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

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

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

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

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

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{this moment}

[day at the beach ^_^]

{Smile Up}:

☺ Sunny Beach days! 

☺ Once again I have to say having amazing landlords--they are two of the most amazing people I've met! :) 

☺ Crazy thunderstorms! 

☺ My Rainbow Slouch Hat by KnotaGeek! 

☺ Booked our second Portland trip with my bestie! 

☺ Berry picking at awesome U-Picks--through sunshine and rain!

☺ Llamas and donkeys! We got to feed some at the U-Pick. :)  

☺ Tea dates with awesome people!

☺ Markets markets! 

☺ Skyping with two of our best friends from Edmonton!   

☺ The good news that those friends will be staying with us for a couple days!!  

☺ Drawing, writing, creating--as always! 

☺ My kitties--so much love and laughter and joy. I love them so much.

☺ Fresh zucchinis and greens and veggies from our garden! Gardens are so magical and I feel so blessed by how well ours is doing this year! 

☺ Living in the Kootenays! 

☺ Being self-employed! I work hard but I so love my job and getting to take breaks outside at our beautiful home.  

☺ Having such supportive friends and supportive husband, who check up on me and are completely there for me. 

☺ When things magically just sort of work out. :) 

☺ Hugs! Hugs are always amazing, it's my favourite part of randomly bumping into friends when I'm out and about. ^_^

Loving: Market season • Thunderstorms • Silkscreening • Creating • Skype •  Lazing in the sun • Our patio • Beaches • Feeling the soft grass beneath my feet • Exercise • Inspiring short stories • Gratitude practices  • New experiences •

Interests for the week:

✯ (still) Reading "Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman -- haven't had as much time for reading lately.   

✯  Current Anime shows: D.Gray Man, getting back into Full Metal Alchemist, and watched the first episode of Bakemonogatari . 

✯  New True Blood and Dexter episodes, Ray Donovan. Oh and the Chapel Show--because that show is hilarious and appeals to my rude humour. ;)  

♫ Music Playlist: Brand New, Hurt, Red, and Breaking Benjamin, Florence and the Machine, Paramore, Flyleaf.  ♫

✯ Food Faves: Morning Smoothies ♥ Getting creative with Zucchinis! ♥ Homemade Granola ♥ Iced Chai ♥ Fresh Blueberries and Raspberries ♥ Homemade Kale Chips ♥ Humus ♥

Lessons of the week: 

It's Okay not to be Okay. (this is a subject I really want to write about soon, I think it's an important one) ☀ Be open and honest--you'll push past problems and reach a better place! ☀ Compassion and Respect should always be practiced. ☀ Think before you speak. Choose silence and then choose to speak--or write a letter if you can't get your thoughts out clearly. ☀ Staying Positive doesn't mean you're happy all the time--it just means you're doing your best and trying! ☀ 

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

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

♥ KnotaGeek (Review) - Handmade Crochet Accessories! ♥

I am so excited to share this lovely etsy shop with you today! Ever since I first saw this shop I've been eyeing up items. It's so full of colour and life and temptation. Who doesn't love temptation? Which is why when temptation came knocking with this adorable Rainbow Summer slouch hat, I couldn't resist. The second I saw it, I knew I have to have one. Instantly. 

So, let me tell you a bit about KnotaGeek, just in case you haven't already fallen in love with their beautiful products…  

KnotaGeek is a shop specializing in unique handmade hats, cowls, scarves, bags, and other fabulous fashionable accessories, all handmade by two lovely ladies: Nicole and Erin. The shop focuses on quality products; each item is one of a kind and made using vegan (yay!) fibers such as luxurious bamboo, eco friendly and organic cottons, and soft and versatile acrylic blends. Vegan and eco-friendly are always pluses in my books--and as if I wasn't already in love with this shop enough. 

Hearing about Erin and Nicole's start sounds like one of those things that was simply meant to be. The two knew each other from a mutual horrid job and later discovered that each of them shared a love to crochet and create--which they only found out after having oddly-almost-identical Facebook photo albums where they posted their most recent creations. One approached the other about starting a shop, and it all took off from there!

So, I recently got my hands on one of their amazing Rainbow Slouch Hats. I can't say enough about how much I love it! I've worn it more times than I've kept track of already, and every time I'm out and about I receive many compliments. I feel like it brings out the hippie in me (umm, more of the hippie in me), as well as the colourful fun of summer! The craftsmanship is superb, the quality absolutely stunning, and the slouch hat fits like a charm and is very comfortable. The fibres are lovely and soft and feel very sturdy as well. I can see this product last a very long time, which is always nice. What drew me in was having a fun summer beanie hat that I could wear with my head still being able to breathe in the hot summer months we have where I live. I love love love it. What a dream! The open-stitching makes is perfect and makes it so breathable and comfortable. I can't recommend them enough. In fact, I want another one, that's how much I love mine. 

The entire look of KnotaGeek is just so whimsical and utterly fun. Browsing through their products is enticingly joyous, the colour choices, as well as colour combinations are just lovely and brilliant. Without a doubt, I recommend KnotaGeek for your next knit purchase. They are super nice sellers, easy to deal with, and great communication. I couldn't ask for more in any type of seller. So go check them out and choose your favourites! 

You can find KnotaGeek here:

Shop: knotageek.etsy.com

Facebook: facebook.com/knotageek

Twitter: twitter.com/knotageekshop

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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Lots of amazing news for animals this week!!

Success! EU Closes Shark Finning Ban Loopholes

In a big win for sharks, the European Union finally adopted a strict ban on shark finning. Officially shark finning, a process whereby fins are harvested from living sharks, has been illegal in the EU since 2003. However, loopholes and exemptions in the law allowed the process to continue. Now, at long last, the process has been outlawed once and for all.

With the new regulation in place, conservationists finally have a law that can make a difference for these vital members of the marine ecosystem.

This win is thanks to millions of concerned citizens around the world, and thousands of Care2 members that signed petitions, asking the EU to reevaluate its stance on shark finning, and outlaw the practice permanently. Thanks to dedicated community members like you, the sharks will now have a fighting chance in European waters. 

(Read more) http://www.care2.com/causes/success-eu-closes-shark-finning-ban-loopholes.html#ixzz2YwcL8ZI1

Pennsylvania Law Makes Animal Abusers Pay

Agencies charged with caring for abused animals often struggle to care for them. Whether they’re flailing for shelter after a big bust or trying to cover the medical expenses of a seriously injured animal, law enforcement and animal welfare groups do their best for abused animals, but it can get expensive. That’s why numerous states require accused animal abusers to pay for the daily upkeep of seized animals.

Pennsylvania just joined that group when Governor Tom Corbett decisively signed H.B. 82 into law. This law requires defendants to pay up to $15 a day for upkeep, including shelter, food and other basic needs. If animals require extraordinary care, the accused may be required to pay more in order to support treatment. Veterinarians can evaluate individual cases to determine what kind of treatment is needed and how much it may add to overall costs.

(Read more) http://www.care2.com/causes/pennsylvania-law-makes-animal-abusers-pay-literally.html#ixzz2Ywe60SlD

Victory! The Sale of Dogs, Cats, and Rabbits Banned in San Diego!

The San Diego City Council passed an ordinance to ban the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in city “pet” stores. Last September, the San Diego Animal Defense Team (ADT) gave the city council a petition with forty pages of signatures requesting this ordinance. ADT joined with In Defense of Animals, San Diego Humane Society, Animal Protection and Rescue League, and other organizations to garner attention and support for the ordinance. More than 75 animal-related businesses and animal advocacy groups signed on to support the ban.

Pet stores get animals from commercial breeding facilities, including puppy mills, where animals are imprisoned for life in cramped, filthy conditions and used as breeding machines until they can no longer reproduce. Three to four million animals are killed in American shelters every year because of the difficulty of securing enough good homes for them. Please adopt rather than buy animal companions to break this cycle of suffering, misery, and death.

Victory! Bear Pit Closed

Eleven bears had been imprisoned in concrete pits at Chief Saunooke Bear Park in Cherokee, North Carolina, which PETA has been working to shut down for years. Following a PETA investigation, the roadside zoo paid a fine and surrendered its exhibitor's license to settle more than a dozen charges for violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

The bears now reside at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary (IEAS) in Dallas, after a private benefactor generously offered to purchase the bears from the zoo's owner. 

(Read more) http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/2013/07/09/victory-bear-pit-closed-animals-get-real-retirement.aspx

Woman Helps Little Gopher in Trouble: Stunning “Thank You”

This story from Care2 is totally heart-warming, so happy to share it. The story is of a mother who has an instinct and knack for helping animals in need--placing their needs ahead of her own and going out of her way to help the poor critters. This story is about a gopher who's leg is caught in a leg-hold trap; the woman comes to free him, carries him home (despite him biting her arm the walk back), and feeds and cares for him (respectfully giving him space). 

"The day came when we felt he was well enough to be set free. I took his cage out to an open field across the road. I opened the door and he bounded out and started to run away.  But, then he stopped and turned around towards me.  He then ran back and stopped right in front of me, sat up on his haunches, paused and gazed at me for a moment – as if to say ‘Thank you.”  Then he scurried off never to be seen again. I will never forget that thank you."

(Read the whole heart-warming story here) http://www.care2.com/causes/woman-helps-little-gopher-in-trouble-stunning-thank-you.html#ixzz2ZK0VVwln

Two Former Circus Elephants Spared Euthanasia in France

Two elephants, Baby and Nepal — two former circus elephants that a French zoo was planning to euthanize after they tested positive for tuberculosis — will instead be spending the rest of their days on an estate on the Cote d’Azur owned by the royal family of Monaco. The fear was that the disease could spread so were therefor called to be euthanized. 

A campaign, led by French actress Brigitte Bardot, was created to save the two elephants. About 200 people formed a human chain around the elephants’ enclosure “to save Baby and Nepal” and Monaco’s Princess Stephanie condemned the decision to kill them as “radical and irreversible.”

In February, France’s Supreme Administrative Court put a stop to the euthanasia of the elephants, on the grounds that there was “substantial doubt” about the legality of doing so, says German newspaper Der Spiegel.

Princess Stephanie then offered to take in Baby and Nepal where they now live on the Roc Agel ranch, an estate owned by the Monaco royal family in southeastern France. The elephants’ new home is a nearly one-acre enclosure with a pool and wooden shed. A veterinarian who accompanied them on their journey said that, upon arrival, they showed signs of “well-being,” showering themselves with dust and humming softly.

(Read more) http://www.care2.com/causes/two-former-circus-elephants-spared-euthanasia-in-france.html#ixzz2ZK2oxChI

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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.

☆ The Importance of the Rainforests ☆

This infographic is full of information about the importance of rainforests and their current condition around the world.  It also provides advice on how rainforests can be saved.

Courtesy of Oak Furniture UK

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