valiant veganism

Bonjour, mes amis! As some of you may know, I embarked on a vegetarian lifestyle a few years back, and admittedly faltered here and there. I stuck to it recently, and must say it was an incredibly wise decision on for me. I am not here to pressure anyone to pursue a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle; I believe whatever one chooses to eat and indulge in is completely their prerogative. So, that being said, I am thrilled to fill you all in on my latest endeavor, beginning a vegan lifestyle.

Precious bowls from Pinterest

Going vegan is not something I dove right in to. I may have very well gone crazy if I'd done so. Already sans meat, I started by omitting obvious dairy. Never the biggest fan of plain milk, I already used almond milk over cereal, in smoothies, etc. But frozen yogurt, Starbucks, cheeses (oh, blue cheese crumbles...), and milk chocolate (duh) were the first obvious to be eliminated, substituted, and revamped. Vegan cheese and soy lattes are new staples. Baked goods and other items containing eggs and milk were next; reading labels and being that gal at restaurants asking about ingredients are two new habits, and habits I do not mind a bit. I began cooking a lot more at home, which has helped me feel better health wise and financially. I enjoy searching the internet and various cookbooks from work for new recipes to try. And guess what, folks? The recipes are fantastic. Today, for instance, I made chocolate brownies. I am willing to bet anything you can not differentiate between the vegan brownies (using applesauce and vegetable oil) and "regular" ones (using eggs and milk). My mother couldn't, nor could two of my friends. 

Good for your health, good for your wallet, good for the animals, and good for the environment. Like I said, I'm not here to pressure anyone or change anyone's eating habits; just bringing awareness to a new endeavor and sharing it's benefits!

More updates to come!

things i love thursday

Happy Thursday, kiddos! And what a lovely Thursday it is. Well, as lovely as it can be from inside a roasting garage waiting to get my car fixed. But no matter! I have an iced coffee and a copy of Aldous Huxley's Eyeless in Gaza. In other words, I'm set for a good while. 

There's so much to be happy about this Thursday, I'm not quite sure where to begin. So I suppose I'll just dive right on in!

Foster the People's album, Torches - do your ears a favor and listen to "I Would Do Anything For You." Yes, it's a little on the lovey-dovey side. Who cares. It's precious and light and a perfect addition to a sleepy time playlist, or a time to chill playlist / running downtown in the evening / summer produce stands...and summer produce in general / going vegan! More details to come on this :) / How good it feels to crawl into bed after a long day / popping bubble wrap / This chair and decor set up-I want it so terribly! 

Je t'aime beaucoup, aussi!

Essie nail lacquer in licorice-I'm back on the black nails once more / pasta with tamari sauce and red peppers / gold bangles and bracelets / blowing bubbles out of the car window at red lights / fred brand "birds on a wire" photo clips - I have 8 pictures now dangling above my closet! 

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old v-neck t-shirts all soft with age / surprise phone calls / when the window is open and the breeze blows the white curtains in my bedroom / cucumber anything / hammocks / "You'll See It" by Washed Out - 

                                              

This has been on repeat for a good week now. I don't know if it's the song itself, or some exceptional memories attached to it, or a lovely combination of both. Either way, I adore it / the feeling when you throw something in the trash, not expecting it to go in but looking like you have epic aim / Fantastic Mr. Fox - Wes Anderson (my favorite director) did an amazing job on his first animated feature / Steve Martin on Twitter / kids reading out loud /  

That's all for now, my dears. I hope you have the most glorious and happy Thursday you've had in a while!

disconnect to reconnect: the summer happiness project

A new mission statement for a new period of The Happiness Project:

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Folks, I'm aware we are living in the pinnacle of the digital age. Everything we do is run, controlled, maintained, or monitored by something technological. And while this is convenient, and certainly makes life easier, it's taken away from the old-world simplicity of generations past. One of the most unnerving realizations I've had is the lack of face time contact. Social interaction has been replaced by Facebook chat and text messages. To me, it's taken away from the thrill of being with people. Pen-and-paper communication, something once so common, has been demoted to something of a novelty, something quaint and foreign. We reach for the Blackberry instead of the stamps. Our cell phones have become new appendages; they are now extensions of our hands. As funny as this poster is below, it seems to be the societal norm and totally acceptable.

"look into the eyes of another person..." This breaks my heart. Look at couples out to dinner, friends meeting for coffee, or family gatherings. Is anyone really talking? Or are they playing Angry Birds under the table, or BBM-ing?
"the arrival of a snippet of trivial text holds promise of unimagined pleasure..." I feel so foolish reading this, because how often do I feel my phone buzz and reach for it like a precious winning lottery ticket? I am just as, if not more, guilty of cell-phone over usage as the next person. I sleep with my iPhone nightly. Well, I say no more. I'm stopping this nonsense in an effort to really connect with people. The phone will be staying off longer, will remain in the purse during meals, and will not surface while I'm with another person.

Disconnect to reconnect, darlings!