Things That Make You Go Oooooo (July 2018)

I almost forgot to post today because I totally didn't realise that July was over! This month has been really crazy, I've hardly slept, I seem to eat all my meals standing up, I'm juggling about 20 different projects but life is good. I'm thinking I might take a short blogging break during August so I can catch up with the family and enjoy my birthday, but knowing me it won't last long as there's just so much I want to share that's happened to me over the past few months. I hope you are all well and enjoying the summer and if you need a break from the sun (or rain) here's some links to keep you occupied....

♥ 10 Things to Remember When Everything You Want is Out of Reach

♥ 5 Simple Tricks That Will Turn Every Day Into An Adventure

♥ 3 Little Things You Should Do Every Day Before Noon

♥ 13 Ways To Cheer Up Your Friend When She's Down

♥ 5 Mental and Physical Changes You'll Actually Notice When You Start Meditating

♥ 6 Surprising Signs You Need More Sleep

♥ 7 Things That Have Really Helped My Mental Health Recently

♥ 28 Way To Relieve Stress For A Happier Life

♥ 7 Things You Need to Know to Live Your Best Life and Make a Better World

♥ 10 Tips For Becoming Fearless

♥ 11 Healthy Ways To Calm Your Anxiety

♥ Kyoto Autumn Sightseeing Guide – 12 Places You Must Visit

♥ 13 Ways To Simplify Your Life

♥ 14 Hacks That Will Save You a Ton of Money

♥ 5 Tips For Taking Care of Your Mental Health

♥ 6 Ways to Deal with Sleep Anxiety

♥ 37 Things to Do on a Sunday Night When You're Bored

♥ Seven Easy Tips For Creating An Amazing About Page Inspired By Online Dating

♥ Let’s Get This Party Started: Unique Birthday Rituals!

♥ 20 Reminders That May Comfort You When You Feel Anxious

Love & Popcorn

Cate

xoxo

Cute Cafe Shops in Bangkok - Daddy and the Muscle Academy / Pixie Dust Cafe

There is a currently trend in Bangkok for every cute shop to have their own cute cafe and I love it! These "Cafe Shops" seem to be popping up everywhere and I feel like it's my mission to visit them all I mean there's nothing better than just relaxing in a cute cafe after a long day shopping and these places are perfect for both with the added bonus that don't have to trek around in the hot Thai heat to find a nice place to grab a refreshing drink because they're right there in the store!

Daddy and the Muscle Academy is one of my favourite stores in Bangkok because unlike most of the other "Cafe Shops" I've visited they stock their own clothing designs as well as vintage clothing and items from other independent indie designers which I'm a big supporter of. The whole shop is decorated in kawaii kitsch style which reflects the brand well and definitely worth a visit if you're a lover of cute and unique things. While the prices may be higher than a lot of other stores in the area it's worth it as this is store is unlike most others as it's a shop that supports, promotes and showcases indie artists and designers who produce products and clothing that are unique and can't be found anywhere else.

Pixie Dust Cafe is a small cafe located in the back of the store which sells really cute drinks and cakes, they often host events for Kpop fans to where they give away specially designed cup sleeves for idold birthdays and anniversaries so it's worth keeping up with their Instagram to check out when these events are happening. The decor of the shop lives up to its name as it's like something straight out of a fairy tale and their Butter Beer is out of this world, it's so good it's possibly one of the best drinks I've ever had in Bangkok so needless to say I'm a regular there!

What brands do you think should open up their own cafe?

Love & Magic

Cate

xoxo

Psssst if you want to see more awesome cafes from around the world you can click the button below, buy me a coffee, get treats & a shoutout on my next post

The Elephant Retirement Park - Chiang Mai - Thailand

Elephants are one of my favourite creatures and I've been lucky enough to have some amazing experiences with them over the years. Elephants are very beloved in Thailand and there has been a big movement to help conserve them and end zoos which force them to beg and perform. I have definitely noticed over the recent year how there are a lot less elephants on the city streets and how the attitude towards animals has changed, a lot more people are aware of animal cruelty and less people are supporting this exploitative practice and just want elephants to live our their natural lives in the jungle, which is how it should be. That being said sadly there still are a lot of places where it is common practice to ride and see elephants perform and while I understand tourist come to Thailand to see elephants I ask that you please consider of the lives of these elephants, do a little research and only visit the places that support and conserve these beautiful creatures.

The Elephant Retirement Park is one of these places which does not offer any rides or force the elephants to do tricks or beg for treats, instead gives them a place where they can be free from chains and hard labour and enjoy their lives in harmony with the humans who take care of them by simply treating them with the kindness and compassion they deserve.

One of the major driving forces for my to return to Thailand and learn my native language was so I could help rescue, rehabilitate and educate people on animal welfare and how these animals should be respected. I try to highlight the smaller charities as much as I can as I know how much they need the recognition and support. The Elephant Retirement Park is funded entirely on donations, they don't ask much from you either and a day spent learning about and being next to these beautiful creatures is less than $80 which is such a small cost especially when you think of how much food alone is needed for these animals to live on. The price of a day with the elephants also includes transport to the park from Chiang Mai and a delicious so they really aren't making a lot of money and need as much support as we can give them so they can build a better environment and rescue more elephants from the tourist and agriculture trade.

Being this close to these beautiful creatures really is just a life changing experience, they're just so loving and gentle. It's not my first time being this close to them, I've been to zoos, I've seen them perform and sadly I've rode on them to but this is the first time being this close to them since I made a real conscious effort to never again support any cruelty against any creature and the atmosphere was completely different. I really felt the love and respect, seeing the elephants free to run about and play in the mud and just be themselves, there were no picks axes, no shouting, no stress, there was just an aura of awe and genuine happiness.

There are so many charities in Thailand dedicating their lives to preserving the world's creatures and giving them a better life and they need all our support, I had an absolutely magical day and it really warmed my heart. So if you do visit Thailand please be conscious of the places you visit and how they treat their animals and make more of an effort to support the charities that want to give these creatures a better life.

What is your favourite animal?

Love & Sugar Cane

Cate

xoxo