Peace Love Vegan

Big Move To Cali

2012-02-02T09:47:00.000-08:00

Hey All,
It has been forever since my last blog post and I'm sure you're all so very sad about this. I guess you could say a lot has happened in my life since then and I would love to share with you. In October, Jason and I (along with our 3 critters), packed up all of our belongings (at least the ones we had left after donating & selling many items), and headed West to beautiful California.

All packed up and ready to go

We both drove in separate cars, which made the traveling a little bit harder, but we managed. Jason rode with our dog and I with our two cats. I have to say they did a phenomenal job and were all troopers.

Ziggy and Roxy slept most of the trip

I had never even been to Santa Cruz before our move out here and I knew that I would just love it.

Our hotel "home" for 10 days while house hunting

We checked out a few places and finally found a condo less than two blocks from the ocean. Perfection!

Truman is loving the new digs

There are many more California adventures to come I hope you stay tuned...

First walk by the ocean

Pixie cut!

2011-08-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

Here's the moment you've all been waiting for (well, maybe not but here it is anyways):

But first, here is a picture taken from this weekend for comparison:

Ms. Alexa and I at our graduation (and Wanny in the background:)

I decided to go all out and do the short one, thanks for the encouragement guys! I absolutely LOVE it! I still have to play around with it a little bit and learn the many ways of styling it. I'm so excited to not have to carry a hair binder with me every where I go.

A big thanks to Suzanne Krause at Hair District SLP!

Pixie Haircuts

2011-07-30T15:34:00.000-07:00

So, I've been seriously considering about getting a pixie haircut! I guess that I have always liked them, but never had the guts to get one, for fear that I would look like a boy, or that men prefer women with longer hair. But now, I am blessed with such a wonderful husband, who has said that if that's what I want then I should just "rock it!" What a sweetie! So I don't know if it would look good or not, but I'm willing to give it a try. Now all I need to do is just choose the perfect cut for my somewhat wavy hair. Here are a few that I absolutely adore:

I like this messy one

Loving the waves in her hair

I like the bulky bangs on this one

Again, loving the wavy hair

This one is a little shorter, but sassy

Another short one

I love animals..

2011-04-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

..and I love this video!

Food for thought

2011-04-23T17:17:00.000-07:00

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss

Earth Day

2011-04-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

I believe that every day is Earth Day, but I do think that it's a great day to remind people that we need to take care of our Mother Earth. I just wanted to take a minute to write down a few easy tips to greener living. I know sometimes it feels daunting, but every little thing we do can make a difference. Here are 10 things we have done to reduce in our home, they are in no particular order.

1. Reusable shopping bags. This is such an easy thing to do and usually places only charge $1 per bag. Not only are these bags more durable than grocery store bags (with long handles to throw over your shoulder), but most places will give you $.05 back per each bag that you use. What an easy way to reduce waste of plastic and paper bags. Just keep them in your car for easy access. It might be hard to remember to bring them into the store at first, but in no time it will be habit.

2. Reusable produce bags. The ones we have are called BYO bags http://www.coolhats.biz/byobags/BYObags.html, they are washable and allow your produce to breathe unlike those plastic bags. If you don't want to invest in these bags, just leave your produce loose in the cart. I really have grown to love these bags and think that personally they are a great investment and an easy way to reduce the need for plastic.

3. Cloth napkins. These are a great way to reduce the use of paper towels, I love that they are heavy duty and versatile. I bought a 4 pack at Target for pretty cheap. I think the best tip is to make sure to get dark ones, so that if you get some serious stains, they won't show up as much. Also, they are fun for packing in lunches and picnics.

4. Reusable water bottle. This is a must for me and my husband, we don't go anywhere without ours. They are sold pretty much everywhere these days and are so handy to have. I really like my Sigg http://mysigg.com/, and they have them for the whole family, including little ones for the kiddo's. I drop mine all the time, so it has dents in it, but I like to tell myself that it adds character. Try not to buy bottled water, because water should be FREE! If you haven't already, check out Tapped http://www.tappedthemovie.com/, this documentary really put things into perspective for me.

5. One word: Recycle. If you don't already do this, shame on you, but seriously it's so easy. Give it a try!

6. Compost. All you need to do is buy a compost pail, available at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, etc. When the pail is full, throw it in the garden and stir it up. Voila, rich nutrients for your soil & plants.

7. Natural cleaning products. According the EPA estimates, indoor air pollution can be as much as 100 times higher than outdoor air, oftentimes due to toxic cleaning supplies. You can either purchase environmentally friendly cleaners or make your own using things from around the house (vinegar, lemon, baking soda are all good cleaners.)

8. Shop second hand. Instead of purchasing new items, try shopping Goodwill, Savers, garage sales, or any other place where used items can be purchased.

9. Turn off your lights. If you are not in a room, turn off the lights. Even better, if you have enough natural lighting in an area, don't even turn on the lights in the first place.

10. Eat your veggies. The United Nations has acknowledged that eating less meat and animal products will have a positive impact on the climate. Currently, the livestock industry produces more that 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, uses more than 8 percent of the water use, and is a major cause of deforestation and lack of biodiversity.

HAPPY EARTH DAY! Today and every day let's celebrate this beautiful earth that we live on.

Being Vegan

2011-04-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian. We feel better about ourselves and better about the animals, knowing we're not contributing to their pain.
--Paul and Linda McCartney

I often have people ask me if I like being vegan and I guess that if I didn't like it, I probably wouldn't continue this lifestyle. What's not to like about being vegan though?? I know that people think that it's all about "giving up" things that we really like, but when I look at the big picture it's so much more than that.

Yes, everybody has that one thing they find is more difficult to "give up" but when you think about how that is going to change the outcome of things, it's all worth it!

I love animals and what better way for me to show them that I appreciate and respect them.

There are so many great alternatives to using animal products that I just think the choice is simple.

Aren't they just so sweet?!?!

I love being a part of something different and being able to speak for those that can't be heard.

"We must be the change we wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi

Good day for cruelty-free window shopping

2011-04-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

When I became vegan the main reason was for my health, not because of the animals. I didn't want to think about my flashy purse or my cute heels that were made of leather. I didn't want to think about separating these material objects from my life. After watching Earthlings www.earthlings.com, I had a change of heart and immediately wanted to get rid of anything that was made from animals. It has been a gradual process, but a rewarding one.

Now for the fun part, the shopping. These are a few of the places that I really like and have bought things from:

The first shop is Vaute Couture www.vautecouture.com/t-shop.aspx. I really love that this store has some cute animal message items for those days when you want to make a statement. I also love their jewelry which is made from recycled aluminum and their jackets which look super warm for cold MN winters! I have one of the necklaces and my husband has the "V is for Vegan" shirt (nothing sexier than a compassionate man)! I adore this oversized sweatshirt that would be cute with some skinny jeans or leggings.

The second shop is Big Buddha www.bigbuddha.com. Love this new "Jackie" bag in yellow and in blue. The best part is all of their products are vegan. I have one of these bags and LOVE it. You can purchase them online at their store or if you live in MN, find them at your local vegan boutique: www.ethiquenouveau.com.

The last shop is Toms www.toms.com. The great thing about Toms is they have a vegan line for men, women and children, and for every pair of shoes you buy they give a new pair of shoes to children in need. Above are the "Elephant's" women's vegan classics and the "Pink Murray" organic cotton women's vegan classics. I have a pair that was from last fall and I also bought my sweetie a pair. They are so fun and I always get compliments on them.

I love that I can be stylish and vegan! It is so nice to be able to feel good about the things that I buy and look good at the same time! Happy Shopping!

Spring Break

2011-04-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

It's my Spring Break and I'm dreaming of a warmer place...

Wish I was in Key West!

Key West = LOVE