Entrée Café revisited

Replaced by Obanhmi.

Here's my previous blogged visit to Entrée Café. After that, I actually had many un-blogged lunches and dinners at this cafe. :D

Spaghetti Aglio Olio with Chicken Fingers

This is a perfect carbo-loaded dish for pasta and chicken nuggets lovers.

Basil Chicken with Rice, Omelet, and Salad

This is one of my favorite dishes for lunch. I love basil and the tongue-tingling basil-chicken combo is really good. Plus, you get a huge omelet! Great deal for money.

Mozzarella Cheese and Mushrooms Stuffed Chicken Thigh with Brown Sauce and served with Sauteed Vegetables

What a mouthful! I still remember how deliciously cheesy this dish is. Cheese with mushrooms within a slab of chicken thigh - quite a creative combo with great taste too!

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Here's the address again:

 33, Jalan SS21/56B, Damansara Uptown, Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Same row as The Ship)

Find them on Facebook too.


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Follow this tag to read about my gastro-escapades at Entrée.

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Road trip 2: Singapore

Friday night

• Hubby & I had dinner on Friday night with some of my Singapore colleagues at Cha Cha Cha Mexican Restaurant, Holland Village.
• The Mexican dishes were really good - tortillas, burritos, fajitas, nachos, quesadilla, you name it. We should have tried the margaritas.
• By the way, I whacked almost all guacamole - that green, creamy avocado stuff - from the plates. Oops.

Saturday early noon

• The next day, we had brunch with JC & her husband IL at The Marmalade Pantry, ION Orchard.
• Hubby & I shared a cupcake called The Granny's Apple. I'm not a fan of cupcakes, but this one wasn't too bad. For my mild caffeine fix, I had a cup of Latte with a cube of brown sugar.
• Then, we adjourned to Dhoby Ghaut station and Park Mall.

Saturday late noon & evening

• Late noon, we met up with KT & his wife WN. We took a stroll along the streets from Park Mall to Raffles City. The weather was really good - gentle breeze and lovely sunshine. Perfect!
• I really enjoyed the sense of security. For once, I wasn't paranoid AT ALL while walking down the streets with my handbag swinging around.
• We reached O redmango at Esplanade. KT & WN recommended yogurt from this outlet. Hubby & I had the 2-fruit-1-cereal yogurt combo. We chose blackberries, kiwi, and mixed nuts. Yummylicious!
• After saying goodbye to KT & WN, we met up with PL & MT for dinner at Hog's Breath Cafe, Chijmes. Seeing Apple Cider on the menu, I ordered it without second thoughts!

 Saturday night

• After Chijmes, we adjourned to Marina Bay Sands.
• We spent the night "ogling" at the beauty of man-made garden at Gardens by the Bay and also the awesome three-tower structure. Too bad we could only view the Singapore Flyer from afar. I would love to go up that monstrous "wheel" one day.

Sunday

• We had homemade breakfast at Pasir Ris before meeting up with DL & his wife CT for brunch at Tampines.
• The wantan mee hubby & I had for brunch was really good. The chili oil added extra kick to the noodles.
• On a side note, I enjoyed taking the MRT although we didn't have seats most of the time. Empty seats were available when we were traveling after 11 p.m.
• By the way, that handsome little pooch in the photo above is Summer, a Mini Maltese.

Monday morning & noon

• On the morning before we left Singapore, we met up with hubby's uncle & his wife for breakfast at Ya Kun Kaya Toast, Bugis Junction.
• Hubby & I had the Cheese Kaya Toast set that came with two huge soft-boiled eggs. Perfect brekkie!
• Then, we adjourned to Bugis Point for lunch and we all had Kueh Chap.

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We will come back again for more adventure!

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Have you read Road trip 1: Taiping?

You may also follow this tag: Travel for more updates. :)

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Banana-strawberry-blueberry smoothie

Two weeks ago, we made banana-strawberry smoothie with a smoothie maker.

Last week, we made banana-strawberry-blueberry smoothie, also with our trusted smoothie maker.

Ingredients:

Bananas, strawberries, blueberries, fresh milk, plain yogurt, honey, ice cubes

Choose a smoothie cup. Put in a handful of ice cubes, followed by bananas, blueberries, and strawberries.

Don't forget to add a few tablespoons of yogurt, a cup of milk, and a drizzle of honey.

Secure the cup to the smoothie maker and tighten it until your hear a "click" sound. Then, turn the cup upside-down to activate the motor.

Note: If nothing happens after you turn the cup upside-down, return it to its original position and try tightening the cup again. This may take a few times until you're familiar with how much strength you need to secure the cup properly.

After 20 seconds or so, stop the motor by turning the cup down. Then, unscrew the cup from the smoothie maker.

Tada! Smooooooooothie!

This is the perfect, healthy, delicious dessert on a lazy Saturday afternoon. :)

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Road trip 1: Taiping

6 highlights from our road trip to Taiping last weekend.

 

#1 - We traveled in a Toyota Prius. 

We started our journey around 1:30 p.m. and reached Taiping around 5:30 p.m. There were pockets of jam on the North-South Highway, particularly along the Slim River-Sungkai stretch.

#2 - In a restaurant, we saw a stack of towels with a card that says, "Please use the towel if you get wet." 

Now, that's true hospitality in a wet town with frequent out-of-the-blue drizzles.

#3 - We watched Total Recall as our first out-of-town movie at BIG Cinemas, Taiping Sentral. 

I think this is the only cinema in Taiping.

#4 - We attended Kenny & Wenny's wedding dinner. 

Kenny is the hubby's cousin. Wenny is Kenny's childhood friend and now they are husband and wife. Sweet!

#5 - I love this yellow bodywrap dress that I wore for Kenny & Wenny's wedding. 

This wicked little dress fits perfectly and accentuates curves. :)

Note: This photo is taken 2.5 months after I have done The Right Approach (TRA) program. :)

#6 - Raya cookies from my auntie.

One of my uncles married a Malay lady who makes really delicious Raya cookies that melt in your mouth!


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Have you read Road trip 2: Singapore?

You may also follow this tag: Travel for more updates. :)

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Movie: Total Recall (2012)

Is it real? Is it recall?

Total Recall (2012) is the remake of Total Recall (1990). However, unlike its predecessor, the 2012 movie, directed by Underworld's Len Wiseman, eliminates Mars from its storyline and focuses on economical and political tension between two nation states - the United Federation of Britain (U.F.B.) and the Colony (Australia).

Synopsis: By late 21st century, Earth has been decimated by nuclear war, leaving only two nations - the United Federation of Britain (U.F.B.) and the Colony (Australia). Factory worker Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell) lives in the Colony with his gorgeous wife Lori (Kate Beckinsale). Amidst going through the motion of his mundane life, Quaid decides to go to Rekall, a company that could grant him the memory of the ultimate espionage adventure he desires. Something goes terribly wrong, causing Quaid to rediscover his identity and join forces with rebel soldier Melina (Jessica Biel). Together, they track down Matthias (Bill Nighy), the head of a resistance movement labeled a terrorist organization by the ruthless Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston) from U.F.B. who seeks to invade the Colony. Quaid, now Hauser, must stop Cohaagen at all cost before the tyrant invades the Colony and controls the entire free world.

Total Recall (2012) keeps the basic premise from the 1990 movie whereby Quaid has recurring nightmares that ultimately lead to him to discover his true identity. Some characters stay put - Melina as Quaid's love interest, Lori as Quaid's 'wife', and Cohaagen as the ruthless tyrant.

What differs is the main plot whereby the story of Mars is 'scraped' and replaced with economic and political tension between two nation states on Earth. There's no more Kuato (mutant rebel leader in the 1990 movie) but there's a Matthias (human) as the rebel movement's leader.

Since this movie is a remake, I couldn't help but compare the actors.

Character: Douglas Quaid / Hauser

Actor: Arnold Schwarzenegger (1990); Colin Farrell (2012)

Character: Lori (Quaid's 'wife')
Actress: Sharon Stone (1990); Kate Beckinsale (2012)

Character: Melina (Quaid's love interest) 
Actress: Rachel Ticotin (1990); Jessica Biel (2012) 

In the 1990 movie, Sharon Stone's character Lori was ended pretty quickly and Richter (Michael Ironside), another Cohaagen's bad ass took over. In the 2012 movie, Richter's character is eliminated and Lori becomes Cohaagen's bad ass 'bitch'. I like this idea! Kate Beckinsale is awesome as Lori! If you have seen her as Serena in Underworld, you will love seeing her in action.

Jessica Biel, despite having less screen time, provides one of the best onscreen cat fights ever with Kate Beckinsale!

Total Recall is never about character development. It thrives on action-packed sci-fi adventures and tension between those in power and those who rebel. And of course, cat fights between two lead actresses will always steal the screen.

In fact, I enjoy watching this movie mainly because of Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel! :D

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Project: Reflect 52 #33 - The 'older me'

"When it gets hard, remember: you are not alone, it gets better. I'm waiting for you!"

I'm glad there's no such thing as time travel because I wouldn't want to travel back to the 'younger me' time. I like the current 'older me'.

When I was young, I was very insecure, self-conscious, pessimistic, and I have very low self esteem. Almost everything is negative to me. That's because I regard myself as an anti-social, plain-looking, fat girl whom nobody likes. Really, I don't like me at that time. I always hope I have the ability to become unseen.

13 years later, I've left that 'younger me' behind for good. Given the choice, I would like the 'older me' to arrive earlier. The 'older me' has a healthy level of confidence, optimism, good self esteem, and positivity. I have good friends and I like how I look now. I don't have the body of a supermodel or an athlete, but I bear the testimony of new-found health and slenderness.

"In youth we learn; in age we understand."

- Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach

To all young ladies out there, don't be afraid of growing old. I can tell you, I enjoy the process of aging... gracefully and meaningfully! :)

If parallel reality is real, I want to tell my 'younger me', "Come and join me now! You will love me!"

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joycescapade.com turns FIVE today!

Photo source 

To many more wonderful
blogging years to come!

Happy 5th Birthday, Bloggie!

 Stay updated, as always. :)

17 Aug 2008: 1st Birthday

17 Aug 2009: 2nd Birthday

17 Aug 2010: 3rd Birthday

31 March 2010: Own domain

17 August 2011: 4th Birthday

Love,

joycescapade.com

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Movie: Apartment 143 (Emergo) (2011)

The first real ghost story

Apartment 143 (Emergo) (2011) is the latest edition to the found-footage camcorder horror genre on league with 'The Blair Witch Project', 'Rec', and 'Paranormal Activity'.

Synopsis: A team of parapsychologists - Dr. Helzer (Michael O'Keefe), Paul (Rick Gonzalez), and Ellen (Fiona Glascott) - sets out to investigate a series of anomalous phenomena taking place in an apartment of a family of three - the father Alan White (Kai Lennox), his teenage daughter Caitlin (Gia Mantegna), and 4-year old son Benny (Damian Roman).

Telephone calls with no caller, mysterious shadows, extraordinary light emissions, flying objects, and exploding light bulbs, are some of the events they will face while recording their every step with state-of-the-art technology. Using infra-red filming, digital photography, psychophonic recordings, movement detectors, and magnetic field alteration meters, the group's attempts to contact the "other side" will grow increasingly dangerous as they near a point of no return...

Quite a flawed movie despite its efforts to maintain a balance between scientific explanations and supernatural occurrences.

Here are some of the reasons:

There is a lot of techno-talk on how the pieces of investigative equipment work to eliminate possible natural causes for the phenomenon. The rest is philoso-babble on how poltergeists might possibly come from subconscious "demons" in one's inability to cope with tragedy. It was like it was a priority in the writing to suggest this to the audience. Everything that happens seems to deny this hypothesis, but it doesn't really matter. The film struggles to tell its story... It would have really been nice had the creators focused more on the characters in the story and their relationship to one another.... We are given a number of suggestions, but never any unity between the indications as to the cause of the disturbances. The result is a movie that has a few riveting scares, but no idea of what it wants to accomplish—and then it finishes by indulging in horror clichés and "restless spirit" imagery. [via]

Camera formats change every once in a while to keep things from getting too visually stale, alternating between surveillance cameras, head-mounted models, and more formal over-the-shoulder interview arrangements. It's a move which hardly alleviates the fact that too many dialogue exchanges involve our scientists explaining their gadgets at great length and splitting hairs as to the proper definition of the phenomena at hand, while most of the scare scenes are old hat routines of panning a strobe light across an empty space until something pops up or hosting a seance that draws ghostly attention. When a character explains towards the end that the team had to test every hypothesis, it feels like a coded cop-out for the filmmakers to cycle through every tried-and-true scenario on a haunted-house checklist... The cast can't really be faulted on its part, with every actor playing their respective types well (puzzled experts, curious kid, angsty teen), though Lennox gets to run the greatest emotional gamut as the harried widower, culminating in a tremendous, sustained confession scene that is arguably more effective than any of the scares on display. [via]

Umm... I won't recommend this movie (DVD) unless you have nothing else to watch, which is quite unlikely. :)

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DiB Coffees of Hawaii - 1st Deaf-run Gourmet Coffee chain in Malaysia

First, let's understand the meaning of DiB from Dr. Allen Teh, Founder and CEO of DiB Coffees of Hawaii.

Been thinking what DiB stands for? It stands for Deaf in Business.

Not only is the business concept of DiB Coffees of Hawaii most unique, featuring the best coffees and tisanes (herbal tea) from the islands of Hawaii, our team is also equally unique: 100% of our staff are deaf/hard of hearing, guided by a few hearing Coaches. All of them do not have any experience as a Barista and neither do they have any restaurant experience. But... what they have is the eagerness to learn, to work hard to ensure a better future for themselves and their families. Some of them harbor hopes to become an entrepreneur in the future.

Here at DiB Coffees of Hawaii, we hope that we can play a small part in this giant universe, to guide, teach, coach and mentor these precious people so that they can be gainfully employed and for some, they may just end up as an owner of a DiB Coffees of Hawaii outlet, when we start to expand.

Our Business Vision is to become a successful and profitable 1st Deaf-run Gourmet Coffee chain in Malaysia and internationally. To achieve this Vision, we will have to continue motivating and encouraging more and more deaf/hearing-impaired people to have more faith in themselves, dare to be independent, dare to venture into new territories, overcome their many fears and lack of trust and finally, be willing to work hard and perform even better than normal-hearing people.

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Podcast from BFM: DiB (Deaf in Business) Coffees of Hawaii

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 I came to know about this wonderful place from Melissa who has blogged about DiB's unique Hawaiian coffee-making process.

So, here's my turn of witnessing the making of my cup of brewed-on-demand 100% Kona Nightingale with a Siphon Coffee Maker.

Siphon coffee makers are made up of four parts:

1) the bottom container where the hot water initially sits and the brewed coffee eventually rests;

2) a top container that has a siphon tube attached to it (and a hole in the bottom of the vessel), where the coffee brewing takes place;

3) a type of sealing material (usually a rubber gasket) to help create a partial vacuum in the lower vessel while brewing is taking place;

4) a filter, which can be made of glass, paper, metal, or cloth.

More info here.

Hot water is poured into the bottom container and coffee grounds (in this case Kona) are poured into the top container. Now, the setup is ready and the portable burner is switched on by a DiB staff.

  
As the water in the bottom container starts to move up to the top container, I begin to stir the coffee and water mixture with a flat, wooden stirrer. The heat from the burner ensures the right amount of water flowing up and enough steam to pass through the brewing (not boiling) coffee.

After one minute or so, the burner is switched off to allow steeping time. The vapor in the bottom container starts to contract and change back to water. This creates a partial vacuum that pulls the brewed coffee from the top container, through the filter, back to the bottom container.

What remains is a round ''coffee dome'' at the filter.

The bottom container with brewed coffee is left on its stand. So cute!
 

My siphon coffee making experience is done! I'm definitely ready to enjoy my fantastic Kona coffee with a little jug of hot milk.

Waffle with butter and maple syrup.

For menu, click here.

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 More information:

Website | Facebook

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There are two outlets:

DiB 1: 11-A-1, Jalan PJU 8/5A, Bandar Damansara Perdana
Landmark: Nearby Mum's Place

Business Hours:

Mon, Wed-Fri (8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.)
Closed on Tuesdays
Sat - Sun (8:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.)

DiB 2: 1st Floor, Menara Gamuda, Block D, PJ Trade Centre, Jalan PJU 8/8A, Bandar Damansara Perdana

Business Hours:

Mon-Fri (7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.)
Sat (8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)

 Closed on Sundays

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Project: Reflect 52 #32 - I got promoted!

Yes, I got promoted!

*throws confetti*

This, among others, is my best piece of news of the week.

And thus, I'm sharing with you five really good inspirational quotes from Karen Salmansohn. I've chosen them based on my experience from Monday to Friday of the past week.

Monday - Believe

"Believe in what you want so much that it has no choice but to materialize."

Believe is a very strong element. I'm learning to believe by rejecting my natural self-sabotaging and self-discounting reaction. Instead of saying, "No, I don't think they will agree to meet us," change it to, "Yes, I've arranged an appointment with them."

Tuesday - Choose

"Happy Chooseday! Choose wisely."

I learn to choose forward thoughts and habits such as love, faith, peace. I don't lose anything. I might only lose negative or skeptical friends, hahaha.

Dear friends, if you find that I'm becoming so very "annoying" with such new-found optimism, believe me, I've never felt so alive in a very long time.

Wednesday - Faith

"When your faith is stronger than your fears, you can make your dreams happen."

This is very, very true. Fear of failure is what holds us back from achieving our goals and dreams. And thus, I don't want to think about failure. I choose to have faith in the fact that I will be successful.

You may ask what do I mean by successful. I would say, success is a very subjective matter. My definition might be different from yours, so let's just pay attention to what you want for yourself. Enough with the comparison and complaints about impossibilities.

Thursday - Focus

"What you focus on creates how you feel and what you get."

Yes, I'm learning to focus on and visualize about success and possibilities. I try not to focus on how impossible a task is.

I will always remember the quote that governs my life, "If it is to be, it is up to me." It is up to me to create how I feel and what I get. No one can do this for me.

Friday - Chase

"Chase what your love! Don't follow your fears!"

Definitely! What's the point of living your entire life in fear, skepticism, cynicism, and constant what-ifs? Why don't open yourself to learn about things that all these while, you think you don't like or don't want? What is there to lose? As long as the opportunities aren't inhumane, unethical or lawless, what is there to fear about?


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Not so long ago, I find people who are delusionally optimistic, annoying. Now, I find those (including my previous self) who are constantly skeptical and pessimistic, pathetic. I don't want to live the next decades of my life full of what-ifs and regrets.

A lot of good things have happened to me in the first three quarters of this year. I want to have more blessed days, months, years to come! I know I already have them in store for me. :)

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Banana-strawberry smoothie

This is our smoothie maker, a wedding present from the hubby's cousin.

One day, we decided to meet up with Cheryl and Melissa to make use of the smoothie maker, which was still unused and nicely kept in its box. :P

We bought bananas, fresh milk, and plain yogurt. Cheryl prepared an ample supply of fresh strawberries, ice cubes, and honey.

Ingredients:

Bananas (halved), fresh strawberries (halved), 300ml fresh milk, 3-4 tablespoons plain yogurt, ice cubes, a drizzle of honey (optional)

Melissa and Cheryl put everything into the blender cup, screwed it intact at the smoothie maker, and let the machine did its magic.

Tada! Smooooooooothie!

We made another smoothie:
Banana-strawberry-blueberry smoothie

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I'm a Blue

I took the test called Your Personality Color and found out that I'm a Blue. The description below suits me very well.

Connect with people

Blues are motivated by intimacy. You seek to genuinely connect with others, and need to be understood and appreciated.

You are sensitive to the needs of others and caring with your close circle of friends. While you are friendly and sociable, you prefer the company of your own close group of friends.

Whatever or whomever you commit to is your sole (and soul) focus. You love to serve and give of yourself freely in order to nurture others' lives.

You love to be needed but one of your lessons is to learn to love yourself first - you live from your heart and are always busy putting the needs of others first. 

Loyal, trustworthy & responsible

You are a loyal friend, employer, and employee. You are conservative, reliable, and trustworthy.

You make a loyal and faithful marriage partner and you are an honest, trustworthy, and sincere friend. You form strong attachments, but risk a tendency to become codependent.

You are quite trusting of others although you are very wary in the beginning until you are sure of the other person. At the same time, you also have a deep need to be trusted.

You are genuine and sincere, and you take your responsibilities seriously.

Think before act

 You are not impulsive or spontaneous. You always think before you speak and act and do everything at your own pace in your own time. You take time to process and share your feelings.

You appear to be confident and self-controlled, but may be hiding your vulnerable side. 

Sentimental & emotional

You are generally fairly even-tempered, unless your emotions take over. Then you can become either moody and over-emotional, or cool and indifferent.

You are sentimental and love things from the past. You can be quite emotional, aware of others feelings, and sensitive to the moods of others.

You can be too cautious and worry about every little thing. If reacting negatively, you are prone to self-pity.

 Routine is everything

You can be rigid. You like to stick to what is familiar to you and it is hard to sway you from your path. You stubbornly do things your way even if there is a better way.

You need to have direction and order in your living and work spaces - untidiness and unpredictability overwhelm you. 

Deep need for peace & harmony

You have a deep need for peace and harmony in your everyday life. You don't like having your feathers ruffled.

You compare the present to the past, looking to authority figures, parents, bosses or other leaders, to support your beliefs about the world.

You have a thirst for knowledge in order to gain wisdom and appear knowledgeable in whatever area interests you.

You are spiritual or religious with a high degree of devotion to family, God, or other causes that are important to you.

Your deepest need is to find inner peace and truth, to live your life according to your own ideals and beliefs without having to change your inflexible viewpoint of life to satisfy others.

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25 quotes I like from The Secret

Photo source

1. Whatever is going on in your mind is what you are attracting. We are like magnets - like attract like. You become and attract what you think. 

2. Choose your thoughts carefully. You are the masterpiece of your life. 

3. Whatever it is you are feeling, is a perfect reflection of what is in the process of becoming.

4. Happy feelings will attract more happy circumstances.

5. What you focus on with your thoughts and feelings is what you attract into your experience.

6. It is important to feel ( ( ( ( (((good))) ) ) ) )!

7.  You can change your emotion immediately by thinking of something joyful, or singing a song, or remembering a happy experience. 

8. Start by using this sentence for all of your wants, "I'm so happy and grateful now that..."

9. You might get an inspired thought or idea to help you move towards what you want faster.

10. Don't delay, don't second-guess, don't doubt. When the opportunity or impulse is there, act! 

11. You will attract everything you require - money, people, connections. Pay attention to what is being set in front of you.

12. You can start with nothing, and out of nothing or no way, a way will be provided. 

13. The more aligned you are with positive feelings, the quicker things happen. 

14. What can you do right now to turn your life around? Gratitude.

15. What we think about and thank about is what we bring about. 

16. Feel the gratitude. Focus on what you have right now that you are grateful for. 

17. Visualize! Rehearse your future. See it, feel it! This is where action begins.

18. Feel the joy! Feel the happiness! 

19. An affirmative thought is 100 times more powerful than a negative one. 

20. Create a Vision Board with pictures of what you want to attract. Look at it every day and get into the feeling state of already having acquired these wants. 

21. "Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions." Albert Einstein 

22. Decide what you want, believe you can have it, believe you deserve it, believe it is possible for you! 

23. "Whatever the mind of man can conceive, it can achieve." W. Clement Stone 

24. Set a goal so big that if you achieved it, it would blow your mind. 

25. Let the variety of your reality thrill you as you choose all the things you want. Get behind the good feelings of all your wants. Remove your attention from don't-wants and place them on do-wants.

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