2014: A year in selfies.

Now, I am in no way a big selfie person. In fact, I need to take more (and better) photos of myself. Here are my favourite - and almost all - my 2014 selfies! 

Let's go Blue Jays!!

For my graduation present I bought myself a diamond septum ring,! So in love with it!

I really wanted to wear my mermaid costume for halloween but I figured the pub is no place for a delicate sequin and tulle skirt.

Favourite shorts ever! It's so weird seeing my legs without the new tattoos.

This is indeed a pink cheetah onsies with ears on the hood. So comfy! I wear it about 8 times a week,.

My Black Milk skater skirt and top are soo comfy and amazing! Yes, it's brains. I can't wait to find the perfect reason to wear it! Probably not until next halloween but it will be amazing.

Show me your favourite selfie!

Rowan

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ich spreche deutsch

Well, not really. But I can now ask for a cup of coffee or glass of wine properly with an iffy accent, as well as tell someone I am a boy, girl or man.
I've always wanted to learn a second language  -  specifically German or Russian. After doing some research and finding out that Russian is one of the hardest languages to learn, I decided on Deutsch (German).








I am going to be honest, I did absolutely zilch research on the best online program for learning German. I tried Duolingo, and I've enjoyed it so far, but I wanted to learn more about sentence structure, so I then started doing Memrise. I LOVE it, it uses memory techniques to help you, well, remember. It has really helped me. TONS. I use both memrise and duolingo now but memrise is my main go to.

 
                                

Who here is more skilled than I am and know more than one language??

Rowan

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A thought for today

The past month I've been spending a lot of time figuring out how much money I need to survive and what I really need in my life. So after a series of unfortunate events at my work, I decided to quit. BAM. I did it. I quit my job. Well, one of them. Despite losing a third of my income, I feel that I'm much better off this way. (Plus I'm still a student, so being broke is just the norm).

The point of this is I realized I don't actually need all the money I make, and I cherish my time more then I cherish having tons of extra money to spend on meaningless things.  I really liked the quote and it was connected to me quitting my job so I thought I would ramble on  share it with you.

I hope the quote struck a cord with you as it did with me!

Rowan

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Things I love and a hello!

Hello everyone! I know I've been in hibernation mode for the past couple months. I've been busy with getting ready for finals and then Christmas happened. Which means I've spent that last two weeks eating enough food to feed a small village.

I have some exciting stuff coming soon! Traveler's Tree will be getting our own website! Woot! As well, the etsy shop will be getting new items soon! I've been working on some really neat stuff.

For now, here are some things I might have to buy with my christmas money. What's that Grandma? You mean you wanted me to spend that money on textbooks? Damn.

This aquamarine ring is so amazing! I love the double band with the stone between, so lovely.

I need this clock, I love anything with a moon on it, and this clock is perfect!

This talented lady makes paper art, this beetle is insane! I love it. You can find her artwork here.

This article tells the story of how two female penguins are in love! Such a nice story. <3 a="" animal="" doesn="" font="" love="" nice="" story.="" t="" who="">

Cheers!
Rowan

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The blogisphere is boring me

You probably have noticed my lack of posts lately. Simply put, the blogisphere is boring me. Every blog seems to be uninspiring. Sure, recipe posts are interesting, especially when it's about a neat food. So are drink recipes. And diy's. And home style. But  Idon't want to read a recipe every single day on every blog, and I don't want to see a million styled homes every week. I need more substance! I want blog posts that have more thought and soul to them!

What this is all coming down to, is I am inspired and in a rut.  I just don't feel like making jewelry or writing blog posts. Heck, I havn't even updated my facebook status. Anyways, I am waiting for a lightning bolt of inspiration and drive to strike me so I can start back up on everything.

Cheers.

Rowan

Artist Spotlight: Cake with Giants

Cake with Giants has lovely prints, there light and airy but fun. I've shown Amys stuff on here before, but never actually introduced the store! I love her space stuff. Who doesn't love some nice stars and constellations watercolour prints? I'm a sucker for anything moons in it.



                              


cheers!

Rowan

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My photography

I've been trying to get back into the habit of photography, I used to spend so much time setting up shoots and taking photography walks. Here are some recent ones I'm enjoying! I know there all random with nothing in common, but ah well!

                                     

Rowan

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Summer Bucket List

Now, I know for some of you it has been summer for a while, in fact it may have been summer weather all year round, but here it is finally summer! I can wear shorts every morning without worrying if it will randomly get cold, woot! Now, here comes my.....

Here are six things that I refuse to not do by september 1st.

1.  Go to the beach and have a dover hotdog.

2. Take two weeks vacation and actually not do any school or work.

3. Paint for an entire day.

4. Go camping for a weekend.

5. Finally get my thigh tattoo.

6. Go on long walks weekly by myself.



What's on your summer bucket list?

Rowan

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Outdoor photoshoot: with Emily Johnson

This beautiful model is my cousin! Emily Johnson, whom I'm pretty sure just started pre law. Atleast I hope so or else I'm a really bad cousin. 

I took this with a Canon Rebel xs, and 55mm f1.4 lens ( I LOVE this lens for portraits and landscapes) I enjoy these two particular photos together (above and below, there is so much contrast! These were taken a while back for the photography courses I was taking. Emily was one of my favourite models, she knew exactly what to do in front of the camera.

Sadly, I've really gotten out of photography the past two years. I almost even sold my photography gear ones . *gasp*. Hopefully there will be more to come soon! Maybe I'll even meet some nice new people in my area to shoot portraits with. Enjoy!

Rowan

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An easy recipe: Vegan Peanut Butter

I love making homemade peanut butter, it's one of my favourite things. It's much cheaper and always much more delicious!

(I know it looks like shredded brown coconut, but its actually creamy and delicious!)

I've tried all sorts of different ways to make peanut butter - not that they differ all too much. But this is my favourite way. 

Ingrediants:
1. 16 ounces of dry roasted peanuts
2. 1 tablespoon olive oil
3. 1 tablespoon honey (this is optional, and for those of you that are not vegan)

You will also need an oven and blender/food processor. Food processors are better. But I don't have one and haven't really have a problem using my $30 Walmart blender.

First, you'll want to set your oven to about  350 F.



Then take all your peanuts and spread them out on a cooking sheet.


Like this!

Once the oven has preheated stick your sheet into the stove and set the timer for 7 minutes. 

Make sure to give the pan a shake every couple minutes.

My oven doesn't have a timer so I used my microwaves!

When they come out they'll look greasy, but that's good! Just the peanut oils coming out.

Then, stick them in the food processor/blender and blend ! Once the peanuts are crumbly add the olive oil (and honey!) and continue to mix, you might have to give it a bit of a mix with a fork every couple minutes, the peanut/oil ratio likes to stay under the blades, for those of you with a blender!

Mmmmmmm.  Peanut butter.
Stick it in a mason jar or any container you have lying around. For top results stick it in the fridge for a week or two before putting in the pantry.
And just like all natural peanut butters the oil and spread will separate, but that's natural! Just give it a mix, or what I do is keep my jar upside down.

Now don't forget, as this is basically just pure peanut butter - not like store bought pb where there's like half a tube o'butter in each jar - so it's going to be very strong and raw tasting. Now I love that! But a lot of people still prefer good ol' store bought pb, which is still okay, but not as tasty in my opinion - or fun.

There are all sorts of ways to make peanut butter, you can even try replacing the peanuts for hazelnuts and make hazelnut spread! I know I am going to!

Rowan

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 At first, today's weather wasn't too bad. A little rainier then I'd like, but overall it wasn't too crappy.

And then, it got crappy.

Really crappy, like Canadian crappy, but I guess this is Canada in March so I can't really complain.

"Welcome to Canada! Unless you enjoy snow sports, you probably shouldn't come here from October to May."  Don't worry, I am fully aware I am a bad Canadian.

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I've been feeling a bit off lately

I've been feeling out of control lately,  because I find myself wondering where the time has gone. I regularly find myself at the end of each day wondering if i was actually productive; could i have done more school work today? Could i have cleaned more? Could i have spent more time working on my business? Everyday.

                                                                     via Cybermoon

I have so much going on at once; I'm a full time student, I work 15-30 hours a week and then on top of that I run a business. Finding time to sit down and relax, read a book, maybe watch a documentary, without feeling guilty about not doing something 'productive' just doesn't happen.

Not much I can do about that, besides maybe drop everything and move to a vegan commune, and that this point that doesn't sound too bad!

I'm still trying to figure everything out, I think I just need to find time for myself, even if it's just to take a bath and read a book. A bubble bath of course.

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The Begining: Welcome to Freedom With Flowers!

Hello There!

Welcome to Freedom with Flowers. My name is Rowan, and hopefully we'll be seeing a lot of each other. 

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I have begun this blog as a place for inspiration, growth and creativity! Check out the About Me section for more of an introduction!

    Please enjoy this photo of me laughing off into the distance, it looks as if i belong in one of those ads where everyone is laughing while they eat salad. Such as in this tumblr blog, which is filled entirely of people laughing and eating salad. Well, that is all for now! Hopefully I'll see you again.

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Please feel free to contact me at freedomwithflowers@gmail.com