Rainbow Quinoa Recipe || VEGAN

Rainbow Quinoa Recipe || VEGAN

I N G R E D I E N T S

2 cups quinoa
1 cup chickpeas
1 large ear of corn
1/2 green bell pepper
1/2 red bell pepper

10 baby carrots
1 tbsp sesame oil
5 garlic cloves
1 tsp vegan oyster sauce
pinch of salt
pinch of white pepper

I N S T R U C T I O N S

1. Cook the quinoa and boil chickpeas if they are bought raw.
2. Chop all the veggies. Finely chop the garlic while dicing the others to equal sizes.
3. On a hot wok, add some oil and place in the garlic.
4. Stir until the garlic is a little pale brown.
5. Add the rest of the veggies in.
7. Stir until all cooked.
8. Add in the seasonings and the vegan oyster sauce.
9. In a large bowl, mix them with the quinoa and chickpeas
10. Serve with chili flakes or Sriracha if you are a spicy person like me !

hugs and kisses

Elude and Empire (Eagle Elite #6-7)

BEWARE: There is no happy ending.

WARNING: You will cry. I have no doubt.

WARNING #2: It's safe to get your blanket now before you read the book.

Elude (Eagle Elite #6)

In the sixth book, Elude, Sergio was assigned to keep Andi safe. In order to do so, he has to marry her. But this marriage is not for long. Andi has leukemia and only had 6 months left. Was so sure that he would not fall for her, he did. Andi made him vow to him on their first day of marriage to not ever cry over her. Sergio never thought he would find love and when he did, his love was already about to end. It was not fair for him nor Andi. They love truly, deeply, and madly. The 6 months was either a gift or a curse. The 6 month was.. not enough. Their love story just ended too early.

The ending was devastating, heartbreaking, and depressing. I cried a river, literally, and I am going to name the river, Andi.

Empire (Eagle Elite #7)

After Andi died, Sergio was lost. She was his everything. Now he lost her, he didn't know what to do. When Val came into his life, he didn't know what he was feeling. The tinkling inside of him felt wrong. He didn't want to betray Andi but Val was different. Then, Sergio saw a video from Andi to him and Val. It was her plan all along. For Sergio and Val to be together.

It will all make sense when you read it but it's still heartbreaking and sad. Sergio deserves a big, warm hug.


My casting:

Sergio



Andi



Val:

hugs and kisses

Ember (Eagle Elite #5)

Ember (Eagle Elite #5)

In the previews book, the boys killed Phoenix De Lange. He was dead. He was but Luca saved him. He has a plan for Phoenix, a much bigger plan than dying. Phonic had to look after a girl and keep her alive. She was the key to everything. Her name is Bee. Since he didn't die, Phoenix punished himself everyday for what he did. He could not forgive himself until she made him see there is still something to be forgiven. She helped him see pass his mistakes and accepted a future, not for himself but for her. He was sent to keep her safe but maybe she sent to him to be his savior.

My casting:

    

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Elicit (Eagle Elite #4)

Elicit (Eagle Elite #4)

Tex is an interesting character. We didn't get much of him in the first three books but in the fourth book, his demon just ran out on us. His story was interesting. From being nobody to being the most important boss. When he was little, his family sent him away because they think he was a curse. How he is back to take his place. Mo, Nixon's sister, and Tex grew up together. They were close and closer.
When Tex cheated on her, it was the last straw. Tex regretted it and was miserable when she left but he dares not to ask her to come back to him because he did her wrong. She deserves better. Now, Tex is in trouble. Knowing she still has feelings for him, Mo tries to help him, even if it means betraying him.

My casting:


     

hugs and kisses

Super Spicy Roasted Chickpeas (Vegan and Oil-free)

Super Spicy Roasted Chickpeas 

I N G R E D I E N T S

1 can of Chickpeas
1 tbsp Paprika
1 tbsp Cayenne Pepper
1 tbsp Cumin

I N S T R U C T I O N

1. Boil your chickpeas if you did not get the can ones but if you did get the canned chickpeas then rinse and dry them.
2. Pre-heat the over to 200 degrees
3. Once dried, set aside. In a bowl, mix all the spices together.
4. Place the chickpeas in the bowl and mix around, coating them with the spices.
5. Spread them evenly on a tray lined with parchment paper
6. Place them in the oven for around 20 minutes on 400 degrees.
7. Check on them once a while and stir them to allow them to crisp up evenly.
8. After another 10 minutes or so, take out the chickpeas and set them to cool.
9. Once cooled, it's ready to serve !

hugs and kisses

SHE IS BACK !

SHE IS BACK !

Cara Reilly suddenly disappeared a while ago and now she is back. She announced on Facebook that she will be writing again and apologized for the long wait as well as disappearing. However, life is hard so who could blame her of she needed time out to settle down and to deal with herself first? We all have those times. Life does not come with instructions guys and sometimes, shit gets real. I also hope that none of her readers are hard on her for taking the time out. Nonetheless, I'm so happy she is back and that she will be writing again. 

I cannot tell you how excited I was am. I'm still fizzling inside over my over excitement. I love this series and the last book, Bound by Temptation, left me starving for more. 

The fifth book will be out December 21, 2016, but the date is still not set yet. It's an early Christmas guys ! I can't wait !

Bound by Vengeance (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #5)

Growl

He’d never had something to himself, never even dared to dream about owning something so precious. He was the unwanted bastard son who’d always had to content himself with the leftovers of others. And now they’d given him what only a few weeks ago had been out of his reach, someone he wasn’t even allowed to admire from afar, one of their most prized possessions. Thrown at his feet because he was who he was, because they were certain he would break her. He was her punishment, a fate worse than death, a way to deliver the ultimate punishment to her father who had displeased them so greatly.

Cara

She had always been the good girl. It didn’t protect her.

She didn’t know his real name. People called him Growl to his face, and the Bastard behind his back. Both were names he couldn’t possibly have chosen for himself. His eyes were empty, a mirror to throw back her own fear at her. He was a brutal hand of the Las Vegas Camorra.

And now she was at his mercy. 

hugs and kisses

Think Happy

Think Happy

This book is all about happy and motivational things in life which I find very fitting to this month which is the Mental Awareness Month. I am a strong believer in mental health. I think that, just as important as food and values, mental health shapes our everyday lives. It explains our past, construct our present, and path our future. Mental illnesses is never a weakness. It's like a disease that we have no control of. It's not a choice. No one sign up to be depressed. No one signed up to have anxiety. People with mental illnesses should not be ashamed. The way I view it, people with mental illness are strong, or even stronger than others because we suffer every single day and have demons in our heads, yet we still power through, we still come out strong, and most importantly, we never surrender.

In this book, there's so many inspirational quotes and sayings. It also describes to you what the saying means and the message behind them. It's like a personal therapy book. Don't spend $200 per hour if you don't have the money or the time. Get this book and read it every morning. You will feel instantly better. This book not only spreads positive vibes but also brings hope. Start a day with a smile, even if you don't feel like it. Soon, the smile will not only brighten today, but tomorrow.

 

hugs and kisses

Eagle Elite, #1-3 (Elite, Elect, and Entice)

 

Eagle Elite, #1-3 (Elite, Elect, and Entice)

The Eagle Elites had me crying and breaking. It was brutally amazing. The 6th book had me the most. It tore my heart into pieces and handing them back on a silver platter. It surely promised a happy unhappy ending. What even right? Here, I'll review the first few so this post won't be a million years long. There will be a part 2 and part two will be...

The first two books were about Trace and Nixon. Nixon is the bad ass leader of the whole group of the school. He and his three friends: Chase, Tex, and Phoenix. They own the school. they rule it. Trace didn't know that he actually really owns the whole school. Nixon was giving her a hard time and she thought it was because she was the new girl. However, that was far from the truth. She was someone. Someone important and Nixon vowed to keep her safe. Hearts were touched. When Chase, Nixon's best friend, too fell in love with Trace, Nixon had to step aside. Not because he was afraid of hurting her or his best friend, he would most likely just pull the bullet on Chase, but because a war was coming and in order to keep Trace safe, he has to keep his distance. When he couldn't be there to protect her, he knew who would. He knew who would value her as mush as he did and who would protect her with his own life as he would. Chase.

Trace falls into a dilemma between loving her soulmate and loving her best friend. Chase was always there for her. Always. He was sweet and kind to her from the beginning since she came to the new school. But it was Nixon that owned her heart and soul. She knew it but it was hard to see thought it after what Nixon put her thought. In the end, she broke both their hearts. (Yes, I told you the end but is it really the end? It's not. Spoiler. Someone once told me, it's not the ending that we are looking forward to, you probably would have guessed that Trace will end up with Nixon when I first introduced them to you. It's the journey that matters. Sorry, I have been taking philosophy classes and yeah.. that explains this)

Honestly, I don't really like Trace. I don't like how she put Chase into misery and how she puts Nixon into such position. It was not fair for their of the boys. If she loves them both, she should make up her mind.

The third book is about Chase. After having his heart broken by his best friend and his lover, he lost hope. He didn't know if he could ever love again. Until she came. Mil. She was dangerous. She has secrets. When she was fourteen, Chase took her. Since then, she hated him because she was only his one night but he was her forever. Well, that's what she thought when she was fourteen. Now, she is in danger and Chase is the only one who can protect her. Chase is willing to accept her just to get over Trace. When he agrees to marry her, they made it clear that there was nothing more. Mil knows who holds Chase's heart, she doesn't push or try to claim what wasn't hers. But in the end, feelings were touched and Chase found out Mil's secret. Since she was fourteen, Mil has been suffering from her own demons. The secret nearly broke him because he walked out on her when she needed him most. He is determined to safe her now and to keep her safe with his own life. She is his everything and he is hers but when Mil's secret knocks on the door and demands payment, both of them will die because it meant war.

I love Mil's and Chase's love story. It's mature yet fun. They came together under an agreement but left with a promising love. I was happy that Chase got over Trace and that he found someone that was for him. Mil is a strong woman and Chase is.. well.. he is Chase. They are each other's missing pieces and I love that.

My casting for Nixon and Trace:

 

My casting for Chase and Mil:

 

hugs and kisses

The Other Boy

The Other Boy

The Other Boy talks about a boy name Shane who has a secret that will change his life forever. No one can know his secret, if and when they do, everything will change. His whole life will be upside down. When his secret can no longer be contained, he faces a difficult decision to let the ones he loves and cares know. Will they stay with him after knowing who he really is? Can he take it if they leave him?

This book was such an easy and quick read. It's short but sweet and as a very deep message behind it. 

hugs and kisses

Extraordinary Ordinary Moments

Extraordinary Ordinary Moments

This book has   ***  P E R F E C T I O N  ***   spelled all over it. It's what I want and what everyone needs.

Basically, it's a book of random things that you value or you care about. On one page it'll ask you what is your most peaceful place that you can imagine, things you have accomplished, things you want to do, your dreams, your success, you hopes, etc.



There's so much in this book, it's amazing. Apart from being totally cute and Instagram-worthy, it's very therapeutic and helpful to the soul and mind. Especially at this time of the year, going back to school and ending 2016, stress is slowly knocking on our doors, at least it is for me. I find that writing and answering some of these things in the book, help anchor myself in me. It's easy to get lost within stress and all the things we face everyday. Sometimes, you just go, go, and go without truly finding the meaning behind what you are doing, why you are going it, and if you like what you are doing. With this book, I find myself more calm and more in-tune with myself and what I want. I discover myself often when I answer the questions. I didn't know what place I find peaceful, after thinking it for a long time, I realized what it was and in a way, it found me and I found myself.

It's a very helpful book and a very fun book with great illustrations. It's a journal that you should revisit every year to see your growth, your achievements, and to find you.

hugs and kisses