*Tell*

Hey Hey! I'm back!  I had an amazing time last week in New York City.  I was a fun and lovely trip, I got to see a wonderful place and have countless LiMoBlisses.
The whole idea of this trip was to meet up with 2 of my best friends and celebrate our 30th birthday! Here's a little photographic recount! It's nice to be back though! x

*Dare*

Hello You!
I'm one of those lucky people who volunteered to help Moni in Keeping her blog alive while she's having great adventures somewhere far away. 
The last time I met her in person was in 2005, and last time when I chatted with her... a long time ago, too long. But I've been silently reading this blog for some time, and I can still see the same happy person whom I met in Canada. And because she's making me (and perhaps many others) smile every once in now and then with this blog, I decided to help her a little to show my support. I had no idea what I was going to write, but then I got the idea of connecting the little and big moments together, ina strange way that happened to me.


I spent this summer studying in the US, and I had time of my life. I met great people, had many great 

conversations and experienced many unexpected adventures. I was able to enjoy every moment of the summer and I felt that I had courage that didn't exist before. I tried new things and stepped out from my comfortable zone, and I was happy. What was the reason for this new behavior? Little moment, that happened week before I left for my study abroad. I was in a party, chatting with a school mate. I can't remember what we talked about, but when it was time to go home for me, I remember wishing him a nice summer, when he replied "You too. Don't be shy."

Don't be shy. For some weird reason, I can still remember that moment and those words very well. They carried me through the whole summer, reminding me of the limited time and all the opportunities that I'm offered so often and many times I agreed to try new things by thinking of those words. When I returned back to Finland and met this friend again, I thanked him for giving me such a good piece of advice. He didn't remember saying anything. For him it was just something that came into his mind, and for me it was very special moment. Little moment of bliss, that ended up being little bit longer moment of bliss, accidentally. Sometimes the smallest things become very important, and sometimes we don't even realize the power of our own actions.

Moni, I hope you are enjoying your trip to New York, not being shy! I enjoyed writing this blog post, and I hope that you keep inspiring people also in the future! Love Linda.

*Little bit of paradise*

This video gave me a little moment of bliss, a fun video with a cute ending- like the song too!

James

*Seeing Stars*

Debs: guest posting whilst Moni collects some more LimoBliss in the Big Apple.

Two men looked through Prison Bars. One saw mud the other saw stars.  

My mother used to say that to me. I have never researched it, so perhaps other mother's say that to their children too.  If I am honest I see an awful lot of Mud. Whereas my friend Moni sees a lot of Stars (was she wise to let me loose here?) Sometimes late into my starless nights I consider this, is the ability to seek out stars something innate within us? Are some people just naturally more positive or is it something we have to work at?

Even a mud wallower like myself can enjoy a LiMobliss every now and again, and I love to be reminded of all the tiny beautiful things that can make us smile, so I want to say a big THANK YOU to Moni for sharing her stars with us.

It is not all just grime and omska looking at things this way.  On occasion deep in the mud you find something which shines. Like flying after toast.

*Be Right Back*

*HA HA HA*

SMILE

It’s a universal sign of happiness: While hand shakes, hugs, and bows all have varying meanings across cultures, smiling is known around the world and in all cultures as a sign of happiness and acceptance.

There are 19 different types of smiles: UC-San Francisco researcher identified 19 types of smiles and put them into two categories: polite “social” smiles which engage fewer muscles, and sincere “felt” smiles that use more muscles on both sides of the face.

 Smiles are the most easily recognizable facial expression: People can recognize smiles from up to 300 feet away, making it the most easily recognizable facial expression.

Smiles are contagious: It’s not just a saying: smiling really is contagious, scientists say. In a study conducted in Sweden, people had difficulty frowning when they looked at other subjects who were smiling, and their muscles twitched into smiles all on their own.

Smiles are more attractive than makeup: A research study conducted by Orbit Complete discovered that 69% of people find women more attractive when they smile than when they are wearing makeup.

*If you want to learn more fun fact about smiling click here!*

*Jig*

If you watched and loved this film as much as I did, enjoy!!  If you haven't seen it yet DO IT NOW!!

*Participate*

I am so happy! last night I got my first e-mail  from someone wanting to share their LiMoBliss with us!  These wonderful photos and message come from a highschool friend I hadn't actually heard from in years and this makes it even more fun!

Here is Sara Toro's LiMoBliss:

"Bringing pets to work is the BEST EVER!!!  Everyday they make me SMILE!"

How would this be received in your workplace?  It definitely makes me want to have a pet!

*unexpected*

Hello! did you have a nice weekend? I had to share this with you as I had the most wonderful, unexpected LiMoBliss on Saturday Afternoon.  I was crossing the street in York, when I bumped into some very interesting characters! have a look!

Perfect line, confident, no fear.

Cars stopped, broke formation but stayed inside the lines.

Safely made it to the other side!! well done!

I will upload a video later today.  It looks like these guys knew what they were doing. So Fantastic!

*Positive*

Stop moaning! Have a LiMobliss

guaranteed endorphin release

if you're grumpy, fed up or tired

cynical, sad or wrongly wired.

 Just have a sip and enjoy the while

plus you look nicer when you smile

if others happiness is driving you mad

don't waste your energy talking bad.

A LiMoBliss is a precious treasure

please save those moans for love and pleasure!

Have a nice weekend!

*Adventure*

Up! It has got to be one of my favourite animated films of all time! I love it, the cute characters, the adventures, the flying house going to South America! I want one of those! 

Well a team of brilliant people at National Geographic got so inspired by the balloon elevated house that they decided to build a real life size version to see if they could have the same effect.  Three hundred balloons each full of a whole tank of helium, engineers, 2 pilots and huge team of helpers got together to help out with the project.  The result was beautiful, magical and a LiMoBliss. I wish i had been there to see it.  Here is a video of what happened, if you want to see or learn more of how it happened, click here.

*Surprise*

I love it when you run into weird fun things on the street, It's like being a kid again. I wonder why nobody had every thought of a playground for adults? I would definitely go!
Anyway, here is the "Escape Machine"! created by DDB Paris as to tell people that you can chose any destination you want when you chose  French Travel Company Voyages SNCF.
A bit black box with a red button on it, watch what happened when somebody dared to press it!

*Encourage*

Earlier this year I found myself wondering what the next step in my professional life would be. I wanted to be passionate and motivated about my job.  I wanted  to do something else, something that made me happy, but what?
It was by chance that one night just  browsing the web I found a wonderful e-course!  I only had to read it's name to know I'd found what I was looking for.  It was called Do What You Love For Life.

So out went the rut and in came the inspiration, the plans and the BLISS or should we say LiMoBliss! Yes, I started this blog after I finished the e-course! It was a brilliant experience full of inspiring tasks, challenging discoveries and fun.  By the end of it I felt like I had an image of what I wanted to do with my life so clearly that I wondered why I hadn't just known it all along.  I completely recommend you try it! you won't regret it and definitely enjoy it!

The person behind DoWhatYouLove is the lovely Beth Nichols!  She's got an amazing background of adventures and ultimately she is doing what she loves. Not only has she created the e-course but she's got a wonderfully inspiring Website that shares stories about people doing what they love and interviews with admirable and incredibly interesting people. 

There is also the DoWhatYouLove Retreat which offers a great chance to disconnect from the world and go on a fantastic holiday of discovery, creativity and fun.  She has also recently partnered up with designer Rachael Taylor to do the groundbreaking The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design.  

i love what Beth has created, not only because it gave me a chance to find what I loved doing but because it has such a fun and positive ideal.  I hope you all get a chance to look at her website and join in.  It's never to late to do what you love :)

*Win*

I'm so excited to announce that Valentina Llano is the first winner of the LiMoBliss competition! She got the most votes and will receive the beautiful prize very soon!  Her image will also be the first one to appear on the LiMoBliss gallery coming very soon.  I've also found out that Valentina is getting married very soon! This should be a good addition to her new home!

Thanks to everyone who sent an image and well done to the finalists, they were all wonderful pics.  If you didn't get a chance to participate in this competition, don't worry, a new one will be starting very soon, so have your cameras around, pencils, colours, you never know when a LiMoBliss will come along! Congrats again Valentina!

*Guess*

Tell me tell me, what do you see?

is it a flower or is it a cake

is it a broach or a cooking mistake

is it handmade or by machinery

what can this wonderful thing really be?

click here to see

*Memories*

Here is one of my first Childhood LiMoBliss:
I must have been about 6, my primary school was a beautiful place, surrounded by green grass.  It was a warm place, so much that my classroom only had 3 walls, the space where the fourth one should've been gave us a view!  My school was also great because we had rabbits and guinea pigs running around wild (I was 6 so this might have been a bit more contained).  These general pets were also weekend pets for anyone who wanted to adopt them and take care of them during the weekend.
After months of begging my mum to let me look after a bunny, she finally did! This is where the perfectly clear and sharp memory of one of my first conscious LiMoBlisses comes in.  I remember being sat on the bus home, legs too short to reach the floor swinging with excitement.  On my lap a gigantic cage and inside my very own bunny Overoles (Spanish for overalls, as he was white with some black fur that simulated the garment).  I still feel extremely happy and excited when I remember this scene!  I don't remember much more about the weekend apart from the fact that Overoles ate a bunch of my mum's plants in the garden and she hated him and being shocked when some man grabbed him by the ears to get him away from the flowers :)
I love it, I loved Overoles!

Do you have any memory like this old or new that you consider a LiMoBliss?  Please share it as a comment!  I would love to hear it.

*Nostalgia*

Home is home is home is home! When you are far away, thinking of it brings a bit of nostalgia.  It's not a bad thing though, missing a place usually makes you happy to belong there.
So here is a little tribute to my home, the beautiful, joyful, loud, colourful, fun, crazy, tasty, natural, alive COLOMBIA!
Here are some pics of what I love and miss the most about it.  Every Colombian has a travel agent in them so this is also my pitch to convince you all about visiting! Everybody is welcome, no visas required.
Enjoy

Amazing wild life in the wild

Outdoor Spaces

Fooooood!

Lively characters!

Colour is everywhere

Vastness

 Optimistic Patriotism

Unbelievable natural treasures 

Fresh Fruit

Sundown between mountains

Warm sea, paradise beaches

Flowers for everyone

I heart Colombia

*Interact*

I have always been fascinated by the world of advertising.  Yes it's got its bad sides to,o but when used to it's full potential it is amazing to watch somebody's creativity at its best.  Good ads make you smile, cry, think, sing along.
I try to keep up with every years winners at the Cannes Lion Awards.  For this years outdoor award, the winner was this amazing campaign, for Jay-Z's autobiography in collaboration with Bing.  I will let this video explain it.  Take a look a it and some other brilliant TV ads from around the world! Enjoy

LiMoBliss Finalists!

Happy day! We have some finalists for our LiMoBliss competition!  I have to say thanks to everyone who entered!  And if you didn't get a chance to participate, don't worry, the next one will be starting soon.

It is now up to you to vote for the winner.  So leave a comment saying which is your favourite.  I will announce the winner on Friday the 7th of October. Good Luck to everyone!

1.

By Andrea Vasquez, Chile December 2009 

2.

By Melissa Camargo

3.

By Valentina Llano,  "My LiMoBliss of most of my days comes when I’m baking!! After days of hard work. This picture was my LiMoBliss of last Saturday night, when I stood on a chair to get a picture of the end result of sleepless days!  Every time I am able to create something sweet, it makes me smile."

4.

By Mili Arias," This was my vacations to MENDOZA in Argentina.  It was the first time in my life I saw snow.  Also, this was the first five seconds I could stand on my skies.  This is a true LIMOBLISS for me.  This pic has been pasted on my good memories of life.  It´s amazing the feeling I felt in my body, my mind and my emotional experience.  I waited for this moment for a long time.  One of my life dreams.  I want to share it with you."

5.

By Sara Velez, Arboletes Colombia, Easter 2011.  "This is a place where I feel complete happiness"


Leave a comment to Vote now!