A wee bit of an adjustment... Spring Cleaning

When I decided to take a step back and re-brand myself, I knew it was going to be a rocky and complicated road. For me. All the good, positive stuff that would come out of it, and how much happier I'd be for it. And I am. SO much Happier, and I'm still only beginning to come into my new skin. When the journey first started, what feels like a lifetime ago, I really wasn't sure what to expect. (you can read all about those first steps here)

What I didn't anticipate was the confusion and backlash from those around me. While I thrive with change, not everyone else does. We grow apart, we move on. This has been my challenge of late. Maybe we don't like to see our friends and loved ones move on to better places, if we're stuck. To see them settle and happy when we're not. Or maybe we're confused by their new being and don't know how to ask. I can't answer these questions for someone else. But I can react. And that's where one of my faults lay. Because I don't. I let it slide and distance myself from the negativity. Classic Michelle.

But my friend Christine summed it up quite well for me (she's so smart that lady!) She said (and I'm paraphrasing here a bit) that we all have our people in boxes. The way we know them, and have known them for however long they've been in our lives. Now they've moved to a new box and we aren't sure about it. It's change. It can be confusing. We want them back in the box we are comfortable with. Maybe they need an adjustment period to get used to this new box. Maybe they aren't sure they will be in this new box with you, or will want to.

Just remember folks, when someone is growing and changing, it's good to support them. Not poke fun at what you may not understand or what might be a challenging time for them. We are all human and should support growth and new challenges and passions. If we don't understand it we should engage in conversation. It's good for both sides to talk it out and then hug it out.

With all that said, it's time for the business and blog and personal life to part ways. I was blogging about personal life changes here and it's been a big part of my growth - and thunderpeep has been such a big part of me, but we've grown apart a bit. I did contemplate walking away from it entirely, but it's still enough of a part of me, and there is still lot's of fun to be had that I just can't.

But it's time for my personal blogging to have it's own space, as it's really become so much larger than I'd ever anticipated. So folks who want their thunderpeep can still have it and those who want some of the new #Grexy Michelle can have that too. (you're going to want to read about that #Grexy on the new blog)

So most of my blogging will be happening over on my personal blog - michelleinthesnow - and you can come visit as you wish. thunderpeep blogging will continue as well, with less personal content but all the fun will remain. So Bear With Me... Both are in transition for the month as I get them both setup and scheduled in between life and work!

I'm really excited for the new blog to take shape and see how thunderpeep settles back into itself. It's been a long road but what lies on the road ahead is so much more exciting.

Peace Out Peeps

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Who turned the lights out?

Hopefully you did. Or are going to. Tonight's the yearly lights out for the Planet movement known as Earth Hour.

Started in Sydney, Australia in 2007, the grassroots movement has become a planet-wide event with more than 172 countries worldwide engaged in promoting environment concerns with lights out events. But Earth Hour is more than a one hour event, it is a movement that has achieved massive environmental impact, including legislation changes. It's a wee reminder to be mindful of your impact on this planet we all call home, not just for the one hour, but for every hour of every day.

This year Earth Hour falls on a friends 30th birthday celebration, so while I don't want to hijack the party, I'll be hoping that the shenanigans will come under candlelight for at least the one hour. But one thing I can do is set my own Earth Hour agenda and spend my day off the grid. Enjoy the forecasted sunshine and cool temperature. And catch up on some reading!

What are you plans for Earth Hour?

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Let's talk about Trolls, some more.

It's been awhile. Well, it's been awhile for a few things, but we're focusing on the Trolls for today ;)

But Midsummer 2016 is quickly approaching. And they are getting quite excited. Well, as excitable as a Troll can get. I mean Skoggs is always down for a party, but Berg and Siku. Not so much!

And since the Trolls will be making a much bigger appearance in this years collection I thought I'd put out some sneak peeks to help get everyone excited and on board with the Trolls. These are not your lurky, creepy internet trolls. Real life Trolls would really appreciate it if maybe you could come up with a different term for people who lurk online, or better yet if you lurkers would just go away.

I'll be releasing a handful of little mini books, that will all come together to make up a full printed book, to be released in June. And we're going to start things off with one very big Troll misconception....

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Happy Polar Bear Day!

So all week we've been celebrating all things Arctic as a lead up to today. Today we celebrate all things Polar Bear. Because it's International Polar Bear Day. WooHoo!

I have to admit when it comes to arctic creatures, the Polar Bear is actually low on my list of favs. Right there with Grizzly and Black bears as animals I really kind of hope I never see (especially after seeing The Revenant...) Don't get me wrong, they have become the poster animals for the arctic for some very good reasons - they are very incredibly majestic animals, the top predators in the Arctic which makes them a most powerful symbol of strength and endurance in a harsh environment. Plus two thirds of the polar bears population lives in the Canadian Arctic, I think that gives us a special relationship with the big bears. But as for me, they are best read about and seen in pictures.

Want to see how the Polar Bears are spending their day? Watch the live cam...

What can you do for the Polar Bears? Join the movement. There are tons of ways to help support Arctic causes and spread information. I'll continue to give tips on the blog on little life changes we can all make to lesson our impact, but there is also some great initiatives out there to help make spreading the word FUN - like the WWF's National Sweater Day, Earth Day and Earth Hour! Stay informed

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Heart the People of the Arctic

First off, this post is a day late. It just happens sometimes. A weeks worth of posts was a lot of work. Some things didn't get scheduled. But the good news is that means an extra post tomorrow for the Official International Polar Bear Day!

If you haven't seen the documentary This Changes Everything you should go watch it (it's available on itunes, Google Play and Amazon). It's based on Naomi Kleins book of the same name (which I'm slowly getting through...) and it although it's about climate change, it's not about Polar Bears or melting glaciers, it's a tough look at the financial reality and impacts climate change is having on real live people. Really shakes up what you think you know about what is happening to our planet and our people.

This is why I wanted to talk about Arctic communities. In my Canadian travels I haven't been so far North yet, but there might just be a trip to the Yukon coming up this summer, so I've been researching the area the peoples and am really hoping the trip will happen because the area is slowly creeping up to the top of my travel must list! I talked a bit the other day about the Sami, but today we're bring it back to home turf (well my home turf here in Canada) and the effects the warming temperatures are having on their livelihoods. It's already tough to live in the Arctic, what with the insane prices they have to deal with on goods that are shipped up North, the lack of government support and the intense weathers. Now their way of life is being threatened.

How?
- Changing temperatures result in changes to wildlife migration patterns, which in turns results in a decline in the ability to hunt for food. On top of the fact that we are seeing a decline in wildlife populations
- The warming ground results in essential foods thawing out throughout the summer months in traditional food cellars dug deep in the permafrost
- Northern communities rely on sea ice to travel to neighbouring communities to trade goods. With warming temperatures comes less months of ice to safely travel over and less opportunities to trade goods
- Excessive flooding is also cutting off road access to Northern communities, which they rely on to ship in necessities
- An increase in invasive insect species is starting to impact local vegetation

These Northern communities are finding ways to adapt to their rapidly changing environments in creative and inspiring ways (check out this great story about the community of Arviat who built a greenhouse to be able to grown their own vegetables) but it makes me wonder - what could I be doing to slow down the effects on their communities. It's not just about me and you, it's about all of us as one whole community.

This Changes Everything really did change everything for me.

Take a Hike. No seriously, put those legs to good use. Leave the car at home. Try it one day a week. It's an hour/15min walk home for me but I relish those days. Some people I tell consider this a waste of my time. I don't really care about them ;) Walking for me is the best time to let my mind run wild and think out ideas, plus I don't drive so it's a break from the insanity of transit. But if walking isn't your thing, ride your bike, or if you're a car person take transit. One day a week won't kill you.

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Winter Camping Part deux

Um, ok. I have a confession to make. Our Winter Camping trip isn't exactly working out as originally planned. We're still going into the forest in a week, but we're just not tenting anymore. Turns out we got access to a Yurt, and if you get unexpected access to a Yurt, you Yurtin' take it!!!

I love Yurts. As much as I was ready to brave the elements in that tent, I am VERY excited to now be setting out on a Winter Yurt Adventure. The last time I was in a real yurt was right on the Arctic Circle and learning all about Sami traditions and yummy foods and meeting some ridiculously adorable reindeer. This time around we'll be in Algonquin Park and if the forecast holds there will be lot's and lot's of snow to frolic in! And Amy's making chilli.

Sami yurt just outside of Rovaniemi, Finland and my Reindeer pal

All Northern Communities are being affected by the warming temperatures in the North right now, but since we're talking Yurts and Sami and reindeer I thought I would touch on this for todays Heart the Arctic post. Nordic and Scandinavian cultures have long been a source of inspiration and wonder for me and that includes the beautiful Sami culture.

The Sami are the indigenous people of the Arctic regions of Russia, Finland, Sweden and Norway - also known as Lapland. While traditionally the Sami make their livelihood through a variety of means including coastal fishing, fur trapping, and sheep herding they are most known for reindeer herding. In fact in some of Nordic countries reindeer herding is legally only allowed by the Sami. The Sami people have been roaming and living off the land of the North for well over 5000 years.

When we are talking about Environmental issues in the Arctic and all over the planet, we have to remember that it's not just those fuzzy polar bears at risk. There are thousands of people who's traditional livelihoods are being disrupted as well. Think about how sad the twitterverse gets when Netflix goes down. This is about 10 billion times more important. And since I could go on and on and on about it, instead I'm going to leave you with this little video about reindeer herders and the current situation. PS. No reindeer were hurt in this video despite the snapshot below!

Today's tip... Don't suck up any extra energy. Any piece of electronics in your home or office that is plugged in is sucking up electricity, regardless of whether it is turned on or not. Save some energy and save some money - use a power strip with an off switch or just unplug them all!

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