Candy for your Walls

a href="http://livingsmallisbeautiful.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/news-brooklyn-flavorismo.jpg">In general, I wouldn't go for most wallpapers. But some wallpaper today does not look like your grandmother's wallpaper, and I have been finding myself gravitating towards modern wallpaper prints more and more. I'm a big fan of large scale, bold prints when it comes to wallpaper. And they can be hard to find.  But when it comes to the majority of wallpaper, I still find most of it too busy; too much for the eye. However, I recently discovered Flavor Paper. Their busy designs are so interesting and so colorful and out of the ordinary, that they are actually appealing. I'm super impressed. And they can also create custom wallpaper. It really is eye candy for your walls. Flavor paper: Mmmm... Tasty!

 Here are some samples for you to enjoy:

This one is called Feroz. It's a chaotic jungle theme, and can be purchased in a variety of colors. This one is Yellow Fury.  Same pattern is also shown in full scale (color: Jungle Fever).

This is Power Plant... get it? Look closely. Amidst the vines and the flowers, you might just find a light bulb, or a plug. Power Plant. Also available in several colors, this one is called Electric Company.

Kashmiri... in Sante Fe (left) and Raspberry Sorbet (right).

KABLOOM! This one is definitely an explosion of color and pattern... usually not my style, and probably won't fit really well in my house... but, for some reason, I love it! The title of this color scheme fits perfectly as well: Fruit Punch.


This one is Sakura, shown here in Deep Ellum Blues (close up) and Cherry Blossom (scale image). I'm a huge fan of Cherry Blossoms so, naturally, I really like this one.

I love this one... but I love the name even more. Flower Pedal! Obviously I'm a fan of cheesy word play. Shown in Tahiti.

Below are a few more samples of Flavor Paper wallpaper:


So go check out the rest! Visit the Flavor Paper Website!

Bungalow 5

I recently discovered the incredible furniture and accessories available from the New York based company, Bungalow 5. The furniture is unique; many pieces have the lines of beautiful antique furniture, with the colors and finishes found in modern design. Most pieces are available in a variety of colors (many are available in very vibrant colors as well) so the items truly speak to each individual buyer.

We have been decorating our living room with vibrant greens, peacock blues, and bright oranges (mostly in the accessories). Most of our furniture is more neutral. But we have been looking at adding one or two furniture pieces that tie in with our brighter color scheme. While I wouldn't put all of these pieces into one room... Bungalow 5 offers many furniture pieces that are available in the colors we are looking for (as seen below).



We have also been decorating our bedroom with chocolate browns and very pale blueish grays. In contrast with the bright colors in our living room, we wanted our bedroom to be soothing and calming. Bungalow 5 offers plenty of pieces that fit in with our bedroom theme as well.


You can check out more awesome designs by visiting the Bungalow 5 website: www.bungalow5.com

Weekly Rant: Seal Slaughter

Anyone who knows me is aware that I am passionate about animal rights and saving the diversity of wildlife on this planet. It is difficult to explain the anguish and despondency I feel when I hear about the pain and suffering that humans inflict on animals. Some people believe animals don't have souls. Some believe animals cannot reason. People use these beliefs to justify their cruel behavior towards animals. But "the question is not 'can they reason?' nor 'can they talk?', but rather 'can they suffer?'." (Jeremy Bentham) And the answer is yes. Because of this, I am strongly opposed to the Canadian Seal Hunt (among many other things). Besides, "what is the good of reason and intelligence when all you do is use it to harm others?" (Peter Hammarstedt).



The following is an excerpt from Peter Hammarstedt's essay "Defending Whales and Seals". This essay (among many other essays from extraordinary people) can be found in Ingrid E. Newkirk's book "One Can Make a Difference":

The Canadian seal slaughter that I witnessed still gives me nightmares. People call it a 'hunt' but I have yet to meet a single hunter who would call bashing baby seals over the head with clubs, 'hunting'. I was there in 2005. The ice was absolutely surreal, heavenly, like a world made of broken fragments of mirrors that sparkle in the light, that reflect the colors of the rising and setting sun. It is a wonderland where mother seals come to have their babies, to leave them to bask in the sun, feeling that they are totally safe, being miles and miles away from man. Not realizing that the boats will come, that human greed will catch up with them and reduce them to a bloody pulp.

Humans don't belong there at all. We must go there to confront the seal killers, to film what they do, to report their indefensible acts of unspeakable cruelty to the world, to witness their despicable acts that violate the International Seal Protection Act. We see an entire world of white turn to red as the seals' blood runs across the ice. There are suddenly carcasses everywhere as babies are killed with the blunt or sharp ends of the Hak-a-piks, and stomped, kicked more than once, sometimes six times or so with the sealers' cleated boots.

During the Hunt, I found myself running from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. They're there on the ice to protect seal killers, not seals. I had video evidence and I didn't want them to seize it. But they tackled me and knocked me to my stomach. I lay there, practicing passive resistance, my arms held behind my back. As I turned my head, there, just two or three meters away, was a pup. I was so close to her, and her eyes and my eyes were linked. I do believe she knew the difference, she knew I was not a sealer. As long as I lay there, she was safe.

More information about the Canadian Seal Hunts:
"Since 2003 over 1.7 million seals have been butchered. Seals are normally clubbed to death. If still alive, once a seal is clubbed it is skinned alive. Organizations that photograph, or film the hunt without government permission risk imprisonment in what is a huge propaganda and censorship campaign. In Canada the sealers are protected by the 'Seal Protection Regulations' if you see a sealer club a seal pup and you don’t have a permit to witness the slaughter you can be arrested, jailed and fined up to $100,000 or sent to jail for a year."

'Please visit Canadian Seal Hunt (www.canadiansealhunt.com) to learn about how companies like Costco sell seal oil capsules. Also learn about these companies who manufacture products from dead baby seals: Prada, Pajar, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Birger Christensen, Versace, and Vogue Furriers. Also learn about why you should boycott these sea food restaurants Red Lobster, & Long John's Silvers.'

Although I do not always agree with Peta's methods, I do agree with their fundamental ideals with regards to the treatment of animals. Posted below is an online "flyer" from Peta urging public outcry against the seal hunt. I would urge each of you to do so as well. Contact public officials. Sign online petitions. Help to end the brutality.

Living Small is MOVING!

Living Small is moving to a new location on the web!

I hope you'll visit me at the NEW home of Living Small!

See you there...

Support Spay Day!

What is Spay Day????
"Spay Day is an annual event of The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International to inspire people to save animals' lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats. Spay Day officially takes place on the last Tuesday of February—but events will be running all through the month! The 17th annual Spay Day is Feb. 22, 2011." - HumaneSociety.org
How can you support Spay Day??? Vote for your favorite contestant, and donate $1 (or more!). Every dollar donated constitutes a vote for your favorite entered animal! Each dollar is donated to either a participating "Spay Day" organization designated by the entrant, or split between all participating organizations. It's a great cause! I entered my three babies... why not enter yours as well??? Then invite your friends and family to vote for your beloved companion! Or... you could vote for one (or all three) of my crazy little kids (see links below)! GO SPAY DAY!!!

Vote for Murphy

Vote for Mischief P. Stinks

Vote for Izzie

Jonathan Gill Photography

The book "Small is Beautiful" inspired the name of my blog. I firmly believe that, as human beings, it is our responsibility to preserve this planet for our children, and our children's children. Kindness, generosity, wildlife, nature, astronomy, animals, Buddhist Philosophy, environmentalism- these are the things that inspire me. I find my inspiration depicted in Jonathan Gill's photography.

Companions

Wildlife

Scenery

Alternate Transportation

Spiritual Inspiration

Beautiful Words

Words are just words, until we put them together to form something meaningful. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me"... when has this ever been true? Simple words can do so much more that form a phrase. Words can be hateful and damaging, but words can also be inspirational, lyrical, passionate and influential. Words have impact. Everyone has a favorite quote... and this quote generally evokes strong feelings with regards to something we are passionate about. But these quotes are just words stated so eloquently and perfectly that we feel the need to repeat them, and share them with others. I don't have a favorite quote... I have many favorite quotes. And these quotes are a combination of simple words that represent ideas to form something beautiful, and something worth sharing. Some may be humorous, some sarcastic, and some just pure and simple truth, but each is beautiful in its meaning.

"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my Temples, my philosophy is kindness." - Dalai Lama


"Your neighbor's vision is as true for him as your own vision is true for you." - Miguel de Unamuno


"The question is not, "Can they reason?" nor "Can they talk?" but rather, "Can they suffer?" - Jeremy Bentham


"Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages." - Thomas Edison


"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. Compassion is not religious business, it is human business. It is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability. It is essential for human survival. " Dalai Lama


"The variety of life in nature can be compared to a vast library of unread books, and the plundering of nature is comparable to the random discarding of whole volumes without having opened them and learned from them. Our critical dependence on the great variety of nature for the progress we have already made is amply documented. Indifference to the loss of species is, in effect, indifference to the future, and therefor a shameful carelessness about our children." - Peter Matthiessen


"Wisdom demands a new orientation of science and technology towards the organic, the gentle, the non-violent, the elegant, and the beautiful." - EF Schumacher


"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein
( A similar quote from the movie Boondock Saints: "We must all fear evil men, but there is another kind of evil we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men.")


"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." - Gandhi


"I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it's such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her." - Ellen DeGeneres


"Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself." - James Anthony Froude


"As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower beings, he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love." - Pythagorus


"All beings tremble before violence. All fear death. All love life. See yourself in others. Then, whom can you hurt? What harm can you do?" - Buddha


"Compassion is the antitoxin of the soul; where there is compassion, even the most poisonous impulses remain relatively harmless." - Eric Hoffer


"I think our environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise, what is there to defend?" - Robert Redford

"What is the good of reason and intelligence when all you do is use it to harm others?" - Kathy Freston

"Religion is flawed because man is flawed." - Dan Brown

"What is the nature of a species that, knowingly and without good reason, exterminates another?" - George Small

"What is man without the beasts? If all beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit. For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected." - Chief Seattle

These beautiful words sum up a lot of my beliefs, my values, and my philosophies. These words inspire me, and reminds me that this world is a fantastic place and that, even with all of the human evils, there are still people out there who strive to make the world a better place. The place that it was meant to be; beautiful.