☺ Get Motivated for Spring/Summer! Woot woot! ☺

Whereeee have I beeen??? 

Busy as always. But I shall spare you some drivel of excuses as to why my absence of blogging has transpired lately. 

What I DO want to blog about are two exciting opportunities for self-development, happiness, inspiration, and motivation! 

I'm a  huge believer in Actively Participating in Your Own Happiness (I am going to write another extended post about this soon). What this means is, well, exactly what is says: Actively Participating in Your Own Happiness! Happiness, true, can take work, especially while rewiring the brain and creating new thought habits, which is why actively doing things that will increase that happiness and help rewire the brain are so important. Sometimes it's easier to just sit on the couch, grumble, and complain about life. BUT, you could instead jump up off the couch, do a little happy dance, and do something that will increase the level of happy bouncing around your head. Active Participation. Motivation may not always be on your side, and that's when things can get tricky, hence forth: Motivation to Get Your Happy… Read on! 

First up…

100 Happy Days

You may remember me writing about the #365grateful project, yes? No? Well, this is a similar idea, but perhaps a little more manageable and a little less daunting. Very simply put, 100 Happy Days is to focus and post about something that makes you happy for 100 days straight. As they say on their site, most people don't have the time for this. How absurd, how crazy? How guilty am I of this? Equally guilty as the next, which is why I decided to commit to this challenge and actively participate in my own happiness. 

Honestly, I'm going to spare all the details because that's exactly what the blissfully colourful buoyant website is for (clickity click)--don't worry it is short, to the point, and the site is so fun that I'm sure it will immediately make you say "I want to do That!"

You can check out my participation in the challenge on instagram--let me know where I can find you! Or tag #relovehappydays so I can find you :)

Sign up for the challenge here: http://100happydays.com

Next up!

David Suzuki's 30x30 Nature Challenge

You may remember this challenge from last year, if you don't, here's what it's about:

For the month of May (that means starting tomorrow) spend at least 30 minutes a day outside in nature. 30 Minutes for 30 Days!

Simple, awesome, why not commit to it?

This challenge was a lot of fun last year and certainly gave me the motivation to get outside on even the dreary days or the days I felt like not really doing much other than laying in bed and watch cartoons--just kidding, I'm too busy to do that ;). Anyyyyways, it's a fun challenge, and nothing makes you feel more alive and blissful and happy (proven fact ;)) than getting outside. You know, grounding your feet in the earth, allowing the energy to flow through you, feeling that beautiful sun on your face and feed your body vitamin D, and, well, just reconnecting with nature, the way life was intended to be lived. 

You can check out my participation in this one on Instagram as well, and keep in touch with the tag #30x30relove . I don't expect to be posting photos every day, but I would love to see what you are up to out in nature as well! 

Sign up for the challenge here: http://30x30.davidsuzuki.org

So! I hope you are motivated! And I hope you are ready to Get Happy and to Actively Participate in Your Own Happiness! After all, things don't change unless you choose it, unless you take a stand and do something for Yourself. Make a change, feel great, hop hop to it! 

Have a wonderfully blissful happy happy day! And don't forget to smile. ;) 

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . 

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

{no ordinary moments} - Photos capturing moments from the week. Simple, special, extraordinary moments.

 -  using Daily Gratitude to see the world as anything but ordinary. -

Served 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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{no ordinary moments}

{my week of photos - 365 Grateful Project}

{Smile Up}:

☺ Sun! Sitting outside in shorts and a tank top for the first time!  

☺ Bare feet grounding in the grass again

☺ Listening and watching the rain.  

☺ Gardening again

☺ Walks and talks in the sun 

☺ Tea Dates ♥  

☺ Meeting inspiring new people 

☺ Yoga

☺ Family 

☺ Playtime with my nieces

☺ Girl time with my sister

☺ Completing (another) Gallstone Flush (will power!)

☺ Being proactive with my health!

☺ Watching anime in bed (while being lazy cleansing-again)

☺ Catching 333 everywhere--must be on track again

☺ The amazing women in my life and our amazing talks  

☺ Painting shirts while sitting in the sun in the grass ^_^

☺ Lyla's outdoor kitty time 

☺ Happy Days

Loving: Getting Healthy • Daily Gratitude • Yoga • Tea • Dreadlock extensions • Colourful Hair • Art • Ink Blazers • Eating food (after fasting) • Etsy • Inspiration • 

Interests for the week:

✯ Reading: "Black Spring" 

✯  Current Anime/Manga: "Zetsuen no Tempest" anime. "Dogs: Bullets & Carnage" and "NeverenD" Manga.

✯  TV Shows/Movies:  Vikings. Game of Thrones. "Eat Pray Love" - lovely inspiring movie!

♫ Music Playlist: Evans Blue. Plumb "Invisible". Chevelle - Vena Sera album. Thousand Foot Krutch. Mindless Self Indulgence "Straight to Video (The Birthday Massacre Remix)". ♫

✯ Food Faves: Avocado Pudding ♥ Fresh Muffins ♥ Smoothies and Smoothie bowls ♥ Healthy ichiban noodles ♥ Chocolate ♥ Vegan Protein (Brad King) ♥

Lessons of the week: 

 Chin Up! ☀ Listen to your body and when it needs rest--respect that inner body wisdom. ☀ Cleansing and healing takes perseverance and patience. ☀ So does emotional healing. ☀ Try not to over think things or make things more complicated than they need to be. ☀ Never ever give up. ☀ Trying to learn to have more courage. ☀

Wishing you all the most magical and amazing week ahead! 

What awesome moments did you have this past week? Please share (and link to your blog if you're taking part in similar projects)!  ♥

So much Love and Hugs! 

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

♥ New at ReLove Plan.et Shop ♥

Make Happiness a Habit!

I haven't done an update of new products from ReLove Plan.et's etsy shop in a while, so I thought I would take a moment to do so ;) 

Just in time for Mother's Day, there are two new adorable cards for the occasion.

Also, five other fun cards for any occasion.

Adding to the mini Zippered Pouch collection is this lovely little Sheepy. 

And, finally, all Plushies are back in stock for a limited time only--this will likely be my very last batch of these, so don't miss out if you'd like to add one of these cuties to your Plushie or ReLove collections! ;)

Find ReLove Plan.et: 

Etsy: http://www.reloveplanet.etsy.com/ 

In Stores: "Republic of V" in Berkeley California. 

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

☺ Self-Empowerment ☺

 

I believe in self-empowerment. I believe that if you give someone the reins to their lives then they will do great things. I believe if you empower someone to know that they are wonderful creators, that they can decide their paths, that people can heal and move into spaces of greatness in their lives. 

Responsibility will always be a finicky thing. It is a concept that most will have a difficult time wrapping their minds around at first, and allowing the concept to be empowering as opposed to taking resent or hostility towards. Taking responsibility does not serve you if you allow it to be self-defeating. Meaning, if you accept that you are responsible for your life, but do so in a way playing the "poor me" attitude, then all you are going to do with that responsibility is blame yourself, feel badly about yourself, and blame yourself some more. Blame is not accepting responsibility. Blame pushes you into deeper states of self-loathing, and that is not the point of empowerment or taking that responsibility. Taking responsibility means accepting that, yes, you made some mistakes, because you're human after all and mistakes are part of growth. That is what you are accepting; not that you should feel badly for mistakes, but that you should own up to them, accept them, and empower yourself because of them; because you are human and you are on a path like everyone else in this world, stumbling, and learning, and growing through trial and error and experience. Taking responsibility means allowing yourself to make mistakes, and accepting that it's okay to do so. Taking responsibility means choosing to grow from mistakes, instead of feeling crippled by them. 

People also often associate this responsibility as an accusation towards their battered state (in their initial response). So let's make this clear: taking responsibility does not mean that you Wanted to damage yourself or your life, or that you Wanted to put yourself in a shitty situation. Perhaps certain old patterns, thoughts, or universal wave-lengths led you from one place to another, but that doesn't mean you Purposefully wanted to throw yourself into some hellish life or situation or circumstance. Taking responsibility simply means that you accept what is (and, again, not Blaming yourself or others), and choose to shape the life ahead of you. It means accepting that you cannot change your past but that you Can shape your future.  

Taking responsibility means Empowering yourself. It means saying "I Can!" Self empowerment is saying fuck the odds that are against you and going forward anyway, ready to claim what you want, what you deserve, what you dream your life to be. Self-empowerment means not settling, but striving for excellence, striving for your dreams and never letting anything get in your way. It means not accepting no for an answer--especially if others tell you you can't. Self-empowerment means being a Doer. It means planting as much enthusiasm you have at any given moment into your wants and dreams. Self-empowerment means constantly striving for self-improvement. And it also means empowering others as much as it means empowering yourself. It means lifting yourself and others up, and never kicking someone (or yourself) when they are down. It means choosing love over all other emotions; but accepting that all other emotions will and should be felt, expressed, and then let go of. It means being non-judgmental and understanding; to both yourself and others. It means accepting that you are human; that you will stumble and fall and cry, but that, after the rain has fallen, you can still stand back tall, brush yourself off, and keep being awesome. Self-empowerment means never feeling badly for being human, for having a "bad day", or a "bad moment", or a "bad month". Self-empowerment means being gentle with yourself. It means nourishing and nurturing your sense of self, and never tearing it apart. It means seeing your wondrous worth. It means being grateful for all that you are, and loving all that you are. It means encouraging yourself. And it means being courageous. It means building yourself up. It means believing in yourself and believing that good things are coming and Knowing that all things are possible.  

Self-Empowerment means saying Yes to possibilities, to magic, and believing in Miracles so that you may welcome such miracles into your life. Because all things are possible. 

    

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

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

. . . . . . . . . . 

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

{no ordinary moments} - Photos capturing moments from the week. Simple, special, extraordinary moments.

 -  using Daily Gratitude to see the world as anything but ordinary. -

Served 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.

. . . . . . . . . . 

{no ordinary moments}

{through the lens - Grateful Project}

{Smile Up}:

☺ Sunshine and warmth outside  

☺ Drawing on my cintiq in the sunroom  

☺ Planting the first seeds in the garden!

☺ Blue skies, sunny days, the smell of spring 

☺ Teeeeeaaaaaa Dates ♥

☺ Being Laze  

☺ Being Active 

☺ Yoga

☺ The bizarre thing you randomly see in Nelson.

☺ Seeing family - my adorable nieces 

☺ My sister's chickens

☺ First flowers of spring

☺ Watching the rain  

☺ Completing a Gallstone Flush (proud of myself for doing it ;p)

☺ Tiny tummy during gallstone flush (fasting)

☺ Watching anime in bed (while being lazy cleansing)

☺ Playing with our landlords' dogs

☺ Earth Hour  

☺ Art mornings and evenings

☺ Eating lunch outside in the sunshine again!  

☺ Giving my kitties a good brush (haha)

Loving: Cleansing • Daily Gratitude • Beanies/toques • Spoonk Mat • Ball Jointed Dolls • Colourful Hair • Furry Critters • Kitty Cuddles • Deep Dreams • Healing Tea • AMVs • 

Interests for the week:

✯ Reading: "Black Spring" 

✯  Current Anime/Manga: "Zetsuen no Tempest" anime. "Dogs: Bullets & Carnage" and "Stray Dogs" Manga.

✯  Movies: 300 in Theatres. TV Shows:  Vikings. How I Met Your Mother. 

♫ Music Playlist: Lots of randomness. ♫

✯ Food Faves: Homemade Chocolate Fudge ♥ Avocado Chai Smoothies ♥ More Smoothies ♥ Gluten-free Bread with Vegan "shrimp" and Daiya ♥ Garbanzo PB Blondies ♥ PB Pro Bar ♥

Lessons of the week: 

 Welcome Change, be open to accept it into your life and do not resists. ☀ Things often get worse right before they are bursting towards something better. ☀ Patience. ☀ Try not to get discouraged, stay as positive as possible, no matter what is going on in your life. ☀ When others give up, send them as much love and positive vibes as you can--manifest for them! ☀ Never stop believing in Miracles. ☀ 

Sorry for the lack of updates and posts lately! I'm working to get my spark and motivation back to blog every day again. As always, wishing you all the most magical and amazing week ahead! 

What amazing moments did you have this past week? Please share (and link to your blog if you're taking part in similar projects)!  ♥

So much Love and Hugs! 

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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SeaWorld: Your Days of Holding Orcas Captive Might Be Numbered

Animal advocates are applauding the introduction of a groundbreaking bill that seeks to ban orca captivity in California and retire the state’s current residents to sea pens.

The bill, the Orca Welfare and Safety Act (AB 2140), was introduced by California Assembly member Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), in response to the growing concerns about the inherent cruelty involved in confining an apex predator to a tank that were raised in the documentary Blackfish.

Since Blackfish made its debut, public awareness about the problems associated with keeping orcas in captivity has grown, and attitudes appear to be shifting in their favor, despite the industry’s continued rebuttals.

(Read more) 

Victory! Colorado Bans Greyhound Racing

Colorado made history by becoming the 39th state to ban dog racing when Governor John Hickenlooper signed a bill making it illegal in the state.

(Read more) 

Victory! South Dakota Ends Breed Discrimination 

In a victory for dogs and their advocates, South Dakota officially became the eighteenth state to pass a law against breed discrimination when the Governor Dennis Daugaard signed a bill that will make all breeds equal in the eyes of the law.

(Read more) 

Success! Oregon Town Rejects Breed-Specific Dog Bans

At the start of this year, the City Council of Medford, Ore., proposed a ban on pit bulls on the grounds that they are a dangerous breed. Care2 member Tyler Woodard considers his pit bull, Smokey, just like his son, so he started a Care2 petition to stop such a ban in its tracks. More than 8,600 Care2 members joined his fight and, two and a half months later, the Medford Police Advisory Committee has decided that it will not recommend any dangerous-dog ordinance that target specific breeds.

(Read more) 

Some Good News for Pit Bulls and Their Guardians

You don’t need to tell pit bulls (also affectionately known as pits, pitties or bullies) and their guardians that it’s a dog eat dog world. Pitties went from being America’s darling dog to vilified quasi-assault weapon status.

Thankfully, there is some great news to report: laws targeting pit bulls are softening around the country: In the U.S., eighteen states do not allow breed-specific bans in their communities; Six more states could soon follow; Certain cities are reconsidering labeling pit bulls as “dangerous animals”

(Read more) 

VICTORY! China Southern Airlines BANS Shipping of Monkeys to Labs!

Following an intense, three-year international PETA campaign, which included more than 100,000 calls and e-mails from supporters like you, China Southern Airlines announced in an e-mail to PETA this morning that it will "stop transporting live primates for laboratory experiments on all flights"—effective immediately!

60-Year-Old Dog Walker Stops Man from Throwing Baby Bunnies into River

If you found yourself in the right place at the right time, would you have the courage to stop a crime? One brave 60-year-old Englishwoman named Elle risked her own safety recently to save nine frightened baby bunnies who had been stuffed into a bag and were seconds away from being hurled into the river.

(Read more) 

How a 12-Year-Old Homeless Girl Helped More Than 400 Children Find Safer Shelter

The idea of having to navigate cockroaches, mice, no heat and sexual predators before you even leave for school is not something any child should go through. Yet, this is the daily life for hundreds of children living in two shelters in New York City and Brooklyn. They are part of the more than 22,000 children that make up New York City’s homeless population.

Now, after more than a decade of repeated citations for deplorable conditions, more than 400 children and their families are being moved from the city-owned facilities – all because of a determined 12-year-old girl.

(Read the story) 

Sorry, Monsanto. No GMO Corn South of the Border

Monsanto will have to wait awhile longer before it can contaminate Mexico’s countryside with its GMO corn. And thanks in part to the work being done by OCA’s Mexico-based sister network, Vía Orgánica, the Biotech Bully may never get the chance to destroy what has traditionally been a global haven for food crop biodiversity.

Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_29548.cfm

Victory! San Francisco bans bottled water!

Thanks to members like you, San Francisco leads the way when it comes to protecting the tap. Months of working closely with city leaders and mobilizing members on the ground paid off earlier this month, when the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a historic ordinance making it the largest city in the country to phase out bottled water. This landmark action sets an exciting precedent for other cities and national parks to follow suit.

Success! Texas Won’t Destroy Historic Oak Trees

The oldest tree in Texas is 500-years-old, meaning that it’s not only older than the United States but has been standing in central Texas for longer than the plays of Shakespeare have existed. Yet the state of Texas’ Department of Transportation (Tx DOT) determined that this tree and a number of others had to be removed to build a new road through the small farming community of Snook. Care2 member Phyllis Tietjen — whose family has owned the property the trees are located on for almost 150 years — took action and started a Care2 petition not to destroy the trees. More than 68,000 members like you signed — and, in early March, the TxDOT announced it will reroute the planned highway bypass so as not to endanger the trees.

(Read more) 

Virginia is for Lovers Again as State Repeals its Sodomy Ban

Virginia’s General Assembly last week approved by unanimous vote a bill that would repeal the state’s sodomy ban, a provision that historically has been used to make being gay a crime.

Lawmakers voted 100 to 0 to approve language that will decriminalize non-commercial sodomy between consenting adults in private quarters. The move essentially repeals the state’s last overtly discriminatory elements of the Virginia Crimes Against Nature statute.

(Read more) 

Indiana’s Defense of Marriage Act Challenged 

Filed last week, a new federal lawsuit seeks to overturn Indiana state’s 2004 ban on marriage equality, otherwise known as Indiana’s Defense of Marriage Act (IDMA).

Currently, as well as not recognizing marriages within the state, the ban also deems void any same-sex marriages carried out in other states and, as the ban also covers civil unions, same-sex couples have absolutely no chance at any meaningful recognition for their relationships. The four couples behind the suit challenge that the IDMA therefore infringes on their 14th Amendment rights.

(Read more) 

5 Highlights from Michigan’s Groundbreaking Marriage Equality Ruling

Read them here: http://www.care2.com/causes/5-highlights-from-michigans-groundbreaking-marriage-equality-ruling.html#ixzz2xkwvEr1a

How One Woman Is Helping Empower Kenya’s Maasai Women

In the words of Beatrice Sisina Shanka, a 26-year-old community activist from the Inkinyie community. She works for Il’laramatak Community Concerns (ICC), a non-governmental organization that addresses human rights and development concerns of pastoralist (nomadic livestock herding) indigenous peoples of Kenya, with a focus on women and girls. 

Read the article here: http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2014/3/empowering-kenyan-maasai-women#sthash.Olpv6hUa.dpuf

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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.