Simple Pleasures :)

"All God's pleasures are simple ones: the rapture of a May morning sunshine, the stream blue and green, kind words, benevolent acts, the glow of good humour.” –Frederick William Robertson

We are ready to enter the fabulous year of 2014, so here are my 'random 14' simple pleasures and little luxuries:

1. On a winter morning, making myself a hot cuppa coffee/hot chocolate and sitting down relaxed and savouring every sip cause it actually wakes me up bit by bit and refreshes my soul :) If it is summer, then sipping hot coffee sitting in the patio and reading the newspaper as sun rays fall on me - feels so good :)

2. Getting goosebumps while listening to some heart touching music, patriotic, favourite, emotionally connected songs or soul stirring instrumental music - specially keyboard and electric guitar :) Tapping my foot in rhythm while listening to some fast beat songs like jazz drumming and carrying on that tapping onto the dinning table by using the fork in one hand and a spoon in other and start tapping on my plate and the saucepan lid, salt and pepper bottles turn into drums till the song finishes - that feels really good :) Also, playing a CD and  finding a lyrics booklet inside the CD case and I start to sing along, feels wonderful :)

3. Describing a hilarious incident and people laugh till they get tears in eyes, friends say I have good comedy timing and expertise in presenting humour through facial expressions - and seeing friends laugh till their stomachs hurt feels good. Then carrying on cracking jokes on the same incident further till they beg to stop cause they can't laugh any further - they'd laughed too much already and exhausted ;)

4. Waking up thinking it's time to get ready for work, then when I look at the clock, realising there are 3 more hours to sleep, I smile and go back to sleep - that part 2 of sleep is more refreshing and makes you content :) Especially if it is raining heavily outside and it feels chilly, I curl up into the warmth of my quilt and feels awesome that I can sleep longer and worry-free, I quickly doze off :)

5. Sitting in bright sunshine on a hot sunny day and eating fresh berries(which are my favourite) - and popping only one berry at a time into my mouth and closing my eyes to munch and savour its juice individually, as juice gets squeezed from the berry when it crushes under my teeth - it quenches my throat's thirst on the summer day - that feeling is awesome :) 

6. That feeling when I go for running early in the morning and then do two sets each of pushups and pullups at a nearby park and fully sweat out the body, then come home and take a shower with a refreshing body wash and then have milk, eggs, meat, toast and fruit and the body feels charged up, so pumped up - ready for any rigorous game of sports, that feeling is great :) 

7. When I put my bed sheet, quilt cover, pillow cover for wash and then dry them out in bright sunshine. Later when I replace them back on bed and when I jump into the bed, I'd sense the touch and scent of freshness, that feels good :) Also I'd take a long relaxing hot shower, specially shower after having a nice trim haircut and singing all my favourite songs and then going to sleep on fresh sheets, you can enjoy a healthy sound sleep :) 

8. I love to eat freshly baked chocolate brownies or chocolate chip cookies. Once a colleague got some home made brownies and during lunch, she offered one each to all of us at the table but they were so yummy, I took more and more and I've finally finished the rest too, she didn't mind that. I asked her for more, she laughed and said she'd bake more and would bring more next time ;) 

9. Watching the expression on a best friend/family's face as they open a much-desired present given by me. A long conversation with my best friends over phone or in person and recollecting the funny and embarrassing moments we had together and laughing on it all over again :)

10. Accidentally overhearing someone say some really nice words about me. It happens sometimes at my workplace - my colleagues love me, most people ask me what's my secret in always being cheerful, full of energy and enthusiasm - irrespective of whether there is sunshine or rain :)

11. That moment when I sit down after being on your feet walking around all day and I give out a sign of relief, 'phew' and then I feel more happy to discover the TV remote is just beside me and I can lay on the couch, switch on the TV, holding the nice cool drink I poured for myself and while sipping my drink, I'd watch the TV and relax :)

12. Walking on a beach, watching the sunrise and then standing in the middle of a tide and feels so good when sand under my feet tries to escape between my toes getting pulled by the wave. Sand escapes between your toes to get carried away by the waves feels good :) Then lie back on the dry sand and watch the fresh blue sky and clouds floating as you hear the sound of ocean waves! :)

13. Running to my loved one/my family with open arms and hugging them as I'd be seeing them after a real long time. Then hugging them tight, plentily pressed in the embrace till I feel all the absence and missing has suddenly vanished into thin air and then start the conversation still holding them partly in my hug - the fun is both of us keep asking questions and the answers are quick and short as we are desperate and can't wait to know everything too quick! :)

14. Now here is my favourite among all - on a hot sunny day outing with friends, I love jumping into the lake swinging high on a tire swing - it is really fantastic, the higher you swing, the funnier would be your jump into the water below ;) And then as I watch others jump, I keep swimming and floating on the water and laughing at their weird mad jumps from the tire swing :) I've done this last summer and would love to do it again soon :) Swimming on a hot summer day is very refreshingly relaxing to the body!! You forget everything else in the world and all you know is the sun shining bright and the water soothing your body :) 

Hope you enjoyed reading my random 14 :) I've got a hundred more sweety simple pleasures which I'll share some other time :) And I've got a to-do-list in which sky diving comes first :)

If you love any of my 14 little luxuries, do let me know. Also, don't forget to share your list of simple pleasures in the comments column!! :) 

Enjoy your day, take care :)

I am a CHAMPION!!!

Every morning while doing my set of pushups and other exercises, I listen to motivational audio. "I am a Champion" speech is one of my favourites during my morning fitness routine.

You can try it too - trust me, it not only helps before playing a game of football but you can listen to it every morning cause it rejuvenates the fighting spirit of your soul.

Here is the video:

Below is the speech in text, play the video and read on...

I will conquer what has never been conquered. Defeat will not be in my creed. I will believe where all those before me have doubted. I will always endeavour to uphold the prestige, honour and respect of my team. I have trained my mind and now my body will follow!

WHO AM I?

I AM A CHAMPION!!!

I will acknowledge the fact that I am an elite warrior who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by any means at my disposal. I accept the fact that my team expects me to move further, faster and fight harder than our opponents. Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be. One hundred percent and more

WHO AM I?

I AM A CHAMPION!!!

Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well trained warrior. My heart and my soul will be the fuel to carry my body when my limbs are to weary. I will never falter, I will never lose focus as long as there is hope in my mind and my heart still beats. I will never give in to the evil that is weakness and I will fight that evil with my dying breath.

WHO AM I?

I AM A CHAMPION!!!

Energetically will I meet my opponent, no one will challenge me, none will stop me from my goal. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Defeat, Retreat are not a Champion’s words. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall at the hands of my enemy and under no circumstances will I ever surrender.

WHO AM I?

I AM A CHAMPION!!!

Readily will I display the discipline and strength required to fight on to my objective and I will complete my mission. I will rise when I fallen. I will rip the heart from my opponent and leave it beating on the ground. 

WHO AM I?

I AM A CHAMPION!!!

My opponent may not fear me but he will respect me and if he does not. I will make him respect me with all that I have to give.

WHO AM I?

I AM A CHAMPION!!!

Today will be that day, not tomorrow, not next week, but right now, right here in your house and in your home.

WHO AM I?

I AM A CHAMPION!!!

History will remember my name and he will not have to be kind. For I will have denied his criticisms and put in my own praise, No one will define me, no one will tell me what I can achieve, none will say I have not given all I have to give and none will take my glory.

WHO AM I?

I AM A CHAMPION!!!

WHO AM I?
I AM A CHAMPION!!!

WHO AM I?
I AM A CHAMPION!!!

If you believe and keep reminding yourself that you are a CHAMPION every single day, very soon there will come a day when you'll definitely become a CHAMPION!!!

"The harder you work, the luckier you get!!"

All the best!! :)

Wish you a Merry, Merry Christmas!! :)

Here's the happy time of the year, with Christmas and New Year ready to embrace us!! Along with warm greetings and big hugs from all our near and dear ones, it's time to have a few good laughs as well!! ;)

Why are male Christmas presents always a surprise? 

Female wrapping: Measure exact amount of paper. Cut sellotape pieces to required size and leave near at hand. Wrap one side of present in tight paper, stick with sellotape. Roll present onto other side and make sure sides are flat, stick. Fold down ends of paper into perfect triangular shapes, stick each point down. Put label on perfectly. (actual shape of present clearly visible) 

Male wrapping: Roll out paper. Place present in centre of metre square paper. Pick up two side of paper. Look for sellotape roll. Place two side of paper together down one side of present, nearly tight. Place one foot on present while using both hand and teeth to get beginning of sellotape. Unfurl 10 inch piece of tape, bite off, Stick side of paper to itself and present. Take two ends of present, now in paper tube. Placing one open end on the ground, sit on other end until there is no more give. Unfurl foot long piece of sellotape, bite in half. Stick crumpled mass of paper to itself. Turn over, stick other crumpled mass of paper to itself. Stand back and watch for five seconds to make sure paper doesn't open again. Get marker and write name on paper. (totally unidentifiable shape) 

Well, the presents I wrap are always a surprise, so you can imagine me doing all that is said in the above paragraph!! lol ;)

Now we know how Rudolf's nose got RED ;)
(Click on the images to view as slideshow)

An elderly man in Oklahoma calls his son who lives in New York. He says, "Son, I've to tell you that your mum and I are getting a divorce"

"Dad, what are you talking about, divorce after 45 years of marriage?" the son yells.

"Call your sister in Hong Kong and tell her!".

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck they're getting divorced", she shouts, "I'll take care of this."

She calls her elderly father immediately, and screams at him, "You are not getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, you hear me?" she yelled as she hung up the phone.

The old man hangs up his phone, turns to his wife, naughtily winks at her and says, "Okay darling, it's all set. They're both coming home for Christmas and paying their own air-fare."

Oh that sure hurts lol ;)

But, all he did was sneeze! ;)

Irish Interview

Murphy applied for a fork lift operator post at a famous Irish firm based in Dublin. A Norwegian applied for the same job and since both applicants had similar qualifications, they were asked to take a test and led to a quiet room with no interruptions by the Manager.

When the results were in, both men had scored 19 out of 20.

The manager went to Murphy and said, "Thank you for coming to the interview, but we've decided to give the job to the Norwegian."

Murphy: "And why would you be doing that? We both got 19 questions correct. This being Ireland and me being Irish surely I should get the job."

Manager: "We've made our decision not on the correct answers, but on the one question you guys got wrong."

Murphy: "And just how would one incorrect answer be better than another?"

Manager: "Simple, on question number 7 the Norwegian wrote his answer as, 'I don't know'.

And your put down, 'Neither do I'.

Poor Santa!! 

So, only women would be able to do it? lol
Photo Source: irelandcalling.ie

Cute!

That's my sister!! lol 

I'm in stage 1 lol ;)

Santa in trouble!! :)

lol

ha ha...

Cute

Image Source: Pusheen.com

Yes, looks like the cat was involved too! ;)

Reindeer are definitely better choice!!  ;)

Santa had his stomach full!  HO HO HO ;)

Merry Christmas

Tomorrow I am joining an English family here in Oxford for the traditional English Christmas dinner at their home, they are close friends and I was with them last Christmas too. So, I've just finished wrapping the presents for them - got them lovely china-ware dining set and I'm sure they gonna love it and it'll be a great addition to their kitchen collection :)

I am excitedly looking forward to do the Christmas prayer with them and then will have a great time with all of the family, will sing some songs too and most importantly I'm curious to know what presents I'm gonna get this year ;)

Faith makes all things possible,
Hope makes all things work,
Love makes all things beautiful,
May you have all the three for this Christmas.

Wishing a very Merry Christmas all of you, here's a big bear hug from me (((((hugs))))) :)

And finally, here is my message to Santa Claus,

Wanna Laugh? ;)

If you wanna laugh, then read on...

Photo Credit: http://themommyguide.com/

It was that time, during the Sunday morning service, for the children's sermon. All the children were invited to come forward. One little girl was wearing a particularly pretty dress and, as she sat down, the minister leaned over and said, "That is a very pretty dress. Is it your Easter Dress?"

The little girl replied directly into the minister's clip-on microphone, "Yes, and my Mum says it's a bitch to iron."

An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked him, "How do you expect to get into Heaven?"

The boy thought it over and said, "Well, I'll run in and out and in and out and keep slamming the door until St. Peter says, 'For Heaven's sake, Dylan, come in or stay out!' "

A woman was six months pregnant, her three year old daughter came into the room when she was getting ready to get into the shower.

She said, "Mummy, you are getting fat!"

The woman replied, "Yes honey, remember Mummy has a baby growing in her tummy."

She replied, "I know, but what's growing in your bum?"

A little boy walks up to his father and says "Papa, I need fifty dollars." The father says, "Forty dollars?! I don't have thirty dollars! What do you need twenty dollars for? Here's ten dollars." In the end, he hands the boy a 'five' dollar note and says, "Split it with your brothers."
"And don't forget to bring back the change."

A certain little girl, when asked her name, would reply, "I'm Mr. Sugarbrown's daughter."

Her mother told her this was wrong, she must say, "I'm Jane Sugarbrown."

The Vicar spoke to her in Sunday School, and said, "Aren't you Mr. Sugarbrown's daughter?"

She replied, "I thought I was, but my mother says I'm not."

A couple had two little boys ages 8 and 10, both were extremely mischievous. They were always getting into trouble and their parents knew that if any mischief occurred in the town, their sons would get the blame. The boys' mother heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The clergyman agreed, and asked to see them individually. So, the mother sent her 8-year-old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the clergyman in the afternoon. 

The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, "Where is God?". They boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there with his mouth hanging open. The clergyman repeated the question. "Where is God?". Again, the boy made no attempt to answer. So the clergyman raised his voice some more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, "Where is God!?". The boy screamed and bolted from the room.

He ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, "What happened?".

The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, "We are in big trouble this time! God is missing and they think we did it!". 

A woman invited some people to dinner. 

At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, 

"Would you like to say the blessing?" she said. 

"I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied. 

"Just say what you hear Mommy say," the woman answered. 

The daughter bowed her head and said, 

"Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?". 

A small boy is sent to bed by his father. 

Five minutes later. He shouts, "Da-ad...."

"What?"

"I'm thirsty. Can you bring a glass of water?"

"No, You had your chance. Lights out."

Five minutes later: He shouts again, "Da-aaaad....."

"WHAT?"

"I'm THIRSTY. Can I have a glass of water??"

"I told you NO! If you ask again, I'll have to smack you!!"

Five more minutes later: "Daaaa-aaaad....."

"WHAT!"

"When you come in to smack me, can you bring a glass of water?"

If any of the jokes gave you a laugh, let me know which one, in the comments column! :)

Now for some 'Seasonal' humour  ;)

Click on the image to view as Slideshow

Happy Sunday!! :)

Cheers!! :)

Romantic Randoms :)

Had a delicious dinner tonight, my cooking skills are improving day by day, who knows I might become a chef someday lol ;) 

Here are some of my randomly favourite romantic words and quotes on love :) 

All the images are owned by their respective authors, I'm willing to give full credit to them if the details of the sources are brought to my notice.

Click on the image to view as slideshow :)

Photo Credit: Instagram & Pinterest: Steve Maraboli 

Photo Credit: AstheticAspirations.Tumblr

 Photo Credit: Hplyrikz.com

Photo Credit: jucoolimages.com

Have a Great day!! :) 

Cheers!! :)