Hey kind krafters!
 
It's that time of year again! For me I am packing up all my belongings and headed back to the lovely town of Wolfville. Getting ready to go back to school can be stressful but here are some things that seem to help me stay on track!

• Stay Organized!!

It may seem like this is the most overused piece of advice in the book but I swear it helps! Staying organized in regards to packing, your future school schedule and the entirety of the move is crucial! I try to make lists, and organize all of my belongings to make things easier.
 

• Prepare School Supplies that you need for your classes!  

There is nothing worse than getting into a new class and feeling unprepared! Make sure you have school supplies ready to go for the first day of classes and also check out the professor's syllabus online in advance for more information.
 

• Invest in a planner!

During the school year is such a busy time! Between, doing   homework, attending activities, and school events as well as taking some time for yourself it can be really hard to keep track of everything. By investing in a planner you can better manage your time and know what you have to accomplish day to day. Time management is key to accomplishing  everything you need to do!  

• Get Involved!

Regardless of what year you or in or how old you are, getting involved within your school and the community is a great way to make sure you start back to school on a positive note! Getting involved with your school community is great because you can pursue your interests and meet peers who have the same and similar interests as you. Getting involved in the community is great to meet other people outside of school as well as creating a positive place for you to live! Regardless if you are passionate about school or community involvement, getting involved is super important and will make you feel great!
 

• Stay on top of work early

It may seem like you have lots of time at the beginning of the work year but staying on top of your work is crucial to success for the upcoming school year

• Have Fun!

Catch up with friends and make new ones! School is also about enjoying yourself so make the most of it! Having fun and making time for yourself is super important when it comes to success this upcoming school year
 
Well kind krafters, back to school is stressful for everyone! I hope you all put your best foot forward and have the best school year yet!
 
Amy Cameron.

Hey kind krafters!
 
With summer coming to a close, I know that I am becoming more and more stressed knowing all of the things I need to do before I head back to university. There are around two weeks for me to finish all of my errands and be completely ready for the first day of classes. Luckily, I love Wolfville and Acadia and can’t wait to head back. But for many people, the end of summer isn’t as exciting and can make people feel pretty gloomy. Because of this, I wanted to share some random acts of kindness that are easy to do for others and yourself!! 

11. Rake your neighbor’s lawn.
12. Hold the door open for people.
13. Leave extra money on your parking meter.
14. Help a friend when they’re feeling low.
15. Pay for the person’s coffee behind you.
16. Give flowers to a senior’s home.
17. Run a marathon for a good cause.
18. Volunteer at an animal shelter.
19. Plant a tree.
20. Thank your old teacher. 

21. Ask people if they need any help.
22. Bake treats or make coffee/tea for your garbage collectors.
23. Call your family members for a chat.
24. Send a surprise care package.
25. Ask for donations instead of birthday gifts.
26. Tell someone how much they mean to you.
27. Donate blood.
28. Collect canned goods to take to the food bank.
29. Shovel your neighbor’s driveway.
30. Thank someone for their hard work.

We are constantly reminded by people to be kind to each other, but we all get so busy and bogged down that we often forget to give the extra minute a day to perform an act of kindness. As you can see, being kind doesn’t have to cost money or mean that you have to give something up. Kindness can be spread as easily as helping someone with their grocery bags, to donating thousands of dollars to a cause you feel passionate about. As cliché as this is, you never know what someone is going through. It could be as annoying as spilling your coffee down your new white shirt right before you get to work, or it could be as awful as losing a loved one. Your act of kindness, no matter what size, could help.

Listening is a very important act of kindness. If you listen with your heart, the person speaking will know. Listening is easy and costs nothing so give people your time. Everyone deserves to be heard and treated with respect. I recently saw a quote that says “Some talk to you in their free time. Some free their time to talk to you.”. Be the latter and always treat those around you with the love that you wish to be shown. 
 
Rhi xoxo

Hey kind krafters!!
      
We all know how hard it is to keep up with the business of everyday life and on top of that, try and keep ourselves healthy. Staying fit and staying with a well balanced diet feels impossible.
I will admit, I am certainly not perfect (just like everyone) when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle but here are some tips that help me stay on track and feel happier and healthier!

•   Exercise

 
I know it sounds obvious but, exercise can really make a difference in your everyday life. Trying out a local gym and getting into a simple workout routine is a small step to a much healthier life. The gym can seem super intimidating but trust me, the employees are there to help and make you feel confident! If you are confused on how or what to workout, look online, ask a gym employee or start the gym with a friend, it will make it much less intimidating and you will feel great!

• Meal Planning

             
If it's work, school or even if you are just at home, meal planning can really make a difference in your health! It makes you think about the food you will be eating and get you more confident with cooking as well! Something as simple as taking a lunch to work or school rather than eating out can make a huge difference!

• Take a walk

​Fresh air and nature is always the answer! One of my favorite things after a long day to de-stress as well as get some exercise is to take a walk to my favorite places, if it be my community or local beach. A walk and getting outside is great for your mental and physical health.

• Yoga

 
Yoga has so many benefits! While it can be so relaxing it also improves blood flow, increases your heart rate, helps you focus and boosts your immune system! Yoga is a super great way to improve your health and make you happier.

• Try out a local farmers market or food establishment

 
Eating from local food producers is always a great choice. It allows you to be able to support your community all while being able to eat non-processed and healthier options!

• Take some time for yourself

 
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not all about eating and exercise, taking time to relax and refresh your mental health. Do something for you! Nap, hang out with friends, take a bath. Adding that self-care is huge to staying healthy at stressful times.
 

• Treat yo’ self!!

             
Come on, eat that ice cream. Everyone deserves a treat once and awhile! Do not deprive yourself from all the yummy things in life, its all about balance :)

Thanks kind krafters, Until we chat again!
 
Amy Cameron.

​Hey kind krafters!
I have had an awesome couple of weeks enjoying the hot weather and I hope you all have too! As much as this summer has been great for beach days and nights on the patio, I can’t help but think about why Canada has been hit with this unreal heatwave. I have always thought that by recycling, carpooling or walking when I’m able to, having reusable straws, etc. I was doing my part for the environment. But after doing extra research, I have found that there is SO much more I could be doing for our earth. 

​According to NASA’s website, there are some major signs of rapid climate change that we can’t chose to ignore anymore. Global temperature rise, warming oceans, shrinking ice sheets, glacial retreat, decreased snow cover, sea level rise, declining Arctic sea ice, extreme events, and ocean acidification are all large indicators of negative global change. Visit https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/ for more information on all of the factors mentioned above. With this summer’s natural disasters such as flooding and mudslides in Japan, wildfires across California, as well as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions across the globe, I got to thinking of what more I can do to help our planet. 

One of the most important issues right now is our oceans. Due to several human-made factors, scientists have predicted the loss of commercial fish and seafood species to happen by 2048 if we continue the way we are going. A study conducted by the United Nations has also shown that coral reefs could be gone in 30 years due to the heat stress caused by global warming. Since 2016, half of the coral in the Great Barrier Reef has died. That’s just two years of harm. 

​If you’re social media feeds are similar to mine, I’m sure you have seen several videos circulating of mass piles of garbage floating in our oceans. Recently a State of Emergency was declared in Santa Domingo due to waves upon waves of garbage lapping up along the shoreline. A little under a month ago, over 1000 tons of plastic and other debris had been removed from the hardest hit areas. Sadly, Santa Domingo isn’t the only place that is suffering from plastic in our oceans. 

It’s easy to feel disheartened when reading about all of the current environmental issues in our world, but letting it get you down will get us nowhere. Take the information and change your actions because of what you now know! I am learning new ways to help the planet every day, and though my small changes may not seem as though they’re doing much, you never know how your actions can ripple out to affect the big picture. Here are some of the lifestyle changes I plan on making to help
1. Refuse plastic bags – There are plenty of reusable options to carry your items in. Take your own reusable bags, or if you go to the store and realize that you forgot a bag, buy one for an extra dollar! Instead of using plastic bags to put your produce in, use the brown paper bags (which are often placed by the mushrooms), or don’t bag them!
2. Don’t buy single-use cups and cutlery when you’re on the go – Instead of using wax-lined cups from Tims, bring your own mug or water bottle. If you know you go out to lunch once a week, bring some cutlery with you so that you don’t have to continue to throw out plastic knives and forks. Or slow down!! If you’re not in a rush, take the time to sit down and dine in which ends up not needing to use the plastic products!

3. Cooler washing cycles - Wash your clothes in cold water, and don’t machine dry! The majority of laundry detergents that are used today don’t need warm water to activate their cleaning solution and so cold water is the way to go. Roughly 75% of the energy that is used in a wash cycle comes from heating up the water! By switching to cold water washes, you won’t only be helping to save the planet, you’ll also be spending less money in your energy bill each month! After your cool wash, hang your clothes outside to dry or on a drying rack in the winter. This way they are less likely to shrink and will last longer.
4. DIVA CUP – For all you folks out there who have visits from Mother Nature herself, this is an amazing investment to make. I have heard nothing but good reviews about the Diva Cup and have been wanting to buy one for ages. To do your own research, visit www.divacup.com/eco-divas/ . 

5. Switch up your cleaning habits - Instead of using cleaning wipes around your home that can’t be recycled, use old clothes that you might have thrown away, or other rags and towels that are lying around. I was recently looking through a blog that teaches you how to make your own cleaning liquids and reusable ways to store them, check it out - https://thetareshop.com/zero-waste-cleaning-tips-and-tricks/ .
6. Use your Garbage Goggles - Pick up one piece of garbage when you walk to work or your next class. Someone might see you and do the same thing and then we have a whole butterfly effect going!!! It’s not hard to do and takes no time at all to pick something up and throw it in the correct waste bin.  

​One last thing before I sign off! I dare you to join the #PARLEYAIR Challenge (http://www.parley.tv/oceanplastic/#parley-air-strategy-1). The challenge is very simple, all you have to do is pledge to ban one plastic item from your life. For me, I plan to stop using plastic bags. Parley is a “space where creators, thinkers, and leaders come together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of our oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction”. They have several projects underway across our oceans and have partnered with several brands in the fashion industry to create sustainable clothing out of ocean plastic. Browse their website for interesting research, information about their projects, and to become a part of the movement!

Good luck with the challenge kind krafters!! And keep in mind our planet as you go through the day-to-day motions! <3
Rhi xoxo

Hey kind krafters!
      
Things have been crazy busy the last little while! I am here to tell you all about my last two weeks travelling, spending time with family and friends as well as some volunteering!
 
I recently have travelled to Maine and Boston with myself, my mom, dad and sister! Our trip started with us driving to Maine and being able to take in all the beautiful landscape on the long drive. Once we arrived in Maine we headed to Old Orchard Beach. Old Orchard Beach is a beautiful long beach with white sand and awesome waves. It even has an amusement park! Myself and my family travel to Old Orchard Beach every summer so it felt so good to keep on with the tradition, as well as spending some much needed down time with my family!

After Maine, into Boston we go! We spent a few days exploring the city of Boston, taking in the tours, food and attractions. Exploring large city living was an extremely exciting change from my small town in Cape Breton.

During my trip to Boston I was lucky enough to take in the live talent of Broadway's “Aladdin” as well as one of my all time favorite bands “The Eagles”. The band “The Eagles” has always been a family favorite so getting to see them live with my favorite people was unbelievable. Both of these shows were such a great experience for me and my family and I am so grateful I had the chance to experience them. I had such a wonderful trip exploring, taking in shows and spending time with my family!

Fast forwarding a little bit, my trip is over but the fun is definitely not! I had the pleasure of spending the following week with my Aunt Bev and her daughter Lilly as well as my other Aunt Cathy and Uncle Jonathan and their children Alex, Dillion and Anna Kate. I do not get to see them often since they live in North Carolina & Toronto so it was so nice to spend time and catch up.
 
We spent the majority of the week when I was not at work spending time outside. We swam, had bonfires and travelled out to a town close to mine called Baddeck. Baddeck is a beautiful town with a little waterfront that has tons of boats! Myself, my cousin, my aunt and sister rented kayaks and took in some sights and got out on the water! Finishing off the day we took in some local art and ice cream. (my favorite)

In the middle of all of the travel and visiting, I made some time for volunteering with my friends and my family!
 
My hard working best friend Maria Facchin is the co-coordinator for a local community festival entitled “Seaside Daze”. This festival has activities for all ages and it is such a great supporter for a local community and really brings people of all ages together! “Seaside Daze” holds a “Princess Tea” every year were younger children in the community have the opportunity to feel like a princess and meet some as well! I was given the role to dress up as “Princess Belle”! It was SO much fun to be a princess for the evening (My real dream honestly). Volunteering as a princess for a local festival while working with my best friend! A perfect night!

Along with “Seaside Daze” My family helped our family friends hold a fundraiser at their home for “The Children's Wish Foundation” The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada is a 100% Canadian charity that grants the single-most heartfelt wishes of Canadian children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. Our family friends held a private event and concert and accepted donations to help raise money for this amazing cause. I am so proud of my family for being apart of this and getting out and volunteering!
 
To finish off these crazy days I got to go camping for the weekend with with my boyfriend Austin and take in the outdoors. A much needed getaway and time together!

Well, that's been my days lately! I am so happy and grateful I have been spending my days, working with kids, spending time with family and friends, volunteering as well as taking in the environment. Summer has been treating me well!
 
Talk soon!
Xoxo Amy Cameron.