We are heading into two wonderful long weekends – this weekend Canada is celebrating Victoria Day and next weekend the United States is celebrating Memorial Day!

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
George Bernard Shaw

It’s important to take time out of our busy schedules to relax and have some fun. Are you or your friends enduring some challenging times? Seems so many are these days. We love to help and so relax and renew this long weekend. Sometimes it’s hard to stop and take time for ourselves, to support ourselves so we can support others. As advised on planes – always put your oxygen mask on first and then turn to help others.

Remember to find your joy – let yourself play – be silly!

And most of all laugh as much, as often, as you can.

Laughter is good for your health:

• It relaxes your body, relieving physical tension and stress
•  It boosts the immune system by decreasing the stress hormones and increasing the immune cells and infection fighting antibodies
• It releases endorphins – the natural feel good chemical that helps temporarily relieve pain
• It protects the heart by increasing the blood flow and improving the function of blood vessels

So… look after yourself this weekend, the world needs you, opt for some conscious fun and joy these long weekends for a refreshing time out!

Sunday is Mother’s Day! A day dedicated to show Mom how much she means to you, how special she is and how grateful you are for her dedication and unconditional love.

Definition of MOTHER…the greatest unconditional and infinite love we will ever experience in our existence… – GB LIFE

And now, are you still planning your treat for Mom for Mother’s Day? Here are some wonderful ideas we’ve received for inspired gifts.

If you haven’t picked or made a card yet for Mom here are a few Mom quotes you might like to include:

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.  ~Tenneva Jordan

“To a child’s ear, ‘mother’ is magic in any language.” -Arlene Benedict

“When I stopped seeing my mother with the eyes of a child, I saw the woman who helped me give birth to myself.” -Nancy Friday

“No influence is so powerful as that of the mother.” -Sarah Josepha Hale

“My mother taught me about the power of inspiration and courage, and she did it with a strength and a passion that I wish could be bottled.”  - Carly Fiorina

“It is not until you become a mother that your judgment slowly turns to compassion and understanding.” – Erma Bombeck

Congratulations to J. C. who won a Libre Tea Original in last week’s Mother’s Day giveaway.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Birthday Buddha! Buddha’s birthday is celebrated at various times throughout the world. In most East Asian countries it is celebrated on the 8^th day of the 4^th month in the Chinese lunar calendar. In Taiwan it’s celebrated on the second Sunday in May. In Japan, Hong Kong, Macau and South Korea it’s celebrated on April 8^th of the Gregorian calendar. This date falls from the end of April to the end of May in the Gregorian calendar – this year it is May 17^th.

The story goes that Buddha received enlightenment, after 6 years of extreme austerity, living with inadequate food and water, was brought a bowl of milk porridge by a young maiden named Sujata. This offering led to a major enlightenment realising that without food one can do nothing. You must nourish the body, mind and spirit.

Tea is a wonderful way to nourish your body and soul. When combined with meditation is a great way to connect and become more aware of yourself, and mindful of your life and all that is around you.

Tea legends assert that Monks often used tea in their meditation practice to ward off sleep during their meditation – Green teas were known for this role. In the twelfth century and later in Japan, Matcha tea (a powdered shade-grown green tea) was used for the same purposes. It became very popular and this is when the Japanese Tea Ceremony first began.

“The tea ritual allows us to slow down, to focus, to open up to a broader view of our lives and feel more grateful for the miracle of our existence, whether you have tea alone or with a spouse or a friend, the ceremony is more important than the tea because it is a time you set aside to break free, to listen, to reflect, and to enjoy a simple, inexpensive, gracious act.” ~~Alexandra Stoddard

Enjoy your cup of serenity and settle your being daily with a tea moment.

Only a few days left to save on our Mother’s Day Sale :

15% off Libre Originals with coupon code ’Momsgift’ 
Ends May 6 at Midnight PST

Still looking for a gift to make Mom for Mother’s Day? Check out last week’s blog post for some great ideas!

Share with us what you will make your Mom for Mother’s Day for a chance to win a Libre Original!

For more information:
Why Tea is Used in Meditation and Ceremony
Meditation, Mindfulness and Matcha
Why Meditation and Green Tea Can Help You Avoid/Beat Cancer
Power of Tea

Earth Day is April 22^nd and we are now approaching the last few days of our Get Grounded for Earth Day Giveaway and Sale. We have received so many excellent tips on how to save and protect our water. Congratulations to this weeks 2 winners: Eileen O & Denise H.

“What we are living with is the result of human choices and it can be changed by making better, wiser choices.” – Robert Redford

This week we will explore how to look after the earth by reusing, recycling and reducing our product waste.

Household waste can be divided into these 3 categories: about one-third is composed of paper; one-third is organic waste: food scraps, grass clippings, dead plants etc.; and the final third is made up of glass, metals, plastics, textiles (clothing, linens), wood, and other materials (electronic waste, washing machines, old furniture, rubber tires).

Reasons to Recycle, Reuse and Reduce:

• If all morning newspapers read in this country were recycled, 41,000 trees would be saved daily and 6 million tons of waste would never end up in landfills.
• Or get your fill of news electronically and don’t use newspapers
• Products made from recycled steel reduce water use by 40%, water pollution by 76%, air pollution by 86%, and mining wastes by 97%.
• Americans use 4 million plastic bottles every hour but only 1 out of 4 is recycled.
• One ton of paper made completely from recycled scrap saves 7,000 gallons of water, 4100 kilowatt hours of energy and 17 trees.
• Approximately 10% of the food Americans buy at the supermarket is thrown out. This results in dumping the equivalent of more than 21 million shopping bags full of food into landfills every year.

Our contribution can only be what we can do to support the earth’s sustainability for our collective future.

As my Grandma dear Ethel said, ‘Do It Now’ a dashboard sticker in her purple car a constant reminder.

We’ve been very thrilled to receive all of your tips – oh so many and so useful.

Share with us how you and your family Recycle, Reuse and Reduce for a chance to win a Libre Mug!

From Tuesday April 16^th until Monday April 22^nd we are randomly choosing winners from the daily Earth Day tips received.

Daily winners to date:
April 16^th – No tips rec’d – 2 will be chosen Apr. 22nd
April 17^th – Anne B
April 18^th – Jessica F

There are 5 more Libre Mugs to giveaway!

There is still time to save when you order your Libre Mugs!

Save 30% with coupon code

GetGrounded4EarthDay

April 5^th-22nd, 2013 Midnight PST

Check out our great Libre Mug special below and thanks for all your great suggestions from last week – here for your perusal.  And congratulations to our winners Olivia R. and Suzie B. for their Air Earth day tips.

Another key element of our earth is Water – its life giving! Without it we wouldn’t exist. So what can we do to preserve this precious resource that is diminishing and contribute to a sustainable earth! Let us know your ideas for a chance to win 1 of 2 Libre Mugs.

Last week we received some great Earth Day tips for the air element! This week we’d love your tips on conserving water. Here’s a few facts:

Did you know?

• Only 3% of the earth’s water is fresh water
• 25% of bottled water comes from municipal water, the same as our tap water
• In the US over 400 billion gallons are used everyday
• While in Canada and United State residents use approximately 100 gallons of water per day those in sub-Saharan Africa use 2.5 gallons per day
• 1000 gallons of water is used to produce 1 gallon of milk
• A faucet dripping once per second leaks over 55 gallons per week

What can we do?

• When doing laundry and using the dishwasher always have full loads
• Take 5 minute showers; use a kitchen timer to double check
• Use a low-flow shower head
• Don’t use the toilet as a garbage; kleenex’s are compostable
• Turn the water off when brushing your teeth
• Wash cars with a bucket rather than the garden hose
• Clean driveways, sidewalks and patios with brooms instead of hoses

Share with us your Water Earth Day tips for a chance to win a Libre Mug!

Giveaway 1 & 2 – Share your Earth Day Tips (week one – air; week 2 -water) on our blog for a chance to win 1 of 4 Libre Mugs – 2 winners will be picked randomly on April 12^th and 2 more will be picked the following week on April 19^th.

AND for the final week … Giveaway 3 – Starting Tuesday April 16^th to Monday April 22^nd we will randomly choose a winner from the daily Earth Day tips received.

There are 9 more Libre Mugs to giveaway!

There is still time to save when you order your Libre Mugs!

Save 30% with coupon code

GetGrounded4EarthDay

April 5^th-22nd, 2013 Midnight PST