{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.

. . . . . . . . . . 

{this moment}

{seeing my two brothers on Milo's 13th birthday (he's taller than me, on the right)}

{Smile Up}:

☺ Pretty Fall Colours! 

☺ Tons of Drawing on my Cintiq, and sketching and writing Everwake ;p

☺ Tea Dates ♥ And discovering new little tea shops 

☺ Being a big kid with my two youngest brothers (1 just turned 13 and is taller than me!!)

☺ Working out on my elliptical again! Yes! 

☺ Yoga!

☺ Cleansing! (being done the cleanse! haha)

☺ New opportunities, manifesting, answers to manifestations

☺ My work room, I just love my space here :)  

☺ Talking to family -- even better seeing them! 

☺ When my hubby takes care of me when I don't feel well, and makes me supper ^_^    

☺ Music, alllll day ♥

☺ Learning more and more about health and nutrition with Cory doing his Holistic Nutrition Schooling! 

☺ Kitty cuddles. Always ♥

☺ Being successful at what I do

☺ Spending less time watching TV and more time actually socializing 

☺ Creating for Alter-Eco Clothing again! 

☺ Admiring the woodpecker hanging out near out home (thankfully our home is brick haha)

☺ Encountering wild Turkeys on my walk to the bus stop :)

☺ Catching the mice in our basement before the cats do so we can safely move them! 

☺ More time playing with our kitties in the evening instead of watching TV. Best thing ever! I love our kitties, they are hilarious! 

{ain't he cute?!}

Loving: My Cintiq • Writing • Drawing • Sleeping in • Walks outside • Pink Hair • More appreciation for food •  Yoga • Leggings •  Thigh-high socks • Layering clothing for fall • 

{wild turkeys}

Interests for the week:

✯ Reading: "Anansi Boys" by Neil Gaiman. "D.Gray Man" Manga Comics. 

✯  Current Anime shows: "Guilty Crown"! Rewatching "The Vision of Escaflowne" because I love it and it was one of my first anime loves. 

✯  TV: How I met Your Mother. Sons of Anarchy. Modern Family. 

♫ Music Playlist: Hollywood Undead. Seether. Red. Puscifer. We Are the Fallen. Soundtrack to Queen of the Damned. Disturbed. Bullet for My Valentine.   ♫

✯ Food Faves: Stir frys ♥ Protein Balls ♥ Oatmeal ♥ Blueberries ♥ Raw Veggie Burgers ♥ Chickpea Fritters with homemade tomato sauce and lobster mushrooms (mmmm)  ♥ 

Lessons of the week: 

When an opportunity comes your way, take it! It may be an answer to something you've been manifesting! ☀ Step out of your Comfort Zone! I have this awful fear of talking on phones, and it is something I am going to be forces to overcome! ☀ Talk, talk, and come from a place of love instead of resentment. Don't be afraid to speak your mind, it'll get you much further! ☀ Respecting the phases of our female cycles--we're not crazy, we just haven't learned to nurture and be respectful of it. ☀ Remembering to go over your Gratitude list every day! ☀ Be selfish with your time, and don't be afraid or feel guilty for doing it--if you're in a happy mindset because of it then no one will be able to complain! ;) ☀ 

Sorry for the lack of these posts, I honestly have been so lazy lately so I haven't been up to too much other than drawing and writing and sewing and being creatively introverted. ;)  

What are you grateful for this week? :)

Tell me about your lovely weeks! Tell me about your 'Smile Up' and 'this moment!' :) Pretty please! ♥

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Ⓥ Vegan Kitchen: Raw Pumpkin Pie Ⓥ

This is surprisingly my first pumpkin pie recipe *gasp* and I figured it was about time I did one. This is recipe #1 of a few different pumpkin pie recipes I'll be posting. ;) 

Now, this is not your traditional pumpkin pie, it is raw! If you don't have pumpkins handy then you could just buy the store-bought canned stuff and it wouldn't be raw but you could still make it no-bake and I'm sure it would still be equally amazing. 

Actually, to be honest, this was definitely something new to me. Raw pumpkin is pretty hefty, so if you make this be sure you have lots of people to share it with as you only need a small piece to completely fill you up. The texture, honestly, was a little odd to me at first as well as it's pretty hard to completely puree uncooked pumpkin. Still, topped with a little coconut whipped cream this was divine. Just not your traditional pumpkin pie. ;)

Raw Pumpkin Pie

Pie Crust:

2 cups Almonds, (or pecans or walnuts)

1/2 cup Dates, soaked

Dash of sea salt

Soak the dates for at least 30 minutes. 

Blend the crust ingredients together in a food processor or high speed blender. You want it to be blended enough to hold together, but not so blended that you end up with almond butter. ;) Evenly distribute in the bottom of a pie plate.

For a different more "pie-like" variation of the crust, soak the almonds along with the dates. I personally prefer the texture and flavour of the nuts not soaked, but did this time around and it had a bit more of a traditional sort of pie crust taste.

Pumpkin Pie Filling:

2 cups shredded Pumpkin

1 cup Dates, soaked

2 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Ginger, ground

1 tsp Nutmeg

1 tsp Coconut oil

1 tsp Vanilla

1/4 cup almond milk or water to help blend

Again, soak the dates for at least 30 minutes. 

Chop the pumpkin into chunks and then "shred" it in a food processor or blender until it becomes more of a puree. Add in the rest of the filling ingredients and blender until smooth--this may take a while so be patient. ;) Add more water as you go so that it blends easier, but don't overdo it and make it too runny. 

Pour pumpkin filling into the pie crust and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. 

Top with Coconut Whipped Cream, enjoy! :) 

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 Sweaters and Necklaces in the Shop! ♥

Just listed these yesterday; two styles of lovely oversized slouchy sweaters in the etsy shop! These are seriously the comfiest sweaters ever!! 

Limited quantities so grab yours! 

 "Pile of Kitties" in Purple. "Magical Unicorn" in Fushia.  
Sizes small, medium, and large available in each. :)

I also had fun shooting the new hoodies that were available for pre-order. The next round of pre-orders will probably be sometime in November or December if you missed out this time. Lyla was outside joining in on the fun. :) 

Other new necklaces and magnet artwork available in the shop so be sure to grab yours! I also have pins and new art prints with inspirational words and cards on the way. :) 

Hope you're all having a lovely day!

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

Ⓥ Vegan Kitchen: Peanut Butter Pumpkin "Cheesecake"! Ⓥ

I found this recipe on Pinterest, from the Damy Health, and had to replicate it and through my own little twist on it. My friend, Tam, who has been my awesome cooking partner lately, made this with me in my new kitchen--it was a fun and delicious evening! :)

I am a sucker for anything peanut butter and chocolate! This recipe also has pumpkin in it which adds some awesome health benefits and gives it a fluffy cheesecake-like texture. This recipe is also no bake, vegan, gluten free, sugar-free, and super easy to prepare! You could easily make this raw as well if you had your own pumpkin. 

Peanut Butter Pumpkin "Cheesecake"

Crust Ingredients:

1 Cup Raw Peanuts

1 Cup Raw Almonds

1 Cup Pitted Dates

4 Tbsp Cocoa

1/4 Cup Water

Peanut Butter Filling Ingredients:

1 Cup Pumpkin Puree

1/2 Cup Peanut Butter

1/3 Cup Pitted Dates, soaked at least 10 mintures--I like to soak them longer so they blend easier

1 Tbsp Stevia

Chocolate Topping Ingredients:

1 Cup Coconut Oil

1 Tbsp Stevia

1/2 Cup Cocoa

Just a note, I am used to stevia, I love the taste! For some it takes a while to get used to the flavour, but my hubby loved this recipe too and he's not overly fond of stevia. You could also half the amount of stevia and add a little sweetener of your choice, but we wanted to keep this sugar-free and uber healthy! ;)

Separately blend each layer listed above in a food processor. The crust should be dough-like, the peanut butter filling should be smooth, and the top should be liquidy.

If you so choose, grease an 8-inch spring form pie plate with a healthy oil. I tend to skip this step--half the time because I forget, the other half because I've never had any issues with my desserts coming out of their dishes. ;)

First, press down the crust into the bottom of the pie plate. Next, layer and smooth out the peanut butter filling. And finish by pouring your chocolate topping over the top. 

Chill for a few hours in the freezer until the top solidifies. 

Remove, cut into pieces and enjoy! 

I think we're going to play around with this recipe a bit as well so that the top isn't quite as hard. It tastes amazing but when you cut into it it kind of smushes everything else since the chocolate top is hard. ;p I'll update this with any changes we make the next time we make this wonderful recipe. ;)

Makes 1 8-inch cake. Try not to devour it all in one go. ;)

And for your entertainment; how silly we are when making this... 

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☯ What's in my Closet: Arm-Warmers by Tempo Designs ☯

I ordered these beautiful arm-warmers from Tempo Designs on Etsy and I absolutely love them! They are a perfect fit, cozy warm and love the detail! 

See, it's not hard to find awesome crochet items for fall and winter and still ditch the animal-cruelty of wool! 

Check out Tempo Designs etsy shop for more arm-warmer designs, beanies, baby booties, neck warmers, totes and bags, other accessories, and more!

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 Sweaters & Dresses at Alter-Eco Clothing ♥

Some New Dresses and Sweaters that went up at Alter-Eco Clothing today and yesterday. I'm so pleasantly surprised by how instantly the sweaters sold! Looks like you all would like some more, yes? I'll get right on that. It's the right time of the year. ;)

  

I definitely always have an attachment to "Pretty Gothic" Dresses though. I have a few more that I still need to shoot. I picture these for every day wear but also to look dazzling (yes I'm using the word dazzling) at a Christmas or New Year's Party! Or, in my case, I plan on making myself one for my Birthday Party. :)

                   

I also shot my new Jewelry "Enstasy Designs" which will be up either tonight or tomorrow. Very excited! And I have a few more dresses to shoot as well as more and more jewelry on the way.


Check out Alter-Eco Clothing to buy your dress! ;) 

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

♥ Mean Look Giveaway!!! ♥

Who's ready for another Giveaway? Hoorah!!! 

This week I am very please to be sharing an awesome GiveAway hosted by Mean Look! 

Mean Look is a cute artfire shop making awesome one of a kind and limited edition items, all handmade with love! She has all sort of fun things in her shop; clothing, cute bags and purses, cosmetic bags, zipper pouches, arm-warmers, and some awesome seasonal items (including stockings!)!

What's extra fun is her arm-warmers are made from all the scrap fabric remnants, making them eco-friendly! Yayy for recycling! And they are perfect for this fall and winter we're heading into! 

Anyway, enough from me, more about Mean Look...

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Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Vanessa. I have a boyfriend of nine years and a Chihuahua named Lydia. Yes, after Lydia in Beetlejuice. I’m the oldest of six children and I have a part-time job aside from Mean Look. I stay pretty busy, but I would love to be able to run Mean Look full time.

How did Mean Look come to be? 

My great-grandmother used to sew, and whenever we went to her house, we’d always raid her scrap bin. I remember hand sewing clothes for my Patty-O-Green doll. The first season of Project Runway awakened the seamstress in me, I suppose, and inspired me to get started. It just all looked so fun and I knew I wanted to do it. So I bought a sewing machine and got to learning. I have been told my whole life that I give “mean looks,” and it just hit me one day while trying to come up with a name.

Where do you find inspiration? 

I find inspiration in colors, patterns, and in nature. One look at my items and you know you’ll never see anything boring. It’s all bright and fun.

If you had all the money in the world, what handmade item would you buy? 

This is a tough one! If I had all the money in the world, I couldn’t just buy one handmade item. I would have to get something custom from SmarmyClothes, a vest from xannabotx, a jacket from aNGrYGiRL Gear, and some pants from Meow Kiki Clothing. And there would be more, but I’ll stop there.

One thing you can't live without?

Chapstick! I absolutely cannot go any amount of time without it.

Random fact?

I cannot seem to grasp the concept of patterns, or at least the kind you buy at the store. I started out by making my own patterns, so the premade ones are like Greek to me. I still buy them because I want to learn to make what’s on the front, but I can never get all the way through one. I have to do it my way.

Best piece of advice for life in general? 

I think the best piece of advice for life is to remember that life is what you make it. Only you are in control of your life, and you have to make it what you want it to be. This can be a tough one to keep in mind sometimes, but I think it’s pretty solid and meaningful. 

Check out Mean Look at: 

Website: http://meanlook.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lookthismean

Twitter: http://twitter.com/meanlook

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***Giveaway Info:*** 

This week's Giveaway has a little surprise for you… TWO WINNERS!!!! 

Yes that's right, this week's Giveaway will have TWO WINNERS!! 

Here are the prizes: a pair of adorable Mean Look Scrap Arm-Warmers! 

The first Winner I pick will get first pick between the two pairs, and the second will obviously get the other pair. ;) 

There are lots of fun ways to enter this amazing giveaway! :) Super easy mandatory entry with lots of extra entries! 

This contest will close on November 8th at 11:59 PM PST. The Two Winners will be chosen through an online randomizer.

How to Enter:
*Required* Leave a comment on the blog with...

1. Visit Mean Look and leave a comment on the blog with which Mean Look item is your favorite.
2. Follow this blog publicly – include your name in the comment for being a (old or new) follower on the blog. (please make sure you are following, blogger can sometimes be finicky!)

Easy peasy! 

Extra Entries: 

You Must post a separate comment for each extra entry in order for them to count! And you Must comment your entries in order for them to count!   

Each #rd item below will give you ONE entry (remember to leave each in a separate comment!): 

One Comment = One Entry! 

Got it? Okay… 

#2. On Facebook: (Please include your Facebook name in your comment)

- “LIKE” ReLove Planet on Facebook (www.facebook.com/reloveplanet)

- “LIKE” Mean Look on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lookthismean)

#3. On Facebook: Post a Facebook status update with a link to this giveaway.

#4. On Twitter: Please include your Twitter name in your comment.
- Follow ReLove Plan.et (www.twitter.come/reloveplanet)
- Follow Mean Look (www.twitter.com/meanlook)

#5. On Twitter: Please include your Twitter name in your comment.
- Tweet about this Giveaway from your Twitter. You must include these somewhere in the tweet for it to count: "RT @ReLovePlanet"  "@MeanLook"

Also, Please REMEMBER to leave your email in at least one of your comments so I can contact you if you’re the winner!!! ;)

Contest will close on November 8th at 11:59 PM PST. 

GOOD LUCK!!! And Please Share with everyone you know! ;)  

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

☯ What's in My Closet; Friends Not Fashion Sweater by Vaute Couture ☯

This is what I have practically been living in these days! So I am too excited to share my amazing Vaute Couture "Friends Not Fashion" Sweater with you and this awesome company! 

I loved these sweaters the second I first lay eyes on them. I loved the entire company, and what's not to love? Absolutely ethical & vegan, and environmentally sustainable! I mean this company really has it together. They spent months researching fabrics to create the perfect winter jackets which are part of their new line now available for pre-order and going Fast! 

While I want everything in their shop, I had to start somewhere so I finally treated myself to an awesome "Friend Not Fashion" Sweater. These sweaters are amazing!! Made from super soft fleece that is recycled polyester and organic cotton and printed with water-based inks. There are also lots of colors and prints to choose from in this "The Friends Series favourite Sweatshirt," including…

The Friends not Entertainment Sweatshirt (elephants), Friends not Test Subjects (rabbits), Friends not Food (chicks), and of course the original Friends not Fashion (sheep) Sweatshirt 

"to show others how sweet it is to be compassionate & cruelty free."

Be warned, these sweaters sell out fast! So make sure you keep your eyes out for them when they are in stock and don't hesitate! I just have to say that one (or more) of these sweaters is a MUST for your wardrobe. I have practically been living in mine! It is so ridiculously comfy, warm and cozy, and looks fantastic! 

One recommendation I do have is to order a couple sizes up. I'm usually a small and it says on the site to order a size up for it to be extra oversized, so I ordered the medium, even though I was a touch hesitant. I am super glad that I did because a small wouldn't have been oversized on me, it would have probably been a bit tight. So my recommendation is if you want it extra oversized go two sizes up. Don't get me wrong, I still love the size I chose (hence practically living in it) but I just felt I should give you a heads up on the sizes. ;) 

Thank you so much Vaute Couture for making such awesome couture that has such an awesome message and is so earth-friendly!! 

Now go get yourself some Vaute Couture!! 

"Animals are our friends, & we don't wear our friends."

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