Leesha's Life

A new family member + some Chaos

2010-02-03T18:28:00.005-06:00

I've got Good News! I adopted another doggy. She was found in the same area of Texas and looks exactly like him, so she's got to be family. We saw her picture on petfinder.com and felt compelled to go save her. Plus, we've been considering getting a play-mate for Spencer. He really loves other dogs and wants to play all the time.

Adopting her was a truly odd & memorable experience. We arrived at this farm in Texas and the lady has 40 dogs she is fostering. 40! Plus some cows... Obviously there is shit everywhere. There were some dogs that were loose in the driveway that she quickly shooed into her truck. We stepped into her yard to be greeted by a very sweet Basset Hound. The foster lady (no name) came over and HIT THE DOG IN THE FACE to tell him to get down. Matt and I looked at each other like "Are you kidding me?!" So we follow her in, eyebrows still raised... The moment she steps inside this big dog bites her finger- TO THE BONE.. She kicks the dog and drags him to a room and shuts the door then tries to show us how to the bone the cut actually is. If you know Matt and I you know we're total babies when it comes to this stuff. Matt is having to sit down and I'm having to put a band-aid on this ladies finger that is partly off the bone. I've never seen anything more disgusting!

I glance around- 6 dogs in kennels in this main room, I can hear some thumping upstairs, the Bassett Hound is crying outside, I'm worried about the 2 dogs in the truck and the big dog is whining in the room it was put in. Meanwhile, the lady is bleeding while trying to tell us about the dog we came to adopt. I decide quickly that I've got to save Freckles and I didn't really hear much else she was saying because 2 thoughts were filling my head 1. We've got to get out of here 2. with Freckles

And we meet "Freckles". She runs out of her kennel straight into my arms and stays there licking my face and snuggling into my chest, tail wagging frantically. She meets Spencer and they both are wagging their tales. The lady goes on and on about how "identical these 2 look" and saying "we gotta get a picture of those 2" So we try to hold them into a forced pose so she can take the picture. Matt and I are still shooting "OMG" glances at each other.

We finally finish the paper work, talking, paying and go to leave. But she insists on us getting a picture outside.. So again we try to force the dogs into holding a pose looking at the camera. My knees are sinking into the mud while she tries to get her camera to work right. We go to leave and Freckles steps in a 2" high pile of cow poo and I think "AHH, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET OUT OF HERE!"

We wiped her paws off and finally were on our way home. It was a long hour of driving with this drooling, wild, poop smellin' puppy.

I was told Freckles had been there since September and I just realized this-- driving away she never looked back.

Asthma/Vegan insight

2010-01-22T12:31:00.003-06:00

After reading my last post about me having asthma I realized that I haven't had any asthma attacks all winter. Normally I have to take my inhaler several times a day and take preventative/steroid meds during this season. I pretty much JUST REALIZED this. I've never had such an easy time breathing.

I am sitting here seriously in amazement.

After some quick research I ran across this:

"A 1985 Swedish study demonstrated that asthmatics
who practice a vegan diet for a full year
have a marked decrease in their need for medications,
and in their frequency and severity of asthma attacks."

"The theoretical basis for the value of vegan diets is the absence of potential triggers, particularly dairy products and eggs, as well as a relative lack of arachidonic acid."

http://www.naturalnews.com/010443_asthma_food_dairy_products.html

I never would have guessed that I would be vegetarian or vegan. The benefits have been life changing.

This is a list of how changing my diet has effected me personally:

• 10lb weight loss and holding..

• Reduced asthma episodes

• Decreased 'bad' Cholesterol levels

• Negated PCOS symptoms

• Balanced Hormone levels

• Increased taste awareness

• Increased energy

A Delectable Vegan Delight

2010-01-19T17:48:00.005-06:00

Matt and I received gift cards to Souper Salad and I never realized how vegan friendly there selection was. I mean I know OBVIOUSLY they have salad, but I have a hard time just eating salad for lunch. I just have a hard time getting excited about eating leaves.

So I was somewhat content with my plate full of salad and I thought I would check on the other items on the bar. The Vegetable Soup had a big sign above it that started with "A delectable Vegan delight..." This was very exciting. A lot of restaurants include cheese, dairy or cream in their soups so this was a wonderful surprise. Now the phrase has stuck in my head and I want to use that description for everything- Bean Enchiladas= "a delectable vegan delight"

Today we ate there again and I really paid attention to all the detailed cards and several things are vegan, including the Corn Bread!

Here is the list if you're interested:

http://www.soupersalad.com/Special%20Diets.pdf

The Human Spirit

2010-01-14T23:26:00.002-06:00

"The Human Spirit is an emergent property of intelligence that drives it to adapt the environment to the organism. This drive is relatively unique to humans and is progressive in that the drive allows intelligence to grow. This emergent property reveals itself in the reiteration of factors presented as obstacles to an organism, group, or society. As the complexity of these factors grows, the Human Spirit responds accordingly by creating solutions that best adapt the environment to the individual, group, or social organism." ~Wikipedia

I'm sitting here full of grief for those in Haiti. I can't sleep knowing thousands of people are trapped in buildings and suffering. But this tragedy conveys the goodness of the Human Spirit. At the core, Humans are GOOD, Compassionate, Loving, Protective, and eager to help others. In times of crisis this is so evident.

Its hard to imagine that somewhere else in the world wars and destruction are every day.

3 years ago I started listening to NPR while car pooling with a friend. I told her I didn't think I could handle listening to all of the world news. I was used to my sheltered bubble. In fact, I remember being depressed at times worrying about coal mining and the killing of seals and all the endless wars and terrorist attacks and tragedies.

Now I know to feel this pain is good. To let yourself feel this pain is to be aware and informed. And being aware creates Action. To donate, to pray, and to go and help. If a being in this world suffers then I can bear the pain of hearing their story.

Huffington Post article

2010-01-09T11:58:00.004-06:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ari-solomon/who-you-callin-vegangelic_b_290582.html

I thought this article was very interesting. I love the message.

I'm still thinking about the comment of a person not being considered vegan if they are not doing it for ethical reasons. I have to disagree. I don't believe people choices are as clear cut as that and there is no way to measure why someone might choose to be vegan.

Looking back, I realize that my own journey to veganism was a complex series of events throughout my life that opened my mind and heart to choosing this direction. And whether someone is just beginning to explore a vegan diet or is living 100% vegan, that is the path they have chosen and the lifestyle they have chosen to identify with. There is alot to be said for that. I don't think any vegan or vegetarian should be judged on the pace of their change or on their failures.. It's the DIRECTION that counts. It's the GOAL that has meaning, not just the full realization of the goal.

It is a process. In my life, I was always curious about vegetarianism and veganism, but I never understood it. When I watched the "Meet your Meat" video I cried and realized what compassion for animals meant, but before that I never knew what I needed to be compassionate about. When I read the "Skinny Bitch" book it became clear to me that the way I had been eating was truly unhealthy. These 2 events in my life along with several memorable conversations with vegetarians throughout the years sparked a huge lifestyle change.

Ever since I began a vegan diet (almost on a whim) my heart has continued to open up to the exploitation and suffering of farm animals. I've done well with switching to a vegan diet 100% and am focused on changing out my beauty products to be 100% vegan as well (not something I can afford to do all at once).

I hope that all vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores will have compassion for each other and understand that we all do our best in every way we can. If we continue to encourage each other to make positive changes then we will all be better for it. If we judge and criticize then no change will be made. I have no problem with anyone wanting to identify with being vegan or vegetarian for whatever reason -health, environmental, or ethical. In the end, the reduced consumption of animal products is the Goal and that is what will reduce the suffering of these animals.

Similarly, I would consider myself an Environmentalist, but know that I can do so much more. I still consider myself a Runner and am working on increasing my efforts in that regard too. Always aim to be the best you can be in every way you can, and the world will be a better place for it.

Why not go vegan?

2010-01-07T14:47:00.003-06:00

So over the last months I have been joyfully discovering foods, baking, cooking, and sharing with everyone I know. I've been surprising and inspiring myself and others!

Recently, I dared my mom to taste the vegan butter "Earth Balance" and she couldn't tell the difference! And I was like "See, it's good!" I keep coming to the point, if vegan food tastes just as good, then why not choose the vegan options? If you can make small changes that don't effect you, but decrease the amount of suffering in the world, then why not.

I understand completely abstaining from eating things is hard. Part of it is breaking physical addictions and cravings, and even harder is breaking tradition and habit.

But making small changes is easy. Example, if you've tried Tofu Manicotti then you know it tastes just like Ricotta Manicotti.. so why not choose the Healthier and more Compassionate meal.

My mom has been surprised by several dishes I have made for her. Beany Enchiladas, Tortilla Soup, Chocolate Chip cookies. A vegan diet can be just as filling, comforting, nutritious and luxurious as a non-vegan diet. Everyone gobbles up the vegan cookies I make from "The Joy of Vegan Baking" cookbook, and when I tell them they're vegan they are shocked.

Overall, I don't feel deprived. I have discovered so many NEW foods. The other day I tried Curry and it is MY NEW FAVORITE FOOD. And I know I've tried it before in my life and hated it. But now it is amazing. There are so many levels of flavors to it. I really feel like I was missing out before. I feel like dairy and cheese made things bland, and made me used to bland food where I could not enjoy the wide variety and spices of delicious ethnic foods out there.

For Christmas, I gave my parents a "cook healthy" basket filled with 2 new Saute pans, 2 diet books on "Eating for Life" with a vegetarian focus, some cooking utensils, nuts etc. And today she just called me and told me she wants to try a vegan diet for 6 weeks to see if she loses weight. I'm so excited for her and I bet she will see weight loss like I did. Everyone wants their parents to live long and healthy lives.

Introducing..

2010-01-03T19:02:00.006-06:00

The Mini-Chilada!

This is truly an exciting moment here. I was making one of my favorite vegan dinners- Bean Enchiladas and decided to fry up some mini-enchiladas with the leftover mixture. My enchilada recipe evolves every time I make it, each time closer and closer to my ideal enchilada (and each time a little more complex). Here are the details for both:

Double Bean Enchilada w/ Green Chile Sauce-

1) SAUTÉ - Chopped onions, Chopped Cilantro, Red Bell Pepper, and crushed, fresh Garlic in Olive Oil--- Set aside

2) MIX (in bowl or in Saucepan on Low-Med) - 1 Drained can of Black Beans, 1 can Rotel, 1 can Vegetarian Refried Beans ---Set aside

3) FRY - Big Size Corn Tortillas in Smart Balance brand Vegetable Oil in a skillet. I was brave this time and added a couple drops of lime juice with each tortilla. BE Careful! The Oil gets really spitty with the lime added. Ouch! I guess we could just sprinkle lime juice into one of the mixes.

4) ROLL EM' - Ideally you'll have a handsome helper with you to roll the enchiladas with the ingredients in the middle as you keep frying the others. You can also choose to add in Vegan Cheese like Tofutti American slices in the middle, or on top.

5) TOP EM'- At this point you can either simply POUR the Green Enchilada Sauce directly on top of the rolled enchiladas in the pan OR you can try thickening the sauce on the stove with a tsp of Corn Starch. I also have added a dash of Nutritional Yeast for a little more of a cheese flavor. Yum! Black Olives are a nice touch too.

6) BAKE IT- 350F till you can't stand it any longer. Update- I just got mine out after 45min and that seemed to be a little too long.

Mini-Chiladas

It's a Sunday evening and I'm waiting for Matt to get home so we can eat this yummy food. The full enchiladas are cooking in the oven and I'm staring at the leftover bean mixture and some smaller size corn tortillas. So of course, I decide to FRY EM UP!

DIRECTIONS:

Cut corn tortillas in half and FRY in same pan. Flip once. Drop a small dollop of bean mixture making sure not to spill onto the pan. Using tongs and a fork, Roll or Fold as tightly as possible in the pan. Take out and set aside to cool.

The picture above is the last mini-chilada left..(yes I ate the rest) waiting for Matt to eat him when he gets home..

2009 in Retrospect

2010-01-01T08:17:00.006-06:00

2009 was a year of insane CHANGE!

1)HOUSELESS to HOMEY

A year ago today we were living in a 3rd floor apartment saving everything we could to buy a house. As soon as we received our paychecks we took about half and put it immediately into savings. Anytime we got extra money or Matt did side jobs that went straight to Smarty Pig. I did alot of photography and design on the side and Matt did alot of shooting for Cheaters- ya that show that comes on TV in the middle of the night. I actually don't like the show, but I love that it made our home possible.

2) We became DOGGY PARENTS

As soon as we bought the house and got settled in I started the search for our new family member. Matt and I couldn't agree on what type of dog we wanted. I wanted a Cocker Spaniel, he wanted a Corgi.. I wanted a mini-poodle mix, he wanted a running dog.. I sent Matt pictures he sent me pictures. And then I found Spencer on petfinder.com. It said he was a Brittany Spaniel mix.. so I sent Matt a picture of a Cocker Spaniel, Spencer, and some small dog and as expected Matt replied how he didn't like Cocker Spaniels or the small dog but that Spencer was PERFECT! We both knew instantly. The lady we adopted him from was a little spacey but we finally got him and love him so much. I never knew he would bring us so much JOY!

Last night we had a little scare. We had some friends over for a New Year's Eve dinner and somehow our front door didn't get closed all the way. As soon as I noticed the door I realized Spencer had gotten out. Our friend immediately set off his car alarm and we called out for Spencer. Spencer immediately came sprinting back (across 2 busy streets). It was scary, but I'm so happy he came back to us and didn't wander too far.

3) Matt finished SCHOOL!

OMG, what a sigh of relief. Matt doing his degree was almost as stressful for me as doing my own. His most recent project that is now at the DMA took over a year of work.. which means a year of me waiting for that project to be over. Although, now that his school is over he immediately jumped into an independent project developing a game with some friends. I think I may have to realize that he will always have a project going. It makes me wonder about the wives of inventors or other artists. How did they deal with a man that is so passionate about his work?

Recently I was watching an interview with Michelle Obama and they asked her what she felt when Barack told her he was going to run for President.. She was opposed, she wanted him home with his family but she knew that he would be the president she wanted also. So she supported his decision.

It really makes me wonder how many women have struggled with accidentally preventing their men from doing great things.. or vice versa how many men have prevented their wives from doing great things.

4) CARNIVORE to HERBIVORE

A year ago my favorite food was cheese enchiladas with queso on top. I seriously put cheese on almost everything. I was addicted. I bought blocks of cheese and ate them at all times of the day. Matt used to always tell me that if I just quit eating cheese I would lose so much weight. Well all those times he said that it finally stuck and I bet he never thought I'd actually act on it.

My cheese addiction was really a catalyst for me becoming vegan. I really wanted to purge myself of dairy and animal products and just see what would happen. A quick 10lb drop happened and I had alot of energy! I loved it! I felt light and clean inside too, not sluggish or tired.

One really strange thing I had not counted on was the flavor sensitivity I gained. After 3 weeks or so I started to notice a more vibrant flavor of vegetables and fruits. It was like I hadn't truly been tasting these foods. I also noticed how salty fast food was. Along with the flavor sensitivity I also started to notice a sensitivity to medicines. I'm not sure why, but now when I take some medicines I feel like I was given an elephant's dosage. I often feel buzzy, high, or super depressed. I can actually feel the medicine begin when it hits my blood stream.

Overall, I am acutely AWARE. Physically, Mentally, Emotionally. Awareness is anguish at times, but I wouldn't go back and unlearn anything. I'm happy to be healthier and not contribute to all the suffering connected with the meat industry.

2009 has been a good year, filled with many blessings. Matt and I have really settled into our marriage and our lives together. We know how to share a bed without elbowing the other person in the face. I learned how to cook yummy food using organic fruits and veggies, fresh herbs, and healthy oils. We come home to a wagging tail and dog hugs. What more could you want in life?!

Knitted handbag-Trial, error, and success

2009-12-15T11:49:00.004-06:00

This knitted bag was suppose to be a big circle shape with 2 circle pieces that would be sewed together and I mistakenly over-increased and it had these 2 boobie shapes. So I played around with it for awhile and realized it could work as 1 piece in this shape above. Can't believe my mistake turned into such a cool piece. AND I figured out how to knit onto the handles.. it was more of a crochet technique I think.

I'm trying to decide if I want to pin the top edges in to make it this shape. I also want to add a lining and an interior pocket. I need to find a pretty silky like fabric.. and then figure out how to sew. Trial and error eventually lead to success.

Flop

2009-12-14T10:54:00.005-06:00

Ha! This is the funniest thing I have knitted. I was trying for a soft Cowl that could be used like a scarf to keep the neck warm.. you know like those droopy cowls that are usually attached to sweaters.

I don't know what happened.. I think I just knitted it too tight. I might try again with a larger needle and thinner yarn. It just doesn't drape right.

Matt and I had alot of fun figuring out different uses for it. Hee hee, still laughing..

Redemption

2009-12-11T21:27:00.006-06:00

I'm a stress eater, a bored eater, you name it. I emotionally eat. And lately I have been super stressed worrying about the longevity of my job. The kind of worrying that feels like an earthquake is coming.. and I want comfort food!

The last couple of days have suddenly become the most difficult in this whole time of living veg. I feel so incredibly guilty for even having the thought.. so softly in my head.. the thought of eating a Chic-Fil-a sandwich. And then the whispered thought gets louder, like seriously I want a ....! At this moment I'm typing this I still can't believe I even struggled with that thought and its gross to me.. at this moment. Sitting by the fire, listening to some new music Matt got - "For Tet"- I'm not stressed at this moment and can think clearly.

Why is it Chic-fil-a? Why am I admitting that thought to anyone? The first time I faced this temptation Matt talked me out of it.. This time I made it all the way into the drive-thru line and then ordered a salad no meat, no cheese and a side of waffle fries. I was proud that I conquered that temptation, but then at dinner that night with Matt I actually ordered fish tacos AND ate 1. I don't know what to think about it. The taste definitely was not worth it. Why do fish not hold a place in my heart? Do I have a compassionate preference for mammals over birds and fish? Maybe.

I thought giving in that once would put the end to it, but then this morning I woke up with the craving for Chic-Fil-a breakfast sandwiches. What's wrong with me? I think Chic-Fil-a needs to market their spices so I can fry some tofu or seitan and be done with it.

Today was a whirlwind of vegan doubt, and my mind was blank for why I was doing this, could I really do this forever? .. AND THEN...

I checked the mail! I opened my blood lab work results and was completely shocked! All of my levels are now NORMAL! OMG! I know this doesn't mean much to you who are reading this right now. But to me it means the world. It means the chance to have children naturally with no need for drugs. It means my diet really has cured my PCOS. A year ago my levels were all over the place and out of all the normal limits. And today I know why I am doing what I am doing.

Today I have new meaning behind my commitment.

Yeah!

thoughts on traveling

2009-12-10T08:56:00.003-06:00

They say you only live once, but how do you balance life enjoyment with life responsibilities?

I LOVE to travel, but really have not experienced much. When I have the money I don't have the time and when I have the time I don't have the money. Isn't that how it always is?

Matt and I want to do alot of traveling before we have kids, but I really don't know how to make it happen. First off, I can't even take a day off at my job without having to work overtime the day before or after to keep up. I can't imagine ever taking a week off... And we've always had to work around Matt's semester schedule.. I had this problem at my last job as well when I tried to schedule my honeymoon in the winter between semesters but my job would not allow it. So instead Matt failed his classes that semester we got married.. Its just really impossible to take a week and a half off in studio courses. We loved our honeymoon and it was so worth it. But even then we didn't pay for that trip..so how do you save up?

We want to go 1) skiing in Colorado 2) to London 3) Canada 4) I want to go somewhere in the Carribean 5) Italy 6) actually pretty much all of Europe

I started a Savings account with SmartyPig.com (which is how we saved for our house) and set it to save $25/month (LOL), but with the thought that I would add to it whenever we have extra cash. I guess we haven't had any.

So now Matt is graduating and I have always wanted to reward him with us going to Europe or at least on a ski trip. There is just no way. Unless something changes our budget will always be tight, my job will always be too stressful to take time off, and I feel like we should pay off loans before we start saving up for unnecessary vacations.

Thinking back to "vacationers"--isn't the typical traveler the older, retired couple or the young singles? Did we miss our time? For how long and how much do you have to sacrifice and juggle around just to enjoy 1 week in your life?

Cruelty-Free Hair Care

2009-12-07T08:49:00.004-06:00

Loreal now has a new line of hair care products that are 100% vegan and cruelty-free.

Yesterday, I purchased the Smooth Shampoo, Smooth Conditioner and the small tub that is a deep conditioning mask.

They are amazing!

The shampoo was incredibly frothy and foamed up more than every shampoo I own. The deep conditioner made my hair soft and silky. Finally, hair care that does what it is supposed to! This was a real exciting find.

So here is the delimma. I started researching Loreal and they do animal testing in almost all their other lines of product. So by purchasing the EverPure line I am indirectly contributing to the testing of animals. OR should I think of it as by purchasing these products I am proving to Loreal that there is a market for cruelty-free, vegan products. Hopefully they will make the switch in more of their product lines.

My hair feels so good!

Next Phase- Products

2009-12-06T13:28:00.005-06:00

According to Wikipedia (my reference for everything) the definition of a Vegan is=

"Veganism is a diet and lifestyle that seeks to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose.^[1]^[2] Vegans endeavor not to use or consume animal products of any kind.^[3] The most common reasons for becoming a vegan are ethical commitment or moral conviction concerning animal rights orwelfare, the environment, human health, and spiritual or religious concerns.^[2]^[4]^[5] Of particular concern to many vegans are the practices involved in factory farming and animal testing, and the intensive use of land and other resources for animal farming."

I feel pretty comfortable now with the diet aspect. I have finally got the balance down of eating carbs-protein-fruits-veggies. Real quickly I discovered how easy it was to eat just yummy carb snacks. The whole point is to be healthy though, so I've really focused on getting enough fruits and veggies, and take my vitamins. Why are they so BIG!

I feel ready now to take on the next challenge of purging out all PRODUCTS that contribute to animal suffering or contain toxins. After seeing the video "Earthlings" it is undeniable that the clothing and beauty industries greatly attribute to animal suffering. And why be a part of it if you don't have to be?

Here is a list of the items I want to find a replacement for:

• Yarn- no wool or silk, choose cotton, bamboo, hemp, soy silk, banana silk

• Soap

• Shampoo/Conditioner- try Alba, Giovanni, 365, Jason

• Face Wash- Origins

• Moisturizer- try Kiss my Face, Origins

• Foundation- I've used the same foundation for the last 13 years, so this will be a tough one.

• Chapstick- try Alba

• mascara- try Beauty without Cruelty or Lush

• eye liner- try Arbonne or Origins

• sunscreen- try Arbonne or Origins

• deodorant- 365

• Clothing- I actually don't own any leather clothes and only itchy wool sweater that I will just donate.

• Shoes- This is a tough one.. I went shoe shopping awhile back and could not find what the shoes are made of. There is no "ingredient list" and I keep thinking it could be really good pleather, or some kind of plastic, or maybe it is leather.. I don't know. So I haven't bought a new pair of shoes in 6 months and it is time to figure this out. I'm in desperate need of some black low heels for work. I may just order these online from a vegan site just to be sure.

I already switched my toothpaste to Toms and I finally found a flavor I like. I am probably going to focus on a few products at a time so I don't spend too much money at one time. Let me know if you have any vegan products that you love.

These are a few brands I want to try: Whole Foods brand, Kiss my Face, Beauty without Cruelty, Jason shampoos, Avalon, Alba, Giovanni shampoos, Lush makeup, Origins, Arbonne makeup. Walmart carries a few brands as well as Kroger, Whole Foods, Central Market, and Sprouts.

I hope to meet this goal by the end of the next 6 months. That seems doable to me. It will be fun trying new stuff! These are the kind of things I don't usually let myself spend alot of money on so it will be interesting balancing frugality with quality. I hope that I will find some great substitutes and maybe even some better ones! I'll make sure to share my faves.

The Details

2009-12-02T22:11:00.003-06:00

Half a year! I've been on a vegan diet for half a year. Woohoo!

It's so 2nd nature to me that I don't have to worry or think about it much now. I have pretty much perfected avoiding animal products in food. And then today, I fell into a non vegan situation. I was cooking my lunchtime soup in the kitchen with my coworker when I noticed that this particular soup had egg in the pasta. Normally, I would have just thrown it out and gone to get something else.. but I haven't admitted my veganism to my coworkers, so I had no reason to do so.. I was trapped. So here I am holding this bowl of soup and getting grossed out at the thought of chicken reproductive products in my soup.... and I went back to my desk and ate around the pasta in the soup.

I'm not going to beat myself up about it, but I need to come clean at work, for my own sake. And I hope it will be soon.. but then I think is it really worth it? It's such a personal decision in my life I don't feel like being confronted about it when I can't argue back.

So its the details that get me, every time. Like the Morning Star Farms corny dogs that I thought for sure were vegan and blogged about them. How embarrassing! And then I missed the note about eggs in the Quorn brand mock meats too. And there was that time that I had jello, another time I had honey, and probably some times when I thought for sure it was vegan and it wasn't.

It's not about being perfect. It's about filtering out the unnecessary suffering, the unhealthy, and the disease causing waste in my life. I'm also trying to avoid high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, caffeine, and other toxins.

However, I do feel that once you make allowances for yourself then those allowances start to grow and take over. Isn't that how all diets fail? So perfection is what I strive for but the ultimate goal is to do the best I can to be healthy, to be cruelty-free, and to be good about every decision I make in life. If that is my goal and Im doing my best then I am happy with myself.

Surviving Thanksgiving

2009-11-30T17:32:00.008-06:00

Yeah! I made it through Thanksgiving without seeing any dead Turkeys on the table.

We had 3 consecutive Thanksgiving lunches, 1 for each family. The first Thanksgiving was at Matt's grandparents' and we did a Mexican theme. Mostly because its just too much work to do the traditional food and travel with it to their house. This Thanksgiving meal was one of the sad ones. Matt's grandfather is getting older and has Alzheimer's and may be going to a home soon. It was great bonding time though and Matt had an amazing breakthrough with his grandpa. Grandpa Curly said to Matt "I like what you're doing with your life. Let er' rip!" What an amazing moment it was and I'm so glad we were there for Matt to experience it.

So for the Mexican feast I cooked Black Bean enchiladas with green chili sauce. They were the best ever. I used black beans, refried beans, onions, red peppers, and garlic. Matt's mom made Vegan chili!!! OMG how awesome! Oh and Vegan Brownies. I felt so spoiled.

2nd Thanksgiving lunch was easy. We met my parents, brothers, and grandparents for lunch at Olive Garden. I had the Spaghetti Pomodoro. I think I have actually figured out how to make it better than the restaurant. It's all about using fresh herbs and the best olive oil.

3rd Thanksgiving was at my house with my dad's side of the family. We did an Italian themed potluck style family meal. It was beautiful. Matt and I were way behind on getting everything ready so my parents and brother stepped in and we all were cooking Hell's Kitchen-style (minus the yelling). We made Spaghetti and homemade pizzas. I made a cheese-less pizza with olives, red onions, mushrooms & red peppers.

So all that and I only had 1 emotional break down. I was at Kroger trying to buy meatballs for everyone else to eat with the Spaghetti. I was standing there with all the different varieties of ground up cow meat and I was about to reach and grab a package and got instantly repulsed. I got hot and dizzy and had to run off to an aisle to hide in as my eyes filled with tears. I never thought I'd be at this place in my life. I never ever expected to feel this connection and anguish over animals I've never seen. I never knew what I did not know.. and ignorance is bliss. or is it?

I feel good about my commitment, but moreover this change is something I can't undo. This Thanksgiving showed me that I am so blessed to be loved and respected in all my families, even if I am eating something different from everyone else.

Another Baby hat

2009-11-09T13:46:00.003-06:00

Here is a baby hat I worked on last week for my friend Cristina. I think it needs something, maybe a flower or butterfly. I tried making little eyelets, but it looks kind of messy. The darker pink isn't as soft as I'd like for a baby hat, so I may add a silky lining.

I've already started another baby hat for my friend Deepa. Hopefully it will turn out cute.

I'll pass on the PCOS

2009-11-08T13:50:00.003-06:00

A year ago a doctor finally diagnosed me with PCOS.

At that time I had quit the pill and gone 6 months without a period, (and no migraines). It was such a relief to finally have a name to what was going on and to have answers to symptoms I had dealt with as a teenager too. When I was 17-19, about every other month I would have sudden piercing pain on my lower right side below my belly button.. I would vomit for a full day, hyperventilating and not be able to leave the bathroom. After SEVERAL tests, drinking Barium and such, my gyno at the time had told me that I had cysts that were rupturing and it was completely normal in runners. His answer was to put me on the pill. Migraines begin.

Fast forward to last year, a new gyno verifies that what I have is called PCOS and that I do have cysts, lots of them. Her answer is to put me on the pill. Migraines begin again.

6 months ago I took myself off the pill again. Ironically it was about 6 months ago that I also began my vegan diet. This time I feel so much better.. I have a normal cycle, no vomiting & a decrease in migraine strength.

So the other day I'm telling my mom that I think I cured my PCOS and she's like "Ya, it says online that PCOS sufferers should avoid eating beef & cheese, and increase eating fruits & vegetables, etc." Like DUH! Did I instinctually know this?

Anyway, feeling good.. but going to schedule a checkup to make sure I'm cysts free. What a miracle this would be.

The Seed of Knowledge

2009-10-23T09:44:00.007-05:00

I've been doing alot of self-reflection and even overcame a vegan breakdown.

I was dealing with a very stressful week and the resignation of my favorite co-worker and the need for "comfort food" hit hard. My mind frantically could not think of anything vegan I could eat that would fix the distress I was in. As soon as the thought of just breaking down and eating a Chic-Fil-A sandwich popped into my mind, I called Matt and told him what I was contemplating. Any my meat-eating, bar-b-q-ing husband listened, and encouraged me to stick to my decision and reminded me how much I would regret that break down. And it worked! I immediately drove somewhere else, ate a healthy lunch, and returned to work a little less stressed after communicating with Matt all of my frustrations.. In fact, I'm sure I felt less stressed than if I had used food for comfort.

I'm deeply embarrassed to even admit that I had that struggle because for the most part I have had deep resolve to stay with this vegan lifestyle. But, I do think its important to share my weaknesses and my struggles. I feel stronger now for overcoming that moment.

And so I've done alot of looking back at what brought me to today, to this positive change. Why am I doing this? What truths can I hold onto for future support? What seed was planted that truly encouraged this growth?

I've known a handful of vegetarians and vegans throughout my life, but I never truly understood why they were doing it. I heard there reasoning, but it never really sunk in. Or I never let it sink in. I'm sure I was very closed to hearing the truth. So looking back there is 1 defining moment that opened the door. The moment that started this growth was when I first saw the "Meet your Meat" video by Peta. I could barely watch it and was truly disgusted. I remember I didn't eat meat for about 3 days and I cut back on eating pork drastically. Through that video I felt intense compassion for the suffering of the baby piglets.. They undergo castration with no pain medication. (Men literally pull their testicles off) It's disgusting, and with their peachy skin and chubby legs, it's very difficult not to make the connection with human babies. No doubt it has got to be excrutiating pain

That was about a year ago. And I was able to push back everything I had seen until I read the "Skinny Bitch" book. I think now, that hearing a logical and healthy reason to quit eating meat was just that extra reason I needed to make such a huge change.

I think it's important to share this information. I had to let it sink in that ALL animals have the ability to FEEL PAIN. I also know now that the footage does not just reflect one time offenses, but is the EVERYDAY process that these large factories use. (Even the "free-range" & "organic" varieties) It's tough to watch and I still have to take breaks while watching it.

Beyond the suffering standpoint, I think its disgusting that these sick and often dead animals are still processed for eating. No wonder we have recalls and diseases spread from eating animals, meat essentially is the dead carcasses of sick animals. Because of the destructive environment these animals grow up in they are treated with large doses of antibiotics to try to keep them from getting too sick and we then consume those same antibiotics, toxins, pesticides, etc.

(Recommend watching this alone at home)

Meet your Meat Video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2273569508770398194#

Health Goal for the Week- Get Well!

2009-10-11T18:19:00.004-05:00

A week and a half ago I posted my first nutritional goal - EAT 2 FRUITS a day. I was doing pretty good with the goal until I got sick.

And Sickness decided to stay with me for a week and we're still discussing Sickness's departure. "Go Away!", I say. Yesterday Matt woke me up (11am) with Breakfast in Bed. It was a fun breakfast for a sick vegan girl. (Glass of water, glass of soy chocolate milk, glass of Emergen-C vitamin drink, fruit plate with sliced bananas, apples, and green grapes & a whole wheat bagel)

I ate everything! And then I went back to sleep till 2pm.

Overall, I am overwhelmed. I have been making myself get up and work for as long as I can. And then I'll have spurts where I feel like I'm finally well and I'll give in to Spencer dog's plea to go out for a walk. I just walked him around the block and Im back to coughing again.

I really can't afford to be sick another week. I've been coughing all through the night and Matt is sleeping on the couch. I've been behind at work.. and don't even ask about laundry. All this, while Matt is in his hardest and last semester of college. Days away from his art installation at the Dallas Museum of Art. I need to get well!

So my goal for this week is TO GET WELL. Eat oranges, drink more Emergen-C, take some Echinacea, drink more water, don't exercise, sleep alot.

meat or not to meat

2009-10-06T22:16:00.003-05:00

Honestly, I've been struggling lately. Not with physically wanting to eat meat, but just with being different.. It is mentally hard to hold this stance. My mind wants to go back to the easy days where I could enjoy the same meal as my husband, or go to any restaurant with my family, or just enjoy the simplicity of being 'normal'.

Convenience, simplicity, ease of mind.

I can feel the disgust fading some, and it is easier to not think about meat in that way.

I have heard vegans use slavery and the holocaust as a metaphor for the plight of these animals, and that has really stayed with me. I try to remember the scope & reality of what I am up against. And this is what grounds me. The massive number of animals that are enslaved from birth to live a cruelly short & painful life. The reality is too painful to think about, too painful to remember.

I didn't begin my vegan journey for the rights of these animals. I thought I could shed a few pounds and was disgusted with the pesticide & toxic levels of animal products. I thought I could probably avoid meat & dairy forever just knowing how "infected" it might be. But those reasons have not held me steady.

It is the knowledge of the suffering that holds me committed. The image of a scared calf being pulled by his tail from the veal crate. How is he any different than my dog?

We think it is so crazy that people in China often eat cats and dogs. Does a cow, chicken or pig not feel pain? Do they not suffer?

It is with a heavy heart that I realize that I have opened the door to the truth and I am stuck with that knowledge. And not just the knowledge of the suffering of farm animals. I have opened the door to compassion and the desire to know what is going on in the world. And the truth is overwhelmingly depressing.

Coupons Work!

2009-10-04T15:01:00.004-05:00

Yeah! I'm so excited! I finally figured out the whole coupon thing for buying groceries. I just saved $19.73 and ended with just a $50 grocery bill for the week. (This coming from the girl that has rung up $150 bills quite frequently.)

I researched on www.moneysavingmom.com and www.frugaldad.com and some other sites I have already forgotten. Here is what I found & learned:

1. You can load digital coupons onto your grocery shopping card!

(ie Kroger, Tom Thumb, etc) - I used Cellfire and Shortcuts. Cellfire even has an iphone app that makes it easy to load digital coupons while you're in the store. I love this because I can't lose them. Even better, these digital coupons currently work in conjunction with physical coupons. That means you can end up getting some items for free.

2. Cut/Grab/Share/Print all the Coupons you can use-

Once I started looking I noticed coupons everywhere. The gas station had a stack of old newspapers and they let me take the coupon inserts for free. I think I may be able to convince some friends to start a coupon swap with me. And of course there are tons online to print as well... I'm just a little wary of overusing ink/paper.

3. Use a binder to organize them-

INSTRUCTIONS HERE

This method works really well. I made mine in under and hour. Use baseball card collector size inserts for the coupons and dividers for each category. This will allow you to quickly flip through and find the type of coupon you need.

4. Strategize-

So I read that the trick to really saving alot is to time using the manufactured coupon while your store is having a sale. www.moneysavingmom.com is awesome for spelling out the best deals and how to get them.

These are 2 of the deals I got that seemed good to me.

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

Kroger sale 3 for $5 makes them $1.67 each

Minus 50¢ coupon that got doubled

= $1.33 each when they are normally $2.28

Birds Eye Steam Fresh frozen veggies

$1.89 - .39 Kroger Sale

- $1 Coupon

= 50¢ for the bag

5. Stock up when the price is right-

I've been using a grocery app on my iphone called Grocery Gadget. It has truly changed my life. I keep track of what items cost at each store so I know where to stock up on spaghetti sauce (Costco) where to buy the best and cheapest produce (Kroger) and which stores have the best Vegan products (Whole Foods). Matt and I can even shop at the same time at 2 different stores and just move an item to the other person's list if we see it is cheaper there. I love the digital life! I don't even have to ask what he needs from the store because he adds it to the list on his own.

I am actually upset with Costco right now bc I could not find the Prego Spaghetti sauces. They usually have 2 very large Prego spaghetti sauce bottles for $4.64. We can get about 6 servings per bottle. I checked Kroger and a bottle half that size cost around $3.50. So I guess I'll have to wait till I have a coupon. (Prego is 1 of those accidentally vegan foods, thank God too!)

6. Don't stray from the plan-

I am so guilty of just throwing random things into my cart. If I don't make a meal plan then I end up with half the ingredients needed for about 12 different recipes.

7. Contact favorite brands-

Being vegan it is difficult to find alot of discounts for vegan food items. So for these, I will need to really hunt them down. I'm going to go through the same channels first- websites, veggie blogs, veggie magazines... then when all else fails I am going to contact them to ask for coupons.

(Uncle Eddie's cookies, Galaxy Foods- soy cheeses, Earth Balance- butter, etc)

8. My thoughts on Bulk buying-

I've really had mixed feelings about bulk buying at Costco & other warehouse clubs. But now that I have been comparing items down to the per ounce cost, it really is cheaper. But I think these tips can help really get your money's worth.

• Share the membership- My mom & grandma share a membership cutting the yearly cost in half.

• For non-perishables- wait till you have a coupon

• Stick to a list (a small list) of items you are positive that you will actually use.

• Avoid the gimmicks, junk food, frozen appetizers & special offers.

• Don't go down the middle aisles (clothing, etc) unless there is a specific item on your list.

• Make sure they have items you will use on a regular basis before you join.. I go every month to stock up, so I feel it is money well spent, or at least better spent than my gym membership.

Health Goal Of the Week

2009-09-30T11:43:00.004-05:00

I decided I am going to aim for adding a new positive health habit per week. I have to admit I am completely influenced by the book "Small Changes, Big Results." For the most part I feel like I know what I need to do to be healthier, but struggle to make a habit of it.

Week 1:

Eat 2 Fruits every Day!

It's already Wednesday, so I guess this week will be easier. ;-)

PS. This is the season to buy pomegranates. You can freeze the seeds for easy on the go snacks. They are tough to open, but worth it to eat.

Pointless or not, I'm bloggin away!

Blogless

2009-09-29T20:36:00.002-05:00

I'm currently feeling like having a blog is kind of pointless. I don't really have a clear purpose, my posts are more random tidbits from my daily life and frustrations.

Is it worth writing? How do I benefit besides having some time for forced self-reflection.

Better yet is it worth reading? Is it entertaining, educational, or inspiring in any way?

Let me know. I could use the encouragement today.. or if you have some advice I'd love to hear it too. Or maybe just an anonymous comment of "Hey I read your blog sometimes, don't stop" or if you feel inspired leave an anonymous comment saying "Hey these posts are boring, you should write more about.. X"

Product Recommendation

2009-09-28T13:58:00.004-05:00

IKEA Food Storage Set $4.99

aka. tupperware

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60149673

It's not everyday that you hear someone raving about food storage. I bought this little set the other day on a whim and I am so IMPRESSED!

At first I thought man these guys are small, but now I fully realize the genius of it. Let the raves begin..

#1 Portion control! These are perfectly sized for single-servings and really help with controlling how much you eat in one sitting. There also some larger ones for keeping huge quantities in. (a 1/2 pot of stew)

#2 Less air-less spoilage- You really want to aim for filling your containers as full as possible to minimize the amount of air in the container. With the smaller sizes even my guacamole is staying fresh!

#3 Stackable- The sizes also stack really well and fit into the bigger containers so you don't have a tupperware panic attack.

#4 Clean & Fresh- For some reason the green lid makes me feel like I am eating healthy. I know its just trick psychology but I think it motivates me and keeps me focused on my health goals. The plastic has also remained incredibly clear even with the Spaghetti sauce test. Cloudy, stained plastic just isn't appetizing.

#5 * Safe- According to the icons on the back of the containers; they are dish washer-safe, microwave-safe, and (SNOWFLAKE) safe.. which I assume means freezer-safe. ;-)

#6 Profitable- I bet I could have an old-school tupperware party and sell the set for $9.99!

I currently have 6 containers in use. • 1 of the horizontal large ones is holding stew leftovers • the other large one is holding pasta • 2 horizontal small ones are holding single guacamole servings • the smallest one is holding 1 serving of baked beans • the medium container is holding some mixed nuts for on-the-go. These sizes are brilliant!

Email Meltdown!

2009-09-26T23:20:00.004-05:00

One word-- HACKED :-(

I am so upset right now. Literally tears flowing and on the night Matt and I are supposed to be celebrating our 2 yr wedding anniversary. And I know this is a silly reaction, but what happened today has unleashed a dam of emotion from many, many, many burned bridges.

Most people know that Gmail saves EVERY contact you have ever emailed. Think about that for a moment, every job you apply for, every bad date you may have gone on, every stranger you had to email for some reason or another.. and all the ex-bosses, ex-boyfriends, ex-friends even. On top of that I had imported my contacts from every previous email account I had used. I thought no problem, I don't need to delete people I won't email.. that would take WAY to much time to go through all the hundreds of emails to sort it out.

Well today that laziness bit me in the @ss. My older gmail account was hacked into and sent spam out to EVERY ONE of my contacts. At first I thought oh well, but then it started to sink in. I just spammed all of those people that I never wanted any contact with again as well as all my friends and family that I love. I'm so embarassed, I'm mortified. On top of that, my old email account is set to send out as if it is my new email account. I consider my new email address kind of private and didn't really want people from the past knowing it. It's not like its a difficult email to figure out, but now those people know exactly what it is.

So taking a proactive approach, I decided to finally clean out my contacts and it only took 4 min. Seriously, so mad at myself! And as I went down the list I just kept thinking NO, not that person too!

I know I'm overreacting, but just having to think about some of these people and the bad times associated with them is upsetting enough. I'm a forward focuser and always have been. I tend to be a burn the bridges type of girl. And today I had to look back and I saw the mess I left.

Enchilada Madness

2009-09-23T21:44:00.003-05:00

I absolutely LOVE enchiladas. That and lasagna have always been my 2 favorite foods.

So tonight I made guacamole & black bean enchiladas with green chili sauce. Yummy, yummy!

Step 1 - Make guacamole (see previous blog entry)

Step 2 - Saute white & red onion in pan with garlic (set aside)

Step 3 - Gather everything you need (Black Beans, sauteed onions, guacamole, spatula, etc..)

Step 4 - Fry corn tortilla in oil in a frying pan on the stove, flip when it starts to bubble up

Step 5 - Here is where the Madness comes in- Take out / Start another tortilla

Step 6 - While other tortilla is cooking, QUICKLY place enchilada ingredients on the cooked one and Roll without burning your fingers

Step 7 - Place all rolled enchiladas into pan as they are ready.

Step 8 - Smother with Sauce (I used green chili sauce in a can + the rest of the Black bean juice in the can)

Step 9 - Garnish with fresh Cilantro, chives, onions whatever you got that looks pretty & is fragrant.

Step 10 - Bake at 350F for like 20-30min

As you can see my cooking is very flowy, no measuring, just a pinch of that and watch it while it does this, and smother it with some of that and that. No wonder its always hit or miss.

An out to eat weekend

2009-09-22T00:30:00.000-05:00

4 out of the 5 Meals I ate this weekend were out of my house, and I barely survived. What's funny is that each meal got progressively more difficult to choose vegan options.

Friday was pure heAven. We went to Kalajandhjis in Dallas. It was amazing! I never knew Indian food could be so good! And the atmosphere alone is worth the trip, it's def like a small Indian palace. Our table was in the courtyard part and it was very peaceful.
http://www.kalachandjis.com/

Saturday- for lunch we met my family at Abuelos. You would think Mexican would be easy, but a quick google search warned me about all the bacon and dairy. So I chose AVacado enchiladas with steamed veggies. I asked if the enchiladas had cheese in them and the server said no. However, when I got my plate there was cheese all over the top. Matt scooped it off and on to his plate and gave me his share of guacamole. Sweet! I would recommend going with veggie Fajitas next time.

Saturday dinner was my 10yr reunion. There was absolutely nothing vegan there. Alot of meats, mashed potatoes, 2 salads w cheese and a roll. So I took my chances with the roll and picked the cheese out of the little salad I ate. No wonder that 1 drink gave me such a headache. I didn't eat much that day at all.

Side note: I have noticed I am super sensitive to alcohol, caffeine, pain medicine, and antibiotics. I can literally feel the medicines as they kick into my bloodstream. Shouldn't i be given a smaller dose if i'm smaller now?

Sunday was the ultimate vegan challenge. Texas Roadhouse! I mean they actually have a meal called Roadkill. I knew it would be hardso I googled it and decided on a side salad and sweet potato. I packed my own tub of Earth Balance butter and some salad dressing. I made sure the waitress understood that there should be no cheese in it. This time the salad came with egg all in it. So I bravely asked for another salad without. So my salad consisted of iceburg lettuce and tomatoes, good thing I had brought some onions. And good thing for the butter container too. My uncle caught a cricket on our table and placed him in the butter tub. He threw the tub in the trash on the way out. I know that's not very vegan, but I'm too scared of jumpy bugs to try to save him. I hope thecricket dies happily from eating too much vegan butter.

-- Post From My iPhone

What works. Water works.

2009-09-16T21:40:00.003-05:00

Here is an eating strategy that I've noticed helps me to maintain my weight and avoid cravings.

Inspired by the Skinny Bitch book, vegan food pyramid & my memaw's advice awhile back.

Whenever I stick to this order of eating I tend to lose weight and have more energy.. When I skip breakfast or go straight for a bagel then I feel more sluggish and tend to eat more that day. I really need to focus on not over-relying on the carbs.

Breakfast-- eat Fruit & Drink water (Goes through your body quick & flushes everything out ;-)

Snack-- Nuts or 2nd Breakfast (oatmeal, whole grain cereal) Water

Lunch-- Soup, Salad, and/or Veggie Sandwich + Water

Snack-- Carrots or some other veggie snack could have more nuts if needed.. Or Multi-grain crackers with hummus/avocado + Water, Water

Dinner-- Throw in the Veggies! Need at least 2 veggies + Protein and 1 whatevah (this inevitably will end up being a carb -- crescent rolls ;-) I'm pretty sure the Great Value Walmart crescent rolls are vegan. Someone please let me know if I am wrong.

After dinner-- Water, Water, Water No late night snackies.

Ya so looking at this I think breakfast fruit and water are the key!

A list of nose

2009-09-15T22:58:00.000-05:00

No I do not want a drink with that.

No I haven't seen Lost.

No I would not like for you to box my food for me.

No I would not like a lemon in my water.

No I did not see the game last night.

No you cannot have my number

No I seriously do not want a piece of cake

No I'm not worried about my protein intake

No I cannot have that to you by the end of the day

No you can not keep chewing on toilet paper

-- Post From My iPhone

3 months in & Goals Achieved

2009-09-13T16:03:00.005-05:00

It's been a little over 3 months since I made the vegan switch! Here are the results so far;

Dropped 10lbs the first 6 weeks and have stayed at that same weight since despite barely exercising this last month. Overall I have noticed feeling more energized, awake, less mood swings, more "regular" & less allergies. I am still trying new foods and loving things I never would have expected loving.

I just found a note that I wrote a year ago that says "Foods to learn to like".. I had always struggled with learning to like vegetables and becoming a vegan has forced me to try things and be totally surprised by the taste. I am so excited now looking at this list because I can check off 1/2 of them!!

Foods to Learn to Like:

Cucumbers √

Celery √

Radishes √

Bell Peppers √

Spinach √

Cabbage √

Eggplant √

Zucchini √

Sweet Potatoes √

Tofu √

Cauliflower √

I can't believe Onions weren't on the list! I hated them a year ago and now I add them to everything!!

What I need to try still:

Kale

Collard Greens

Chard

Cauliflower

leeks

edamame

Honey Dew

couscous

Bulgur Wheat

Quinoa

Ostrich - X Seriously! I had that on my list a year ago ?

Why my husband is awesome

2009-09-12T22:30:00.003-05:00

1) He acknowledges fashion genius by referring to my favorite accessory as "your Vera Wang belt"

2) He doesn't watch sports!

3) He tells me maybe I should go shopping if I'm in a bad mood.

4) He handles the mean phone calls to the Utility companies

5) He works full-time, goes to school full-time AND takes on side jobs so we can get ahead.

6) He doesn't get angry.

7) He orders extra for me just in case I under ordered and am still hungry.

8) He is supportive of my vegan diet, and cooks his own meat to add to my dishes

9) He gets me.

10) He doesn't watch sports! (Totally worth repeating)

LOVE!

Diaper cake all-nighter

2009-09-11T21:52:00.001-05:00

bc I thought they would be fun to make

-- Post From My iPhone

Lion hat shame

2009-09-10T20:12:00.001-05:00

I'm only showing this knitting project bc I prepromised I would. Consider yourselves lucky.

It didn't really turn out little kid cute like I had planned. In fact, it seems more nightmare scare crowish. Do I go ahead and give this to my friend at her baby shower? Or do I save myself the embarassment of all the faked coos, "oh that's so, um, unique" or "aren't you crafty?" I just don't know if I can live with contributing to the future nightmares of my friend's unborn child.

Here it is-

U think moving the eyes and nose down will help?

Off to try to fix the 3 diaper cakes I signed up for.

-- Post From My iPhone

Vegan Egg Fail

2009-09-03T12:42:00.002-05:00

These eggs are pissing me off--Slipping into all my food. This morning I learned that MorningStarFarms corn dogs are NOT vegan.. They have egg whites! As well as several other veggie meat products I have used of theirs.

And then today I noticed that my Pei Wei Pad Thai leftovers have a fried egg at the bottom. UGH! So I tried eating around it some, but ended up just making myself feel sick. If you have ever had a taste aversion this is what it is like. I am no longer desensitized and now have this overwhelming feeling that I know What it is, Where it came from, and What suffering was involved to get that egg to me. I feel horrible that this baby chick did not have a life and that he is now sitting in my trash can.

FAIL!

Kudos to Matt for not buying eggs in the past 3 months, even though that was his staple breakfast for years.

My new goal is to cook up an emulated Vegan Breakfast- Scrambled Tofu, vegan Sausage, soy cheese, biscuits, vegan gravy, some fruit and maybe a Blueberry muffin or Banana Bread to finish the feast.

"30 Days" Episode

2009-08-28T11:31:00.005-05:00

What happens when a Hunter goes to stay with an Animal Rights activist for 30 days? Watch this episode to find out:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/24012/30-days-animal-rights

OMGuacamole!

2009-08-25T20:08:00.003-05:00

Every time I eat Guacamole I think "This is the best guacamole ever!" But seriously THIS batch is the Best Guacamole ever!!

Here's my directions:

Smush up 1 big Squishy Avocado with a fork, Spray with Lime Juice, Add 1/4 of a chopped up Purple onion, Add 1/2 of a chopped white onion, 1 hand pressed garlic clove, Pour in some Salsa, & season with grated Sea Salt and fresh Ground Pepper.

The Lime and the purple (or is it red?) onion give it the most flavor. The Salsa really makes it creamy. I never really measure things so try tasting it and add things to adjust the flavor to your liking.

A Weekend of Affirmation- Dallas to Saginaw to Wylie to Highland Village & back

2009-08-24T15:28:00.000-05:00

This weekend was a wonderful affirmation of what I am doing and why.

Friday- I went on a lovely double date to the famed Vegetarian restaurant in Dallas named Cosmic Cafe. We started with an Indian sampler appetizer with Nan bread and Hummus and Samosas. Yummy, yummy, yummy. I then ordered the Trinity Tacos, which were amazing and was way too much to eat. Matt ordered a pizza that had Black Bean burger crumbles and has told me several times how much he liked it. Yeah.

Saturday- We woke up early and were off to visit Matt's parents and to introduce our doggies. This is Spencer intently studying the Texas landscape and loving the wind in his hair. The dogs met and didn't kill each other so I guess that could be a success. The good surprise for the day-- Matt's mom had planned an amazing vegan meal for me. She went to the store and got my favorite Tofutti American cheese and found some Black bean tamales and refried beans. I had an enormous plate complete with guacamole. It didn't stop there either. She had a special desert just for me- a vegan brownie with Rice Dreams Ice cream. Oh ya and cantaloupe. I was truly astonished. I haven't expected anyone to accommodate me but she did without me even asking. Thanks 2nd mom! I'm soooooo lucky.

I'm realizing now that for the most part everyone is very accepting and does not try to convince me to eat differently. I think it helps that I do not try to change what others eat. Mutual respect is key. If someone asks then I will be happy to share what I have learned. The blog will remain my vegan outlet- the one place I can share with everybody and nobody all at the same time. Alot like leaving your diary in the lunchroom as a kid--it never happened to me, but I am very familiar now with that uneasy feeling.

Sunday- was supposed to be my official Leesha Crocker day. I was going to clean the whole house, do all the laundry, grocery shop, and cook meals for the whole week. Instead, Spencer and I rode off to Wylie, Tx to visit with my parents and grandparents. We drove in my grandpa's antique WWII jeep to the marina and then Spencer got to go on his 1st ever Boat Ride! He was really enjoying it and spent the whole time with his head over the edge looking at the water.

Spencer is my biggest affirmation of why I am doing this. I can tell when he is sad, lonely, excited or bored. He eagerly greets us in the morning and when we come home after work, with exuberant tail wags and hugs. He also yelps when he is in pain and barks when he is scared. I believe that animals are more like us humans then we want to believe. No they don't talk or think deeply about their finances; but they have emotions and the ability to feel pain both physically and emotionally. I often look at Spencer and wonder how a pig or cow or chicken could be that much different. They also cry out when in pain and express emotion in their actions. They too are SENTIENT- living, conscious, & aware.

My grandma also told me that when she was growing up on the farm they hardly ever ate meat because they couldn't afford it. She said they had beans and vegetables at almsot every meal and then said "Maybe that's why we were so healthy" In her days obesity, cancer, and heart disease were rare. I told her that I am pretty much eating how she grew up eating- Fruits + Veggies + breads + nuts + water. They all have the vital nutrients we need to survive.

Monday- A quick snippet-- At my early morning photo shoot- took a step backwards while looking through the camera to get the perfect shot--AND walked right off of someone's driveway and fell into this concrete ditch, camera gear and all. Everyone rushed to help me and were deeply concerned.. they were even having me bend my arms and make sure I didn't break anything. It was truly embarrassing, but so typical of me. I ended up with a scratch on my elbow, a cut on my pinky toe, a headache & wet, muddy clothes. Thats it!

I got home and started thinking about how many people break their ankles or wrists during normal falls. I consider this a reaffirmation that I am healthy & strong. With my girliest cheerleader cheer !Go vegan!

A Lion King baby hat

2009-08-21T08:06:00.000-05:00

I have yet to successfully photograph any of my knitting, so I'm doing a pre-emptive post as a promise to show you this one when it is finished.

I just started a baby hat that looks like a lion. It's so cute with 2 ears on top and a furry mane. I can't wait to show you. Right now it's just a ball of golden yarn and a 12" circular needle. Cast on 48 stitches and knit to 4-1/2"Ready-Set-Go! No crazy pattern required. (Just decrease for 12 rounds, add mane, ears, eyes, and nose)

I had 2 skeins of $7 yarn in my hand and thought I better check out the back of the store where the clearance was at and there were 2 skeins of almost the exact color (different brand) for just 99¢ each! Yeah, what luck!

I'm also going to make some matching booties with mane-like yarn sticking out at the top.

I'm so giddy thinking about how cute this is going to be..

You know on Arrested Development when Lucille's private detective (Gene Parmesan) surprises her and she very giddily squeals "Gene!" Well, 2 things have done that for me lately-- finding the perfect baby knitting project/yarn AND finding vegan chocolate. (You will find me literally squealing in the aisle!)

2 Diets live as 1

2009-08-19T11:45:00.000-05:00

These are true "Leesha Crocker" meals. I know now that it is the vegan versions of "normal" food that I love best. The meat analogs and weirder foods just don't work out as well, but I'm sure it is just something I have to get used to.

This was that amazing double date Pizza Feast I mentioned previously. Mine is the one in the back that's cheeseless. I added Broccolini + grilled eggplant + onions + mushrooms + black olives + Pineapple. We also made some Capellini Pomodoro pasta from scratch. Check out Olive Garden's website for the recipe. YUMMY!

My Veggie Burger plate includes: Open-faced veggie burger with Tofutti American Cheese, romaine lettuce, onions, avocado slices, pickles, mustard and tomato. Oven Fries and vegetarian baked beans on the side. With some strawberries for dessert. I felt so NORMAL eating this meal. It's nice to be normal every now and then. I could only eat 1 of these burgers, and I had originally intended to make it a double stack burger.

Matt and I customized our own Thai dinners during our THAI NIGHT. I boiled some Thai noodles and added onions, mushrooms, chives, and sesame seed to mine. Matt added shrimp and sun dried tomatoes with sesame seeds to his. We tried Sea weed for the first time and it was very tasty, but then I noticed it had HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) in it! I don't understand why they would do that to such a nutritious food. Note: The Sunkist is not mine.

I love white bowls and plates

so clean, so crisp

the food readily awaits.

A New age of Thrift

2009-08-18T16:00:00.000-05:00

In honor of my friend's fabulous blog ( http://thedebtfreelife.blogspot.com/ ) I am posting some ideas I just thought of for how to SAVE.. and believe me switching to a vegan diet is a little pricy at first. Eventually I will be all stocked up with the pantry essentials to be able to live healthily within a reasonable grocery budget. But in the meantime I am still searching the aisles for things like Arrowroot, Buckwheat, millet, and seitan. New produce I used to never buy includes eggplant, tamarind, fresh tomatoes, celery, red onion, tofu, zucchini, cantaloupe, & fresh herbs.

I figure the price increase is a viable trade off for the increased health benefits.

OK, some ways to SAVE:

1. Never Buy Media again- Seriously, so much gets wasted on this pursuit.

• Listen to music for free on pandora.com

• Listen to & Watch Free podcasts on iTunes.

• Share music/movies/books with friends (the good old fashioned, legal way)

• Go to the Library! Its fun when you take home 12 books and 2 movies for free!

• Shop Amazon- Why buy a book for full price when you can pay $3 or so?

• Watch TV on hulu.com or similar site-- Never pay for cable again. We seriously don't have a tv plugged in at our house and don't have a cable bill.

2. Check Craigslist! So far I have bought a great used car, found an independent caterer for my wedding, hired a stylists for my wedding updo, sold furniture, notified the public of a garage sale, & found contract design jobs for my husband and I on Craigslist. Not to mention some laughs at reading the rants and raves.

3. DIY or don't.. DIY projects are all the hype right now but when we painted our entire house we spent almost half of the quote in buying all the materials and tools we didn't have, not to mention the entire week we took off of work. If I could go back I would find some experienced, independent contractors (yes craigslist) to "help us" and pay them an hourly rate..

4. Watch the hobbies- This is the advice I'm giving to myself and have yet to follow..Stick to 1 project at a time! Look for coupons from Michaels and sign up for emails at your favorite craft store.

5. The Art of Re-gifting & stock-piling- Thats right, this is quite taboo but alot of Americans are already doing this and saving alot of $$. We currently have a big box of "gifts" ready to go at any moment. Some of these are gifts we are given directly and don't know what to do with, but mostly are stockpiled from things given to us from work or items we buy when we catch great deals on clearance. I recently found something I was given years ago that I never used and can't wait to give it to someone I have in mind who will love it.

6. Do the Un-Popular- I've been a mad woman searching for all the vegan specialties at the grocery store and recently went to my nearby run-down Kroger. Turns out in this poorer area it is not popular to be vegan! Great for me because almost everything is being put to Clearance and still has several weeks left of shelf life. Yippee! Look for ways to apply this logic in your life too.

7. The near Free Date- It seems like I can never get enough alone time with my husband.. and when we do have time, we don't have money to go "out." So these are some of our free dates we have done in the past:

• Walk (or run) in the Park

• Go Swimming- find a friend or nearby apartment to sneak into ;-) (Helps if you run to the apartment complex, then it doesn't look fishy when you get out of your car)

• Play a new game together

• Go to Barnes & Noble and look at magazines

• Look for Free festivals, concerts, & events

• Go to the Farmers Market

• Cook an adventurous meal together

• Do a double date! (We recently did this and each made our own custom pizza. Tons of Fun!)

• Spontaneous Road Trip- We once drove 3 hours in search of Water Falls, we ended up finding several waterfalls, a lake to swim in, & some crazy kite flyers.

8. Reduce, Re-use, Recycle- I've started to look for ways to re-use some common everyday things. GLASS JARS can become vases, food storage, pantry containers, candle holders, future gift holders. BOXES can be "wrapped" to be used for office supplies like those expensive Container Store boxes. I currently save all my gift bags and tissue paper I am given. Gift Cards can be reused by cutting the cover off and gluing it to construction paper.. add your own creativity to it. Clothes can be swapped with some friends. Sweater arms can become leg warmers. I wasn't sure what to do with Aluminum cans, but here is a link: http://www.aluminouspublishing.com/index.php

Any more ideas for re-using things?

9. Don't wear makeup when your home alone- I do this just because I'm lazy, but think of all the money I'm saving!

The Perfect Wife

2009-08-16T23:47:00.000-05:00

Ha, this is what YearbookYourself.com did to me! This pic made me think about my previous post about having a Good Cook Personality that comes and goes. I thought this is what she would look like. Leesha Crocker!

I'm really struggling lately to be "the perfect wife". Laundry and dishes are taking over and my desk is stacked 1ft high. My whole life has turned upside down. Food is the core of life and when you make a change to what and how you eat, you really have to reprogram your life. I have recipes everywhere, cookbooks, and notes.. I'm constantly listening to podcasts and soaking up articles and videos. With this new constant learning I am really falling behind on all the things I normally do around the house.

My husband currently works full time and goes to school full time. In the few hours he is at home I know he would love to have a yummy meal ready for him. And I- eagerly hoping to make something he might like, offer oven-friend Polenta Fries and roasted Eggplant. Yuck for him! It is getting very hard to balance what a strict vegetarian eats with what an omnivore expects to eat. I know that his "love language" is Acts of Service, especially food.. and I feel I am failing.

On that note, I am reminded of the nearly impossible advice printed in Home-Ec textbooks in 1954, called "How to be a Good Wife". (I'm just wondering what manual the men were given with advice on How to be a good husband.. )

Ok, ladies, here's what the textbooks say:

"Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal, on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the home just before your husband arrives, gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.

Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and if necessary change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.

Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad he is home.

Some don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he is late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.

Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.

The Goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit."

Interestingly, I KNOW he would love these to happen.. my high-tech, open-minded, free-thinking, inventor and artist husband still wants a prepared meal, from a happy, pretty wife with no worries. Looks like much hasn't changed in the last 25 years of American society, and maybe there is a place for such advice.. with a grain of salt. (In my most sarcastic tone possible, "I think I'll try putting a ribbon in my hair")

Don't cry for me Queso-dilla

2009-08-15T20:33:00.000-05:00

Cheese-freak out!

I would say cheese has always been my greatest addiction. Even as a young child I remember sneaking Velveeta slices out of the fridge, even eating cheese off the floor! Yuck! As an adult I used to add cheese to everything! That is even how I trained myself to like broccoli, artichokes, and many other vegetables.

I've done so good the last 9 weeks and I am just now starting to feel frantic for cheese. Cheese is comforting. It's creamy gooyiness tells me the world is going to be all right. BUT, I still won't do it. So I'm stuck in this limbo land of wanting it and disgusted by it all at the same time.

I've had some major breakthroughs though. One night I had an amazing GRILL CHEESE SANDWICH!!! (Tofutti Soy American cheese + Earth Balance Butter) Here is the pic. It was really good and totally hit the spot! (Note I added 1 Spinach leaf so I wouldn't feel like a total pig. ;-)

But tonight, I am having Mac & Cheese (soy) and it is just NOT the same. I feel like crying. I won't even take a picture of it. It's horrible!

By the way, half the time I am an awful cook, so I am not sure if it is the brand or if it is me not following the directions accurately. It's like I have 2 split-kitchen personalities... I should start posting my successful food creations and my epic fails so you can see the stark difference. I'm just too embarrassed to show off the fails.

Milk- Doesn't do a body any good

2009-08-13T16:53:00.000-05:00

I'd like to preface this post by saying that my personal choice to not consume dairy products in no way effects my judgements and personal feelings for my friends, family members, or any one else who may stumble upon this blog. It has taken me several years of hearing, reading and even seeing the same information before I could mentally make this decision.

As promised, the Dairy Facts! (Sorry for all the quote copying)

1. Dairy products contain Cow's blood & Pus along with Pesticides, Hormones, & Antibiotics which pose a real health hazard.

To be profitable farmers treat dairy cows like milk making machines forcing them to produce 10x the natural amount they would normally produce. The cow's metabolism and health suffers. They are hooked up to automated milking machines constantly and their sensitive udders frequently become infected and lead to mastitis, causing bleeding and pus to seep into the milk supply. GROSS!

Cows are not freely and happily roaming the pasture.. they are quartered in solitary concrete stalls inside barns of 200- 20,000 dairy cows. The dairy industry is BIG BUSINESS focused on Profitability.. not the welfare or comfortability of the animals (VEAL is proof of that), and definitely not on your health.

Sickness, disease, "downed cows" are common and expected. Which is why there are numerous businesses that distribute antibiotics, insecticides, and pesticides just for cows.

Hormones: "About 30% of dairy cows in the United States are injected with Bovine somatotropin, also called recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST), recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), or artificial growth hormone. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ruled that rBST is harmless to people, although critics point out increased levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in milk produced using this hormone. The use of rBST is banned in Canada, parts of the European Union, Australia and New Zealand." ~Wikipedia

If you are consuming dairy make sure to use rRGH free dairy products to avoid this cancer-causing chemical, see list:

http://www.sustainabletable.org/getinvolved/statepdfs/TX.pdf

Pesticides:

"A survey of the primary dairy producing areas in the US indicated that 13 percent of lactating animals were treated with insecticides permethrin, pyrethrin, coumaphos, and dichlorvos primarily by daily or every-other-day coat sprays.  ^[8]"~Wikipedia

"Concentrated Animal Feed Operations are usually vegetation-less concrete facilities, holding at least 200 dairy cattle for medium scale operation, and at least 700 for large scale operation²³. The largest operations hold over 20,000 dairy cattle²⁴. Tails are "docked" (cut off), a procedure that claims to keep udders clean by preventing fecal bacteria infections on the udders, though no supporting evidence to back this claim is found²⁵. Under this intense strain and close quarters, cows develop and spread disease with ease and in turn are given low daily doses of antibiotics, creating increasing problems with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In these factory farms, a cow's life expectancy is 3-4 years, exhausted from intense milking and frequent disease. Under normal pasture conditions, a cow can expect to live upwards of 20 years²⁶."

#2 Dairy products are linked to allergies, heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, autism, leukemia and other diseases.

http://www.nutritionmd.org/nutrition_tips/nutrition_tips_understand_foods/dairy.html

#3 There is more suffering in the dairy industry.

"She is constantly hooked up to a milking machine, in a solitary pen, with only enough room to stand and lie down. She can not walk or move. Milking machines are automated, and other machines feed the cows. Even the light in the factory is artificially automated, to get the most milk from the cow. They are milked several times a day, causing their teats to become swollen, sore, and sometimes infected. When a dairy cow has stopped producing milk, she goes to slaughter."

On top of that baby calfs are taken away from their mothers and deprived of the nutrition they need so that there is no "waste" of the mom cow's milk. The mother cows cry for days at this unnatural separation. The baby calfs are fated to become Veal and kept in small crates and intentionally kept malnourished, crying and starving for its entire short life.

#4 Drinking Milk actually causes osteoporosis.

"It seems that the countries with the highest intake of dairy products are invariably the countries with the most osteoporosis."

"Numerous studies have shown that the level of calcium ingestion and especially calcium supplementation has no effect whatever on the development of osteoporosis. The most important such article appeared recently in the British Journal of Medicine where the long arm of our dairy industry can't reach. Another study in the United States actually showed a worsening in calcium balance in post-menopausal women given three 8-ounce glasses of cows' milk per day."

#5 Human adults are not meant to consume Milk. Mothers of all species stop lactating after a specific period for a reason. Each species milk is naturally formulated to meet the needs of that species' offspring. Cows milk is for baby calfs, human milk is for baby humans, dog's milk is for puppies, etc. NO other species drinks the milk of another species, it is not natural.

#6 The US struggles to export cow's drinking milk due to its higher levels of SCCs and Toxins. If other countries won't drink it, why should we?

(Overall in 2008, the US exported only 10% of its total milk supply, and it was in the solid form of whey, lactose, milk powder and cheese. As you see below other countries have much higher standards for the health and safety of their drinking milk)

"An indicator of the quality of milk is the somatic cell count (SCC). Somatic cells are body cells, including leucocytes (white blood cells). The number of somatic cells increases in response to pus producing bacterium like Staphylococcus aureus, a cause of the painful disease mastitis.  The SCC is quantified as cells per ml.  General agreement rests on the values of less than 100,000 cells/ml for uninfected cows and greater than 300,000 for cows infected with significant pathogens.  The average SCC during 2000 for the U.S. was 316 000.  The U.S. has the highest upper limit for SCC (750 000 cells/ml) of the entire major developed dairy producing countries of the world. The E.U., New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, and Norway all accept 400 000 SCC as the upper limit and New Zealand may consider adopting 300 000 cells/ml in the future."

#7 You can get Calcium from much healthier sources (PLANTS- naturally low in fat and sugar). I love this quote:

"Well, where do you get your calcium?" The answer is: "From exactly the same place the cow gets the calcium, from green things that grow in the ground," mainly from leafy vegetables. After all, elephants and rhinos develop their huge bones (after being weaned) by

eating green leafy plants, so do horses.

Alternative sources of calcium:

Broccoli, Peas, Soy yogurt, soy, almonds, sesame seeds, kale, bok choy, baked beans, white beans, okra, turnip greens, spinach, collard greens, rhubarb, tofu, & the numberous calcium-fortified cereals, breads and drinks.

#8 Dairy and the meat industry do more Environmental damage than all the cars in the world.

"A 2006 United Nations report found that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all the SUVs, cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined.^2"

"As if the chemicals and particulate matter from animal waste weren’t bad enough, the meat and dairy industries often knowingly add to the air-quality crisis. When the cesspools holding tons of urine and feces get full, factory farms will frequently get around water pollution limits by spraying liquid manure into the air, creating mists that are carried away by the wind"

#9 Milk contains Casein: the mucous producing, addictive antigen.

"Eighty percent of milk protein is casein, the mucous producer. Casein from cow's milk is a foreign protein. When you eat this antigen, your body's immune system manufactures an antibody. The antibody is a histamine. As a result of histamine production, many people open their medicine cabinets or rush to their pharmacies in search of antihistamines."

#10 The Dairy industry supports the VEAL and beef industry:

"Approximately 17 percent of the US beef supply comes from spent dairy cows: cows who are no longer economically viable for milk production. These animals may be sold due to common diseases of milk cows including mastitis, a bacterial udder infection, foot rot, from standing long periods of time in manure, an inability to stand due calcium depletion from years of intensive milking, and Johne's disease. Johne’s disease may be transmissible to humans as Chron’s disease." ~Wikipedia

#11 Why do you think the huge dairy industry has to market so heavily? I never see campaigns for eggplant..

http://www.vegansociety.com/animals/exploitation/cows/dairy_cow.php

http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/dairy/
http://www.goveg.com/environment-pollution.asp

http://www.justeatveggies.com/animals.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_cattle

http://www.notmilk.com/kradjian.html

http://www.milksucks.com/dairyleaflet.pdf

http://www.milksucks.com/index2.asp

http://www.rense.com/general38/pus.htm

http://www.antiaginglifeextension.com/health_matters_minutes/articles/milk.asp?a=1563&c=&p=

VEGetarian Genius!

2009-08-12T11:11:00.000-05:00

Wow! Look at how many famous and well respected geniuses and philosophers were vegetarian. I am so inspired by this list because these historical figures were always individuals that I admired for their brilliance and understanding of life.

"Nothing will benefit human health
and increase chances for survival of life on earth
as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."

ALBERT EINSTEIN (1879-1955)

• • • • • • • • • • • •

"The highest realms of thought
are impossible to reach
without first attaining
an understanding of compassion."

SOCRATES (469-399 B.C.)

• • • • • • • • • • • •

"If a man earnestly seeks a righteous life,
his first act of abstinence is from animal food..."

COUNT LEO TOLSTOY (1828-1910)

• • • • • • • • • • • •

"The time will come when men such as I
will look upon the murder of animals
as they now look upon the murder of men."

LEONARDO DA VINCI (1425-1519)

• • • • • • • • • • • •

"It is very significant
that some of the most
thoughtful and cultured men
are partisans of a pure vegetable diet."

MAHATMA GANDHI (1869-1948)

• • • • • • • • • • • •

"But for the sake of some little mouthful of meat,
we deprive a soul of the sun and light,
and of that proportion of life and time it had been
born into the world to enjoy."

SENECA (C.5 - C.E.65)

• • • • • • • • • • • •

"Every man who has ever been earnest to preserve
his higher or poetic faculties in the best condition,
has been particularly inclined to abstain from animal food."

HENRY DAVID THOREAU (1817-1862)

• • • • • • • • • • • •

"The animals share with us
the privilege of having a soul."

PYTHAGORAS (circa 582-507 B.C.)

• • • • • • • • • • • •

"People often say that humans have always eaten animals,
as if this is a justification for continuing the practice.
According to this logic, we should not try
to prevent people from murdering other people,
since this has also been done since the earliest of times."

ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER (1904-1991)

• • • • • • • • • • • •

"The eating of meat extinguishes
the seed of great compassion."

The BUDDHA (circa 563-483 B.C.)

• • • • • • • • • • • •

"The average age (longevity) of a meat-eater is 63.
I am on the verge of 85 and still at work as hard as ever.
I have lived quite long enough and am trying to die,
but I simply cannot do it. A single beef-steak would finish
me, but I cannot bring myself to swallow it.
I am oppressed with a dread of living forever.
That is the only disadvantage of vegetarianism."

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW (1856-1950)

• • • • • • • • • • • •

"My refusing to eat meat occasioned an inconveniency,
and I have been frequently chided for my singularity.
But my light repast allows for greater progress,
for greater clearness of head and quicker comprehension."

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1706-1790)

Quotes from:

http://www.gentleworld.org/philosophers.html

Conquering Self Doubt + Vegan Food Pyramid

2009-08-05T08:38:00.000-05:00

The last couple of days I was starting to struggle with self doubt. Probably because I gained a pound. ;-) Well today I lost a pound so I feel good and Im back on track! 2 months in and down 11 pounds overall!

I was starting to question eating grains due to some of my research into the Paleo diet, which is the opposite spectrum of Veganism. Very interesting how so many experts can have such opposing views. Interestingly, the Paleo diet cuts out the bottom half of the American food pyramid and a Vegan diet cuts off most of the top half of the food pyramid. Well I did more research and feel good about eating grains in moderation. I think it is important to keep in mind how much a serving size is.

The picture above is the Vegan Food Pyramid, to make it easy I am memorizing it as the 123456 Diet with 3 being the # of times to exercise per week. ;-) AND I took oils down to 1.

So 1 FAT, 2 FRUITS, 3 EXERCISEs, 4 VEGETABLES, 5 PROTEINS, 6 GRAINS

A friend asked me how I was going to eat enough Iron and I had no answers because Iron has not been a focus as much as Protein, Calcium, Vitamin B12 etc. Went home and Wiki'd Iron and found-

"Good sources of dietary iron include red meat, fish, poultry, lentils, beans, leaf vegetables, tofu, chickpeas, black-eyed peas, fortified bread, and fortified breakfast cereals. Iron in low amounts is found in molasses, teff and farina. Iron in meat (haem iron) is more easily absorbed than iron in vegetables,^[26] but heme/hemoglobin from red meat has effects which may increase the likelihood of colorectal cancer.^[27]^[28]

So I am a little concerned with my Iron intake (even though my vitamins give me 333% of my daily value). I will continue with my diet + vitamins + added focus on eating foods with Iron. I may decide to allow Salmon 1-2x month if I notice problems.

All the questions I am asked have also given me self-doubt. Do I have the ability to watch what I eat and make sure I am eating nutritiously? Is this something I can maintain forever? Won't I miss eating scrambled eggs and cheese enchiladas? And it is hard.

I sooo wish Matt was doing this with me. He is better at being an outsider. And I do feel like I cut myself out of every circle. I do need to focus on the positive and realize that almost everyone has been extremely supportive, understanding, and accepting.. so for that I am amazingly lucky!

Oh and Matt announced to his drawing class that he is cutting dairy out. Sooo proud of him, because I feel that DAIRY is the 1st thing should be cut out of the SAD diet (Standard American Diet) even Paleo agrees with that! Somebody please ask me why Dairy is so bad... Actually nevermind that will be my next post, dedicated to my past favorite food group!

What does a Vegan eat?

2009-08-02T18:26:00.000-05:00

So my mind is completely blank on what to cook tonight. For awhile I was doing so good cooking all sorts of new meals from scratch and following recipes. Well I guess the excitement is wearing off and I just need some easier new ideas that can become staples.

The first 3 are the staple meals we always eat:

Spaghetti w/ spaghetti sauce + faux meatballs

Tacos/Burritos- w/ fajita pepper, black beans, rice, guacamole

Stir Fry w/ frozen veggies + faux chicken

That is seriously all that comes to mind and Im bored with it bc we've had these meals alot lately.

Ok, so now for the new meals to try:

Vegan "Meat" Loaf-

http://www.veganchef.com/abcnutloaf.htm

Pesto Pasta & Veggies

http://www.veganchef.com/prontopesto.htm

Lasagna- with tofu "ricotta" + spinach + mushrooms + spaghetti sauce

http://www.veganwolf.com/recipes/italian_pasta/lasagne.htm

Homemade Cheeseless Pizza- with mushrooms + olives + spaghetti sauce + Side Salad

Portobella Burgers + Baked Potatoes

Rice & Beans

Veggie Chili

Faux Hot dogs

Faux Hamburgers + sweet potato fries

Taco Soup with faux meat

Minestrone Soup

Vegetable Soup

Broccoli + corn on the cob + Baked Beans

Beanie Weenies (faux weenies)

Pad Thai

Veggie Ramen- not the normal brand

Vegan Cornbread + Red Beans

Sautéed Veggies

Steamed Veggies

Grilled Veggies

Why do I not know more vegetable recipes? I really need to do some more research on how to incorporate more vegetables. What kind of Vegetarian doesn't know how to cook vegetables!

Earthlings Free Documentary

2009-07-31T10:55:00.000-05:00

Download Full Version here:

http://freedocumentaries.org/film.php?id=119

Everyone should see this documentary just to know the truth about what is really happening to animals on a DAILY BASIS.

In my opinion, Earthlings is THE documentary that fully exposes how animals are abused and used everyday in the largest industries-

FOOD-CLOTHING-PETS-ENTERTAINMENT-SCIENCE

"Using hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage, EARTHLINGS chronicles the day-to-day practices of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit" ~IMDB

I always thought these animals were roaming the hillsides. This is simply not possible due to the massive number of animals needed to feed our large population. The entire process of these industries is Cruel, painful, and treats animals like Objects.

This is an important term to define:

Sentient- able to perceive or feel things

So you have to ask yourself -

Do you believe that animals are sentient beings that can feel emotional and physical pain?

Then you have to investigate- What is the truth about what these animals go through?

I could only watch this video in 5 min increments it was so upsetting to me. But I'm so happy to know the truth and begin to make the changes in my life to not contribute to any of these atrocities.

Cancer Link

2009-07-30T12:06:00.000-05:00

The next book I will read:
I've been doing more research on the health consequences of eating meat & meat byproducts.. I think KNOWLEDGE is the key to staying with this diet. Whenever I start to doubt I go back and read a new article or research piece concerned with eating meat.

Today I ran across this Amazing audio file about CANCER LIES. I learned so much from this. This guy looks and sounds like a preacher, but don't let that stop you from listening..

http://www.jonbarron.org/audio/audio_files/TalkR15.mp3

It talks about the 3 causes of Cancer- TOXINS, a Compromised IMMUNE SYSTEM, & CIRCULATION.

I feel reaffirmed in my Health change today. This speaker mentioned the toxic effects of the antibiotics fed to animals & is in the meat people eat. He also spoke of the Liver and arteries that are overworked due to the Fat content of the typical American diet.

I am going to focus on making sure I get the amount of fruits & veggies recommended along with Omega 3's.

A Scarf Surprise

2009-07-24T11:39:00.000-05:00

My dearest friend Elizabeth mailed me this beautiful summer scarf for my Birthday! I was so excited when I got it in the mail. The thread is so thin and the stitching is so detailed. I can't believe she spent all that time on a gift just for me.. I LOVE IT! It's also that perfect color that will go with almost anything and look good on everyone.

You may be wondering who needs a scarf in TX 110˚F heat.. I do for sure, I actually freeze to death from the AC in the office. I get cold quick. This thin scarf is perfect for keeping me warm and not having to hide my outfit with a too hot sweater.

I LOVE YOU Elizabeth! Thank you so much!!!

Fishy guilt

2009-07-21T07:29:00.000-05:00

My initial and main purpose for becoming vegan was for health purposes, and not just to lose weight.. but to maintain a healthy body that will live longer and feel healthier. So now I seem to have confused alot of my friends & family about what I have been doing and why. At a family gathering I told everyone I was on a "special diet" that is cholesterol free. This was an easy and accurate explanation and it was received well.

However, next family gathering my grandma did not understand why I wouldn't eat baked chicken since it was "healthy". "You're not eating chicken?!" Apparently that is the staple of most diets. She had even gone and bought a healthier butter wish is very sweet. Smart Balance is almost Earth Balance except it has animal products in it.

I really am committed to becoming a full fledge Vegan. Everyone keeps asking me if I am going to be a vegan forever.. what a question. Can you imagine if you were dating someone and everyone kept asking if it was going to be forever.. Actually I went through that too. My point is YES, I hope so and I plan to!

Now, although my original intent was to become a vegan for health reasons I have also done ALOT of research into the treatment of these animals and now it is also for ethical reasons. Not to mention the complete repulsion and disgust I feel when I think about where this meat has come from. And this knowledge/feeling is not something I want to be desensitized from again.

So my weekly update-- I've been doing so good but last Saturday I was at a Movie tavern with no options besides fried french fries (which would not have been vegan either due to meat being fried in the same vat).. or Fish Tacos. So I ordered fish tacos and they were good but may have been just as good without the fish.. I will try that next time and see. I have a harder time empathizing with fish and really need to make this a focus and do more research on what happens to fish. I may end up abstaining from fish for Environmental reasons.

I hate having to tell other vegans that I am a new vegan (except that I occasionally mess up and eat fish)... because really that just makes me a non lacto ovo pescavore and who has time to say all that..

A Vegan Stir Fry

2009-07-15T21:59:00.000-05:00

Today I ate a little better. I cooked this really great Stir Fry using Walmart's frozen stir fry veggies + sliced onion + Quorn brand meat-free Chic'n Tenders. It was so Yummy! Matt even said he didn't mind the chicken not being real. Seemed like chicken to me...

After subtracting my 2 mile run with the dog <-- my total calorie, carb, and protein count all ended up being right at 100%. Pretty cool.

My fat intake was 36%, cholesterol at 1g from the Brown Rice? weird. Sodium was at 99%.

Everyone thinks I am having to watch my protein intake but I still seem to make 100%, probably even more often than before I went veggie.. I used to just eat cheese enchiladas every day.

Here's a rundown on what I ate today:

Breakfast- Banana + cinnamon raisin bagel + Earth Balance butter

Early Lunch- Amy's Black Bean Enchilada meal w/ rice and beans

Lunchtime snack- Jamba Juice strawberry Swirl smoothie

mid-afternoon snack- Box of organic Raisins

5pm snack- glass of Soy chocolate milk

Dinner- Faux Chicken Stir Fry with brown rice

A Day of Munchies

2009-07-14T20:17:00.000-05:00

We all have them for whatever reason. The munchies, stress eating, fridge pillaging, binge eating.

I ate really horrible today, full of junk food! I thought it might be interesting to show what a Vegan junk food day might look like. I should have ate more fruits & veggies.

My worst culprit was a "vegetarian" Black Bean burrito. I asked for it without cheese thinking that would do the trick. It is definitely NOT VEGAN! And at almost 500 calories for 1 item NOT worth it!

I also had 2 vegan ice cream sandwiches, tons of Ruffles potato chips (yep vegan), & cashews. The worst thing is I'm posting this and haven't even cooked dinner yet. I was trying to wait until 10pm when Matt gets home and this probably led to my daily diet demise.

I know you can't see the stats very well. I am currently at 123% of my daily cal value, 123% fat, 0% cholesterol (Yeah!), 113% Sodium, 66% carbs, 96% Protein. Not a very good day. Hopefully tomorrow will balance this out and then I can show what a healthy day looks like.

Good thing I did my 2 mile run!

PS. I use www.livestrong.com to casually track my calories/exercise. I completely recommend using this site. It is Free and they have a great food database built up.

YEAH!! A new best friend!

2009-07-12T17:54:00.000-05:00

YEAH! We got Spencer! We adopted him and I've already bought everything I could think of for him.

He is soooo Super Sweet! Today i took him for a car ride to Petsmart. He did really good in the car and stayed seated in the back seat. He does pull pretty hard on the leash though. We'll have to work on that. Petsmart was a little crazy. I could tell he was overwhelmed by all the people walking and dogs barking. I won't be doing that again anytime soon.

I thought I would just take him to pick out a doggy bed and toy but I ended up just grabbing a doggy brush and getting the hell out of there.

I'm SO HAPPY! I am going to pick Matt up from work with Spencer in the back seat. That would have been the best surprise ever if I hadn't already texted him that we got him.

OK, on a side note-- I wanted to share how I almost messed up my vegan diet today. I had bought this Macaroni & Soy Cheese frozen meal, I think its Amy's brand, and I thought it was vegan. I was all excited and getting ready to eat it when I noticed it said Caseinate (animal protein) and was like WTH! Why would they go to all of the trouble of not using real cheese to then throw Casein back in there?? I really had my heart set on it so I went ahead and cooked it while fighting in my head on what to do. I ended up deciding it didn't look yummy enough to eat and feel guilty for it. The 2x I had some kind of milk or cheese since I started this diet I ended up with a big tummy ache, so knowing that it makes it super easy just to stay away. Anyway, Im still pretty proud bc I really did want to eat it, but found a way to talk myself out of it. I actually threw it in the trash while saying outloud (yes to myself) "We don't eat this kind of stuff."

Speaking of eating--Any tips for getting a dog to eat? Nobody knows what this dog has ate and liked in the past and he just isn't eating. I even bought meaty food. I guess I'll try mixing in a wet dog food with the dry.

Right now he is sitting under the desk right by my feet. What a happy life.

Super Social Saturday

2009-07-11T23:55:00.000-05:00

What an exhausting wonderful day.

We got to meet Spencer! He is everything we have been wanting. He's a very lovable dog. We told the lady that we knew we definitely wanted to adopt him and she suggested that we do a Foster-to-adopt instead. To me this sounds as bad as a rent-to-own situation. I don't want to test drive. A dog is a living being and will make mistakes so whatever issues he may have we will work with him on it. I can't imagine adopting a child on the same premise.. When I told her we'd rather just adopt him she said well what if you decide it won't work out? Then I got to thinking maybe she means if WE don't work out? I'm not sure what we're doing wrong here..or what she thinks we may do wrong. She said I could call her tomorrow to talk more about the paper work and doing the adoption so today I went to Walmart and stocked up on doggy basics.

We had a great time at the park by our house. Played soccer with our friends for all of 3 min then Kickball, then we did a relay race. On my leg Matt completely beat me. I don't know why I thought I had a chance. We then swam & played pool volleyball for 4 hours, which is how I ended up Red lobstered.

We then rushed out to Richardson for our friends' wedding reception. The food was all Indian and delish. I even stayed on the vegan track, pretty easy with Indian food. No cake for me though. I should bake and bring my own in my purse next time bc my mouth was on FIRE!

I was really happy to see my pregger friends, especially my friend from 2nd grade.. It's still so odd to me that she is going to be a mom. We're the same age. I guess I am about to be a doggy mom. If all goes well. Crossing fingers, silent prayers. I really think we'll be able to give him the best life because we are so active and will run & play with him all the time. I hope we get him tomorrow!

The meaning of a Vegan Life

2009-07-10T00:25:00.000-05:00

I really wish I had started blogging 4 weeks ago when this big change was so fresh in my mind. I certainly experienced an epiphany reading the Skinny Bitch book.. which led me to several epiphanies as I did research on Veganism. I was a sponge indeed-scouring podcasts, searching, reading. The more I read the more I was appalled, the more I opened my eyes. This change was not over night, but a culmination of years worth of puzzle pieces coming together and finally making sense.

I kept this growing knowledge, internal changes silently inside me the first 2 weeks. I was so scared to face other's questions. I knew what I was doing would be strongly opposed by some and I wasn't ready to let that doubt in. So now feeling more confident I can share this a little better. Come out of my lonely little vegan closet.

Most people know what being a vegan is, but they don't know what it is to be a Vegan. To me it is realizing that we have been desensitized to not feel for these animals we eat. What is the difference between eating a cow or a dog? And, beyond that realizing the horrible life of suffering these animals have to live in huge factories. The realization that an animal is not an object for us to abuse, but a living, breathing, feeling, thinking being.

We have been blind.

If you open up the door to see inside these slaughter houses you will then KNOW. And what do you do with this knowledge? Do you push it under like most people? Or do you fight against something you know in your heart to be wrong.

I hold the horrors close to my heart now. I don't want to let it go. I want to know now.

To be open to the truth is where a vegan life begins... I'm not sure where it ends.

A corny dog that changed my life..

2009-07-09T12:47:00.000-05:00

That's right a corny dog!

Recently I started my new vegan diet and I'm loving it! So far I have lost a total of 8lbs in a month. The weight is just disappearing and Im eating all the time. I got tons of vegan recipe books that make it easy to use substitutions for everything non vegan (milk, butter, meat obviously, etc.) and bought alot of alternative frozen goodies like this.

When I decided to do this vegan thing the first thing I did was go through all the labels of the food I had at home. Apparently the corny dogs I have loved & have been eating for the last 2 years are already vegan. Seriously these are the best Corny dogs I have ever bought at a store. They are called Morning Star Corn Dogs and have NO CHOLESTEROL! Thats the best part; for the last month I haven't ate anything with cholesterol and haven't even had to think about it. I can't wait to go back to the doctor and tell them I cured my high cholesterol.

ok wow I sound like an infomercial... I'm just really excited because last night I also tried a recipe that mimics Queso. If you know me, you know this is my ultimate weakness. I used the "Uncheese cookbook" by Joanne Stepaniak and made "Tomato con queso sauce" and added the fresh chopped cilantro. It was Really Good! I know my taste buds may have changed some since I haven't had any cheese in a month but it tasted alot like it!

It's sooo amazing to have kicked my Cheese addiction! Seriously this was my only addiction I have ever had (oh ya & chocolate) The ingredient in cheese that makes you addicted is called "casein", it's literally an opiate that is found in milk that makes babies addicted to milk. Look for casein in other foods too because most food companies know the power of adding this ingredient to your food.

"Opiates hide inside casein, the main dairy protein. As casein molecules are digested, they break apart to release tiny opiate molecules, called casomorphins. One of these compounds has about one-tenth the opiate strength of morphine.The especially addicting power of cheese may be due to the fact that the process of cheese-making removes water,lactose and whey proteins so that casein is concentrated." http://www.healthdiaries.com/blogs/vegetarianblues/archives/2004/09/casein_and_cheese_more_addictive_than_chocolate.html

Doggy Dog World

2009-07-08T20:53:00.000-05:00

I know it's a dog eat dog world, but I like to think our world has the potential to be better than that.. to be simply a Doggy dog world. One full of all the joys we wish for when we were young. My first memory ever is of my dad running holding me like an airplane so that I could fly over my puppy dog. It's such a beautiful memory it seems unbelievable to me. In my head everything is soft and white with a nice gaussian blur vignette on the edges. (My head must have done some nice CS3 post production)

Matt & I have been wanting a dog for awhile, pretty much 7 years now. We always talk about "when we have a doggy" with affection. After a year of searching Petfinder.com and not committing to one, we finally found the ONE. Only problem is the lady running the organization doesn't seem very eager to get rid of him. It seems like a really small organization, 6 pets saved and the pics of the dog we want (Spencer T) he is riding in a golf cart. Hmmm..

I will not buy a dog from a pet store now that I know most pet stores buy from Puppy Mills. They have to to keep up with the demand. If you have any curiosity about the horrors of Puppy Mills, here is a link: http://stoppuppymills.org/inside_a_puppy_mill.html

So we really wanted to "rescue" a dog from a shelter, but I dont know if Spencer needs rescuing from his plush lifestyle with his foster home. I like to think he will have more of a life with us as we are younger, run all the time, and have alot of energy. I haven't heard back from the organization since we sent in our app. What makes us unworthy?

WTF! Who Stole my car?!

2009-07-07T09:48:00.000-05:00

OMG I can't even believe it! Matt & I went out to our driveway to go to work this morning and he was looking for my keys in the console of our Prius. He looked at me & said "Where are your keys?" And I said, "Where is the CAR?!" We looked at each other dumbfounded for awhile and then looked around the yard like it was going to appear.. We then circled the whole house & went over what we did with the car the day before. We just couldn't believe it.

You know when you come out to a huge parking lot and can't remember where you left your car, and start to think someone had to have stolen it, but you know thats crazy. Thats how it feels. We just keep repeating, "Really?"

So ya, we must have left the Prius unlocked and whoever opened it was very lucky to find the car keys to our Scion and just took it. I bet that was a very exciting find for them. I hope they get a ticket for my inspection being expired, along with being pulled over at gunpoint.

The scary thing is my keychain also has the house key, so we are rekeying all of our locks today. To do this, Matt is just exchanging our front door knob system at Lowes. Sneaky devil. The rest of our locks are the smart kind that you can rekey to any other main key.

We thought they had taken our garage door clicker thingy, but then we found it in the back alley a couple of houses down. Matt bagged it for the cops to do finger prints on it. BUT apparently they dont check for finger prints in Lewisville unless someone dies.

I know its totally my fault. It was very stupid to leave the keys in the car like that, and unlocked. We had gone running at the park with our friends and I had separated my bulky keychain from the Prius key so it wouldn't be too much to run with. Threw bulk keys in console, ran a couple miles, came back home and forgot to lock car or get keys out. UGH!!

What is wrong with me?

OH YA- and they better not checkout books using my library key card, OR go to LaFitness to work out! JERKS!

Blogging ADD style

2009-07-06T23:35:00.000-05:00

Ok so I made it this far. I created a title, mulled over the url address and came up with alot of nothing. I thought Brooks-stress was funny, but not very positive. So whatever, my blog is boring for now. At least I can maintain some anonymity behind the Brooks name, thank you husband.

I do have some interesting thoughts that I've been dying to put to paper. I feel huge changes in me, in my mind. And it all started with a road trip to Houston. Pre-trip= rummaging through an outlet book store for the perfect journal and ran across the "Skinny Bitch" book. I went home and read half of it immediately and forgot to pack. ADD again.. which oh ya is another story..

So during the trip Autumn was reading the book outloud & it was hilarious! In her best valley girl voice she read, "Beer will make you fat, bloaty, & Farty!" Damn, I don't remember the quote exactly and already lost the book.

Long road trip & long story short-I read the whole book in 1 weekend and felt committed & disgusted. I really clicked with the health concerns of eating meat- Pesticides, growth hormones, saturated fats. The chapter on Milk made so much sense. Why do humans drink milk from another species. Cow milk is supposed to fatten up and grow a calf not a human.. I'll try to avoid the gory details of the animals' suffering for now. But I really felt bad for the dairy cows, being a woman with nipples and all.

That's all I will say for now. My journey started 3 weeks ago in a bookstore looking for a journal, and now I am journaling in an environmentally friendly way because of the book I read.