Matt's Birthday

Last night I ventured out to The Kings Head pub for my brother Matt's (I know you all know him by now!)27th birthday. 

Like the good sister I am, I brought him a little vintage! Although it's hard to actually see this shirt in the picture. It kinda looks like he's excited to get a tablecloth of some sorts. I assure you the shirt is loud and wonderful! Not loud and tacky.

We took this photo because we have a picture of Matt doing this exact same pose in front of his birthday cake as a kid at my Mom's. I wish I had it so I could scan it and show you. Very cute and funny!

Well here's the closest thing I got to an outfit shot for the night. The night wasn't really about me so I let it go! ;)

A few more brother-sister arms length shots.

I don't know what we're doing in this next one! Zoolander perhaps? 

A few more random party shots.

And last but not least! HAHA!!

Have a great weekend everyone! Thanks for the nice words on my return!

Lisa.xo

Daily Inspiration

Breathe, Meditate, Be Happy

Boost your mood and overall health with this beginner’s guide to meditation.

Good news: Fitness doesn’t always have to correlate with daily gym dates and lots of sweat. Simply sitting in meditation can boost your overall health, too.

In Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert (played by Julia Roberts) learns to meditate and in turn, turns her life around. Quieting her mind helps her overcome depression, define her priorities and make a commitment to herself. Pretty heady stuff, but according to Mallika Chopra, daughter of Deepak Chopra and the creator of intent.com and a new series of meditation videos for ExerciseTV, meditating is something anyone can do. “Even five minutes of focusing on your breath (one form of meditation) can help you feel more balanced,” Chopra says.

The benefits of meditation are numerous. “Studies have shown that consistent meditation produces real physiological affects,” Chopra says. “During meditation, your heart rate slows, blood pressure decreases, blood flow to the brain increases, your immune system gets stimulated, and there are changes in hormone levels. Those same hormones can act as ‘antidepressants’ to help quiet your mind, reduce anxiety and generally make you feel happier.”

Are you sold, yet? Here’s a simple, five-step meditation exercise from Chopra, to help start you on your way to perfect and perfectly balanced health. (MORE)

Source: MSN Health and Fitness

Daily Inspiration

Better Sleep Through Meditation: 4 Techniques To Try Tonight

Anyone who's ever experienced a fitful night of sleep knows that "just relax" is easier said than done. But do-it-yourself meditation practices may help you prepare for rest, and put worries or discomfort behind you.

These techniques work best when done right before bed, in a quiet, calming environment. But you can also practice them several times a day, recommends Joyce Walsleben, PhD, associate professor at New York University School of Medicine.

"If you can keep your stress levels under control during the day, you'll sleep better at night," Walsleben says. "You can even do them at your desk or on the train." (MORE)

Source: Huffington Post

carved creatures . . .

creatues carved in wood

by the talented

Jason Tennant

Catching Up!

Ok. You know it's bad when your mother calls you and asks "Are you ever going to blog again?".

Then you realize that you haven't even turned on your computer for a month. Wow!

Then I feel bad. You've missed you much! July was a very busy month for me! Good Bloggers take many photos and post every day...I want to be one of those Good Bloggers. I really try.

What did you miss? Let me try and remember and get you all up to speed.

Well...that office job I had working for the small family business? Gone. It was bad. I'm now working at Urban Barn as an Administrative Assistant (I do inventory control and other random paperwork things). I love it! It's the kind of job I've been looking for! Urban Barn is a Canadian furniture company. The Boy and I will be refurnishing our living room on my discount! Yeah! Can't wait!!

I stage managed for my friends from LA Sound & Fury at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival this year. Fringe was a total blast!

I turned 28 on July 6th...which I feel is a pretty weird age...it's like when I turned 19...I was like "19? what's that? It's limbo!" The limbo between 25 and 30. At 26 it was still like being 25, 27 was still feeling "mid 20's"...I have officially entered "late 20's". 30 is looming. Sigh.
I'm actually ok. It just feels kinda weird that I'll be turning 30 in two years. Two years goes by fast.
30 is adulthood. I'm still a big kid for god's sake!
I plan on staying that way.

Anyway...onto the pictures. Because that's the best part of a blog in my opinion. Eye-candy!

Here's a random outfit I wore in July and never posted. I wear it a lot.

White Flower: Clarire's

Blue Cameo Necklace: Gift

White Ribbed Sequin Tanktop: Ricki's Sample Sale

Blue Belt: Thifted

Blue Floral Circle Skirt: Vintage Glory

White Peep Toe Wedges with Rainbow detail: Damita K

Vintage Floral Straw Basket Purse: Gift from Matt

This is what I wore to work today:

Pearl Necklace: Thrifted

Hot Pink Flower Brooch: Smart Set

Green Polka Dot Dress: D.E.P.T

Vintage Slip (under dress): Value Village

Vintage Leather Shoulder Bag: Ragpickers

Burgandy Peep Toes: Kensie

And last but not least: My sister Kim got married this last weekend. I have been dying to wear this outfit for months!! I want to wear it again!

BONUS: Family Photos! And The Boy!

My brother Matt,  Myself and my brother Will.

Matt, Me, my Mom and Will

Me and my siblings (acording to height!) Me, Kim, Matt, Will & Matt

Me & The Boy. Isn't he cute?!

Large Brimmed White Hat: The Bay

50's/60's Coral Lace Dress: Ruby Slipper ($10!!)

Vintage Pearl Cuff: from Aunt Mary 

White/Pink Wedges with Flower on Toe: Madeline 

Last but not least, More Matt....he just looked so cool in this pic. So old school. Love it!

Well good. Now you're all caught up. Promise I'll be back soon!

Lisa.xoxo

Inspiration Book IV

Der vorerst letzte Einblick in mein Inspirationsbuch.

Für mehr bleibt keine Zeit... am Samstag geht's los,

London ruft nach mir und ich bin im Packstress,

wie soll man einen ganzen Monat mit

nur 20kg Gepäck überleben??? Puuuhh... das wird ja was!

•••

Daily Inspiration

Keeping Your Prefrontal Cortex Online: Neuroplasticity, Stress and Meditation

As we go through life, our brain is always changing and adapting, say neuroscientists. During the first 18-20 years of life the brain is developing circuits that will form the basis of decision-making for a lifetime. Brain researchers have found that unhealthy lifestyles can inhibit normal brain development in adolescents and lead to impaired judgment and destructive behavior that carries over into adulthood. Traumatic experiences, alcohol and drug abuse, growing up neglected in a broken home, living in fear of violence and crime, or even a bad diet can interfere with development of the frontal lobes, the brain's executive system. This can cause behavioral problems. Brain researcher Dr. Fred Travis explains: "When a person's frontal lobes don't develop properly, he lives a primitive life. He doesn't -- and can't -- plan ahead. His world is simplistic, and he can only deal with what's happening to him right now. Thinking becomes rigid: 'You're either with me or against me,' or 'Me and my gang are good, and everyone else is bad.'"



The good news: meditation improves brain function (MORE)

Source: Huffington Post

dressing up . .

just love the colour combinations

& beautiful photography

for the

"Absinthe Collar"

Jackie is Amazing!

Daily Inspiration

Chair Yoga For Seniors: Seated Twist

Yoga 'asanas', poses, are a physical expression of our mental and emotional energy state. In Yoga physiology, breathing is critical because mind follows breath and energy follows mind. We want to learn to manipulate our energy and create a relaxed body and calm mind – we do this by focusing on our breathing as the connection between mind and body. Today, we will be practicing Yoga twists, and we'll want to establish a constant, deep, natural breathing pattern. Not holding the breath at any time is important in practicing our Yoga twists.

Yoga is noted for being extremely adaptable and deeply thorough. While performing a Yoga twist understand that we not only exercise muscles, connective joint tissue, and skeleton. We also accomplish a massage of the lungs, diaphragm, stomach, intestines, bowel, and the sciatic nerve. (MORE)

Source: Helium

Inception

top: tally weijl. blazer: jil sander vintage.

leggings: h&m. bag: primark.

So war ich gestern in der Schanze unterwegs

und abends bzw. eher nachts noch im Kino.

Wir haben Inception geguckt, wahnsinnig guter Film.

Müsst ihr gucken!!! Jetzt muss ich mich fertig

machen, heute ist Mädels-Sushi-Tag :)

•••

Daily Inspiration

Teaching Your Toddler To Meditate

Toddlers are about as Un-Zen as you can get. They zoom from the moment they wake up until they crash into a wall of sleep at the end of the day, leaving exhausted parents and teachers in their wake. Some day, it can be tiring just to look at a toddler at play.

Can these kids be taught to meditate? Should they be? Some folks think so. There’s a wave of meditation classes for kids sweeping the nation. What parent wouldn’t love their preschooler to pick up a hobby that keeps her sitting still and quiet for long stretches, and leaves her feeling emotionally balanced and refreshed.

Unlike yoga for preschoolers, though, meditation is generally a sitting still activity. One little kids may have a hard time adopting. That doesn’t mean teaching them meditation techniques is a lost cause, though. (MORE)

Source: babble

tiny houses . . .

the tiniest of homes

at

tumbleweed houses

Inspiration - La Bastide de Marie

La Bastide dde Marie Hotel in Menerbes, France

One of my new clients is inspired by the French Farmhouse and she would like to create a modern and eclectic version of this for her home. Researching French Provence-style farmhouse, I came across this hotel via Habitually Chic.

La Bastide de Marie is a hotel in a 18th Century building based in Menerbes, Provence. Surrounded by vineyards and beautiful gardens, I have taken some of the interior influences to inspire this project. Read Habitually Chic's posting on it here and see the Vogue shoot that had actress Marion Collitard posing in this very hotel.

Photographs via Habitually Chic.

Monday...

shirt, necklace I: h&m. jeans: nyer. boots, necklace II: pimkie. bag: primark.

Nach dem sehr partyreichen Wochenende

ließ ich es heute eher ruhig angehen und

verbrachte die Zeit mit Einkaufen, Backen

und Entspannen... das Wetter machte es mir leicht!

Zwar freue ich mich auf den Herbst, aber ein

bisschen Sonne wäre dennoch ganz schön :)

Habt einen schönen Abend!

•••

Daily Inspiration

Zen Meditation Reduces Sensitivity To Pain

Zen meditation can help people reduce their sensitivity to pain by thickening their brain, says a new study.

Montreal University (M-U) researchers made the discovery by comparing the grey matter thickness of Zen meditators and non-meditators.

They found evidence that practicing the centuries-old discipline of Zen can reinforce a central brain region (anterior cingulate) that regulates pain.

"Through training, Zen meditators appear to thicken certain areas of their cortex and this appears to underlie their lower sensitivity to pain," says Joshua A Grant, a doctoral student at M-U in physiology.

"We found a relationship between cortical thickness and pain sensitivity, which supports our previous study on how Zen meditation regulates pain," added Grant.

For the study, scientists recruited meditators and non-meditators, who in addition had never practiced yoga, experienced chronic pain, neurological or psychological illness. (MORE)

Source: Times of India

mushroom lights . . .

magical mushroom lights

here