a few days ago the lovely sarah from gluten free tries vegan awarded me with the sugar doll award...it's nice to know that i am liked...thank you so much sarah...sorry it took me so long to acknowledge it...
i am supposed to write 10 random things about me and then pass the award along to a few of my lovebugs...the only issue i have is that i think you are all sugar dolls...and for the boys...well you're all sugar dandies...hehe!!! so i pick all of you...feel free to put this award up on your blog, and tell the blogosphere that nelly thinks you're swell...and please enlighten us all with 10 random things about you...i would LOVE to read them all...
ok here goes...10 random things about me...
♡ i bite my nails... ♡ my eyes turn forrest green when i cry... ♡ i love to kick doors when i am frustrated...(jokes)...i am very sarcastic... ♡ i FREAK out when a bug (especially spiders) crawl on any part of me... ♡ i use to be a little tap dancer...ballet dancer...and a little gymnast... ♡ i once convinced my mom to buy me ham, jelly and pickles as fillings for a sandwich (found the recipe on three's company)...i hated it...but i had to eat it all... ♡ i lived in italy for two years and went to school there... ♡ i am terrified of traveling by airplane... ♡ i don't like extreme heat... ♡ i am a people pleaser...all about pleasing the peoples...
i would like to step away from food today...and extend my heart and soul to a world wherein it is needed...my dream is and always has been to help this world...help as many lives as i can...touch as many hearts as is possible...if i can put a smile on at least one beautiful face...well then, my job here on this earth is done...
i've been thinking a lot about life...and how i feel my potential is not even close to being reached...it's so easy to go to work everyday, and do the same thing, day in and day out...isn't it? it's so easy to lead a very simple life...and i do. but it's not enough for me. i want more. i want to do more. i want to help our world somehow. and i will. baby steps. and i begin my journey with this blog entry...
driving home this evening...same route...same thoughts...same radio station, 680 news...i heard about something that really touched me...and i knew it was a starting point for me...and for so many women out there...the dove movement...dove is asking that women take the time to write a little note to all 13 year old girls around the world...to give them the self esteem they need to face this world...and i think it is just such a beautiful message...and i want to take part...and invite you all to do the same...
i struggle with self esteem issues to this very day...had someone told me that i was beautiful NO MATTER what...i think, actually i know, i would be a different girl today...a proud woman...proud of who i am on the inside...because at the end of the day...who i am...is more important than what i see in the mirror...because who i am can change the world...the face in the mirror, well it doesn't really matter...
open letter to: 13 year old girls around the world; and all little girls and women around the world
lovely girl,
i wanted to start off by saying YOU are beautiful...your heart is beautiful. and your smile can light up this entire world...please don't ever forget that...the sound of your laughter, is music to the world's ears...
life is tough isn't it? but it's beautiful and it's worth it. and the world is even more beautiful because you're a part of it. life isn't about the colour of your hair, or the colour of your eyes...it's not about the length of your nose, or the size of your lips...nor is it about the size of your breasts, or the inches of your waist...or whether you have a butt or not...short or tall...no matter your size...there is only one of you...no one on this earth will ever be able to replace you...you are epic.
life is about you. it is about love and happiness, and making memories...it is about holding hands and singing as loud as you possibly can...dancing, even when the world is watching...it's about taking chances and having a voice...it's about passion and fighting for what you believe in...do everything you want to do, and don't ever give up on yourself...keep going, even if you feel the world has let you down...keep fighting...because you are worth it and you always will be. always be yourself, always be true to yourself, and always believe in yourself...and when you look into the mirror i want you to see your strength and your brilliance. your warmth and your kindness...i want you to know that your heart alone, can and will change the world.
you are beautiful, inside and out...please don't ever forget that. if there is one thing in this world that i know for certain, it's that you are worth an infinity...and you are so loved and cherished.
wish on stars, and dream big dreams...love yourself...forever and for always...
your friend,
nelly
i leave you with a very inspirational song...i always sing this to myself when i need a little bit of a push...and a hug...
can you imagine what life would be like without either love or friendship? i can't. and i won't.
these past few days have been fabulous and beautiful...i was fortunate enough to spend these fabulous and beautiful days with kelli...and heathy...i'm sort of still getting over the loss of their presence...but i know i will see them both again soon...love you girlies so much...thank you both so much for being such beautiful human beings...you truly made my life...and i have tucked our beautiful time together in the corner of my heart, it will remain safely, forever, a very beautiful memory...and i miss you both so much!!
we did so many lovely things...you know, the kind of lovely things that only girls can do...girlie talk...and so much laughter...dipping moonie pies...and eating lots of yummy raw vegan food and sweet sweet desserts...dining out...dining in...yoga, lead by none other than the beautiful yogi heathy...shopping in the beautiful city of toronto...what a beautiful beautiful time i had...
i wasn't a very good blogger...didn't take any photos...but not only was i hosting these very beautiful girls...i was also and still am trying to deal with a very sore foot...so please look forward to some very lovely posts and photos from both kelli...and heathy...
i'll leave you with a few pictures i was able to borrow from some very dear friends...
and don't forget to enter the cafe gratitude dessert book recipe giveaway...it ends July 23, 2010...i will be making some lovely desserts from this book in the days ahead...my friend and earthbound angel, was so very sweet to make some irish moss gel for me before she left...thank you my girl!!!
hello my precious friends...thank you so much for your lovely comments on yesterday's post...it's nice to know that i am not the only garlic lover out there...
as you all know by now, in a few days i will be hanging out with two very fabulous gals (heathy and kelli)...and i am truly elated...i feel as though i have known these ladies an entire lifetime...i am lucky to know them...the world is a better place knowing that they share it with me...
ok! ok! i'm done with corny for the night...let's get on with it...
because i am bursting with gratitude these days...i have decided to have another very sweet giveaway...i thought it would be so lovely to give one of my beautiful readers a chance to win sweet gratitude...
the very talented bitty boo, has made so many lovelytreats as well...
here are the rules...
*open to International, US and Canadian residents.
*mandatory: you MUST be a follower on google friend connect. it's on the right hand sidebar of my blog. then leave a comment stating that you are.
extra entries:
*follow me on twitter @nutellaaaa (leave one comment);
*tweet about the giveaway on twitter...please include the link @nutellaaaa on your tweet status...can be done once daily (leave one comment letting me know you tweeted);
*post on your blog about the giveaway and deadline...please leave a comment with a link to your blog post here...(leave 5 comments); and
*add me to your blogroll, come back here and let me know...(leave 3 comments)
hi friends...hope this finds you all very well and full of joy...i am back from my week long vacation...and i am more than relaxed and happy...we had so much fun...(jackson, john and moi)...we were so lucky to be graced with nothing but sunshine the entire week (except friday, i thought winter was back to haunt me)...my vacation was definitely action packed...i golfed (and i golfed well)...i rode on the back of a jet ski...and tipped both john and i into the lake (which was so much fun)...i swam...i danced and sang to the mama mia soundtrack...(on my list of things to buy this week)...i visited an amazing local health store with so many vegan options...that totally made my day in itself...and again i have to mention, i am so blessed to be able to spend time away with family...and even more blessed to have been graced by the warmth of the sun each and every day...and, i have to say for the record, jackson is the world's greatest pup...i am so utterly proud of my fur baby, he was just so incredibly well behaved...and he is such a fish...he and i swam together and it was such a fun fun time...
i was slightly busy in my kitchen today...i made two very yummy dishes...
a shaved root vegetable salad, inspiration for this recipe came from the canadian food network, by the lovely laura calder (i used a veggie peeler, i don't have a mandolin)...
in this lovely salad are the following ingredients:
baby fennel striped beets golden beets yellow zucchini radishes asparagus pea shoots parsley thyme dill
for the dressing:
olive oil lemon zest juice of a lemon apple cider vinegar himalayan crystal salt
one word: beautiful
i also made a very lovely baby arugula basil pesto (baby arugula, basil, parsley, LOTS of garlic, walnuts, himalayan crystal salt and olive oil)
i enjoyed this lovely sauce on toasted organic spelt bread with wild rice, and on some brown rice rotini...
one word: garlickyheaven (haha!)
i love garlic...i put it on everything, in everything...i've turned into one of those stinky people on the subway i always complain about...but i don't care...a lot of people dislike it...and it's gotten such a bad rep! well i'm here to bring garlic back!!! not really...i'm getting a little carried away, as per usual.
i'll be back tomorrow to post the winner of the csn store giveaway, and on wednesday, i'll be having another SWEET giveaway...so stay tuned my pals...
hope you all enjoyed your weekends...and to all canadians and americans, hope you all enjoyed your extra long weekends...
hi my loves...just wanted to wish you all a beautiful rest of the week, and a fabulous weekend...i am resting and sunbathing at our family lakeside cottage until monday...so relaxing and serene...
happy birthday canada, so proud and incredibly lucky to be a citizen of such a beautiful and amazing country...may you have many more...
(happy 4th of july to all my american friends, enjoy!)
