two sweaters and some cold weather

Up here in Canada, eh.

Two sweaters, two layers of pants, a suit and a neck warmer. 

PERFECT

will smith & obama chat

Interview with my two favourite people (Barack Obama & Will Smith). ♥

"Critical ingredients for any effort for peace is the ability to stand in your shoes, see through your eyes, to constantly imagine whats it like ... like, being a mother in Bangladesh right now...and if the waters were rising because of climate change. That kind of ability to imagine ourselves in different situations helps us connect with other people....

I dont want to simplify it, none of this is easy. What it does mean is for example, when wealthy countries think about foreign aide, thinking about it as an investment. This is a way so we dont have to send soldiers on a peace keeping mission because peace is already there. This is a way to make sure that we have new markets. Now that these folks bought a bicycle maybe now theyre ready to buy a car... constantly thinking about how to create opportunities for collaboration and cooperation. "

tony robbins why we do what we do

Tony Robbins is an inspirational speaker. His energy is incredible. I had the opportunity to see him live last year and...WOW. 

Watch this video and be awed.

Some of his quotes from mindbodygreen.com

1. “Long ago, I realized that success leaves clues, and that people who produce outstanding results do specific things to create those results. I believed that if I precisely duplicated the actions of others, I could reproduce the same quality of results that they had.”

2. “The first thing these people have who succeed, who are fulfilled, is that they’ve decided what the purpose of the game is, at least for right now.”

3. “If I’m committed, there is always a way.” (He also says, “If we can (generate) the right emotion inside of us, we can get ourselves to do anything. If you don’t have the money, but you’re creative and determined enough, you’ll find the way.”

4. “The more rules you have about how people have to be, how life has to be for you to be happy, the less happy you’re going to be.”

5. “The past does not equal the future.” More: “Most people think, the past equals the future. Of course it does—if you live there!”

6. “Reasons come first. Answers come second.” In a recent interview Tony expanded on this, explaining, “If you find yourself saying 'I can't do something', but you know it in your heart of hearts that if you do it, you're going to grow, you're going to be a better person, it's going to contribute to your family or to your kids or to something that matters, and you keep saying 'I can't do it,' there is no question—you must do it. You don't discuss it anymore. You just take immediate action... You do what's necessary.”

7. “God’s wealth circulates in my life, it flows to me in avalanches of abundance. All my needs, desires and goals are met instantaneously, for I am one with God and he is everything!”  

8. “It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.” And in his TED speech of 2006; “Decision is the ultimate power. Decisions shape destiny.”

9. “The simple reason that most people fail financially is not because of the lack of a plan, it’s not because of good advice, it’s not even because of a lack of capital. It is for one reason—they attach more pain to the idea of having money, than NOT having it.”

10. “Demand more from yourself than anyone else could ever expect.”

inner kingdom and love

skyventure

I've done a few hours in the wind tunnel Skyventure Montreal, as well as some in Arizona. It's wicked awesome!! I think I love wind tunnel and skydiving equally... they both excite me!

With thousands of dollars and lots of coaching, I look forward to being at this level...in a long time from now...

blurred lines

Currently my FAVOURITE song...

Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke & Pharrell & TI

this too shall pass

"This too shall pass"is a proverb indicating that all material conditions, positive or negative, are temporary. 

lean in: women, work and will to lead

I am so excited to read Sheryl Sandberg's new book. I am not a feminist, but this will be inspiring...

Thirty years after women became 50 percent of the college graduates in the United States, men still hold the vast majority of leadership positions in government and industry. This means that women’s voices are still not heard equally in the decisions that most affect our lives. In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg examines why women’s progress in achieving leadership roles has stalled, explains the root causes, and offers compelling, commonsense solutions that can empower women to achieve their full potential.

Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook and is ranked on Fortune’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2010, she gave an electrifying TEDTalk in which she described how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her talk, which became a phenomenon and has been viewed more than two million times, encouraged women to “sit at the table,” seek challenges, take risks, and pursue their goals with gusto.

In Lean In, Sandberg digs deeper into these issues, combining personal anecdotes, hard data, and compelling research to cut through the layers of ambiguity and bias surrounding the lives and choices of working women. She recounts her own decisions, mistakes, and daily struggles to make the right choices for herself, her career, and her family. She provides practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a satisfying career, urging women to set boundaries and to abandon the myth of “having it all.”  She describes specific steps women can take to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment and demonstrates how men can benefit by supporting women in the workplace and at home.

Written with both humor and wisdom, Sandberg’s book is an inspiring call to action and a blueprint for individual growth. Lean In is destined to change the conversation from what women can’t do to what they can

she started from the bottom now she's Oprah

Last night was the second time that I had the opportunity of seeing Oprah Winfrey live.

My evening started at Moxie's for a spicy Caesar, avocado spring rolls and crab&scallop cakes (delish, btw)

We made it to our seats at the Scotiabank Place in Kanata just on time . As we found our seats (103 row R) , she was being introduced .

Oprah spoke for about an hour and a half or two hours about how she "started from the bottom" now she's here. (*Insert Drake's music video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RubBzkZzpUA )

As I recently saw Oprah speak live, own the 20th anniversary DVD collection, watched her show daily for years and follow her O Magazine I considered this evening a refresher. I was meant to be there, to remind me of everything I hard already learned.

The energy here was different from Lifeclass in Toronto last year. Perhaps it was because there was a blend of motivational speakers(Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra, Etc) or maybe it was the way the room was laid out. The room was dark with a light solely on Oprah. Last year,  the room was fully lit, everybody had their iPad's out and paper pads to take notes. Hustling and bustling for non-assigned seats created an energy in the Metro Center last year.

I was probably one of the few who took notes last night, well, written notes, I know everybody was taking mental notes with the head nods and "mmmhmmm"s.

Here is my Coles Notes version of what I was refreshed on last night...
(Writing in the dark = uber messy script.)


Why are you here?

"I am the master of my fate and the captain of my soul "

Take what you love, anything you love, do it in a way that you can serve. Your charge is to share.
NOBODY is here to have a purpose that only serves ourselves. 
Use your platform, your strengths for good, for others.

Believe in yourself and your purpose

You become whatever you believe. What do you really believe?
Your beliefs are the lenses through which you see the world.

Your energies

 For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction

Negative and destructive thoughts are creating their own clouds around you.

Your energetic state creates what is around you.
When things aren't going well you should look to yourself.
Every action, thought and feeling is created by an intention.
 Intention ->  cause -> effect
You are an energy field.

Humans only have two emotions, where all remaining sentiments are derived:
Love & Fear

Love:                                                             Fear:
Compassion                                                  Jealousy
Honesty                                                         Anxiety
Friendship                                                     Oppression
Kindness                 ...ETC...

Open your heart space. Everyone can feel the intention.
   example: when somebody apologizes insincerely and you can feel it. and you don't want to react positively because you have the equal reaction feeling to their level of  intent

Life and Success

Failure is life at it's most poignant pushing us in a new direction
LUCK : preparation meeting the moment of opportunity.
 You should do all you can do, once you've done everything, you must release all     attachments. Let it go. Release it all. What is for me is for me. Repeat: Do it, do it the best you can, and let it go.

Our life speaks to us. It starts with a whisper(message), then a pebble(lesson) , then a brick(this is a problem), then a crash (crisis), ...then disaster. LISTEN to your life.

The life that you want awaits for you when you open your heart to love.


I will leave you with this, a poem of self love...

Poem Love after Love by Derek Walcott

The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.       

  L&P,
 K

an evening with Oprah

I saw Oprah Winfrey, Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra and Iyanla Vincent last year. I bought my ticket online the day I heard they were going on sale. I chose to go alone to really absorb all of the interesting information put forth by these amazing speakers.  I drove to Toronto, stayed at a friends and continued to the Metro Centre to line up for Oprah. Imagine a line around a stadium... This was the case at 6am . Luckily, I met somebody at the hotel attached and we snuck through the hotel area. 

 

I found a spot on my own , sat next to two awesome ladies. Everybody was friendly. I believe there was 4500 people in the room. The energy was high. I finally scratched this off of my bucketlist.

 

My friend phoned me a few months ago to let me know he was getting us tickets for Oprah coming to Ottawa. I'm looking forward to an evening of positive energy.

 

I can't wait to see Oprah again!!!!

Photos to come...

 

i have a type

I have a type, and that type is Organic Modern.

I just came across this website: http://www.organicmodernism.com/index.php 

Here are some cool pieces...

one month backpacking jamaica

 

 

I recently backpacked Jamaica for one month with my best friend K.

Yes, I said "backpack" and "Jamaica" in the same sentence. It was incredible. The things you learn from getting deep into a different society is not only removing another block on the ignorance wall, but totally enlightening at times.  

 

I'll give you a colesnotes version of our vacay.

 

1. We start on Northwest side at Montego Bay. We stayed at The Birds Nest in Iron Shore, about 3 km from the city of Montego Bay. This hostel was run by some Germans and in a "richer" area of Jamaica. Every massive home was fenced and had at least 3 dogs. These dogs are aggressive and bark heavily if you walk by, especially at night.

 

Above is Kelsey with a Brazilian and Israeli at our hostel.

 

Downtown Montego Bay. Not many tourists here

 

 

We didnt care too much for Montego Bay as it has become very touristy and lost the cultural aspect of Jamaica.

 

2. Moving on, we headed south on the West coast to Negril. We took local taxis for a minimal price of 500JA(equivalent to 5$ Canadian)...most tourists would pay 40$CAN for this. GO LOCAL, man...You save tons of money. 

 

Above two locals, a local dog and myself on the 7 miles of Negril beach.

 

 

Negril, I love Negril. It has 7 miles of beach, totally 'lax and uber awesome energy. Jamaicans in Negril give you space while you're sitting on that beautiful beach, whether you're near the west cliffs or central. Here is where I fell in love with lobster everything..including lobster pizza. MMmMMmMmmm...

 

There is a special energy in Negril, it's strange, I love it.

 

We found a hidden gem in Negril, it is called Ras Rody's. Ras Rody's is an Ital Food stand near the west end cliffs. It's real Rastafarian food.

 

Let me give you a little background on Ital Food.
Ital means Vital. Life. All that we are is what we eat.

The Rastafarians have developed a rich culture of dietary traditions and ethnomedical knowledge all steeped in ancestral tradition. The fundamental values of Ital can only be pursued in a state of harmony with nature. Rights to the land are natural rights, as the fruits that it bears are for the shared consumption of the commons. This is in sharp contrast to the legal rights of ownership prescribed in Western society. Rastafarians work tirelessly to protect the natural world in service of Mother Earth who has graced them with a replenishing food source. Cultivating familial plots of land with diverse arrangements of crops ensures the health of the soil, the same soil that nourished their forbearers and their children alike.

 

Rasta at Ras Rody's

 

A real Rastafarian will not eat flesh of any kind, nor will it eat any animal biproducts OR any products with preservatives etc.

 

3. After my favourite city, we went a bit east and further south to Treasure Beach. This place is FREAKIN' WEIRD. It seriously felt like one of those horror movies where the town is quiet...a sole red pick up truck drives by and there are churches and bible thumpers everywhere. Oh, and alot of red heads(the scotts moved here years ago)

 

Me on the quietest beach...Treasure Beach in Fisherman's Bay

 

Here we stayed in a hostel called Shakespeare's Cottage. Hmm..creepy name but okay hostel anyhow. I think we paid 11$US/night. That being said, we only stayed one night. We had to get the heck out of dodge.

 

Can I say one more thing about Treasure Beach? We were at a restaurant called... Jake's , I believe. One of the only few in the town... It seemed all fine and dandy...Until we looked in this small fenced in area on the sand behind our dinner table. Guess what we saw? A grave. Yes, a grave. A 2 year old child was burried there. While we ate our dinner. Anyhow. We left Treasure Beach bright and early the next day.

 

Really nice people though.

 

4.Now... we took local taxis for almost 8 hours(from TB to Spanish Town to Kingston to Port Antonio...but only cost us 700JA- 7$CAN) to get us from Treasure Beach to the Central-East Northern beautiful town of Port Antonio.

 

Port Antonio is gorgeous. It has a port where the cruise ships used to come often, but over the past few years it no longer has cruise ships coming through except maybe once a week. The town's locals have lost alot of their jobs, but they still remain positive friendly and beautiful.

 

Port Antonio is a 2$ cab ride away from Blue Lagoon where the film Blue Lagoon was filmed with Brooke Shields. Blue Lagoon is also right next to a very quiet beach called Winnifred. Which is where we stayed in the forestfilled hill in a local's home. Winnifred beach has had one bar/restaurant on it for 25 years owned by Painter and his ex wife. 

 

Kelsey at Blue Lagoon

 

 

 

There is a lot to see in Port Antonio, a great amount of kind people to meet and awesome food.

 

While in Port Antonio make it to the street parties on Thursday nights and the scrub a dub party ..haha.. east of Winnifred beach. Travel with the locals, for the most part they're kind and gentle and friendly.

 

 

5. From Port Antonio we went West towards Ocho Rios. Ochie, as the locals call it, is very familiar to us as we were there only a year ago. We visited some of the schools and brought school supplies down. We also made friends with a rasta, who now rides a horse around town, that is a school teacher and artist. Funny guy named Glenville.

 

Glenville on his horse named Phoenix

 

We realised after touring more cities that Ocho Rios would actually be one of our least favourites, but with our favourite food in the entire country being found at Calabash on James St in downtown Ochie...we have to go. And not to mention all fo the friends we have there including a sweet boy named jahWayne and Glenville.

 

Back to Calabash on James St. You have to go. If you're in Ocho Rios or nearby...just GO. This place is run by Rastas named Iwah and the cook Andrew.  The locals that head to Calabash are generally quiet, rastafarians who practice bush medecine and study society as a whole. Very intelligent with knowledge to share.

 

At Calabash with Kelsey, Wayne and Glenville

 

We were in Ocho Rios for 15 days...we had booked 20, however got a bit bored and had to mosey on back to Negril...but FIRST ... we had to climb blue mountain. If you're in Jamaica...CLIMB BLUE MOUNTAIN.

 

6. From Ochie, back through Kingston to the Blue Mountains near Mavis Bank.

 

We stayed in a hostel owned by Jah B. DO NOT GO TO THIS HOSTEL. This "rastafarian" is NOT a rastafarian. He is a money hungry, rude, inconsiderate and ignorant business owner in the mountains. Stay far from him. Please.

 

Climbing BM was harder than I expected. We left at 2am from Jah B's hostel (which I did not sleep because of weird stuff going on with some locals and british...not to mention, I did not eat because he was such a rude man...our room was freezing cold damp and stunk ...etc)

 

The sight of Kingston at sunrise from the Blue Mountains is beautiful.

Top of Blue Mountain at sunrise

 

 

 

This took us four hours to climb...but it was worth it. It's a long story, but a local actually joined us. His name was Chad...this is just another example of how incredibly humble and beautiful the Jamaican people are. We met this kid on the bus near Ocho Rios...he asked us if we wanted help getting to the top of the BM because he used to live there. If it wasn't for him we wouldn't have made it. He took amazing care of us. And actually had skipped work that day.

 

 

7. Back to Negril.

 

Our best friend Nuria met us for the last week in Negril.

 

 

And so the story ends...

 

But it doesn't, because the owner of our apartment in Ocho Rios didn't refund our last five days...so we have to use that time up somehow in the next  9 months.

 

 

 

If you want to travel to a place with loud great music, a love of healthy food, beautiful sights and inexpensive...hit up Jamaica. Do it the backpacker way. It's well worth it, I promise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

world's 100 richest earned enough to end extreme poverty worldwide four times

Please read . It gives me goosebumps. It's hard to think of the world from such a negative stance but clearly turning a blind eye won't help anybody. Oxfam's report argues that extreme wealth is unethical, economically inefficient, politically corrosive, socially divisive and environmentally destructive. 

The problem with us as humans and from our North American society is that it takes selfish reasons to change .

the idealist: World’s 100 richest earned enough in 2012 to end g...: The world's 100 richest people earned a stunning total of $240 billion in 2012 – enough money to end extreme poverty worldwide four ti...

my style interior design

 



 

Being the nature loving hippy real estate interior design character that I am, I absolutely love these spaces. I love the blend of natural wood, classical structure and modern industrial accessories to really pull a home together. Maybe it's ablend of my personalities, maybe it's just a unique fresh feel.

 

Either way, these spaces get me excited...

 

 

 

extenz....what?

My uncle recently sent me a text saying, "I'm getting extenzo done to my ceiling tomorrow"

My first thought was, "..."

Then he sent me to the website www.Extenzo.ca

Wow , these ceilings resemble the concrete with polished lacquer flooring in the new loft style condos around town. Apparently, known to europeans (obviously), this extenzo ceiling has just recently made it's appeal to North American in 2008. It is currently being fabricated in Quebec, but I think this minor change to your oldschool stubble or flat white ceiling just makes a heck of a difference.

I am not aware of waht the pricing is on this product. As soon as I find out, I'll let ya know.

spring cleaning closet declutter

We've all been there... winter passes, spring comes around and it's time to go find our favourite pair of Michael Kors flats from the closet. But just wait a second, how do I get passed the snowboards, the winter coats, the useless empty boxes that are too big to throw in the small recycling bin so I hold on until "someday" I'll bring them to the BIG recycling bin outside.

Here we are. Spring cleaning. Time to declutter. Where to start...

Here is my how to with some help from Oprah's O-mag home section.

 The Housewide Shoe and Clothing Purge.

1. Remove all shoes from your closets and place in your hallway. Feel free to group shoes by sandals,flipflops,runners, etc

2. Any shoes that no longer fit, you do not like, or you haven't worn in the most recent season that the shoe applies will be put into a donation bin. If they are not in good condition you are to purge them.

3. You must donate at least ONE pair from each section : flip flop, sandals, heels, boots.

4. Repeat 1-3 for clothing.




Some websites that provide more information for donating :

www.donateyouroldshoes.org
www.goodintents.org
www.soles4soulscanada.com
www.donationtown.org

b squared blogging bandwagon

Hi!

My name is Krystal, I am a Canadian Realtor, a skydiver (CSPA) and a vegetarian.  I love my dog, I love social media, travelling, cultures, nature, interior design, American politics and all sorts of music.

I'm on the right, the other two are my beautiful cousins.

I want to welcome myself to the bandwagon that is known blogging.

This is the SPOT where everything that's cool,rad,awesome, interesting,intelligent,sometimes not so intelligent, and frankly just random are let out.

The number TWENTY TWO(22)myself. I find the number 22 whenever I am on the right track. It sounds crazy, I know. But I'm a bit crazy, so whatever.
 
It's long, but here it is, a bit more behind twenty two...

 Like the 11, yours is a Master Number, possessing all the intelligence, sensitivity, and electric creativity that such a power would suggest. You have the inventiveness of the 11 and the down-to-earth practicality of the 4. This combination can make you appear supremely capable of making your ambitions a reality.

  You radiate reliability and consistency. People trust you and feel secure with your judgment. You are seen as a cornerstone of a business and are relied upon to do your work efficiently and expertly. You have strength and respectability. You tend to dress in a utilitarian manner, concerned mostly with convention, practicality, durability, and price. You present yourself as someone who values correctness, control, and precision. All of this stems from the fact that your most prized characteristic is your work. You want to be judged on the basis of your performance, rather than your appearance.     
     You are a family person. You love the intimacy, consistency, and the security a family provides. You are a good provider and protector. But family members may take your efforts for granted. You are a true patriot. You love your country and are an integral part of your community. Your consistency and adherence to your well-laid plans usually pays off in a comfortable and secure future. Deep inside, you long to create something that will have a lasting impact on the world. Whether it is a political movement, a business, or a philosophy, you have a strong inner drive to manifest something of major importance.       You can be a great leader, inspiring and motivating with your vision and work ethic. Your ideas are so creative and superior that they inspire enthusiasm and sometimes even devotion among your co-workers. You should be involved in large enterprises or governmental institutions. You have the organizational diplomatic skills sufficient to keep difficult and delicate projects on track. Once you come into possession of your full power, there are many psychological and spiritual pitfalls to be faced. You can become arrogant and superior. You can become deluded into thinking that your judgment is beyond question, and that the advice and support of others is unnecessary. You may seek to control all power in a given enterprise. This dangerous and egocentric attitude is sometimes even extended to family members who you may seek to keep under your thumb. Your challenge, once you have begun to use your true gifts, is to remain humble in the face of your significant accomplishments. You perform best when your domestic foundation is stable and supportive; it is very important to have a partner who shares your dreams and has high degree of strength and independence to keep up with your drive. Challenges somehow draw the best out of you. Your human qualities - creativity, humility, understanding, and compassion - increase with the level of your performance. Therefore, commitment to excellence is central to your success and inner development.

Source: decoz.com