Embroidered Literary Loveliness

creator: alli coate obtained via: Bliss

xo

M

Go Somewhere, Do Something, Be Someone

photo credit: hannah ruth via Bliss

xo

M

Love Token 86: Book Love

Books make me SMILE today...every day actually. 

Illustrator Nan Lawson via Bliss

xo
M

This Is Your Life

obtained via Ice Cream Is Better With A Fork

xo

M

Love Token 85: Personal Life Goal

I heard this statement the other night from "O" and I love how it summed it all up.

The beauty

The journey

The point

I will constantly strive to

"illuminate the human condition"

in all facets of my life.

xo

M



Love Token 84 - Books Are My Dearest Friends

I have a list of favourite books starting from a wee tot to my current age of 29.

I do not have an "all-time" favourite book - but favourite books based on certain years of my life.

0-5 years (ish)

Hand, Hand, Fingers Thumb

By: Al Perkins

I loved the repitition, rhyming and counting in this book as a child

5-12 years (ish)

The Scarlet Castle

By: Maurice B. Cooke

I found this book downtown T.O in a used book store on an outing with my parents.

I loved the fantasy element of it.

I am glad I got a copy as this was (I think) the only book the author published.

 

12-15 years (ish)

The Thief of Always

By: Clive Barker

I read this book while I was on vacation with my parents in Jamaica and I loved the fantasy and horror behind it

This was during my horror phase (which I still love!)

15-26 (ish) years

The Power of One

By: Bryce Courtenay

Oddly enough I fell in love with the movie first, then decided to read the book and then decided to use it as an assignment in one of my highschool classes.

This novel kick-started my love affairs with epics.

The message to rise against no matter what odds are racked against you is a constant motivator in my life.

This book is very dear to me and was a strong contender until my mid twenties. 

26-27 (ish years)

Happiness

By: Will Ferguson

Through my book club my dear friend Marjorie selected this book and I was on a new love affair with this storyline and the author's writing style.

The satire, wit and pure genius behind this book puts a smile on my face.

It stood out and that's when I know it's a keeper in my heart.

27-29 years

My Year of Meats

By: Ruth Ozeki

Another book introduced via book club, this time from my dear friend Robyn.

Robyn is a fellow book lover and she read this gem in one of her Uni English classes and it became a top contender in her all time favs.

I completely trust her reccomendations - while we do not always love the same books... I was blown away with this one.

I would love to be Ruth's friend - that is how much I loved this book. 

It was the first book that I after I finished I wanted to start at page 1 again.

Plus, I started reading it during a time when I was looking more into the backworkings of the food industry and really interested in how our food is currently being produced.

So the timing, the writing and the message were bang on.

I love this book and it is the last book I have read that has impacted me to a level where I can say it is my favourite book during my "late twenties" chapter in my life.

While many other books have touched me and I have a strong love affair with them - these are my cream of the crop.

 The most memorable and/or impactful.

Thinking about this today, I closed my eyes and pictured myself taking a nap between all my lovely books.

Bookworm For Life!!

xo

M

The Treatment of Humankind

Get involved.

Look at the deeper underlying issues.

Realize finger pointing and name blaming is not the solution to the epidemic of "bullying".

Remember the age old adage "it takes a village to raise a child"

Bring back the sense of community in all its entities 

Recognize that love is louder 

&

Integrity and respect are stronger.

http://www.pinkshirtday.ca/

xo

M

Love Token 83: Taking the Scenic Route

One step

Two step

Three step

 Four.

My wonderful man has been getting more work which means less lifts to campus and more opportunities to take the bus.

Sunny mornings in Victoria BC are beautiful, the way the clouds scatter the sky and the sun kisses the island makes it hard to not want to jump out of bed and be thankful for another day.

I think the greatest part of my recent bus rides to work is getting on campus and looking around on a clear sunny day and seeing my presence is traced by the beautiful etchings of glorious mountains in the distance.

I love that I now live in a place where I can see ocean and mountains combined.

And while yes money is tight, I am happy to know what satisfies my soul has no $ amount tacked to it.

It puts a little extra bounce in my step, a brighter smile on my face and a feeling of content in my heart.

XO

M

Anthropologie Is Stalking Me In The Mail

Today I received the new Anthropologie catalog in the mail. 

Really do not recall signing up for it - since I am poor and Anthropologie is for the rich and their trust fund babies. 

But sigh, I love that store - and holy hannah this new catalogue is incredible!

I want every single outfit. 

Share in this glory with me - at the very least as clothing eye candy.

Hopefully I can thrift shop some similar "less hurting on the wallet" concept outfits. 

Enjoy!

xo

M

PS. Love their non-stereotypical beauty queen models! 

The 11th Hour

What if we choose to eradicate ourselves from this Earth, by whatever means? 

The Earth goes nowehere. 

And in time, it will regenerate, and all the lakes will be pristine. 

The rivers, the waters, the mountains, everything will be green again. It'll be peaceful. 

There may not be people, but the Earth will regenerate. 

And you know why? 

Because the Earth has all the time in the world and we don't. 

So I think that's where we're at, right now. 

-Oren Lyons, The 11th Hour

Love Token 82 - Docu-Do's!

Happy Monday Blogettes!

I hope everyone had a beautiful weekend, spent it with positive presences and told at least one person that you loved them.

I have been doing my homework for the upcoming 83rd Academy Awards on February, 27th.

I usually make sure to watch all the nominees for Best Movie and Best Documentary and anything else that strikes my interest.

I have been able to watch 3/5 of the documentary nominees and let me tell you, they all moved me for different reasons:

One to heartbreaking tears

One to gutwrenching fright

One to frustration & dissapointment

I do not want to caste any perception for you, or paint the picture on your behalf.

Let me merely suggest you watch them for yourself and let the impact unfold on its own.

But they all have a common theme of where the cause of each demise stems from.

So where was the token of love in this?

Well, I love me a good documentary and I loved each one of these very much so, just as much as The Cove,  The 11th Hour and  Food Inc.

I completely agreed with the point of views for each of these documentaries...which may or may not be the case for others.

However painful and hard they were to watch, I was informed... now what I choose to do with this information is what empowers the viewers to act; to make choices slightly differently; to not follow but lead.

Each docu showed the impact of the human condition and what that looks like when manipulated and "sold" for a price.

I could ramble on and on - but like I mentioned - you be the judge:

Restrepo

Gasland

Inside Job

It is a matter for the heart and mind...

xo

M

Love Token 81 - Lunch Break Equation

Today's love token was a full mind, body and soul equation.

Heart & Body

10 minute walk to Tuscany Village

+

Mind & Soul

"Hi, I will have a tall non-fat light whip peppermint mocha please"

Peppermint Mocha all year round is beyond a token it is a gift!

+

Heart & Body

10 minute walk back to UVic

+

Heart & Soul

Soundtrack by the likings of:

Jackson 5

Mumford & Sons

Dixie Chicks

Gavin DeGraw

Regina Spektor

Ingrid Michaelson

Cee Lo Green

Taylor Swift

How did your lunch break add up today?

xo

M

The Love Bar

Where everyone should set their bar of standards for receiving love...

"I love you more than songs can say..."

                            -John Mayer

Darryl & Vicky Photography

xo

M

Love Token 80 - Passion

To have passion for life is to fully live.

What triggers our passion, what inspires us to invest in particular interests, hobbies, lifestyle?

The word passion danced ever so lightly on my brain this morning.

I love when I see a human being be fully passionate towards something.

That to me it is inspiring, it makes me want to re-look at my life and see if I am fully pursuing my passions and is a beautiful reminder to keep moving forward, to keep adding substance to this journey, to keep being present, to keep enjoying life.

Where did this train of thought ignite from on my lovely bus ride to work along the east coast of Victoria, BC?

Well ...two musical entities that are new to my libraby of lyrical delights:

1. Mumford & Sons: Sigh No More

They have been on my backburner of recent artists that I have been enjoying.

It has been a slow love affair but it has come into full fruition.

I think the catalyst was watching this band at the Grammy's - they were so "passionate" and such raw, true musical wonders.
Plus their omage to "O Brother Where Art Thou" outfits rocked!

This performance was what saved me from throwing a potato at my TV screen after the ridiculous theatrics of Lady Gaga - who seems ever so lately to care more about showboating and ego then about the "music"

(I do not even "not like" Gaga - maybe we have just grown apart)

Anywhoo - I think that could be a whole other topic...

...Back to the lovely Mumford & Sons

When I think of the under and over tones of this band I think Celtic/Folk/Hiillbilly collision of musical genius. To be honest, if you separated those music genres I really am only partial to Folk.

But the way they execute their album is so fresh and moving.

Yes that is what it was - I was moved by their performance and that was exciting to me...because it is not an everyday thing, and I love that.

I love how they constantly inter-change instruments throughout their performances - because it is not primarily about "them" but about their "music" - how refreshing.

2. Cee Lo Green: The Lady Killer

Another performance that evoked a different type of passion.

I love how Cee Lo doesn't give a "stick" about what the industry compels him to write, play or wear - he is passionate about his music and is passionate about having fun with it - keeping it light - not trying to be the symbol of music but a contributing factor.

I mean fair enough to say - you have Cee Lo Green's outfit ...

...and Lady Gaga's outfit (one of many "after" she hatched from her egg...)...

...both so extravagent but for different reasons.

Cee Lo doesn't take himself too seriously, Gaga does.
We get it "you were born that way" - now lighten up!


Cee Lo Green just rubs me a better way - I find him trying "less" hard to stand out and be something different - he is not constantly shouting from the roof tops

" I am different, look at me - hey look at me!!!" he is just - well, present!

(Man, how did this turn into a slight hate-on for Gaga?! - oh well - organic thought - I will leave it as be)

Either way his latest album is a hoot (yup a hoot) and his latest single is just icing on the fabulous cake of

The Lady Killer. 

So the love token this am - was feeling inspired to keep being passionate about life and it was triggered by these two gems above for completely different reasons.

So thank you to these musical treats and also a "must do for you" - if you want ;)

What moved you today?
What inspired you today?

I hope your day inspires and moves you to keep living a full and passionate life.

xo

M

Musical Philosophy

Something fun to check out and see if any of your favourite artists are on the posters.

musicphilosophy

xo

M

Love Token 79: A breath of freshness

A take a big inhale... as I pluck another basil leaf off my plant. 

I love the smell of fresh basil. 

I love the smell of fresh.

xo

M

Love Token 78 - A Day That Focuses on Hearts and Love

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love a day that loves and encourages LOVE.

Really...is it THAT awful folks? ;)

I don't care about the greedy goblins trying to make money off it - what is new really...that is every day!

I just love that in a world constantly faced with hardship and sadness there is a focused effort on the symbol of love.

Whether the concept of the day is genuine or not....it is offered to us for the taking and how we interpret it and use it, is of our own desires.

No one is forcing us into Hallmark to purchase big candy hearts and love grams :)

Let's focus on what it can really be about...if you want...caring, compassion, kindness, compliments, love...

Whether a hug today is a little tighter, a kiss a little longer or a simple statement of "you know I really love you".

It is a day that encourages and reminds us that as the days escape us and the routines can make life a little mundane - a little fresh pick me up of affection and love - can really brighten a day.

So jump up and down and have fun with a day of love, so we can just for a moment not focus on the oh too many days of hate, greed, violence and destruction. 

For those out there - you know who you are - you are the greatest most priceless gift I have ever received and hey - I LOVE YA!

xo

M

Love Token 77: Saturday Morning Starts

It is widely known, how you start your morning shapes the rest of your day. 

My love token this morning was what I selected to start my morning off with. 

1. Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way Home Album

I love the Dixie Chicks. 

Their strong sense of self, their belief to rise against and the genuine emotion that is captured in their music.

Children lose their youth too soon

Watching war made us immune

And I've got all the world to lose

But I just want to hold on to the

Easy silence that you make for me

It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me

And the peaceful quiet you create for me

And the way you keep the world at bay for me

 - Easy Silence, TDC

2. Vanity Fair Magazine 

This is one of my favourite magazines. It has such thought provoking well written, non-preachy articles. My mind always spins into worldly thoughts after I put down a good read from VF - which I love and appreciate.

3. Home Brewed Coffee

I just got  a coffee machine last month and I am really enjoying the convenience and fun of waking up to the smell of lovely java

All three combined equals a great kick start to a relaxing and lovely Saturday and an amazing love token.

How did you start your day today?

xo

M

Reminds Me How Much I Love This Book

Michaela Lynch

Have you read "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer?

If not, you should - it is great! Read it about a year ago and the quote above is reminding me how much I enjoyed it.

xo

M

Have YOU Read it Yet?

I stumbled across this a few months back - but wasn't able to post it - I posted it via my Facebook account but wanted to share it here as well.

The SuperForest Humanifesto (the real point of it all)...

SuperForest

A great positivity blog.

xo

M

do NOTHING for two minutes

I really like this...

Even if you are stuck in your 4x4 cubicle in the dead of winter...click this link...close your eyes and imagine your peaceful paradise.

Do Nothing For 2 Minutes

xo

M

Love Token 76 - "What would you do if I sang out of tune...

...Would you stand up and walk out on me?

Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song

And I'll try not to sing out of key.

"With A Little Help From My Friends"- Joe Cocker

The Wonder Years

On air from 1988-1993 and what a great show.

It is strange - this show always sits in the back of my mind...maybe because it was prime time during my childhood (7-12) and I grew up with the characters.

Whether it is the theme song dancing through my mind - or life images that remind me of the show, it always comes back to me.

I was going through my google reader and came across this photo and I am sure we all remember the pining love Kevin had for Winnie Cooper and hoping that our secret crushes were feeling like Kevin but just couldnt express it.

Oh Elementary School Yard Love

Really...who didn't love Winnie Cooper and Kevin Arnold?!

The Wonder Years supported the romantics, the concept of love, the trials and tribulations of young love *sigh* it was....

AMAZING.

Now of course the real back drop was set in th 60's during the REAL trials and tribulations of turbulant social times and showcasing raising a family in that era.... But it was cleverly contrasted with the search for love.

War, Peace, Love - always a constant theme in everything....

My new street that I live on has houses clearly from that era - that every time I drive down the streets in my area I feel like I have time warped back 50 years and am IN "The Wonder Years" - to be honest - it rocks!

The Wonder Years brings warm fuzzies to me - which in turn led to it being my love token for today.

I will definitely need to invest in purchasing this series and re-watch it again -17 years later

So with that thought in my mind (and as strange as it may seem to some) when I go home today, I will sing the sweet tune of Joe Cocker and hope that all the Kevin Arnold's and Winnie Cooper's of the world find each other and grab hold of that LOVE...I sure know I found mine...

Tight Squeezes.

xo

M

Love Token 75 - E-Window Shopping the 2011 Spring Line from Elie Saab

Loving what Elie Saab is doing for her Spring 2011 line.

Good way to day dream about buying beautiful and fantastic clothes.

xo
M

Love Token 74 - 2011 Mantra's

My motivators for the year of 2011.

1. Endure it or Enjoy it - NEVER fear it.

2. Ghandi's top 10 fundamentals for changing the world

Ice Cream Is Better With A Fork

xo

M

The Power of Vulnerability

Ok, ok ok....

It has been stupid long since I last posted.

Marriage, Honeymoon, Moving Across the Country ...starting a new life and new unknown and now I am JUST starting to feel settled.

What a whirlwind of months it has been.

I am dedicated to this blog to the concept and now that my feet are more grounded - it will return as a self-reflection tool and a mind, body soul experience once again.

To kick things off - I stumbled across this TED talks video via Tristan Prettyman's SUPER awesome blog - she added a visual to it at the end of her blog that I LOVE.

Tristan Prettyman rocks - as she should since she will be marrying Jason Mraz one day.

The perfect collison of two souls united.

Here is the pic - let it inspire, and open up a part of you that you may have not paid attention to in the last little while.

As well here is the link of the video that this image refers to:

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html

Enjoy!

xo

M

Love Token 73 - Amore La Musique

To be quite honest, after being so absorbed with putting together the wedding music playlists down to an exact sequential science, for the first time I was acks sick of music! I was bored --- heard the same songs too many times, that silence was golden...but then like a breath of fresh air, in a two week window time span, music wooed me back into the love affiar I have always had with it and I have fallen in love with two new artists.

That is the great thing about music, it is always changing the game, the dynamic, if you do a little digging and really throw yourself out there to experience it all.

Whether it is Kanye West reminding us of the good life or David Grey proclaiming about the One he Love's or the always wonderful feeling that John Mayer provides when he explains the moment of free falling and when Priscilla Ahn tells us about a dream she had... it all is magical, fun, different and striking to the emotions.

A couple weeks ago I was at the John Mayer concert and was lucky enough to stay for the after party. The artist that was playing at the after party a la rooftop was the most beautiful voice I have ever heard in quite sometime....hello JUSTIN NOZUKA - this guy was amazing live and he literally put me into a trance. So this is a love token that I was able to give myself but really it is also a must do for you to check out. He has a combination of Justin Timberlake swag with the melodic beauty of Jason Mraz. High 5!

The following week I was provided the opportunity to go see a band at Dakota Tavern (great west-end T.O bar). The band was described to me as 3 swedish sisters who have a Dixie Chicks vibe that are a self-proclaimed "kill-billy" "mad-country" genre. As an avid fan of the Dixie Chicks I was very intrigued and to see them in such an intimate setting and I was really looking forward to it.

These girls KILLED it - their vocal range, enthusiasm, energy and raw musical talent on their instruments was efffing astounding. They are called Baskery and if you ever hear they are in town - check them out. Their album is not yet released in Canada so keep your eyes and ears peeled. Another love token that is a must do for you!

So thank you Justin Nozuka and Baskery for re-igniting my music love flame and providing me with a fresh breath of melodic lyrical air.

xo

M

Love Token 72 - I DID

Well I am back, but almost 2 months later!

This summer has been a whirlwind of occasions... but oh so amazing.

The wedding went great, the best love token is being surrounded by friends, family and pure genuine love and the rest is just background noise... so the wedding was a great success and very moving experience.

Matt and I then hopped on a plane to pay a visit to the beautiful country of Greece.

Greece was incredible. To visit a land with so much history is such a valued experience. The beauty of Greece is something I am glad we were able to conquer. Minus the current government state, the essence, the culture and the pace of Greece is something I truly respect. Our honeymoon was a blissful 2 weeks, that did not go too fast or too slow ...but juuust right.

As if all this wasn't enough on our plate, Matt and I have decided to uproot and trek out to Victoria, BC. You only go around once so sometimes you need to just jump in and explore.

We are looking forward to the drive out across Canada and seeing what this country looks like beyond the border of Ontario.

So that is the update, I wed, I mooned and I am now uprooting - all 3 great and exciting things to add a wonderful element to my life.

xo

M

Update Update! Tokens of Love

Yikes!

It has been almost a month since my last post - where did June go?

I have been a busy little worker bee in the last month or so - so many big "moments" coming up in my life where a page is turned, heck a new chapter will start.

Rest assured, the pursuit of receiving and spreading the love has not ceased... I have just been a little slackish on my documenting.

So here is a snapshot of what has been going on in the last month or so.

1. Dum Dum De Dum..... As the wedding nears, the planning builds, and the days become busier and my whole schedule and normal routine has changed (for now) - but I am embracing the planning and knowing that I will be stone cold bored after the wedding due to the habit of always having something to do prior.

2. Trying to squeeze in as many zZzZ's as possible during this busy time!

3. Giving my lovely pets lots of love and snuggles and they are so snuggly and lovable back - it really is the best kind of comfort.

4. Visiting cottages and having great times with friends out of the smoggy city

5. Paying homage to my one and only sunshine that has peaked it's head out in early March and refuses to leave - and I do not want it to -- EVER!

6. Hanging out with great friends having amazing chats and excellent quality time

Hope all of you are having an amazing summer and post July 17th - my blogging will get back to normal

xo

M