mimm : my birthday

The following is a super special guest post written by "my little taste tester", who celebrated his 9th birthday on November 7th. Since we've spent the last few days celebrating, I thought it would be nice to view the world through the eyes of a nine year old, for a change.

Katie throws a party for us every monday - connecting people together from all around the world. hearts and hugs to you Katie for doing this for us ♥

Hello!

4 days ago it was my birthday. 

I was really, really excited for my birthday.

On Thursday, my Mom and I were out shopping...

and when we came home, my aunt Kirsty was at our house:

Kirsty was visiting my grandma and grandpa in Cornwall and came to see me because it was my birthday.

That's it!

                                                                                                                                                                   

"My little taste tester" was born at 11:11pm on Sunday, November 7, 2004 in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. 

That night, the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) lit up the sky and for the first time in my life, I caught a glimpse of the lights from the delivery room window. 

Auroras were spotted all across Canada and the United States, as far south as California and Arizona. Even days later, people in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the U.K. reported seeing the lights in the night sky. 

How cool is that?

Here's what we saw in Ottawa:

If you would like to see more photos of this incredible celestial event, please visit Science @ Nasa's November 2004 Aurora Gallery. 

Big hugs and kisses to "my little taste tester" for writing this post. 

Thank you for reading! Have a MARVELOUS Monday everyone! xo

Have you ever seen the Northern Lights? 
Do you ever see the numbers 11:11 on your clock? I ALWAYS do! Today I saw the number 1:11, 4:44, and then :44 on my oven timer. neat-o!

marvelous in my monday + christmas (books, trees, gifts + cards)

Happy Monday me lovelies! I trust you're all feeling marvelous today (and everyday for that matter) #beyourself #loveyourself

It's been a little while since I've written a MIMM post and I must admit I miss my mimm's. It's time for a link-up party with the marvelous miss mimm Katie, The Healthy Diva.

Thanks for always being the perfect party hostess Katie!

Here are a few things that I'm feeling marvelous about today:

Marvelous Magical Movie - on Friday, my little "Taste Tester" and I went on an adventure together to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in 3D.

Naturally drawn to such stories like The Hobbit and its sequel The Lord of the Rings, we love the adventure, the strange worlds, the facing of great odds, and the sweetness of victory. Tales like these enchant us because they are larger than life and they allow us to easily escape from our everyday existence.

Marvelous Meal - after the (almost) 3 hour movie, I ordered Greek food for the two of us.

Chicken souvlaki, Greek potatoes, Rice, Greek Salad & Tzatziki
I made wraps. Plenty of food for the both of us.

Marvelous Health Food Store Score:

Sunflower Sprouts, Seaweed snack, Goji/Cacao/Chia/Maca snack,
Vanilla Cacao Buckwheat snack bites, Coconut flour,
Coconut Jam, E3 Live, Hemp Hearts, Lentil Coucous Salad, Sweet Potato buckwheat pasta,
and a Vega Endurance bar,
all for Less than $50.00
SCORE!

Marvelous Mood - not sure if it's because it's beginning to look alot like Christmas, or because we are in the process of transitioning from one "world age" into another, but I am so grateful for whatever is happening. I am feeling a tremendous flow of grace and energy as a new doorway to the world opens.

Prepare your Body, Mind & Spirit for a Radical Shift

Marvelous Yoga/Meditation session - this weekend I combined these two practices in the comfort of my own home rather than running to do a class session. 

No matter how long it's been since my last practice, a simple Yoga and meditation session helps me to manage my own stress and confront life's pressures in a more positive way. It replenishes me and repairs my energy on every level. #namaste

Marvelous Music - lately, I've been listening to some incredible female artists. Listening to these ladies makes me feel like I can conquer the world!

A Fine Frenzy, Florence + The Machine, Kina Grannis,
Schuyler Fisk, and Taylor Swift

Marvelous ME - Yup, that's right. Why the heck not?! That's how I'm feeling about myself so why not express it? I feel good, I feel balanced, my energy level is good, my mood is uplifted, and my relationship with myself is going right in the direction where I want it to be.

You are enough!

More Marvelous-ness: 25 Days of Blogging Christmas Challenge

The creator behind this blogging challenge, miss Jenny, actually lives in Newton, Conneticut, just 2 minutes away from Sandy Hook Elementary School. Please take a moment to visit Jenny's page where she expresses her feelings about this tragic event and provides a link to a donation page for those who are interested in lending support.

My Favorite Christmas Book: since I was a wee little gal, I've loved the story T'was the Night Before Christmas . . . When all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse....

Real or Artificial Tree: Artificial. I wouldn't feel right having a real tree in my little apartment.

Standing just 4 feet tall, it may not be the biggest or the brightest...
but it's ours and we love it! 

Did you know...Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes with pine, spruce, and fir trees, people used to hang evergreens over their doors and windows because, in many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

Best Gift You've Given: I don't know what the best gift I've given has been. I love the idea of baking Christmas treats, and wrapping them up for others to enjoy.

Christmas Baking Recipe Round-up for Chocolate Lovers:
-Homemade Chocolate Bars with Almonds
-Raspberry Belgium Chocolates
-Raw Chocolate Nut Fudge with Sweet Strawberry Topping
-Chocolate Truffles
-Truffle Wrapped Cherries, Cream Cheese Brandy Cherry Balls, Magic Chocolate Balls + more
-Chocolate Almond Butter Cups with Raspberries, Roasted Almonds & Sea Salt
-Raw Chocolate Fudge
-Healthy Bites Smart Snickers, Vegan Marshmallow Bites, or Cherry Delights
*I made the Cherry Delights and added a little cocoa. Then I made them again with mini chocolate chips. YUM!

Other fun Christmas recipes I've found:
-Christmas Cake Pops
-Whole New Mom's 30 Healthy Christmas Cookie Recipes Round-up
-Cravings of a Lunatic Recipe Round-up: pies, pastries, cookies, bars and more
-Chocolate Covered Katie: pretty much any of Katie's recipes will do!
-the Better Mom's 20 Healthy Christmas Cookie Recipe Round-up

Hardest Person(s) to Buy For: My sisters.

 #truth

Post a Picture of an old Christmas Card: I don't have any vintage Christmas cards but here's a few nice ones that I found online...

...as I finish writing this marvelous post, I'm ready to hit Publish. First, I glance at my Christmas Countdown 2012 Clock, and I notice that there's officially 7 days, 16 hours, 12 minutes, 10, 9, 8, 7 seconds...and the countdown continues...until Christmas! Yippee!

Have a marvelous Monday everyone!

Marvelous in My Monday #8

Hello marvelous Lovelies! Happy Monday!

"I Don't Like Mondays" is a song by the Boomtown Rats and was the #1 single in the UK for 4 weeks in 1979 (the year I was born). Source

Who would ever want to be in a band called the Boomtown Rats? No wonder they didn't like their Mondays!

"Manic Monday", sung by The Bangles, was written by Prince, under the pseudonym "Christopher", a character he played in the film Under the Cherry Moon.

Supposedly, Prince gave the song to The Bangles lead singer Susanna Hoffs, so that in return she would sleep with him. Source

Thankgoodness I'm not manic - and with a little help from one of my favourite blends, the ever-so-lovely Miss Katie, I Do Like Mondays!

Visit Katie at Healthy Diva Eats for even more marvelous-ness

Here's what I'm feeling marvelous about today:

1. Healthy Bites arrived in the mail today. I came home and discovered these marvelous little balls in my box. Sweetgoodness! Lindsay (Cotter Crunch) hosted a giveaway on her blog a few weeks ago and I WON!! A dozen Healthy Bites.

Lindsay is a certified Nutrition Manager and Fitness Consultant and her husband is a professional triathlete. In a quest to help her husband find healthy pre and post recovery snacks, she created Healthy Bites, all-natural, gluten-free, organic bite-sized balls of sweet goodness.

Lindsay sent me 5 different flavors of Healthy Bites: Apple Peach Raisin Cinnamon, Pineapple Ginger Marshmallow, Mint, Muddy Buddy, and Cookie Dough. This was a complete surprise because I thought I was only getting one flavor to try.

As soon as I saw the Pineapple Ginger Marshmallow bite, I thought "This is the one for me!" I love roasting/toasting marshmallows on a campfire but regular marshmallows are a no-no for me and Lindsay obviously uses an all-natural (I assume vegan) marshmallow alternative. I was surprised at how smooth this bite was to eat. No chunks, which I love! It has a perfect tropical pineapple flavor with just enough ginger kick. Love it!

My little "Taste Tester" wanted to try the Mint bite, which came as no surprise as he's a big fan of anything that combines mint with chocolate. As soon as he took his first bite, I watched his eyes roll into the back of his head with pleasure and delight. Ha! SOLD!

Healthy Bites are a winner in this house, no doubt. I can't wait for tomorrow so I can eat some more :)

2. I finally finished reading Catching Fire-the second book from the Hunger Games trilogy.

I didn't read the first book, "The Hunger Games", however, I DID watch the movie a few weeks ago and I’ll be the first to say that it is highly addictive. If you haven't seen it or read the books, I ghighly suggest checking it out.

You see, I’m a movie addict. I love stimulation. I love the art and craft of creating words into visuals. I crave the opportunity to lose myself in make-believe worlds. But, after watching The Hunger Games—despite the fact that the acting was excellent, my psyche and my soul couldn’t take anymore.

Yet, it was only a matter of time before I got over the shock from The Hunger Games. Then, I wanted more. I bought Catching Fire and reading it became my nighttime ritual for the last couple of weeks. Now that I've finished reading it, I MUST go to the bookstore to buy Mockingjay, the third and final installment of the trilogy.

3. Accent Vlog-My 1st Video EVER!

I found this on Jessie's Blog (Jessie Loves To Run)

The instructions are:

Say These Words: Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught.

And

Answer These Questions:
What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?
What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
What do you call gym shoes?
What do you say to address a group of people?
What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
What do you call your grandparents?
What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
What is the thing you use to change the TV channel?

My little "Taste Tester" did an awesome job filming, right?! I couldn't have done this without him :)

Oh -and I forgot to mention that I'm a country girl from a tiny little town called Williamstown in Ontario, Canada. Williamstown is about an hour and a half outside of Ottawa Ontario (the capital of Canada).  Now, I live in Ottawa and I have been here for almost 10 years.

So...What do you think? Do I have an accent? I don't think I have an accent.

If you've done the accent vlog, let me know ok. I'd love to see it!

What was marvelous about your Monday?

Marvelous in My Monday #7 (My 1st Award + A Smoothie Recipe)

When I started writing this little blog, I had no idea that there was such a thing as a Blog Award. I always thought a BLOG AWARD is when someone leaves me a sweet comment, likes my post or follows my blog.

Imagine my surprise and delight when this sweet little lady nominated me for the Super Sweet Award. Thank you, sweet Jessie, for your kind nomination for the Super Sweet Blogging Award and for always making me smile with your sweet, loving comments. I am truly honored and humbled.

I knew nothing about blog awards and I thought that because I was nominated I would have to compete with all the other nominees and that there would be one winner.

Fortunately, this community is much less complicated than that.



Rules for the Super Sweet Blogging Award:

1. Give credit to the person who nominated you.
2. Nominate a Baker's Dozen (13) other blogs.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Answer the following 5 "Super Sweet" questions:

Cookies or Cake? C is for Cookie! That's good enough for me! 

Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla.

Did you know that vanilla comes from the stem of an orchid? Me either!

Try using WHOLE vanilla bean in a chocolate smoothie + ice = Total  Annihilation!

What is your Favorite Sweet Treat? "Taste Tester" kisses are the ultimate sweet treat!

Almond Butter with Maple Syrup is pretty sweet too though. A perfect muffin topper, apple or banana boat dipper, celery spread, or straight off a spoon or finger.

When do you Crave sweet things the most? Late at night. Mid-afternoon can be pretty bad too.

If you had a Sweet Nickname, what would it be? Sweet Maria (like a Sweet Marie chocolate bar, only a whole lot sweeter!)

A boy in highschool used to call me "Sweet Maria".  It used to annoy the heck out of me. When his hot guy friends started calling me "Sweet Maria" too, I eventully started to like my nickname. I never did like the boy though (in a "like" like sort of way). Sorry Sandi.

Nominations for this award:

The Adventures of MJ and Hungryman Min is a super sweet writer, wife, baker and photographer who is currently in school working on her Master's in Nutrition.

The Raw Serenity Australian wellness warrior and green smoothie addict Lisa shares fantastic plant-based vegan recipes and talks about her incredible wellness journey, which has led her to take control of her health and overall well-being.

Char Eats Greens Char is a passionate nutritionist, veggie lover, marathon runner, wife, soon-to-be momma, and fellow Canadian gal.

Miranda's Munchie's Miranda is another Canadian lady who blogs about her journey towards a healthy lifestyle and a positive mentality.

fridge scrapings Lou is a vegan mama who loves to cook healthy eats and tasty treats for the whole family.

Every Day is a New Adventure Alyx is a fun-loving food-lover, wife, daughter, sister, lover, friend, bookworm, for-fun photographer and pillow hog. Join her adventure and link-up to her weekly Sunday Confessions, a time for honesty and openness. Confess to anything and everything you choose.

Colour Me Happy Allie takes snapshots, tells stories, and makes life a little more inspirational.

Wayfaring Chocolate Hannah writes about chocolate, desserts, travel, and, most importantly. laughter.

The Bliss Project Manon is a teacher, runner, dancer, yogini, dessert-lover, and fellow participant in the Be The Change: 30 Day Yoga Challenge.

A Spoonful of Sunshine Theresa is a fun food and fitness lover who is very passionate about outdoor activities, food, and a healthy lifestyle.

susonia.com Susan, a Canadian mom, is on a quest to a healthy life filled with funky foods, fitness, fun and happiness

fitness, food and photography A full-time working mom who married her high school sweetheart. I love her food philosophy: "when you eat crap, you feel like crap".

In Her Chucks Heather is a wife, mommy, kitchen queen and music teacher who shares her joy of life through her posts.

I will leave a note with each of my nominees stating that if they don’t want their award to contact me. If I receive any declining bloggers, I will post another nominee(s).

Congratulations to all the winners!

And now...

A Marvelous Smoothie Recipe
*I realize I mis-spelled the word Blueberries in the photo and I didn't correct it!. Judge me if you want to but I'll still love you! <3

HARCORE SUPERHERO FUEL!

1 Banana, fresh or frozen (I prefer frozen)

2 (or more) cups frozen berries of choice
2 handfuls Baby Spinach
Handful of pumpkin & sunflower seeds
1 TBSP almond or cashew butter
1 TBSP chia seeds
1-2 TBSP hemp seeds
dash of vanilla
Fresh apple juice, enough to liquify*
*Instead of using apple juice, 
toss in a chopped apple and use water as your liquid

*Add-ins (depends on your preference):
1 TBSP Super Green Food Powder
1 TBSP flaxseed oil or hemp seed oil
1 TBSP maca powder
1/2 serving vanilla protein powder

Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender
and whip into creamy perfection.

And that, my lovelies, is why I'm feeling Marvelous in My Monday!

Thank you miss Katie for hosting this Monday morning block party!
You truly help put a nice, shiny sparkle in my Monday!

Marvelous in My Monday #6

Happy Monday! Sweet and lovely miss Katie came up with this idea to make Monday’s more marvelous. Every Monday, bloggers share something marvelous and begin the week on a positive note.

Read more Marvelous in My Monday stories HERE

A Marvelous Recipe Share -- Little Miss Cornucopia's Cinnamon Raisin Cookies

These soft and chewy cookies with a light cinnamon flavor are super easy to make. They go great with a warm cup of tea on a cold, brisk day.

Use goji berries, dried cherries, or chocolate chips instead

1 1/2 cups cashews, ground
1/2 cup apples, peeled, cored, grated
1/3 cup agave
2 TBSP coconut flour
1 TBSP cinnamon
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup raisins, chopped

Process all ingredients in a food processor. Transfer mixture to a bowl and chill for an hour in the refrigerator.

To shape the cookies, roll dough between the palms of your hands into balls then flatten by pressing into a disc shape.

Place in dehydrator for 10 hours, turning midway through dehydrating.

I've never baked these in an oven but I suggest giving it a try if you'd like. Adjust temperature accordingly :]

Marvelous Truth

As the forest changes colors, leaves drop, temperatures decline and birds migrate overhead we are reminded that change is constant, constantly. Transitions in our personal lives can be challenging, as we often fear the unknown and become overwhelmed by choices.

Whether it is a change in career, health, home, family or relationships, change presents an opportunity to evaluate our life’s direction, engage in personal reflection and cultivate personal growth. 

Personally, the last 3 years have been filled with many different changes, challenges, and exciting new opportunities. Separating from my son's father; becoming involved with a married man (who failed to mention that he was married); working full-time for the first time in 5 years; moving from place to place; wiping out on my roller blades; wearing a knee-brace and crutches for 6 weeks; becoming addicted to pain medication; eating the worst foods imaginable; dealing with health issues; and falling into a deep, dark depressive state of mind. The emotions and hardships that I created for myself have sent me on a tremendous ride that at times seemed to last a lifetime.

My transitional process into the life that I am now living has taught me about my inner strengths, my weaknesses and the importance of self-care. The demands of today’s society can make life busy, stressful and overwhelming at times and we often forget to prioritize our personal health, needs and desires. Taking the time to develop a better sense of self reminds us how important we truly are and how we must nurture ourselves to reach our full potential. A healthy body, mind and soul makes us feel vibrant and vital. Taking care of ourselves even allows us the skills necessary to take better care of others.

For myself, finding the time daily to help my body unwind and trigger the relaxation response helps prevent chronic stress from negatively impacting my health now and in the future. Five to ten minutes per day may be all I need to re-energize and de-stress. Taking a power nap, meditating, having a bath, getting a massage, giving myself a pedicure, taking a walk, journal writing, or even indulging.

Taking care of ourselves also helps transitions to flow more naturally. Fear, uncertainty, doubt and anxiety may be companions on the path to change but self-care and self-awareness help us avoid letting these negative emotions dictate our lives and motivate our decisions.

Embracing change and celebrating all of life’s transitions while allowing ourselves the time and space to reflect and reconnect provides an invaluable journey in self-growth.

It’s weird to be in the middle of a transition, even though I’ve been working toward it for years. It’s like a road vs the map, the body vs the intellect, the experience vs the theory. It’s like being on a roller coaster where the only way to have fun is to relinquish control. Not easy for someone who likes to take control..but being terrified all the time is worse.

I do everything I know to support the process: eat well, take supplements, cleanse my body through exercise, yoga and meditation, talk honestly to the people around me, receive bodywork, write, sleep enough, miss too many emails and learn to trust. Remember to stop and breathe into whatever is; even briefly. It makes a huge difference.

Where am I headed? I suspect I will finally be able to feel relaxed in myself, more real and able to relate without so much anxiety. I’ll simply be able to do what I’m doing with less strain, reach out to my son and to those I love with more love, enjoy healthy friendships and contribute my patch of peace to the species while being able to accept our collective pain as part of our process instead of wanting to fix the world so that I can feel safe. I suspect I won’t need and create so much drama in my life.

I take a deep breath. It’s enough for now.

Thank you for listening; you who read this have become part of my path...by witnessing my process you support it.

Marvelous in My Monday #5

Today is Thanksgiving Day! What a wonderful time to celebrate all the little, yet so important things in our lives.

Why Canada celebrates Thanksgiving ‘early’…

Have you ever wondered why Canada’s Thanksgiving is celebrated before the American date?

Not many people (myself included) realize that Canadians actually began the tradition first! The Europeans had celebrated harvest in late October or early November for centuries. Then, when the English explorer Martin Frobisher arrived in Newfoundland in 1578, he wanted to give thanks for his safe arrival to the New World, so Thanksgiving began being celebrated on November 6th in Canada. That means the first Thanksgiving in Canada was celebrated more than 40 years before the pilgrims landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts!

Canadians changed the date for Thanksgiving, after the World Wars, because Remembrance Day (November 11th) kept falling on the same weekend. October suited us better too, as harvest arrives earlier with us being situated further North! Source

In this season of giving, I want to take this moment to let you know how much I truly appreciate all of you: for all of your kind words, your continued love and support, and encouragement. I am forever thankful!

In this little life of mine, I Am forever Grateful For:

My Life. My Son. My Family. My Extended Family. Traditions. My Friends. My Readers. The Gift of Life. The Air I Breathe. The Best Food Ever. Sunshine. The Light. Color. Rainbows. Raindrops. The Moon and Stars. Gardens. Dreams. Being Unconditionally Loved. Being A Nice Person. Nice People. Accomplishing Goals. Being Able to Laugh. The Seasons. Rain. Books. Giving Gifts. Tears of Joy. Tears of Release. Campfires. The Dark. Opinions. The Ocean. Positivity. Rivers. Lakes. Water. Wildlife. Hiking Trails. Acceptance. Hope. Animals. Planting A Seed. Generosity. Passion. Helping Others. Green Smoothies. Green Juice. Photos. People. Birds. Yoga. Honesty. Organization. Good News. Mother Earth. The Environment. Memories. Mistakes. Libraries. The Hard Times. Excitement. Falling Snow. Fun. Music. Patience. Inspirational Quotes. Recycling. Love. Synchronicity. Flowers. Exercise. Sunrises and Sunsets. Holidays. Trust. Being Myself. Today. Choice. Today. Smiles. Sleep. Creativity. Peace. Forgiveness. Travel. Organic Farmers. Learning New Things. Listening. Intuition. Meditation. Awareness. Freedom. Me.

Celebrate and Live Life!

Celebrating the holidays with family is always such a special time for me.

Is it just me or does time always seem to move more quickly when you finally have the chance to spend time with the people you love?

Perhaps, it's just the Universe's way of saying "Spend More Time"...

...almost as if it's asking us "What Are You Waiting For?"

A Canadian Thanksgiving Menu

According to The Food Network Canada, a Canadian Thanksgiving Menu consists of Classic and contemporary recipes that add homemade flair to your harvest feast!

This year's Thanksgiving menu featured Maple Syrup Glazed Smoked Ham, Plump and Juicy Turkey, Smoky Chorizo Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Fresh Steamed Asparagus, Pumpkin Pie, and Layered Chocolate Mousse Cake.

Naturally, I contributed a few things to the mix:

Massaged Kale Salad with Carrots & Tahini Dream Dressing (recipe from Natasha Kyssa), Mint Chocolate Chip Macaroons (recipe adapted from purely twins Holiday Macaroons), Sweet Potato Casserole (recipe from In the Raw), and Pumpkin Chocolate Swirl Cheezecake (recipe from Sweetly Raw).

So there you are. A Canadian Family Thanksgiving. Hope that all of my fellow Canadians had a marvelous Thanksgiving filled with good food, family, friends, and love. And a very Happy Columbus Day to all my American friends as well!

And that, my lovelies, is why I'm feeling soooooooo marvelous today!
Thank you and a big squeeze to the lovely miss Katie for this marvelous idea. Always a marvelous way to start my Monday!! XO

What's in your favorite Family Thanksgiving meal?
What are some of the things in your life that you're grateful for?
Share what you're feeling marvelous about today :]