hooray, hooray for another beautiful tuesday!

have you kicked this week’s ass yet?!   if not, do it!

• so, i’ve mentioned the mister lister in a previous post, but he’s surprised me yet again, so here we go…another mention. he drew this funky photo of…me, nonetheless!  (;   click the image to venture to his dailybooth.

• i got the iphone 4, which i am totes in love with.  i think it’s especially great that you can record video in hd.  everything is so amazingly crisp and beautiful.  definitely happy i have it.  (:
• feeling so super inspired lately.  so many people have been reaching out and telling me how inspired they are from my posts, and thanking me and such.  it’s SUCH an incredible feeling to know that i have such an impact on people.  this is the greatest joy in life!  please, please, please – if you like what you see, comment.  (:  hearing people’s positive thoughts truly inspires me to keep going.  i love, love, love it.  (:  my life is such a happy one.

• i’m going to be adjusting the way i do my lifestreaming.  instead of posting things when they happen, i believe i am going to summarize everything in one simple post at the end of the day.  this way, i can kind of go into more detail about my day and such.  (;  also – people won’t be bombarded with 10-20 updates a day.  here’s the first new style of post!  what do YOU think?    i am working with my very talented “web dude,” evan from vanpop studio, on site adjustments.  he’s a peach.  i told him no rush, so it could be a couple of weeks before everything is finalized, but believe me, i’ll be making a deal over it.

• the word “grateful” has been in my vocabulary a lot lately.  it’s kind of been my power word.  the more i am grateful, the more reasons i will have to be grateful!  (: right?
• my cousin, kevin wildt, is quite talented.  i have always fancied this video of his friend matt and his dog pocket.  how cute?!

the mister and i actually had a chat recently about how he “doesn’t understand” my obsession with taking photos.  he told me, “i’ve just always thought taking pictures was for an occasion, something that doesn’t happen every day.”  he said he could understand taking pictures at a wedding or birthday party, but not of my meal, the clouds, my outfit of the day, or just when i’m feeling particularly cute.

here’s what i say:  why wait for an “occasion” to capture a moment?

celebrate LIFE!
every day is an occasion!

why i document my life:

• i try to find the beauty in everything; everything and everyone around me.
• i like watching myself grow.  by documenting every day, for years, i can see my transitions over the years.  it’s amazing.
• i simply enjoy photography.
• i want to inspire and influence others, especially with my food choices.  i love showing people that yes, although i am vegan, i don’t just eat twigs, nuts and seeds. (;
• i am a bit vain, not going to lie.  i love and appreciate myself more than i ever had, and my love grows stronger every day.  (:
• to express my gratitude.  if it’s a beautiful day, i want to capture it and express to the universe how grateful i am.
• …this list could keep going…

documenting life by taking photos it’s just for “special occasions” anymore. we don’t use the internet for only aol news anymore.  cell phones have replaced home phones.  it’s the year 2010 and things have changed.  (;

so if you haven’t already hop on the bandwagon.  i use my iphone to take the majority of my photos and it is just perfect.  however, i really want to take my bad boy (my canon) with me wherever i go, so i can have higher quality images and such.  (:

• are you obsessed with taking photos?
• do people poke fun at you as well?
• how do you share your photos with the world?

wishing you a truly magickal day.

• clean your tongue! get in the habit of brushing your tongue (or use a tongue cleaner) and flossing every single morning.  hundreds of bacteria that harbor in your mouth each night, and cleaning your tongue is the biggest way to prevent bad breath.
• don’t go out to eat this week. make it a point to only eat home cooked meals.  ditch the greasy fast food and allot extra time in your schedule to prepare delicious, healthy meals for you and your family.
• start a blog! jessica mullen just recently posted an amazing bit about reasons you should start lifestreaming (if you even needed one!).  even if you don’t think lifestreaming is for you, try a simple blog about your hobbies or interests!
• create a vision board. christine kane has a pretty great little bit on creating one.
• try a vegan diet for the week. if you’re already vegan, of course, this doesn’t apply to you.  if you don’t think you can go a week, try a few days.  this website gives some pretty outstanding information about how giving up meet, rather than you car, can have more of a positive impact on the environment.
• take a trip to your local farmer’s market. local produce is generally sold within days after it’s picked.  in contrast, the produce seen at your supermarket may take one to two weeks to get to the shelves and may be loaded with chemical preservatives used to extend shelf life.
• unplug your tv. in the times of laptops, iphones and ipads, twitter, facebook and everything in between, why do you need your tv?  take the time you would have spent watching tv to read a book or take a walk.

let’s make this an enchanting week! (: xo

you don’t have to have a million bucks to look like it.  (;  look fabulous without breaking your wallet.  i’m all about deals.  clearance racks, coupons and thrift stores; i love them.  there’s just something so gratifying about snagging some brand new clothes for super cheap.  (:

i went shopping yesterday and managed to snag four shirts and a skirt for less than five bucks.

that’s no typo.

occasionally, i will receive coupons in the mail from kohl’s.  they’re generally only 10$, but it adds up.  i went to the mall with one of these 10$ kohl’s cards, as well as a 15$ jc penny coupon and hit the clearance racks.

here are some basic rules i try to follow whilst shopping:

• buy basic pieces.  grab shirts you can mix and match and layer.  this way, you can make a couple of shirts into a few different outfits.  (:  also, you can spice up “boring” outfits with funky jewelry and flashy accessories!
• only buy it when it’s on sale. stick to the clearance racks, and don’t pay full retail for anything.  chances are, the pieces you adore will go on sale eventually – or, make a note and see if you can purchase online for a lesser price!
• uses coupons. you can download coupons from sites such as retailmenot.com.  sign up for store e-mails, which also may send you coupons and updates on future sales!

• retail price: $90.00
• sale price: $31.67
• i paid: $4.30
• i saved: $85.96

absolutely incredible, right?  i don’t see much sense in spending hundreds of dollars on clothing that you may not like in a month or two anyway, or that may go out of style.  you can look utterly fabulous without digging yourself in a deep, dark pit of debt.

• are you a deal chaser?
• what are some of your shopping “rules?”
• any awesome experiences you’d like to share?

hope your day is absolutely magnificent. xo

well, my pretties…guess what?

i have always enjoyed writing.  when i was younger, i wanted to be a journalist.  i also wanted to be a vet, news anchor, cashier, waitress and detective – so i guess that really doesn’t say much.  (;  regardless, i’ve always enjoyed writing.  it’s always been a great creative outlet for me.

in my early teen years, i loved writing short stories.  i wrote fiction only, and sadly, never backed up any of my work, so it got lost over the years.  shortly after i turned eighteen, i started writing a book called “why women date assholes.”  i never ended up finishing it, as my adult responsibilities grew more and more.  i was working and going to school full time, so any down time i got, i wanted to spend with my friends and family.  i’m sure i still have that huge ass file floating around somewhere.  who knows – maybe some day i will finish it, but that’s not a priority right now.

i was huge into blogging on myspace when myspace was “cool” too.  (;  i had hundreds and hundreds of readers and subscribers and it made me feel good that so many people were interested in what i had to say.  most of my blogs were pretty controversial, so i had to start out each one with some sort or disclaimer like “no one is making you read this.”  i blogged about spanking your children, relationships, positive thinking and animal rights, among other things.  i actually have these blogs backed up on my external hard drive and enjoy reading them from time to time.

i like to think my style of writing is pretty fun.  i’m pretty laid back and can let the f-bomb slip from time to time.  i’m pretty blunt and to the point, and i think my style is pretty young and fresh.  others may beg to differ.

since i welcomed the law of attraction into my life, i’ve been a lot more conscious to what goes on around me.  i devote a lot of time to self growth, focusing on positive energies and striving to be a more peaceful individual.

since jettavegas.com started, i’ve been super into sharing my experiences and words of wisdom with others.  i believe we can all learn from one another.  one of my greatest passions in life is making people happy and sharing positive energies with those around me.  i’ve met so many amazing people on the web from social networking, and i’m glad to constantly expand my group of close, posi-filled friends.

i have a lot of weekly blogs, so it gives me somewhat of a deadline, forcing me to write.  it’s not like someone’s holding a gun up to my head, as i highly enjoy writing these pieces.  (;  i’m very glad i’ve gotten back into writing on a daily basis and am super pumped to be sharing my creations with you.  since my blogging, i’ve gotten many comments from readers saying i should write a self-help book, so here we go!

when you purchase content for download, you are supporting my creative endeavors a number of ways!  your purchases allow me to provide more articles and chapters for everyone to enjoy.  i appreciate any and all support i receive from you, and am forever grateful.  (:

check out the downloadable content page, as new chapters will be added when they get published!  (:

i was a huge tomboy growing up. i loved all things dirt and mud.  i adored playing outside and ruining my clothes.  a part of that has stuck with me.  i love nature!  i love animals and flowers, rain and shine.  i love fruits and vegetables, gardens and so on.  i have a great appreciation for my surroundings.  i really appreciate wild animals.  i get ridiculously giddy whenever i see a deer, especially a young fawn.  they are so cute!  one day, i hope to be in touch with nature enough, that one allows me to pet it.  this is such a dream of mine!  (:

my favourite past time is geocaching, which requires hiking in parks and nature preserves, and many times, exploring off the beaten path.  being a  lover of nature, it’s easy to see why i enjoy geocaching so much.  i’m constantly taking photos along my journey, appreciate wild flowers and hilly terrain, oddly shaped trees and beautiful sky lines.

i just think there’s something so great about rolling around in the dirt; lifting up rocks and leaves, and spreading apart plants to see hundreds of different worlds living amoung us.  it’s so amazing, isn’t it?

my mom has been wanting to put the house up for sale for a while now.  i decided to help out a bit around the house by weeding her gardens.  they were definitely overgrown and definitely needed some tlc.  i didn’t mind helping out at all!  i think pulling weeds can be very therapeutic.  am i crazy?

i found beetles and caterpillars, daddy long legs and lady bugs, spiders, worms and more!  i took the time to appreciate each one of these tiny creatures.

take some time this week to really get out and enjoy nature.  leave your phone in the house and just go take an adventure.  start a nature journal, even, where you record your findings, collect leaves and pressed flowers, and anything else your heart desires.  (:  be sure to upload your photos to flickr, or a similar photo hosting site, and share them with the world.  put a link in the comment section, and i’ll check out your adventures! (;

don’t be afraid to get dirty.  my hand were absolutely disgusting!  good thing i didn’t give myself a manicure, like i originally planned the night prior.  (;

check out the frogs i rescued from the window wells!  there were five of the little guys hiding out down there.  the last one i retrieved did not want to leave me.  i kept trying to put him down and he just wouldn’t have it.  frogs are so ridiculously cute.  (:

• are the the outdoorsy type?
• what kind of outdoor activities do you enjoy most?
• what’s your favourite animal?

• i have yet to see inception, but i am hearing nothing but good things.  i need to stop reading my tumblr dash, as i’m seeing multiple posts every day and i don’t want anyone to spoil it for me!  (:  i absolutely adore ellen page and look forward to seeing this film.  have you seen it?  don’t spoil it for me, but how much did you love it?
• anyone can be a singer now-a-days with autotune.  if you have a mac and garage band, consider yourself a star.  here’s a quick, easy tutorial on how you can sound like a pop star in a matter of a few clicks.  hey, if ke$sha can do it, so can you!  (:

• themisterlister is probably one of my favourite wacky e-friends.  his photos are always hilarious.  he is just a super fun individual, and his artwork is a riot.  i love it.  he sent me one of these dick valentines prints in the mail, and also put it on a shirt for me.  it was so incredible.  this guy definitely does not get enough credit, so go check him out on twitter and dailybooth.  (:
• anyone who shares my love for geocaching will appreciate this one:

• i’ve been talking to my dear from sophie a lot lately, and she’s supposed to be traveling from the UK to come visit in october.  needless to say, i am beyond stoked, and after knowing her for a year, it’s going to be nice to actually hang out in person!

music i’ve been really digging lately:

• maroon 5
• circa survive
• corinne baily rae

here i will share with you, awesome tools to help you announce your affirmations regularly.  you can pick and choose which ones work best for you, or try them all!  remember, these affirmations are to help you reprogram your brain – so the more repetition, the better.  (:

ps – if you are a newbie to the blog and are lost as to what the “law of attraction” is or what “affirmations” are, read my quick lesson on the law of attraction.  (:

• old school sentence writing. remember when you would misbehave in class and was forced to write sentences?  ohhh, i remember my hand would feel cramped for DAYS!  although- i actually used to enjoy writing sentences because i saw it as an opportunity to practice my handwriting.  i was kind of an odd child.  (:  don’t see this as a punishment any longer, but a tool you are use to your benefit!  take a solid five or ten minutes to write your affirmations over and over again, repeating them aloud.

• post-it notes. i like to get different coloured ones so they grab your attention.  stick them on your night stand, on your mirror, on the fridge, anywhere you can think of.  every time you see these brightly coloured notes, take a quick moment to read the affirmation, preferably aloud.
• note cards. i like to list affirmations on note cards and keep them in my bedside drawer.  this way, upon waking up, i can flip through the cards and reflect on them for a minute or two before i even get out of bed!  it also may be helpful to make another copy of note cards to put in your purse or car.

• shout affirmations during your work-out. i just got in the habit of doing jumping jacks and crunches first thing in the morning.  this helps me wake up and get my day started.  try to start your day out with twenty or so jumping jacks – nothing strenuous, just something to get your blood pumping.  if you want to focus on wealth, shout quick, short affirmations with each jump.  “i am rich!  i am wealthy!”  you get the point…
• shiny affirmation gems. in my experience, the more your announce you affirmations, the better.  sometimes i get a bit forgetful.  it’s kind of like an “out of sight, out of mind” sort of deal.  this is my favorite way to remember my affirmations!  i put 50 shiny gems in a small baggy, and store the baggy in a mug (my cup says “hot babe” hehe).  i transfer a shiny gem (my “affirmation”) out of the baggy and into the mug.  as i do this, i announce my affirmation aloud, and SMILE!

the point of affirmations is to reprogram your mind.  the more you repeat, the more likely you are to believe these affirmations and the more likely you will be able to create your own reality!  i hope this short list is very helpful to you and your positive affirmations.  let me know if there are any other techniques you use and would like to share with others!

the best, always. xo

• drink 8 ounces of water upon getting up out of bed.  you’ve been sleeping for eight hours, give or take, and your body is thirsty!  do it a favor and replenish your fluids.  (:
• start a gratitude journal. carry it with you wherever you go.  use it to draw happy pictures and smiling faces, thank the universe for allowing you to make it to work on time, that awesome sale at the mall or anything else you can think of to be grateful for!
• sell your belongings at a flea market. read zen habits “letting go of attachment” and spend a couple hours a day really analyzing your belongings.  learn to let go and make some money off your old junk in the meantime.

last week jefferson and i set up last week and i made over a hundred dollars while getting rid of unused scrabooking supplies, dvds and toys!

• start reading a new book. personally, i like to read books from the self help section, because they’re always positive and inspiration.  “don’t sweat the small stuff” books are among my favourite.  read a chapter before you get to work, a chapter on lunch break, and one at night.  the books are so good, you shouldn’t have an issue finishing it off in a week.
• make sweet baked goods and deliver them to a loved one. occasionally, i like to make cupcakes or something similar and drop them off to my grandparents.  they absolutely adore the surprise and cherish the time we spend together.  it makes both of our days. (:
• spend as much time as you possibly can barefoot. as much as i love my sexy pumps or even my dirty chucks, i love being barefooted just as much.  read about some of the benefits to going barefoot here.
• cuddle with your pets. if you don’t have a pet, substitute for a stuffed animal.  (:  feel the love and positive energies you feel between the two.  embrace this unconditional love and soak up all the energy you can!

i hope everyone has a truly amazing week!  i should have quite a few things going on regarding the blog, so stay tuned & check back daily!  xo

i totes have to get my hands on one of these bags made by alysia fischer.  they are made from inner tubes.  super awesome!  she also makes really neat looking bracelets as well.

how awesome are these records bracelets?!  they are made by dengler designs.  super awesome eco-friendly art, housewares and jewelry all made from old records.  (:  i thought they were pretty rad!

bags of blessings also made an appearance down the runway. handmade, wearable art by amy gibbons is super adorable and for a great cause!  a portion of every bags of blessing sale goes to support local missions and charities.

many of the girls are wearing pieces by shasam3.  funky jewelry made from recycled jean material and beads and such.  pretty unique stuff!

i think the girls had a lot of fun.  they all looked so adorable and really rocked the runway.  (:

i can’t thank kimberly enough for contacting me on etsy for this opportunity.  i’ve since chatted with a few other artists featured at studio 714, so it’s a great networking opportunity.  i spoke for a bit with zoe renee, a personal stylist and shopper, who also designs and creates jewelry.   i think it’s very important to build strong business relationships, but hopefully we can build something that can benefit the both of us.  (:

i hope you’ve enjoyed the last few posts regarding my shop.  i know this site is mainly inspirational and motivation chat, but this is a really huge part of my life, and i love sharing it with my loyal followers.  (:  be sure to like trashrags on facebook and follow on twitter, if you aren’t already, as i love to do giveaways from time to time.  (:

huge thanks to everyone for their constant kind words and support.  it really means so much to me.  xo

note: all photo credits go to yours truly.  (; taking photos around the past few days has really gotten me wanting to devote more time to photo sessions.  hopefully some opportunities will arise in the near future where i can make this possible.  (;