Livin' free!

Livin' free and funky fresh!

The other night, I went to the big ol' city of Toronto to visit my soul sister for some peace, love and conversation. While munching our yummy, gluten-free, vegan meal at Java House on Queen West, we stoked a conversation that eventually led to matching peace sign tattoos on our forearms.

My girlfriend and I feed off of each other like fire does oxygen. She is one of those beautiful old souls without a care in world. Since neither of us take ourselves very seriously, the decision to get peace sign tattoos that resemble the art of a five year old boy was a pretty lighthearted one. We could see three tattoo parlors from our restaurant window so we had to research which place on Queen had the best energy. Wes Virtanen, owner of Body of Art was the most chill guy on Queen West. When two virgins came into into his shop wanting to get some basic tattoos, he wasn't snobby or condescending. Yay for non-hipster tattoo artists!! Wes inked my girlfriend and I up in less than an hour and off the three of us went to get many "two for one" pints at The Hideout. Moral of the story is: If you are getting inked in Toronto, Wes Virtanen of Body of Art is going to be your first choice  and NEVER take yourself too seriously. If ever your best friend or soul brother/sister wants to get a matching, permanent piece of body art, I suggest you do it with no regrets. Even in one hundred years, I'll still believe in peace. Perfect!

Slowly Slowly desensitized... So you wanna buy bulk eh?

I know this is supposed to be a no-negativity zone but sometimes I need to let a bit of the fire out. hypocrite! I know!

Maybe it's because I haven't seen this kind of waste in a long time or maybe it's because I make a conscious effort to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost daily. Whatever the reason  is, I was in a state of shock and awe at the sight of this garbage town. In order to sell mass produced vegetables inexpensively, this grocery store has decided to package EVERYTHING and then put those packages into more packages to prevent bruising. Suddenly, vegetables don't look so fresh smothered in toxic plastic. The waste doesn't stop there. The store markets new and existing products by giving out free samples with plastic utensils, Dixie cups and napkins. The turnaround for the plastic forks are less than one minute. The thought that comes to mind... Where does all of that waste go? While the company (in Ontario) claims to practice environmental stewardship, one can only wonder can they do more? I'm waiting on a response to an e-mail that I sent to Costco regarding environmental policies the company has put into place. The truth is, change starts with the consumer. Unfortunately, the average shopper is so desensitized to this kind of waste and so they don't think twice about promoting it. Who can blame them? The people who avidly shop here are not bad people, nor are they uninformed or ignorant. As society, many of us are just so desensitized to seeing this daily that we don't think of the environmental impacts. Truth - THERE IS A LOT OF WASTE IN THIS ONE PICTURE! This is a only a small portion of the store. Multiply this waste by the number of stores there are in the world and then multiply that number by how many "bulk" grocery stores exist in total. I could go on ranting but I think the point is clear. Where does all of this plastic (that doesn't break down) go? My guess, the ocean. Check out this Vice episode if you feel like being repulsed http://www.vice.com/en_ca/toxic/toxic-garbage-island-1-of-3. Make a stand, open your eyes to this kind of thing and just say no. You don't have to promote this kind of waste and over-consumption. Buy within your needs, purchase locally sourced goods to help lessen large freight shipments, buy organic to help lessen the toxicity of our air and soil. Also, do we really need to eat those processed, refined samples they are giving out?


xoxox

Valentina

Ten Simple ways to help a happy environment

Here are a few super simple ways to help big momma earth by barely lifting a finger

1) Put a smile on (no seriously, smack a smile on that heartbreaking grill!)

2) Cook your pasta on MEDIUM with a lid instead of HIGH with no lid

3) UNPLUG electronics while not in use to help vampire energy loss. Cell phone chargers, blenders, coffee makers, toasters. Just because you aren't using them doesn't mean they aren't still drawing a current.

4) Done using your computer? Shut it down!

5) Take bags to the grocery store instead of using theirs. Please!

6) Make eye contact and smile at passers by. Shame on them if they think you're crazy. :)

7) RECYCLE and COMPOST! If you need a hand to get started ---> http://www.toronto.ca/compost/balcony.htm

8) Bring your own cup to a coffee shop. Decorate it yourself if you want. Show off your art!

9) Shop for clothes at thrift stores. Don't create a demand for something that has already been made.

10) Eat organic, in season and local. I know I know, eating organic is such a trend isn't it. Well be smart about it. If you are buying Clorox "green" products than yes, I would assume they are capitalizing on pseudo environmentalists. Just know what you're buying.


Make love spread peanut butter


XOXO

Valentina

Valentine's day burlesque

Group finally with all of the ladies

Miss Scarlett Mary Rose

 This year on Valentine's day, instead of following the tradition of  gorging myself with chocolate and candy with my boyfriend, I gorged myself with raunch with my girlfriends at the Heavy Pedal Burlesque show. This was one of the most memorable Valentine's day events that I have ever been fortunate enough to experience! The evening opened with Miss Scarlett Mary Rose singing "Light my fire" by the Doors and progressed with humorous and sexy solo acts, an INCREDIBLE spoken word artist, group hula act, neo drag burlesque, boylesque and a seductive group finally!

The sassy evening provided me with a permanent grin and reaffirmed my absolute desire to become a burlesque dancer, at least for one show! My Burly Q dream is within reach, I'm manifesting my destiny and Miss.Synchronicity is working in mysterious ways. Tomorrow is a day of elegant sass at Casa Honey Buns for a "Hot Mess Burlesque" photo shoot! Photos and blurb about the creative event to follow!



Xoxox

Valentina

           Love the skin you're in! Because killing is creepy.

Good-bye vintage leather jackets!

Good-bye vintage leather jackets, you will be given to someone who loves you just as much as I once have. Farewell leather boots... just walk away! Animal unfriendly beauty products? They shall be donated as well. And so, I'll make happy planet beauty products!

Why am donating my possessions instead of throwing the in the garbage? Well, they've already been purchased! The demand has already been supplied, the damage done. Why fill our landfills?

Purging is amazing. Getting rid of THINGS has been something that I've really enjoyed ever since I was awakened! Last week, I went to a clothing swap with my girlfriends. The ladies and I brought two garbage bags of clothes to the event, organized them into piles on the floor and each picked out what we would like to try on! It was such a loving, bonding experience. Whenever a gal would try on an item of clothing that fit like a glove, all of the other ladies would clap and yell "perfect 10!!. How fun is that? Don't we all love to be the center of attention sometimes?

I brought a lot of clothes to this event that I never wear. Honestly, these clothes had been sitting in my closet for ages taking up space and annoying my boyfriend! This experience really affirmed the old saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" I believe in a seasonal purge! Everything comes back to you. Love travels in circles! Spread love. make love not cheese!


Xoxo

Valentina

Today is the day!

Today is a very liberating day for many reasons. Today is the day I remain informed and active (about world issues) but lose the anger and frustration that I once felt while being informed. Today is the day I become vegan (well, I don't want to call myself vegan, read on)! Today is the day I become a blogger. I've never blogged in my life, nor do I have very much experience with writing. For now, my writing will convey as a complete stream of consciousness but I will eventually become an eloquent writer. =)

Why Vegan? Well, actually, don't call me vegan... I have never liked to put a label on myself. I don't want to call myself vegan because I feel that if I put myself into a cookie cutter, I'll become a cookie! :) And that's just how it is for me. But I will fully adopt this vegan lifestyle, for many reasons. My excuse for this lifestyle change are the following" Reason of the first: I care about myself; I care about my body and what fuel I feed it. Reason of the second: I care about animals; I do NOT want to DEMAND for the SUPPLY of products provided by other beautiful, living beings. Reason of the third: I care about nature; the meat/dairy/fashion industry is huge, far from what it was when harnessed by aboriginals. We take more than we need. Greed and Gluttony doesn't look sexy. Reason of the fourth: I care about other people; future generations and present. Often "big industry" does not treat employees ethically, hiring illegal immigrants so they can pay them shit.

I have to say, I'm not trying to convert anyone, nor do I want to argue or plead my case! I do wish that we could all live more sustainably, but I believe in leading by example, using positivity and light. I DO NOT think I'm superior to anyone nor have I ever.  I am using this platform to divulge my life choices purely for interest and fun for the reader. I would also love to take anyone and everyone's advice for a more natural, sustainable, vegan lifestyle! I never want to be negative on this blog or in my life. I don't welcome any negativity here! This is a love only zone! We are all the same, made of the same organic material, thus we are all incredible, beautiful beings. We are together. We are all capable of good and evil and we can all change.

And so it begins.....

Love you all xoxo

Valentina