Taking the Bad with the Good :)

Isn't it strange that everything can be going wrong; you can have an awful day or week, then one moment just reminds you that everything is okay? Enjoying simple moments in life and letting go of stress is very good for your mind and body.

I had a bad week this week or maybe it was just a long bad mood. Last night, I couldn't wait to get home. I just wanted to go home, throw the covers over my face, and wake up to a new day. I ended up watching a so-so movie with the boyfriend last night after eating a quick dinner and sitting by the fireplace. When it was over and the lights went out, the monstrous 16 lb. cat we're 'house-sitting' for crawled on top of me. He put his cold paw flat on my face and laid his chin on it and purred so loudly. My boyfriend cuddled up to me and kissed me on the cheek. We said 'I Love You, Nite' and smiled at each other. I felt so lucky. I hate how I let little things get to me so much.

Anyone else have a similar simple yet clarifying moment lately?

How do you handle the little things and stay stress-free?

An Albino Whitetail Deer

I always feel I need to share cute, unusual animal stories that I learn about. Here are a few great pictures that I've come across.

An albino Whitetail deer is born once in more than a million births. This fawn was found by someone driving by. The car in front of them had almost hit it. They're sending him to a rehab farm to get strong and perhaps make it on his own some day. It said he was less than a day old!

Totally Fabulous!

Lisa McGlaun (LifePrints) says I'm totally fabulous! This means so much coming from her! Her blog is one of my favorites. What first caught my eye was her quote:

"In every moment we leave our mark on the world through our intentions, actions, and relationships. These legacies are our LifePrints. What do you wish to leave behind? LifePrints is dedicated to stories of individuals and organizations making a positive difference in our world, one compassionate deed at a time."

It's one of those instances you feel like they are saying how you feel, just in a lot better way than you ever could. Not only is her writing style unique and impressive, she always has interesting things to write about. She would be the first person I'd give an award to. Check it out when you get a chance!

Now to pass on the Totally Fabulous Award to a few bloggers that I think are Totally deserving.

Here are a few of my favorite Totally Fabulous Bloggers. Pass this award onto your favorite blogs!

VeganSally - Living Without Meat. A fellow animal lover who has inspired me in many ways. There are new topics every day. One of the few blogs I actually subscribe to; I was pleasantly surprised to find she had written a post about my vegetarian blog! It's a great feeling when someone you admire returns your admiration.

SleepnBeauty83 - a wonderful mother of three. She has a lot to say and doesn't sugar coat anything, that's for sure. I may be a little biased considering we have close for over ten years, but I really enjoy seeing what she has to write about and her creative layouts.

SnowTigressJO - I'm sure many of you are familiar with the Laidback Buddhist, as it has been up for many awards before. You can tell she really has a passion for blogging! She seems wise beyond her years, and I love her use of famous quotes.

30 Million Helping Hands

If you had 3 months with which to spend $ 30 Million in order to change the world what would you do?

Thirty million really isn't that much when you're trying to change the world! There are many problems with this country today but one you don't hear about often enough. There are people with no place to live. We send out tons of money in aid to help other countries, but we have hungry people here, too.

Many people that I know have bad attitudes towards homeless people, like they could work if they really wanted to. Unless you're in those shoes, do you really know? I have never been homeless but was in fear several times of becoming homeless as a child. A college roommate of mine was homeless for a while. It's not easy, and it's not laziness. Would someone choose to struggle for their daily meal out of laziness? It doesn't seem very logical to me. I've read many stories where people were abused and terrorized by awful, usually alcoholic, parents and they run away as young people. What happens then? They're surrounded by not so good people who become their only 'community.' Maybe they start to use drugs from the influence of their new 'family' or just start to spiral downward. Itwould be hard to pull yourself out of that. It wouldn't be easy to survive on your own or raise yourself. You never know a random person's story so I don't judge homeless people.

How can your heart not go out to someone in that situation? How can you not be saddened after seeing a homeless person laying behind a building? No warmth, no safety, no food, no family? It's the American dream to own your own home, but to not even have a place to stay? I couldn't imagine going through that.

Life is not fair! Why do some people get a cushy life with all the luxuries and some don't even have a dime to their name or anyone who cares about them? Ever seen American Psycho? He is really mean to a homeless guy and he kills him and his dog. I cried uncontrollably! Unfortunately, there are many people who feel that way about the homeless and are mean to them.

How easy would it be to get hired? Even at McDonald's, I'd hope they'd want someone who at least showers and appears hygienic.

So, I think I would open a huge shelter for the homeless.

There would be a program, let's say six months, where they're taught job skills. They are given a couple of nice professional outfits, or whatever attire is appropriate, and cleaned up. There would be counselors for them to talk to and groups to help them prepare mentally for getting back on their feet. I'm sure if they did make a better life for themselves, most of them would give back and make donations to the shelter to help others. We would have more people paying into taxes and social security. The streets would be cleaner. There'd be a little more hope in the world.

It wouldn't just be a gathering for alcoholics and drug addicts. If they had a dependency problem, they would be sent to rehab first.

Do you think this is a feasible plan or not? What would you do with $30 million?

Scotch Taped Self-Esteem

Day 2 of a Week of Positive Blogging:

Posts about a person who inspired you to excel in life or who actually saved your life.

Mrs. Johnson - my 4th grade teacher. I will warn you, it starts out with a sad tone, but it has a positive message.

I am a nerd. Many people probably don't know why, not even my closest of friends. They also probably don't understand why scotch tape is my favorite smell or why I get an unnatural pleasure from school supplies in general. Even more weird, I LOVE school. I like homework. I used to play "school" when I was younger and this girl would assign me homework and I would actually do it, for fun!! Freak! Well the reason is, school was the best part of my childhood. Ex co-workers used to say I could guess the colors of crayons of a 64 pack by tasting them :) .

Not having the greatest childhood, I carried much of my stressful home life to school. I was a very shy, withdrawn kid that just tried not to bring attention to herself. On one of my worst days, I went to recess and hid behind some equipment and just cried to myself. It scared me at first when I realized my teacher had seen me.

She came over and gave me a hug. She was a smart woman, she obviously knew what was going on. She said, "You are a great kid. I wish I could adopt you and take care of you." I started to cry and told her I never wanted to go home again. She wiped away my tears and said "It'll get better, I promise. Just keep doing well in school and do your best, you'll go to college and make your own life. You are a very smart girl." From then on I always wanted to do the best in the class. I was teacher's pet. The next year, I did so many book reports, they made a custom-made trophy for me; for which I am teased to no end for winning.

For Christmas I made her a name plate for her desk that said Mrs. Johnson in all different shades of pink and purple. It was hideous, but she proudly displayed it the rest of the year. Every so often she would make time for us to talk. I would confide in her and began to trust her. She never told anyone, at least not that I ever found out.

She helped me rebuild my shattered self-esteem. I am so grateful that she reached out to me. I've always kind of considered being a teacher myself because of her. I would say she made the biggest difference in my life out of everyone I've know. Don't underestimate the impact you can make in another's life.

Powder-Fresh Li'l Sh*thead!

Day 1: Week of Positive Blogging - Post with discussions of your positive memories, writings, thoughts, and images that you have come across in your life. It could be a place, it could be a photo, it could be a film, it could be anything.

My little brother and my nephew.


Back when I was about 13, my little brother Brett was about 3 or 4. He used to imitate people. Sometimes the wrong people. One day after I walked into my room to find him rubbing my deodorant all over his body he did one I'll never forget. It was my dad's roommate, an older woman, heavy smoker, who thought she was pretty hot. In nothing but his little diaper, he did her walk, swinging his hips, and acting like he was holding a cigarette. He then said, "Doughboy, you a**hole!" Doughboy is what my dad's roommate called my cousin. I about died. After my dad passed away, I never got to see him again except one time with my grandma. But I loved him to death. I loved when I'd walk by his room and he'd be standing in his crib and hold his arms out to me and smile :) .


My nephew, who is now five reminds me so much of him. They are both so adorable, the thought of them always makes me smile. I don't have any pics of my little brother but he looked just like this pic of my nephew.


My favorite memory of my nephew was two summers ago. I had this giant body pillow shaped like a fish and he took and said "My fish!" and I teasingly said "Hey that's my fishy!" He looked at me, looked at the sliding glass doors that go out to the balcony, and made a run for it. That little booger threw my fish down three stories out onto the neighbors' lawn. I took one of his stuffed animals and tossed it over and he did not like that at all! He started pouting and tearing up and ran and told my mom. He said Cece is mean! She said did you be mean to her first? He said "yeeeeeaahhhh." He came over and hugged me and said I'm sorry, Cece. It was so freaking cute! I gave him a kiss and went and got the giant fish pillow and the teddy bear and got some weird looks on the way. Cherish all the little ones in your life :) .

Road Trip!

Who wants to make a road trip to Canada?

These pictures are from Butchart Gardens, Canada.


















I have to have some purple trees!


















What beautiful colors!


















So serene :) It'd be hard to feel stressed out here!