I was walking along the street in Seattle and I saw this.

Made me giggle, but sometimes I wonder the same thing.

Nicole

Seattle blesses me with vegan amazingness!

First, my green tea...second, vegan potstickers and ginger fried rice. Mmmm.

That's what I love about Sundays.

So my Saturday was pretty crappy...most of it anyhow. I had high hopes for that day but they came crashing down, literally, some time that afternoon. Saturday just totally broke me down and was redeemed later only by being with my friends and Almost Famous.

So Sunday just had to be better...and thankfully it was. I finally made it to Borders. I have been itching to spend my Christmas present from Aunt Pammy and Uncle Brad shiny $40 giftcard for Borders. They didn't have all of the books I wanted but I was able to get some amazing books.

First, Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano. This is one of the books I went to look for. It's a book on the simple steps to moving towards a greener life. I'm really excited to read this book and learn the simple, easy things that I can do to make my life a little greener.

Second, Misquoting Jesus by Bart Ehrman. This was a recommendation from Mike and he says that this book might "crush (me) and how (I) think." I'm looking forward to it.

Third, Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I've wanted it for awhile. I think he's an amazing speaker and I think what this book is about is perfect for me and where I'm at right now. I've held off on buying it for a long time now, idk why, but I'm glad to own it now.

Lastly, the lastest edition of VegNews. One of my favorite magazines. Has a great looking recipe for vegan Chai Rice Pudding and had this article that a certain Philadelphian might enjoy.

Then after I rushed home with my wonderful books it was about time to pick up Corre for his tattoo appointment. I went down with him to Costa Mesa to keep him company and talk to Carlos about some work for me. We got there and Carlos was running late with his prior appointment, (typical in the tattoo shop,) so Corre and I went over to The Lab to enjoy the freaking HOT day and check out Buffalo Exchange. It was an Earth Day extravaganza over there. They were celebrating early with a DJ and specials at all the stores. Corre picked up a hat and I just took in the sights. Then it was back to the shop to wait it out some more. Then it was time, time for Corre to endure some pain.

He may look like he's sleeping but he's concentrating on trying not to concentrate on the pain. Carlos, who I've never really had the chance to talk to, was awesome to chat with. We talked about church and veganism and a bunch of other things which Corre told me later helped to keep him from being focused on the pain. As soon as Corre was finished we headed over to Native Foods. Thanks to a little talking to from Carlos and I, Corre was open to the idea of eating there. We had an awesome vegan dinner of "Chicken" sandwiches and fries of the sweet and regular potato varieties. Even Corre agreed that it was good, I love that, when vegan food can change someone's mind about it.


All in all, Sunday was a great day.

The Letter "C"

I was tagged by Candice to blog 10 things I love about the letter "c." So, here they are, in no particular order.

1. Creativity - It's one of my favorite things to do, sit down and create something. It always amazes me that a ball of yarn and a stick or two can turn into a hat, scarf, sweater, etc. or that a pencil/pen/paintbrush with paint and a piece of paper/canvas can create amazing pictures/paintings or that a camera can take the everyday things we see and turn them into captivating photographs or that musical talent and an instrument can create beautiful songs. Creativity amazes me.

2. Ceramics - Possibly my favorite studio art form. I love that you can take a slab of clay and turn it into a vessel in a very short amount of time. It's messy, immediate, hands on and fantastic. I can't wait to be in a studio again.

3. Corre - He's one of my favorites. One of the best friends I've got. Knows most of my secrets and never tells a soul. He always listens and I can trust him with any piece of information. He's an amazing friend.

4. Chihuahuas - I never thought that this little breed of dog would EVER be one of my favorite things but my little dog has turned that all around for me. She's my little 4.5 pounds of unconditional love. She relies on me to take care of her and in return she loves me like only a little dog can. Sure she shakes a whole lot and can be a little scrappy and barky but that's part of her charm. Best lil' chihuahua ever.

5. Cash - As in Johnny Cash. He's probably my favorite country artist and definitely in my top 5 favorite music picks. No matter what song it is the sound of that deep, gravelly voice kind of soothes my soul.

6. California - As much as I want to move I know I love this place. It will always be where I came from, the place I was born, that feels like home. I can't argue that the weather is amazing, even if I hate the heat. And even though I'm not a huge beach person it's nice to have the option to go to the mountains, the beach or city in the matter of an hour or two.

7. Coffee - It's my morning love affair. I can't help it!! I'm a caffenaited coffee loving addict! I'm no fun in the morning until I've had my coffee, (ask anyone who's ever worked with me.) I never understood my grandma's need to make a fresh pot of it every morning but I've definitely turned into a carbon copy of her, (except she was much tougher than I am and took her coffee black.) I really love coffee...correction, I really love FAIR TRADE coffee.

8. Cake - The band...not the dessert. (Although I do love the dessert too!) Love them or hate them they are one of my top three bands. I have seen them live several times and they never disappoint, (same goes for the other two bands in my top three.) I know everyone has their favorites and agree or disagree we all know that feeling when there's a band that no matter what's going on or where you are a song comes on and something about it just makes you happy. That's Cake for me.

9. Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch Changes - Not the Bowie song...although it is awesome. I mean life changes. Lord knows I am going through a ton of them and I think on the other side of it all I know it's going to be great but change is hard. I know EVERYONE says it, but as hard as it is it's also a great thing because it makes you a little uncomfortable. And being comfortable sometimes makes us complacent. Uncomfort is nice.

10. Last but not least, Candy Cane. She tagged me to post about my favorite "C" things and she definitely makes the list. We've had our ups and downs but she's proven to me time and time again that she loves and cares about me and would do anything to help if I needed it. I adore her and hope to always have her as a part of my life. Love you Candice.

Sleep...why do you continue to elude me??

I'm so tired.

I don't sleep well and it's so frustrating. If you know me at all you know that I LOVE to sleep...naps, at night, anywhere, anytime.

Sigh...sleep...I miss you.

The veg blog.

Craig & Walter (2005) from Kirsten Lepore on Vimeo.

Thank you to Chris Kretzu for the previous video. I thought it was hilarious...and I have to agree with Chris, the narwhal sounds a bit like Tommie Hogue.

All kidding aside, I'm back on the vegetarian train. I've been pondering going back to it for awhile now but I've honestly just been lazy. Choosing to have an alternative eating style, no matter how well accepted it is, is still difficult. And living with my family it's just much easier to eat whatever they prepare for dinner versus having to make myself an alternative. However, that said...I was reading my VegNews magazine and it just occured to me. All of the reasons that I gave up meat in the first place.

I don't want to continue to contribute to the problems that raising livestock brings. Problem #1, maintaining our land. Livestock is not a sustainable crop. Actually, let me correct that, the way we raise livestock makes it a non-sustainable crop. Since we raise excessive amounts of agriculture in small areas doesn't help the land, it hurts it. Unlike certain grains and vegetables that actually help make the land more fertile, livestock raised in very small acreages damages land. Livestock creates massive amounts of waste and raising livestock on farms that don't also grow other crops doesn't make raising livestock an eco friendly, sustainable crop. (I will agree that raising livestock and other crops on one farm is the BEST way to create truly sustainable land but most farms do not operate in this way.)

Problem #2, water. It costs much more in water to raise livestock. Agriculture is the number 1 use of water in the United States, and we're running out. I mean people who think we will have water forever are kidding themselves. It's estimated California has only 20 years left of drinkable water and New Mexico only has 10. About 500 million tons of animal waste from raising animals for food are stored in manure "lagoons" each year and often some of this manure leaks into our drinking water. Last year one spill put 560,000 tons of liquid manure into Maryland's drinking water, contaminating their water with E coli. Granted raising livestock isn't the only thing that uses water, thermoelectic power plants use 40% of our water while pharmaceutical waste causes chemical contamination to our water. I can't control thermoelectricity or pharmaceutical companies but I can give up meat adding no demand from me and help to decrease the fact that 3/4 of the world's available freshwater is used for industrial agriculture. If you want to read more about this let me know and I can find some way to get an amazing article to you about it.

Problem #3, animal cruelty. I know that I probably don't need to get into how cruel the commercial farming industry can be. Chickens, cows, sheep, fish, any animal that is raised on a mass scale to feed, clothe or whatever human kind is raised in a manner that is cruel. You wouldn't cut off your dogs snout so he couldn't bite you so why do we do it to chickens? It's horrible how little regulation there is for animal rights and while I know there are bigger issues out there to be dealt with I know that I can refuse to contribute to this one.

There are farms out there that raise their livestock in a manner that is sustainable and do not believe in cruelty however they are not the norm. And these often organic, humane farms have even more trouble than the average farmer because it costs more to raise animals in a non cruel manner.

So, anyhow. I believe this is one issue that I can make a difference about. I know that people always think what difference can one person make in the grand scheme of things but I know that enough single water drops will fill a pail. I want to feel like I am doing my best not to contribute to this particular issue.

So, someone come eat with me here!

The Vegetarian 100

Have you ever heard of a meme? I was reading my VegNews magazine and saw this...

"A meme is kind of a “tag-you’re-it” of the blog world. Someone posts about something, then links to a few other bloggers they know, who are then tagged to do the same thing. It’s usually a list of questions to answer or a list to check off. These food memes are lists of 100 different food items that foodies of that persuasion should have tried, and bloggers identify which items they’ve actually tried, then add up their score. It’s an interesting way to examine just how adventurous your palate is and where you stand in relation to other food enthusiasts. There are three version of this particular meme: an omnivore 100, a vegetarian 100, and a vegan 100."

I've decided to do the vegetarian 100. I'm not going to tag you guys but it's a cool way to check out some interesting foods you may not have tried. I'd love to know your scores!

Vegetarian 100
The Vegetarian 100 (as generated by Barbara from Tigers and Strawberries)
I’ve bolded the items I’ve tried, I scored 64.

1. Real macaroni and cheese, made from scratch and baked
2. Tabouleh
3. Freshly baked bread, straight from the oven
4. Fresh figs
5. Fresh pomegranate
6. Indian dal of any sort
7. Imam bayildi
8. Pressed spiced Chinese tofu
9. Freshly made hummus
10. Tahini
11. Kimchi
12. Miso
13. Falafel
14. Potato and pea filled samosas
15. Homemade yogurt
16. Muhammara
17. Brie en croute
18. Spanikopita
19. Fresh, vine-ripened heirloom tomatoes
20. Insalata caprese
21. Stir-fried greens (gai lan, bok choi, pea shoots, kale, chard or collards)
22. Freshly made salsa
23. Freshly made guacamole
24. Creme brulee
25. Fava beans
26. Chinese cold sesame peanut noodles
27. Fattoush
28. New potatoes
29. Coleslaw
30. Ratatouille
31. Baba ganoush
32. Winter squash
33. Roasted beets
34. Baked sweet potatoes
35. Plantains
36. Chocolate truffles
37. Garlic mashed potatoes
38. Fresh water chestnuts
39. Steel cut oats
40. Quinoa
41. Grilled portabello mushrooms
42. Chipotle en adobo
43. Stone ground whole grain cornmeal
44. Freshly made corn or wheat tortillas
45. Frittata
46. Basil pesto
47. Roasted garlic
48. Raita of any type
49. Mango lassi
50. Jasmine rice (white or brown)
51. Thai vegetarian coconut milk curry
52. Pumpkin in any form other than pie
53. Fresh apple pear or plum gallette
54. Quince in any form
55. Escarole, endive or arugula
56. Sprouts other than mung bean
57. Naturally brewed soy sauce
58. Dried shiitake mushrooms
59. Unusually colored vegetables (purple cauliflower, blue potatoes, chocolate bell peppers…)
60. Fresh peach ice cream
61. Chevre
62. Medjool dates
63. Kheer
64. Flourless chocolate cake
65. Grilled corn on the cob
66. Black bean (or any other bean) vegetarian chili
67. Tempeh
68. Seitan or wheat gluten
69. Gorgonzola or any other blue veined cheese
70. Sweet potato fries
71. Homemade au gratin potatoes
72. Cream of asparagus soup
73. Artichoke-Parmesan dip
74. Mushroom risotto
75. Fermented black beans
76. Garlic scapes
77. Fresh new baby peas
78. Kalamata olives
79. Preserved lemons
80. Fried green tomatoes
81. Chinese scallion pancakes
82. Cheese souffle
83. Fried apples
84. Homemade frijoles refritos
85. Pasta fagiole
86. Macadamia nuts in any form
87. Paw paw in any form
88. Grilled cheese sandwich of any kind
89. Paneer cheese
90. Ma Po Tofu (vegetarian style–no pork!)
91. Fresh pasta in any form
92. Grilled leeks, scallions or ramps
93. Green papaya salad
94. Baked grain and vegetable stuffed tomatoes
95. Pickled ginger
96. Methi greens
97. Aloo paratha
98. Kedgeree (the original Indian version without the smoked fish, not the British version with fish)
99. Okra
100. Roasted brussels sprouts

i wanna blog

but i'm so tired.

so tomorrow...watch out for it...it's gonna be about my return to vegetarianism.

Am I losing focus?

Sometimes I really wonder if I am losing my focus. I am focused on doing what God has for me but I think that lately I seem to see all of those things related to my life. Maybe that doesn't make sense. I used to, and still do, have a passion for the world. For things like AIDS in Africa, human trafficking in Europe, natural disaster victims in Asia, the discarded women of India. I have a heavy heart for the world, but I feel like I have lost focus of these things. I miss preparing for a mission trip. I long to plan a fundraiser for something that speaks to my heart. I want to be more involved. I try to do my part but I don't ever think I will feel like I am doing enough.

I have become really aware lately of the things I buy, how I buy them, what I eat, who is around me. I keep seeing all of these issues in my food, in my durable and non durable goods, in the people on the street. I just keep wondering when I got lazy. Maybe I'm not but it feels that way sometimes.

I don't want to lose focus and forget the issues that mean so much to me. I guess it all comes down to this season of change my life is in because realistically I feel like I'm barely getting along so how could I possibly focus on anything when I can't even focus on the simple little things. I can't decide what city to live in let alone plan any kind of fundraiser.

Sigh...this has got to end at some point, right?

Why I could never be like the statistic in my previous post.

This is what the current stack of reading material next to my bed looks like.

These are the books I'm currently going through minus one. I'm also reading the third book in the Twilight series.

There are two bibles, my New King James study bible and my New Living Translation that's been around the world with me. I have a thing for bibles. Most of them are in storage but I love reading my bible using different versions. Kind of helps me to get a better idea of what's being said. I especially love when the different versions say exactly the same thing in the same verse.

There is the Art of Basic Drawing that I bought when I picked up my pencils again to draw something specially requested by Brenda. That book reminded me a lot of what I learned when I was in college and reminds me how much I love art.

The Man Comes Around is about the spiritual journey of Johnny Cash. I think I've read parts of this book several times but I really enjoy it. I brought it along with me when I moved because it's just time to finally finish it.

I have an affinity for Stephen King books. It's a love affair that started long, long ago when I was about 14. I picked this book up on my way to Chicago. It's weird, of course, but good. Typical SK.

There are two books by Lisa Bevere. Out of Control and Loving It! (which I know sounds like a bad after school special,) was recommended to me by Jason because he read it and thought it would be perfect for me based on where I am in life right now. It's about being out of control in life but being ok with it because if we are out of control but let God control our lives then it's ok. Then we'll begin to realize that we're right where God wants us to be. It's a great book. The other one, The True Measure of a Woman seems like it's going to be great too...but I'm supposed to be going through that one with a friend so I haven't read past the first chapter.

Then there are the two books that I just can't put down. Spiritual House Cleaning and How to Minister Freedom. Both are books about spiritual warfare focusing on how to make sure your house is spiritually clean and keep it that way and the other to teach about how to deal with different aspects of spiritual warfare. They are both very good books. I'm really into them both and learning a lot.

So, why so many books all at once. Well, it's simple...I get bored easily. I read several books at once because it helps me to really read and learn and not get bored. Some of the easier reads I can just sit and crank out but I try to spread my reading around so I get some of the good stuff in too.

I'm always taking suggestions on new books to read, so if you have any send them my way!