Wednesday, August 29, 2012

☆ The Life of a Cow (Infographic) ☆


Time and time again I hear people defend drinking milk. These are the most frequently said things:
"Milk is good for you." 
"It doesn't hurt the cow, it's not cruel."
"Cows need milking." 

Let me tell you, (time and time again) it IS cruel, in fact, I would sooner eat meat than ever consume dairy again on the level of cruelty involved. Cows do Not need to be milked. And Milk is terribly bad for you.
Today, I will spare you a long ramble and jump right into this little Infographic. ;)


(Please note, this inforgaphic is thanks to PETA--whatever you think about PETA you can put aside for a moment, they are not the topic of debate today. ;p)

Please realize what consuming dairy does to the lives of cows. Please make an ethical change. If you want to know more about the dairy industry I have several posts, ranging from lighter to fully-detailed (links below in that order). 

Dark Secrets of the Meat & Dairy Industries... (scroll down to the dairy part if you want to skip the meat part) 

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Monday, August 27, 2012

☺ No Motivational Mondays??!!☺


I'm moving!!!! Which means madness! And no motivational monday except for me to tell you the basics: Love life, every second and live in the moment! Breathe! Smile alllll day! And stay tuned for more tips later this week ;) And if you're really in a pinch then you can turn to all your favourite past Motivational Monday posts (<----just clickity click that linky link) ;) 
And enjoy this adorable photo of this puppy. Because this is sure to brighten your day! ;) 


Much Love!!! 

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☺ Motivational Mondays! ☺


We're taking back Mondays!!!
"Motivational Mondays" are fabulous tips to get you excited and pumped for the week! 
Feeling low? Moody? Down on life? Well, that's what these posts are for! Time to feel awesome again and get some Positivity rolling! Just because it's Monday doesn't mean you can't have fun, smile, and enjoy Today! Apply these tips to your week and try to tell me that you don't start to see an improvement in your life! ;)
It's all about You! Change your perception, change your attitude, love your life! xo

Law of Attraction Tip: Make a list of what it is you want, whether it's your dream home, a job, a relationship, whatever, and get into details! Get specific. The world lied when you were told you can't have what you want in life. You never have to sacrifice. In fact, the more specific you are, the easier it will be for the Universe to bring you what it is you are asking for.    
Lay under the stars! It's truly magical! Get some friends together or go solo. Try to get out to a place where you can actually see them, away from city lights. Connect with the Universe and breathe in its epic beauty! 
Mood Shifters! Make a list of what The Secret likes to call "Secret Shifters" to change your mood around when you're feeling low, down, or angry. Have them handy so that at any moment you can instantly change your mood around. They can be as simple as a beautiful piece of music, a picture, a memory, an event, anything that can change your mood in a snap! Different ones will work on different days so having a list to turn to is super handy. :) 
Use Cold Water more! Here's your eco tip of the week! Switch to doing your laundry on cold water. When you turn on the sink, try to use cold water instead of hot--like washing your face in the morning or evening. Especially with it being summer it's mucho better. And for your laundry, well, your clothes will also thank you for it.  
Make today a Good Deeds Day!  Go out of your way today to spread joy and do good deeds. Give kindness to others. Give encouragement and speak positive words to those around you. Give an extra big tip. Be nice to drivers. Give someone a gift, just because. Fill someone's meter. Lend a hand. Open doors. Buy someone coffee. Smile and give your genuine love to everyone you encounter today.  
Take time to read this week. Sometimes we don't make enough time to do things we enjoy or that are good for us. Reading is one of those things that, for me, gets put on the back burner and I usually have a pile of books that I'm half way through. If you're the same way then I want you to take some time to read this week. See if you can finish a book you've been stuck in the middle of. ;)
"Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it." - Eckhart Tolle. Because technically you Did choose it (you know, Law of Attraction) and there is a reason for everything. Have faith and make the best of every situation. Learn to go with the flow and not resist. 


Have a beautiful day, week, life! Much Love from me to you! 
Create a Nice Day! xo


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Thursday, August 23, 2012

☺ 15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy! ☺



I've seen this floating around and decided that it is one of those articles that I needed to repost and share with all of you. All credit goes to the lovely Purpose Fairy for the beautiful words and inspiration. Amazing advice! :)  

15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy

Here is a list of 15 things which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and much, much happier. We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering – and instead of letting them all go, instead of allowing ourselves to be stress free and happy – we cling on to them. Not anymore. Starting today we will give up on all those things that no longer serve us, and we will embrace change. Ready? Here we go:

1. GIVE UP YOUR NEED TO ALWAYS BE RIGHT
 There are so many of us who can’t stand the idea of being wrong – wanting to always be right – even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain, for us and for others. It’s just not worth it. Whenever you feel the ‘urgent’ need to jump into a fight over who is right and who is wrong, ask yourself this question: “Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind?” Wayne Dyer. What difference will that make? Is your ego really that big?

2. GIVE UP YOUR NEED FOR CONTROL
Be willing to give up your need to always control everything that happens to you and around you – situations, events, people, etc. Whether they are loved ones, coworkers, or just strangers you meet on the street – just allow them to be. Allow everything and everyone to be just as they are and you will see how much better will that make you feel.

“By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond winning.” Lao Tzu

3. GIVE UP ON BLAME
 Give up on your need to blame others for what you have or don’t have, for what you feel or don’t feel. Stop giving your powers away and start taking responsibility for your life.

4. GIVE UP YOUR SELF-DEFEATING SELF-TALK
 Oh my. How many people are hurting themselves because of their negative, polluted and repetitive self-defeating mindset? Don’t believe everything that your mind is telling you – especially if it’s negative and self-defeating. You are better than that.

“The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive.” Eckhart Tolle

5. GIVE UP YOUR LIMITING BELIEFS
about what you can or cannot do, about what is possible or impossible. From now on, you are no longer going to allow your limiting beliefs to keep you stuck in the wrong place. Spread your wings and fly!

“A belief is not an idea held by the mind, it is an idea that holds the mind” Elly Roselle

6. GIVE UP COMPLAINING
 Give up your constant need to complain about those many, many, maaany things – people, situations, events that make you unhappy, sad and depressed. Nobody can make you unhappy, no situation can make you sad or miserable unless you allow it to. It’s not the situation that triggers those feelings in you, but how you choose to look at it. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking.

7. GIVE UP THE LUXURY OF CRITICISM
Give up your need to criticize things, events or people that are different than you. We are all different, yet we are all the same. We all want to be happy, we all want to love and be loved and we all want to be understood. We all want something, and something is wished by us all.

8. GIVE UP YOUR NEED TO IMPRESS OTHERS
Stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not just to make others like you. It doesn’t work this way. The moment you stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not, the moment you take off all your masks, the moment you accept and embrace the real you, you will find people will be drawn to you, effortlessly.


9. GIVE UP YOUR RESISTANCE TO CHANGE
 Change is good. Change will help you move from A to B. Change will help you make improvements in your life and also the lives of those around you. Follow your bliss, embrace change – don’t resist it.
“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls” Joseph Campbell

10. GIVE UP LABELS
 Stop labeling those things, people or events that you don’t understand as being weird or different and try opening your mind, little by little. Minds only work when open. “The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.” Wayne Dyer

11. GIVE UP ON YOUR FEARS
Fear is just an illusion, it doesn’t exist – you created it. It’s all in your mind. Correct the inside and the outside will fall into place.
“The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

12. GIVE UP YOUR EXCUSES
Send them packing and tell them they’re fired. You no longer need them. A lot of times we limit ourselves because of the many excuses we use. Instead of growing and working on improving ourselves and our lives, we get stuck, lying to ourselves, using all kind of excuses – excuses that 99.9% of the time are not even real.

13. GIVE UP THE PAST
I know, I know. It’s hard. Especially when the past looks so much better than the present and the future looks so frightening, but you have to take into consideration the fact that the present moment is all you have and all you will ever have. The past you are now longing for – the past that you are now dreaming about – was ignored by you when it was present. Stop deluding yourself. Be present in everything you do and enjoy life. After all life is a journey not a destination. Have a clear vision for the future, prepare yourself, but always be present in the now.

14. GIVE UP ATTACHMENT
This is a concept that, for most of us is so hard to grasp and I have to tell you that it was for me too, (it still is) but it’s not something impossible. You get better and better at with time and practice. The moment you detach yourself from all things, (and that doesn’t mean you give up your love for them – because love and attachment have nothing to do with one another,  attachment comes from a place of fear, while love… well, real love is pure, kind, and self less, where there is love there can’t be fear, and because of that, attachment and love cannot coexist) you become so peaceful, so tolerant, so kind, and so serene. You will get to a place where you will be able to understand all things without even trying. A state beyond words.

15. GIVE UP LIVING YOUR LIFE TO OTHER PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS
Way too many people are living a life that is not theirs to live. They live their lives according to what others think is best for them, they live their lives according to what their parents think is best for them, to what their friends, their enemies and their teachers, their government and the media think is best for them. They ignore their inner voice, that inner calling. They are so busy with pleasing everybody, with living up to other people’s expectations, that they lose control over their lives. They forget what makes them happy, what they want, what they need….and eventually they forget about themselves.  You have one life – this one right now – you must live it, own it, and especially don’t let other people’s opinions distract you from your path.



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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

♥ New Rocky The Zombie Octopi Shirts! ♥


Rocky the Zombie is not new to ReLove Plan.et, because this little shop rocks and I love sharing Rhi's (the lovely one-woman operation behind RTZ) amazing work! Her revamped Octopi design is super super adorable. 
I got two shirts with this cute print, an Organic Tee and a cute Tencel love cut racer tunic! They are both super duper comfy and super duper cute! Also, because Rhi is so awesome, she also sent me two delicious vegan chocolate bars! Yum! :)


 Everyone needs these happy critters in their wardrobe! 

Find Rocky the Zombie here:



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Monday, August 20, 2012

☺ Motivational Mondays! ☺


 We're taking back Mondays!!!
"Motivational Mondays" are fabulous tips to get you excited and pumped for the week! 
Feeling low? Moody? Down on life? Well, that's what these posts are for! Time to feel awesome again and get some Positivity rolling! Just because it's Monday doesn't mean you can't have fun, smile, and enjoy Today! Apply these tips to your week and try to tell me that you don't start to see an improvement in your life! ;)
It's all about You! Change your perception, change your attitude, love your life! xo



Believe in Manifesting! Remember not to doubt, not to get discouraged, and to always keep your mind on what you want. Believe me when I say that if you ask the Universe, and believe, and stay positive, then you will receive, no matter how unlikely the idea may seem to the normal. I'll be sharing my greatest manifesting story soon, so stay tuned! ;)  
Love your Body! Go on a "media cleanse" and avoid magazines, ads, television, anything that portrays the typical one body type. Find images of women/men of all shapes and sizes and post them all over your bathroom, or an area you frequent often. Begin to shift what society deems "beautiful" and create your own beautiful standards where all people are beautiful. You can also read up on my "Being Body Positive" article. :)  
Spend time on Joy! I know I know, I'm repeating, but be sure to make time for the activities that you love and enjoy! It's important and there's always time, you just have to believe there is and sometimes work things around your schedule. But the happier you are the smoother life will flow and the easier it will be to achieve all the things you want. Remember that there should always be a balance between work, play, socializing, and down time.  
Create your own Luck! Start Telling yourself you have Luck! I hear it far too often, and I was definitely guilty of the phrase as well; "I have no luck, I never win anything." *insert sad face here* Well, no, if you keep saying that then you will never win anything. I had this mentality forever! Finally, I won something that I really really wanted and was determined to win. I was using the Law of Attraction without even knowing it and I won. It changed my attitude completely. Later, after learning all about the wonderfulness of the Law of Attraction, I now win things all the time. If I'm super set on winning something it will be mine. It's really quite fantastic. So remember that you create your own luck, so start saying you are lucky and win things and you will! 
Get some fresh air! Take a break from work, or whatever it is you might be doing just to have a little walk outside, or even just to step outside for a moment and take in a deep breath. We coop ourselves up far too easily with workdays and lazy nights in front of TVs, so make a habit of getting outside at every chance you get! 
Worry is a misuse of the Imagination! Stress and worry are created when our minds refuse to remain in the present moment, when our minds run amuck and won't stand still. When unfavourable things happen and we begin to worry then we create a negative experience, when we could instead be focussing our imaginations on an ideal outcome and staying positive. Our imaginations are very powerful tools, and when used correctly have unseen power to bring about good things and miraculous solutions. So stop worrying and start using that imagination for greater good--like solutions to those problems. ;) 
"When you blame others, you give up your power to change."- Dr. Robert Anthony
 I've written up an article on this subject before and it's always a good reminder; take responsibility of your life, of your attitude, of your Self! Instead of misplacing blame, take responsibility and you give yourself the power to change everything. 


Have a beautiful day, week, life! Much Love from me to you! 
Create a Nice Day! xo


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Sunday, August 19, 2012

Ⓥ Vegan Kitchen: Potato Pea Curry! Ⓥ



Here's a new lovely curry recipe for my lovelies. This makes a lovely dish, especially if you can get your potatoes and peas from your own garden or locally! It makes a lovely dish either way and is a milder curry for the spicy sensitive. 
Pure goodness! 

Potato Pea Curry
1-2 medium Sweet Potatoes or regular Potatoes, cut into small chunks
1 cup Peas
1 1/2 Tsp Red Curry Paste*
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp ground Ginger
1/2 tsp Paprika
1 tsp Garam Masala
1/4 cup Vegetable Stock/Broth
2 Tsp Tamari or Soy Sauce
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 cup Red Lentils (+ 2 cups Water)
1/4-1/2 cup Coconut Milk (beverage kind, not canned kind)
1 tbsp Coconut Oil
1 can Chickpeas (drained and rinsed)(optional)
Optional; ground chilies (if you like it extra spicy) 

*depending on what brand of curry paste you use will depend on how much you want to add, and depends on how spicy you like your curry. This curry is milder. 

In a large saucepan, sauté the spices and curry with the chopped potatoes on medium-high heat for a minute and then add the broth, lentils and water. Simmer on medium heat. Once the potatoes are tender and the lentils get softer (around 15 minutes), add the peas, chickpeas, coconut milk and cook another ten minutes.  
Add more liquid if necessary and you can play around with other veggies, spices, etc if you desire. 


Serve over rice or quinoa. 
Makes about 6 servings. 
Enjoy! 


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Thursday, August 16, 2012

☺ Being Body Positive! ☺



All bodies are beautiful. 
I am going to start with this statement because I think during this shift of supposed "body love" we are in this terrible habit of shifting negative attitudes from one body type to another to another, instead of doing what we should actually be doing; loving all shapes and sizes. We are all beautiful. Your body is beautiful. Your body is a temple. 
I want you to remember those things first and foremost. Again, because there has been a lot of negativity floating around. Hate gets us nowhere. And this is the part that I will cover first because, one more time, negativity gets people nowhere, shifting a bad attitude from one thing to another doesn't get us anywhere. Everyone, love your bodies! Love all body types. Know that they are all beautiful and to be loved and appreciated.

Side note: I am writing this article from a female perspective and while a lot of what I have to say is kind of aimed towards females, I know that males have the same/similar problems of insecurity and feelings of inadequacy due to media and social pressure. I think this article can help you too as most of the advice can be applied to both women and men. Men, you can just read different words in your head over the female pointers. ;) 

Second Side Note: Stopping Negative Word Association
I feel like I have to do a quick note here about our tendency to interpret certain words with negative connotations. In this post I am going to say it like it is. Some girls are "skinny", some girls are "fat", but really all girls are different and beautiful with wonderful and different proportions. When I use the words "skinny" or "fat" I am generalizing to get a certain point across. However, I don't want people to shy away or become offended by the use of words. Because negative attitudes towards those words most certainly needs to stop. I don't view any of them as negative, and neither should anyone. If you're "skinny" be proud to say it. If you're "fat" be proud to say it. Love your body, and don't be timid by the use of words. 
Okay, now that that's out of the way, onward… 

Stop the Bashing!
This is what drives me crazy; body hate. If you're curvy or "fat" you are still beautiful. If you're slender or "skinny" you are also beautiful. Shifting a bad attitude onto another body type serves no purpose. Hate and negativity come from envy, jealousy, and insecurity. However, when we learn to love all body types, to see the beauty in all body types, when we learn to look at another woman no matter her size or figure and say "wow, she is beautiful!" that is positivity, that is progress, that is love. 
We live in a society that truly separates us in every way possible (and I will dive deeper into that subject another time), so the last thing we should be doing is finding yet another reason to pit ourselves against one another--especially us women who have all that cattiness already. All women are beautiful. All body types are beautiful. All women come in all different shapes, sizes, and proportions. And there is absolute sacred beauty in that. Think about it for a moment, it truly is a beautiful thing! Think about how diverse we are, how unique, how truly beautiful. Isn't it fantastic? 

The first thing we need to establish is love. Love gets us much further than a bad attitude. Skinny hate is just as bad as fat hate. All those silly images floating around the internet right now bashing on skinny girls is simply counter-productive and spreading more hate instead of fixing the problem. So no more bashing and let's focus on good attitudes to all body types. 


Social Media
The media is largely controlled by men (don't worry I'm not going to go on a huge feminist tangent ;p) which means unrealistic images are portrayed every day. They have selected one body type, one particular look, and have told the world that this is ideal, that this is sexy, that every woman should look this way. It's propaganda, it's one view point, it's simply what came to be to make people feel insecure and to buy and consume. However, that being said, they are not entirely unrealistic. The unrealistic part is that alllll the models look super skinny. The problem is lack of diversity. I know plenty of girls that are naturally skinny. Does that mean we should hate on them for being the way they are? For looking the way they do? Absolutely not. It's wrong. Just as wrong as bashing on curvy chicks. Again, the problem in the media is diversity. We should be seeing all types of bodies as we see in real life. The sooner this change happens the sooner people will stop feeling so self-conscious and the sooner women can start loving their bodies for the way they are. 
The other problem is the immense photoshopping and use of angles etcetera to portray that slimness. It's what makes even skinny girls self-conscious because they think they should have no curves at all, no belly, no flab on their arms or legs. Oh, and no stretch marks. Come on now, we all have stretch marks, pimples, freckles, and little "imperfections" that make us so absolutely perfect. 

So, here are my tips for beginning to change the world around you to build a body positive environment. 

Take responsibility
We are all responsible for our own attitudes and mentalities. No, the media doesn't help, but you still decide at the end of the day how you are going to feel and you have the choice to change. So stop paying so much attention to social media. Meaning, stop looking at fashion magazines, ads, etc. and comparing yourselves to those images. If you can't see the reality that those images are processed and photoshopped to this supposed "perfection" that can't actually be achieved in real life, then stop paying attention to them. If it affects you negatively then don't surround yourself with it. Pure and simple. 
It's like when you're told as a child that movies and TV shows aren't real, same with the images in magazines and ads. They aren't real. Know the difference so that it doesn't effect you negatively. 
Take charge, accept responsibility and let's get on with the love… 

Shifting the bad attitude to love 
Instead of shifting your negative attitude about your body onto someone else, shift your attention onto love. Replace envy, jealousy, negativity onto pure love. 
First, admit to yourselves that we are all guilty of jealousy, envy, scrutiny, and deflecting our bad attitudes onto others. Admit it, please, so we can move on. Admitted yet? Okay, let's move on. 
When skinny girls bash fat girls it's because of their own insecurities and jealousies as well. Usually because they feel pressure to stay skinny, and/or are envious of curvier girls who they may feel can eat what they want. Even skinny girls are insecure about their bodies--and I know this can drive other girls crazy, but we are all insecure. Magazines and ads are photoshopped to hell, and portray that tiny tiny body-type. Even if you're the skinniest girl in the world, chances are you still don't feel adequate enough, or skinny enough. If you're skinny, chances are you still have a "belly," I mean you still have fat on your body, and while this is a good thing, social media makes girls feel insecure no matter what their body type. 
Curvy girls feel their own insecurities, which may be a bit clearer due to the majority of social media portraying skinny models. Curves are beautiful, but curvy or "fat" women feel the pressure to be skinny or that they are not beautiful unless they fit that role in magazines. Those images are subjecting them to this body type that simply is not them. And you shouldn't want to be anything that you are not. Curvy girls are beautiful. Fat girls are beautiful. Just because you aren't what magazines show us doesn't make you less attractive. 

Rise above and love your body. It truly is beautiful. 

The Paradox:
Most women are insecure about their bodies, no matter what size they are. Women are also far harder on themselves than they are on other women. Most of the time we are hating our own bodies, but we rarely look at other girls and make those same judgments--and when we are it's because we are simply deflecting our own insecurities in attempt to feel better (which we all know doesn't actually work). So stop being so judgemental towards yourself. You're not sitting there looking at your friends going "she needs to lose weight. She looks fat," so stop doing that to yourself. Stop ripping yourself apart, and start replacing that energy into complimenting your body instead. When you look in the mirror the only thing that should be going through your mind is love, admiration, and a feeling of beauty and self-respect and joy. Start telling yourself what you love about your body instead of picking it apart.  

Creating a Body Positive Environment
Change starts with yourself. Always always. So surround yourself with images of women of all body types. Post photos on your walls, in your bathroom, wherever you are going to see them a lot. Create your new reality where all body types exist and are beautiful. Surround yourself with images like this, every day. 
Contact magazines, shows, companies, and demand diverse body types. Use your voice and express your opinion. If you have a subscription to a particular magazine, cancel it and tell them you won't resubscribe until they make those changes to portray realistic body types of all varieties. 
This is our world, it's supply and demand. Any reLoveution starts with the individual, so use your voice, your power, your wallet, your social networking sites to spread the word and change the way women are portrayed.  


Health
This is going to be my only disclaimer here, and that is that health is important. Your body type, your curves, your slimness are all unique to the individual, however there are extremes on both sides and health always needs to come first. I say this for two reasons. The first being the obvious one that being healthy is, well, important, you know to sustain you and keep you alive and increase vitality etc etc. The second is that, when you are healthy, you feel better! I promote health all over ReLove Plan.et, because if you want to truly be happy with yourself and your life then you need to take care of yourself by getting exercise (whether that's a hardcore workout or a simple leisurely thirty minute walk) and eating well. Your mind is affected by your health. You can't truly feel good if you don't take care of yourself. And you should want to take care of yourself. The cool thing though is that the more confident you are with your body, whether you're on the smaller or larger scale, the more inclined you'll feel to actually take care of your self, because you will have absolute love for your body and will want to take care of it because it is your temple and is worth all the love in the world.  
All of that being said, remember that being "healthy" doesn't mean you have to be skinny. Healthy comes in all different shapes and sizes. All body types are different. What looks healthy for one person will be totally different for another. But you will know what's right for you because you will feel good. And who doesn't want to feel good? 

Another note, if you are trying to put on or lose weight for health reasons still keep that positive love for your body at all times. It doesn't serve you to use negative mindsets towards yourself. If you want to change your body it must always come from love. Don't discourage yourself. Positivity and love always always always. 


Love love love!
Lastly, I want to get back onto the topic of love… not that I really left that topic much…  
Respect yourself chicka! Love your body, love every inch of your skin, your curves, your bones, your beautiful beautiful body. Again, change starts from within. If you want to feel good about yourself then start doing just that; start loving yourself. No more judging, only love. No more comparing, just see the beauty that your individual body has. And see the beauty of all the lovely women around you. When you start to feel good about yourself then this illusion shatters and you are relieved with confidence, happiness, and love. 
No one should hate their body. Ever! Women (and men) you are beautiful and wonderful just the way you are! We come in all different heights, orientations, proportions, shapes and sizes. We have scars, stretch marks, birth marks, moles, strange little "imperfections" that makes us so absolutely perfect. We have muscle, we have flab, we have bones, we have freckles, and skin of all different shades. Again I will say, how incredible is that? How absolutely beautiful is that? No one should ever feel badly about their bodies. Love will heal you, love will make you feel confident and on top of the world. Love will make you the best version of yourself. So love your body and let's change the world together shall we? 


So much love from me to you!

"To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself." - Thich Nhat Hanh


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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

♥ Design Specimen: Vegan-friendly | Compassionate Jewelry! ♥


Let me tell you about Design Specimen; they ROCK! This little vegan company is run by the lovely Christine Wagner, a crafty lady who combines her talents and passions for jewelry making, graphic design, and animal activism to create some hella kick-ass jewelry. The jewelry is fun and each of the wonderful designs promotes positive messages of animal compassion. 
Christine has been vegan for about fifteen years, she has several adorable fur-balls in her life which are a source for her inspiration, as well as her obvious love for all things vegan. She also volunteers at a local animal sanctuary every week and donates a portion of her sales to the Sasha Farm Animal Sanctuary. AND she takes custom orders. Super rad yes? :)


I am fortunate enough to own one of Design Specimen's lovely necklaces and let me tell you how much I love it! The pieces are beautifully crafted and the quality is superb, you can tell they are made with love, and they feel like they will last forever. The lettering and images are super crisp and clean and the work is sturdy. The messages are powerful yet enchantingly subtle--which is sometimes nice to go for the more subtle approach when it comes to animal rights instead of throwing it in people's faces (not that I don't like doing that as well ;)). I feel like you could wear a Design Specimen necklace and get all sorts of people compliment you as you walk down the street, striking up kind conversations about animal rights to promote the compassionate lifestyle with dignity and love. 
The other thing I love about Design Specimen is it suits anyone and everyone of all walks of life. The designs are pretty and intricate and beautifully simple while still provoking a powerful message. The chain and colour of the metal is soft and calming and pretty and sophisticated. You could easily dress it up or dress it down according to any look you wanted. Anyone could wear these and get away with it and look fantastic doing so!

I love my Design Specimen necklace! It hangs beautifully, it's nice and light, and it compliments any outfit. I love the font, I love the little details, I love the little heart, I love Design Specimen! 
Really, I think every vegan needs a Design Specimen necklace (or five) in their life. So what are you waiting for? Go check out her website and online shops (either directly on her website or through etsy) and get ready to fall in love! 


You can also find Design Specimen here:


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Monday, August 13, 2012

☺ Motivational Mondays! ☺


 We're taking back Mondays!!!
"Motivational Mondays" are fabulous tips to get you excited and pumped for the week! 
Feeling low? Moody? Down on life? Well, that's what these posts are for! Time to feel awesome again and get some Positivity rolling! Just because it's Monday doesn't mean you can't have fun, smile, and enjoy Today! Apply these tips to your week and try to tell me that you don't start to see an improvement in your life! ;)
It's all about You! Change your perception, change your attitude, love your life! xo


Cheer Up! It's only Monday! ;) There is plenty to smile about, to be grateful for, and happy experiences waiting to be had if only you choose to Cheer Up and seek out the best. Opportunity is only found when you accept it and welcome it into your life, so grasp the opportunity to smile and to welcome all the goods things just waiting to leap into your day. 
Cheer Someone Else Up! While we're on the topic of cheering up… on your happy little path be sure to cheer up at least one other person today. Make your positive attitude so contagious that it spills over onto others.
Declutter Time! It's hard to feel "zen" or relaxed or focussed if you have a constant clutter, whether it's in your workspace, living room, kitchen, or space just for you. Do a little (or big) cleanup, sort through what benefits and enriches your environment and what is just sitting there doing nothing or unappealing. Also, dare to clean out your fridge and freezer, it's scary what can lurk in there! Clean up your environment and you'll clean up your headspace and soul.   
Have Fun Working! First, pick up an unbreakable positive attitude, next do everything you need to do to make your job fantastic. Listen to some awesome tunes, dance around (whether or not others are looking), have amazing conversations with customers, do something silly, take breaks. Do whatever it is you need to do to fill your work day with bliss. 
Watch "Yes Man." Because this movie is always an awesome one to rematch and pick up that awesome "yes" attitude to enhance your life. You know, life is about living, so live a little! ;) 
Challenge yourself! Spend the next 24 hours without Complaint, or Criticism, or Speaking of the Past.
"Judge nothing, you will be happy. Forgive everything, you will be happier. Love everything, you will be happiest." - Sri Chinmoy Pick up that loving attitude, that surrender to all things positive and watch how your life transforms and blossoms. 


Have a beautiful day, week, life! Much Love from me to you! 
Create a Nice Day! xo


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Sunday, August 12, 2012

Ⓥ Apple Peach Berry Crisp Ⓥ



I've made several variations of this wonderful and simple recipe over the past few weeks, with fruit being in season and all it's really quite lovely. We've been picking fresh berries and using locally grown apples and peaches. Yum! 
Not to mention I love desserts that are healthy for you. Guilt-free! 
This recipe is vegan (as always) and can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free oats. :)

Apple Peach Berry Crisp

Filling:
2 large Apples, chopped
1 large Peach, chopped
1 cup Berries of your choice (fresh raspberries or huckleberries are my favourite)
1 tbsp Agave
1 tbsp Rice Flour (or flour of your choice)
1 tsp Cinnamon

Crust:
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup vegan margarine (or just under a cup of olive oil)
just under 1/4 cup Agave (or sweetener of your choice--I'm going to use stevia next!)
1 tsp Cinnamon


Preheat oven to 350℉. Depending what dish your using (this recipe calls for an 8-inch baking dish) you can oil the bottom--I use a glass baking dish and never oil it and mine come out just peachy ;). Set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine all your filling ingredients. Spoon mixture evenly into your baking dish.
In the same bowl (don't want to waste bowls now), stir your crust ingredients until well mixed. Sprinkle evenly over top of your fruit mixture in the baking dish. Bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until the top is browned and the apples are tender and can easily be poked with a fork. 
Makes approx. 4 servings. 
Top with your favourite vegan ice-cream (if you feel like it) and enjoy! :)



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Saturday, August 11, 2012

☺ WINNER(s) of the Facebook 1500 Likes Giveaway! ☺


After tallying up all the entries a number has been selected as the winner through a random number generator. 

*drum roll please*

First, runner up of the giveaway who will receive a surprise package is…. Michelle DiFranco! Congrats! :)

And, Winner of the Big Giveaway… Congratulations to Jo Buck!! 

(you both have been emailed to claim your prizes!) :)  

A big huge warm Thank You to everyone who entered! And another big huge Thank You for helping ReLove Plan.et grow!  xo


Thanks again! 

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If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

Monday, August 6, 2012

☺ Motivational Mondays! ☺


We're taking back Mondays!!!

"Motivational Mondays" are fabulous tips to get you excited and pumped for the week! 
Feeling low? Moody? Down on life? Well, that's what these posts are for! Time to feel awesome again and get some Positivity rolling! Just because it's Monday doesn't mean you can't have fun, smile, and enjoy Today! Apply these tips to your week and try to tell me that you don't start to see an improvement in your life! ;)
It's all about You! Change your perception, change your attitude, love your life! xo



Take whatever comes your way. Just go with the flow and use whatever the universe delivers instead of resisting it, no matter what it may bring. Always see the positive side and make use of any situation, ordeal, or mishap. Remember that everything happens for a reason, there is always a lesson, and there is always a positive side and outlook. ;) xo
Extend your Compassion for Animals. We disconnect ourselves so much from animals, which is why we have so many industries that abuse animals (meat, dairy, wool, animal-testing, fashion, honey, hunting, zoos, circuses, and so forth). Take some time with animals and realize that they DO have souls. A lovely online friend of mine shared this beautiful article that will absolutely inspire you and touch your heart (http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/stories-that-prove-animals-have-souls). So connect with animals and remember that they are living breathing emotional creatures with souls of their own!
Take up a 30 Day Challenge! Of whatever you want! Make it something productive to better your health, your happiness, your Self. Challenges are fun because they commit us to something and keep us motivated. So commit yourself to a 30 Day Challenge, whether it's picking up "The Magic" and doing those exercises, jumping onto a vegan diet (my Going Vegan Guide is coming out in the next week!), an exercise routine, doing good deeds and acts of kindness every day, taking on an artistic project, orrrr, revisiting my "30 Day Self Challenge" right here on the blog! ;) 
Correct Negative Thoughts… The Law of Attraction is always in motion (whether you believe in it or not), your thoughts become things, what you think about comes about. Be aware of your thoughts and words, and if you say something negative or unfavourable, correct it with words of positivity. You can always correct your thoughts, that's the fun part! So catch yourself, be aware, give thanks instead of complaining, and choose how you want your day and life to be.
Learn to Cook!  Befriend your kitchen! I remember I used to despise cooking, yet it was something that I wanted to learn to do and actually feel motivated to do. Low and behold, the Universe kinda kicked me into it after I got an allergy test done a short time after I went vegan. Your kitchen is your friend! There is nothing more rewarding than making your own food, knowing what it is you are actually eating, and putting genuine love and care into food preparation. Plus, you can make it fun! Play some awesome tunes, dance around, make it your zen time.  
Make faces in the mirror! Say whaaaaat? Stop taking yourself so seriously! And what better way to learn to do that then to poke fun at yourself. I'm serious now, go and make faces in your mirror! Because if you can't put yourself up to doing this then you are definitely taking yourself and life too seriously. ;) 
"Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing." ~ Denis Waitley Take a chance, jump on opportunities. You'll never fully embrace and experience life to its fullest unless you learn to actually Live! 


Have a beautiful day, week, life! Much Love from me to you! 
Create a Nice Day! xo

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Sunday, August 5, 2012

Ⓥ Barbecued Marinated Tofu Ⓥ



I don't know how I've been vegan for so long and never tried making my own tofu for the barbecue. Well, I decided to change that and play around with recipes and both me and my hubby loved this barbecued delight!

Barbecued Marinated Tofu
1 pound Extra Firm Tofu
4 Tbsp Tamari or Soy Sauce
1-2 minced Garlic
1 Tbsp Ginger, ground
2 Tbsp Rice Vinegar
2 tsp Agave
1 Tbsp Oil
Tofu Tips: Use Firm or Extra Firm Tofu so that it holds together. If you want you can also freeze your tofu and unthaw it for a "meatier" texture. 


Slice up your tofu into strips or triangles, the thickness is more or less dependant on your personal preference, the thicker the better they'll hold but the thinner the faster they'll cook. I usually cut mine about 1cm thick. 
Press out as much of the water as you can--most people like to use a kitchen towel or paper towel and really press it out, but I honestly don't bother with that part and my tofu always turns out just fine. ;) 
Prepare the marinade! In a small bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients until well mixed. Place your tofu slices into the marinade--use a shallow dish or ziplock bag, or something that your tofu can really soak up the marinade. The longer the tofu remains in the marinade, the more flavour it will soak up, half an hour is generally the minimum--but I only soaked them for ten minutes one time and they still turned out great… but I also soaked them over two nights and they were much more flavourful. I think overnight is ideal. ;)  
Make sure your barbecue is lightly oiled as tofu tends to stick. Place your slices on the grill and, well, grill until tofu starts to crisp, flipping over to evenly cook each side. 
Serve with your favourite sides! And voila! 


You can also make this in the oven by placing the tofu in a shallow dish and baking at 350℉ for approximately 35-45 minutes, flipping tofu at least once, until brown and slightly crispy. 

Makes 2-4 servings. Enjoy! 


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