Feb 29, 2012

iZettle...

What is so brilliant about the gadgets is their simplicity...

Arvid showed this to me the other day and I have to say it is and absolutely brilliant idea. This whole concept is based on us taking card payments with our iPhone or iPad!  For many small business owners this is ideal.  No more hassle with credit card machines.

Here you can read more on it:  iZettle

Now anyone can take card payments. You and your friends. Your business. All you need is an iPhone or iPad and iZettle.

Everyone is raving about this iZettle. 

Forbes: "iZettle Offers Huge Advantages over Other Systems that Let Businesses Take Chip-card Payments”

WIRED: “Smart Tech and Sharp Thinking Are Disrupting High-street Banks”

"iZettle is creating an innovative and compelling solution that can help cardholders pay anywhere anytime in a convenient and secure way."

Read the article and see where iZettle is already being used and check out the video
youtube video

A patent, or invention, is any assemblage of technologies or ideas that you can put together that nobody put together that way before. That's how the patent office defines it. That's an invention.



~Nadiya~

Feb 28, 2012

A Picture Worth A Thousand Words...

If we are not careful, we get caught up in talking about what we don't know, instead of acting on what we do know... 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words....we have all at sometime or another seen a picture that for whatever reason has left such an impact on us and the image of it is very hard to get rid of, be it for good or bad.  Whatever the reason it's sometimes engraved in our subconscious.


Now you tell me if that is so or not?

Today with all the smart phones and all the other devices people have, it's just so easy to snap pictures when you least expect it; sometimes one may not even know it's happening.  One has to be very careful these, because no one would like to end up on the 6 O'clock new or worse yet on the Internet and be the laughing stock.  Be careful all of you out there.  Don't get caught in the act like he did!  On the other hand as someone said, "How ridiculous and how strange to be surprised at anything which happens in life"

I know enough of the world now to have almost lost the capacity of being much surprised by anything, I know your little secret...

~Nadiya~

Feb 26, 2012

February...

People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy...

February has been on heck of a month for us so far.  We have had amazing weather. We have had many good friends visiting and we have been super lucky in everything we have been doing. 

Being the month of  lovers Arvid and I have had some great outings and have been to some amazing places.  For a month with only 29 days, it seems we have been on the go forever and have never stopped.

As the month comes to and end we are feeling quite happy with all we have accomplished and hoping for more of the same in March. 

"Late February and the air's so balmy sonowdrops and crocuses might be fooled into early blooming. Then the inevitable blizzard will come, blighting our harbingers of spring, and the numbed yards will go back undercover.  In Florida, it's strawberry season - shortcake, waffles, berries and cream will be penciled on the coffeshop menus". - Gail Mazu

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony

~Nadiya~

Feb 25, 2012

Thought Of The day....

You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality...

Good morning all.  Just a thought for today.  Have a good day and remember what they say
"moral indignation is just jealousy with a halo" before you start thinking about how others should change and live their lives first focus on how you can change and become a better you! 

Have a great day.

Try to learn something about everything and everything about something...
When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world...

~Nadiya~

Feb 23, 2012

Half Full or Half Empty...?

I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination...

There are things in life we would like to change if we could.  Things we would like to redo if it means our life taking a different course, but this being life we can't really go back and change what has already been done.  The next best thing is to look forward and try to do the best we can, live life in the best possible way we can. 

People who are optimists see the glass as being half full.  Optimists look on the bright side.  People who are pessimists see the glass as being half empty. Pessimists tend to see the worst in things. So when you see that glass filled to the middle, what you call it is a simple test if you are an optimist or a pessimist.  I like to think of myself as always seeing the glass half full even when things are not at their best..and always remember, "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort"

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty...

until next time...

Life...

Don't compare your life to others;  
you have no idea what their journey is all about...

People change and things go wrong, but always remember, life goes on. We give it our
 best shot that's all we can do, does not mean we give up. I was talking to someone
 today and the conversation left me feeling very sad and inadequate. Inadequate 
because I was not able to do anything to take away their sadness.

It brought back to me memories of a time long gone. A time when I was very 
sad and I never thought anything nor anyone would make me smile again. 


That was one of the lowest points of my life. Fortunately, life has a way of 
bringing things into perspective and like it or not you have to move on.

I am hoping that one day life is good to my friend, I hope one day I can see that smile 
and hear the real laughter coming from her. Today everything seems so bleak,
 but I hope and I know that the future will be better. I always hope for the best, 
but I know that the person living these experiences does not see that light at
 the end of the rainbow no matter how much one tells them it is there.

 I know I never believed it. NEVER!!, but one day all of a sudden it seems like as if 
some heavy burden was lifted off me and everything was looking brighter and cheerier
 than ever.  The smile came back.  The laughter returned...the zest to live came back.
  This is what I wish for you. I wish you bright days full of joy, laughter and love.
 I am by your side every step of the way.

I am very lucky to have 5 sisters. Whenever I feel down I call one of them right away. 
Exactly what I did now. We were just reminiscing about when we were little girls with
 not a care in the world. Today we are each grown women with families of our own 
and like everyone with our own problems. Life we concluded is not easy...

I've finally found that life goes on without you, and my world still turns when you're
 not around. When the day is over it once again proves that time waits for no one and
 life goes on and that every day in life people separated for whatever reason have
 their separated distance go from hours, days, weeks until one day when the 
reality really sets in that they're gone for good hopefully leaving
 us with a positive and loving memory.


It may seem harsh right now but, time/life waits for no one.  You have to be the one
 to take the first step and say I am ready for a change and just go for it.  I cannot guarantee 
it will be the best thing you cold do, but let me ask how much worse can it be? 
 Life is for living and I hope you find your way through this dark period. 

Friends, from experience I know that in times like these it is always good 
to have the support of family, loved ones and yes good friends...A friend is 
someone who is there for you when he’d rather be somewhere else.


 Regardless of how it goes down, life goes on, life is a song love is the lyrics...
you never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have...

~Nadiya~

Feb 22, 2012

Thursdays....

By Thursday morning, we'd gotten over the worst of it....

Good morning beautiful world. Its a new day again. Wish we all have a good day..
Nothing particularly stands out on a Thursday, but since everyday is a good day why not be it a Thursday....the good thing about Thursday is that it's one day closer to the weekend....FRIDAY! 




Have a great day all.  Remember you have already made it throughout most of the week..just a little more to go and you can start celebrating the weekend.  Happy Thursday!  Time to start planning for the weekend:)

Start every day with a smile and get it over with... my goal is to have a good day.  Dont wanna let anything bring me down...

until next time...

Fruit For All....

A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy..?

Fruit nutrition is a great way to strengthen your immune system, fight disease, and boost your overall body health. In addition to being great tasting, fruit can provide you with different types of nutrition benefits–included providing more water in your diet! Get to know all of the types of nutrition you can get from fruits, and plan your meals around trying to get a rainbow of them!

Energy Nutrition
Not only do fruits provide carbohydrates that provide essential energy for metabolism, processing nutrients, and staying active, but there is also some protein in fruit! Dietitians will tell you there’s not nearly as much protein in fruits as in meats, but they do have protein.

my fruit supply for the next few days)

This week I am all into eating fruits and more fruits. Don't get me wrong I love fruits, but lately it has been a little problematic. You see Arvid has become allergic to almost every fruit available so little by little I have stopped buying them. That is until recently when I started all over again and realized how much I missed my daily fruit. Unfortunately, Arvid still cannot eat them.


A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love....
until next time...

Feb 20, 2012

The Coupon Man...

You know you are an extreme couponer when you refuse to pay $0.25 for a tube of toothpaste....
Every so often Arvid comes up with a "plan" or an "idea" that he thinks is so awesome we ought to live by it.  Not so long ago we saw on the news a report about a young girl who by using coupons saved over $3000. in grocery bills for her family over a period of a couple of months.


Every week we get the sales coupons from all the stores.  Today for some reason, Arvid decided to look at one of them.  It so happens he was looking at the one for the grocery store.  From the way he was carrying on you would think that something extraordinary was on those sale papers.

checking out
the Macy's AD...

Suddenly he started telling me that so and so was on sale and that if we bought it we could really save quite a bit.  I just looked at him and said, but we don't eat that stuff.  He looked a little disappointed, but continued vigorously sorting through the sales trying desperately to find something for us to buy.

He literally sat down for about 30 minutes sorting through the sales hating to admit that there was almost nothing that we would use.  Finally he came across Pepsi on sale.  If you saw the big grin on his face one would thing he just found gold.  Needless to say we went to the store and stocked up on quite a bit of Pepsi.  Now we have enough to last for months.

I have nothing against cutting coupons.  I think it's great to save any way we can.  The only thing is I don't believe in buying stuff just because they are on sale and things I know we would never use.  On the other hand......if Macy's had a sale I would gladly go and have Arvid buy me a few thing I really don't need, but which I really want....Tomorrow sounds good.  Just remember the best things in life are never rationed. Friendship, loyalty, love, do not require coupons...

I try to do the right thing with money. Save a dollar here and there, clip some coupons. Buy ten gold chains instead of 20. Four summer homes instead of eight, I'm trying...

until next time...

Feb 17, 2012

Enjoy...

Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths...

Another long week has come to an end.  February has been a great month so far and it is looking better every day.  We are busy during the week and in the weekends we relax and have a good time on our own or with friends.  Either way we look forward to it and to just relaxing and really not doing that much.


The weather here in Florida is beautiful. One of the best February's we have had in a long time. Very happy for that. We have had some very cold days, but it always warms up. This weekend all we plan to do is to relax, sit maybe by the pool and get some sun. I don't normally sit in the sun, but the cool air makes it perfect to be out for a while.


So far it seems like it will be a great weekend.  Thank you very much to my special friend who made our Friday special.  Makes me really miss living near the water.  Hope we can do it again soon... 

As some one said, "Sometimes it’s important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it’s essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow".

It is our choices, Friends, that show what we really are, far more than our abilities...
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough....

until next time...

Feb 15, 2012

The Time Is Now...

Time is a companion who reminds us to cherish every moment because it will never come again....

 The passage below was not written by me.  Actually it is something I came across and as I read it more and more it appealed to me and made me want to share it with you.  It was written by Bob Marley.  It is absolutely beautiful and my wish for you is that if you have someone like this in your life cherish them for it is not often we come across that special person whom we can call our true soul mate, out best friend and our lover. 

If such a person does not exist in your life my wish is that hopefully you will find him/her but in the meantime remember life is beautiful.  Appreciate what you have now.  Don't wait for tomorrow for tomorrow may never come....
 
Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you.


When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are.

The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do.

Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you.

You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.  I love you Arvid Hvidsten and the life we have together.  You, I and Brutus make the perfect blend together and I hope it will be forever.  "Love is as much of an object as an obsession, everybody wants it everybody seeks it, but few ever achieve it, those who do, will cherish it, be lost in it, and among all, will never...never forget it"
To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.

until next time...

Feb 12, 2012

Happy Valentines Day...

I don't pretend to know what love is for everyone, but I can tell you what it is for me; love is knowing all about someone, and still wanting to be with them more than any other person, love is trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, including the things you might be ashamed of, love is feeling comfortable and safe with someone, but still getting weak knees when they walk into a room and smile at you...


Wising everyone a very Happy Valentine's Day. As children we made cards and passed around to our classmates. It was special. When my sisters and I were just little girls my parents would always give us a little card and sometimes a tiny present for Valentine's Day.  What I'm getting at is that you don't have to be in a relationship to enjoy the day.  It's not about the presents, but about sharing with that someone special in your life.  Don't get me wrong if you can get that someone special to shower you with presents why not??  Haha!  Yesterday I told Arvid it would be nice for him to buy me a few things for Valentine's Day so I went to the mall bought me a few things and thanked him profusely for the presents:))  He was happy and I was happy...Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart. Love is knowing that the one you cherish, cherishes you just as much and will do whatever it takes to make you happy and vice-versa...

To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven...Love is what you've been through with somebody.

until next time

Feb 10, 2012

Time To Relax~

Those who can laugh without cause have either found the true meaning of happiness or have gone stark raving mad....  

no reason for them..
just because

yummy weekend..
will have me another

That time again friends...yes weekend is here again.  This has been a pretty hectic week so we are really looking forward to just having a very good time with some friends and with each other. 

We have come to realize that many of our best times are spent in the company of good friends.  No stress, no complications, just laughs, fun, good food, good drinks and good company.

Finally going to be able to relax and not have as much toothache as I have been having for the past month.  Yep, I think I can officially call the dentists' office my second home, but finally I can say I am doing better and ready to go and celebrate the weekend.  Wishing you all a great one also...

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it...

until next time...

Feb 8, 2012

A Pets Ten Commandments~

We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals....

About a year ago I dedicated my blog post to pets.  Today I would like to do the same again.  It is the exact post, but a year has gone by and many thing have changed.  Our bond towards Brutus and his toward us is just stronger than ever. 
The best part of this bond is watching Arvid and Brutus together.

For a man who has never had a pet you would hardly believe the bond between them.  Arvid tells me that Brutus is like a baby and that he (Brutus) needs pampering and attention all the time. I have had cats before so I know what good pets they make.  When we first brought Brutus into our lives Arvid had so many rules for this Kitty.  Today no rules nor boundaries apply when it comes to Brutus.  The most relaxed I have ever seen Arvid is when he is petting Brutus or doing something with Brutus.


For all of us that are lucky to have a pet you will relate to this....for those that don't I believe you will also be able to understand the bond a pet owner and their pets share.....

 A Pets Ten Commandments

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your I friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.



10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so. ALWAYS!

BRUTUS…
We love you with all our heart and we will always take care of you.
Mama and Dada 2012
You came to us on October 18 2006
One of the happiest days of our lives...

A house is not a home without a pet...until one has loved an animal,  a part of one's soul remains unawakened...

until next time..

Feb 7, 2012

Picture Of The Day...Giant Whale Shark Washes Ashore

Seeing is believing...

Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known, and lo and behold I open the news page and I see this most amazing sight. 

Residents gather as a whale shark is pulled from the water by cranes after it was found dead at Karachi's fish harbor February 7, 2012. A giant whale shark washed ashore near Karachi fisheries harbor on Tuesday and was sold for 1.7 million PKR ($18,758), local media reported.



A man stands on a dead whale shark before it was pulled from the water by cranes as residents gather at Karachi's fish harbor February 7, 2012.


Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.

until next time...


Feb 6, 2012

Great Quotes...

Don’t lеt whаt уоu can’t dо stop уоu frоm whаt уоu саn do
Sure, there’s а lot оf thіngѕ уоu feel уоu can’t do. Thе nеxt bеѕt thіng іѕ tо learn. Learning аnd trуіng ѕоmеthіng nеw іѕ а big step іntо conquering thе “can’ts” іn уоur list....


One of my Facebook friends shared this with me not so long ago.  I really loved each and every quote and wanted to share them with you as well. Remember to always give thanks for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow, and never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it.  Just never forget,  "Your life is in your hands. No matter where you are now, no matter what has happened in your life, you can begin to consciously choose your thoughts, and you can change your life".

If уоu wаnt tо bе happy, be. If уоu аrе sad rіght now, іt іѕ аlwауѕ уоur choice tо bе happy. It іѕ аѕ simple аѕ that.  Whatever you are, be a good one. 

The important thіng іѕ this: Tо bе аblе аt аnу moment tо sacrifice thаt whісh wе аrе fоr whаt wе соuld become...

until next time...

Feb 3, 2012

Relax Time...The Weekend

Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong.  The amount of work is the same...

That time again...weekend is here and Arvid says "I am starting to feel thirsty". Time to kick back, relax and enjoy the Super Bowl this Sunday.  My favorite part of Super Bowl are the ads and the half time entertainment.  Everything else I can skip...well actually we do skip everything else.

Hope everyone has a nice and relaxed time at home with friends and family.  Not sure of what our plans are right now, but for sure I will think of something.  For starters I am envisioning one of my favorite frozen drinks...


Have a good weekend everyone.  Take some time off and do absolutely NOTHING!  Feels really good. 
Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering...

Some of the secret joys of living are not found by rushing from point A to point B, but by inventing some imaginary letters along the way...

until next time...

Feb 2, 2012

5 Worst Fast-Food Breakfasts...

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.... 

The holidays are just about here, and between errands and travels, you may have to hit up a fast-food joint or coffeehouse in search of breakfast. The bad news: There's plenty of junky temptation out there. The good news: Lots of franchises have jumped on the health bandwagon and now offer better alternatives. Here's what to avoid, as well as better-for-you choices.

Starbucks:

What to skip: Like most coffeehouses, Starbucks' bakery menu has plenty of obvious calorie and fat bombs: donuts, fritters, croissants, and the like. But their Zucchini Walnut Muffin is a wolf in healthy sheep's clothing. It has a whopping 490 calories, 28 grams of fat, and 490 milligrams of sodium.

What to order: The Strawberry & Blueberry Yogurt Parfait has 300 calories and just 3.5 grams of fat (none of it saturated), along with a satisfying 7 grams of protein and 3 grams of fat. Crave a hot breakfast? The Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal clocks in with 140 calories, 2.5 grams fat, and 4 grams of fiber.

McDonald's
What to skip: You'd think one of those Egg McMuffins is the worst breakfast offender. Nope, that honor goes to the Big Breakfast with Hotcakes. It weighs in at a heart-stopping 1,090 calories, 56 grams of fat (including nearly all the saturated fat you should have for the day), and 2,150 milligrams of sodium.
What to order: The 290-calorie Fruit & Maple Oatmeal has 5 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. Nice! Even better, order it without brown sugar and request light cream to save 50 calories and slash the fat in half. Can't resist the Egg McMuffin? Order it without the American cheese and it comes in at a not-so-awful 250 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 15 grams of protein.

Jamba Juice


What to skip: C'mon, how bad can a smoothie be? Depends what you order. Choose a 24-ounce (that's the Original size) Peanut Butter Moo'd and you'll slurp down 770 calories before you know it.

What to order: Lots of places are serving oatmeal these days, but Jamba's is made from hearty steel-cut oats made with a touch of soymilk. Order yours plain with a cut-up banana. It's just 240 calories, but has 6 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein that will hold you over until lunchtime.

Subway
What to skip: The Breakfast B.M.T. Melt, with its hefty 480 calories and 22 grams of fat, is sure to make you drag all morning long.

What to order: The Black Forest Ham, Egg & Cheese -- on a muffin with an egg white -- offers ample indulgence for 170 calories and 4 grams of fat. The 14 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber will keep you satisfied in the a.m.

Bruegger's Bagels
What to skip: Resist the sesame bagel with cream cheese. This classic combo tallies at 440 calories and 14 grams of fat. Hey, bagels have gotten big, and those schmears of cream cheese are generous, too.


here's to moderation:)

What to order: Go for the Skinny Sesame Bagel with light garden veggie cream cheese. It has just 310 calories. Even better, swap the cream cheese for hummus, which has heart-healthy fat, satisfying protein, and 20 percent of the iron you need for the day.
 With so many temptations out there it is no wonder many of us tend to gain a few extra pounds every so often.  It's very easy to say "everything in moderation", but sometimes it is much more difficult to follow through.  No matter what, I think life is made to be enjoyed in many different ways..and one of my very favorite is food.  Yes, I do sometimes find it very difficult difficult to practice moderation....but I try.

Never work before breakfast; if you have to work before breakfast, eat your breakfast first...

until next time...