Recycled bottles feed stray dogs in Istanbul

Sometimes it's hard to find the good in the world, especially these days with planes being shot out of the sky, wars all over the place and a plague in Africa. I mean what else can happen right? Well today I found a wonderful piece of information on one of my favorite websites called Unconsumption that I am sure will make you smile. 

Pugedon, a Turkish company, has created a vending machine that dispenses food for stray animals when you deposit your empty bottle or can into the slot on the side. Just pop your bottle or can into the machine and food comes out the bottom. If you put some water in the corresponding water slot, this water will also be dispensed at the bottom in a separate dish. These machines cost the city nothing and the recycled bottles cover the cost of the food. What a wonderful way to feed the stray animals who are often starving and reliant on our help. Now doesn't that make you feel better? It certainly did me. Here's the video. 

Zara AW 14

I am loving the new fall/winter collection from Zara. There is an almost androgynous quality about some of the clothes that I really like. These are some of my favorites. Click here for the complete collection. 

Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables

Photo by Patrice de Villiers

The French grocery chain called "Intermarché" has come out with a solution to ugly vegetables and fruit which are usually thrown away. In order to avoid waste the grocery chain has launched a campaign called "Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables" whereupon they sell these ugly fruit and vegetables for 30% less than their pretty counterparts. They also set up a booth selling products made from these ugly ducklings to entice people to buy them. So far it has been a great success and I am hoping that this campaign will soon be brought to Montreal. 

I think that this idea is an amazing way of reducing waste and educating people that just because a fruit or vegetable isn't perfect, it doesn't mean that it isn't good. Check out this video to meet the five ugly stars of the campaign.

Alpacas, Lavender and a beautiful day in the country

Some of you may know that I am learning how to knit (see my first knitting post here). Well I guess a more correct declaration would be that I am re-learning how to knit. I first learned how to knit when I was a kid and promptly decided that it was a lot of work and took up needlepoint instead. All that back and forth - knit and purl - was not my cup of tea. Fast forward what seems like a hundred years and Tracey (me) has fallen in love with all things woolly. This includes gorgeous wool blankets, cushions, chunky scarves and floor cushions made out of felt. I can't get enough of it. So I decide to take knitting classes. Then I fall in love with alpaca wool. Then I decide that I have to meet the ones who produce this soft and luxurious wool so off I go to Alpagas des Hauts Vents to meet the alpacas.

The beautiful female alpaca that you see above and below is called Shablis and she is not only soft to the touch but incredibly mild mannered. I rubbed her cheeks and patted her head while she stood there and took it all in, quite content with all the attention. 

I learned a great deal about alpacas today thanks to our host Sara. Did you know that Alpaca's are from the camel family and they have no top teeth so they cannot eat anything hard? The female alpacas also have no "heat cycle" so they can breed at any time. The gestation period is 11 months and the babies - called cria - are usually able to stand and nurse within an hour. 

Each grown Alpaca eats approx. one bale of hay per month and their poop is one of the richest organic fertilizers you'll ever find (for those of you who like to garden). 

 

Alpaca wool is hypoallergenic and doesn't contain lanolin like sheep's wool so you can spin it straight off the animal. Although Sara doesn't spin the wool herself (she has enough to do between taking care of the alpacas, goats, chickens, dogs, cats and kids) she has an on-site boutique that sells her alpaca wool as well as some pretty awesome local creations made using her wool. 

I couldn't leave without picking up a few items such as this beautiful scarf (bottom right with the white) and I can't wait for Winter so that I can wear it!

I can't say enough good things about Alpaga des Hauts Vents. So if you're ever in Havelock or on your way to Parc Safari I would highly recommend taking a small detour to visit the farm. Sara and her husband Jean-Yves will be more than happy to introduce their alpacas to you and your little ones. 

I like to buy locally but if you can't make it to the farm you can always buy on-line. Here is the link to her shop.

If you're ever in Monteal and you feel like taking a drive in the country I would recommend taking the "Circuit du paysan" which will bring you to many local farms, including this one, and other attractions such as a lavender farm called "Lavandou" that I will post about soon.

All photos ©Tracey MacKenzie

Happy Weekend!

I don't know about you guys but I am soooo happy the weekend has finally arrived!! Time to chill!!

Beaded Birkenstocks

My friend Susan has a great sense of style so when she showed up at work today with these AWESOME beaded Birkenstocks I couldn't help but take a picture. I used to think these Birkenstocks were a step up from the regular ones but Susan's take them to a whole new level! 

Photo: Tracey MacKenzie

Happy Friday and Have a great weekend!

I have been enjoying some time off and it was wonderful to sit outside and enjoy the sun. Feels like it's been forever since I could sit on my back balcony and just watch the tree branches dancing in the wind, their leaves lulling me into peacefulness with their whispers. 

I love impromptu picnics and here's hoping that the weather is good and that the photo above will become my reality. I know just the weeping willow that I can sit under....

Some interesting tidbits from around the web:

Don't these roast potatoes with coriander yogurt look yummie. 

Have you seen this wedding picture? Talk about a day to remember!

How about this drink to ease the summer heat. 

If you live in Montreal and like beer you won't want to miss the annual beer festival. 

If you thought that Lululemon was only for women guess again. Turns out they are dressing some pretty hot men. 

Have a great weekend!

xo Tracey

Are you a single fold kinda girl?

So how do you guys feel about the single fold? I have to admit, I'm a fan. I'm a wee bit on the short side so having to hem every single pair of pants is getting annoying especially when it comes to jeans. I never really liked the double or triple fold.....I say good riddance!

all photos via 

Palo Santo Incense Sticks

I first read about these Palo Santo incense sticks on A Cup of Jo and I couldn't wait to try them. I ordered them from Amazon.com but you can also order them directly from the source here.  Palo Santo is a mystical tree that grows on the coast of South America and is related to Frankincense, Myrrh and Copal.  In Spanish, the name literally means “Holy Wood”. 

You can use the wood to clear the energy in your home simply by lighting it. Hold the stick at a 45 degree angle and once lit you will wait 30-60 seconds before blowing out the flame. Now the wood will be lightly smoking so you will proceed to walk through each room letting the smoke purify the energy. You can do your whole house or just a room, whichever you want. Once you've finished you will place the wood in a fireproof metal, glass or ceramic bowl and it will go out by itself. Always use caution when handling burning wood please and make sure wood is out before going to bed or leaving your home. 

You can also use this wood outdoors to keep away bugs and mosquitoes. Just blow on the wood to keep the embers glowing and the smoke wafting. 

Sacred wood essence also sells the essential oil which has been diluted in an Organic Sesame & Jojoba oil base as well as some great travel wipes. Check out their shop here. 

Image from A Cup of Jo. 

Spring Shoes

You know it's Spring when you see polka dots! 

Finally the sun has come out after six months of non stop cold and gray and I am sooooo excited I can't tell you. These are some photos of my friends shoe store called "Europa". I am very excited about all the silver and gold that is popping up everywhere this year. I find that both go well with just about everything so I can't wait to buy a pair. I already went out and bought some gold sandals which you can see here. I am also in love with that "Love" purse - it's perfect for an evening out. 

Photos by me.

Ice Cream Vending Machine

Isn't this amazing? 

Soft ice cream in a vending machine in Japan. 

Flavors like rose, lavender, sweet potato, green tea and brown rice to name a few. 

So cool! 

via

Knitting Update & Kelly Connor Designs

As you know I've been taking knitting classes  (yes knitting is cool as demonstrated by the photo above!). At first I was all thumbs as was outlined in my post here but now I'm coming along. I've knitted my way through a chunky scarf (see photo at end of post), I'm almost finished some wristers a.k.a fingerless mittens and I've started some leg warmers (can you tell it's cold here!). Of course I'm still just doing two stitches - knit & purl - however I'm really enjoying it. AND, after a long search I found the perfect knitting bag on Etsy from Kelly Connor Designs in Scotland and I just LOVE it. Get ready... here it is.....

I just couldn't resist. Fact of the matter is that I prefer to knit with chunky wool and huge wooden needles so this bag really said it all lol!! If my bag is a little too much for you then maybe the one below will be more your speed. I know there are a lot of feisty women at knit night who talk very fondly about their stashes!

I would highly recommend checking out Kelly Connor Designs as not only are her bags funny but Kelly herself was such a dream to deal with that I can't say enough good things about her.  Now here is the famous scarf I knitted. A big shout out to Sam and Kim at Espace Tricot for their endless patience and kindness in assisting me along my knitted journey. Love you guys!! xxoo Tracey

Morning Coffee

As an animal lover I can't resist falling in love with photos such as these. This is Maddie and apparently she shares my lack of enthusiasm in the morning!

via

Gold Sandals

I don't care about the snow and cold anymore, it's summer here...in my head anyways lol! I saw these sandals and just had to snap them up. Soooooo comfy, they are like a flip flop but with a little bling. Great for daytime with some cropped pants or at night with a maxi dress. Click here for purchase info.

The Bottle by BKR

Clean Bubbly Glass + Soft Silicone = The Bottle by BKR

Chic design combined with fun (or bland) colors makes this water bottle a must have for anyone who drinks water but who doesn't want those nasty chemicals that come with the plastic bottles. Silicone sleeves dress up a glass water bottle to match your mood or your style. There's a color to match just about any personality and for those who want just a  little more, you can even have a heart. 

10 things to stop for 2014

10 things to stop for 2014

December 27, 2013

1. Stop spending time with the wrong people. Stop spending time with people who leave you feeling drained. Your time is precious so prioritise spending it with those that are worth it.

2. Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. Make the decision to put yourself first. Focus on what matters to you. Remember to refuse to lose yourself in the process of loving somebody else – whether it’s a friend or partner.

3. Stop being scared to make a mistake. Messing up is still more productive than doing nothing, because you’re too scared to make a mistake. The great thing about failure is that it holds invaluable lessons that will help you on your way to success. You’ll only regret the things you didn’t do.

4. Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. You can’t be happy with others or in a committed relationship if you’re not happy with yourself. Build a healthy, happy relationship with yourself first so that sharing it with others will be more fulfilling.

5. Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons.Relationships should be entered into wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be unhappy with somebody else. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.

6. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. Life’s curveballs are there to help you grow and help you question if you’re on the right path. It may always seem unbearable at the time but if you look back at past trials you’ll be able to see how you were led to a better place (at home, at work and personally). So next time you’re facing a curveball remember this and smile!

7. Stop holding grudges. As Nelson Mandela aptly put it, ‘Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies’. Forgiveness offers you an opportunity to let go so that the hate you’re holding onto won’t rob you any further of happiness.

8. Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. The little things will become the big things when you look back one day. The most precious memories will be the small moments (that aren’t tweeted, or put up on Facebook and Instagram) you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.

9. Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. If you fall apart every now and then that’s okay. Shedding a few tears can be healthy and will help you acknowledge what issues are really at play. You’ll get back to your cheerful self sooner too.

10. Stop being ungrateful. During the good or bad times you have to wake up each day thankful for your life and all the wonderful things that make it special. Focus on what you have instead of fretting about all the things you’re without – you’re bound to feel blessed.

Reblogged from www.dailyfix.co.za

The Brown Bag Microwave Popcorn Trick

In order to celebrate the weekend - aka movie time for me - I decided to share this little trick from the women over at Supermoms. Add 1/3 cup popcorn kernels to a brown paper bag. Fold the bag over twice and then heat in a microwave, folded side down, for 2 minutes. And voilà! Fresh popped popcorn without any additives or fake butter. Dress it up as you wish (in my case with lots of freshly melted butter) and enjoy! 

Jim Gaffigan - Cake - Beyond the Pale

I don't know if you share my views on cake but I love it. Not the gooey kind nor the overly frosted kind, just the plain cake with a little or no frosting will do just fine. So given my love of cake my husband sent me this video and it was so funny I just had to share it. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did. 

Anthropologie

Whenever I'm looking for some inspiration I turn to some of my favorite stores, one of which is Anthropologie. The designer in me just loves looking at the different spaces, the materials used, the architectural elements and the installations. The maker in me just loves the hand made objects and unusual items sold there. There is such a creative vibe that you just can't help but leave inspired. Here's a look at some of Anthropologie's interiors from around the world.  

All photos via Pinterest