Guest blogger: Lucia from Madeira Island, Portugal

Capital of Madeira - Funchal where Lucia lives

Hello! this is my first post from a guest...  Let me introduce you to Lucia whom I met on this blog as she was referred from another guest you'll meet later on in August!  She is now one of my regular follower on this blog... she was glad to volunteer some of her inner thought with me... and you of course!!!  Hope you will enjoy it as much as I did when I first received it!!!
What stuck me most is that once again, yoga was started to deal with health problems.... and it brought diet change and minimalism...  she is neither the first not the last...  it has to mean something!!!


Hello, my name is Lúcia and I'm 30 years old. I live in a wonderful place in the middle of the Atlantic, in the island of Madeira. It is a very small island, but with very special places to visit. We can see the natural landscapes, being on the beach and close to the mountains at the same time. Furthermore, we can walk though the beautiful “levadas” that run throughout the island.
In a place like this you should think that it is difficult to feel stress or walk always in constant motion. Unfortunately, it is not only in the big cities that people feel tired and sad.
Since a few years ago I felt always very tired, sad, disappointed, sleepless and without motivation to do nothing. Furthermore, I suffered from bad memories of several years I had to be in the hospital because of health problems I was born with. The first 14 years of my life were surrounded by doctors and hospitals, and how you might think this kind of experience does not leave anyone motivated.
Fortunately, all this has passed and after some bad moments I ended up going to the doctor and started taking medication for generalized anxiety disorder. Starting with medication was not easy. Apart from getting much sleep I was always very forgetful and “stopped” in time.
But then I joined a yoga school. It was one of the best things I did. I learned how to meditate, how to better control my thoughts and emotions, to be calm and to do the asanas, which are so good! I can say that yoga has helped me a lot these past two years.
Through yoga I also learned a lot about food and changed my way of eating. Since childhood I could not (or liked) to eat pork. Here on the island it is tradition to kill pigs at Christmas (pigs that are raised in people’s lands and killed in people’s houses) and to see that as a kid, left me very sad. No one ever got me to eat pork, since very I was a toddler . In addition, over the years I stopped eating sausages, burgers and so on.
About a year and a half I stopped eating meat (chicken and beef). Currently I eat fish, but it is something that sometimes costs me. I do it because my family insists that I should eat at least fish (they already get super stressed because I do not eat meat ...) and because I have not managed to change my eating habits completely. By changing my diet, too, I started eating more vegetables, fruit and I have a more varied diet. I think I'm on track.
Another of the things that have been changing in my life is the way I look at things and objects. I've always been clinging to things. I’ve always kept everything that people offered me, everything that I liked, everything that reminded me of something or someone. I still have some children's toys, which I cannot give.
However, I have been trying to be more minimalist. After reading the book "The 100 things challenge", I started my own challenge, but instead of getting only 100 things (too soon to do that, I cannot do that yet) I decided to abdicate of 100 things. I managed to give, offer and recycle 172 recycle things to date.
Gradually I have been giving more value to the people I love and have left aside the objects that are just that ... simple things.
Reading the blog “Savvy happy living” has helped and inspired me a lot and I cannot wait to read the book "Life happens" that is coming from Canada straight to me!
I must say that Nathalie is just amazing for sharing wonderful experiences with all of us.
A very big thank you from me, Lúcia Jasmins.

And what do you think of Lucia's post?   Isn't it amazing how we may do things that makes us feel great? How some people will go "against" what they were taught as kids and find their own way to be happy and healthy?

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
http://www.facebook.com/FanofLifeHappens
https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1

Time for a vacation - a minimalist one of course!

cats are so lucky... always on vacation!

It's time for my "vacation"....  by vacation I mean time off from my day job...  I took a 5 weeks unpaid leave of absence...  and it will be wonderful!  I little hard on the bank account... but so much worth it for my physical and mental well being!  Money surely is not ALL that matters...

I have no plans to go away on vacation...  I do not want to spend money on that at this point.... and I really need to be home....  to recenter, reroot and get in touch which with my inner self....  when I go away, I get unrooted even more.... 

Still I have plans for those 5 weeks starting today!!!!

I will do meditation/yoga every day upon rising... like I almost always do but without having to check the time to get ready to go to work!

There are a few activities I want to do with my son... 

free ones...  he has a unicycle... want him to teach me!  That will be fun (or not! lol)... we also want to play Frisbee...  hake...  go to the public pool...  bike rides... go to Mont-Royal to walk in the woods...

some that you need to pay for..... we want to go to IMAX to see the sharks...  go to Musee des Beaux-Arts to see Chihuly ... also want to go to the botanical garden ....  and the Parc aquatique Bromont ...at a minimum.... the rest we'll see...  I like to have my son do a diversity of things during the 2 weeks him and I will be alone most of the day because my husband will be working! I think it is important to open his mind to different things!

On the third week, I will be by myself.... my husband will still be working and my son back to his dad...  that week I already have plans for a few lunches with friends I have not seen in a long time... and nothing else....  plenty of reading!!!  I have catching up to do!!!

On the fourth week, it will be all 3 of us....  The boys will definitely go to paintball once... and we'll go spend a day in Ottawa to see the War museum and Musee des sciences et technologies ... and for the rest fo the week we'll see how it goes... 

On the fifth week, it will be my hubby and I...  alone... at last... it has been almost 2 years since we had time off together and alone!  We do not have big plans for that week either....  we'll most likely do like we do on a regular summer week end... but 7 days in a row!!! That is bike, walk, go to a movie, go to Mont-Royal, have a pic-nick, go to the spa, read... 

I am so happy this time if finally here... I have been waiting for it for weeks now!!!  And I know it will be over much faster than I realise it now...  after all I am on my first day!!!

This is why I want to enjoy every moment of it...  I will turn off the computer and iPhone during this time - and take my messages once a day only - but I will take them... It might take longer for me to get back to you however...  I will be less present on facebook and twitter and the like...  this blog will have some amazing guest blogger!!!  I already read their post and you will love them!!!

I will get back to you on September 3rd.... all refreshed...  and with tons of things to share with you!!!

Enjoy your month of august.... and keep reading, commenting, here or elsewhere and no worries I will see it!!!

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love&peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
http://www.facebook.com/FanofLifeHappens
https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1

Trying to ditch 2 habits at once...

OK....  quite obvious... trying to ditch my TV habit....  not that I watch lots of it... especially not in the summer... but I'd like to end up not watching it at all...

Now, I've come to realise one thing about me with all the changes I made in my life over the past years...I need to EASE into things.... I can't RUSH or FORCE them... that doesn't work with me... althus I realise that it works perfectly well with others....

For example, before I was vegetarian, I decreased my consumption of red meat... then cut it off...  then decreased my consumption of poultry and fish and shell fish and then stopped...  The whole process may have taken a year... same goes for becoming vegan....  I stopped milk... then yogurt...  eventually eggs.... and when I made the "big" jump into veganism, I only had to stop having cheese... and all the bake goods that include animal products...  This may have taken me also about a year or so... When we decided to downsized, we went from a medium house to a big apartment... then to smaller, smaller and even smaller.... each time letting go of stuff and square footage...  When I decided to increase my home yoga/meditation practice, I started by doing it 3 mornings a week for about 15 minutes...  then by itself in about 2 years, it went to every week day morning and 45 minutes!  And I have to stop myself to go to work or I could continue...  Last but not least, when we decided to go car less, we had gotten into the habit of walking or taking our bicycles more before hand....  and sometimes the public transportation to places...  we cut one car... and then a few years after the other... 

See what I mean???  I can't make drastic changes... every time I try... I set myself up for failure.... and because I know, now, I my mind works, I use it to my own advantage...  I know that if I start doing something less or more... I 'll want less or more...  and even less or even more...  less meat... less animal product...  to the point where I couldn't even stand it....  more yoga... more meditation to the point where I need to stop myself (or get up even earlier...  like 4h30 am)...

Therefore for having tried to stop watching television several time and failed...  I know it's because I decided overnight to stop watching it... and it's just there.. I can see it.... so I end up opening it....  Now I say I failed.... but I have improve...  in the sense that I no longer open the TV every morning...  I use to do it all the time... first thing I would do... to watch the news, weather... or any other stuff...  I stopped that years ago.... and replaced it with yoga/meditation.... good news is my son stopped it too!!!   I also stopped opening it when I get back from work...  I stopped that several months ago....  so all in all I am watching less and less....  now my weaknesses are after supper...  between 7pm and 10pm when I go to bed.... I know compared to many it is not much... but still to much for me...  so slowly, I am trying to not be in the living room before 8pm... and at 9pm when my husband goes to work and my son to his room, I close it every other day... and read or meditate....  breathe or do stretches...    My goal is to eventually have it completely close as of 9pm...  and not open before 8pm...  that would be acceptable to me.... and I know that by doing that, I'll loose interest in it all together...  and just stop... most days...  unless I feel like watching a movie with my boys!

Some may say, or think... "why not just throw it out the window?"
Well mostly because I have a 12 years old son... who loves to watch some TV... now he's only allowed 2h per day... not too much... and video games are only 2h per day too but only on week ends (not at all during the week)...and we can all live with that rule.... do I wish he would not play video games?  of course!  do I wish he  would not watch TV?  even more so...  but realistically speaking, he's 12... an he needs to relate to his friends....  He already has a not-home-owner, car less, environmentalist, minimalist, vegan, yogi, freak mom...  I mean give the boy a chance!  We do not want him to feel completely alienated!!! 

I'd rather explain to him that it's not very good for him to watch too much TV, play too many video games....  I'd rather show him the example... give him other stuff to do that he likes too...options...  It has work with food... He makes better food choice...  OK he's not 100% vegetarian yet but he eats less and less meat by choice... not because he's forced too (althus he knows he's not allowed to have it at home)... I'd rather have him make his own decisions, be responsible and assume them than pretends he's vegetarian and behind my back eat it...  He makes better snacks decisions...  and eats more fruits and veggies... this is a good start... and he does eat most of the vegan food I make... and usually loves it...  so I'll do the same with TV...  teach him... instead of force him...

Will I ever be able to get rid of my TV completely?  Of course...  when?  Not sure...  Do I have to have a set date?  NO!  When ever I'll be ready.... and when ever the timing will be right for all of us... 

Now, the other habit I am talking about ( trying to ditch 2 habits at once) goes hand in hand with watching TV... who can guess???
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
yes!  junk food....  I do eat pretty well... 97% of the time.... but when I feel like having chips of candies.... it's always because I am in front of that TV... so if I stop the TV, forcefully, I will stop having chips or candies...  which I have decrease considerably anyway because they're not that easy to find vegan...  ;-)

What about you guys??? How do you quit a bad habit or form a new good one???  Do you EASE into it or go RIGHT ON?  Which habit have you let go off, or put in place recently?  Which habit do you wish to stop or start?

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
http://www.facebook.com/FanofLifeHappens
https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1

Shopping issues....

This used to be me.... 
No, I was not born minimalist.... 
and for those of you who have been following me since I started this blog in January 2011 you very well know that I use to shop like there was no tomorrow...  I've worked really hard to control my shopping....  and started in 2011 when I decided to not buy anything not essential for a year and blog about it...  It lasted 6 months then I gave in...  but in those 6 months I learned a few valuable lessons:  I do not NEED to shop, I do not NEED all that the stores lead you to believe you need and I COULD not shop if I wanted to.... if only I wanted to...

2 years after the week end I gave in... which you can read here ... I have come across a long way...  I have declutter my home and wardrobe a great deal... I have change my shopping habits... and for a few exceptions over the years I have been buying only when I have the money and absolutely love the items... 

I also came to realise a great deal over this battle against addiction that shopping is... and yes it is an addiction... just like is cigarette, alcohol and overeating....  you do it because you feel bad, because you feel good, because a friend invited you, because it's Christmas, a birthday, your birthday, a new season, sales,... you name it!  ALL perfectly good excuses...  I can now control it much better....  In the sense that I do not use my credit card anymore...  or line of credit.... or credit card number 2, 3 or husband's credit card...  because I have NONE of that (actually I have one credit card for emergency and the limit is 1000$ only)!!!  I need to pay for what I buy...  It's a huge step forward.....  however, I came to realise that as soon as I have a few extra dollars I need to spend them...  and this is what I need to work on now...

I have streamlined my finances a great deal over the years and my minimalism journey has helped a LOT!!! My cost of living is MUCH MUCH less... I am almost debt free... but I realised this week end that my relationship to money is still bad....  and it started years ago... I use to be great with money...  saving and planning for retirement as soon as I got out of university and started working... 

However, when I started feeling sick ( in late 1997), I started using shopping as a therapy... and honestly, before this morning meditation, I had no clue WHEN it all started (this is the thing with addiction - you don't realise them until it's too late).... but now I know so I can address it...  it started because I was stressed with my health...  and I had a little extra money... so I wen shopping and I bought something that looked good and it felt great!  The one thing I did not realise at that point is that feeling did not last very long.... so I had to redo it again...  in a few weeks.... and again... and again....  more and more often.... and then more and more money each time...  to feel good!!  But it did not work out... my health issues were in no way getting better because of my shopping and that short good feeling would go away... my life would not get better and I was just less and less happy!!! 

Then I started yoga, meditation... and started making changes in my life...  including trying to refrain from shopping... it has had it's up and down... and until now I did not know why... but now I do... and I will work on that... I want to be able to finish paying off my debt... and put money aside.... 

I know that when I get stressed or anxious... or uncertain.... I spend money... and sometimes faster than I would like to...  but once you realise a behavior, it is easier to correct.... therefore from now on, when I feel like spending money, I will tune it first... and see why?    I believe that by doing that over and over again, I will get to the root cause of it and finally put an end to that nonsense shopping... 

Now don't get me wrong... I am no way near where I was...  I did come a loooong way...  I pay cash...  and only buy what I love...  really love.... but realise that sometimes I do not really NEED what I bought...  and this is what makes me sad... even if you're talking 20$... it is 20$ less to put on my debt...  and if you keep adding, it shows... 

Now the challenge is realising this right before a 5 weeks vacation... WOW...  of course vacation are the BEST time to do some shopping and spend countless on numerous things...  so I will have to be on my best behavior... and stay focus....

I really want to change the relation to money I have....  I know where it is rooted...  using it to feel good... but there always a part of me that is afraid that there will be no more... so when I have I spend...  which is counter intuitive... because of course if I spend I will have no more! 

I understand that people rarely talk about money.... so openly...  and I avoided it for so long... not to look weak or as if I do not have all my act together.... truth is I know the theory... not the practice... not there 100% yet... and there is no shame to this... and I feel that I need to share this with you... because by reading this blog it may look easy.... and then if you have problems doing it may think that you're not good enough! Well it is NOT the case!  You are good enough....  You need time... and practice... like I do... and honesty... with yourself....

First time you jumped into the water, were you able to swim for a triathlon???  I bet not....

Well same here....  shopping seems like the easy way out.... and they make everything look so good and essential....  but it is not... and it's a short term benefit...

What are your shopping habit?  What relationship do you have with money?  Did it change over time or is more or less the same?  What triggered the change?

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
http://www.facebook.com/FanofLifeHappens
https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1

My minimalist fridge

Hello dear readers!!!

the picture you're about to see was taken this morning.... I long hesitated to write this post....  simply because depending on how you look at it I may look really poor... but I am not!!!  I wish to reassure you.... I can afford to eat...

Why am I saying that? Because my best friend's partner thinks that an empty fridge equals being poor.... and I know for a fact he's not the only one...  So every time I let me fridge go that empty three things happen:

1) I think of my best friend's partner...  Hi Steph!

2) I realise that I need to go grocery shopping for fresh produce

3) I am happy that I used up my food and did not waste any!

Yes this is really the state my fridge was in this morning after I had breakfast and packed my lunch...  Do I have something for supper?  Yes...  I have potatoes... which you cannot see... celery, carrots and bread... Combine with the almond butter it could be supper....  but I'll go grocery shopping before then...

I love when my fridge go that low because it means I've done my grocery shopping in an intelligent manner and I used up what I bought....  and this is fairly new to me...  I use to pack my fridge on Fridays...  throw most of it out on the next Thursday and get new stuff on Friday... and again and again.... what a waste of time, money and resources!!!! 

Now every now and then I like to join my friend Melissa in the pantry challenge : you can read more about it here . Essentially, you have to use up what you have in your pantry before buying anything new...  You're allowed to buy fresh produce which in my case consist of fruits and vegetables, nut milks and bread... and sometimes "fake" meats.. and obviously nuts which I eat a lot of...

Why do I do that?

1) To make sure I rotate my goods...  there is not point in having a full pantry if you're not using what you have in there...  it's just a waste....  because eventually it goes in the garbage!

2) It saves money - it's amazing how much we buy when we already have stuff at home!  Who needs 5 different sorts of rice at all time??? 

3) To challenge me to try news combination of foods....  we tend to always cook one item with the same other item...  by doing that, if I am running low on my usual rice, I may try the same recipe with quinoa instead...  and it may or may not be great!  Who knows?  but for sure it cannot be uneatable!

Do I go all the way like she advocate?  Not really...  I bring my reserve low enough... but at the same time, grocery shopping when buying organic vegan stuff and not having a car is not always easy.... so if I know I am running short on oatmeal (which I eat 3-4 times a week), and pass by the store that has the Bob's red mill brand I love, I will buy it... but I will not buy stuff just to buy stuff...  So basically I try and use the most of what I have and only replenish what I am running low on and use on a regular basis...  still works out...  makes a pretty good clean up!!!

I usually do it twice a year...  before Christmas and before summer vacation!  Money save goes on to our celebrations so it works out just fine...

Also, I do it before moving....  because who wants boxes and boxes of food to move??? 

What do you think of that?  Would you like to try the pantry challenge? What do you think of the amount of food we waste on a regular basis?

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
http://www.facebook.com/FanofLifeHappens
https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1

Life

Human life course... image shared from facebook

On my facebook profile I posted earlier today something that really resonate with me.... You can look at it here it comes from this website and was posted on a page I follow... I had to share it!

It basically says that we're all heading toward death....  right?  no one can argue with that!  I know we tend to forget.... we want to forget... or we pretend we're not going there... but we are! There are 2 certainties in life: we were born and we will die.  The rest is up to us....  we can do whatever we want with the time in between...  be it short or long!

Every day we make decisions that are depending on our past and affecting our future...  we say we have to be in the present moment... the past no longer is and the future doesn't exist yet... and it may never....  Who knows? But the decision I made yesterday, shaped my today...  right?  and the decision I make today will shape my tomorrow.. and the wheel goes on....  as long as we live....  This does not mean we're suppose to make all decisions according to tomorrow... or regret decisions we made yesterday... 

It means that every decision we make should be made compassionately...  we should take decisions to the best of our knowledge, following our heart... and only take decisions that are kind to ourselves and to other...  if we create day to day this compassion and kindness around us we'll always be in that (remember today is shaping tomorrow?)...  and we'll have a good life...  and when we get to see it right before that moment when we no longer are (they say you life flashes before your eyes before you die), it will be worth watching.... and it will be a nice "movie", a compassionate one...  one where you will not regret your saying or acting... 

Why would you want to regret something at that very last moment?  There would be nothing you could do for it... no time to fix it....  so live your life according to you hearth...

Make decision today that will shape a nice tomorrow...  decisions you are happy about....  and decisions are made almost every minute but we don't always realise it.... it takes a split second... will I eat this or that? go for a walk or watch tv? help this old lady or pretend I did not see her? spend time with my son on what he likes to do or waste time on vacuuming?  smile at a kid or ignore him? smile at a stranger or look down? ...and it goes on and on... and there is not right answer to any of these questions.... they have to be the right thing for you at that very moment!

Each decision we make brings us somewhere....  each person we ignore may have a very interesting thing to share with us... every kid we do not smile at register that in their little brain... 

No regrets....  I live my life in order to have no regrets when I get to see my own movie... and if this makes you look back and realise that you may regret a few things... fix them now!  Now is the time...  tomorrow may not be...

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
http://www.facebook.com/FanofLifeHappens
https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1

Another simple great week end!

View from the Mont-Royal belvedere

View from a path on the Mont-Royal

I live in a small 800 sq ft apartment... (althus I still think it is too big... I know that realistically it is quite small compare to most) When it's hot like this week end... it gets really hot!!!!  I do not have air conditioning... but to be honest, this week end I did think about getting a portable one.... I know I won't...  I do not need it for health reasons... so I do not see the point... but this is just my opinion!  I like to follow the seasons... and live accordingly... and not having air conditioning does impact the way you clean, cook and what you do inside... and that is fine!!!!  I know during winter I have heating... but that is not optional and not just a comfort issue where I live...  I wish I could do without that too...

The good thing to live in my place is that when it's nice and hot outside, you wanna go outside... because inside is even worse!  :-) And we end up spending much of the week end outside!!!

On Saturday morning, my son, husband and I went to Mont-Royal to enjoy nature!!!  Above you can see a few pictures....   I love this place.. it really is nature right in the middle of the city!!!  And as you go around the small path inside the wood area, you can see all the city...  it is amazing!!! You can get a good view of Montreal... all of it... I love that!!!

I had not gone there in a long time.... I don't know why... but I promise myself I would go more often... the bus ride to get there from my place is quite simple... AND it goes right thru our favorite part of the city!  So on our way back, we got out of the bus earlier and walked around for a few more hours... 

We stopped for a refreshment at Starbucks and then got back home... by the time we got home, it was supper time!!!  and without realizing it we spend all day outside!!!  It was amazing!!!

You may notice my post getting shorter...  simpler....  This is how I feel currently...  I don't do much.... don't read much... I eat simple things...  do very simple yoga and meditation... I need a break... but I cannot not write.... and share... because I love it so much!!!  So I still do it... and you still get to follow the way I live...  hope you still enjoy!!! I am being honest here... and I do not think there anything wrong with that...  even quite the opposite!

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
http://www.facebook.com/FanofLifeHappens
https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1