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Hello Kitty?

11/26/2014

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We love them and yet, they can drive us crazy with it. Anyone who has ever shared the home with a territorial cat knows the grief I am talking about: the smell of cat markings.

Frustrated cats don't always vent right away, they may seem calm at the moment but I bet you, a territorial kitty never forgets, the complaint call just comes delayed. It can be weeks or even month after getting aggravated over something, but when the shit hits her fan, she'll let you know.


Unlike cat pee, locating the crime scene can be challenging and boy!, they can be so incredibly creative when it comes to choosing the "purrfect" spot for the message - often just a few little drops which makes it so darn difficult to find.

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My nose's sensitivity is that of a bloodhound when it comes to the distinct scent of an angry feline. When nobody else around notices a thing, one sniff and I just know, "She's done it again!". The scent lingers in my nose and seems to follow me wherever I go around the house.
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Oh how many bottles of cleaning supplies I have gone through and stuff that is supposed to break down the enzymes! None of it did the job for me, sorry, I could still smell it.
Eventually I figured it out:
water and simple anti-bacterial hand soap works best and gives quick and lasting results. A little spritz of feline facial hormone spray applied to critical spots, and natural flower essences added to food or drinking water, and life with kitty has become much more pleasant.

That is of course ... until kitty's hotline rings again and it's time for a talk.
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Links:

http://petessences.com/
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The Vegan Business - featuring Maya Epler

11/10/2014

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Welcome to Planet Vegan presents business owners, their vision and their journey to success through creating, designing, inventing, manufacturing and selling their vegan products,
while actively contributing with their work to end animal exploitation by humans and acknowledging the value of all life on Earth.


Submit a vegan business to be featured
(No associate, consultant or pyramid businesses)

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Israel native and fashion designer Maya Epler creates classic vintage inspired garments entirely made from all vegan materials. Her very unique style and her creations reflect the young woman’s personality and her love for nostalgic charm and feminine, graceful appearance.

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While drawn to diversity and finding grace in each decade’s fashion style, what seems to inspire her work most is the Victorian era with its noble, somewhat “dark” royal clothing, flattering fits, patterns and stiff fabrics, and the traditional Japanese style with the classic, sometimes “mysterious” look and the contrast of bold colors.

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For the ethic vegan business woman her chosen lifestyle clearly goes beyond the dinner plate. Maya says, “Animals are exploited in so many different ways and I believe with all my heart that this wrong doing must stop! I love my work and I select fabrics that are 100% vegan. Designing patterns and sewing modern garments with a vintage touch and at the same time contributing to animal welfare makes me feel very happy inside. Seeing my customers enjoying my work and appreciating my line of conscious clothing is incredibly rewarding for me.”

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After relocating from Israel, Maya now calls Berkeley, California her new home. She enjoys every minute of going out and is excited about the abundance of vegan options and restaurants she discovers in her new environment, and the many like minded people she gets to meet, who like her, support a life style without the use of any animal products.

Links:

http://www.mayaepler.com/

https://www.etsy.com/il-en/shop/MayaEplerFashion?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Like her on Facebook - Maya Epler Handmade Fashion Designs

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LKM is the answer to the missing GG

6/23/2014

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Susan Placek, Owner of THE CREATIVE IDEA SHOP
Observing life on this planet and following the news feeds one wonders, what the hell is wrong with people? How on earth is it possible that mankind is capable of committing those gut wrenching crimes and atrocities, not just against each other, but also against other sentient beings, against nature and ultimately against the very foundation necessary for the survival of our own species.

While there are many different factors playing an important role in the madness, it all boils down to a simple conclusion:  Mankind suffers from a serious lack of Compassion, one’s ability to be concerned for another being’s welfare.
Immanuel Kant, a respected figure of modern philosophy, considered Compassion a weak and misguided sentiment: “Such benevolence is called soft-heartedness and should not occur at all among human beings,” he said. Unfortunately his thoughts continue to have a major influence in contemporary thinking even though the guy clearly must have been born with a huge biological deficiency: The G gene.

Human genes are made of bases, the nucleotides, which come in four types: A, T, C, and G, which again appear in combinations,  AA, AG or GG, the latter one being associated with empathy, positive emotions and sensitivity to the weaker links and the underdogs of society. People carrying the GG gene are believed to be more caring which reflects in their body language, such as smiling, loving gestures, head nodding,  eye contact and the willingness to listen. Furthermore a person’s hormonal balance and small differences in it can have far-reaching effects on empathy. This fact in itself should raise a gigantic red flag and opens another can of worms: Mankind’s mind boggling consumption of hormone loaded meat and dairies and all the misery that comes from and with it.
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But let's not blame it all on the genes. We as a species have come way too far to let a genetic footprint get in the way of mental enlightenment and global change.
Remedy may be here in a practice which in recent years has become not only main stream in the Western world but has grown in popularity: MEDITATION.
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Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM) is a popular form of meditation in Buddhism and seems to be most needed in this world. It refers to a mental state of unselfish and unconditional kindness producing all four qualities of love:
Friendliness (Metta)
Compassion (Caruna)
Appreciative Joy (Mudita)
Equanimity (Upekkha)

Meditators begin with cultivating loving-kindness towards themselves, then towards their loved ones, friends, strangers, enemies and all sentient beings, replacing negative and destructive emotions with positive ones. Ancient Buddhist collections of texts “Pali Canon” define the benefits of Loving-Kindness meditation (mettā bhāvanā) as followed:
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“One sleeps easily, wakes easily, dreams no evil dreams. One is dear to human beings, dear to non-human beings. The devas protect one. Neither fire, poison, nor weapons can touch one. One’s mind gains concentration quickly. One’s complexion is bright. One dies unconfused and – if penetrating no higher – is headed for the Brahma worlds”. (Wikipedia)
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If only Kant would have had LKM meditation available at his time, his soul might have been nourished with Kindness and Compassion and some of his thoughts might have never been published in the first place.


Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mett%C4%81


http://www.inner-light-in.com/2012/09/empathy-meditation-and-loving-kindness/

http://www.stwr.org/economic-sharing-alternatives/the-biological-basis-of-compassion.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation


http://buddhist-meditation-techniques.com/loving-kindness-meditation/

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lake shrine, temple of serenity, compassion & kindness 

5/24/2014

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Susan Placek, Owner of THE CREATIVE IDEA SHOP
Heading to my friend's book signing in Venice Beach I decided to pull myself away from the computer a few hours earlier and take a break at the nearby Meditation Center of Lake Shrine,  "nearby" of course in Los Angeles standards that is.
The serene Lake Shrine Meditation Garden and Temple is located in the beautiful Pacific Palisades off Sunset Boulevard featuring a spring-fed lake, nestled in the center of the Garden.
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Entering through the upper parking lot one is immediately captivated by the soothing sound of water coming from the court yard fountain, and the bright white Temple with the golden lotus flowers in sharp contrast to the deep blue sky, which visitors have a good chance for here in Southern California at most days of the year.
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Knowing the quite interesting history of this place makes a big difference in the whole experience. Being on a schedule  however I decided to focus on the Garden during this visit and walked straight through the double doors to the stairs, leading down to the lake.
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The sheer existence of what used to be Lake Santa Ynez can be seen as a co-production between men and Mother Nature. Extensive earth moving activities in the Santa Ynez Canyon, which used to be a silent movie production site of the then-famous Inceville motion-picture studio in the early 1920ies, were followed by water coming from nearby springs, quickly filling the basin, and bringing a halt to plans for future land development.
During the following 10 years the area remained untouched and more than a decade later the land, which meanwhile had turned into a forgotten swamp was purchased by H. Everett McElroy, assistant superin­tendent of construction for 20th Cen­tury Fox studios, and developed according to his vision of a unique private paradise, including the construction of a new residence situated across the McElroy's double-deck Mississippi-style houseboat which had been relocated from Lake Mead, followed by a boat deck with landing and a Dutch Windmill with a fifteen foot water wheel connected to an irrigation system.

And now the story becomes really fascinating.
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In the late 1940ies Mr. McElroy sold the property to an oil-company president who's strange re-occurring dreams of his new home becoming a "Church of All Reli­gions", inspired him to write a letter to the Self-Realiza­tion Fellowship Church of All Reli­gions in Hollywood, in which he offered his property for sale.
Deeply moved by his dreams he decided to quickly call instead of waiting for his letter to arrive, and when he did, the founder, Paramahansa Yogananda himself answered his call. Before the man had a chance to introduce himself, he was asked about the property he had for sale, even though his letter had not arrived yet.
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After change of ownership made possible through generous benefactors, once again construction began at Lake Santa Ynez. Paramahansa Yoga­nanda himself directed and oversaw the ongoing work and the creation of his spiritual legacy from his new and temporary headquarters, the houseboat.
1,500 people attended the formal opening to the public on August 20, 1950 of what was now Lake Shrine.
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All of Mr. McElroy's buildings still exist and are part of today's site and landscaping.

New constructions added under the vegetarian Guru's supervision were the Court of Religions honoring the five principal religions of the world, the Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial, home to a portion of Gandhi's ashes, and a Museum which exhibits Paramahansa Yogananda's work.
The white hill-top Temple and Retreat, looking at the lake and the Pacific Ocean was built in 1996, 44 years after Paramahansa Yogananda's passing, fulfilling his last wish for a construction of such a building.
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Yogananda also designed the Golden Lotus Archway, or "wall-less temple, topped by golden lotus flowers, the Indian symbol of divine unfoldment and the awakening of the soul to its infinite potential.
The orange-red flowering plant next to the Archway looks like a shrub on fire, and I wonder if this species was purposely chosen to be planted there as a symbol of the eternal flame of life.
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Swans, ducks, turtles, fish and many other animals call Lake Shrine home and the park itself with its lush landscaping, rocks, waterfalls, trees, tropical plants, flowers and shrubs is a sanctuary for people looking for a place to unwind, to meditate or simply to enjoy this spiritual place and the stunning scenic beauty.
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With the Windmill Chapel currently under construction, to be re-opened again in Fall, and part of the Garden including the Visitor Center and the large statue by the waterfall not accessible at this time, there was only one more place to go to:
The Lake Shrine Gift Shop and Museum offering a variety of inspirational gifts from India, from books to statues, candles, incense, singing bowls, jewelry, clothing and hand made Indian arts and crafts.
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The moment I entered the store a colorful scarf begged me to be allowed to come home with me - how could I not practice kindness and compassion at a place like this. I couldn't.


Links:

http://www.lakeshrine.org/

http://www.yogananda-srf.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramahansa_Yogananda

Photography: Susan Placek/CocoonWorx  http://www.cocoonworx.com


Kindness & Compassion Gifts 
http://www.welcometoplanetvegan.com/store.html
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SEEDS FOR SOWING GOODNESS

5/8/2014

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Don't we all have those days when we wish things would be as simple as black and white with nothing in between, without the millions of shades of grey that make our world as complex as it is? All the madness on this planet might be fixed easily if there was only either "good" or "bad".
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For some unknown reason though the Universe doesn't work like that. Instead, we are all part of that mind blowing web called "life", where all is connected, where each single action of each single person matters and all is one.

It is my deepest desire to be part of something good, to be one of the many tiny little seeds in our society who crave for fundamental change on this planet, and who want to contribute somehow with something in this process of awakening the kind of human qualities that are lacking, but essential in becoming what we claim to be: HUMANE.

I chose Vegetable Seeds as a symbol of life, of new beginnings and of nurturing the human mind and soul, and combined them with one of my passions - being creative - for sowing Goodness and ultimately growing KINDNESS, COMPASSION, PEACE, HARMONY and HAPPINESS, envelope by envelope and seed by seed.

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Contact
for free logo personalization for businesses, organizations and non-profits and for wholesale.


Links:

http://www.welcometoplanetvegan.com/store.html


http://www.thecreativeideashop.com/seed-gifts.html

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Time to go smell the roses ... remembering lucky

4/10/2014

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Susan Placek, Owner of WELCOME TO PLANET VEGAN & THE CREATIVE IDEA SHOP
Anyone who has ever welcomed an animal to the home, bonded and developed emotional ties with that other being, just like with other family members, dreads the day that might come when a decision would have to be made. I was always hoping that life would allow all of our animals someday to just fall asleep whenever their time had come.

Lucky joined our family in 2002 when my husband found and adopted her through a private rescue place. He had been searching for a friend and companion for our then 12 year old son and I remember him bringing her home, entering our house for the very first time, I can still see her standing there quietly, looking around, checking everything out while her eyes kind of asked, "Will this be my new home?"
It was clear to see that she felt comfortable with us immediately but it took a few weeks until she could proudly hold up her tail during our walks. Since that day this gentle loving and always appreciative soul had been around me day and night, she was my daily walking partner and for some reason she liked people much more than other dogs even though people have not always been good to her before she came to us. I was the one in the family Lucky seemed to be most attached to, never wanting to go anywhere unless I too came along. Her nose was always busy, and in the later years her sense of smell seemed to increase while her eye sight started getting weaker. Our walks would have taken 4 times as long would I have waited for her to be done with smelling this bush, that corner, the flower bed or this tree. As it seems unusual for a female, she peed a million times during one walk, making her mark along the way. Lucky had been a traveler too and loved going to the mountains. We took her along on trips and people noticed how well behaved and quiet that dog was.
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One could sense that she never wanted to be a burden, she was just grateful for being able to be with us. She was such a good dog and the best four-legged friend and family member we could have wished for.
Last Fall Lucky started developing serious health issues and the vet told us that she would have only another 2 - 14 days to live. We took her back home and with the help of Lucky's grandmother's knowledge in Homeopathic healing practices Lucky got an extension in life and we were able to have her around longer than we thought possible. She started eating again, gained back weight and had 6 more month of quality life with us. She received Arnica montana D6, Apis mellifica D12 and Rhus toxicodendron D30 along with Homeopathic heart drops and a natural ginger like remedy for good digestion.
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The natural flower essence I found online worked so well to make her bad seizures go away, I can only recommend it to anyone who's dog experiences those viscous and scary attacks.
In the last few weeks her health again started to slowly deteriorate, she became so frail and weak, yet tried so hard not to be a burden by keeping her bodily functions going and taking her business to the yard. She sometimes walked like a drunk and bumped into things, and when she stopped drinking water it became obvious that this time there would be no recovery. Still I was hoping she would be allowed to just fall asleep peacefully at her home in one of her many dog beds. I just couldn't imagine making that decision and having to ask someone to take her life.

Last night - in spite of her bad condition and weakness - she was restless. The sound of the "tap tap tap" when she walked through the house always kept me on alert even when I was asleep, and sleep had been interrupted many times a night during the last few month. So I got up at 4 am to check on her and found her resting by the entrance door of the house. It was a very unusual place for her to linger, never ever had she done that before and she stayed there until my husband left for work.
When I got up in the morning she walked out of our bedroom and there was this look in her eyes, telling me that she didn't want to live like that anymore, asking me to let her go. Suddenly it dawned on me, the place she chose last night - right by the entrance door - was her way of telling me that she wanted to leave, that it was her time to go. In the end, she was the one making the decision for me, giving me the strength I needed to take her to the vet. She took the weight off my shoulders and it feels like her final gift of love to me, all she had left to give.

So, this morning I packed her into her red fuzzy doggie bed and together with my son we drove to the animal hospital. He had brought a gorgeous rose from his own garden with the most amazing smell. When I carried her into the building she had her head pressed to my chest and it seemed like she knew that this would be the last time she would see the sun on this side of life. Holding the rose close to Lucky's nose, embracing and constantly dropping kisses and tears on her head, Lucky crossed the rainbow bridge this morning at 11 am, peacefully and gentle, as the gentle dog that she had always been, leaving behind heavy hearts and so many beautiful memories of 12 years together.
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Back at the house everything reminds me of her, I hear the sound of her steps, I see her coming to me,  licking her mouth and signaling that she is hungry, jumping for joy when I put on my red sweat shirt before our evening walks and I think of that little dog's happiness whenever a family member came back home, even when gone for just a few minutes.
As I miss her so much and always will, I look into another pair of affectionate eyes, Sam, our four-legged grandson and the next dog generation visiting, he wants to go for a stroll. Sam is just 9 month old but already three times Lucky's size and weight. So I take this handsome boy out for a walk through the nearby park. The breeze feels good in the heat of the afternoon and it reminds me of Lucky running with her ears flying in the wind, chasing cats, squirrels and birds, barking at skateboarders, bikers and anything noisy, and I find myself smiling.
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It's almost as if she tells me through the wind, "All is good, I arrived at the garden on the other side and the roses smell wonderful here."

At night I look out of our window into the front yard and I see the little candle burning in our stone temple, shining in honor and the memory of Lucky. My little pawsome angel will be in my heart forever.
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Links:

http://www.petessences.com

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brewing goodness

4/8/2014

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Susan Placek, Owner of THE CREATIVE IDEA SHOP
There are occasions in life when a goofy greeting card simply doesn't do the job.

During one of the most recent trade shows I almost walked by, if it wouldn't have been for my husband who called me back and said, "Have you seen these?"

And there they were! The perfect addition to an inspirational card series that has been brewing in my mind; Just what I was searching for without even realizing that I was searching! In an instant I knew that these Tea Bags would be married to my card collection, which at that point, only existed in my head.

Words like "COMPASSION", "KINDNESS", "HAPPINESS", "HARMONY" and "PEACE" deserve to be mentioned more often in every day life - expressing values that people are looking for again in a society that has sacrificed a huge junk of its humanity for economical growth and greedy intentions. Those exact words came to me that day with the Tea Bags my husband had just discovered.

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The true beauty of these little jewels however isn't in the fact that each Tea Bag is filled with organic, hand-picked Teas from Northern India; It lies in something else: Every single Dollar that I and all other buyers spend on the purchase of this product goes into Goodness.

100% of the tea bag manufacturer's profit, which is a non-profit organization, is being sent to Tibetan educational projects and orphanages. What an act of KINDNESS this is and how much HAPPINESS this will bring to so many!


Meanwhile the Tea Bags have become an important part of my Serenity Tea Card Series, which has been created for the purpose of raising awareness for COMPASSION, PEACE and HARMONY, in private life and in business, gift by gift, occasion by occasion, day by day.

Which really proofs it, "What you seek, is seeking you."

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Links:

Initial Benefiting Organizations

Tibetan Children’s Village http://www.tcv.org.in/Tibetan Home of Hope
and
http://www.tibetanhomeofhope.org/

http://www.thecreativeideashop.com/tea-greeting-cards.html
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