Be happy, despite not being happy, get that?

Happiness is a state of mind. Not a bank account number or fancy clothes, arm candy, sex, drugs, and all that shit. Being happy is a way of feeling a way of acting and an outlook on life. I live a very happy life despite what happens around me. I make a conscious effort to not let other peoples worries & troubles infiltrate my own feelings and inner thoughts. My message from Yehuda this week is all about Building on a Moment. I share this message and the 72 Name of the Week, my favorite one:

49. Happiness - Vav Hei Vav
(Scan the letters from Left to Right to connect to the energy)
Meditation: I find the strength to restrain selfish longings. Through this Name I ask for what my soul needs, not what my ego wants. I find deep appreciation for whatever life brings me. This brings me happiness in the deepest sense.

"The only thing we can do when faced with chaos and pain is accept things as they are and be happy in that moment. The genius of this logic is one moment is carried into the next. When we put all our effort into seeing the good, to pushing back the darkest doubts and to injecting light and happiness, we go into the next moment carrying that energy.

Switching up the energy, that's what we're doing. Difficult? Yes. Paradoxical? For sure. Doable? Without a doubt.

Lots of people are in the dumper lately, that's no news flash. And I think this idea of building on the moment is especially relevant. It doesn't mean we have to resign ourselves to a bad situation or relationship. I think we have a habit of thinking "I can't be happy now because I have this problem and if I accept it I will never get rid of it."

The energy that goes into being happy, internally ignites change on the external level. That's the beauty of life: everything can change just like that. Even when things aren't as you want them, if you can train yourself to be happy in the moment, then you will see dramatic shifts forward.

On top of that, why be miserable and unhappy? Look back at your life. If you had certain parts to do over, would you do them over with apathy, boredom and fear? Or would you rip into those situations with confidence and verve?

This week, call yourself out on your negative thought loops. Break it in your mind. Pay attention to how often your feeling of desperation and doubt are in control. Practice being excited and happy - even when you're not.

To keep it simple, here's a 3 step reminder for the week:

1. Accept the difficult situation for what it is
2. Be happy, despite not being happy (get that?)
3. Switch the moment, leading to a new continuum of happiness

All the best,

Yehuda"

Ridiculously Happy.

Jesus, how lovely. Looks like I make people happy. Mission accomplished: be a happy person and it will be contagious. You all know that I'm a very positive young lady, thanks to The Twitter Happiness score for myself I now have confirmation.

The current Happyscore for casiestewart is: 563

"Generally, people who have followed this person on Twitter
lately will perceive this person as Ridiculously Happy."

black and white and red all over

It's not nearly as warm as it looks outside. The sun is shining and so am I but the air is breezy and cold. I walked past a truck that said 'smart' on it and I thought, hey that's me. There's three more cases of Swine Flu in the GTA. Mild, but still crazy. I don't like pigs. They gross me out. I'm glad I never went to Mexico, I don't think I will ever go now. Not really into dying, there's lots of other nice beaches that aren't deadly. I love this spot in the afternoon. The sun shines so very bright. I just got a cheque for retro pay on a raise, exciting but not massive. I'd like a massive cheque with my name on it. Or a trip. Or a new laptop. Or new shoes. I love shoes. I pulled these red boots out from storage. I love red shoes the most. I like red cars too. I used to think red cars go faster. I've never had a car. I never needed one. I'd like my first car to be a Porsche. Dad wants a Porsche too. Chatted him today. He's busy building hot rods. I like that. He sounds happy. I'm happy too.

Twestival Update - dig that well!

On February 12th 2009 I was part of a team that put together Twestival Toronto (#twestivalTO). If you don't know about Twestival I posted a bunch about it here and here. Our city was one of hundreds that took part to raise money for charity:water to drill wells in places where people did not have access to clean water. Toronto raised about $10,000 and all cities together raised about $250,000. The event was fun and I met a ton of great people because of it.

I'm happy to share with you that Twestival well drilling has begun. This video is Day 1 in Ethiopia. It's touching to see how happy the village is!

Day 1 from Ethiopia from charity: water on Vimeo.

so, like, who's your friend?

Check out this little feature about yours truly on Canadian Blog Friends. They contacted me recently to profile me and my blog. They said I've been doing good. I think that's great. The site, Canada Blog Friends is an index of our nation’s best blogs. I'm happy to now be added to the mix! Check it out & leave a comment on there. I'd be really happy for you to share your thoughts. Thanks for all the love ♥

change your perspective

Have you been feeling down? Is the cold weather and season giving you a reason to frown? Have no fear for I am here and we will take that thought and toss it!! Change your perspective. Each day, hour, minute that passes is one closer to Spring, Summer and sunshine. There are a million things to be happy about. Each day is a new day and you have new thoughts and new things come into your life. Be happy about that. I never know from one day to the next what will come up in this online diary. It is exciting for me to write my thoughts down, the memories are what keeps me going. Pictures of the beach and me make me smile too.

Happy Halloween

I wish you all a very Happy Halloween. I love to dress up and today is one of my most favorite days of the year. Always has been! I am at work in Zombie gear today. I called Mum and she's at work as a Butcher. Totally hot!

Year of the Ox Brings Good Luck & Obama

On the Western calendar the start of the Chinese New Year falls today and marks the The Year of the Ox. I'm wishing all my Chinese friends and readers a Happy New Year!

In my office we are having a catered buffet of Chinese food for lunch. I am absolutely starving so I'm counting down the minutes. Just looking at this picture makes my tummy rumble!!

Famous studs who are born in Ox years: Johann Sebastian Bach, Napoleon Bonaparte, Charlie Chaplin, George Clooney, Walt Disney, Anton Dvorak, Clark Gable, George Frideric Handel, Oscar De La Hoya, Richard Nixon, Barack Obama, Aishwarya Rai, Wayne Rooney, Vincent Van Gogh

Totally Kick'in It - Bettykiss Inc. Style

Retro inspired and ravishingly beautiful.

One of my incredibly talented friends has created something worth blogging about.

With her amazing sense of style and personality to boot, Arianne's Bettykiss Style Inc. is creating a revolution of clutch couture. Reversible retro inspired clutches that are bashfull and beautiful. Bettykiss Style "vows to remain true to the heart & life of a past era while injecting the sensibilities based on inspiration found in music, fashion & pop culture today.” I've been planning how many to order and exactly what styles and fabric I want. You can purchase via the webiste or direct from the group on Facebook (click picture to be redirected). I have known Arianne for several years and I am quite happy to see her true colors showing in such a wearable way. Well, a way I can wear her style now!!

To quote and recognize the fabulous designer, "let’s make impossibilities deliciously attainable; temptation just became a little more tangible. It’s ALWAYS been about you - I don't care what Joni or Janet have to say."

For more information click the photos to be linked up with my girl Arianne and her fantabulous style. ♥

i'd like a ride in a little deuce coupe

Happy it's Friday, I mean Thursday. Nothing much planned for the weekend because I would really like to rest and be lazy and stay at home and show my TV some TLC. Saw these guys looking pretty in the sunshine on the way to work.

When I was little my Dad had a hot rod shop called 'Toys for Boys'. That site is someone else in NSW, Australia but you get it. His shop was B.I. (Before Internet). He made some of the best hot rods around and worked with the now late Boyd Cottington. Dad also worked with the Horton team at Horton Street Rod & Parts in Breslau. Today's sweatshirt features one of Dad's 32's. I'm pretty sure Mum used to wear it.

what a beauty she was

I had an awesome weekend. I'm digging that I'm not making myself feel like I have to blog on the weekend. Now that it's springy and warm outside I want to get out and enjoy it. Really, really gotta get my bike on the road. I'm wearing open toed shoes today. The Gladiators. Today is Samuel Morse birthday and Google's logo is in Morse code. I dig it. I've thought about getting a poem I wrote tattooed in Morse code. I like the way it looks.Cara and I went to Frock Swap on Saturday afternoon near Kensington. It was lovely. I snagged a few nice dresses. I'm lucky that so many vintage dresses are mini and they fit me just right. I always find a few jems. I wore these Pooh's on my head while I was there. I liked them, they made me feel cool.

I wore a strapless long dress tho show the shoulders to the sun. They got some love for sure. I also picked up a few new pairs of glasses. Necessary to have about a zillion pairs. I lose/break a few each year and I've got a drawer full of backups. Happy that the sun came out to play.

mail is great, especially when it has style

I love getting mail. Makes me happy. I mean real old fashioned snail mail. The kind mum sends in the summer when she's sailing on her boat and abandons the internet. The kind with stamps.

The only people who really send me mail are mum and companies that want me to test out, chat about, review their stuff. I get all my packages delivered to my office because I love when they get dropped off at my desk and the girls go 'oooooooh what did you get this time' and it makes me feel even happier to get it. This year I have been given subscriptions to Wired (totally love the most) and Flare (props to Canada). Flare arrived this week. Getting mags for free and delivered is much more fun than buying them. I like this section on of stuff. I buy alot of vintage stuff and this is 'stylespiration'. Yes, that is a word, I just added it to the Urban Dictionary.

2009 ArtVenture: The AGO (Ontario Art Gallery)

Last night I had the pleasure of going to the AGO, again. TGFFW (Thank God For Free Wednesdays). I love it there. So many inspiring ideas which arouse my wild & creative mind. I decided to make my own art and snuck a few shots in. Please don't be mad my dear AGO or Mr. Gehry for it is so lovely I just could not help myself. This is my favorite. You know I love Andy.I really enjoy some of the modern stuff and photography. I was looking at some of the pictures and I saw this total stud, I don't know what it is about him. I have a thing for nerdy dudes.I love the staircase. How is winds around and shows beautiful views of the city lights. It makes me happy to dance around the stairs as they twist and turn and travel higher.Its is super busy on Wednesday's since it is free. The gallery opens at 6pm and closes at 8:30pm. This is not enough time to get around the whole place. There are many nooks and cranny's of artistic expression. Coat check is $1 and you have to check your bags. You are allowed to sketch in pencil, but not in pen. I like to write.

a kwik shave

Spring is in the air and I was feeling like an update. I get my hair done by Darren at his lofty salon in the heart of Queen Street West.

I love it! Darren you did an awesome job! It's super blonde and I got a new shave. I'm really happy. So glad I had camera with me this time. You can get Darren to do your hair too if you want it to look beautiful.

thanks for the gift bag

Last night I attended an exclusive event at Gaffa's Fine Eyewear boutique on Queen Street. It was OK. Lots of people, style, music, wine and simple snacks. I was happy to be able to check it out. However, there was one problem, they promoted that there were these swanky gift bags for all attendees valued at $300. This obviously got peoples attention. The event was from 7-10.pm I went at 8:30, was told I was "too early for gift bag"by an employee. Annoying. So, I went back at 10pm and another girl said "oh we took the rest to Lobby". Like WTF. There was no way I'd be chasing that much! These glasses were my favorite. UPDATE: I got an email from Mr. Gaffas and maybe I will buy my glasses there. It was very nice of him to reply to my email. I understand that it was a 'gift' but I was there two times. I went to the event based on a friends recomendation from a far away country. I know it's a great shop with great glasses. I'll let you all know how my store visit goes tomorrow.

run.on.sentence #328

borderlineartistic.november20098

today i am feeling a bit of a cold and possibly by the news reports with all the tragedy and gun fights that happened last night some others are feeling cold too i'm staying in all day and i'm wearing a pirate shirt and i put the zombie tattoo on again last night because i love it i've got pen and paper and links in my fingers to share and i'm going to write about things that i like because that is what like to do and it makes me happy when i do it and i'm glad to know that other people like reading it because there is nothing more fun than making art and sharing it with people you like andy warhol told me once that being good in business is the best kind of art and i totally agree with that its the best and most free that you can be just creating things and putting it out there

yeah, i'd call it a good friday

Today is good Friday. All that means to me is l.o.n.g. weekend. Heck yes! I went for a walk and coffee and soaked up some sunshine. Then I came home and hung out with my BFF; we look very much alike.

I've been feeling super busy lately and have been looking forward to this weekend so I can chill out and relax. I love spending time at home with myself. It's really important to take time for yourself & recharge. If I don't get self time I get grumpy. Today, I'm feeling great. Happy Holiday to everyone celebrating. I'll be celebrating myself!

the brighest sun in the sky

Is shining down today. Its warm out. I feel happy. I'm extremely grateful for the friends I have in my life. I love you. I jumped out of bed this morning and put on one of my new bathing suits from the Billabong sample sale. I got two amazing bikini's and a hot one piece. Great deals. It's still on today at 67 Mowat if you're interested. There's mad deals. I think I'll be wearing them all day! Still no plan for later, we'll just have to see how the day goes! I like it that way.

raincoat & wellies and clouds in the sky

Today is cloudy and I've got lots to do. I took these yesterday, they're for you. I've got some things to post later too. Drinking a coffee and feeling neat, I wonder what catering will bring today to eat?

Thank you Daily Challenge for giving me this camera. If you don't know, I won it in their Holiday Do Gooder contest. I love it. It make me very happy to share all kinds of random snipits of my life with the world. Like this little guy:

Bettykisses for Moi!!

I got something totally fabulous in the mail this week. Arianne at Bettykiss Style sent me one of her couture signature clutches. It is satin, pink, zebra AND reversible. I had seen them online but let me tell you, it is gorgeous!! I absolutely love it.

It came in a nice box and I was quite excited to open it!

Then, there was another box. It was tied up with a lovely pink ribbon.

Opening the packaging made me feel so very special!

My cute clutch is revealed!!

The little card inside says:
"Thank you for finally doing something for yourself.
You are a true Blue Betty...with Kicks and kisses, Bettykiss"

Isn't it just lovely!!There is more greatness, the holiday special price of each clutch is $20 or two for $35. Shipping is about $10 but if you are in the GTA, you can arrange to have it delivered at no extra cost.

I'm going to be taking an order and having them delivered to me. If you'd to get some Bettykiss for yourself contact through here or email me at sales@casiestewart.com to get in on my order if you live close.

Happy Friday!! ♥