♥ Holiday Shopping "Guide" ♥

Alright, so, in all honesty, this feels a little late to be writing up one of these, however better now then, say… next week… right? ;)

These are my rules and suggestions for holiday shopping…

How to Shop

Shop Small, keep it Minimal. Don't go overboard and spend a sh*t ton of money--especially if money is tight. It's the Thought of the gift that matters, remember? Remember?! 

Next, think before you buy. How many gifts can you think of that you receive that you don't end up using? You know the little stocking stuffers… not to say these can't be Awesome!… just be sure to put real thought into the gifts instead of going crazy spending everywhere you go is all I'm saying. ;) 

Tight budget? Skip the presents altogether orrrrr agree to all make the gifts yourselves. This doesn't mean crappy gifts, it means gifts with real thought and attention to them. (think the Friends episode when Chandler and Monica make each other their valentine's gifts ;)). If you still want to do something special for the holidays but are forgoing the presents, then, more precious than physical gifts, how about making a plan to do something as a family that you'll remember forever? :) 

Shopping Ethics

So, if you Are indeed buying presents this year let's pay closet attention to the ethics of what you are buying. 

Is it environmentally friendly, and/or made from renewable materials? Is it packaged in layers and layers of plastic? Is it fair-trade? Is it made by some greedy heartless corporation that treats their employees and the environment like doodoo? 

Just take a moment before you buy, and really consider if there are better options.  

Also, think about how you're wrapping presents. All that wrapping paper just ends up in the garbage or being recycled, all to be wrapped for one present for one day. Get creative, wrap your presents in newspaper or cereal boxes, or whatever you can reuse! This doesn't mean you can't still make them look pretty! There are a ton of cute DIY ideas out there, so get eco and have fun with it! :) 

One more thing… Food!! Try to eat locally as well, eat Real food, be ethical in this area as well. Even try a vegan christmas! ;)

Where to Shop

Alright, so now it's shopping time!

First and foremost; support Local, independent Artists, Designers, and Crafters! Why? It's better for the economy, you're supporting small business instead of heartless corporations, you're putting money back into the community, it's more environmentally friendly, you're more likely to get friendlier customer service, and you'll make an artist very very happy. ;) 

If you can't find what you're looking for at the local craft shows then these are where I turn to next…

Handmade! I, personally, almost always choose handmade handmade handmade. Maybe it's because I'm an artist myself and know lots of artist friends making a living off their amazing handmade talents, but handmade is the bestest! Again, you're not supporting some heartless corporation, you're buying something instead that is authentic, unique, and made with care and love and genuine creativity, and you're putting money back to the individual. Power to the people! Yayy! 

Check out sites like etsy, artfire, and storenvy. 

My other suggestion is to support Local people-owned stores in your area. Sure the internet is full of vast products and sites, and, well, heartless corporations… so put your money instead into supporting local shops and stores. Op against the chain stores and instead the stores that you know are locally owned, who actually profit from the business and aren't just paid minimum wage while the money goes to corporations. Most of these smaller stores are more likely to carry quality products as well that aren't going to fall apart. And the bottom line is that it's always better to support local, keeping the love and money in the community and supporting your fellow local peeps!

Lastly, when all of those fail, these are some online stores that I like to turn to because you're still supporting a good cause and these stores tend to carry good quality, smaller-run company products that, at the very least, have better ethics and standards, plus you can score some awesome deals. ;) 

Ethical Ocean, Veganessentials, Karmavore (visit the shop in person if you're in Vancouver, it's fantastic!), Vegan Cuts, Pure Citizen.  

Or donate to a local charity or make a World WildlifeFund adoption (one of my favourites!), or Farm Sanctuary adoption, or spend some time volunteering at your local animal shelter or food bank.  

So that's that. Where do you like to shop? What are you doing this holiday season? How do you holiday shop? 

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Ⓥ Vegan Kitchen: Happy Thanksgiving! Ⓥ

It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada, so… Happy Thanksgiving Canada! :) 

With my family being a sick we didn't get to do a thanksgiving dinner together, but my hubby and I hosted a Vegan Thanksgiving Potluck at our place with my brother and good friend Tam. Vegan potlucks are the best thanksgivings ever, or for any traditional festive meal. 

[silly face photo reel... life's not complete without one ;)]

Cory made a quinoa kale salad. And I roasted up red kuri squash, parsnips, carrots, and garlic from our garden--and added some sweet potato in there as well. I also made tofu balls and vegan gravy--my usual go-tos for  dinners such as these. Everyone always loves the food, vegan or not, so why the hell not? Beats some poor murdered turkey any day. 

For dessert Tam made the most amazing Lemon poppyseed quinoa flour cake! Sooooo good! 

We stuffed ourselves full of amazing food and enjoyed some great company. All in all, thanksgiving was lovely. :) 

If you're looking for your own ideas for a vegan festive dinner then be sure to check out my other post with suggestions and recipes as well: Holiday Feast. :)

Happy Thanksgiving Canada! Show gratitude wherever you are, you don't need an excuse to give thanks. 

[how many times can I repeat the exact same big goofy smile? Thiiiiss many!]

So, what are you grateful for? How did you spend Thanksgiving--or how do you plan on spending it if you're not in Canada? What are your favourite vegan festive meals? 

Create a nice day!! Much Love and gratitude! :) 

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Ⓥ Vegan Kitchen: Potato Pea Curry! Ⓥ

Here's a new lovely curry recipe for my lovelies. This makes a lovely dish, especially if you can get your potatoes and peas from your own garden or locally! It makes a lovely dish either way and is a milder curry for the spicy sensitive. 

Pure goodness! 

Potato Pea Curry

1-2 medium Sweet Potatoes or regular Potatoes, cut into small chunks

1 cup Peas

1 1/2 Tsp Red Curry Paste*

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1 tsp ground Ginger

1/2 tsp Paprika

1 tsp Garam Masala

1/4 cup Vegetable Stock/Broth

2 Tsp Tamari or Soy Sauce

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 cup Red Lentils (+ 2 cups Water)

1/4-1/2 cup Coconut Milk (beverage kind, not canned kind)

1 tbsp Coconut Oil

1 can Chickpeas (drained and rinsed)(optional)

Optional; ground chilies (if you like it extra spicy) 

*depending on what brand of curry paste you use will depend on how much you want to add, and depends on how spicy you like your curry. This curry is milder. 

In a large saucepan, sauté the spices and curry with the chopped potatoes on medium-high heat for a minute and then add the broth, lentils and water. Simmer on medium heat. Once the potatoes are tender and the lentils get softer (around 15 minutes), add the peas, chickpeas, coconut milk and cook another ten minutes.  

Add more liquid if necessary and you can play around with other veggies, spices, etc if you desire. 

Serve over rice or quinoa. 

Makes about 6 servings. 

Enjoy! 

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Ⓥ Apple Peach Berry Crisp Ⓥ

I've made several variations of this wonderful and simple recipe over the past few weeks, with fruit being in season and all it's really quite lovely. We've been picking fresh berries and using locally grown apples and peaches. Yum! 

Not to mention I love desserts that are healthy for you. Guilt-free! 

This recipe is vegan (as always) and can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free oats. :)

Apple Peach Berry Crisp

Filling:

2 large Apples, chopped

1 large Peach, chopped

1 cup Berries of your choice (fresh raspberries or huckleberries are my favourite)

1 tbsp Agave

1 tbsp Rice Flour (or flour of your choice)

1 tsp Cinnamon

Crust:

1 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup vegan margarine (or just under a cup of olive oil)

just under 1/4 cup Agave (or sweetener of your choice--I'm going to use stevia next!)

1 tsp Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350℉. Depending what dish your using (this recipe calls for an 8-inch baking dish) you can oil the bottom--I use a glass baking dish and never oil it and mine come out just peachy ;). Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine all your filling ingredients. Spoon mixture evenly into your baking dish.

In the same bowl (don't want to waste bowls now), stir your crust ingredients until well mixed. Sprinkle evenly over top of your fruit mixture in the baking dish. Bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until the top is browned and the apples are tender and can easily be poked with a fork. 

Makes approx. 4 servings. 

Top with your favourite vegan ice-cream (if you feel like it) and enjoy! :)

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♥ First Downtown Market ♥

Market season has begun! I have a drop-in spot at the downtown market this year here in Nelson B.C. which I am super excited about. The first one was on Wednesday (the 13th) which I got to take part in. I have to admit I am a terrible last-minute kind of person. No matter how many times I tell myself I'll be ready far before a due date, I'm always scrambling in the moments leading up to it. So this week was filled with scrambling, especially the day before and couple days prior. I didn't have any of my display figured out for my jewelry, cards, magnets, etc--only my lovely bamboo clothing racks I used last year was ready. I didn't even have a fold-up table--oops! So I ran around town and everything eventually came together. The husband went with me thrift-store shopping in attempt to find something creative for display items. We ended up finding this awesome wooden case that was meant for cutlery, mint condition and positively perfect! I absolutely love it and so glad my display is unique and second-hand instead of buying some cheap plastic necklace displays or something. You know me, picky eco geek over here. Anyway, I managed to gather other bits and pieces and it all turned out nicely. I still need to find a better display for my faux-feather earrings and hairpieces but I was more focussed on the rest this week. 

Moving on to the day of the market… I was nervous all week because the weather was consistently saying rain and even possible thundershowers. The night before it still said the same thing, so I mustered up all my manifesting and positive energy and thanked the Universe for having a magnificent successful perfect fun outcome to the market day. I actually dreamt of different scenarios of how it would turn out with the weather, all different dreams of rain or sunshine. Bizarre. When I woke up in the morning it wasn't raining and that was going to be my decision maker. It was clouded to be sure, possibility of rain, maybe, but I felt good so I was going for it. I picked up my lovely friend Andrea who helped me out at the market and sold some of her adorable sugar skulls--next time she'll have more and finished painted ones, which I am excited for and I think people will absolutely love! :) She was so much fun to spend the day with, she has a beautiful magnetic energy about her that I love. 

And as it turned out, we actually got bits of sunshine. We got a few bits of rain as well, but it waited to pour until we were loading up the car. A lovely day to be sure, which makes me super happy for not backing out. People loved my items too, it was so much to see all the different reactions, laughing, and aww-ing at my prints. 

I have to say, I definitely more "together" this year as well. Last year was fun but doing Alter-Eco Clothing at markets was always messy, one of a kind pieces just don't work that well in my opinion. People are lazy by nature and it's too overwhelming. Plus, ReLove Plan.et drew in ALL types of people, it was really quite fantastic. Sales were made even though it was a slower day, and I had a ton of people asking if I'd be there every week, taking business cards, and wanting to return at some point this summer with their daughters or to get gifts for others. Overall, a fun day and a success. Yayy for markets! 

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☮ Be the Change: Holiday Season Green Tips! ☮

A little late in the holiday season I know, but better late than never right? And there are still changes you can make every to be greener and kinder to mother earth and the living creatures that live here. So, without further further ado… 

Holiday Season Green Tips:

☮ Buy Handmade! Not only is buying handmade a sure way to make sure you're buying ethical fair-trade products, but you also get that special care, skill and craftsmanship that you just don't see in mega corporations and "brand" name products. And you get to support just that, an individual making a living away from the corporate society. Oh yeah, and you're not supporting those greedy corporations, child labour, and the environmental catastrophe that goes along with large-scale manufacturing that pollutes our air, soil, and waterways. 

☮ Pick a Green Tree! Your greenest option for a Christmas tree (other than not having one) is to buy a real tree from a local organic grower. Artificial ones may seem green since they can be reused year after year, but they are usually made from super harmful PVC, and you can't exactly recycle them after your done with them. Of course, if you have one already, there's no sense in tossing it out now. On the other hand, many christmas tree farmers do use harmful pesticides and chemicals (some growers use up to 40 different types of pesticides, as well as chemical colorants!) so should also be approached with a note of caution. Choose Organic and choose Local, rather than having a tree shipped miles and miles to get to you. Tree farms are sustainable by nature, all those trees turning carbon dioxide into oxygen, providing habitat for animals, and the trees are replanted every year. But, again, I emphasize the important of organic and local. Organic and Local! Got it? ;)

☮ Recycle your Christmas Tree! I think this is the part that often gets neglected, but what happens to all those trees after Christmas is over? Well, sadly 10 million trees end up in the landfill every year. 10 Million!!! Many cities now have recycling programs for trees, so be sure to call and find out. And if they don't then look to compost it yourself instead. They make great mulch for your garden once the snow melts! Or, your greenest option altogether; get a tree with roots so that you can plant it afterwards! Make sure you look into the proper care etc. of course though first. 

☮ Wrapping Presents: Most mass-produced wrapping paper is not actually recyclable so just ends up in the landfill, and then there's all the trees that get clear cut, bleached, and coloured with chemicals just to wrap a present in and look pretty for a short while. I think my favourite, and your greenest option, is to wrap your presents in whatever you have handy at home that's ready to be recycled. Newspaper and cereal boxes are a good route, and you can always spice them up a bit by colouring on them or wrapping a bow around them. Make it fun and crafty! If you're stuck on wrapping presents with that traditional look then there are recycled wrapping paper options out there too, such as Green Field Paper.  

☮ Buy Less, Enjoy More! The Holiday season is Not about presents. Or at least it shouldn't be. What's the point of stressing out over buying gifts when you don't have money? I'm sure the people who matter in your life would rather you not be a stress case and actually enjoy the holidays and your company instead of getting a present. Learn to buy less and enjoy the company of people more. That's where true joy in the holiday season is anyway. Make presents, or make cute cards, or breakfast, or something along those lines if you really want to do something but aren't sure what. Get creative and thoughtful! 

☮ Buy Energy Saving Holiday Lights!  Long answer short; it'll save you money and it will save the environment a heavy toll. LED lights are now pretty easily available and use 90% less energy and can save your family up to $50 on your energy bills during the holiday season! Win!

☮ Choose Organic, Local, and Vegan for your Holiday Feast! Or at least try your hardest to incorporate these ideals into your feast. Support local farmers for your produce. If you absolutely have to have turkey then at least choose a local organic free-range and visit the farm yourself to know it's legit--and thank the turkey for being your dinner. But really you should be choosing the Vegan option. Remember, Meat is Not Green! The industry has a huge whopping toll on the environment, as well as wildlife, and of course the poor suffering animals being farmed. If your stuck for what to make, don't be! There are TONS of amazing Vegan dishes you can make! I will be sharing some this week and in the mean time this blog has tons of delicious options to choose from: http://www.findingvegan.com/.   

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☯ What's in My Closet; Coin Pouch by Noei ☯

I've been searching out a new wallet recently. The one I have right now I've just kind of lost taste for--although it is pretty fun and funky--but I also wanted something more compact that I could carry in my pouch-belts as I often like to do during summer, or at the very least something lighter. So, I was looking for cute, small, and compact, but could carry my bank cards and cash. I finally found one that I got attached to after searching on etsy for a quite some time. 

I bought this cute little animal pouch by Noei, a cute little shop based out of Vancouver B.C.. The local aspect was appealing to me, I like supporting artisans close to home for many reasons. The size is exactly what I wanted and fits perfectly in my smallest pouch of my belt. Now I can easily transfer it from one pouch or bag to another and have everything I need in one little piece. :) I also bought the cute little wristlet keychain so that I can easily just carry my wallet around when I don't need a bulky purse or anything else. 

The quality is superb, the shipping was fast, and the pouch is simply adorable. I am a very happy customer :) 

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☮ "Be the Change" Clothing & Consumerism ☮

We all do it, we love to buy Things. We all have our vices. Our society teaches us to consume. It is what our economy is based on. The system does not work. But it is why we love to buy so much. We have essentially been taught: You are what you Buy. Your social status, your livelihood, your happiness all depends on what you wear and what you buy. This is not truly the case, of course, but it is the illusion that is embedded into our brains by lovely Society. And it has been working. We are perfect little puppets without even being aware of it.

It is wrong for so many reason, but that rant is for another time ;)

"Things" do not bring true Happiness. A momentary "high"...maybe. But not Happiness or any feeling of true fulfillment. 

Our relentless need to consume is becoming much too taxing on our environment. Economy has been placed above Ecology. And this simply can not work. It is why we will end up killing our planet, and therefore ourselves... all in the name of consumerism and Things. 

Imagine another species of life from another planet observing us... Oh, how did these people die? Well, they destroyed their planet so they could have "things". Wha??!!!! *smacks forhead*

Is this reaaaally how we want to go out?? 

Here's a little look into the Fabric Industry....

It is one of the most polluting on the planet! Cotton soaks up 10% of the world's pesticides and 25% of its insecticides--many of which are carcinogens (cancer-causing), toxic, and cause major water pollution. It takes 1/2 pound of chemicals to produce one regular old t-shirt. Is it worth it? Do you even really want to wear toxins on your skin?

Anyways, there's my little ramble for the day. Now, here are some tips to greening up your footprint when it comes to "Things" and Consumerism...

☮ Buy Organic or Sustainable: such as Organic Cotton, Hemp, Soy, Bamboo, or recycled fibres for clothing and other items. There are so many choices out there now so there's really no excuse! If you have a favorite designer, ask them to use eco-friendly materials as well. Remember consumer-demand is everything!  

☮ Buy Second Hand! There is nothing less environmentally straining than buying something second-hand! We have enough materials out there to easily please us. Be creative and go exploring. There are plenty of fun treasures to uncover and reinvent!  

☮ Buy FairTrade & Close to Home: On top of the above, just as equally important is to be aware of WHERE the products are made. No one wants to support child labour and unfair labour laws! Also, mass production in foreign countries with no pollution laws is a frightening thought--even if the tag does read "Organic." Not to mention all those items then have to cross oceans and travel all over the place before they get to stores and then you. Buying Locally is so important and supporting Handmade goods as well. There are sooooo many amazing products out there that fit this ideal. p.s. Etsy is a great place to search! :)  

☮ Buy LESS: We don't need to consume as much as we do. Remember, you can't buy Happiness. Be happy with what you have. Splurge every once in a while, sure, but learn some restraint. Plus, it's easier on the pocket. Simplicity is environmentally friendly and it's sexy! ;)

☮ Clear out your Closet: Chances are, your closet is over-crowded. There's probably items in there that you barely wear or maybe have only worn once, or maybe that you didn't even know were in there. What are they doing there?? If you don't wear them, give them away, donate them, or repurpose them--but don't just throw them out, that's wasteful. I cleared out my own closet during the recent move--twice. Once while packing, and again when unpacking. I was embarrassed by the humungous pile I had laying on my bed. Someone else will want and/or appreciate some of those things you have, so give a little!  

☮ Re-Wear, Re-Wear, and Wear again! Why on earth do we wear one item and then throw it in the laundry? This is so wasteful! I re-wear my clothes many many times before they go to my laundry machine. And don't give me the smelly excuse. I sweat a lot, I'm a smelly Italian girl ;) and I still manage to re-wear my clothes without being stinky. Even if you just wash the arm-pits of a hoodie and re-wear it, this is still much better than clothes going directly to your laundry machine.  

☮ Do Laundry Less: The above tip is a good one to do Laundry less. It is a new commitment for me, even though I already only did laundry once ever three weeks. I now go at least a month and a half before doing laundry! It is a great feeling to know I can manage to do this! :)    

☮ Hang Dry! If you're able to, absolutely hang-dry your clothes! This eliminates the need for wasted energy from your dryer--and again, is easier on the pocket. 

Even though I was already very eco-conscious in my buying habits before, I still wanted to improve. I have now made 

the Commitment to only buy Organic or Eco-friendly Products. 

Not just for clothes, but for everything I buy, ever. 

I'm enjoying it thoroughly and it is incredibly rewarding. Sometimes you have to dig a little harder if there is something you're after, but there is always a solution. Plus, you end up finding some really neat things this way! ^_^

Remember, no matter what Society will have you believe, You are NOT what you Buy! 

What are Your new Earth Commitments lately?  

Peace & Love,

xo

~Bianca  

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.