'Tis The Season...

As I sit here and type this by the warmth of the fire and with Christmas lights shining on, there is no doubt that I am blessed. I try to live a life of gratitude everyday, but this time of year offers many shocking reminders of just how blessed you and I are.

With the ostentatious nature of the consumerism that so many of us fall into at this time of year, I find it more important than ever to remember those who are less fortunate and unable to partake in the kind of holiday season that they would like to. I am guilty as charged. I am a consumer at this time of year. I cannot imagine not being in a position to give my children the kind of Christmas that all children deserve. Perhaps this is why I fall victim to the consumerism this time of year. I do try to balance the gifts we give our kids equally with merry experiences also, it can be challenging not to over do the presents and beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree.

This year along with several friends and different families, we are sponsoring a few local families that are on hard times. It brings home that sense of community and brings to life the true meaning of Christmas. It is hard to think of our own neighbours in need, but the reality is that it is a neighbour in need and it could just as easily be ourselves one day. There are great teachable moments in lending an anonymous hand to those who need it. Our children are listening and watching, learning that this is how a healthy community functions, and that you give what you can, when you need to.

Today we took our children on the Bright Lights Christmas Train at Stanley Park. The Silver Fox and I surprised the kids and they were delighted by the gorgeous displays of lights and holiday cheer. They were innocently unaware of the huge expense that came along with that experience, but we work hard to afford such luxuries for our family. The heart wrenching part comes when you realize what we spent on that experience could have fed a family at Christmas. This is where the fine balance enters the picture. Where you realize that you do what you can for others with what you have and sacrifice where you need to and still be able to afford such sacred experiences with your own family.

So we took the kids to the train and we skipped the sushi dinner out afterwards. It was our compromise. The money we would have spent on the Sushi dinner for four, we instead have set aside to donate to the North Shore Family Services. It was another great lesson for our kids, and a way to teach them how you can be a good neighbour and live your life in a brilliant way.

We are fortunate in that between the Silver Fox and I  we both know how it feels to have enough and to need. It makes giving that much easier, especially at this time of year. For myself, growing up with a feeling of need sometimes, it has helped me to realize one of the greatest lessons of my life, which is that the gift is always in the giving. My favorite part of Christmas is giving. I love knowing and feeling the joy that someone else is experiencing. I love that.

Recently, a group of people, some I know and some I do not, have come together for 31 days of random acts of kindness. As I have said, I try to live a life of gratitude daily and random acts of kindness plays a big part in that, but to come together with others to spread joy and love like this with the intention of sharing them and inspiring one another, it takes it to another level where the acts become more sought after and deliberate.

I won't go into the acts of random kindness that we have done, given and achieved, that is not as important as the invitation for you to join us. Start tomorrow. It is as easy as giving someone the parking spot you are both after, or letting that elderly person behind you in line, go first. It can also be as grand as giving to the food bank or buying a meal for a person who appears to be in need. You can decide, but I encourage you to join us and for no other reason than it feels good and because you can.

They always say Tis the season... to be jolly? I think not. I think it Tis the season to reach out and give someone the gift of your cheer and generosity at what can be a challenging time of year for so many of us. I know many of us are generous all year long. We give to charities, we ride for cancer, we put ourselves in harms way for the greater good of another... again, all things we do for the greater good, but this Christmas, lets go that extra mile in honour of humanity and the beauty that lies in the loving of another.

Love & Light and a very Merry Christmas. As this is Hanukkah's first night, Happy Hanukkah!

xo t.

www.sparkedkids.com

There is nothing that warms my heart more than when I witness people, women especially, following their hearts.
I am so proud of my best friend Andrea and her business partner and my friend Lara, for doing just that. Together they experienced a void in the children's education and market place and they have filled it. Not only did they see the void, they did something about it, and thus was the birth of www.sparkedkids.com

If you have children or kids in your life, you will want to know about Sparked Kids. I will not be able to do it justice, so I encourage you to go to the website and keep those new mothers, the busy moms and yourself in mind while you browse the site.

I only wish Sparked Kids was around when my children were younger. I am grateful that they are here for me now so that when I gift all of those endless birthday parties and xmas gifts to the 'littles' in my life, that I know I am giving them a personal gift that is fun, educational & entertaining for them, yet affordable for me.
I am so over gifting toys and how many books can one person have? That is not a problem anymore.

Sparked Kids is a product that not only have I purchased and can say with great confidence that the recipient is going to LovE, I can also promise you that the minds and hearts behind this product are just as beautiful and brilliant as the idea itself.

Please go to the site, order a Gift Certificate and feel confident that you are putting your money in a place where the value is over and above just a gift, it is the gift of enjoyment and education, which are two things that every child deserves.

Thank you again! You won't be disappointed.

www.sparkedkids.com

Tell them I sent you! ;)


Get Sparked!

t.

Warmest Winter Wishes

This time of year, while being mighty cold and darker than what I prefer, also brings one of my favorite times of year. Christmas. That's right, I said it! I said it!
C h R i S t M a S...

Let me be clear... Christmas to me is about Santa and Snowflakes and less about religion and consumerism. I love decorating my home ( which I do on November 12th fyi- I pay my respects on November 11th first), I host ornament exchanges, winter teas, xmas parties... I even bake. I love opening my home in all of it's holiday beauty and sharing the bounty of love and light that has been entrusted to me through out the year.

The spirit of the season really is not lost on me. I wait all year to celebrate the magic of believing. Believing in Santa, believing in the spirit that takes over those in a position to reach out and help those in need, believing in the promise that January is yet another fresh start and a chance to get 'it' right one more time. I believe that there is more gratitude at this time of year than at any other. On the heels of Thanksgiving which is also a favorite holiday of mine, which rolls into Remembrance Day and then extends a welcome to winter, all of these events create a warm light of gratitude that just continues to grow and give life to the spirit which to me is the peace that is created by and is Christmas.

I regularly extend light and love in my greetings to people. Some people get it, most don't. Most think of it as an airy fairy token of my spiritual side, but what it actually is, is an extension of my wish of love and peace. We all have spiritual beliefs of some sort, and for some that means no belief at all. We all have a way of thinking of the universe and of where we fit into it. I believe that white light is the greatest gift of healing energy. That is why I send it to people whenever possible. Whatever you need healed in your life, body, spirit, relationships, whatever, I hope that people receive the light and allow the healing to envelope them. I extend my sincere love to people because first and foremost I am a lover and not a fighter and I believe that love is where we all begin and end. I want everyone who crosses my path and I do mean everyone,d to feel love every single day. I am sadly aware that many people go without love on a daily basis and I try to extend what I can.

The spirit of Christmas is in the love and light that I extend, and what I find the most beautiful is that I know that I am not alone. If you are reading this, then I believe that you also share your own light and love in the way that you know how. We all come to this earth with different gifts and generosities. I suppose what I am trying to get at is that it is this time of year that many of us really are able to share this love and light and have it received more easily.

I am well aware that the holidays are very difficult for many, many people. Emotions run high and can present very raw. The holidays for many bring up difficult memories and emotion that are only compounded by this time of year. To those people I find a great deal of compassion for and I try especially hard to share in the goodness of the season. It is not always well received so I try to respectfully allow them to stay where they are at, but I continue to celebrate in a way that is not as outwardly obvious when I am around them. The last thing I would ever want to do is to hurt someone further with my joy.

As we head into the last stretch before Christmas, I am eager with the full on excitement of a 5 & 8 yr old. I can't wait to have my house full of people that I love and want to know better. I can't wait to hang my stockings on the chimney. I can't wait to share what I have with those around me.

I always find the gift is in the giving, and I always find that more people give at this time of year, when others really need it the most. I find that the love and light that I love so much is gifted and received by those who normally reserve these gifts for their chosen few.

My wish for you, is that while the season gains on us, and the world begins to spin faster and our time is feeling lessened, and our chores seem to multiply, that you remember to slow down and feel the joy in the air. I hope that if you experience any sadness at this time of year, that you become open to allowing more joy to take over those spots of sadness and that you allow yourself to welcome the joy that is in the air to take over your spirit and offer you the levity that is light and love to encompass you.

Warmest Winter Wishes,

love & light,

t.

The Creativity Is Flowing...

It has been several months since I had been working on my jewelry. I had turned my focus on my family and our few months abroad. I had missed my work but I did not know how much until I prepared my Fall 2012 line. I have had so much fun getting the line together and the creative rush that has come with it.

Being a creative person,  I am always, easily inspired by my surroundings. Living on the West Coast and in the rain forest that is Beautiful British Columbia, I am inspired on a daily basis. The colours, the textures and the essence that is the West Coast can be found in my latest work.

The past few weeks have been so much fun as I have unveiled my line slowly over social media. The response has been overwhelming and it has been so much fun getting to share in the excitement that jewelry often evokes in people. Male or female, jewelry often gets a response from people whether it is emotional or physical. I know when I look at jewelry, my blood pressure rises and I get excited. I feel the same way when I look at other forms of art, also.

I get excited seeing the people around me being bejewelled in my wares, and it creates a platform for people to share in the creative energy that surrounds my work. Other people start acknowledging their own creative ideas and talents and it is just a beautiful thing.

One of my favourite things about being an artist, is being surrounded by other creative spirits. We all have some sort of creativity within us, even if you think you don't, there is a vein of artistry in you, believe me. We all have something we are good at and it may not be a form of art that we see in the mainstream, but trust me, we all own something unique and creative.

Now that my fall line has been launched, I am now focussing on my gift card line which will be on shelves at Thomas Haas Patisseries as of November 15th. I create a custom line of Holiday Cards for Thomas and his wife Lisa to sell. I will also be selling cards off of my website and at my Trunk Shows in the next two months. I love working with paper and my cards are the greatest expression of that.

To see my latest work, please visit my website: www.buddhaandtheraven.com

With all of this excitement going on, please remember to keep my sweet nephew Sean in your prayers. His personal battle with cancer has been nothing less than challenging. Unfortunately, there have been complications and set backs along his way which has kept him from feeling any relief in this journey. We have come along way but we have a long way to go and we cannot make the trip without the love and prayers from family, friends and strangers alike. We need copious amounts of white light to envelope this young spirit and lift him up while he is too weak to lift himself. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Please keep them coming.

I know that there is never a good time to bring up awkward topics, but I would not be speaking my truth if I did not bring up Amanda Todd. Her story has resonated deeply with me and I think that her loss of life has created a platform in which we can use to have those uncomfortable conversations that surround bullying. I know that our schools are discussing bullying as a result of Amanda, but she also needs to be a reminder that we need to be discussing bullying with our young kids.

There is a way to have the conversation while protecting the innocence of childhood ideologies. Even as adults we forget that gossiping is a form of bullying. It is a daily occurrence that perpetuates a negative energy that eventually costs someone their right to privacy and or peace. If we are not speaking from that authentic place of love and good will, then maybe we should not be speaking in that moment. Amanda's loss has made me recheck myself and where I can be a kinder individual. As some one who has experienced bullying both in my childhood and as an adult, I know that the power of intention when speaking is powerful and needs to be thought of when speaking.

I will leave you with love and light and with the prayer for you that everyone that crosses your path, treats you with more kindness than you expect.

xo t.

Gratitude

September has come and gone. Indeed she followed through with her promise of routine and structure and has left in her wake a month of solid sunshine and warmth that has continued into this glorious October. I have refitted the house with autumn colours and have put away the ocean blue accent pillows for yet another year.

There is something sacred about the ritual of honouring the changing of seasons. It feels slightly tribal. I can find deeper meaning in anything, but when fall rolls around it seems that there is just more meaning in most things and it is easier to find depth in daily life. People slow down again, they stop longer to chat on the street, they pick up the phone and connect again with those that summer somehow kept from us.

There are so many things to be grateful for as we close in on the last few months of 2012. This year has been one of many blessings and many profoundly rich reasons to be humbled in gratitude. If you have read any of my previous blog entries you also know that this year has challenged my family at it's core.

In all of the many blessings and challenges, there is a common thread that binds us into the same boat of grace and gratitude and that, has been our family. Whether I look back at our time in Mexico this spring or fast forward to my nephews diagnosis in June... it is the family bond that has cradled our journey in both the bliss and the blinding reality of a life threatening illness. I am not sure that there is anything more beautiful than the love that comes from the deeply bound family unit that I come from.

Growing up I never felt those ties that bind, but this more than ever I feel them, I sew them and I absolutely tend to them. The past 12 months have brought my own immediate family closer and that of my siblings and I. Don't get me wrong, I have always been close to my siblings, but like I said, when you sit in wait, between life and death, your earth bound connections strengthen in a way that is indescribable. Life changes. Important things become more vital, small things cease to exist, the sky gets bigger and your words become kinder, and you somehow learn to be braver.

I am so grateful for all of the goodness that has come my way this year. I am also grateful for the lessons that have come from the more unfortunate occurrences, for those have taught me the most, and again, at the top of that particular list you will find Cancer. I have a couple of friends and my super, awesome, brave nephew that have been battling that bitch. (forgive my french) I have been watching even closer and have seen first hand what true bravery looks like, what real courages acts like and how true grace carries us when we allow it to.

It's no secret that I am turning forty next year. Growing up, I thought that I would have life figured out by now. Instead, what I now understand is that when people say take one day at a time, it really means that we are to slow down, breathe deeply, love unconditionally and live with passion. "Live each day to it's fullest" is not just some passe quote. It really holds value to our human existence. What I have finally figured out is that there is no figuring life out. It is what it is, and our journey will become what it will, in accordance to how we respond to life on a daily basis.

Everyday is a bounty of blessings if we will just allow ourselves the pleasure of seeing the bright side. It is so easy to find the faults and shortcomings that find us in a day. It is also even easier to choose to reside in the light of each moment that is ours to claim. I am not saying that life is rainbows and butterflies, I know better, I know it is also compromise and acceptance. I also know it is exactly what we make if it.

2012 was filled with beauty. As we approach Thanksgiving, I am profoundly grateful for the love and light that has found it's way into my heart by way of family and precious friendships and I wish the same love and light to find you and yours. I hope you have been as blessed as I, and that next Thanksgiving you will have even more in your heart to be grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

In Gratitude,
t. xo

September's Promise

Looking back on what was a fantastic summer filled with friends and family, I deeply appreciate the many memories of connection and exploring. I cherish the time spent with my own children. The Silver Fox and I made a conscience decision to not put our children into summer camps this year, rather, we chose to make the most of each week by spending each day with them. We chose to do this because last summer we didn't have the same opportunity and we missed them. This year the choice was made with the fact that the youngest begins Kindergarten this year and our time together with him will be radically less. I totally support those who choose to summer camp their kids, and I will likely be among then next year, but this year was exactly what we had hoped for and made for the perfect summer for our family.

September is looming and with her she brings the promise of routine and renewed commitment to schedules and bedtimes. Soon the days will not be of my own whim, rather, I will be chained to a bell schedule that demands where my children need to be for 6 hours a day. No longer will I be the one to decide how are days are spent. This is when I have a hard time sharing... when it comes to my kids, I like to have them to myself.

I am not blind to the fact that I am also gaining a gateway into time for myself. What that means for me should be a blissful prospect, but I also acknowledge with it comes a huge responsibility. All of a sudden I am no longer a stay at home mom of 2 small children that are at home with me, it no longer applies. For sure I have my own business, but again, that is home based. I am now a free agent so to speak. I join the ranks of the veteran moms who have both children in school.

What I can say with certainty is that my time will be spent a little selfishly at first. I am going to reclaim my old gym schedule. Oh how we have missed each other. It has been far too long since I have been able to spend that kind of time on myself. I am going to finish the baby books I started for my children, or the one I meant to start for my son. Oops! I am going to connect with the friends I have lovingly ignored while raising my kids into Kindergarten. One of the most exciting prospects is that I will be able to have a  chunk of time in the day where I am not constantly looking at my watch and wondering which Pre-school I need to be at Stat! 3pm is soon to become my new best friend.

The past 8 years since my first child was born has felt like a long time, and as my second child enters to the school system I feel like I am observing a milestone and that I have earned some sort of badge. I really feel like I am about to graduate from this massive chapter in my life. I have been told by a few people that I should go for a massage the first week the kids go back to school in honour of the celebration, but what I really feel like I should be doing is getting on my knees and saying a deeply felt prayer of gratitude to the universe. We made it! All the way to Kindergarten and grade 3 with no major injuries. No major dramas. Always lots of food on the table, the roof over our head and so far no direct need that my kids should be in therapy! Whoo hoo! Success! ;) In all seriousness, I do feel totally grateful for the health and well being of my children and that so far their lives have been the kind that the Silver Fox and I have wished for them. Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for our abundance of love and light.

It is hard to believe that Christmas is merely 4 months away. You know what that means...ski season, people!
Just had to throw that in there. It is after all my fav time of the year. It will also mark the end of a remarkable year. September feels like the beginning of a new year also. The newness and refreshing of all that we have let slide for 2 months. I can't wait. Happy September. Happy New Year.

Love & Light,

t.

ps- please keep the prayers coming for Sean. we still really need them. <3

The Power of Prayer

By now you have come to realize that my family's life has stopped in it's tracks and that the mundane rhythm that propels our daily lives no longer matters. What matters is that we have a young, inspiring young member of our clan in the hospital fighting for his life.

Recently, my sister and I made the 1000 km journey through the beautiful and majestic mountains to go and spend several days with our nephew. While we naively made the trek towards him, we somehow thought that we had prepared ourselves for what we were about to encounter. Let me tell you this with all certainty... nothing could or will ever prepare you for spending long days on a children's oncology unit.

We had told ourselves that we were going in with love guns blazing ready to spread love and light in every corner of our family and that entire children's ward. When we arrived into the city after a 12 hour drive, we headed straight for the Children's Hospital. We arrived just before 8pm and the hospital had clearly wound down for the night. The halls were sparse and there was a serenity about the place. It was a little bit of an out of body experience walking toward our nephew's room. I couldn't wait to get in there and wrap my arms around him, all the while, I wanted to be anywhere for any other reason than walking down that hall toward room #1160.

When we got to the room, there Sean was. Sitting up and open arms, happy to greet his aunties. We had a brief visit as he was tired and the chemo treatment of the day had really socked it to him. Both my sister and I shared some love, let Sean show us the care package that Terry Fox's sister had personally sent to him and then we were on our way back to where my brother was staying.

The next day we had an early breakfast and headed back to the hospital. Mind blowing. The difference between the day and night within those walls, really was that... day and night. This time upon our arrival, the halls were buzzing. People coming and going. Children with tubes and drips and their entourage of care givers. There were people that were just bringing their children in for the first time and sadly, heart wrenching as it is, their were parents that were leaving the hospital for the last time, without their beloved children. My sister and I are extremely close and have a bit of a sixth sense with each other... we walked into the hospital, looked at each other and nodded. We knew that we had to suck it up and bring love and much needed levity to our sweet family.

I could go on an tell you how we spent each day distracting Sean and our brother and his family with rounds of crib and other games and stories told, but really it was my sister and I who were distracted.
We learned more about composure and grace from this 14 year old nephew of ours than anyone else could have ever taught us. His courage and strength was overwhelming and his knowledge of his course of treatment was astounding. He schooled us in the ins and outs of his therapy in a way that only further solidified his status of hero in our books.

My brother and his wife taught us about coping in the face of fear and the unknown. They definately have their own unique ways of dealing with this blow that has been dealt to them but they also have a strong united front in the face of this putrid disease called cancer.

Our other nephew Quinn, he taught us that it was okay to laugh and be comical when your family is in crisis. Not only did he laugh but he brought us all to tears constantly by way of his awesome and completely hysterical comedic self. It was clear to see that comedy is his coping mechanism and really it is his gift to all of us. Laughter heals. It's just that simple.

The nurses, the friends that visited the calls that came in,  all of it, everyone made such a difference in this journey. You never know how a simple phone call can change the entire course of someone's day. Or in this case, someone's journey through treatment.

What I also found incredibly interesting was how many of my brother and his wife's close friends were sort of staying away. Whether it is because they are just so sad or not sure what to say, let me say this loud and clear, when someone you know is in crisis, you do not need to know what to say. It is okay to just show up and say hello and that you just wanted to be with them. That is enough. Just your presence is the gift. It broke my heart that not more of their besties were showing up for them in their time of need. My brother, the nicest man on the planet, explains it that they are just waiting their turn to show up when it is the right time... I say show up people, it's okay to come and cry with us.

If you ever need a reminder how precious life is, spend a day at a Children's Hospital. There are a million reasons why we are blessed, but somehow seeing sick kids just puts everything into perspective real quick.

As it stands now, we really need your prayers. Please pray that my nephew Sean is healed of his cancer and that his entire body is returned to the simple mass of white light he came into this world as. We are counting on a miracle. Please be apart of that miracle through the power of prayer.

Please Pray.

love & light,

t.

A Ray of Sunshine on a Gloomy Day

As I eluded to in my previous blog post, our family has recently been dealt a low blow. One of our youngest members has been diagnosed with cancer. I explain to everyone as it being the same cancer that Terry Fox had.You would naturally go to that place of deep regret and despair, and where we have all experienced those very feelings and reactions, I have to convey too,  the deep beauty that has also found us.

To begin, I should mention that I have shaved my head as a sign of solidarity in this fight against cancer. I actually did it simply to make my nephew smile, and that it did. The other thing that has come as a result of my hairless head is the fact that it has raised awareness of my family's situation, in my own community. I have had people that I barely know approach me, inquiring whether or not I have cancer. When they learn that it is a young boy, they are eager to hear details and developments regarding his treatment. All of which I am grateful for. As far as I am concerned the more people I can have sending my nephew positive thoughts and white light, the better for all of us.

What I did not count on however is what happened last Wednesday. I was standing outside my daughters school waiting for her to be dismissed on what was the last day of the school year. This woman I have seen before and briefly said hello to once or twice, approached me. She had heard about my family's struggle and was inquiring about what kind of cancer my nephew had. When I told her it was a sarcoma, she tilted her head and smiled. What came next took me down at my knees and once again made me believe in guardian angels. She said to me in the most beautiful and gentle voice, " My husband, Torsten Neilsen, is one of the world's leading specialists in Sarcomas and works here in Vancouver. If he can be of any assistance to your family byway of advice or second opinions, please call on him. I know he would be happy to help you."

As I write this, it brings tears to my eyes. Could you imagine if I had not shaved my head and not inspired this woman to approach me, what kind of loss that would be. It makes it all the sweeter. We would not have the guidance of this world renowned specialist in our  back pocket. I am just so grateful and in awe of she and her family's sweet offer. I have already put her in touch with my brother and they have embarked on what will prove to be a very unique relationship.

The second scene of beauty that happened yesterday happened solely over email but was years in the making. This is really my brother's story to tell but he is always willing to share his life when it is as serendipitous as this. So, about 5 years ago my brother was doing some life coaching. After serving 25 years on the police force and finishing his career in the Tactical Unit, he was preparing for his retirement by going back to Royal Roads University and studying to become a teacher. Life coaching found him and he in turn found himself coaching a wide range of individuals on wide spectrum of subjects.

Fast forward to yesterday: my brother was at his computer when a message showed up in his inbox. The email was from a former client that he had coached. Her name is Judith and she had heard that my brothers son is ill with osteosarcoma. She wanted to extend her thoughts and prayers and to share with my brother how deeply she understood what he was going through and that he could count on her to 'coach' him through this coming months of unknowns and trials. This amazingly lovely woman was reaching out to him to dismiss whatever stress and heaviness she could in the way that she knew she could. It is a testament to the natural ebb and flow of life. When we give with love and care, we can count on receiving love and care. We do not always know in what form or which direction it will arrive from, but what goes around comes around and this lovely lady was giving back in the way that she could.

It is the next part of the email that rocked me to my core. Judith went on to explain how she knew so much about osteosarcoma. She signed off with a beautiful comment about her late brother who bravely fought the disease. (get ready for it)  ... her brother Terry, Terry Fox. In our family Terry Fox has always been all of our hero, so to have one of his immediate family members come to us with love and support has meant the world to us. More than anyone could ever know.

Again, it just goes to show you, that you never know who or when you will touch someone's life and when or if they will have the chance to repay your love and thoughtfulness. It makes me feel like I want to go into the world with softer words and kinder thoughts at all costs... you just never know what someone is going through. What they have lost, loved or fought. We all have a story and many times the scars to prove it. What I want to emphasize most though, is that we also all have beauty in our lives, even in these times when shadows are also at play. Beauty is where you find it and many times it is found in the space where you least expect it. God Bless Judith and her family and Torsten and his.

Wishing you a beautiful day.

xo t.

The Ride To Conquer Cancer

Today marked the first day of The Ride To Conquer Cancer. We walk through life thinking we are so small in the grand scheme of things, that it is very difficult for us to make a big difference in the fight against cancer. I beg to differ, and I have proof that, that it isn't so.

Team iConquer-Little/Kosick. This is a group of men who have combined their passion and loss for the greater good of those still fighting the fight and for the memory of those that were taken from us too soon. I could go into the detail of their losses, but I believe it is enough to say that these men have been touched by cancer in a staggering way that has inspired them to do what is within their ability in order to make a difference.

I am so proud that this team of men, who have NOT had any corporate sponsorship, have achieved an amazing fundraising goal of $150,000.00. I could not be prouder to call many of these men, my friend. I am also immensely proud of the women behind them who have supported their efforts in a very major way. For every man on the team, there is a wife and children that have shown incredible love and appreciation for the efforts spent by these men and they themselves have coordinated highly successful fundraisers on these riders behalves.

This week my own family has been faced with another fight against cancer. This Ride To Conquer Cancer has an especially deep meaning for us this year. Each participant in the ride has deep appreciation from everyone in our clan. They all have our deep gratitude as always, and in past years we have remembered those we know who are fighting cancer and those who have fought this ugly disease. This year we call on all of the angels that are watching from above, supporting the riders and ask them to work a little over time this year and to watch over our young family member who is new to the fight and needs a little extra help from above to stay brave and to heal quickly and for courage for his parents that are trying so incredibly hard to be strong at this time of transition.

Along with the help of everyone's angels, we are counting on the power of prayer to aid in the healing journey of this young person. I was delighted to sponsor a few of my friends this year on the iConquer team, never did I realize that I would be as grateful to them as I am for doing their part in a search to help my very own family again, by so selflessly fundraising for this year's ride.

Team iConquer is proof that we can all make a difference, especially when we join forces and decide that we are going to make a change and to make a difference. Thank you to each of those honourable men.

It makes me wonder... does the iconquer team accept girls?

xo t.

Unplugged.

Now that we have settled in after our recent return from Mexico, we have been able to digest all of what we saw and experienced. Being away in Mexico for over two months with my immediate family was a gift that just keeps on giving.

The purpose of our trip was to unplug from society and to really dive into our family unit as a whole, while experiencing new things together that would further bond us. Our foundation as a family has always been solid, but nothing would have been able to further solidify our connections the way moving to a different country where everyone else speaks a different language could. We did not go to a popular vacation destination, rather we went to a small town that happened to be a kite surfing mecca, that also worked in our favour.

The trip itself was outstanding. The people we met, the way the country treated us, the memories that were made, all were simply beautiful. Nothing however, could have prepared us for the fun and laughter that we would share together as a family unit. When we are amongst our daily routines, the work, the school, the social and business expectations, all of these responsibilities make it entirely impossible to have the levity to embrace the ease that it takes to find yourself in a space of that kind of lightness where simple pleasures reside.

Upon our return, I have had many people ask me what was the greatest take away. I have to say that despite how many people showed concern about us taking that kind of time off and away, it was the greatest gift we have given ourselves. The greatest take away was that life is a hamster wheel, and it was the first time we had ever gotten off of it. We for the first time were not on anyone's schedule except for our own whim of what feels right for us in that moment. Living in the moment, truly for the first time as a family. Watching our children live in the moment was the real highlight.

I wish this experience for each of you. It need not be a two month adventure, but ask yourself when the last time was that you actually unplugged the computer, put away your iPhone, didn't once turn on a radio or television, for the entire two week holiday you were on? How about even for a week end? I promise you that you won't be disappointed at the sense of freedom you will get, when you also make the decision to unplug and jump off the hamster wheel.

Happy Unplugging!

xo t.

ps- follow us on Twitter at :  @tiffanyhaziza

Golden Friends.

Presently I am in California and have just finished lunch with a good friend I have not seen in ten years.
It is difficult to stay in touch sometimes and with young families it can be even more difficult regardless that we are at opposite ends of the west coast.

It always amazes me that regardless that the amount of time that has passed since our last encounter, when you are with a good, authentic friend, it feels like no time has passed at all. Within an hour we can be caught up on all the real things going on in our lives, and touch base on what is to come.

I have golden friends. They come and they stay in  my heart forever. The older I get the more defined these friendships are, and the more important they are in my heart. I find that all too often we get caught up with comfortable, easy friendships that are a matter of convenience. As I embark on my return home, that I am going to allow myself to gently let go of the few convenient friendships that had been lingering around my day to day life. I need to and have some golden gems of friends that deserve my time and attention.

I am also going to commit to picking up a pen and contacting my beloveds afar by regular mail. When was the last time you got a letter from a friend? Remember how nice it feels to receive a letter by mail? I do, and I crave the basics of days gone by. I am happy to attempt to return to it even by way of snail mail.

Reach out and touch some one...

xo t.

Carpe Diem

With all of this talk lately about healthy living and using your life to live each day to it's highest potential it begs the question... "Are we really living our best lives.?"

 It is so easy to answer this question with a resounding YES! Of course that is the answer we want to give. Of course we want to be using every moment of our lives to the greatest possible use and enjoyment. The real question though is what is holding us back from living out our dreams? Whether the dream is a job, a possession or travel, what binds us from having those dreams come to fruition? More commonly than not, the number one answer I get when I ask this question is that the need to earn money somehow always comes between the dream and reality.

 Imagine for a moment if money wasn't an object. Imagine if your bills were paid, you had all of your basic needs met... would you still feel like money was an object between you and that job, that car, or that extended fishing vacation? Imagine for a minute that you redefined what was a need in your life and what is a want. What if you realized that what you thought you needed is actually what you have come to believe you need vs. your actually needs. Society has an amazing way of imposing needs upon us when really all we really need are basic essentials, our family, our friends and our own sense of need vs. want. There are so many demands placed upon via society, social media, and advertising, that if we bought into all of these demands we would all be blond haired, barbie dolls, driving convertables that very few of us can afford, all the while dressed in one designer label after another.

Don't get me wrong. I love beautiful things. I love many designer wares, but I love them because they are well made and I will likely own them forever which means they are made with amazing quality and are classic designs. Yes, I love some of these brands. No, I cannot afford many of them and yes, there have been moments where the thought of having them reigned supreme over the reality that I did not need them. I have recently come into a place of happy medium that I am very comfortable with. It took me long enough to figure it out, but it's true that there are many other high end brands, and designer names that have nothing to do with the initials, LV, CC, or YSL. There are gorgeous well made things in the world that may not last me forever, but will easily get me through the next ten years. Just long enough for my preferences to redefine themselves if they wish.

In this revelation, my family and I have found a way to find more balance between wants and needs and where and how to invest our means accordingly. No we will not be heading to the runways of Paris this year to personally hand pick next falls collection that I will be wearing, no, instead I will be heading back to my closet to revisit last year's gear that served me quite well then and will do so again I am sure. With this concession and many others like it, we have found a way to take ourselves out of society's grasp and have willed ourselves the luxury of 'unplugging' from this ever present race we all find ourselves in. Even if this reprieve is temporary, it is a starting place to grow from and it gives me hope that the simplicity that I have craved in my life is one step closer to living a more authentic life, and one step farther away from 'needing'.

 I hope this post encourages you to take inventory of what it is that has eluded you and to find a way to manifest it in your own life. We all have it in us to live our dreams, it is more about determining when is the right time for ourselves to claim that dream once and for all. In the meantime, this will be my last post for a while. Carpe Diem.

 Gone Fishin',
t.

"National Let's Talk Day"

Anyone who really knows me, knows that 'wellness' to me, means more than just physical wellness.
Mind, body and spirit wellness are equally, if not more important than just the wellness of our vessel.
Today is "Let's Talk Day." It means let's talk about the unmentionable, awkward, uncomfortable subject
that as a society we have for generations not discussed. Depression. There, I said it. ;)

To know me is to know I am loud and I am proud. I have a reputation of living my life out in the open.
I have championed many causes that are not even my own. It should be expected that today of all days
that I would rally and own the fact that my family, like many others knows a thing a two about depression/
bipolar disease.

Unlike many Canadians, I am not affected by the harsh stigma that comes with the topic of Mental Illness.
I have my own personal experience with this and I am here to tell you that it would be easier to have
a permanently broken arm rather than having a mental illness. At least with a broken arm you have a visible
cast that garners understanding, compassion and acceptance of the medical condition that needs medical attention.
Depression is so invisible that it is not greeted by the same, much needed love.

Mental Illness has been seen as a weakness, a flaw, a damaged and unreliable mind, which is as far
off as could be. Mental illness, in the case of Bipolar disease is in fact genetic and represented
in Chromosome 22. With the proper medication this disease can go without any significance in ones life.
Gone untreated is a very different and destructive story. It can lead to behaviours that alienate life
long friends, poor decision making which can often lead to suicidal tendencies. #harsh.

There are telltale signs of mental illness and all you have to do is google depression or bipolar
to read for yourself the ways that you can spot an ailing friend. A few obvious ones are that they
seem to fall off the face of the earth. They stop calling, calling you back, showing up when they
said they would. When they do surface their behaviour is erratic and nonsensical compared to what
their 'normal' would be. Those are just a few of the initial signs that you would notice. My personal
recommendation would be to show up on their doorstep and get inside their 'cocoon'. From there
you have a chance to 'reach them'. Otherwise you will notice that there is very little opportunity
to actually engage them. Just a few thoughts for you on this day when we need to break the silence
and find those friends that may be suffering in silence.

I can speak to depression and bipolar with some authority and I would like to mention that
along with being a little crazy (I speak that with the utmost respect and humour)comes a
a little bit of brilliance also. Among a few of my favorite bipolar peeps, you will find are
none other than Oprah, Bill Clinton, Sarah Mclachlan, Andy Warhol, Albert Einstein, Marilyn Monroe,
Catherine Zeta-Jones,Charlie Sheen, Lindsey Lohan, Bono, Ben Stiller, Britney Spears, Vincent Van Gogh,
Ernest Hemingway, Kurt Cobain, Robert Munsch, Amy Winehouse, Jane Pauly, Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie,
Dan Brown,Sting, John F.Kennedy, JFK Jr, Jacqueline F. Kennedy...to name a few.

You see, a few brilliant people all dealing with the highs and lows of mental illness.
The disease has no preference, it can hit any of us. Anytime.

My hope is that this blog entry inspires you to talk about depression with those you
live with, love and work with and those you haven't heard from in a while.

Love & Light,

t.

Perception Meets Reality

It seems that it was just yesterday that I sat down to welcome 2012, and now
I find myself preparing for February. I am amazed at just how fast time flies.

This year has already provided a valuable lesson. Have you ever had a trip
planned and been so excited about it that you imagined just how awesome it
was going to be? Such is the case with me. I had, had a trip planned for
nearly a year. It was for my sweet, young cousin's destination wedding.

I was going to travel solo and the thought it was a brilliant idea. No kids
to watch after, a loving husband staying home to love them up. What
could be more perfect? Well, if you are anything like me, you are
likely capable of romancing an idea to the max. I had built this
trip up to be epic and it really was in every way until day 6, that is.

Day 6 came with a big dose of reality. I missed my family terribly. The
original idea of traveling without them was more than fine, but the reality
made it less than fine. I had not anticipated getting nearly as home sick
as I became. It may have had something to do with all of the great people
I met and wanting to share them with my best friend and partner in life...
or it may have had to do that all of those great people were also there
with their better halves.

So, the lesson for me was to be careful how perception does not always
meet reality. Again, the trip was epic, the wedding was epic and I could
not have been happier that my sweet cousin Megan had the wedding of her dreams
and I was so honoured to be apart of her dream day.

There were so many amazing people I met, Poc, Kourtnee, Kristin, Ashley, etc...
these are now friends that I would not have otherwise met that eased the pain
of missing my family. These amazing women were the gift my cousin gave to
me- by simply inviting me with her to the Mayan Riviera. I love it
when my sisterhood grows with strong, fierce and lovely women.

I was able to gift some of my jewelry while away. It inspires me
to create new work. Even though I am on a hiatus from Buddha & The Raven,
I am still allowing myself to be inspired and to create personal pieces
for personal friends. One charity I am honoured to be donating to is for the iconquer
team which is apart for the Ride to End Cancer Foundation. I love the
opportunity to chip in and support my friends and pay homage to those
I have loved that are fighting cancer and for those who didn't win
the battle.

If you ever have a cause that needs a charitable donation, don't
ever pause to contact me. You can count on me to donate in some
capacity.

My personal charity of choice is in memory of our beautiful Kerry Kirstiuk.

www.campkerry.com


Sending you all love & light,

t.

Welcome 2012

So, here we are. In a blink of the eye 2011 was here and gone, and we find ourselves a little wiser and a little worn but we survived with successes just in time to greet a new year. It is amazing how incredibly full this past year was. So many blessings and so many heartfelt lessons. I wish I could say that they were all enjoyable, but I can say they all left me for the better. I love a new year. I love the fresh slate and the gift of a second chance to get 'it' right. The new year is the promise of a new day. I have such a good feeling about this coming twelve months and the adventure and love that it has in store for all of us. Embarking on uncharted territory can make us cautious and reserved; however, if there is one thing I know for sure, it is that jumping in with both feet makes for a less shocking entry. The more timid we are, the less invested we become. It is my hope that I and everyone that is reading this finds it within them to dive in to whatever and wherever their hearts lead them. (while being responsible and considerate) This year my sole purpose is to focus on my family. I have made the thoughtful decision to step away from my business and to direct that energy on the three people who mean the most to me. On the heels of a year where jewelry took up my every spare moment, whether it be in creating, sourcing, or designing... this year I am taking my life back and giving thanks to the amazing opportunities that Buddha & The Raven allowed me. I am not shutting down the business, I am simply taking a year hiatus. If last year taught me one thing, it is that it is impossible for me personally to do 7 things really well. It is not a lack of effort, it is a lack of ability. I am capable of kicking ass if I limit my plate to a couple of things. Funny how it took me 30 something years to figure that one out. So, as I head out in to this amazing year I give thanks to my friends and family for the love and support that I know I will have with me. I only hope they know that I am right behind them all the way. Wishing you all your highest and the greatest good for your own wishes for 2012. You deserve every joy your heart desires. Go get it! Love & Light, t.