{life reflections}

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{life reflections}

 Weekly thoughts and rambles. A glimpse into my mind and world. 

These are entries that I might jot down in my Happy Diary; what happens when we put our fingers to the keyboard and allow our thoughts to flow uninhibited. Reflections from the soul. 

Reflections of life.  

I hope to leave you inspired. 

If you want to share your own reflections of the week please leave a link to your "life reflections" entry in the comments for all to find and see.

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Wow! What a crazy last several weeks! I feel that my blogging has been severely lacking--and so has my introverted personal time that I so desperately require to recharge, which I have been able to gain this past week with a much deserved couple of days off. The lows and highs of my life are extreme at this time, but I am glad to at least be experiencing both, as the highs make the lows so much more bearable and passable. The truth is, I feel incredibly blessed for my life at the moment, despite the whirlwind around me. Sales have been fantastic, which has been quite a turn from last year's holiday season. It seems at least this area of my life I am feeling the abundance of the Law of Attraction and the welcoming of money once more into my life. Other areas… not so much. But that's okay. Ups and downs are a part of life, and I know that it's just a matter of time before I reach better places in those areas as well, learning and growing from the lessons and moving forward.

My husband is becoming a nutritionist and with all the schooling and homework he's been doing, he's also been feeding me some incredible information. I already considered the both of us extremely healthy, but it's such a vast topic and it seems there is always Something you could be doing better for your health. That being said, I have also learned the importance of balance. Stressing about your health and what you're eating will eliminate all the good you do your body with a healthy diet and exercise. Because stress… well, stress is the devil. Truly truly. This aside, I have been on new supplements, checking up on my health, taking HCL and enzymes and doing a few various helpful cleanses to improve the drop in health I was struggling with the last couple months (thanks to stress from my past which caused food intolerances, hormone imbalance, low stomach acid, and so forth). With cleansing has come those extreme lows and highs with body and mind, but the end result will be fantastic! 

It might not be so bad, but life has a funny way of pouring when it decides to rain, and I know most of you will know the feeling. This end of year has been a very bumpy road, on an emotional and physical level, and it is why there has been a definite lack of new content on the blog due to the need to seek focus and find balance in those aspects of my life. Truth be told, it still amazes me the sorts of spirals life can dish out all at once. I had a health scare when I received an abnormal pap test back with possible low squamous cells--I had to book a special appointment with a specialist an hour away to find out for sure. I just received the news two days ago that everything is clear, whatever they had thought might be there isn't. What a relief! But, again, a bumpy ride: it was a reminder of the IUD experience I had two years ago, which, as it turns out, was actually quite a traumatic event for me which, this new year, I will be seeking out some resources to get past. Too personal? I feel like I share a lot of myself on here, and so, I like to share experiences as well. The whole experience was actually another reminder to myself to get my hormones back in balance and to really focus on my relationships and body that need healing due to that feminine energy. Women's health is a topic that I feel is so important, being a woman in a vastly uneducated society when it comes to women's health, and so this new year I intend to spread more information on these topics, because it is so important and I really wish more women knew about their bodies and the beauty that comes from within. 

That being said, the emotional roller coaster is forever moving. At first, I wondered if I was the only one going bonkers, but then I noticed more and more people around me going through extreme highs and lows. Of course, the obvious answer to me is the holiday season. If you have a dysfunctional family then attention tends to be drawn to it at this time of year--especially if your parents are divorced and your family is split. But I feel perhaps it's more than that, a cleansing, perhaps, before the new year; drawing out unresolved issues to move forwards into more evolved and whole, loving beings. At least, that's what I'm seeking to gain from it all. 

What an end of year! I can't say it enough, my mind is still in tangles of this web. Christmas day was… a fail in my books. I feel like there is so much pressure on this one day of the year. For me, it's often a reminder of the dysfunctionality and brokenness of my family. I don't expect a perfect family anymore, it's been a very long time since I have expected this, but somehow, still, when the holiday season comes around it's a sharp reminder which, this year, was a bit more of a struggle. Maybe with too much other issues piling up (ones more personal I choose to omit instead of sharing all the private and inner workings of my life and relationships) it just became a bit much and I honestly just wanted the holidays to be over with. To top it all off, I spent three hours at the hospital last night after my husband got into a skateboarding accident. See? When it rains it pours. All things considered, he had the best possible outcome, but will be needing lots of love and care for a recovery that looks like it will be speedy--thank goodness! 

Okay, so having said all that, I'm not sharing any of this from some tragic stand point, merely from an observing point. The truth is, despite the ups and downs, generally, overall, I feel quite spectacular. And I intend to feed the good vibes with more good vibes. Gratitude is so important and it has been my largest focus through it all--that and focussing on the positive, always and foremost. I look to this New Year with so much hope and joy. A fresh start! That's always what a new year feels like, but unless you set your foot down and make it happen then nothing will change. I will be making changes where they are needed: focussing on health, seeking out resolution in unresolved past issues and relationships, and making more awesomeness happen. Truly, I feel like 2014 is going to be an amazing year for everyone. A year of enlightenment, love, joy, health, wealth, and abundance in all areas of life. Our New Year even starts on a New Moon, which is a period to clean the slate, set intentions, and start anew. It's been 19 years since the last New Moon on a New Year! 

Hope. Hope is alive in all of us. Hope is the fire that burns through our souls and allows us to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It makes me sad when people can lose that fire, and lose sight of that light that is almost within their reach. If nothing else, I just want to remind you all, that everything is going to be Okay, and the light is always there for you. Keep hope alive. Because goodness is there waiting for you, I promise! 

Here's to the happiest of New Years and a wonderful new chapter for each our beautiful, amazing lives! 

   

So Much Love from my heart and soul to yours!     

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

♥ ReLove Plan.et's Boxing Day Sale! ♥

Hope you're all having a happy holiday season and a wonderful day in general! I wasn't going to do a sale but then, I figured, why not. ;)

• Spend $40.00 and get a free surprise decal and art print.  
• Spend $100.00 and get a free necklace (of your choice! Let me know your selection in the "notes to seller", or if you'd like a surprise leave it blank ~_^) and other extra goodies!
• And make any purchase in the shop and I'll include extra little goodies ;) 

*Sale is for Boxing Day (December 26th) Only! Don't miss out!

ReLove Plan.et Etsy Shop! Get Shopping! ~_^ 

Happy Holidays!! ♥♥

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

❀ The Good News ❀

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Stop watching the News on T.V. filled with lies, propaganda, and made to make you feel helpless and afraid.

With all the negative news in the world, it's time to give you hope and inspiration. It's time to the weekly Good News! 

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Cruel Badger Cull Meets Embarrassing End

Two controversial badger culls have been labeled as failures and have finally been stopped after it became clear that those going after them wouldn’t be able to kill enough badgers to meet their targets. While this has led to relief among animal advocates, it also raises concerns that what was done will make things worse.

The pilot programs were run in Gloustershire and Somerset in an effort to stop the spread of Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) among cattle, but killing badgers to solve the problem has caused controversy among scientists, farmers, the government and animal advocates.

The programs were designed to see whether or not shooting free-running badgers at night, as opposed to trapping them, would help stop the spread of bTB. Scientists and animal advocacy groups — including the Badger Trust, Humane Society International/UK, RSPCA, League Against Cruel Sports and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, among others — have all come out strongly opposing using badgers as scapegoats for a problem affecting cattle.

(Read more) 

Animal Welfare Movement is Growing Fast in China

Chinese animal lovers are banding together to lobby their government for laws that protect animals. The growing number of animal advocates is chipping away at the country’s image as a hotbed of indifference to animal suffering.

The New York Times reports that revulsion at animal abuse is growing among the Chinese. Citizens have been taking matters into their own hands, rescuing cats and dogs headed to restaurants to be slaughtered and served to customers.

They are also pressing the government to take systemic action. No law protects animals from cruelty in China, except for endangered species and animal husbandry situations. Animal advocates have been working for years to change that. In 2009, with the help of sympathetic law professors, activists submitted proposed animal welfare legislation to the National People’s Congress.

(Read more) 

Victory! EU’s Seal Product Ban Upheld by World Trade Organization

In a landmark victory for seals, the World Trade Organization ruled on Monday to uphold the European Union’s (EU) ban on imported seal products over ethical concerns.

In 2010, the EU enacted a ban on seal products, with exceptions for Inuit and other indigenous communities and for products that were derived for non-commercial purposes as a result of managing marine resources. The move was challenged by Canada and Norway, which both argued that the embargo violated global trade rules and that the hunts are humane and sustainable, despite evidence to the contrary.

The WTO pointed out inconsistencies and problems with trade agreements, but ruled in the end that the ban was valid because it fills “the objective of addressing EU public moral concerns on seal welfare to a certain extent, and no alternative measure was demonstrated to make an equivalent or greater contribution to the fulfillment of the objective.”

Conservationists and animal advocacy groups are celebrating the victory, not only because it’s a big one for seals, but because it’s a big one for global animal welfare issues in general. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), which has been campaigning against the hunt for decades, noted that the WTO’s recognition of our right to oppose products that we believe are cruel and unsustainable is cause for celebration.

(Read more) 

Breaking News: Elephants out of India's Circuses‏

Earlier this year, PETA India and Animal Rahat released the results of a shocking nine-month undercover investigation of more than a dozen circuses that travelled across India. The investigation – authorised by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) – documented heartbreaking cruelty to elephants.

Now – little more than two months after this groundbreaking investigation rocked India and made headlines around the world – the AWBI has confirmed in just-released notes that it has "decided to stop registration of elephants for performance … in view of huge cruelties and abuse suffered by them ," a move that will effectively mean an end to the captivity of elephants in India's circuses. The AWBI is also preparing to seize elderly and injured elephants named in PETA India's report so they may be rehabilitated. While the board hasn't yet done so formally, its notes also indicate support for an eventual ban on the use of all animals in circuses in India.

(Read more) 

Success! No Amur Falcons Murdered This Year

Just about a year ago a Care2 writer wrote about 14,000 migrating Amur Falcons that were being murdered every day in the Indian state of Nagaland, a stopover in their migration from Siberia to Africa.

Now, as a result of action from Care2 and other groups, as well as three Indian villages, no birds have been massacred this year. Almost 9,000 Care2 activists signed our petition to save the Amur Falcons.

Thank you, Care2 activists!

(Read more) 

Groundbreaking Lawsuit Says Chimps Are Literally People, Too

This week, efforts that have been years in the works have finally made their debut with the filing of the first of many lawsuits seeking to demolish the legal wall that separates humans from nonhuman animals.

Unbeknownst to Tommy, a 26-year-old chimpanzee, the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) filed a lawsuit this week in New York state under the writ of habeus corpus seeking to have him released to a sanctuary that is part of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA).

(Read more) 

Good News for African Elephants

Representatives from 30 countries came together to discuss the poaching crisis and potential measures to save Africa’s elephants at the African Elephant Summit. 

The African Elephant Summit finally brought key nations together to focus on the entire trade chain and address problems from where elephants live to where ivory ends up. 

They agreed on 14 Urgent Measures that will take a zero-tolerance approach to poaching and will hopefully protect elephants from further suffering. A few of the measures include working with local communities on conservation efforts and campaigning to end the demand for ivory to increasing on-the-ground efforts that will give local law enforcement and wildlife protection agencies the means to deal with powerfully armed poaching syndicates and strengthen cooperation between agencies. One measure also includes creating a network of forensic labs that will be able to determine where ivory came from and provide evidence that can be used in court.

Probably the most important measure is the agreement to classify wildlife trafficking as a “serious crime,” which will “effectively unlock international law enforcement cooperation provided under the United Nationals Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, including mutual legal assistance, asset seizure and forfeiture, extradition, and other tools to hold criminals accountable for wildlife crime.”

(Read more) 

Good News for Rabbits: Angora Update: H&M, New Look and Esprit Listened‏

Following the viral success of  PETA's video exposing how rabbits are treated on Chinese angora farms as well as actions by hundreds of thousands of concerned people, some of the UK's favourite brands have suspended angora production!

H&M, New Look, Esprit and ACNE are among the companies that have stopped manufacturing angora products because of animal welfare concerns. The combined impact of their decision is huge and will potentially spare hundreds of thousands of rabbits being imprisoned, manhandled and plucked alive. We're now hoping these companies will take the next step and banish angora from their stores permanently

People power made this possible, so thank you for being a part of this campaign. 

Fur Free Friday 2013 a Huge Success

Fur Free Friday just celebrated its twenty-seventh year and it is still going strong! Coast to coast across the United States and in cities around the world, activists took time out of their holiday weekend to speak up for the fifty million animals slaughtered each year for their fur. We encouraged consumers to shop cruelty-free this holiday season by avoiding fur and fur-trimmed items.

IDA coordinated demos in forty cities for the Fur Free Friday event this year, which is almost double the number of cities that participated last year! Our movement is definitely growing! And thanks to caring people like you, thousands of people now know the truth behind the egregiously cruel fur industry.

Waitress Turns Anti-LGBT Discrimination into Something Awesome

This story is a heart-warming one of human kindness, in reaction to human ignorance. Dayna Morales, an ex-Marine and now server at the Gallop Asian Bistro in Bridgewater, New Jersey, went to pick up the $93.55 bill from a family she had been serving that night, she was affronted to find a note scribbled on the receipt saying she would be getting no tip. The note read: “I’m sorry but I cannot tip because I do not agree with your lifestyle and how you live your life.”

Morales sent a picture of the receipt complete with the note scribbled on it to the “Have a Gay Day” Facebook page. The Internet, in that way it sometimes does, then took over.

The post quickly garnered thousands of shares and hundreds of comments. Gradually, an idea formed: to donate $1 to Dayna to make up for the money she lost out on. Dayna has now received more than $2000, but she’s not keeping all of it. Instead, she has pledged to donate a portion to the Wounded Warriors Project which helps to rehabilitate and empower wounded veterans.

(Read the full story) 

12-Year-Old Girl Fights for Her Right to Wrestle on the Boys Team

Twelve-year-old Audrianna Beattie has been a wrestler since the third grade. But when she moved from Iowa to rural Pennsylvania she found that she couldn’t compete against the boys.

I don’t mean that in a “she’s not good enough” kind of way. Last year she competed against boys, and her record was 5-3. No, what I mean is that at her new school she isn’t allowed to compete with boys. It’s against the rules.

She’s not taking this lying down. She’s literally making a federal case of it. Last week she testified for 40 minutes in front of a federal judge for her right to compete with the boys. Audrianna’s parents believe that their daughter’s ineligibility violates the federal equal protection clause and the state constitution’s equal rights amendment.

(Read more) 

4 Countries That Got Rid of McDonald’s

While McDonald’s currently has restaurants in 118 countries, here are four countries that managed to get the company to close shop: Iceland, Bolivia, Macedonia, Bermuda.

Hopefully this will spread!  

(Read more)

Flame retardant debate burns out for good in California

Last week the State of California officially passed a long-awaited fire safety standard that means furniture products sold in the state will no longer need to be treated with toxic flame retardants.

(Read more) 

World’s Largest Landfill Will Soon Power Parts of New York City

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that Freshkills Park on Staten Island, once the world’s largest landfill, will soon be converted into the city’s largest solar energy facility. Once completed, the plant will produce up to 10 megawatts of power — five times more than any solar energy system in the city and enough to power approximately 2,000 homes.

(Read more) 

Ending the Use of Triclosan

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under a court agreement signed recently, will end decades of delay and decide how to protect consumers from triclosan, a suspected endocrine disruptor linked to reproductive and developmental harm in laboratory studies.

The FDA first proposed in 1978 to remove triclosan from certain consumer products. But because it took no further action, the chemical has been widely used in antimicrobial soaps sold in the U.S.

In 2010, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) sued the FDA in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to force the agency to issue a final rule. The parties reached a settlement and, under a consent decree signed by U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, the agency committed to taking final action on triclosan used in consumer hand soaps by 2016.

(Read more) 

6 Awesome Celebrities Share Their Thoughts on Being a Feminist

It’s crazy that even to this day the word feminist in many circles, even among women, is considered negative and dirty. Why does believing in equality conjure up such negative reactions?

Probably because the word is incredibly misunderstood. That’s why it’s so important to proudly share your feminist identity with anyone who will listen. 

Check out these 6 kickass female celebrities who proudly claim that yes they are feminists, too:

Read them Here!

Heroes in Brown: 7 UPS Drivers Who Stepped Up to Save Animals

United Parcel Service (UPS) drivers sometimes are doing much more than dropping off boxes. Some of them are saving animals’ lives.

Check out these seven stories of UPS drivers who saw animals in trouble and did something about it, even when it would have been easier to simply return to their routes:

Read them Here!

10 Random Acts of Kindness That Will Make You Smile

Lastly, check out these 10 random acts of kindness! :)

Read them Here!

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Thanks for reading this week's "Good News!" Join us every week and feel inspired! 

Be sure to sign up for Care2's newsletter for some real news around the globe, to make a change, and to open up your mind to the Real World!

See that your actions count and get out there and do good! Be the Change! 

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

☺ Motivational Mondays! ☺

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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

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☺ Law of Attraction tip: Remember whatever you think about most is what you are attracting into your life. This means, if you are focussing too much on the problems in your life then you will be attracting more of that to you. Always focus on what you DO want, not on what you Don't want!       

☺ Watch the Snow Fall…  because there is something so calming and simple about it… and you know, you should be enjoying what's in front of you. ;) 

☺ Find the Motivation to Have Fun!  Maybe it's just and some of the friends I've been around lately, and maybe it has something to do with winter, but motivation  has been in short supply as of late. It's hard to feel motivated to do anything other than stay warm and cozy inside with a book or drawing pad (or maybe it's just the introvert in me as well). But fun is fun is fun, so find the motivation to get out of the house, see some friends, and do something exciting and out of the ordinary. Which brings me to my next point…    

☺ Get Pumped!!! If motivation Is in short supply, or even if it isn't, learn to Get Pumped! About life, about mundane activities, about absolutely anything! Life doesn't have to be boring (even when doing simple chores). Life is and should be exciting and thrilling, and the only thing that's stopping it from being so is your lack of energy to make it so. The funny thing is that it's Easy to get pumped, to get yourself excited and motivated. All you have to do is Feel it! My favourite way of doing this is to blast terrible music and dance around--it's hard not to feel better after doing this. ;)     

☺ Remember you are not the only one Searching. This concept was a real wake up for me and it profoundly reminded me of this valuable fact… As much as You are Searching for someone, or something (whether it be your life partner, your best friend, the perfect job, etc.), They are also searching for You! So stay positive and optimistic, they (or it) are on their way!        

☺ Reflect what You Want. People outside of you aren't going to see your flaws unless you are dwelling on them and projecting them out into the world. Likewise, if you are projecting the wonderful side of yourself (which Everyone has inside of them) then that is what others will see. Perception is everything, and everyone will perceive you differently, but if you are projecting positivity and awesomeness then the only people that will miss it are the ones that can only see the negativity within their own selves. So be lovely and positive and the world will shine around you and you will attract more positivity and like-minded people.   

☺ “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Nelson Mandela 

Create a great day! 

Much love from me to you! 

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{this moment} - and the weekly {Smile-Up}

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"There are no ordinary moments." ~Way of the Peaceful Warrior

{this moment} - a Friday ritual. A photo (or few) capturing moments from the week. Simple, special, extraordinary moments. Moments I want to pause, savor and remember.

Served up with the weekly {Smile-Up} - gratitude practices to love and appreciate your life. 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' and 'smile up' in the comments for all to find and see.

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{this moment}

{Lyla has become quite the cuddly kitty--this is how I spend most my mornings}

{Smile Up}:

☺ Vegan Potlucks!

☺ Meeting new people.

☺ Pretty Snow. ♥

☺ Manifesting wonderful things! 

☺ Getting back to using my Vision Board on a regular basis!

☺ Tons of kitty cuddles! And first ever Buster coming to me for cuddles! 

☺ Helping others.

☺ Art, art, art!

☺ Tea Dates.

☺ Feeling Inspired!

☺ Meditation.

☺ Exercise and Yoga.

☺ Sharing, Giving, and Accepting.

☺ Sharing Laughter! Laugher is the best!  

☺ Learning, remembering lessons, being in touch with lessons. 

☺ Christmas Lights. 

☺ Cozy evenings hermiting. 

☺ Gifts to make me smile on rough days. 

☺ Being surrounded by amazing, loving, wondering people who lift me higher. 

☺ Remembering to Stay Positive.

☺ Being busy with etsy sales! ^_^

☺ Making the top 5s shortlist of the 2013 Canadian Weblog Awards (in the "Life" category!) ^_^ 

Loving: Manifesting • Vision Board • Drawing • Writing • Kitty Cuddles • Leggings • Slippers •  Handmade anything! • Oversized Sweaters •  Love • Dance Breaks • Personal Space • Camilla d'Errico •

Interests for the week:

✯ Reading: "Black Spring" by Alison Croggon. "D.Gray Man" Manga Comics. 

✯  Current Anime shows: "Black Butler"

✯  TV Shows: How I met Your Mother. Sons of Anarchy. Wilfred.

♫ Music Playlist: Shuffle on my iPhone ;)   ♫

✯ Food Faves: Chocolate Mousse ♥ Oatmeal ♥ Cauliflower ♥ Apple Pie Smoothies ♥ Mountain Magic Cookies ♥ 

Lessons of the week: 

 To have fun no matter what you're doing! ☀ "There are other people out there who are looking for you!" I loved this reminder this week, because I've been seeking out new friends and people in my life and it's easy to feel discouraged. Then, I heard this, and it was a fantastic reminder that as much as I am searching, they are searching for me too. ^_^ ☀ Learning to be an Introvert in an Extroverted Society. (I foresee a blog post coming…) ☀ Dance Breaks are so fantastic for the soul and keep you positive during a mundane or busy day! ☀ Remembering to Give and to Share--using the Law of Attraction, we learn that giving is as important as receiving. ☀ Taking charge of your Happiness--being honest with yourself about what works, what doesn't, and what needs changing. ☀ Hope! Dream Big! All things are possible, always remember this! ☀

Needing rather badly to get back into the swing of the blog, but I have been rather busy with etsy orders, so my apologies! I hope you are all enjoying a snowy holiday season and remembering to smile and look for the positive every single day!  

Tell me about your lovely week and what you're grateful for in this moment! Tell me about your 'Smile Up' and 'this moment!' :)  ♥

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

The Sad Truth About Your Thanksgiving Turkey (Infographic)

Infographic by Jan Diehm for the Huffington Post.

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

☺ 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: Meet the Universe half-way. The Law of Attraction means asking the Universe for what you'd like and not worrying about the "How". Never worry about the How. However, it is important to pay attention to any signals that come your way, the ones we call "inspired action". You should never Force something to happen, because this goes against the Universe, but listening to that inner voice and taking action when it feels appropriate and effortless and fun is important as well. This is how we meet the Universe half way and make dreams come true. So pay attention to your inner voice and remember if its not fun, you're on the wrong track.      

☺ Check up on Your Health. Being vegan, you hear a lot about making sure your iron and B12 levels are good. But it's not just vegans that need to be safe, and this is a common misunderstanding. Most people are deficient in something, and especially if you're not eating with your health in mind. So, getting certain minerals and vitamins checked up on can be beneficial, especially your B vitamins and D in the winter. I'd like to think we can get all that we need from food, but our agricultural system has depleted much of what we used to get naturally, and especially if your life is filled with a lot of stress which doesn't allow your body to function properly. See a Naturopath, or pay attention to your energy and how your stomach feels. A happy body is a happy life! 

☺ Do Good and Pay it Forward!  Know someone who has been having a hard time lately? Make their day by sending them a little gift or a little note about how much you appreciate and care about them. These are small actions with big results, and everyone could use a little pick me up every once in a while--or all the time. See if they can pass on the favour of giving and pass on that joy to someone else afterwards as well. Let's spread joy and smiles like wildflowers! :)    

☺ Don't Speak Badly of Others. I'm quite sure I mentioned this point a little while back, but, I see what a bad habit it is all around me so it's always a good reminder. Don't speak badly of others behind their backs, or to their faces. While you may not think they can hear you, they Can FEEL your hurtful words. You know how the old saying goes: if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.    

☺ Ease into Your Day! It is absolutely worth it to wake up an extra half hour early so that you have time to ease into your day. By easy into your day I mean to wake up slowly, get out of bed, stretch and take a few centering breaths. And, if you have time, do some yoga! Jumping into your day in a frazzle is Not a good way to start your morning, and therefor the rest of your day. It's like starting off in a high-strung state and that will most definitely carry over into your day and make it harder to come out of. Start calm to stay calm and happy.       

☺ Be Your Lovely Insane Self. Always always be unabashedly your lovely quirky unique self, and remember that whatever that Self might be is different from person to person. You are the only You, so enjoy being You, enjoy your individuality, because truly truly that is an amazing wonderful awe-inspiring thing. Don't try to be someone else, because you are perfectly You and you are lovely.  

☺ "All Great Changes are Preceded by Chaos." ~Deepak Chopra. You often hear things get worse before they get better, and while this isn't always the case, with big changes in life can equal high stress and a whirlwind before that storm settles. But keep the goal in mind, and know that it Will settle, so no stressing. Remember to go with the flow and keep your mind on what you want. Let the Universe know what you want and it will surely deliver. Also know that whenever life is that much more rocky then the reward thereafter is going to be That much more rewarding! 

Create a great day! And spread those smiles! 

Much love from me to you! 

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Ⓥ Apple Pie Smoothie #2 Ⓥ

Apple Pie smoothies are the greatest, aren't they? Well, here's another Apple Pie smoothie for you that is a little different and equally awesome than the last one I posted. 

Enjoy!!  

vegan / gluten free/ sugar-free/ raw

Apple Pie Smoothie

1 Apple, chopped and cored

1 Banana

3 Dates, soaked overnight (to soften them up)

1 Tbsp Walnuts 

1 tsp of Cinnamon

¼ tsp of ground Nutmeg

⅛ tsp of ground Ginger

¼ cup ice

1 cup Water

Stevia to sweeten (or other sweetener of your choice)

Add all the ingredients together in a blender and blend until smooth. Add less or more liquid to get your desired consistency, and less or more sweetener to your desired sweetness. 

Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. 

Makes 1 serving. Enjoy! 

*I make all my smoothies in our Blendtec Blender--it's an amazing blender and well worth the investment--and it makes the smoothies super super smooth and creamy!* 

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Ⓥ Vegan Kitchen: Rice Pudding Ⓥ

I love this recipe as a healthy breakfast alternative. Of course, it makes a great dessert as well. ;) 

Super easy and healthy!  

vegan / gluten free/ sugar-free

Rice Pudding

1 1/2 cups cooked Brown Rice*

1 1/4 cups Coconut Milk**

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup Agave or maple syrup (or use a little less and use stevia as well)

1 tsp Vanilla

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground Ginger

1/8 tsp ground Nutmeg

*I like to make a batch of Brown Rice for a couple of days for rice bowls and, well, for this recipe. If you don't have rice already made then either make it the night before (since it takes about 50minutes to cook brown rice) or, if you have time, make it in the morning.

**Coconut Milk: use the liquid of a chilled can (I always like to store mine in a cold room or keep one handy in the fridge for recipes), and part of the thick part so that you get enough--store the rest for another recipe for your week :)

In a medium saucepan, add the rice with all of your ingredients. Stir well to combine, and cook the mixture over low heat until warmed and you get a nice consistency that isn't too watery but isn't too dry (add a little water or more coconut milk as necessary). 

Sprinkle with a little cinnamon and serve warm--or chill in the fridge, both are delish! 

Serves 2-3

Enjoy! 

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{this moment} - and the weekly {Smile-Up}

. . . . . . . . . . 

"There are no ordinary moments." ~Way of the Peaceful Warrior

{this moment} - a Friday ritual. A photo (or few) capturing moments from the week. Simple, special, extraordinary moments. Moments I want to pause, savor and remember.

Served up with the weekly {Smile-Up} - gratitude practices to love and appreciate your life. 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' and 'smile up' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . . . . 

{this moment}

{Birthday Princess with her sexy Nurse husband ~_^}

{Smile Up}:

☺ My Birthday! Which included the actual day spent for myself being creative, and a tea date with my bestie. ♥

☺ Birthday with my hubby: lunch in Kaslo and hot springs ^_^

☺ Birthday weekend: costume part where I had a little too much fun with friends. ;)

☺ Dressing up, because it's fun, always! 

☺ Birthday breakfast with my siblings

☺ Surprise birthday flowers delivered to my door by Nixx ♥

☺ The birthday basket my bestie and her boyfriend put together for me (they know me too well haha)

☺ Drawing and writing like crazy! (almost done Book 1!!) 

☺ Yoga!

☺ Getting my health back!

☺ Being a part of amazing things

☺ Growing as an individual and watching the dreams of others inspiring me to do and be better. 

☺ Kitty cuddles-- Lyla has become quite the needy cuddly kitty! 

☺ Less mindless TV time! 

☺ Dancing like a fool, as always ;)

☺ More time with my nieces and my sister ♥

☺ The first sprinkle of snow

☺ Christmas lights already -- I'm feeling much more in the holiday spirit this year ^_^

☺ Getting blood work done and everything checking out healthy ^_^

Loving: Yoga • Writing • Drawing • New morning routine • Costume Parties • Colourful Hair and Dreadlocks • Thigh-high Leg-warmers and Stockings •  Toques (beanies) • Cozy Hoodies and Sweaters •  Pinterest • Vision Boards • Inspiring Women • 

Interests for the week:

✯ Reading: "Black Spring" by Alison Croggon. "D.Gray Man" Manga Comics. 

✯  Current Anime shows: "Guilty Crown"

✯  TV: How I met Your Mother. Sons of Anarchy. Wilfred (omg this show is Amazing!!! Hilarious!).

♫ Music Playlist: 30 Seconds to Mars. The White Buffalo ("Oh Darlin"--amazing song!). Hollywood Undead. We Are the Fallen. Bullet for My Valentine… same ol'.   ♫

✯ Food Faves: Protein Shakes ♥ Grilled Cheese w/ Daiya and Spelt (which I'm not supposed to eat O.o) ♥ Banana Ice Cream ♥ Creamy Pasta Sauces ♥ Chocolate ♥ 

Lessons of the week: 

Remember to have FUN! That no matter what you're doing you can have fun doing it! ☀ To always use PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) and to change your Perspective to change your Life! ☀ Some days are made to be moody, brush it off and smile extra hard the next! ☀ Say Yes! ☀ Writing is good for the soul. ☀ Take time for your Self every single day. ☀ Remember that Thoughts Become Things. ☀  Be in the Present Moment! Life is in the Present! Here and Now! ☀

I've still been rather lazy with these posts so apologies. I had a fun busy last couple of weeks, so here's my catch up. Hope you're all smiling and having a blissful day and week and life! 

Tell me about your lovely week and what you're grateful for in this moment! Tell me about your 'Smile Up' and 'this moment!' :)  ♥

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☺ Applying a Positive Mental Attitude to Your Life ☺

No one gets out of this life without having to deal with stuff...great stuff, wonderful stuff, happy stuff, crappy stuff, sad stuff, tragic stuff....and sometimes you look at other people and think..Wow, they are soooo lucky, their life is sooooo good. That is perception, what you are witnessing is how each individual deals with the circumstances of their life...that is the MAGIC of LIFE...you always get to CHOOSE how you react to the circumstances...because everyone deals differently. You get to choose your reactions. If someone reacts positively ...then they are seen as LUCKY...well their attitude is lucky..but life is life is life for everyone.

Life is life is life. For everyone. 

The truth is that everyone has to deal with ups and downs with life. No one person is more gifted than the other--unless they happen to be using the power of the Law of Attraction to their advantage (which is still Them putting life into action), but even then, sh!t happens. Such is life. But how are some people always so happy and positive and seem to be unfazed by the dark messes of the world? 

Firstly: they're not. 

Everyone has downs, everyone has a hard time with things from time to time, because no one is perfect and no one has perfect control over their emotions all the time. No one. Probably not even those wise old monks we hear so much about. Just because you don't see someone fall apart, doesn't mean they don't on the inside, or doesn't mean they don't go home with the need to unwind there instead. Everyone goes through things, everyone cries (in fact, crying is very helpful and healing and releasing), and everyone experiences the drops of their perfect moods. 

Everyone is human. Got it? Okay, let's move on. 

Secondly: Some people just know how to change Perspective.

Perspective is everything, and one of the most valuable and helpful lessons I ever learned was to change my attitude. As already mentioned, things happen to everyone, but the people who seem the happiest are the ones who know how to deal with their conflicts accordingly. This is when having a Positive Mental Attitude comes in. When shit hits the fan, you have two choices. One, you fall apart, get mad, get frustrated, and let it destroy your mood. Or two, (even if you have to first go through One) you pick up a smile and try looking at things from a different perspective. Perspective is Everything! No matter how bad a situation can be, there is always a bright side. Even if the bright side is that you get to learn a hard lesson that will make you a stronger person. 

It's not what happens to you in life, it's how you Deal With It that matters. Trust me. 

I have had happy times in my life where things were effortless and going right, and I've had times when I thought things couldn't get any worse. The irony is that during one of those periods of my life when things were falling apart, I was actually at my happiest--and it was all thanks to picking up an optimistic, Positive Attitude and putting things into perspective. That attitude saved me, absolutely and surely, because things at that point in my life were one of the worst points of my parent's messy divorce and custody battles of my younger siblings, and emotional traumas. That Positive Attitude allowed me to be resilient, allowed me to keep smiling, and made me more helpful to those around me as well. I took time to focus on the good things: the other great things I currently had in my life, as well as why the "bad" situation was a good thing--again, perception is everything. 

Put Things Into Perspective

Focussing on the outcome you desire is a good alternative to dwelling on the problem. If you can focus on the outcome, then your mind (or the universe) can help you get there much quicker and with much less heart-ache.  

Instead of allowing yourself to get overwhelmed and negative, take a step back. Try looking at things logically--which I understand isn't always easy when you're emotional, but take a few breaths, get out some paper (even if you're still crying when you start) and start scribbling down things that might be good about what's going on around you. There are always different angles that you can look at things from; if you don't believe me, just think about how one Same Situation can be perceived Completely differently by each individual involved. There are always different points of view. Your goal is to find the point of view that will help you. The Positive Side. The side that will get you through the mess and put a smile back on your face. 

Plus, if all else fails, remember: nothing is ever permanent, including emotions and feelings, and, after time, you Will feel better. 

Change Your Mind and you'll Change Your Life

If you can pick up this way of thinking then life will become much easier. Life is based on perception, therefore, if you can change your perception you will change your life. You have in your mind the power to do extraordinary things, and one of those extraordinary things is the capacity to change your life through simply Thinking. Think Happy, Think Positive. See what happens. It can really be quite magical and, well, life-changing. 

Practice makes perfect, and while this practice may feel hard at the start, the more you apply it, the easier it becomes. And it's always worth it. Simply taking a few minutes to sit down, jot down your thoughts, and find the positive means much less time wasted stressing yourself into sickness. 

Remember: your Attitude counts for everything. So work on that Positive Attitude at all times!  

A Personal Example:

Using one of my more recent experiences, I'd like to show you how changing your attitude can work… 

Just over a year ago, a flood rushed through our rental home. The entire basement was flooded in several feet of water, and the upstairs was washed over with grimy dirty pools and caked in stinky mud. It happened when I was up town (we live on a mountain and downtown is higher, while our apartment was at the bottom, very close to the lake). I came home to the mess and the mud washed right up to our front door--which was when the "no, no, no" panic began to set in. The entryway was a pool of murky muddy water, and, upon entering, most of our living room was in the same state, drifting down the hall and partly into our bedroom. 

Well, our landlord did nothing and was rather useless during this whole ordeal--we couldn't even get a hold of him for a day or two. So we began cleaning the mess ourselves--we didn't have a lot of options after all. Even after cleaning, the place Stank. The fire department was pumping the water out of the basement and the river that had taken over our backyard (not exaggerating here, it was a River!). After all of this was said and done, the basement was still so thick in mud that there was nothing that we could really do but to start salvaging the mess. All of my silkscreening gear (for my Job) was down in that basement, as well as our expensive camping gear, bikes, and the washer and dryer that we owned. 

Now, while our first reaction was indeed the panic and frustration of the whole mess and the ordeal to follow, we let it pass. We knew that stressing about it wasn't going to help or get us anywhere. 

So we started putting things into Perspective: 

First: it was the perfect incentive to Move the hell out of this place that we had been wanting to do for a while. 

Second: we started to list the things we were Grateful for: 

We had insurance coverage (which after some back and forth bickering and arguments, we were able to receive--bastard insurance companies trying to wiggle their way out of covering us--pfft), so anything that was damaged could be replaced. Our landlord couldn't say no to an early leave out of our lease because, well, our place was literally uninhabitable with the stench coming up from the basement of possible sewer water at that! My screens (for silkscreening) had at least been up somewhere where they remained undamaged by the water and my expensive inks were also still in tact--it was also summer still so I could silk screen outside (how delightful!). Our kitties were safe through everything, thank goodness! And so forth! 

So, with our gratitude and perspective in check, it was on to a Positive Solution: Moving! 

This was the biggest Positive Outlook out of the whole thing. We had a month to find a new place, no excuses allowed. And if it weren't for being armed with our Positive Attitudes and the Law of Attraction, we might have been screwed. My partner and I decided to write lists (things are twice as likely to come true when you write them down!) of what we wanted in our new home--after all, we were aiming for an upgrade and wouldn't settle for anything less. So we made our lists, and made sure they were in line with one another so that we were both manifesting the same thing. And we started looking. We looked at several places throughout the month, and even though it was a little discouraging at times, we didn't settle. And, guess what? We found our dream home. No joke. Pretty much everything that we'd written down on our lists we found--and if we didn't then we received variations! Our landlords are the nicest people we could ever ask for--for real, we adore them, they're the best! We even have a House to ourselves, in stead of some dingy duplex. We'd also made sure we wrote down how much we wanted to be paying for rent, and we even came within that range (which to the unbelieving, was an impossible find). 

So, moral of the story? 

Thanks to Perception, Positive Thinking, and Focussing on a Positive Outcome, our "Disaster" became a blessing in disguise. And this lesson applies to anything and everything in life. There is no point in stressing, there is only a point in turning your attitude around and Thinking Positive!

Give it a try, practice, practice, practice. Remember there is always a Positive Solution. Always.   

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