Being heard, where confidence is lacking

Some might say you're lying
if you think the words you wield
can stop the storm.
that brighter lights will prevail,
and leave you bruised from their brilliance.
those wielded words
cast into pans
another ting against the tin
another limerick against more tired vowels.
some might say you're dreaming
if you think your visions are art,
art to change the world.
you would notice if they did.
some do say
be spoken for, or someone else will guide your tongue.
be speaking up
when you're feeling trodden down.
those words are truer said than done.
when one's the wiser to wield one's words
onto a hidden placard or a spot of lesser notice.
those words, brave they may be
are sodden with the sweat stains of
a lingering adolescence.

Summer Lustin'

We get a taste of sunshine every once in a while, and it wets our appetites

 for less rain, more sunny days! 

Summer, come soon! 

photo: Weheartit

The Autumn of Our Lives

It's a rainy Sunday. Sometimes these are my favourite kinds of days; when nothing's going on, the house is quiet, and really the only acceptable thing to do is find a good chair and curl up with a book and a big mug of something warm to drink. 
September is a time of transition for a lot of people. The haze of summer fades away, and the crispness of fall is already upon us. Friends leave for school, those of us still in Vancouver begin to mill about, zombie-like from the shock of returning to the classroom. Books are seen as the bane of our existence..$500 is something that could be spent elsewhere...
But, in light of the drudgery of our educational duties, I believe fall is the best time to literally turn over a new leaf. It's the best time to re-evaluate your priorities and think about what is really important to you. What's benefiting you right now, and what's only adding carbs of excess to your full plate. Whether it's a favourite junk food that really, you don't need at 9am, or a conversation you've needed to get over with, nows the time to get it done. Take a deep breath. And let it go. 

In the spirit of mentally detoxing our lives, which is also a good step to making sure you're healthy for the bitterness of winter (no one likes to be sick at Christmas! Until which there is only 97 days by the way), I think it's a good time to start detoxing our bodies. A really good way is to simply do something different. It makes our minds get out of autopilot (which about (98% of people are on the majority of the time) and lets our bodies do what has been our saving grace throughout history: adapt. 
This fall, do something different for your body! Try a different yoga class, splurge on a high-quality supplement to help your skin, your tummy, your immune system, or try a apple cider vinegar detox to help cleanse your body from the inside out! I am a proud member of the church of ACV. This stuff can cure anything! Try in it a couple ways, good topically and internally.

The Many Uses of ACV:
- Detoxifying:

In summer months: Add 1/4 cup of ACV to a quart of water. Add ice cubes. Drink this on a hot summer day, especially before working out. Your body will feel very cleansed.

In winter months: 2 TBLS of ACV in a mug filled with hot water 3x day. Are you used to drinking tea or coffee during your long commute to work? Try this instead -- you will feel energized but not adrenalized. Add a few shakes of cayenne pepper if you REALLY want an energy lift!

To detox: 2 TBLSP of organic ACV in a 1 or 2 Liter filtered water bottle (ie Smart Water, Evian, etc). 2 TBLSP = 1/8th cup. You can add more vinegar than this amount, however, make sure you dilute it with plenty of water. Do not add a sweetener. Drink this solution throughout the day. The solution will be cleansing your system and kidneys all day long. That's the point.

(info from:www.earthclinic.com)

- Acne

1 part ACV

3 parts water

dab onto blemishes (start gradually: once at night and morning)

use as a toner after washing your face. Always make sure you rehydrate with a facial oil or moisturizer! Acne is caused by excess sebum, which is your skins natural oils that it produces to hydrate itself. If these oils are depleted or not replaced, your skin will dry out more, and produce MORE oil to try and rehydrate! Aka, more acne! Don't worry, as long as your using 100% vegetable oil, it will not clog your pores. Only use enough to see a shine to your hands, and lightly massage into your face. 

*do NOT put full strength ACV on your face! It is very acidic and could burn you.

- Hair Rinse

Use an old shampoo bottle and fill it with 1/2 tbsp ACV and a cup of cold water. Use as rinse after shampooing to relieve your hair of oil and buildup and to keep your scalp clean! 

(www.care2.com)

- Teeth Stains

Rub your teeth with ACV and rinse to help combat all those extra coffees we now need to get through class!

Hope you're all having a productive, healthy weekend! 

Love,

Whit

images: weheartit.com

Bustle Bee

Been a while since I wrote any poetry. I'm feeling a little artistic today (I still have pastels under my nails).
Happy Sunday everyone. xoxo

Have you beaten the path
the one that crumpled beneath your toes
the grass that brushed your calves
and dusted seeds into your socks?

Where's the edge to stand upon?
curl your toes,
your socks a treasure, neatly planted.

Lead the wind
a bustle at your back
bunched and ribboned,
tied and bowed,
a lace breeze,
your garment of the season.

Have you held back the spring,
before it leaks into a frenzy
it's busy bustle, your bustle
rustle and breeze on by.
little spring,
it's time to cross the ledge,
sprig into action
little bustle bee.

Stylish Blogger Award!

A big thanks to Kim at Crafty Kim for tagging me with a Stylish Blogger Award! Her blog is adorable and I'm touched that we can connect from across the country! She just did a great post on a new Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Mascara that I'm now very tempted to try for myself! Check her out, it's always great to see fellow young bloggers!

Here are the rules of the Award!: 

*Link back & thank the person who gave you the award

*Share 7 things about yourself

*Award 5 recently discovered blogs

*Contact them and tell them about their award!

1. I'm addicted to Svpply. I swear if I didn't have a limit on my credit card I'd be in big trouble!

2. My little dog Cinnamon is my baby. When I travel I miss her more than the rest of my family, (sorry!), and she sleeps with me every night. 

3. I aspire to own a wide collection of original art someday. I love to pick up pieces when I travel! So far, Paris and Thailand. Italian and New York pieces to be added this year!

4. I'm a big believer in karma. And that positive thinking promotes positive actions. If there is no second chance, why not be your best and enjoy life.

5. I love my freckles. I used to hate them when I was growing up, but I know they're unique and It saves me trying to use makeup to even my skin tone, I just let them show!

6. I can be pretty sour about bad weather. But nothing puts me in a good mood like being prepared. Wearing rain boots and staying dry in the rain is something I find very satisfying.

7. This blog means a lot to me. I feel like it's something that can grow and learn with me, and I love being able to connect with people locally and around the world.

I am tagging the following blogs for awards as well!

Stephanie Joanna @ Here's Looking at You, Kid

Laura Marie @ a diary of little things and curiosities 

Alicia @ aliciafashionista

Ashley G. @ Everything is Better in Heels

Cassie Lee @ Candidly Cassie

The Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies

I found this recipe on the side of a Kraft Peanut Butter container, when I was looking for a little snack at my boyfriend's house last weekend. I probably read it about 10 times, trying to figure out if there was flour in it. These have got to be the easiest cookies to make. I want to play around with the recipe, maybe try it with almond butter, or add some honey? For these I added a bit of banana, but the recipe literally only calls for PB, an egg and sugar.

1 cup crunchy Peanut Butter (I used Adam's)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 mashed banana (optional)

Combine all ingredients until fully mixed.
Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Flatten by pressing cookies with a fork.
Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes (12 min on convection)
Move cookies to cooling rack soon after removing from the oven.
Makes 12 cookies.

Enjoy!

Sunday, and some things I love

It's another lazy Sunday, and I've resigned myself to a little bit of housewifing (not in spite of the upcoming International Women's Day on the 8th.), dog walking and amazon-ing. It's the end of another week, and I've been missing my other half a lot lately. Some weeks fly by, but knowing I'm not seeing him for a few more seems to drag out the days. We rock at Sunday mornings. Pancakes (wheat free of course) have become our homage to How I Met Your Mother ritual, as well as dog walks along Spanish Banks, and often sushi. I know it's totally cliche to say you feel more complete when you're with that special person, but when it comes to matters of the heart, nothing else matters. It's times like this, and they're fairly often, that I feel ready beyond my youth to experience things I have not the financial or educational means to do. In light of that, I know these are the beginnings of The Years, and I intend to enjoy them. On that note, some things that have made me smile and keep my little heart company when my Love cannot. 

I'm loving these terrariums in jars lately. I don't have the slightest inkling of a green thumb but these seem pretty self sustaining. And very cute; almost like having a little bit of another world. 

1. recycled glass terrarium 

2. Apothecary jar moss terrarium 

I love candles. These ones are so unique! 

1. White birch candle holder

2. Hanging glass baubles

3. Egg candles-  so perfect for spring!

I love statement rings. Nothing too big or gaudy, or too sparkly. I'd rather something in metal that's unique than an ostentatious stone. 

1. Big knot ring

2. Nautical ship steering wheel ring

3. Bunny love ring - so adorable!

4. I love Pamela Love

Hope you're all enjoying the weekend! 

xoxo

Domenica in febbraio

Another Sunday, and sadly no housewifing today. I'm in paper writing/procrastinating mode, the latter being a little less successful at the moment. However it is perfect weather to stay inside and do a bit of work now and then. The rest of my time is spent cruising Svppy, my new addiction. How is everyone spending this snowy Sunday? Or if it's not snowy where you are, (lucky) go out there and enjoy it!

I'd rather be here...

or here...

On the other hand, this paper (Theological Baroque concerning Caravaggio and Bernini in the 17th century) is making me lust for Italy. My trip is approaching soon, and honestly, half of my thoughts are about shopping. Canada gets pretty left out when it comes to fashion. The shopping opportunities are just so much more plentiful in Europe! I have a short list though, but I feel like it might grow once I'm there. Time to tighten my belt and freeze the Visa...

{mmm Italian olive oil}

{i'm also planning on getting some art, postcards, and maybe a vintage italian poster...and also clothes of course}

Ciao xoxo

A New Day

Sometimes it takes a cold slap to wake you up to what you think you're missing. Sometimes, like those Sunday nights when there's nowhere else you'd rather be than curled up with your laptop, and you're procrastinating doing your french homework because you secretly like the drama of putting it off, it's these times that you really get to thinking. Looking back on the TV I've watched today, I starting thinking about all the goals I've set, and forgot about or passed over. The inspirational people who've lost a person's worth of weight, or reinvented themselves all for the sake of a TV show, do you think they would have done the same otherwise? If life's a movie, is nothing worth doing without an audience?
So, with this thinking in mind, and knowing the small, yet global outreach I have, I'm starting to appreciate the things that I do just for me. I started this blog as a way to get out some pent-up creative juices, and put my little words out there. The longer you keep your hand out though, the more pigeons start to land and roost. Soon I was getting asked to advertise, market, and sell myself to the millions of eager viewers out there, if they could only get smacked with my blog! What happened to the days that we did things for our own pleasure? No credit, no infamy, no cheerleaders. I'm not discrediting all the support I've been getting, don't get me wrong! Anything I hear from readers and friends is overwhelming and very humbling. I'm touched that I get to reach out to people through my writings.
I do feel though, as a novice blogger eager to get my words out there, that I've maybe lost myself a little in the process. My room's a little more cluttered and for the first time in a while I'm just letting it build. So I'm taking this moment to turn over a new leaf. I have a pile of "to do's" that I'm itching to get at, and I think I've been waiting for a moment that isn't going to come to push me to do them. It's A New Day, and I'm all the push I need to get it done, whether it's blog-worthy or not.