will never eat sugar, but only on special occasions such as Christmas and birthdays. But with this as prospect I kind off went overboard with eating candy and sugary treats, the last months. So much that my dentist won’t be happy when he sees my tooth as I’m pretty sure I have a hole in it, because it hurts when I eat.  
4. To challenge myself!!!!So 2015 is going to be a year of challenging myself to do the thing outside my comfort zone. My first step will be to have a small job for only a couple of hours a week, so that I will have a reason to get out of the house, be among other human beings and create a rhythm for myself so I might get more productive.
5. Read more!I love reading, but most of the time I just find other things to do and sometimes it’s just passing time and the perfect opportunity to read. I’m going to set a goal for myself and it will be 21 books in a year, as 21 is the age I will turn in 2015.

These are my five resolutions that I will stick to!

I hope 2015 is going to be a good and positive year for everyone.

Happy 2015

Everybody is equal

Everybody is equal, therefore everybody should be treated as such. No matter colour your skin is.

Over time a lot on this matter is changed, but not enough. Racism is still something that is happening every day. You might have heard on the news, internet about protest in America and perhaps other signs. Discrimination is so deeply rooted that sometimes we discriminate without knowing we do, this to me was very upsetting. Because I would like to say that in every situation, I wouldn’t, but I’m not sure how I would react when in a situation. Personally, I think this is a bad thing that needs to be changed drastically.

Although I might not be the person to say anything on this matter, as I don’t know a lot about this matter and have never experienced discrimination myself. Also, I’m not the person to change it either, I do not have the money, dominance or connection to make a difference. But looking away and pretending it doesn’t exist, it isn’t happening, will not make it better or go away either. I think if enough people will talk about this topic and start realizing what is happening, someone might either find the solution or people will become more aware of their actions (although not everybody will, sadly).

I know this isn’t anything like what I normally put on my blog, but as Louise, from sprinkle of glitter, pointed out to me that talking about this and make people more aware is a step in the right direction and I would happily help will that.

Not that pretty, but delicious anyway

Already a week of the month December has passed and I feel as if December is running away with me. For today I wanted to do a baking post of a recipe I wanted to make since last year out of my wonderful Christmas cookbook. This hasn’t been a grand success, they don’t look in the slightest way on the picture in the book. Although the taste is fine, delicious even, and that is the reason I still wanted to share them with you.

You need:

2  egg whites
275 g  icing sugar
150 g almonds, finely ground
1 ½ tablespoon of cinnamon

Recipe:

Beat the eggs with a wooden spoon in a big bowl. Gradually add the icing sugar to the eggs and mix together until smooth. Mix in the tablespoons of cinnamon. Hold 100 grams of this mixture/frosting covered aside for later.  Now it is time for you to use your hands. Mix the almonds to the mixture (you can add ½ teaspoon of water, but first mix well with your hands. The heat will soften the mixture).

Sprinkle a bit of icing sugar on your working surface, to prevent your mixture to stick to it. Roll the dough/mixture till a thickness of 3mm. Divide a thin layer of the left over frosting on top of your dough (make sure you don’t put on a too thick of a layer as I did, it made everything a bit messy). Leave this, uncovered, for 30-35 min until the frosting is hardened.

 

Preheat the oven to 150◦C.

 

Create the shapes of your cookies with a cookie cutter, doesn’t necessarily need to be a star. Before you start cutting out your cookies, coat them with a little icing sugar, so the dough won’t stick as much.

Put them in the oven for about ten minutes total, until they are slightly firm. 5 minutes on the doughy side and 5 minutes on the icing side.

Leave them to cool down completely.