Making Change: Katie Makkai - Pretty

Wow. I don't think I really need to add too much to this. It says it all.

Making Change: Los Campesinos - You! Me! Dancing!

Ok, I know, its really far out there in comparison to a lot of my other Making Change posts but I felt like something a little lighter but yet it has a pretty clear message on what we do to the earth and to each other.

DIY: Recycled Bottle Hanging Vases

Isn't this a fun idea? I have mason jars outside along my fence but if I find another place that needs something I'm going to try this!

Skateboard Shades

Experiment No. 1 - Skateboard Shades from Shwood Eyewear on Vimeo.

How cool right? I love that; making use of something that other wise is going in the garbage. Check out their site here.

Carly

I saw a video a friend of mine shared on Facebook. I couldn't find the exact one so I am sharing these with you.  I work with special needs people so I can really connect to this. I think it's amazing that she figured this all out on her own. Of course credit needs to go to all her therapies for encouraging her and motivating her on but wow right? It just goes to show no one should be written off.

She has her own Twitter and blog if you'd like to check out more on this smart woman.

Save the Saddest Dolphins

My sister sent me this today and I wanted to share it with you. I'm huge of letting animals be and I think things like this are horrible. Yes,  I love to see dolphins, and swim with them, and I love dolphin shows but I don't love that we think have to catch them to get near them.

"The pod was swimming peacefully in Samoa when nets closed in from behind -- trapping 25 wild dolphins for a luxury resort's latest exhibit. They are now locked in tiny pens, starved of food -- but we can free them. "

Please go to the site to sign the petition to free these dolphins!

Making Change: Living in a 96 Square Foot House

Isn't this incredible? I couldn't believe it at first but for one to two people it's totally doable. You'd have to throw out a lot of your ways of thinking a house should be but it's doable! I get claustrophobic so unless I had a big yard (where's it's not -40 for 4 months out of the year) I don't think I could do it but it's very inspirational!

Making Change: No more fruit shapped women

I love this! I was just thinking the other day about how we're all supposed to have that one size and shape as women and how I hate that! I think this sort of thing will likely take some time to pick up but really, how wonderful right? We're all different, unique, and I for one don't want to be the same as everyone else!

Make Me Happy Mondays: Flying House

Isn't this wonderful? Inspired by the movie UP. This makes me so happy and it makes me feel like a kid again!

Happy Monday everyone!

Go here for more details.

Making Change: Happiness

This is good right? I have been struggling lately with just being happy with me, and with what I have. I have a really great life and I don't know why I get caught up in having what someone else has. Well, I do sort of know, I am constantly around media sources that pour that into me; you have to have better, more, what the other guy has, stronger, faster, more expensive. Don't get me wrong, there's just some things I want the best of but really why can't we just be happy too? Why not be in the now, enjoy the now, enjoy what we have right here, and right now? I'm working on it that's for sure.

Making Change: Eos lip balm

I know this isn't my usual Making Change post style, but I think a good, healthy product can contribute to change, and if it's stylish and popular, well then even more power to it!

Here's a quote and info from the website:

"Can a lip balm make you smile? We think so. That's why we invented this one.

• Long-lasting moisture
• Shea butter & vitamin E
• Smoothes on clear
• New smooth sphere precisely glides on to lips
• Twist-off top
• Gluten-free
• Paraben-free
• Petrolatum-free
• Phthalate-free

eos lip balm is 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, eos keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth."

Crazy Design: Modulars

Isn't this sort of crazy? I mean how cool though right? Check out the video below, it explains this more. But if you want even more detail go to Bldgblog!

QuaDror from Dror on Vimeo.

Making Change: One Day Without Shoes

This day is all about bringing awareness to what it's like to not have shoes. It might sound silly, but if you think of it I mean there's really a lot you can't do without shoes. Just even think of -30 without shoes. You wouldn't have feet for very long. And then think of trying to shop without shoes...nope, won't happen. Check out more at the Tom's website.

Making Change: Little Secrets

Your secret from Jean-Sebastien Monzani on Vimeo.

Wow, right? I really like this. It's totally something we should do a whole lot more often. Just be like a kid again. Yesterday because we're "grown up" doesn't mean we have to let go of those little things. And I think sometimes it's those little things, those little pleasures, and those little secrets that keep us happy, simple and joyful. Life is about the little things, so don't forget them!

Making Change: Kevin Spacey on Being Successful

Wow! If we all just lived a little bit more like that right? Imagine what we would get done!
Just a little inspiration and challenge for you today!

Making Change: Kind Over Matter Project

The Kind Over Matter Project : Help Us Help You! from Kind Over Matter on Vimeo.

I think this is a great idea! I don't think I need to say much more! Go and vote for them!

Making Change: Katie Makkai - Pretty

I'm a strong believer that all change starts from within. I really enjoy this video (just ignore the f word it makes you uncomfortable, but don't tune out) and it just goes to show everyone can turn around and be their version of pretty.

Making Change: Entrepreneurs Can Change the World

I for sure needed a little inspiration and this video did it. Now, call of action; go out and do something!!

2011 Goals

I'm looking back on my last years goals and I thought I would set some new ones! Here they are!

Financially:

Save up enough money to build another house ($25,000)

Build another house and sell it

Get to a balance of $8000 in our emergency fund

Stay on (or better yet under) budget with gift spending (I want to get more creative with my gifts instead of just spending heaps on more stuff)

Personally save $500 (that’s a lot in our budget which is tight with other savings goals right now)

Stick to the grocery budget and not spend into next month’s money

And get more creative with my cooking, making it more budget friendly and less wasteful (not sure what this will mean yet. Maybe cooking smaller amounts, or freezing individual portions when I make too much. I’m thinking of ways!)

Emotionally:

Do deep breathing exercises and stretching for stress relief at least 2 times a week in the evenings, and every day at work

Find a way to better express my frustrations and stop myself before I get to that “boiling point”

Relationally:

Spend more time one-on-one with my girl friends

Go on more double dates

Have more girls nights

Get deeper with my friends and really be present and prepared to be a friend

Talk to my sister (on the phone or Skype) at least once a month

In Marriage:

Read a marriage book

Take a course together (it doesn’t have to be a marriage course, but just something where we’re learning together)

Protect and keep doing our weekly date nights (we haven’t been totally consistent with them and I hate that)

Have sit down dinners together at least twice a week

Hug at least twice a day

Say I love you at least once a day

Encourage Marshall with something he’s really good at, at least once a week

Cook at least one meal together a month

Spiritually:

Read a book about grace

Take a spiritually empowering course

Have at least a third of the books I read be “self help” book and not novels (I’ve been reading A LOT of chick lit)

Volunteer more

Journal at least once a week (I used to journal every day!)

Physically:

Remember to take my vitamins

Exercise on my work out machine at least once a week

Take Ollie for a walk at least once a week (even in winter)

Eat every two hours (to better get control of the hyperglycemic problem)

Eat at least a serving of veggies a day (some days I have up to 5 but then I’ll go on a dry spell for a while, so I thought I’d start somewhere)

Drink 2 liters of water a day

Wow, when I first started writing I didn’t have a lot of goals on my mind but when I really start thinking about it and breaking it down there’s a lot in my life I can work on! I feel a little overwhelmed at the moment; it all sort of seems like a lot but I have to remind myself that it’s fine if I miss the mark a few times, that’s why they’re goals, you just keep going until you hit them. I look forward to tell you all how I did in a year from now!

What are you goals for the year??

Making Change: Sea Water Antenna

Pretty cool right? People are just so amazing in what they come up with!! There really all no limitations other then the ones we set on ourselves!