{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 (few) capturing moments from the week. Simple, special, extraordinary moments. Moments I want to pause, savor and remember. 

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

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Still soooo busy! But here are my moments from the past two weeks! :) 

[Thanks to my friend Tam for the awesome photos above!]

Weekly "Smile Up":

I was doing these "weekly smile-ups" a couple years ago and they were a lot of fun to do and I'd like to start them up again. I figure doing them along with the weekly "this moment" posts is fitting and quite perfect--since "this moment" is all about appreciating your life and everything around you and that's exactly what the "weekly smile-up" posts are about too! Sooooo, getting back into this lovely routine! :)

☺ Celebrated Cory's birthday last weekend at the Kaslo Skatepark with amazing friends! 

☺ Bonfires on the lake!! 

☺ Getting lots of work done so I can feel better heading into market season!  

☺ Getting back in touch with both my Grandmas in Europe. It's been much too long! 

☺ Wishing my little brother a happy birthday (he shares the same birthday as Cory, it's really sweet).  

☺ Tea dates with my bestie!

☺ Sitting on the kitchen counter talking and hanging out with my hubby (random beautiful moment). 

☺ Finally getting a bookshelf for my work room!  

☺ Watching the sun go down from our big bright windows in our sunroom. 

☺ Writing and Drawing up the good copy of the first chapter of my book!!

Loving: My job • Drawing • Creating • Working more on the Happiness Guide and Bootcamp Zines • Our home • My workroom that looks like a child's room (harhar) •  Smiling • Gigling • Sunshine • Trees • New Earrings and Rings for ReLove store • Kootenay Love shirts • Dancing in your undies • Remember the bliss I felt a couple years ago! • Writing and Drawing again •

Interests for the week:

✯ Reading "Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman! Such an amazing whimsical book!  

✯ Watched Iron Man 3 in the theatre--been so long since I've been to the movie theatre!! 

✯  Watching Anime shows again! Woot! Currently: D.Gray Man, Say I love You. 

✯  Watching Game of Thrones!! On the 3rd season, but only on episode 3--so no spoiling it for me!! ;) 

♫ Music Playlist: Florence and the Machine, Breaking Benjamin, Hurt, Red, Within Temptation, MachineHead, Flyleaf.  ♫

✯ Food Faves: Quinoa Cookies ♥ Smoothies ♥ Peanut Butter ♥ Kale ♥ New Tofu Nugget recipe ♥  

Lessons of the week: 

Look at yourself when you were your happiest and remember how good you felt; then strive for it again!! ☀ It's okay not to be okay all the time! ☀ Be yourself and never be ashamed of any part of you! Embrace who you are!! ☀ Put yourself in a good mood the moment you wake up! ☀ It's good to spend time on yourself, just for yourself--and it's not selfish so don't feel guilty for it! ☀  People will always try to take credit for things you do--do them anyway and don't bother with silly people. ☀ PMA PMA PMA!! ☀ 

Hope you're all having a beautiful wonderful blissful week! Tell me about your lovely weeks! Tell me about your "Weekly Smile Up" and "This Moment"! Pretty please? :)

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❀ 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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Sorry, I missed last week's "Good News" post, so this one is extra long, which is even more good news because what inspiration it is to see so much good going on in the world! ;)

GMO Labelling Laws Advance in Maine, Vermont, Connecticut!

GMO labeling bills recently cleared hurdles in Vermont, Maine and Connecticut. They still have a way to go before becoming law. But it’s a good sign that despite millions spent on lobbying, and despite threats of lawsuits against states that pass the GMO labeling laws, lawmakers are starting to take a stand.

On May 10, the Vermont House of Representatives passed H.112 by a vote of 99-42. The bill will be taken up by the Senate in January, 2014. On May 14, Maine’s L.D. 718 passed out of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee by a vote of 8-5. If passed, the law won’t go into effect until 2018, and then only after four of the nine northeastern states approve similar laws. And on May 21, the Connecticut Senate approved SB 802 by a vote of 35-1. The bill moves next to the Connecticut House.

(More on Connecticut) 

(More on Vermont) 

(More on Maine) 

Monsanto Surrenders: Ends All GMO Lobbying In Europe

Monsanto has officially give up its fight to spread genetically modified seeds and plants throughout Europe.

In a time when the power and political influence of Monsanto Co. seems nearly insurmountable, this is a huge victory for opponents of genetic engineering. For those in the U.S. and other countries where Monsanto’s stranglehold is palpable, it serves as a rally cry to keep up the good fight.

(Read the full story) 

Portland, Ore. Voters Say ‘No’ to Fluoride in City Water

On Tuesday, May 21, voters in Portland, Ore. rejected a plan by city officials to fluoridate the city’s water, despite being outspent 3 – 1 by proponents of fluoridation. The anti-fluoridation campaign was launched last year after the City Council voted to add fluoride to the water supply, and citizens responded by gathering enough signatures to force a vote. Showing once again that when right, left, center, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian and Independents join forces for the common good, citizens can defeat corporate interests.

(More on the story) 

Montana Governor Vetos Bad Mining Bill

A heartfelt thank you to Montana's Governor Bullock, who recently took the hatchet to SB 347, a terrible bill that would have allowed mining companies to divert unlimited amounts of water from Montana rivers and streams.

Montana's nondegradation law keeps that in check by preventing dewatering over a certain numeric point. SB 347 would have chucked the numeric standards, and put in vague language that would make it difficult to protect Montana's famous trout streams and the downstream water rights holders who rely on that water.

(Read the full story) 

Victory! Facebook Agrees to Combat Hate Speech Against Women

On Tuesday, after an onslaught of tweets and emails and facing a growing advertising boycott, Facebook agreed to do more to combat gender-based hate speech.

In a statement, Facebook admitted that its system for identifying and removing hate speech has been less than effective, and it has pledged to take some concrete steps.

The campaign elicited 60,000 tweets and 5,000 emails, and 15 companies pulled their ads from Facebook. This is truly an example of what we can do when we pull together.

(Read the full story) 

Feds Postpone Plans to Delist Wolves Indefinitely

In a surprising turn of events, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced a delay in its plan to strip federal protection from nearly all gray wolves throughout the U.S. this week, but the plan could still move forward at any time.

Wolves aren't in the clear yet so it's important to keep the pressure on! 

Sign the petition Here!

(Read the full story) 

Wildlife Champions Stand Up to Stampede of Anti-Bison Bills

Just a few weeks ago, it looked like the effort to return wild bison to tribal lands would be stopped just as it was gaining ground. It looked like the dreams that culminated in the release of more than 60 bison from Yellowstone National Park last year on the Fort Peck Reservation would be killed.

The campaign to restore wild bison to the American prairies is still alive, thanks to the work by tribal and conservation leaders and the overwhelming public response. The National Wildlife Federation and more than 53,000 NWF members, activists, other sportsmen’s and conservation groups and wildlife advocates to defeat a barrage of anti-bison bills sponsored by Montana lawmakers. 

(Read the full story) 

Victory! Venues Cancel Piccadilly Circus Over Reports of Animal Abuse 

At least two venues scheduled to host the Piccadilly Circus have canceled appearances after receiving information about the circus’s dismal record of animal abuse. Armed with information provided by In Defense of Animals, a New York advocacy group called Long Island Orchestrating for Nature (LION) and local activists in Bensalem, Pennsylvania provided venues with detailed histories of Piccadilly Circus’s egregious treatment of performing animals. Shows were promptly canceled at both of the venues.

Tarzan the Tar-Covered Cat is Saved by Good Samaritan

Last week, a young orange tabby got himself into a very sticky situation when he wandered into a construction site in Hyde Park, Massachusetts. The cat made his way into an area of thick tar and was coated in the black substance all the way up to his chest. Fortunately a Good Samaritan noticed the cat and was able to calmly capture him. The cat was brought to the MSPCA’s Angell Animal Medical Center in Jamaica Plain where veterinarians named him “Tarzan,” and gave him a shave to save him from toxicity.

(Read the full story) 

Victory! Nevada Bans Breed Discrimination

Animal advocates and pit bull lovers are celebrating the news that Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed a bill that will ban breed specific legislation (BSL) in the state as of October 1, 2013.

Once it goes into effect, Assembly Bill 110 will prevent any governing body from enacting any type of laws or regulations that declare a dog dangerous or vicious based solely on a dog’s breed anywhere in Nevada, making it the 14th state to pass a law against BSL.

(Read the full story) 

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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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☺ 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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☺ Thoughts are Things: Thoughts have a frequency, they are real energy, and they have Power. Make sure the thoughts you are emitting are positive! 

☺ Jealousy is an ugly look on anyone. Learn to be happy for other people's triumphs instead of turning to negative jealous or envy. It's a terrible thing to down play another's successes simply because it is not you in their place. Just be happy for them. And be the best that you can be instead of acting upon or feeling jealousy or envy. Success will come your way if you can learn to be praise another's success instead of becoming jealous--remember there is enough for everyone. 

☺ Make someone Happy Today! There is nothing that fills the heart more than the ability to brighten someone's day and to make them smile. Go out of your way this week, every day, to put a smile on another's face. :)

☺ Things always have a way of working out.  So never underestimate the power of faith, positivity, and good thoughts. Look back on any difficult or stressful moments in your life and look at them now; chances are they've been resolved and long forgotten; and if they haven't chances are that they are leading to something amazing. So have faith and stay positive and resolve will come to you faster. 

☺ Follow your Passions! Follow your passions, your dreams, and the things you enjoy, and then the right opportunities will come to you. If you don't know what you want to do in life for work, then start with your passions. Don't tell yourself that your passions cannot become your life, there are endless possibilities and when you become true to your heart then those opportunities will present themselves and you will live the life of your dreams.      

☺ Become a Team Player! While this particularly applies to your relationship with your significant other, it can be applied to any relationship… Be a team player! Instead of fighting, getting on each other's nerves, and constantly pitting yourselves against one another, learn to compromise, to talk things out, to find resolve, and to overall be on each other's side. Your relationships will become much more harmonized, respectful, and happy when you do this.   

☺ "It is Your task to nurture your soul with kindness, love, respect, tolerance, forgiveness, and confidence. For a balance and hearty meal of awesomeness creates a life of happiness." ~ Dodinsky. 

Create a Nice Day!! 

Much Love from me to you! 

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Ⓥ Vegan Kitchen: Sautéed Mustard Greens! Ⓥ

Mustard greens can be intensely spicy, especially when you're growing them fresh from your own garden. This year we have a healthy happy supply of mustard greens and were trying to figure out how to eat them since they are entirely too zingy for my taste in a salad. That's when this recipe came along. This is super easy to make and super delicious and healthy!  

Sautéed Mustard Greens

2-3 large bunches Mustard Greens, chopped  

1/4 cup Walnuts (or almonds or other nuts) 

1 Garlic Clove, minced

1 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast

1 Tbsp Lemon Juice

1 Tbsp (just under) Tamari or Soy Sauce

dash of Black Pepper

a little water for consistency

In a large frying pan or pot, toss all your ingredients together and sauté on medium heat until lightly cooked. The greens will shrink a lot. 

I like to add chickpeas sometimes as well, really you can add whatever you feel like. :) This recipe is so simple and easy and delicious! Great way to get more greens into your day. 

Makes a wonderful side dish or snack. 

Makes 2-3 servings. 

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