Life Archives - Sweet Sharings https://sweetsharings.com/category/blog/life/ Eat Healthy, Make time for Adventure and Count your Blessings! Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:38:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/sweetsharings.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/cropped-IMG_3674-300x300-1-e1635944012858.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Life Archives - Sweet Sharings https://sweetsharings.com/category/blog/life/ 32 32 199328110 A Return to Sharing, Inspired by My Father.  https://sweetsharings.com/inspired-sharing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=inspired-sharing https://sweetsharings.com/inspired-sharing/#respond Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:08:40 +0000 https://sweetsharings.com/?p=8163 https://sweetsharings.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/I-am-back.jpg I used to be very active on social media and on my blog, sharing stories, reflections, and moments from my life. Over the years, I stepped back. I needed rest. I needed space. And slowly, I became more guarded, sharing only on a “need to know” basis. There were many reasons for this pause. Tiredness. Demotivation. Hurtful comments that came from envy and resentment rather than kindness. You know, you can say negative things about someone behind their back, but sooner or later, those words find their way back to the person.  Even with genuine friends encouraging me to return, I felt too weak at the time to face it all again. It especially stung when unkind words came from people I thought were close. I shared with the intention to inspire, never to make anyone feel “less than.” Yet that was how some chose to receive it. For me, writing and creating digital content were a form of therapy. I create and share for the joy it brings me, for the healing it gives me. They were a way to process my thoughts, to make sense of my experiences, and to nurture my own mental happiness. When I wrote, I felt lighter. When I shared, I felt connected. That was my reward. This journey actually began in 1998, when my father gave me my very first computer. I started an old blog that year, a simple space to write and reflect during a difficult time in my life. Later, I deleted that original blog and started a new one in 2000, which grew over the years before being neglected for a long time. Through it all, one thing remained constant: my dad’s belief that I needed an outlet. Dad saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself at the time. He believed that writing could be a safe space for me, a place to pour out my heart and find clarity. He was right. That simple act of giving me a computer opened a door that has stayed with me ever since. Thank you, Dad. ❤️ It was not just blogging. It was creating. I started with my poems, then moved into designing graphics, dabbling in web design, and eventually creating short stories in video form on Instagram and Facebook. Each new medium was another way to express what words alone could not capture. Each creation was a small act of joy, a reminder that I could create something beautiful out of my thoughts and feelings. With time and the passing of my dad, something has shifted in me. I have come to realise that others’ negativity, the need to compare, jealousy and insecurities….belong to them. My life, my journey, and my reasons for sharing belong wholly to me. None of us are dealt a “bad card” in life. What I have may not be what you have, and what you have may not be what I have. Each of us carries a unique set of gifts, challenges, and blessings. It is sad when people focus only on what they do not have, and allow envy to grow in that space. But there is another way. It is so much lighter, and so much more beautiful, to choose genuine happiness for others. Not just the surface kind we show outwardly, or say in words, but the kind we truly feel in our hearts. When you are genuinely happy for someone else’s good fortune, you open your own heart to receive blessings too. They may not come in the same form, but they will come. Now, after the passing of my dad, something inside me has been activated again. The need to write, to create, to share. Grief has a way of stripping away what is unnecessary and revealing what truly matters. And what matters to me is this: to honour my father’s memory, to keep his love alive in the words I write and the things I create, and to find my own sense of peace in the act of creating. I believe that God has blessed everyone, just in different ways. Some blessings are visible: health, wealth, family, success, stability. Others are quiet and unseen: resilience, kindness, a gentle spirit, the ability to love deeply after loss. What matters is not comparing our cards, but playing the hand we’ve been given with grace and gratitude. Happiness is a Journey and a Choice, not a Destination. It is found in small moments: a walk in nature, a heartfelt conversation, a memory that makes us smile, a story shared with the hope of inspiring someone else. It is found when we release comparison, when we celebrate others without keeping score, and when we remember that our worth is not defined by what others say or think. As I return to this space, I do so with a lighter heart. I share not to impress, not to prove, not to build anything, but to connect and to heal. To say: You are not alone. Your journey matters. Your blessings matter. And to remind myself, and perhaps you too, that joy is always available, if we choose it. Always remember: happiness is a journey and a choice. Choose it today. And then choose it again tomorrow. Thank you, Dad, for the computer, for the belief, for the gift of words, and for inspiring a lifetime of creating. This return is for you. ❤️❤️❤️ – Nur Diyanah Magness – 17 August 2026

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]]> I used to be very active on social media and on my blog, sharing stories, reflections, and moments from my life. Over the years, I stepped back. I needed rest. I needed space. And slowly, I became more guarded, sharing only on a “need to know” basis. There were many reasons for this pause. Tiredness. Demotivation. Hurtful comments that came from envy and resentment rather than kindness. You know, you can say negative things about someone behind their back, but sooner or later, those words find their way back to the person. 

Even with genuine friends encouraging me to return, I felt too weak at the time to face it all again. It especially stung when unkind words came from people I thought were close. I shared with the intention to inspire, never to make anyone feel “less than.” Yet that was how some chose to receive it. For me, writing and creating digital content were a form of therapy. I create and share for the joy it brings me, for the healing it gives me. They were a way to process my thoughts, to make sense of my experiences, and to nurture my own mental happiness. When I wrote, I felt lighter. When I shared, I felt connected. That was my reward.

Dad inspired me

This journey actually began in 1998, when my father gave me my very first computer. I started an old blog that year, a simple space to write and reflect during a difficult time in my life. Later, I deleted that original blog and started a new one in 2000, which grew over the years before being neglected for a long time. Through it all, one thing remained constant: my dad’s belief that I needed an outlet. Dad saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself at the time. He believed that writing could be a safe space for me, a place to pour out my heart and find clarity. He was right. That simple act of giving me a computer opened a door that has stayed with me ever since. Thank you, Dad. ❤

It was not just blogging. It was creating. I started with my poems, then moved into designing graphics, dabbling in web design, and eventually creating short stories in video form on Instagram and Facebook. Each new medium was another way to express what words alone could not capture. Each creation was a small act of joy, a reminder that I could create something beautiful out of my thoughts and feelings. With time and the passing of my dad, something has shifted in me. I have come to realise that others’ negativity, the need to compare, jealousy and insecurities….belong to them. My life, my journey, and my reasons for sharing belong wholly to me.


None of us are dealt a “bad card” in life. What I have may not be what you have, and what you have may not be what I have. Each of us carries a unique set of gifts, challenges, and blessings. It is sad when people focus only on what they do not have, and allow envy to grow in that space. But there is another way. It is so much lighter, and so much more beautiful, to choose genuine happiness for others. Not just the surface kind we show outwardly, or say in words, but the kind we truly feel in our hearts. When you are genuinely happy for someone else’s good fortune, you open your own heart to receive blessings too. They may not come in the same form, but they will come.

Now, after the passing of my dad, something inside me has been activated again. The need to write, to create, to share. Grief has a way of stripping away what is unnecessary and revealing what truly matters. And what matters to me is this: to honour my father’s memory, to keep his love alive in the words I write and the things I create, and to find my own sense of peace in the act of creating.

I believe that God has blessed everyone, just in different ways. Some blessings are visible: health, wealth, family, success, stability. Others are quiet and unseen: resilience, kindness, a gentle spirit, the ability to love deeply after loss. What matters is not comparing our cards, but playing the hand we’ve been given with grace and gratitude.

Happiness is a Journey and a Choice, not a Destination. It is found in small moments: a walk in nature, a heartfelt conversation, a memory that makes us smile, a story shared with the hope of inspiring someone else. It is found when we release comparison, when we celebrate others without keeping score, and when we remember that our worth is not defined by what others say or think.

As I return to this space, I do so with a lighter heart. I share not to impress, not to prove, not to build anything, but to connect and to heal. To say: You are not alone. Your journey matters. Your blessings matter. And to remind myself, and perhaps you too, that joy is always available, if we choose it.

Happiness is a Journey

Always remember: happiness is a journey and a choice. Choose it today. And then choose it again tomorrow. Thank you, Dad, for the computer, for the belief, for the gift of words, and for inspiring a lifetime of creating. This return is for you. ❤❤❤

– Nur Diyanah Magness – 17 August 2026

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]]> https://sweetsharings.com/inspired-sharing/feed/ 0 8163 Understanding Grief: A Journey Through Loss and Love https://sweetsharings.com/the-grief-that-waited/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-grief-that-waited https://sweetsharings.com/the-grief-that-waited/#respond Fri, 14 Aug 2026 19:53:35 +0000 https://sweetsharings.com/?p=8139 https://sweetsharings.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Tears.jpeg The speaker reflects on the profound loss of their father, who passed away unexpectedly. Initially overwhelmed by anger, they now confront their grief, recognizing its delayed arrival. Memories highlight their father's quiet love and presence, while the speaker also empathizes with their mother’s sorrow. Together, they navigate the ache of absence and find meaning in their shared memories.

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]]> I found it hard to cry when Dad left us a month ago, 11 July 2026. All I felt was anger, though I kept it carefully contained. Angry because I did not get to see him one last time, to say a final goodbye. It was so sudden, so final, that it left no space for preparation….only a quiet, unresolved ache. At first, there was a strange calm, as if I had been placed in the eye of something I could not yet feel. There were practical matters to attend to, people to speak with, and a sense that I had to remain steady for everyone else. The anger sat just beneath the surface, sharp, but controlled, while everything else stayed distant, almost unreal. But grief does not disappear. It waits.

I did not cry then. But now I understand that grief takes its own time. Only now, after returning to my home in the UK, the grief has begun. Grief waited for the long journey back, for the unpacking of suitcases, for the return to familiar routines. It waited until I was alone. Quietly, it found its way in, slowly and then all at once, catching up with me in ways I hadn’t expected.

Now it arrives in unexpected moments. In the stillness of the morning, late at nights, in quiet moments, when everything else falls away. I find myself thinking of him in the ordinary parts of life, the things I would have shared, the conversations we will never have again.

My father was a man of few words. He did not often speak of love, nor did he need to. His love was constant and unspoken. It was there in the small things. He showed it not through what he said, but through what he did….his presence, his patience, his steadiness and reliability, the quiet way that he was always there.

As a child, I did not always notice it. As an adult, I understood it more. And now, in his absence, I feel it most of all.

I think of the times he listened more than he spoke, offering just enough to guide without ever imposing. I think of the steadiness he brought into our lives, a quiet strength that asked for nothing in return. He was not a man who needed to be seen to be known …..he simply was, and that was enough.

Now I find myself thinking about Mum constantly. Losing a partner after 67 years together is an unimaginable loss. Dad was not only her husband, but also her companion, her routine, and such a central part of her everyday life. No words can truly express how difficult this must be for her.

I notice the quiet ways in which Mum is trying to remain close to him. She sleeps on Dad’s side of the bed and wears his shirts every day. These may seem like small things, but they show how much she misses him and how deeply their life together is woven into her heart.

Mum continues to show remarkable strength and composure, often giving the impression that she is managing well. But beneath that calm exterior, I know there must be an enormous sense of emptiness. She is missing the conversations, companionship, habits, and shared moments that filled their lives for so many years.

I can only imagine how painful this period must be for her. I hope she knows that she does not have to appear strong all the time, and that she is surrounded by people who love her, understand her, and will continue to support her as she learns to live with this loss.

Dad will always be part of our family and our memories. Although we were not able to say everything we wanted to say at the end, our love for him remains, and so does the life and love he shared with Mum and with all of us.

Grief has begun to teach me what I could not fully see before that love does not always announce itself. Sometimes it is silent, enduring, and woven so deeply into the fabric of your life that you only recognise its shape when it is gone. I am no longer angry in the same way. The sharpness has softened into something heavier, something more difficult to carry. It is the weight of missing him, not just in the big moments, but in all the small, ordinary ones that now feel incomplete. I did not get to say goodbye. But perhaps, in all the years we shared, in all the quiet ways he showed his love, he had already said everything that mattered. And in this silence, I feel most deeply what I have lost, not just my father, but the quiet, enduring love he carried so effortlessly.

I love and miss you so much, Daddy. 

– Nur Diyanah Magness – Aug 9, 2026

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]]> https://sweetsharings.com/the-grief-that-waited/feed/ 0 8139 Honoring Dad: Our Heartfelt Thanks to Family and Friends https://sweetsharings.com/thank-you/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thank-you https://sweetsharings.com/thank-you/#respond Tue, 11 Aug 2026 06:48:45 +0000 https://sweetsharings.com/?p=8130 https://sweetsharings.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/ThankYou.jpeg In memory of the author's father, who passed away on July 11, 2026, heartfelt gratitude is expressed to family and friends for their support during this difficult time. Their presence at the wake, prayers, and acts of kindness provided comfort and strength, honoring the father's legacy of love and togetherness.

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]]> To our dear family and friends,

It’s been a month now since dad’s passing. Born 11 February 1937 and left us on 11 July 2026.

On behalf of my family, I would like to express our deepest heartfelt gratitude to each of you who stood with us during this incredibly difficult time.

Thank you to those who attended my dad’s wake and funeral service. Your presence brought us comfort, honored his memory, and reminded us that he was deeply loved by so many. Seeing familiar faces, hearing your stories about him, and sharing in those final moments of tribute meant more to us than words can fully express. I met relatives and friends of family that I never met before at dad’s funeral and met those that I had not seen in decades. I wish I had seen them during happier times, but I will remember this as dad bringing us all together. 

To those who offered prayers, whether in person, over the phone, or through messages, please know that your spiritual support has been a source of strength and peace for our family. Your kindness has helped carry us through these dark days.

To everyone who reached out with calls, texts, cards, flowers, food, or simply by being there to listen and hold our hands—thank you. Your love and compassion have surrounded us like a warm embrace when we needed it most.

We are especially grateful to those who helped with arrangements, coordinated the service, prepared meals, or offered any practical or monetary support. Your generosity allowed us to focus on honoring Dad and being together as a family. Though we are heartbroken, we are also deeply blessed to have such caring people in our lives. My father was a man who valued family, friendship, and kindness….and through your actions, you have shown us that his spirit lives on in all of you.

Please accept our sincere thanks from the bottom of our hearts. We will always remember your love and support during this time of sorrow.

With love and gratitude,  ❤🙏

Nur Diyanah Magness – 11 August 2026

Dad
Forever in our Hearts

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]]> https://sweetsharings.com/thank-you/feed/ 0 8130 Crazy Era of Covid https://sweetsharings.com/crazy-era-of-covid/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=crazy-era-of-covid https://sweetsharings.com/crazy-era-of-covid/#respond Sun, 21 Nov 2021 00:18:13 +0000 https://sweetsharings.com/?p=1183 https://sweetsharings.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/mypie-1.jpg After a long spell, I have finally started Baking and Blogging again! The above featured photo is my first try of a baked chocolate pie. Notice the cracks and sunken center, a fail thanks to a new oven that's a little too hot. The baked versions of chocolate Pies can be quite tricky if the oven is too hot or if it is overbaked even in the slightest. Anyway, the above picture is of no relevance to what my rambling is about today though. It's just a sharing of a few of my photos :) Almost 2 years into this new norm …the crazy era of Covid! We were beginning to think that life would improve after the roll out of vaccinations, but then Covid had different plans for us. It did a big number on us humans and started mutating into many more strains.  Now booster shots are essential especially so for those of us living in a ‘4-Season Country’. It’s getting colder and soon it will be winter. It is during this time when the flu and Covid cases will rise drastically. The news informs us of Covid numbers already escalating during the past couple of months. We contracted Covid last year My husband and I still wear masks when we go out. We cannot afford to get ill with Covid again, especially not at our age. I feel like an alien when I am in the supermarkets or in town these days. People stare at us like we’re indeed aliens just because we still wear masks. What is up with this?? Going through Covid once is enough for a lifetime. It was a life changing experience. I will never wish it on anyone and I worry every single day for family and friends. We contracted Covid last year and managed to overcome it. I am truly grateful to be alive and I must admit..my whole perspective of life changed in March 2020. While many people are complaining and protesting and getting depressed being indoors and in lockdowns, I have come to terms with it and accepted it as the new norm. It is what it is! Just learn to live with it and have empathy and the decency to be vigilant and not endanger others. Positive thinking and an optimistic attitude Positive thinking, or an optimistic attitude, is the practice of focusing on the good in any given situation. It can have a big impact on your physical and mental health. That doesn’t mean you ignore reality or make light of problems. It simply means you approach the good and the bad in life with the expectation that things will go well. The benefits of Positive thinking are great and it is my wish and prayer that each and every one of us be able to find the inner strength to think and act Positive. On this note, please be Safe and practice good habits and have the empathy and common sense to not endanger yourself or anyone else.  For the love of Nature I love the outdoors and we are somewhat globe trotters, my husband and I, and especially him more so. It’s a blessing that we are both quite adaptable though, having learned to keep busy and occupy ourselves mentally and physically in activities not involving or being around other people and crowds. In fact, I am quite surprised to find myself feeling that 24 hours in a day is simply not enough these days!  Feeling Motivated My husband and I are quite content with the world being at our fingertips! It comes easy for him being in the IT sector. As for myself, I am feeling inspired and motivated to start my blog again …about time too! My energy levels have also improved to pursue new hobbies and learn new things.  Covid took a huge toll on my body and health. It took 20 months for my body to get back to almost what it was before Covid. I guess this is what you call ‘Long Covid‘. Only now I feel an improvement with my energy levels. Apart from experiencing a few medical issues that come with aging, it’s been somewhat exciting and fulfilling for me with the new found activities, our usual weekend coffee dates and walks in the woods away from crowds.  Thank You Mum I have been guilty of being a pessimist for the most of my life but this crazy era of Covid has taught me to always look at my glass half full instead of half empty. There is always something to be grateful for in Life. I have a lot to thank my parents for this, especially Mum …she is such a great example of positivity and inner strength…THANK YOU mum…You are such an inspiration!! I love You!!  Though I have a feeling this Crazy Era of Covid is going to stay for a while yet, I Hope and Pray that it ends soon. Hope is like water…it quenches the soul to keep on going. My latest project : Learning how to use WordPress which is a whole new content management system, and it has a new recipe software as well that I am having fun exploring. Revamping and updating all my ancient old posts so this will have my time cut out for me. Slowly but surely, I wll build up my Recipe Category Page. Never miss a new post or recipe! Subscribe for email updates. (it’s free!)

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]]> After a long spell, I have finally started Baking and Blogging again! The above featured photo is my first try of a baked chocolate pie. Notice the cracks and sunken center, a fail thanks to a new oven that's a little too hot. The baked versions of chocolate Pies can be quite tricky if the oven is too hot or if it is overbaked even in the slightest. Anyway, the above picture is of no relevance to what my rambling is about today though. It's just a sharing of a few of my photos :)

Almost 2 years into this new norm …the crazy era of Covid! We were beginning to think that life would improve after the roll out of vaccinations, but then Covid had different plans for us. It did a big number on us humans and started mutating into many more strains. 

Now booster shots are essential especially so for those of us living in a ‘4-Season Country’. It’s getting colder and soon it will be winter. It is during this time when the flu and Covid cases will rise drastically. The news informs us of Covid numbers already escalating during the past couple of months.

Crazy Era of Covid. The River Kennet just next to our home.
The River Kennet next to our home. (July 2021)
We contracted Covid last year

My husband and I still wear masks when we go out. We cannot afford to get ill with Covid again, especially not at our age. I feel like an alien when I am in the supermarkets or in town these days. People stare at us like we’re indeed aliens just because we still wear masks. What is up with this??

Going through Covid once is enough for a lifetime. It was a life changing experience. I will never wish it on anyone and I worry every single day for family and friends. We contracted Covid last year and managed to overcome it. I am truly grateful to be alive and I must admit..my whole perspective of life changed in March 2020. While many people are complaining and protesting and getting depressed being indoors and in lockdowns, I have come to terms with it and accepted it as the new norm. It is what it is! Just learn to live with it and have empathy and the decency to be vigilant and not endanger others.

Positive thinking and an optimistic attitude

Positive thinking, or an optimistic attitude, is the practice of focusing on the good in any given situation. It can have a big impact on your physical and mental health. That doesn’t mean you ignore reality or make light of problems. It simply means you approach the good and the bad in life with the expectation that things will go well.

The benefits of Positive thinking are great and it is my wish and prayer that each and every one of us be able to find the inner strength to think and act Positive. On this note, please be Safe and practice good habits and have the empathy and common sense to not endanger yourself or anyone else. 

For the love of Nature

I love the outdoors and we are somewhat globe trotters, my husband and I, and especially him more so. It’s a blessing that we are both quite adaptable though, having learned to keep busy and occupy ourselves mentally and physically in activities not involving or being around other people and crowds. In fact, I am quite surprised to find myself feeling that 24 hours in a day is simply not enough these days! 

For the Love of Nature. (Oct 2021)
Feeling Motivated

My husband and I are quite content with the world being at our fingertips! It comes easy for him being in the IT sector. As for myself, I am feeling inspired and motivated to start my blog again …about time too! My energy levels have also improved to pursue new hobbies and learn new things. 

Covid took a huge toll on my body and health. It took 20 months for my body to get back to almost what it was before Covid. I guess this is what you call ‘Long Covid‘. Only now I feel an improvement with my energy levels. Apart from experiencing a few medical issues that come with aging, it’s been somewhat exciting and fulfilling for me with the new found activities, our usual weekend coffee dates and walks in the woods away from crowds. 

Thank You Mum

I have been guilty of being a pessimist for the most of my life but this crazy era of Covid has taught me to always look at my glass half full instead of half empty. There is always something to be grateful for in Life. I have a lot to thank my parents for this, especially Mum …she is such a great example of positivity and inner strength…THANK YOU mum…You are such an inspiration!! I love You!! 

My Autumn Flowers dedicated to Mum (Sept 2020)

Though I have a feeling this Crazy Era of Covid is going to stay for a while yet, I Hope and Pray that it ends soon. Hope is like water…it quenches the soul to keep on going.

My latest project :

Learning how to use WordPress which is a whole new content management system, and it has a new recipe software as well that I am having fun exploring. Revamping and updating all my ancient old posts so this will have my time cut out for me. Slowly but surely, I wll build up my Recipe Category Page.

Never miss a new post or recipe!

Subscribe for email updates. (it’s free!)

Submit a form.

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]]> https://sweetsharings.com/crazy-era-of-covid/feed/ 0 1183 Reasons and Excuses https://sweetsharings.com/reasons-and-excuses/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reasons-and-excuses https://sweetsharings.com/reasons-and-excuses/#respond Mon, 30 Nov 2020 12:52:00 +0000 http://box5414.temp.domains/~sweetuq7/?p=55 https://sweetsharings.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/F886F2D7-92C0-4CB0-9CC8-790BCE397B51.jpeg Oh dear me, it’s been years since I posted anything on my blog!! Truth be told, Life and adventures simply took over and I relocated from Malaysia to Belgium and now in the United Kingdom. So much has happened since then. Good life events, not so good ones and really sad ones. I even have 2 beautiful grand daughters now, Maryam Jasmine and Aleena Rose. They are such delights that I only get to see twice a year when I travel back to Malaysia. Sadly it has not been so for this year. 2020 has been an unprecedented year for all of us with Covid, Lockdowns, Quarantines and restricted movements.  My husband and I contracted the virus in March and we are so thankful that we survived it. It really took a huge toll on our bodies and respiratory systems that even until now we are still not 100% the same as before.   Anyway, onto positive stuff — Yesterday I posted one of my lazy ‘go to’ comfort meals on Instagram and Facebook It had an amazing response from friends and family requesting for the recipe. So yes, this is also one main reason why I have  reactivated my blog to share the recipe. Plus, 2020 has been so stressful and I need some blogging therapy to rant, vent, share and start getting my brain juices to work more. ?? Well, now that my reasons and excuses for not blogging are done…lol….let’s get down to business. Sneak preview of my next post —  Ginger Garlic Chicken Pulau. Sometimes I post my recipes, tips and photography on a few social media sites, so I invite you to subscribe and follow. Subscribe below to never miss a new post or recipe.  Facebook — Instagram —  Pinterest — Twitter

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]]>

Oh dear me, it’s been years since I posted anything on my blog!! Truth be told, Life and adventures simply took over and I relocated from Malaysia to Belgium and now in the United Kingdom. So much has happened since then. Good life events, not so good ones and really sad ones. I even have 2 beautiful grand daughters now, Maryam Jasmine and Aleena Rose. They are such delights that I only get to see twice a year when I travel back to Malaysia. Sadly it has not been so for this year. 2020 has been an unprecedented year for all of us with Covid, Lockdowns, Quarantines and restricted movements. 

My husband and I contracted the virus in March and we are so thankful that we survived it. It really took a huge toll on our bodies and respiratory systems that even until now we are still not 100% the same as before.

 

Anyway, onto positive stuff — Yesterday I posted one of my lazy ‘go to’ comfort meals on Instagram and Facebook It had an amazing response from friends and family requesting for the recipe. So yes, this is also one main reason why I have  reactivated my blog to share the recipe. Plus, 2020 has been so stressful and I need some blogging therapy to rant, vent, share and start getting my brain juices to work more. ??

Well, now that my reasons and excuses for not blogging are done…lol….let’s get down to business. Sneak preview of my next post —  Ginger Garlic Chicken Pulau.

one pot ginger chicken pilau

Sometimes I post my recipes, tips and photography on a few social media sites, so I invite you to subscribe and follow. Subscribe below to never miss a new post or recipe.

 Facebook — Instagram —  Pinterest — Twitter

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]]> https://sweetsharings.com/reasons-and-excuses/feed/ 0 55 Goodbye 2014 https://sweetsharings.com/goodbye-2014/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=goodbye-2014 https://sweetsharings.com/goodbye-2014/#respond Wed, 31 Dec 2014 23:58:00 +0000 http://box5414.temp.domains/~sweetuq7/?p=59 https://sweetsharings.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Goodbye-2014-New-Image-1.jpg You made me cry, made me laugh…but it’s time to move on and face new challenges.    2014 was very eventful and overwhelming. It was a year of good, of bad and even ugly for me, for Malaysia and for the World. My family and I have had to endure the grief and sadness of my niece’s tragic and freak accident, deaths in the family and few other setbacks. The warmth and love of family and close friends though have made it all bearable. No “Happy New Year’ wishes, just prayers for everyone to have a better year, and prayers for the family and victims of Flights MH370, MH17 and QZ8501….and the flood victims back home.   I will cherish forever some memories of 2014. There was a balance of highs and lows and I am thankful and grateful for the many things in my life that make it meaningful….namely Family, Love and Health. May we all be blessed with a better and positive new year. 

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]]>
You made me cry, made me laugh…but it’s time to move on and face new challenges. 
 
2014 was very eventful and overwhelming. It was a year of good, of bad and even ugly for me, for Malaysia and for the World. My family and I have had to endure the grief and sadness of my niece’s tragic and freak accident, deaths in the family and few other setbacks. The warmth and love of family and close friends though have made it all bearable. No “Happy New Year’ wishes, just prayers for everyone to have a better year, and prayers for the family and victims of Flights MH370, MH17 and QZ8501….and the flood victims back home.
 
I will cherish forever some memories of 2014. There was a balance of highs and lows and I am thankful and grateful for the many things in my life that make it meaningful….namely Family, Love and Health. May we all be blessed with a better and positive new year. 

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]]> https://sweetsharings.com/goodbye-2014/feed/ 0 59 Vitamin F=Friends https://sweetsharings.com/vitamin-f-friends/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vitamin-f-friends https://sweetsharings.com/vitamin-f-friends/#comments Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:17:00 +0000 http://box5414.temp.domains/~sweetuq7/?p=101 https://sweetsharings.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/girlfriends.jpeg Vitamin F = Friends. This inspirational story was sent to me by an old school friend via email. It is just too good to not share with everyone. Please take some time to read it. I too, thank those of you who have been my Vitamin F. Simply love this and want to share it with you… Friends Why do I have a variety of friends who are all so different in character? How can I get along with them all? I think that each one helps to bring out a “different” part of me. With one of them I am polite. With another, I joke. I sit down and talk about serious matters with one. With another I laugh a lot. I listen to one friend’s problems.Then I listen to another one’s advice for me. My friends are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When completed, they form a treasure box. A treasure of friends! They are my friends who sometimes understand me better than I understand myself. They’re friends who support me through good days and bad. We all pray together and for each other. Vitamin F = Friends Real Age doctors tell us that friends are good for our health. Dr. Oz calls them Vitamin F (for Friends) and counts the benefits of friends as essential to our well being. Research shows that people in strong social circles have less risk of depression and terminal strokes. If you enjoy Vitamin F constantly you can be up to 30 years younger than your real age. The warmth of friendship stops stress and even in your most intense moments. It decreases the chance of a cardiac arrest or stroke by 50%. I’m so happy that I have a stock of Vitamin F! 6 beautiful quotes on friendship Thank you for being one of my Vitamins! In summary, we should value our friends and keep in touch with them. We should try to see the funny side of things and laugh together and pray for each other in the tough moments. Thank You for being one of my Vitamins my dear friends! Check out the amazing illustrative artwork of  Heather Stiluffsen. Did you like this post? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  

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]]> Vitamin F = Friends. This inspirational story was sent to me by an old school friend via email. It is just too good to not share with everyone. Please take some time to read it. I too, thank those of you who have been my Vitamin F.

Simply love this and want to share it with you…

vitamin F = friends Sweet Sharings @sweetsharings

Friends

Why do I have a variety of friends who are all so different in character? How can I get along with them all? I think that each one helps to bring out a “different” part of me.

With one of them I am polite. With another, I joke. I sit down and talk about serious matters with one. With another I laugh a lot. I listen to one friend’s problems.Then I listen to another one’s advice for me.

VitaminF=Friends - Sweet Sharings

My friends are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When completed, they form a treasure box. A treasure of friends! They are my friends who sometimes understand me better than I understand myself.

They’re friends who support me through good days and bad. We all pray together and for each other.

vitamin F = friends Sweet Sharings @sweetsharings.com

Vitamin F = Friends

Real Age doctors tell us that friends are good for our health. Dr. Oz calls them Vitamin F (for Friends) and counts the benefits of friends as essential to our well being. Research shows that people in strong social circles have less risk of depression and terminal strokes.

If you enjoy Vitamin F constantly you can be up to 30 years younger than your real age. The warmth of friendship stops stress and even in your most intense moments. It decreases the chance of a cardiac arrest or stroke by 50%.

I’m so happy that I have a stock of Vitamin F!

6 beautiful quotes on friendship

Vitamin F = Friends Sweet sharings @sweetsharings

Thank you for being one of my Vitamins!

In summary, we should value our friends and keep in touch with them. We should try to see the funny side of things and laugh together and pray for each other in the tough moments.

Thank You for being one of my Vitamins my dear friends!

artwork by Heather Stiluffsen

Check out the amazing illustrative artwork of  Heather Stiluffsen.

Did you like this post?

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

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]]> https://sweetsharings.com/vitamin-f-friends/feed/ 2 101 Embracing a Positive Life in Abundance – Strategies for Happiness https://sweetsharings.com/positive-life-in-abundance/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=positive-life-in-abundance https://sweetsharings.com/positive-life-in-abundance/#respond Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:19:00 +0000 http://box5414.temp.domains/~sweetuq7/?p=110 https://sweetsharings.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Positive_life.jpeg When we talk about a positive life in abundance, most people immediately think of money. Financial prosperity is one obvious expression of abundance, but it is not the whole story. So what is the meaning of this positive life in abundance? It is important to understand that a person who lives in abundance is one that has abundance of positive energy, joy, and love.  Developing a mindset of abundance With an abundance mindset you will come from a place of gratitude and appreciation. This abundance mentality will help you create more opportunity, more happiness and more fulfilment in Life. It will help you focus on making progress every day, and celebrating your achievements. Creating an abundant mindset allows you to: “The key to abundance is meeting limiting circumstances with unlimited thoughts” — Marianne Williamson If you choose to live a positive life in abundance you are always focused on the positive and are excited about the endless opportunities in your future. Do not take anyone for granted and do not allow yourself to be taken for granted either. In order to have goodness and positive abundance in life, always keep a positive frame of mind. Share what you know to be good with others and avoid negative people and negative situations because these are what bring you down and in turn bring you a chain of negativities in your life. I know this to be true because I am speaking out of experience. Wishing you a wonderful and positive day. Nur Diyanah Magness

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]]> When we talk about a positive life in abundance, most people immediately think of money. Financial prosperity is one obvious expression of abundance, but it is not the whole story.

So what is the meaning of this positive life in abundance? It is important to understand that a person who lives in abundance is one that has abundance of positive energy, joy, and love. 

Developing a mindset of abundance

With an abundance mindset you will come from a place of gratitude and appreciation. This abundance mentality will help you create more opportunity, more happiness and more fulfilment in Life. It will help you focus on making progress every day, and celebrating your achievements.

Creating an abundant mindset allows you to:

  • Have the freedom to grow without limitations or restrictions
  • See the world as full of opportunities
  • Have greater clarity and focus around creating something bigger in the future
  • Focus on gratitude despite the circumstances
  • Create exponential growth rather than linear growth
  • Feel plentiful, creative, and inspired
  • Create memorable and meaningful life experiences
positive life in abundance

“The key to abundance is meeting limiting circumstances with unlimited thoughts”

— Marianne Williamson

If you choose to live a positive life in abundance you are always focused on the positive and are excited about the endless opportunities in your future. Do not take anyone for granted and do not allow yourself to be taken for granted either. In order to have goodness and positive abundance in life, always keep a positive frame of mind.

Share what you know to be good with others and avoid negative people and negative situations because these are what bring you down and in turn bring you a chain of negativities in your life. I know this to be true because I am speaking out of experience.

Wishing you a wonderful and positive day.

Nur Diyanah Magness

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]]> https://sweetsharings.com/positive-life-in-abundance/feed/ 0 110 Life is Just like the Sea https://sweetsharings.com/life-is-just-like-the-sea/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=life-is-just-like-the-sea https://sweetsharings.com/life-is-just-like-the-sea/#respond Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:16:00 +0000 http://box5414.temp.domains/~sweetuq7/?p=135 https://sweetsharings.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/What_Ship_Will_Bear_Me_Back-by_Tolkienmaster-1.jpg Just sharing a collection of beautiful little poems and quotes about Life and the Sea. The beautiful featured picture is an art piece by Tolkienmaster. Life is just like the sea;Moving without an end.Nothing stays with us forever…..What remains is just the memories ofsome people who touched us as waves. Life is just like the sea;It can be Calm and Still.or rough and rigid…..But in the end…It is always Beautiful. Life is like the sea…you cannot see the end…but you have to face the waves. Treat your life like the sea..Your heart as the shore and your friends as the wavesIt doesn’t matter how many waves there areWhat matters is, which one touches the shore. Be like the sea. Powerful enough to impact everyone around you and gentle enough so others find comfort in you.

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]]> Just sharing a collection of beautiful little poems and quotes about Life and the Sea. The beautiful featured picture is an art piece by Tolkienmaster.

Life is just like the sea;
Moving without an end.
Nothing stays with us forever…..
What remains is just the memories of
some people who touched us as waves.		Life is just like the sea;
It can be Calm and Still.
or rough and rigid…..
But in the end…
It is always Beautiful.
Life is like the sea…
you cannot see the end…
but you have to face the waves.		Treat your life like the sea..
Your heart as the shore and your friends as the waves
It doesn’t matter how many waves there are
What matters is, which one touches the shore.

Be like the sea. Powerful enough to impact everyone around you and gentle enough so others find comfort in you.

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]]> https://sweetsharings.com/life-is-just-like-the-sea/feed/ 0 135 Enjoy the Little things in Life https://sweetsharings.com/enjoy-the-little-things-in-life/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=enjoy-the-little-things-in-life https://sweetsharings.com/enjoy-the-little-things-in-life/#respond Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:36:00 +0000 http://box5414.temp.domains/~sweetuq7/?p=140 https://sweetsharings.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sweetsharings_littlethingsinlife-e1637776020643.jpg Life is the greatest gift we could ever have and we just have to change our frame of mind to appreciate it and be grateful for it. We are blessed to be alive, so enjoy the little things in Life. However, being alive is something we all take for granted all the time and I am guilty of this too! No one really thinks much about it. I often find myself caught up thinking of the future and the past, of the times I was happy and sad, disappointed, hurt. I forget to think and indulge in the present. I have learned that the trick to being happy is to enjoy each day as it comes. Don’t wish away your days waiting for better ones. Sometimes we do not realise how big the little things in life really are. I would like to think that being more than half a century old gives me this wisdom ? I feel exhilarated seeing sunshine enter the room as I open the blinds. Just this little thing is a great start to a lovely day. This puts a smile on me through the day and people tend to reciprocate. The act of smiling at others really makes theirs and my day! That is to say, I receive positive vibes from the Universe. Catching up with old Friends Connecting with old friends brings me such sweet memories. Do you feel nostalgia and a warm feeling like I do? Taking time out for a coffee or meal with family and friends is always good for my wellbeing and mental health. Moreover, it improves and tightens my relationship bonds. I have learned this through the years and know it to be true. Finding the perfect gift for someone can be quite interesting and fun too if you do not let the rat-race of life distract you from enjoying these simple yet meaningful acts. Similarly, listening to little kids talk, praying together, helping an elderly person, doing activities as a family, showing concern for someone who is hurt or ill, all these and more, are the little things in Life. Do little things together… The simple act of giving a hug to my loved ones and friends or holding my partner’s hand brings joy and happiness. Listening to the radio or watching a movie together gives enjoyment and a sense of sharing. Taking a walk in the park alone or with others is also a simple thing in life yet so fulfilling, giving one a sense of peace and calm. Planting seeds and seeing them sprout is also so rewarding. Did you know that gardening is great for our health and wellbeing too? Doctors in Scotland now prescribe a walk in nature to treat a variety of ailments, including reducing blood pressure and anxiety, and to improve overall happiness. One Harvard University study showed that people who were surrounded by lush greenery lived longer, with a lower chance of developing cancer or respiratory illnesses.” Reference from BBC Australian researchers following men and women in their 60s found that those who regularly gardened had a 36% lower risk of dementia than their non-gardening counterparts. Take Time out… We just have to take time out to enjoy the little things in life like the wonderful smell of pancakes or roti canai and nasi lemak in the morning. Likewise, Having coffee or teh tarik with old friends. Enjoying the smell and beauty of flowers around us, or taking the time to actually browse a bookstore, all these little things can be fun and make us feel good. The little things in that connects us to the bigger things….it’s these little things and moments that give us the quality in life. For those who have not already, start living now. Live in the present and enjoy the simple and little things in life. Otherwise, one day you will look back and realise they were the big things. If you have any thoughts on this, please leave a comment in the comment box below.

The post Enjoy the Little things in Life appeared first on Sweet Sharings.

]]> Life is the greatest gift we could ever have and we just have to change our frame of mind to appreciate it and be grateful for it. We are blessed to be alive, so enjoy the little things in Life. However, being alive is something we all take for granted all the time and I am guilty of this too! No one really thinks much about it. I often find myself caught up thinking of the future and the past, of the times I was happy and sad, disappointed, hurt. I forget to think and indulge in the present. 

I have learned that the trick to being happy is to enjoy each day as it comes. Don’t wish away your days waiting for better ones. Sometimes we do not realise how big the little things in life really are. I would like to think that being more than half a century old gives me this wisdom ?
enjoy the little things in life
I feel exhilarated seeing sunshine enter the room as I open the blinds. Just this little thing is a great start to a lovely day. This puts a smile on me through the day and people tend to reciprocate. The act of smiling at others really makes theirs and my day! That is to say, I receive positive vibes from the Universe.

Catching up with old Friends

Sweet Sharings
Sweet Sharings – enjoy the little things in Life

Connecting with old friends brings me such sweet memories. Do you feel nostalgia and a warm feeling like I do? Taking time out for a coffee or meal with family and friends is always good for my wellbeing and mental health. Moreover, it improves and tightens my relationship bonds. I have learned this through the years and know it to be true.

Finding the perfect gift for someone can be quite interesting and fun too if you do not let the rat-race of life distract you from enjoying these simple yet meaningful acts. Similarly, listening to little kids talk, praying together, helping an elderly person, doing activities as a family, showing concern for someone who is hurt or ill, all these and more, are the little things in Life.

Do little things together…

The simple act of giving a hug to my loved ones and friends or holding my partner’s hand brings joy and happiness. Listening to the radio or watching a movie together gives enjoyment and a sense of sharing. Taking a walk in the park alone or with others is also a simple thing in life yet so fulfilling, giving one a sense of peace and calm. Planting seeds and seeing them sprout is also so rewarding. Did you know that gardening is great for our health and wellbeing too?

Doctors in Scotland now prescribe a walk in nature to treat a variety of ailments, including reducing blood pressure and anxiety, and to improve overall happiness. One Harvard University study showed that people who were surrounded by lush greenery lived longer, with a lower chance of developing cancer or respiratory illnesses.”

Reference from BBC
Australian researchers following men and women in their 60s found that those who regularly gardened had a 36% lower risk of dementia than their non-gardening counterparts.

Take Time out…

We just have to take time out to enjoy the little things in life like the wonderful smell of pancakes or roti canai and nasi lemak in the morning. Likewise, Having coffee or teh tarik with old friends. Enjoying the smell and beauty of flowers around us, or taking the time to actually browse a bookstore, all these little things can be fun and make us feel good.

Malaysian nasi lemak (coconut milk rice and condiments)
Malaysian Roti Canai (malaysian flat bread) and teh tarik (milk tea)

The little things in that connects us to the bigger things….it’s these little things and moments that give us the quality in life. For those who have not already, start living now. Live in the present and enjoy the simple and little things in life. Otherwise, one day you will look back and realise they were the big things.

If you have any thoughts on this, please leave a comment in the comment box below.

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]]> https://sweetsharings.com/enjoy-the-little-things-in-life/feed/ 0 140