The Life of Textiles

Most garments get one life.
One shot at it all!

If they get a stain early on in life
they are banished to the back of the closet
for
all
of
eternity!

Not all hope is lost!

Some creative Canadians
(like me!)
Are giving second lives to lost clothes
and making
Eco Fashion World headlines!

Including....

Kendor Textiles

The Canadian source
of all of my technical and Eco-friendly fabrics
 for my athletic wear line!

Check it out
here!

Here's to having a
longer life than
that thing you bought
that kinda fit and you thought would grown on you...
one day...

H.M.K.

Simplicity is a Stone Throw away!

How does being busy

day in

and

day out

make you feel?

Happy, fulfilled, 

preoccupied,

frazzled, 

exhausted,

lethargic....

Oh...

I'm talking about myself again...

I'm liking the simple approach,

From the Mother Nature Network

The Seven Stones of Simpler Living

Skipping rocks

and

Rainbow socks

What makes you happy?

H.M.K.

What love do you give?

Every relationship has its

Ups

and

Downs

and If you've ever loved any one at all

you should watch this.

So What level of love do you stay with the most?

I don't go handing my love out willy-nilly

to every being that crosses my path.

My love is something sacred

that I share with those

who have earned it.

Because of that,

I would say I'm mostly a #2

and not afraid to admit it.

If I love you

I'll give you anything any time,

but

I demand

to be treated with respect and kindness, loyalty, faithfulness, honesty, 

and very much important is:

 loving communication and time spent together 

where two people actually focus on relating to each other

with love and through love.

If I don't get that

Damn straight I'm giving you nothing but

bratty baby love.

Or none at all.

And to me, part of the respect for your relationship is

behaving like you have a special person 

waiting at home to share their love with you.

Even if it means holding back from playfully flirting and full body hugging your friends 

that you've had

longer than your current S.O.

If they are your friends, 

they should also respect that too.

You have someone to flirt and hug and dance and drink with already,

don't you?

And if you don't want to flirt and hug and dance and drink and do whatever makes you happy together

Why are you with them?

I ain't no Gandhi,

I'll give every being compassion and respect,

But my love is sacred.

I will strive to have Gandhi level love

with those I feel it for.

But I don't feel love for everyone.

Maybe, 

one day,

I will experience something that will change that.

I welcome it with an open mind.

But that day hasn't come yet.

So what level of love do you stay with the most?

H.M.K.

Sound Makes More Than a Booty Wiggle to the Beat

Does music make you wanna

dance?

I know it makes me want to dance!

Until the DJ/Producer/Music master mind

decides to change something

and all of a sudden,

...

it

...

STOPS

...

No, not the music...

my movement...

Like somebody glued my shoes to the floor,

and I get all stiff and awkward

and violently elbow someone in a sensitive area

such as their face...

Here I thought,

it was just my inner metronome

being thrown off by 

a bad dance move,

but all of my dance moves are bad

so this must be the reason!

Pretty wickedly wavy experiment!

Get it?

(my sense of humor is almost as good as my dance moves)

If sound vibrations can change the movement of water,

what are sound vibrations doing to us?

The constant buzzing of sound the world is engulfed in must be effecting living and non-living things,

but is it bad?

or good?

What is it doing to our water?

What is it doing to our beings that live in the water?

H.M.K.

Pretty Dirty Dress makes the news!

Pretty Dirty Dress made the news!!

http://www.pressbox.co.uk/detailed/Health/Pretty_Dirty_Dress_blog_has_the_recipe_for_the_lifestyle_you_can_t_live_without._1201506.html

What you see there is my first attempt at a press release,
I am almost an expert...
(ahem...so not an expert...)
That loves constructive criticism and feedback, wink, wink....
So tell me what you think!


H.M.K.

So Spy!

Need a new you?

A disguise?

How about doppelganger?

Nacho Rojo, a Spanish photographer

 exhibits 

one couple

in the same pose and angle

in

9 different looks!!

I know that I can look like a 

librarian

'nice girl'

or a

Rock Star!!

Just by changing my clothes and makeup

but it is still

Surprising to see what a difference

styling and makeup

makes in how people see you.

Which shows how much we judge by looks 

doesn't it?

H.M.K.

A Skinny Girl's story

A lot of people,

Myself included,

seem to be going through a transition in life.

I have to admit,
without Facebook
*shudder*
I would have no idea what is going on in my
ol' high school friends lives.
It would appear a lot of people,
myself included
seem to be going through a transition in life.

And when I saw the story one of the
girls from high school wrote
I thought I would share it here
where I think I have made it clear,
'skinny' 
isn't all it's been made out to be anymore.

"A skinny girls story"
Written from the heart and
through the talented fingers
of
Chelsea Hesketh

"I thought a lot about doing this piece for this group... 
But then thought against it 
until I told this idea to another member of this group 
who is also one of my best friends. 
And she was all for it and actually encouraged it. 
So here ya go.

Am I skinny?
Yes.

Have I always been skinny?
Yes.

Has weight been a factor that crosses my mind,
 daily?
Weekly?
I am a female.
It is genetically impossible to look in a mirror and say;
"Gee, there is a big event coming up, I think I need to put on a couple pounds".
Unless you're Charlize Theron.

Have I ever felt socially accepted?
NO!

Have I always felt attractive and confident?
HELL FUCKING NO!

High school is hard enough on anyone who is different.

Not just different in what size you are,
but just for being different in general.

I graduated high school thinking
I was an inadequate, ugly, stupid piece of shit
incapable of fitting in anywhere
or
doing anything of value with my life.

I mean I was not only skinny,
but athletic as well,
and I was STILL picked last in Phys Ed.

Like seriously? 

However it has been coming up to 7 years since then,
my life has turned 180 degrees.
Completely different
 in a positive way.

But yes,
I do hold onto the same insecurities
that I had when I left high school.
I still care a little
too much
 of what people think of me.

I continually think people are talking about me
behind my back still
and
laughing or mocking me.

I still sometimes get stuff wrong in life
and wonder why I even thought I was good enough to try in the first place.

Sometimes when I've seen hot guys,
I think all they see is the ugly, awkward loser in me.

However saying that-
going to a bar, picking up the hottest guy there;
even though you know he's a douche-bag
is the best feeling ever! 

I'm posting this because I am friends-
best friends even, with bigger girls.
Because frankly, I have more in common with them.
They take life with a grain of salt as I do.
And every one of them has said something along the lines of:

"if only I was skinny"
or
"I don't get why you're insecure, you're fucking skinny!"

Well, I thought the same thing about all the clear-faced popular girls who looked down on me;

who also probably never spent a lunch hour alone.

In conclusion;

when going through a life change, 
the hardest part is changing yourself. 
Your mental blocks, 
insecurities, 
habits that make 
or
 break you 
and prepare for a new you.
 Because as much as you think you won't change a bit, 
you will still grow and 
in time adapt to the changes that you made for yourself. 

I wish everyone the best in accomplishing your goals.
Thanks for reading.

Cheers."


While I was reading it,
I thought to myself
"hmmm was I one of the 'mean girls' here?"
because I know I can be mean
and have been mean
and laugh at people...

And
according to my man
(at least while im P.M.S.ing)
I am apparently good at making people feel
'inadequate'
(if you're not good at something get better at it, duh)
and it is something I am working on
and something I am constantly apologizing for
So I am apologizing again

If I ever make anyone feel inadequate
don't take it so personally,
I am working on not doing that.

And I am sorry.

H.M.K

P.S.

I too got made fun of at school
and at home,
lots,
by my father...
and pinned down,
and tickled and pinched
and picked on
So when it happened to me in 'real life'
it was game time,
and
I was ready to defend myself!
and give offenders a taste of their own medicine...
and the first boy to try and kiss me a black eye....
which may be why I didn't have many dates...

Spin class your way to the top!

Well, not really,

But apparently bicyclists are way bad-ass-er 

business inspiration

than thought possible!

Maybe it's because they fall in that grey area

between car and pedestrian...

Maybe it's true...

The Rage of a Cyclist & the Calm of a Guru

Read it and 

throw yourself out there,

And develop a bad ass 

bi-cyclist attitude!

H.M.K.

Communication

If only communication could be so straightforward......

As it can with a 2 year old...

Full grown man...

Check out 

Episode 2

For more giggles

H.M.K.

Show Your Wild Side!

No.

Not your "Girls Gone Wild" side!!

I mean your wild warrior side,

The part of you that

Burns

to 

be

FREE!

Do you even have a pulse left,

inside of that zombie-like husk of a body

that manages to make it through your daily routine?

Every.....day......

Well I have a pulse!

And I've found someone else that does too!

And my favorite attitude mentor,

(and delicious tushy mentor...)

posted an article on the wild world of Facebook

that should help us all find a pulse once again.

A beautifully written article:

8 Wondrous Ways to Restore Your Wild Spirit

"Don’t we all instinctively crave more?"

Dance in the Dirt,

Strange looks don't hurt!

H.M.K.

Which organ do you LOVE the most?

Which organ do you love the most?

Is it your heart?

Your brains?

My brains?!

ZOMBIE!!!!

oh wait...hehe...

Your liver?

Stomach?

How about your skin...

Forgot about that one, didn't you?

Me too actually,

And for years I claimed that my skin didn't burn

unless I used sunscreen.

Now I claim; It didn't burn, blister, and peel until I began to use sunscreen.

Don't go thinking I am the

fake n'bake,

lube up, sit on the beach, and tan

kind of girl.

I like MY skin soft and porcelain.

(despite all of my rink rash scars from roller derby).

I'm just not a sunscreen fan.

I'm a play in the water/sun

and get into the shade and cool off kind of girl.

And after reading this article about sunscreen

you might be joining me in the shade soon.

As I had suspected since my first 'sunburn'

(sun lotion burn more like it)

There are some suspicious chemicals

hanging around in these products 

that are supposed to 

protect you.

Read it,

Think about it

Share your opinion this time!

Seriously,

I feel like I am talking to myself...

like everyone else on the internet...

H.M.K.(did not escape the technology web this week......uh-oh.....)

Sex Sells!

It takes a lot of work to make an effective advertisement.

Unfortunately it doesn't always give the best message

while selling the product.

Here is a video with some surprising statistics about

Canadian women:

At about the 2:50 mark it gets pretty funny,

but...

I feel like something was lost without the 

use of the male equivalent of the

female models used in the real ads.

Put yourself in some one else's shoes,

or hot pants,

It's up to you!

H.M.K.

A Jarring Salad!

How often do you buy a lunch?

What ingredients go into that lunch?

You don't know, do you?

I don't blame you, you didn't make it,

So how should you know?

By making it yourself of course!

Did you really think I would suggest anything different?

I've made it easy for you,

All you have to do go to the grocery store

And...

Go to the most colourful part of the store.

Stay out of the damn junk food aisle!!!

And away from the deli/bakery....

mmmmm......cakes.....

Got a jar? Go get it!

Put your Full Fat dressing or oil on the bottom.

I like using either Walnut oil alone, 

or mixing it, like I did here:

Gather your supplies!

I have enough food here to make: 

A delicious dinner salad, 

A salad jar lunch, 

Breakfast fixin's, and...

A veggies n' dip snack!

I am building everything backwards, for the purpose of the jar salad. 

So start with the heavier foods such as tomato, apple, cucumber, cauliflower; Anything cubed or diced.

Clockwise from the jar; Lunch, dinner, breakfast, and a snack
being prepped for the rest of the week

While you're at it, chop up a little extra to put aside for other meals throughout the week.

Next, I like to add the smaller toppings.

 Cubed avocado, nuts (walnuts, slivered almonds), seeds (hemp hearts, chia, sunflower, sesame) and dried fruit.

Then you can throw in more proteins in the form of 

pre-cooked, then cooled lentils, red/white quinoa, beans, chicken, hard boiled egg....

Green lentils, red quinoa, pinto beans, quinoa.

I also like to add grated carrots or beets.

Caution: The beets will stain your clothes/fingers/food pink!

Top it all off with a handful of spinach and some lettuce, 

and you're done!! 

4 meals ready to go! Clockwise from Jar: Lunch for school,
mid-day snack, dinner salad w'chicken topping,
and breakfast, just add eggs and cook!

I always go overboard and try to put too much in my jar,

and

run out of room for leafy greens...

Over-stuffed jar salad.

Practice makes perfect,

and it still tastes great...

Just don't forget a fork,

the plastic ones from the cafe

are short,

and dull,

and weak,

and plastic.

H.M.K.

No New Clothes!

Through Mother Nature Network on Tumblr

I have found another very interesting blog on up cycling clothes called New Dress a Day

Posted by Mother Nature Network: 

"No new clothes:

When Marisa Lynch lost her job last year, she went looking for a project and found it: 365 days. 365 pieces of clothing. $365. She started her blog, New Dress A Day, and began transforming frightening thrift-store finds into envy-worthy fashions for just a dollar a day.

 

For the entire year Lynch didn’t do any traditional clothes shopping, which means none of her items contributed to the loss of energy or raw materials required to produce new garments. Although her 365-day project is over, Lynch is still giving second life to old muumuus and prom dresses, and this year she’s accepting donations from her readers and making over their worse fashion finds.

 

Lynch recently even appeared on "E!" where stars from the Oscar-winning film “The Fighter” modeled gowns that she had created from old bridesmaid dresses..."

Sounds like an awesome project, and something I might take a spin on once I am done school!

 I try to buy as much used clothing as possible but, 

the garments still started out new. 

Which means the items did contribute to the loss of energy or raw materials required to produce new garments at 

one point in time, 

unless they were hand woven and sewn....

Which is how it all use to be done,

Imagine that!

H.M.K.

Hurt To Heal

Weather forecast dampening your plans? Stay Dry and show some support tonight, while we attempt to kick cancer's ass!!!

Bouncy castles, auctions and lots of action for only $5!

Every so often

(too often really)

Something bad happens to a derby girl

or someone in their family.

Which means they are too, part of the derby family!

So we do what we do best....

We pull together from all over the country,

or in this case,

Ours(B.C. Canada) and the neighboring(U.S.A.) country...

And bout our hearts out,

To raise some funds for someone in need!

With the help of local businesses and artists donating awesome and unique prizes,

This is an inexpensive night out you can't afford to miss!

Haren MahKeester

#8

Team Green-Cancer Kickers

Should you eat that Bacon?

A little re-assurance if my last post left you doubting bacon:

Become a True Warrior!

H.M.K.

Banned Bacon!

Wow!

So I think most "healthy eaters" knew that processed meats weren't too good for you...

Anything that was once living, 

now dead, 

and still doesn't go rotten for a very long time doesn't really sound healthy does it?

Apparently Sodium Nitrate is responsible!

(Sodium-related products are bad Mmm...Kay?)

It is used to keep packaged meats bright red and 

fresh-looking.

Here is the article that goes on to explain it by the 

Institute for Natural Healing

The gist of it is this:

Chicken, fish and fresh meat: Good

Most of what you are accustom to purchasing at the grocery store: BAD

"Note that these cancer risks do not come from eating fresh, non-processed meats. "

According to this article:

"Sodium nitrite appears predominantly in red meat products (you won’t find it in chicken or fish products). 

Here’s a short list of food items to check carefully for sodium nitrite and monosodium glutamate (MSG), another dangerous additive: 

• Beef jerky
• Bacon
• Sausage
• Hot dogs
• Sandwich meat
• Frozen pizza with meat
• Canned soups with meat
• Frozen meals with meat
• Ravioli and meat pasta foods
• Kid’s meals containing red meat
• Sandwich meat used at popular restaurants 
• Nearly all red meats sold at public schools, restaurants, hospitals, hotels and theme parks

The USDA, for example, tried to ban sodium nitrite in the late 1970′s but was overridden by the meat industry. It insisted the chemical was safe and accused the USDA of trying to “ban bacon.”"

Well I don't know about you, but I love bacon 

(and I think a lot of you do too)

And since I've hopped on the Fresh Food bandwagon, 

I feel better knowing that I don't eat much else from that list.

So I am keeping the Bacon!!

The best solution I can come up with?

Befriend a local farmer

or

someone with acreage

and share some farm animals.

At least you'll know what is going into your meat.

Where did your dinner originate?

Now excuse me while I go hunt down breakfast...

H.M.K.