Friday, January 31, 2014

{My 365 Grateful Project}



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

{The '365 Grateful Project'} -  was created by Hailey in early 2008 in an effort to fight depression. 
This effort began a year long photographic project which involved taking one Polaroid photo a day of something she felt grateful for. 
The discipline of having to look for the good things that happen every day is life-changing, in so many ways. Hailey found not only her marriage, spiritual life and health improved, but this project accidentally, wondrously spread and affected the lives of many others.
Are you taking part?
. . . . . . . . . . 
{My 365 Grateful Project}

{my week of photos for the 365 Grateful Project ^_^}


{Day 24 - I am grateful for Cory making me muffins ^_^}

{Day 25 - I am grateful for Buster's cute lil face (wanting muffins)}

{Day 26 - I am grateful for my sweet lil nieces}


{Day 27 - I am grateful for Lyla being super cuddly}

{Day 28 - I am grateful for my new tea pot}

{Day 29 - I am grateful for this amazing book that I wanted that Cory picked up for me!}

{Day 30 - I am grateful for everything being pretty in white again}


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Monday, January 27, 2014

☺ 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

. . . . . . . . . .

Welcome to another edition to Motivational Mondays!!! This week, I wanted to make a list of tips and tricks to turn your mood around instantly--therefor these should be practiced on a daily basis. ;) It's not always easy to remind ourselves that We are in Control of our own moods, our own destinies, our own happiness; so these steps may help you to harness that inner fire and get back on track to a place of inner bliss and awesomeness!  

Be Grateful! Nothing will fill you to the brim with joy then sitting down and listing off things you are grateful for. You can take the worst mood and turn it around just by doing this practice. Writing a list is fantastic, but going this list in your head is also a great option--especially if you're stuck in a commute, doing meditation, or doing some mundane house chores, or really anything at all. Just start listing off things you're grateful for. It may feel forced at first, but the more things you list, the more you'll realize how much you have to be grateful for, and the more you'll feel genuinely grateful. It will swell up in your heart with joy! Give it a try!          
Have a Solo Dance Party!  This isn't a new tip from ReLove, dancing is such an easy joy and release, therefore, it will be repeated here fairly often as a little reminder. Get up and dance. Skip down the street, dance down the aisle of a grocery store, flail your arms while you're in your car (only when you're stopped at a stop sign or something, be safe now ~_^), dance in your living room, while you cook, while you clean, while doing anything! Just crank some tunes (or enjoy the song in your head) and dance your little heart out 'til the good feelings come racing back! 
Magic Steps!  This is a trick I learned from the book "The Magic" (which if you haven't picked up a copy yet… well, go pick up a copy already!!). All you do is say the words "thank you" with every step you make. The goal is to say "thank you" 100 times--which usually takes about ninety seconds. Don't focus on counting, focus on the words--the exact number isn't as important as harnessing that feeling of gratitude. It will uplift your mood and your state of mind, because gratitude is the key to bliss!    
Do Something for You! Take a time out and do something that you truly love. I don't care how little time you have in a day, DO It! Focussing on your joys means you'll become more efficient and you'll open up opportunities because you'll be in a better mind set. So I don't want to hear any excuses, take times--even fifteen minutes--just to do something solely for you!   
Write, write, write…  Diaries can be topsy-turvy pages of disaster, but they can also help to clear your mind. I highly recommend a Happy Diary exactly for these instances. Traditional diaries tend to be filled with our deepest miseries, because it is easier (for some reason) for us to write about our miseries instead of our joys. In truth, keeping a diary of all the things we're grateful for and all the amazing things happening in our day to day lives will serve you exponentially. You light a fire by speaking positively! However, the negatives need to get out, bottling them up is just setting yourself up for an explosive disaster. So! Write your heart out, spill out the awful messes in your head; accept that what you're feeling is Okay; let it go; and then write about your joys, what you want from the situation, what you're already grateful for right now because of the situation, and find an inner strength and humbleness from the feelings. The goal is to feel Better after you're done writing your heart out--so don't stop until you feel better!            
You're Awesome! Give yourself a pep-talk! Seriously, this practice will empower you and remind you of your own potential and might. Tell yourself how awesome you are; tell yourself that you are strong, empowered, confident, kick-ass, loveable, fun, happy, positive, and all the things that you want (aka Choose) to Be! Whenever you start speaking words of self-defeat about yourself, give yourself this pep-talk, and do it for as long as it takes to harness that inner power! Remember to Love Yourself!     
“Expectation is the root of all disappointment.When you expect certain people to act a certain way, you set yourself up for disappointment. When you expect a certain situation to go a certain way, or one particular outcome, then you shut yourself off from what may actually come. Therefore, release expectations. You choose how you react in regards to other people's actions and outcomes to situations. Your Attitude is a far more useful tool than expectation. Learn to adapt, adjust, and have a good attitude! Remember: You are in Control!   



Create a great day! 
Much love from me to you! 

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Friday, January 24, 2014

{My 365 Grateful Project}



. . . . . . . . . . 
{The '365 Grateful Project'} -  was created by Hailey in early 2008 in an effort to fight depression. 
This effort began a year long photographic project which involved taking one Polaroid photo a day of something she felt grateful for. 
The discipline of having to look for the good things that happen every day is life-changing, in so many ways. Hailey found not only her marriage, spiritual life and health improved, but this project accidentally, wondrously spread and affected the lives of many others.
Are you taking part?
. . . . . . . . . . 
{My 365 Grateful Project}

my week of photos for the 365 Grateful Project ^_^


{Day 17 - I am grateful for my new Panda bathrobe for the new hot tub ~.^}


{Day 18 - I am grateful for my adorable niece, and time with family}


{Day 19 - I am grateful for Buster - and he is grateful for gnawing on my Gratitude Rock}

{Day 20 - I am grateful for morning smoothies}

{Day 21 - I am grateful for my new Spoonk Accupressure Mat}

{Day 22 - I am grateful for beautiful sunny day in town}

{Day 23 - I am grateful for The Magic - staying so inspired!}

What are You grateful for this week? What beautiful moments did you capture? 


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Tuesday, January 21, 2014

❀ The Good News ❀



. . . . . . . . . . 
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! 
. . . . . . . . . .


Animal Euthanasia on the Chopping Block in Colorado
Attorneys from the not-for-profit organization AnimalsVote.org have submitted a ballot proposal called the Colorado No-Kill Pet Animal Act, which, if passed, would essentially make Colorado the first no-kill state in the nation. Animals Vote was founded on the belief that “the killing and the suffering of animals in deference to our own behest and gratification is an impediment to the moral and social progress of mankind.” 
And you can Help Make Colorado the First No-Kill State by Signing Here

Victory! New York Cracks Down on Puppy Mills
At the beginning of January, a commercial breeder in Sprakers, N.Y., drew the ire of dog lovers for leaving dozens of small and medium sized dogs and puppies outside with nothing more than empty plastic barrels to keep warm as temperatures plummeted well below zero. Photos of the dogs at Flat Creek Border Collies were spread around Facebook, and a firestorm ensued. Canine advocates called on local law enforcement to investigate complaints about the breeder. The Lexus Project got involved and took the case to court. 
Since then most of the dogs have been removed and are being cared for by the Montgomery County SPCA, the New England Border Collie Rescue and Glen Highland Farm. The owner was allowed to keep puppies on the condition that they be brought inside if the temperature falls below 32 degrees, but things won’t be finalized until January 21 when everybody heads back to court and the owner answers to the charge of not providing adequate shelter – which comes with a maximum fine of a whopping $100.
The good news is Governor Andrew Cuomo finally signed A.740a, dubbed the puppy mill bill, which will help crack down on large-scale commercial breeders in the state by granting counties and municipalities the ability to enact tougher regulations than the ones that exist at the state level to protect dogs raised in puppy mills.

Great News: PETA Closes Second Set of Bear Pits: New Life for 17 Bears‏
17 bears have been rescued from what would have been a life sentence in miserable concrete pits in Helen, Georgia. Thanks to a collaborative effort on the part of PETA, PETA patron and The Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon, the Wild Animal Sanctuary, and the Atlanta Humane Society, the bears now enjoy a full life in Colorado. They are now roaming acres of natural habitat at The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado, where they are already rolling in the grass, racing around their fields, and enjoying relative freedom and fresh mountain air in a stunning 60-acre habitat.

Pit Bull Owner Takes Up Fight Against Breed Bans in Oregon
A potential breed ban in Medford, Ore., has divided residents and ignited debate about whether banning pit bulls will do anything to improve safety in their community.
Medford resident and pit bull owner, Tyler Woodard created a Care2 petition urging the City Council to focus on owners with aggressive dogs, instead of unfairly targeting pit bulls because of their breed. Woodard is calling for public support and asking canine experts to come forward to offer testimony about the breed and why breed bans are ineffective.
Numerous other organizations have also already come out against breed bans, including the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Animal Control Association, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, the American Kennel Club, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors and the International Association of Canine Professionals, among others.
Last summer, the White House also came out with an official statement against breed bans stating that “research shows that bans on certain types of dogs are largely ineffective and often a waste of public resources.”

More Than 20 Retailers Have Dropped Angora!
Things are moving extremely fast in the campaign against angora. More and more companies are listening to their customers and ditching angora after shocking video footage released by PETA and its international affiliates showed how rabbits are abused on Chinese angora farms. It's such an amazing movement when we see the power of people changing the minds of so many retailers around the world about such vital issues. 

Palm Oil Company Gets What it Deserves for Destroying Orangutans’ Home
An Indonesian court issued a big blow to a palm oil company for illegally destroying forest land in Sumatra’s protected Leuser Ecosystem, which provides critical habitat for orangutans and other endangered species.
In what’s being called a groundbreaking verdict, the court found palm oil company PT Kallista Alam guilty of illegally burning large areas of the Tripa peat forest in the province of Aceh and ordered it to pay roughly $30 million in fines. An estimated $20 million was allocated for restoration efforts. The court also confiscated land and will be charging a fine for every day the palm oil company delays repayment, reports the Environmental News Service.

China Takes a Commendable Stance Against Elephant Poaching
On January 6th, China took a huge public stand against elephant poaching by crushing over six tons of the ivory it has confiscated in a landmark ceremony held in the city of Guangzhou.
The event marks the first time the country has destroyed any of its ivory stock and is being applauded by conservationists, government agencies and environmental protection organizations around the world for raising awareness about the poaching crisis and sending a message to the public that the illegal trade in ivory will not be tolerated.

VICTORY! Radio Disney drops "Rocking in Ohio"‏
Big news! After hearing from more than 100,000 parents and concerned citizens like you, Radio Disney has pulled out of "Rocking in Ohio," which promoted fossil fuels to kids in school in a song and game filled roadshow.
This is an important victory! But the fight isn't over: Disney runs science education programs in schools across the country and, so, they need to commit to not promote fossil fuels in any of their science and energy outreach to schools and kids.
Now is a key moment to share the news and to let Radio Disney know they need to publicly promise to support kid-safe, climate-safe energy!
Click here to share the news of our victory and to let Disney know we won't back down! 

Cyclists, Rejoice: Protected Bike Lanes Are Being Built More Safely--and that means More People Cycling! 
Physically separated bike lanes are awesome. They’re good for safety, they increase the number of people who cycle, they’re good for business, etc. What’s not to like?
But good things can get better. There’s been a boom in protected bike lanes in the U.S. in the past ±5 years, and most of them use parked cars or plastic poles to keep the bike lane separated from the car lanes. That works, but it’s not ideal, and so the next generation of protected bike lanes have started to use more permanent curbs to protect cyclists.

YEESSS! The EPA just announced the first-ever, federal limits on climate change-causing carbon pollution from new power plants!
Big news! The EPA has announced the first-ever, federal limits on carbon pollution from new power plants.
Now the EPA needs to hear from millions of Americans like you in order to stand strong in the face of powerful opposition from Big Coal and its allies.
Be sure to click Here to fill out the form to submit a public comment telling the EPA you support these groundbreaking safeguards against carbon pollution. (takes two seconds of your time ;)) 

Washington D.C.’s Sewage Will Soon Generate Electricity
Construction has begun in D.C. on a 17.2 foot-high sea wall designed to protect its Blue Plains wastewater treatment facility from a 500-year storm surge that could otherwise flood D.C. with raw sewage. The sea wall will cost an estimated $13.2 million and is expected to be completed in 2021.
But, D.C. Water is also investing $450 million on an on-site digester that will transform its daily 120 tons of treated solid waste into enough natural gas to keep the plant running even if extreme weather knocks out power to the area.

Rejected! Even Uganda’s President Dislikes the Anti-Gay Bill
Care2 Success: More than 46,000 Care2 members have signed a petition calling on President Museveni to reject the bill. 
Thank you to everyone who signed but please keep passing this petition around and make sure Uganda knows that no watering down of the bill could ever make it acceptable!

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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!  


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Monday, January 20, 2014

☺ 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

. . . . . . . . . .

Wow! First Motivational Monday post of 2014! I feel as if I have been starting this New Year with so many boosts and ideas of how to stay motivated, and I sincerely hope that you have been jumping on board and doing those things if you, too, found yourself in a bit of a rut at the end of 2013--or if you have since then, or whenever! 

If you haven't been following the "New Year Kick-Start" blog posts, you're getting them again today. Why? Because this is Motivational f#@!in Monday, and, now that we are 20 days into the new year, I can safely say that they have been making a profound difference in my motivation and my life. 
If you have been following them, read them again, or at least read today's post for some extra boosts and extra tips. ;)

So! No more excuses! Get back your fire, feel energized, feel motivated, feel inspired, feel happy again! 

Do "The Magic"! Nothing, I mean NOTHING will push you into a state of utter awesomeness than picking yourself up a copy of "The Magic" and doing 28 Days of Gratitude practices! Every day you are reminded to look for things to be grateful, of using gratitude in new ways you may not have thought of, of really Seeing the beauty in life. This book is Amazing, and it has certainly been keeping Me on track this new year. It can transform a bad day into something wondrous, a bad situation into a more positive light. It truly is a fantastic motivational source to stay on track! And it takes so little time! So go do it!         
Health, Health, Health I want you to Feel Good about your health! I want you to Want to eat healthy foods, to Want to exercise, to Want to feel freakin fantastic and to reach all of those health goals you may have set yourself up with! This post has some awesome resources on how to stay on track, of little health tips that make a big different with very little efforts, and lots of recipe resources! Feel Good again
Jar Full of Happiness I did this practice last year and I am sooooo glad that I did! Every day you look for the things that happened that day that were awesome, that made you smile; you write them down; you add them to your jar. Voila! Takes no time at all and has a profound effect! Reading my notes from 2013 reminded me of how truly amazing my life is, despite the down spiral I had experienced at the end of the year. Life is beautiful, learn to recognize and see that! So Start Your Jar Full of Happiness today!     
Set Intentions! This is one of my favourite practices of all time, and I love to refresh my list on a daily basis. Write down everything you want to accomplish this year, everything you Intend to do this year. Be detailed, be inspired, and dream Big! All you have to do is Set the Intention for all of those magical things to happen. Don't be Attached to them happening, but if they do happen you will feel all the more awesome, and if they don't then chances are, because you've set up excitable good intentions, you will attract and set yourself up for all sorts of amazing things this year. It's great to get clear about what you want from life though, it truly is a powerful practice, because it's good to Know and think about what you want from life so that you can make your dreams come true.   
Make your Vision Board! I have two Vision Boards: one physically in my work room where I see it all the time; and one on Pinterest. Why? The physical one I see more because it's a constant reminder and I like to have it around for inspiration. The Pinterest one, however, I can get way more detailed and keep way more updated. The Pinterest Vision Board allows me to create different categories so I can collect images and get really detailed with my desires. Plus, if you see something that you want online, it's really easy to just pin it to your Vision Board. And then, watch the magic happen!         
365 Grateful Project! I highly recommend you start your own little #365Grateful Project. What it is, is basically taking a polaroid every single day this year of something you were grateful for that day. It makes you look around you for the things you may be overlooking your thanks with. You see nature more vividly, you recognize the things that make you smile and happy, you Look for things that make you happy. You don't have to share your photos with the world, but if you do want to then you can share them on instagram and share in the project with the hashtag #365grateful. Really, though, this practice is for You. It makes you take a moment for yourself, to capture a moment, to get creative, to open up another side of yourself. If you wanted, you could easily change the project if photography isn't your thing; instead, write a poem, draw a picture, write down the things you're grateful for instead. It Is a fun project, and it's just one more way to enrich your life with gratitude and to switch your mind onto a positive vibration.    
“There are infinite reasons why we make excuses not to do what’s important to us, and the more important something is to us, the more likely we’ll resist it.This has become such an important topic (to me, and I hope for you) this new year, because we truly do make up one excuse after another not to do something, even --and perhaps even more so-- when it is important to us. I want you read this article because it is super well written and there were so many phrases that really jumped out at me that I think will jump out at you too. ;) And, because I really want you to chase your dreams, your passions, and to light that fire inside of yourself! 


I hope your New Year is off to an amazing fantabulous start! And if it isn't, I hope you have the courage to make it so! 
Create a great day! 
Much love from me to you! 

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Friday, January 17, 2014

{My 365 Grateful Project}



. . . . . . . . . . 
{The '365 Grateful Project'} -  was created by Hailey in early 2008 in an effort to fight depression. 
This effort began a year long photographic project which involved taking one Polaroid photo a day of something she felt grateful for. 
The discipline of having to look for the good things that happen every day is life-changing, in so many ways. Hailey found not only her marriage, spiritual life and health improved, but this project accidentally, wondrously spread and affected the lives of many others.
Are you taking part?
. . . . . . . . . . 

{My 365 Grateful Project}

My week of photos for the 365 Grateful Project ^_^

{Day 10 - I am grateful for a gift in the mail from Sarah of "Pretty You and Me"}


{Day 11 - I am grateful for Vegan Potlucks with amazing friends and new people}


{Day 12 - I am grateful for all my art books and time to sketch, draw, and create}

{Day 13 - I am grateful for full moons from our hot tub}

{Day 14 - I am grateful for my wonderful cintiq so I can perfect my art}

{Day 15 - I am grateful for lunch dates with my hubby}

{Day 16 - I am grateful for my printer so I could create my new calendar with all my favourite anime/manga artists}


Are you taking part? What are you grateful for this week? 

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Thursday, January 16, 2014

☺ Dear Life: Am I Making the Right Choice? ☺



Dear Life, oh wonderful sweet life; you are fantabulous, fun, thrilling, and so full of surprises, but… am I making the right decision?

Have you ever wished that life had a magical "Am I Making the Right Choice?" button? 

I'm sure we all do. And I'm sure we find ourselves asking this question all too often. Why, this question would not become today's topic if it had not been for myself and best friend discussing this very matter over tea yesterday afternoon. The truth is, we all, at some point or another, wonder if what we are doing is the best thing for us. Life can be so tricky, we can feel so comfortable and secure in our current situation, and yet crave an adventure, a change, a something. Our hearts can be torn with distress over making big decisions. And in that moment of uncertainty, as your heart feels torn, wishing you could live two lives, or three lives, or four lives, or… you get the point… you wonder if what you are doing is the right choice. Is that thing, that change, you're longing for a better option? Will it lead you to personal fulfillment and happiness? Or will it unravel and not be as great as you thought? 

So, where is the "Am I making the right choice?" button?  

To answer this, I think we have to take a step back and really look into a few of the mentalities and reasons we feel pressured by this question and Why we ask this question in the first place. 


What is Happiness? 
The biggest wonder with making a decision is whether or not you will be happier after making that decision. So, what is happiness? Happiness is a state of mind, a state of being. Happiness is, ultimately, a choice. In which case, no matter what decision you make, you can Choose to be Happy. Sure, that decision to make a change may bring immediate bliss and prosperity into your life, or it may feel like a tempest storm wrecking havoc over your world. But, you know how it goes, you can choose to sulk and get wet, or you can choose to dance in the rain and enjoy the storm. Life always has a choice, and happiness is the most ultimate choice you will always get to make. Life is what you make it. So, in this case, is there such thing as a right or wrong decision?

Is there such thing as right or wrong? 
Everyone's perception is different, but, ultimately, there is absolutely no such thing as a "right" or "wrong" decision. Just like Happiness, your perspective with action and decision depend on your own attitude. People may call certain choices "mistakes", but, really, these are mere pitfalls or bumps in which we can learn valuable lessons. In that supposed "mistake", we can decide whether to not a certain decision felt beneficial and is something we want to repeat, or if it's something we never want to do again. Either way, you have learned something, discovered a new part of yourself, and walked away stronger and with deeper insight; either way, the choice was valuable. In which case: there are no mistakes. Because you get to choose what you take away from said-mistake and learn a valuable lesson, there are only lessons and experiences. 
It's better to take risks, to try new things, and to live a little than to be afraid of making the "wrong" choice. Sure, life has no "erase" button either, but at the end of each and every day you have only your mind, your happiness, and your decision to live an awesome life. Living in constant wonder is no better than playing it safe and not taking a chance. Would you rather live your life full of regrets for the things you did, or didn't do? Wouldn't you rather know? Wouldn't you rather take a chance? You only live once. And people do regret the things they don't do, over the things they did. Because, to reiterate, there can be no regrets when you decide there was no "mistake"; you will always have the choice to be happy, to smile, and to keep a fascinating and fun adventure. That choice is always yours. Life is an adventure! Choose to enjoy it!

But, is this Decision Better than my Last Situation?
The final reason we can feel so torn about decisions is because, at the end of it all, we wonder which choice is Best. Not to sound redundant now, but, going by the fact that "Attitude is Everything", and "Life is What you Make It", then the "best" situation is like asking the same question of whether or not something is right or wrong, is it not? Life truly truly is what you make it. So, whatever choice you make is the Right and the Best choice, if You choose it to be so. If you are going to make a new choice in your life, no matter how small or greatly drastic, if you want it to be the Better choice, then all you have to do is decide for yourself that it Is the better choice. Commit to that choice with all your heart, with all your love, with all your passion, and have faith that, whatever you choose, it Is the Best choice. 


So… what about that Button?
Deciding that life is whatever we make it, we can safely conclude that there is no such thing as a right or wrong decision. And if there is no right or wrong decision, no matter what you choose to do in life, You can choose it to be the right one. 
Therefore, the "am I making the right choice" button all lies with your own attitude. 
At the end of the day, You get to choose how awesome and fulfilling your life is. Things, experiences, decisions, they are all trivial parts of your life, the thing that matters the most is your Attitude: how you choose to see the world; if you choose to smile and make the most of each and every experience. This is the Only way to live life to its fullest, and this is where you will find Happiness and Bliss, and Power and Confidence over every choice you make. All the rest, all those decisions, are all up to you. You can't blame anything else around you, you can only blame yourself, so instead of blaming, choose to Thank your self; because, you are Choosing to Live a Damn Awesome Life! 



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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

♥ Buddha Chocolate ♥




What's funner than starting the new year with health in mind? Not much, I say! No doubt being healthy is on many of our New Year's Resolutions, and that means… no delicious desserts? Well! Not if I have something to say about it. The awesomeness of Raw is that Health is not sacrificed, AND you still get to indulge with yummy deliciousness. So, to start this New Year health kick, I introduce to you: Buddha Chocolate!  


Buddha Chocolates are an amazing Raw Vegan chocolate company that make raw "peanut butter" chocolate cups, but without peanut butter and, as I already mentioned, are actually good for you. 
Raw chocolate was not all created equally, just like chocolate in general was not created equally, and, so, my standards for chocolate mean no dairy, no animal products, no crappy sugars, no gluten, all while not compromising flavour. I have pretty high standards, and I'm glad that I do, because it means after indulging I don't feel awful afterwards, in fact, I feel great!

So, what about this Buddha Chocolate you ask? Well! Buddha Cups are handcrafted in small batches, with care and commitment. They are made from Organic, raw and unprocessed ingredients: Cacao, almonds, coconut palm crystals, mesquite pod, vanilla bean, and himalayan crystal salt. Pure plant foods. Simple! Delicious! Savory sweet almond butter slow-stirred to creamy perfection, coated with dark decadent raw chocolate. 

Why Buddha? 
Buddha means “awakened one.” Keeping the body healthy allows the mind to get quiet. Buddha Cups are our offering to you. In purity and simplicity. “To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” -Buddha


Buddha Chocolates are a unique company because they are smaller scale, and because their name says it all. Their chocolates are made without sacrificing quality or integrity. They also bring meditation into creation, putting focus and intention into every product they make. Energy is such an easy thing to transfer so the thought of these wonderful people actually putting intention into their creations is so wonderful; no wonderful you feel good after eating these delicious treats!  
Slow-stirred. Hand poured. Individually wrapped.


Awesomeness of Buddha Cups:
  • Handmade - Each Buddha Cup is made by hand. Hand stirred, hand poured, hand wrapped, hand packed. By continuing this tradition of handcrafting, we maintain the integrity of the process equal to that of the product. Each and every cup is perfectly unique.
  • Raw - The raw scene may seem scenie, but the health benefits are real. We keep all of our ingredients in their raw state. They are slow stirred at low temperatures to retain their vital nutrients and deliver your body superior energy and enzymatic absorption. Mother Nature knows her stuff.
  • Vegan / Dairy Free - Buddha Cups are Dairy Free and contain no animal products or by-products. No horse meat…for now. We hope each cup brings you a taste of the peace we put into it.
  • Fair Trade - Our Arriba Nacional cacao is grown in Ecuador using sustainable & organic farming methods. It is harvested by local farmers who benefit from fair labor practices and a supported local economy. Our cacao is sun dried and stone ground to produce bold flavor and aroma and to retain the dense mineral content for superior health.
  • Gluten Free - We are proud to offer a gluten free product for those who need it. Surprisingly, not all chocolates are gluten free. Some treats contain sweetened barley malt, which can agitate those with a gluten sensitivity.
  • Soy Free - 91% of soy in the US is genetically modified. Processed soy contains phytates, which prevent the absorption of many vital minerals into the body. Your Buddha Cups are, and will always be, soy free.
  • Free of Refined Sugar - The health risks linked to refined sugar are vast. We choose to sweeten with Coconut Palm Crystals, which are derived from the bud of the coconut palm flower. They are rich in the minerals your body craves and have a low glycemic index so your blood sugar doesn’t spike and crash. 

Best of all? These are the best damn chocolate cups I've had! Buddha Chocolate really does bring quality and taste together in this lovely fusion of tantalizing melt-in-your-mouth delicious chocolates. 
So, indulge and feel great about it! Chocolate was meant to be enjoyed with all the wonderful health benefits in tact, so enjoy, and treat yourself with Buddha Chocolates! 


Find Buddha Chocolates:


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Tuesday, January 14, 2014

❀ 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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Safeway Moves Towards Eliminating Gestation Crates
In more good news for animal welfare, yet another major company has stepped up to the plate with a pledge to eliminate gestation crates, also known as gestational crates, from its pork farming practices. Supermarket chain Safeway told its suppliers to start preparing alternatives to meet demand, as it intends to phase gestation crates out of its supply chain.

More Good News for Angora Rabbits: Zara suspends orders of angora‏
Zara has suspended all orders for products containing angora wool until each supplier has been inspected.
Almost 300,000 members of the SumOfUs.org community signed the petition to Zara, urging it to respond to horrific video footage released by PETA that shows angora rabbits being tortured for their fur. Thousands commented on the Zara Facebook page; 330 joined SumOfUs' Super Bunny Warrior Team; and others were brave enough to talk to Zara staff in-store. It worked! 

Success! Charges in Dog Dragging Case Upgraded to Felony Cruelty
The efforts of compassionate Care2 readers have helped changed the course of an animal cruelty prosecution. The man accused of dragging a young pit bull for more than a mile behind his pickup truck in late November now faces a felony rather than a misdemeanor criminal charge.
Roger Dennis Owens was charged with felony “ill treatment of animals” on December 17. Owens had originally been arrested on December 6 and charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of only 90 days in jail and an $800 fine. Owens is also now charged with two counts of driving under suspension and two counts of being a habitual traffic offender. The felony cruelty charge could bring Owens from six months to five years in prison. If convicted of multiple offenses, he may face significantly more time.
Meanwhile, Andra Grace, the pit bull, is recovering nicely. Though she was badly injured, her condition is so much improved that she was moved to her new foster home in time for Christmas.

Los Angeles First City to Mandate Energy-Saving Cool Roofs
Los Angeles is set to have the coolest roofs in the country, but it has nothing to do with how awesome the architecture is. Following a unanimous decision by the LA City Council, all new (or refurbished) roofs in the nation’s second largest city will utilize “cool” roof technology.


Exxon Faces Criminal Charges Over 50,000 Gallon Fracking Waste Spill
Exxon Mobil Corp. subsidiary XTO Energy is faced with criminal charges for allegedly dumping tens of thousands of gallons of hydraulic fracturing waste at a Marcellus Shale drilling site in 2010, according to a Pennsylvania judge’s ruling last week.

New York City Bans Use of Styrofoam
New York’s City Council voted unanimously to ban the use of polystyrene (Styrofoam) containers. New York is now the largest U.S. city to implement such a ban on single-use foam containers.

Catholic Teens Protest Firing of Gay Vice Principal
What should be a depressing story about yet another employee of the Catholic Church being fired for being gay actually has an uplifting twist:  the youth community rallying in support of same-sex marriage.
In a refreshing sign of the changing times, teenagers in Washington walked out of school to protest discrimination against the termination of their vice principal. We’re not just talking the Gay-Straight Alliance either – hundreds of students participated, nearly the entire student body, along with some faculty members, as well.

Social Security Just Got a Bit More Gay Friendly
The Social Security agency has announced it will be expanding its recognition of same-sex married couples, yet another example of how the administration is continuing to apply the Supreme Court’s landmark anti-DOMA ruling.
On December 16, the Social Security Administration announced that it will now be able to process certain claims made by same-sex married partners.

New Mexico’s Supreme Court Says Yes to Marriage Equality!
The Supreme Court of New Mexico ruled on Thursday that the state’s constitution means the state cannot deny marriage recognition to same-sex couples, effectively legalizing gay marriage.
The decision should take effect immediately. New Mexico joins 16 other states and the District of Columbia in recognizing same-sex marriage.

President Obama Signs Bill to Combat Sexual Assault in the Military
The day after Christmas, President Obama signed a defense bill with provisions to curb sexual assault in the U.S. military. Under the new law, anyone who engages in sexual assault will face dishonorable discharge, commanders are prevented from reversing jury decisions, legal assistance will be provided for victims, and “retaliation” against a victim will be punished.


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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!  

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