IG: Thanks for the feature yesterday @fiveminutejournal @fiveminutejournal ・・・ Meet @laurafranklin …⠀ “✨FIND THE MAGIC.✨⠀ Life is SO magical and wondrous. Like it really is.⠀ But how often do we consciously see, feel or acknowledge the magic, wonder and beauty of everyday life?⠀ Very often, our days are too damn chaotic, busy, or full of noise (from things that don’t truly matter) to consciously feel the magic. Or we’ve become numb to it for whatever reason.⠀ But the forces you to FIND THE MAGIC, daily… to cut through the bulls$!t and constant noise of everyday life and reflect, appreciate, and acknowledge whatever the hell calls to you (it’s totally up to you).⠀ Sure, some days are really tough and it feels like a challenge to find 3 separate “amazing things that happened today”. Been there. But guess what I’ve learned? There’s always something, like:⠀ 1. Your heart beat today.⠀ 2. The sun came up today.⠀ 3. You pooped today. (?)⠀ These are all amazing in their own right, and beautiful, wondrous magic can be as simple or as complicated as we want.⠀ I friggen’ love this journal as an effective medium to find daily magic through gratitude, manifestation and affirmation practices, and as a daily reflection tool to keep us present, aware and in awe of even the ‘little’ stuff. It has helped to shift my mindset into appreciation mode, which has lead me to greater happiness.⠀ And more happiness = better health, so that’s a big WIN in my books. What will you find magic in today?”⠀ ⠀ We’d love to hear all your stories. Feel free to share them using or reach us at [email protected]

Thanks for the feature yesterday @fiveminutejournal! ?✨❤️???? ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#Repost @fiveminutejournal ・・・
Meet @laurafranklin …⠀
“✨FIND THE MAGIC.✨⠀
Life is SO magical and wondrous. Like it really is.⠀
But how often do we consciously see, feel or acknowledge the magic, wonder and beauty of everyday life?⠀
Very often, our days are too damn chaotic, busy, or full of noise (from things that don’t truly matter) to consciously feel the magic. Or we’ve become numb to it for whatever reason.⠀
But the #fiveminutejournal forces you to FIND THE MAGIC, daily… to cut through the bulls$!t and constant noise of everyday life and reflect, appreciate, and acknowledge whatever the hell calls to you (it’s totally up to you).⠀
Sure, some days are really tough and it feels like a challenge to find 3 separate “amazing things that happened today”. Been there. But guess what I’ve learned? There’s always something, like:⠀
1. Your heart beat today.⠀
2. The sun came up today.⠀
3. You pooped today. (?)⠀
These are all amazing in their own right, and beautiful, wondrous magic can be as simple or as complicated as we want.⠀
I friggen’ love this journal as an effective medium to find daily magic through gratitude, manifestation and affirmation practices, and as a daily reflection tool to keep us present, aware and in awe of even the ‘little’ stuff. It has helped to shift my mindset into appreciation mode, which has lead me to greater happiness.⠀
And more happiness = better health, so that’s a big WIN in my books. What will you find magic in today?”⠀
⠀
We’d love to hear all your stories. Feel free to share them using #lovemyfiveminutejournal or reach us at [email protected]. ? #fiveminutejournal #testimonialfriday #sharethelove #grateful

IG: I’ve been focusing even more deeply on my health lately and investing in myself (side note: a bit of a foreign concept for an empath like me, because we sacrifice self to care for others almost always, but then eventually burn out and ☠️☠️☠️ if we aren’t careful). Anyway, why? Because without your health, NOTHING else matters. Let me repeat: NOTHING ELSE MATTERS! Think about it; relationships, family, friends, work, adventure… you can’t show up fully to any aspects of your life that truly matter if you’re unwell in your body or mind (which almost always go together). Sure, I do a lot of stuff right already, but there’s always ways to go deeper (while still enjoying the f*** out of life, obvi). And guess what? Taking care of your own health and even investing in yourself in healthful ways is by NO MEANS selfish or self-serving! In fact, it’s actually a service to others, because by taking care of yourself, you ensure you are the best human possible for your family, friends, job, projects, important causes, planet etc. (or whatever else is most important to you) and in the highest vibing way. A highly functioning, healthy body and mind gives you the ability to live out your higher purpose, be the best YOU possible and allow rainbows/unicorns/magic into your life, daily (trust me, it’ll come). Feeling shitty right now? No worries, I’ve BEEN THERE, but it’s never too late to BEGIN to put your health first, or merely step up your current game✨✨✨❤️❤️❤️?????? •••••• photo cred: @chriswynia

I’ve been focusing even more deeply on my health lately and investing in myself (side note: a bit of a foreign concept for an empath like me, because we sacrifice self to care for others almost always, but then eventually burn out and ☠️☠️☠️ if we aren’t careful). Anyway, why? Because without your health, NOTHING else matters. Let me repeat: NOTHING ELSE MATTERS! Think about it; relationships, family, friends, work, adventure… you can’t show up fully to any aspects of your life that truly matter if you’re unwell in your body or mind (which almost always go together). Sure, I do a lot of stuff right already, but there’s always ways to go deeper (while still enjoying the f*** out of life, obvi). And guess what? Taking care of your own health and even investing in yourself in healthful ways is by NO MEANS selfish or self-serving! In fact, it’s actually a service to others, because by taking care of yourself, you ensure you are the best human possible for your family, friends, job, projects, important causes, planet etc. (or whatever else is most important to you) and in the highest vibing way. A highly functioning, healthy body and mind gives you the ability to live out your higher purpose, be the best YOU possible and allow rainbows/unicorns/magic into your life, daily (trust me, it’ll come). Feeling shitty right now? No worries, I’ve BEEN THERE, but it’s never too late to BEGIN to put your health first, or merely step up your current game✨✨✨❤️❤️❤️?????? •••••• photo cred: @chriswynia

IG: It’s legit fall, so, banana bread??‍?. But tonight I decided to put a pumpkin-spice-spin on my classic quick & easy vegan buckwheat banana bread recipe (link in profile); all you gots to do is replace the straight cinnamon in the recipe with organic pumpkin spice blend (which is a blend that still contains cinnamon). Then, cuz I’m crazy like that, I also added 1/3 cup of unsweetened shredded organic coconut (love me some fat) and 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips. Effffffffinnnnnnnggg riiiidonkulous. In case you weren’t already sold, it’s also gluten-free

It’s legit fall, so, banana bread??‍?. But tonight I decided to put a pumpkin-spice-spin on my classic quick & easy vegan buckwheat banana bread recipe (link in profile); all you gots to do is replace the straight cinnamon in the recipe with organic pumpkin spice blend (which is a blend that still contains cinnamon). Then, cuz I’m crazy like that, I also added 1/3 cup of unsweetened shredded organic coconut (love me some fat) and 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips #forthewin. Effffffffinnnnnnnggg riiiidonkulous. In case you weren’t already sold, it’s also gluten-free ???#linkinprofile #vegan #bananabread #pumpkinspice #vegan #fall #recipe #freshandfrank #organic #delicious #toronto #healthybaking #goodfats #noglutenyo #whattatreat #putbutteronit #grassfedbutter #wellness #health #yum #deliciousAF #feedme #tryit

IG: CHERRY MATCHA FAT BOMBS! ??Recipe experimenting on a Saturday afternoon. Threw these together. They win. • Ingredients: @giddyyoyo cacao butter, @organikahealth grassfed collagen, @nutiva coconut manna, xylitol, matcha powder and an organic cherry in the centre of each ??????. Clean, quick and easy. Will make these again and record measurements

CHERRY MATCHA FAT BOMBS! ??Recipe experimenting on a Saturday afternoon. Threw these together. They win. •
Ingredients: @giddyyoyo cacao butter, @organikahealth grassfed collagen, @nutiva coconut manna, xylitol, matcha powder and an organic cherry in the centre of each ??????. Clean, quick and easy. Will make these again and record measurements ??? #Saturday #recipeexperiments #matcha #cherry #fatbombs #guthealing #health #wellness #collagen #cacaobutter #snacks #nosugaradded #organic #coconut #newrecipe #greentea #chocolates #bites #recipecreation #experimentation #love

IG: Saving seeds on this dreary fall day?… I let this dill cucumber grow large and eventually turn orange on the outside (it looked like a strange squash) to harvest the seeds from it for next year’s growing?. I cut it open and couldn’t help but revel at nature’s beauty; the seed patterns, the intense fresh smell, the feel. We are often too “go-go-go” to take a second to appreciate the simplest, most beautiful and wondrous things like this. Today I encourage you to take a quick moment to slow down, ‘smell the roses’ (or cucumbers) and just appreciate something that you otherwise would have over-looked. There is beauty everywhere, we just have to open our eyes

Saving seeds on this dreary fall day?… I let this dill cucumber grow large and eventually turn orange on the outside (it looked like a strange squash) to harvest the seeds from it for next year’s growing?. I cut it open and couldn’t help but revel at nature’s beauty; the seed patterns, the intense fresh smell, the feel. We are often too “go-go-go” to take a second to appreciate the simplest, most beautiful and wondrous things like this. Today I encourage you to take a quick moment to slow down, ‘smell the roses’ (or cucumbers) and just appreciate something that you otherwise would have over-looked. There is beauty everywhere, we just have to open our eyes ✨??❤️. #seedsaving #toronto #urbangarden #dillcucumbers #appreciate #nature #harvest #realfood #love #grow #fall #fromseedtoseed #fromseedtotable #2018growingseason #health #wellness #friYAY #bewell #slowdown

IG: Because pouring stuff in slow motion is fun, and avocado + hemp hearts + MCT oil + kombucha vinegar + salt & peppa is delicious and creamy when blended up for salad dressing and poured over a salad that was mostly grown by you

Because pouring stuff in slow motion is fun, and avocado + hemp hearts + MCT oil + kombucha vinegar + salt & peppa is delicious and creamy when blended up for salad dressing and poured over a salad that was mostly grown by you ??????‍? #itsagoodday #allorganic #harvest #fruitsofmylabor #veg #salad #lunch #fromseedtotable #urbangarden #realfood #freshAF #delicious #freshandfrank #nomnomnom #wellness #health #toronto #slowmopour #itwasdelicious #postworkout

IG: Project “Avoid Canadian Winter” is in full force and the countdown begins: 5 weeks until I am able to climb palm trees again (plus be in an ocean, touch some sand, eat an endless supply of plantains…) Honest side note: even this tilty one was a bit of a challenge for this city chick ?… so stoked to check out @cocohillpanama

Project “Avoid Canadian Winter” is in full force and the countdown begins: 5 weeks until I am able to climb palm trees again (plus be in an ocean, touch some sand, eat an endless supply of plantains…) Honest side note: even this tilty one was a bit of a challenge for this city chick ?… so stoked to check out @cocohillpanama ??????#thecountdownbegins #happyhalloween #travel #adventures #avoidingCanadianwinter #snowbirding #climbingpalmtrees #bocasdeltoro #bastimentos #panama #centralamerica #palms #sand #ocean #surf #grow #cultivate #escapewinter #wellness #yeehaw

IG: Nasturtiums; a must-have flower for any garden, beginner or advanced, in my opinion??. With both deliciously edible leaves AND flowers, nasturtiums are super easy to grow, hearty and bloom continuously from beginning to end of season. They come in a variety of vibrant colours, vining or bush-type, adding beauty and attracting glorious pollinators like hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Plus, each flower turns into 3 of these super cool seeds, which are fun to collect to dry for next year’s plantings, since they are annuals (probably my favourite seeds to collect). Betcha couldn’t tell I love them?! ?If you haven’t planted nasturtiums yet, 2018 is your year

Nasturtiums; a must-have flower for any garden, beginner or advanced, in my opinion??. With both deliciously edible leaves AND flowers, nasturtiums are super easy to grow, hearty and bloom continuously from beginning to end of season. They come in a variety of vibrant colours, vining or bush-type, adding beauty and attracting glorious pollinators like hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Plus, each flower turns into 3 of these super cool seeds, which are fun to collect to dry for next year’s plantings, since they are annuals (probably my favourite seeds to collect). Betcha couldn’t tell I love them?! ?If you haven’t planted nasturtiums yet, 2018 is your year! ??‍???#nofilter #nasturtium #gardenlove #vibrant #colour #hummingbirds #wednesdaywisdom #urbangarden #flowers #edibleflowers #edibleleaves #sopretty #urbangarden #organicgarden #grow #cultivate #salads #fromseedtotable #health #wellness #toronto #love #garden

IG: **SOUND ON for beautiful music** ? This weekend, we celebrated my mom’s life and creativity with a series of wonderful events; the main one being a gallery showing of her mixed media artworks, readings of her writings, and live concert by some amazing musicians that my mom absolutely loved. To cap it off yesterday, my stepdad hosted a brunch at the house for our many out-of-town guests, and the uber-talented musicians that had played for us the day before, played again. This song was particularly powerful for me, and really reminded me of my mom, so although I was avoiding using my phone, I took it out to record this one. Just as I started to record, Neville walked up to the musicians and sat down right next to the Erhu player while she played. In that moment, I looked over to Jeff who quietly mouthed “your mom” with his lips, which is exactly what I was thinking, and I was overcome with emotion. It was such a magical moment, beyond my ability to even describe. If you knew my mom at all, you knew she was right there in that moment. Ahhhh, it was just so beautiful. Though I am completely physically and emotionally exhausted, I am so grateful for the last 5 unforgettable days packed with the more love, joy, tears and food than I’ve had in a long, long time. Thank you to my stepdad, Richard, for honouring my mom in such a beautiful way, and for everyone that made it out to show support (and to JEFF??)–through my sadness I am overwhelmed with love ••••• P.s. he even published a book of her poetry and writings–more on that to come ❤️??✨

**SOUND ON for beautiful music** ? This weekend, we celebrated my mom’s life and creativity with a series of wonderful events; the main one being a gallery showing of her mixed media artworks, readings of her writings, and live concert by some amazing musicians that my mom absolutely loved. To cap it off yesterday, my stepdad hosted a brunch at the house for our many out-of-town guests, and the uber-talented musicians that had played for us the day before, played again. This song was particularly powerful for me, and really reminded me of my mom, so although I was avoiding using my phone, I took it out to record this one. Just as I started to record, Neville walked up to the musicians and sat down right next to the Erhu player while she played. In that moment, I looked over to Jeff who quietly mouthed “your mom” with his lips, which is exactly what I was thinking, and I was overcome with emotion. It was such a magical moment, beyond my ability to even describe. If you knew my mom at all, you knew she was right there in that moment. Ahhhh, it was just so beautiful. Though I am completely physically and emotionally exhausted, I am so grateful for the last 5 unforgettable days packed with the more love, joy, tears and food than I’ve had in a long, long time. Thank you to my stepdad, Richard, for honouring my mom in such a beautiful way, and for everyone that made it out to show support (and to JEFF??)–through my sadness I am overwhelmed with love ••••• P.s. he even published a book of her poetry and writings–more on that to come ❤️??✨

IG: Ladies, group photo! Everybody pose ??. ••••••••••••••••••••• These beautiful little mini feathered dinosaurs are so awesome. I love them (and I am going to miss them so much when they go back to their farm ?–but I knew this day would have to come, didn’t I? ???

Ladies, group photo! Everybody pose ??. ••••••••••••••••••••• These beautiful little mini feathered dinosaurs are so awesome.
I love them (and I am going to miss them so much when they go back to their farm ?–but I knew this day would have to come, didn’t I?!). #rentthechicken #gretchen #lillihen #ethel #groupphoto #theladies #happyhens #soawesome #thecrew #backyardlife #farmily #urbangarden #firsttimechickenmom #lovethem #organic #happy #health #wellness ???