How Others Live: Africa in a Tent

" Elizabeth L. Gilbert began her career as a war photographer in the 1990’s, covering some of the most tragic events in human history such as the Rwandan genocide and civil war in Somalia. After years of conflict, a disillusioned Gilbert set out to point her cameras at the disappearing vestiges of traditional Africa. She 
succeeded at capturing some of the very last photographs of a vanishing world."

Living a true nomadic life, Gilbert lives six months out of the year living in her canvas tent in Africa documenting old tribal rituals that are dying off. I've had pictures up on my wall of her tent on and off for a couple years now. Someday maybe I'll live in a luxurious tent for an extended period of time too.

Article: http://indienyc.com/interview-elizabeth-l-gilbert-photojournalist-matt-goldman-director-the-last-safari/
Photos: http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/ideas/elizabeth-l-gilbert-africa-tent
http://www.explorers.org/index.php/events/detail/nyc_film_screening_the_last_safari

How to Know Your Life Purpose in 5 Minutes

Do you ever feel like you're not really sure what exactly you're supposed to do here on the earth? I feel that way a lot. I mean, sure, I'm a wife and mother, I strive to simplify my life because I make my life dramatic as it is, I need to find some kind of peace, and I'm religious, and almost have a bachelors degree, but I still feel like I have something special to bring to the world. I believe we all do because we're all so unique, so I dwell on this a lot. This TEDx talks really inspired me a few months ago. I hope you enjoy this!

By the way,...I'll be in Paris in just a few more hours! I won't be blogging much about my Paris trip until I get back home but I will still be blogging for the next 3 1/2 weeks while I'm away. (Really these blogs are all on a timer so I can just enjoy my trip!) Loves!

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Free Food and Medicine

 You might remember this book from this post here. I got it for my birthday. I am so excited to develop my new found hobby of eating wild plants! There is a guy up in Canada that gets all his food in a 1 mile radius of his house, and he lived in the suburbs. So I plan on going around my 1 mile radius to see what is edible where I live. Plus foraging in the mountains. This book identifies all kinds of things from what we call "weeds" to things we have domesticated into our own vegetable gardens, and things you would find in the desert, mountains, tropics, the list goes on. It also tells if the plant's leaves, stem, fruit, and root is edible and the benefits we receive from it. I think that learning what plants are edible around us is just one of the ways to be able to survive any catastrophe we might face. And the way the economy is going, it's good to be prepared. Not to mention I recently took a test to see how I learn best and it said I learn things when in nature so this book is right up my alley.

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Photos taken by yours truly.

My Experience With Short Hair

(3-years-old. My brother Kyle & I). 

It only takes one time as a toddler to cut your hair to realize your hair goes from this (above) and this (below) to....

(What I was typically dressed in at 4-years-old)

 This:

 (4-years old Preschool)

And this:

 Since then, my mom always cut my hair short with bangs...

 (9-years-old)

 (Almost 11-years-old. I was a "temptress" for Halloween?! Mom why didn't you explain what a temptress was to me and then tell me I couldn't be that for Halloween!?)

At around 12-years-old I decided that I was only going to have long hair, except for one exception here when I cut it short for picture day in 8th grade, but still, not as short as in the past:

 Since then I have been trying so hard for my hair to grow, and it finally grew long and thick and beautiful when I was pregnant!

 But now that my baby is 4 months old (tomorrow!!!) My hair has been falling out in globs! Like, I'm surprised I still have any left! So I cut it!!!!!!!!!!! From this:

 And this:

 To this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE IT! The girl who cut it said she was surprised how well I was taking my new haircut, because a lot of people wish they hadn't once it's too late.I'm surprised too. I really loved my long hair, but I felt I needed a new change. She cut around 8 or so inches. What do you think?

Pregnant Raw Vegan Controversy

 Loni Jane Anthony, a 25-year-old expecting mother follows a 80/10/10 raw vegan diet created by Dr. Douglas Graham. Meaning 80% of food is carbs, 10% fat, and 10% protein. She has made quite the controversy because of those that call her diet "extreme." Many have expressed their worry and concern for her baby because of her diet strictly just fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

"She says she switched to the diet, created by longtime athlete and trainer Douglas Graham, after a lifestyle of heavy drinking and lots of junk food that led to a battery of health problems. 'I started getting skin infections, acne, and putting on weight, which was weird because I'd always been so slim,' she says. 'I wanted to sleep all the time and ended up with a whole range of health problems including candida overgrowth, hormone imbalance, irregular periods, and hair loss. I also got really sick on a trip (read: fully-blown bender) to Thailand and picked up parasites and dengue fever.' 

After a series of antibiotics made her sicker, Anthony says she came across Graham’s diet book, 'The 80/10/10 Diet," which taught her that “you can live and thrive on this lifestyle by just eating higher carbohydrate vegetables, fruits, and juices, and keeping your diet low fat. You even keep good fats low to keep your blood sugar stable. It's been amazing.'

Graham tells Yahoo Shine in an email that there is no reason to worry about Anthony's diet. 'Eating fruits and vegetables, universally acclaimed as health foods, is not dangerous. A pregnant woman needs extra calories, but neither she nor her unborn baby benefit when she eats foods that lead to illness,' he says. 'Some folks see 80/10/10 as a threat, thinking that if they eat healthy foods it will mean they can never eat their unhealthy foods ever again. This is not so. People can and do eat what they want.'" 

Food is such a sensitive subject because in a way it defines who we are. Though during pregnancy I do think her intake of fat and protein should be increased, isn't eating fruits and vegetables good for you? I mean according to the Food Matters documentary, in 23 years only 10 people will die from supplement overdosing where as over 10,000 people die every year from adverse affects of medication. This is medication prescribed by doctors, not including people who overdose or abuse prescription drugs. That is a lot of people!!! And she doesn't supplement, it's right from the source. I mean isn't her diet better than the many pregnant women who eat processed food and fast food everyday?
I'm interested to see what you guys think about her "extreme" diet.

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If you would like to read the full article you can here: http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/is-she-bananas--pregnant-woman-on-raw-fruit-diet-causes-controversy-194918045.html

Holiday Gift Guide

Here is just a mini gift guide of somethings I've been thinking about wanting, even though Christmas is in 2 weeks which is really soon. But if you're anything like me, you're probably not done with your shopping.

They're organic olive oil infused hand cremes. Great size for stocking stuffers. L'Occitane $28

Great Wabi Sabi cherry wood cutting board. Gray Work Design $85

Bamboo to-go utensils has chopsticks, a fork, knife, and spoon! Amazon $13

5 different salts! Salt-Farm $22

Glass smoothie straws. 4 for $16 Amazon

Organic natural canvas, for my nomadic life ;) $198 Infusion

Bamboo bowl for salads. Can't eat this much yet at once but I'm working on it. Amazon $28
Here's just a few things that I think are good gifts. I know my taste is a bit costly. But these gifts aren't nearly as expensive compared to what I'm really getting for Christmas....

Paris!

Paris photo: http://www.loveskinspa.com/

6 Fall Closet Cleanout Tips

Fall is one of those great times out of the year to clean out your closet. While some of the clothes that you wear in the Summer months still work for Winter too, the days are getting much colder. This is a transition period. So take a day to clean out your cluttered closet and re-organize it using these simple tips.

1. Pull everything out and get rid of the things that you honestly don't wear anymore. As in, the things that you really don't have an attachment to, but still have it to fill the space in your closet. (I know we all have some of those clothes). Empty space is good though. It leaves room for you to see the clothes that you actually do like wearing.

2. Try on the clothes that you haven't worn in a while to see if you still like it, or if it even fits you still.

3. Get rid of the stuff that doesn't fit you. I know, I know, it's going to fit you by this time next year right? Stacy and Clinton from TLC's What Not To Wear have always said, dress yourself in the clothes that you fit into now, not the ones you'll fit into later. Unless of course you just had a baby within the last year or something. If you have "baby fat" from 5 years ago, no, wear clothes that fit you now.

4. Neatly fold and hang the clothes that you are keeping so that you can actually see everything you have.

5. Either sell or give away the rest. There are places online to sell items worth value and also a yard sell, if you start looking around your house and realize there's maybe a lot of things you could do with out! :) But personally I prefer giving it to the thrift store. Just remember that when thrift stores have too many clothes they are shipped to places all around the world where it gets a second life and given to those who really needs them.

6. It was going to be just 5 tips but I highly recommend writing a list of your ideal wardrobe and stick to it. Only buy what's on your list. If you want some ideas you can check out my ideal wardrobe list here & here.

I hope you enjoy the pleasurable feeling from clearing out the clutter. Don't forget to subscribe by e-mail or with your blogger account!


Original Article: http://www.blogher.com/5-fall-closet-cleanout-tips
Photo: http://www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/valleygirlblog/news/10-tips-for-organizing-your-closet/

Getting Out of The Poor Mentality

I guess you could say this is my belated Thanksgiving, thankful note. With about half the world living on $2.50 or less a day, (that's well over 3 billion people!), and about 80% of the world living on $10 or less a day, I have so much to be thankful for. Now, like my economist husband pointed out to me, we're comparing dollars and in some countries a dollar really goes a long way, yes, true, but living in America alone we are so richly blessed. Honestly, unless you are too stubborn to get help, you don't ever have to go without food, shelter, or clothing in the United States! One point my husband and I only had $15 dollars in our bank account, right before I was about to panic, I looked around at my apartment. I still had a warm home, food in my cupboards, and everything else that I needed. I am greatly blessed with abundance and feel like I'm living like a Queen! One of my most favorite talks I have heard was given at my school about how even though as college students we seem to be poor, here on campus, we are some of the richest people in the world because we actually have the opportunity to get an education. And with this education we can help those that are not as fortunate as we are. So that is what I have to share during this holiday time. I am so so so thankful for the abundance I have been blessed with. My physical needs are met, and I have been blessed with the richness of education and the wealth of good family and friends! So before you think of all the things you don't have, and maybe think you need to purchase for yourself this holiday season, try thinking of what you already have been given.

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Talk: Caring For The Poor and Needy
Photo: http://megainsights.com/poverty-mentality-among-nigerians/