Red Cup of Love

I challenge all of you to take part in #redcuplove

The big deal that is being made about Starbucks and their red cups is making me crazy. If you look back on previous years, Starbucks featured reindeer, snowmen, bunnies, trees, doves, etc on their cups and sold Christmas Blend coffee. This year, they are still selling Christmas Blend coffee but because they decided to go solid red on their cups, many people are accusing them of being anti-Christian. Can any corporation ever win with everybody? Personally I believe that the pot stirrers, in this case, are ill-informed fame seekers who are Pied Pipers to the multitudes who blindly follow with no research of their own - simply jumping on the internet mob bandwagon. Do your homework people! Why are you not offended that Starbucks isn't offering a Hanukkah cup, a Kwanzaa cup, a Bohdi cup, or a Yule cup? This age of entitlement is going too far. When there is no harm (and believe me, the Starbucks cups are causing no harm), we have no right to dictate what a company should do with their marketing. 

Red reminds me of the love that we should all be demonstrating this Christmas, Holiday, Hanukkah, or Season. I for one will buy a cup of Starbucks for every day that red cups are available. I'll buy one for a friend, neighbor, acquaintance, or stranger and ask the barista to draw a large heart on the cup. Because I love you. 

***UPDATE*** - 

#RedCupLove - use the hash tag & do something kind for someone this season (and all year).  There are local food banks who would love your spare change every week, organizations who could use your time as a volunteer, charities who need people to spread the word. There is so much good we can do out there so I am challenging you to share the #RedCupLove all year long. 

I Love Me

This post is dedicated to my dear darling wonderful baby Squishter who reminded me how important it is to love yourself. Love yourself and treat yourself well. Love yourself and feed your body well. Love yourself and provide your mind with new learning. Love yourself and follow your dreams. Love yourself and have fantastical adventures. Love yourself.

And so, I love me.

1 Egg Omelet Ingredients:

2 - Large Mushrooms, Sliced
1/2 Cup Peppers, Sliced (I like spicy banana peppers)
1/3 Cup Onion, Sliced
1 oz Cheese, Sliced thin (I like cheddar or cheddar jack)
1 pat of butter
1 Egg, Scrambled
Salt & Pepper to taste

Melt butter in a pan, sprinkle in salt & pepper and cook the onions and peppers until soft. Add mushrooms and cook until soft. Remove from pan and set aside.

Pour scrambled egg into pan, allowing to spread across the bottom of the pan. Let cook until top of egg is nearly dry. Loosen from pan and flip in one piece like a pancake. Top with cooked onion, peppers, & mushrooms. Add cheese and fold Egg in half. Allow to cook a couple of minutes on each side, until cheese is melted.

Serve & enjoy!

Happy Valentines' Day

To all my friends, near and far, Happy Valentines' Day,

May your hearts be filled with warmth and love. 

I love you.

Come Walk with Me

Come and walk with me

What we'll see and where we'll go is something only fate can know.
The path may be steep and the obstacles plenty.
But I'd rather walk with you than one of the many.

Let's climb a cliff of amazing height, close our eyes and leap into the night. 
Like a star traveling the midnight sky.
We'll soar, we'll sail, we'll fly.
My hand in yours, we'll let destiny pick the course.

(unfinished)

Thank You!

Thank you, every single one of you.

I've been thinking a bit about where I am in life and I've realized that I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for you.

Here is where I am and here is how you helped me to get here:

You encouraged me to take a chance; pack up my house, leave my job, and drive 2600+ miles across the continent and into another country to start a new life.

You convinced me that signing up for a 2-day, 200KM bike ride was actually a good thing and that I COULD do it.

You supported me by donating towards my fundraising goal.

You've attended fitness classes with me.

You tell me "You've got this!" and you actually believe I do. 

You've read my blog and come back for more.

You've been a friend when I've needed one. 

Virtually you've held my hand, given me a hug, patted me on the back, picked me up when I've fallen, and sent me back out for more.

You cheer me on and always have a kind word.

You believe in me even when I don't believe in myself.

Without you, I wouldn't be here.

Thank you.

I Almost Died Yesterday

I've never had a "life flashing before my eyes" experience before yesterday and I hope to never have one again. My immediate thoughts following the experience were:

"And just nearly killed on the highway in Vancouver... Thank goodness for excellent driver reflexes by our driver as the car on the right was 1/2 an inch from my door... Nothing like getting the heart going as your life flashes before your eyes. Puts life a whole lot more into perspective..."

In those few seconds (perhaps even milliseconds) I saw my life with a new clarity. I felt changed. The things that are important came to the forefront while those less important have begun to fall away:

1. Love like there is no tomorrow and let it be known that you love: 

I love you. Nothing will ever change that.

2. Live: explore, imagine, dream, and do.

3. Let go of what you cannot control or change. 

I know it won't always be easy, often taking daily (multiple times a day) reminders to embrace what is important and to let go of what is not but I am happier and on the way to the rest of my life, alive.