It's that lovely fall time of year when the leaves start to turn and pumpkin is all we can think about. Yum! It's in season, it's healthy, it's versatile, it's fabulous! So! A week ago my friend, Tam, and I made the most epic Peanut Butter "Cheesecake" ever! Don't worry, I'll be sharing that recipe soon as well. ;) There was pumpkin in it and it was sublime! But I had leftover pumpkin so I decided to experiment and sort of replicate the filling part of last night's dessert, but into a morning smoothie. I am so in love with this that I opened up a new can of pumpkin puree just so that I could remake it again the next day… and the next day… and yesterday… and today... to say I'm a little obsessed with this might be an understatement. ;) But it tastes like dessert and is healthy goodness to start your day! What's not to love? This recipe is; vegan (as always), sugar-free, and gluten-free!
Okay, without further ado, awesome Smoothie time!
Pumpkin PB Bliss Smoothie
1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree (unsweetened, just pumpkin)
1- 1 1/2 Frozen Bananas
1 Tbsp Peanut Butter
1tsp Stevia
1 cup Coconut Milk Beverage
dash of Cinnamon
Add all of your ingredients together in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy! Add less or more "milk" to get your desired consistency.
I feel that for the texture the bananas being frozen is essential, so make sure you have some handy in the freezer--they're the best way to have in smoothies anyways. ;) You could easily add more pumpkin pie spice as well for more of a, well, pumpkin pie flavour, but I love it the way I make it. ;)
Makes 1 serving. Enjoy!
If you're using pumpkin from a can then make sure you store any leftovers in another container as opposed to the can. I get about 3 smoothies per can (I never measure the pumpkin, I just ballpark it ;)). And, just in case you've never frozen banana before, be sure to remove the peal and then store in a ziplock bag or container before putting int he freezer. ;)
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I feel like this article has been a long time coming and you'll have to excuse my extreme sarcasm here, but, after all, what is life without some humour? ;)
When people go vegan or vegetarian, I've noticed (and remember going through the same thing myself) people have the most close-minded ignorant attitudes possible.
Now, I'm trying to imagine why people do this… is it from guilt that they still eat meat and/or dairy? Is it a self-defence mechanism? Usually when people attack others it is from insecurity so I am leaning towards these theories. Perhaps the most obvious reason; their beliefs are being challenged and no one likes to have their beliefs challenged… which can then lead to those ignorant and/or close-minded remarks. *Sigh*
Let's take a look at the most common:
Oh, sorry to hear that… I feel sorry for you… Too bad.
It's unhealthy.
But what about your protein and your calcium and and…
… I love meat and dairy too much…
We're meant to eat meat.
Generally, a lot of shitty vibes. So, what's a veg gal or guy to do? Get feisty!
I mean this in the best possible way and generally I am all for the most positive, kind, and loving attitude in any negative situation, however, when push comes to shove, there comes a time when you have to shut the ignorance up, which brought me to writing this post…
Time to debunk and slap across the face those ignorant bastards! ;) Just joking, well about the "bastards" part, but I would like to give you fellow vegans and veg-heads something to turn to when the battle gets rough out there. Hell, you can even just direct them right to this article. *Waves* Hi meat-eaters! ;)
*disclaimer: I don't have anything against meat-eaters. My husband still eats meat from time to time and I have friends that do too. The following snarky remarks are aimed at those that push and shove and really get under them veg nerves in terms of close-minded ignorant remarks. Okay… I think that's all I needed to say, let's get on with it…
The response to…
The "Too Bad" mentality
Oh nooooo! God forbid should I have to eat something this amazing:
Or This amazing!
Or all of this other amazzzzzing food!
Wow, you'd better feel super sorry for me! I don't know how I will go on without animal cruelty-filled products anymore.
If you think for one second that being vegan means I am deprived of amazing food then think again. I Love food, my friends love everything I make, I love vegan restaurants. I love vegan food!!! It tastes damn good and even my non-veg friends love the food I make. So stop being so… what's the word I'm looking for? Stupid? Okay!
Now drool all over all this other amazing vegan food: http://veganfeast.tumblr.com/archive & http://www.findingvegan.com/archive
"It's Unhealthy"
Are you f*#king kidding me? Do you honestly have ANY IDEA what in the world you're talking about? Oh, yeah, please don't let me become unhealthy on a vegan diet, I might end up looking like this at 70 years old!
The truth is that most people eat like crap. Most vegetarians and vegans are generally also moving towards a healthy lifestyle so choose better food choices as well as the pure healthy goodness of a non-animal product diet. But tell me, how many meat-eaters do you know actually eat enough fruit and vegetables? How many of them eat junk food? How many of them actually enjoy their food or do they thoughtlessly wolf it down? How many of them actually have energy for that matter?
Going vegan can clear up your skin, give you more energy, and make you feel fabulous in every way possible. So yeah, please don't worry where I'm getting my protein or calcium. But them meat-eaters might want to start watching how much protein they are eating since there are actual health problems related to consuming too much (which most North Americans do!) and not too little.
Just about any dietitian or research you can find will also tell you that there is a strong link between the consumption of meat and diseases.
If you want to be Buff you have to eat meat!
You sure about that? I introduce to you... Germany's strongest man! Yes, he's vegan, and there are many more that are body builders and athletes. Now can we please stop having to argue the whole muscle debate?
"I love meat and dairy too much."
Hmmm. K, I'm going to be super duper blunt here, forgive me…
Are you that self-absorbed? Do you have that little will-power? Or are you that content to turn a blind eye? Do you have ANY idea what goes on in factory farms? Do you have any idea the years of torture that animal went through for that ten to twenty minutes of your taste-bud pleasure? Do you have any idea what kind of crap is added to most meat and dairy before it even reaches you? How about that morphine in your cheese? Yum…
Do you have any idea how amazing vegan food actually is? Of course not because it's not widely available in most restaurants and stores. But it's damn amazing and if the world was vegan, if vegan was the "norm" instead of the SAD North American diet, then I tell you no one would miss meat or dairy. No One.
"Mmm, bacon."
enough said.
"If you were stuck on a dessert island... "
"We're meant to eat meat."
Actually we're not. Our bodies don't produce the correct enzymes to properly digest meat so it ends up rotting away in your intestines for years. Our intestines are too long, cholesterol affects us, and we don't have claws or teeth. No, our canines do NOT make us worthy of ripping our teeth into animal flesh, have you taken a real look at the canines of carnivores? Cuz you wouldn't still point out your canines if you did.
To elaborate and dive into greater details, Dr. Milton R. Mills. wrote a paper called, "The Comparative Anatomy of Eating," which breaks down our body organ by organ and shows why the body of humans is better equipped for a vegetarian diet (some points I briefly mentioned above). He compares our organs to Carnivores, Herbivores, and Omnivores and shows us which we are most like. For those curious here it is: http://www.scribd.com/doc/94656/The-Comparative-Anatomy-of-Eating.
Also, meat is no longer a necessity. There may have been a time when us scavenging humans lived in caves and ate meat, but we absolutely do not need to eat meat anymore. So why would we subject animals to needless horrid suffering when we don't have to?
"It doesn't make a difference"
Hell ya it does! One of the biggest ways people show their support is with their money. Choosing not to buy animal products means I'm not Funding it! Plus vegans save nearly 200 animals per year. So yeah…
It's so wrong to eat Horse Meat...
I get tired of hearing people say that it's wrong to eat a horse but not a cow. Or that it's wrong to eat a dog but not a pig. They're all animals. They're all the same living creatures with emotions and beating hearts and souls.
Or the people that say hunting is wrong, but they still eat meat. What, so because you yourself didn't physically Kill the animal then it makes it okay? As if this somehow removes meat-eaters from the responsibility of taking that animal's life? You are still killing animals if you are eating them, at least hunters aren't raising animals in suffering just to brutally kill them.
**I'm not for hunting either, but if you're going to eat meat then you'd better be able to kill the animal yourself--it's better than factory farms**
The "Animals don't have souls" remark.
Really? For real? You can consume meat from a factory where animals experience unimaginable cruelty and pretend that it doesn't happen, completely disassociate that it even was an animal… you can watch "Earthlings" and still eat meat and dairy… or maybe you refuse to even look into what actually goes on on factory farms… and you're telling me Animals are the ones without a soul? … Okayyyy?…
Did you know that cows cry when their babies are ripped away from them? Did you know that animals heading for slaughter know what is about to happen to them and freak out?! Did you know pigs are smarter than your three-year-old child and your dog? Have you ever watched an animal ever in your life? Ever?!
"Oh, you're vegan, so you CAN'T have that"
Actually, I CAN, I'm just CHOOSING not to. Myself and other vegans are making an Ethical Choice not to consume dairy, eggs, meat, and other animals products, it has nothing to do with not being able to.
We are not deprived and we are not sad about this choice.
I like the response of "I'm choosing not to" versus telling people you "can't eat that because I'm vegan" wording, because it really is a choice and telling people you are Choosing versus Can't shows others that you are not deprived or unhappy about your decision. On the contrary, you are making an ethical choice to be vegan that you Feel Good and are confident about! We're at the top of the food chain.
What exactly makes us at the top of the food chain? Put just about any modern man in the middle of the wilderness and he is royally f#%ked! Put man back into the wilderness and we scavenge and though we may hunt, we also become the hunted. How is that the top of the food chain again? Oh, wait, what, because we evolved? We consciously destroy our environment, our home, you know the place we have to live. We still haven't figured out that we're not cows or goats yet. We poison ourselves, and know it, daily. And… animals never had a war… (all I can picture is the Futurama moment, so enjoy below... ;))
And, hey, while we're here, what about your dog or cat? Do they have no souls either? Would you eat them? Would you drink their milk?
Argument closed.
If you're a meat-eater, I hope perhaps your mind is a little more open. If you're a vegan or vegetarian, I hope that you are armed to face those ignorant remarks with truth and savvy.
Have a lovely day! ;)
If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.
"Your Go To Guide on Everything you Need to know about Going Vegan"
Just a quick update to share that my "Going Vegan Guide" is finally all finished and up in the etsy shop (as of Sept. 4th). Really the cost is to cover paper supplies, etc, I'm not making money off this guide, I just want an accessible guide for my lovelies interested in going vegan. I get questions almost every day about going vegan, people looking for advice, or asking common questions so I thought making this guide was the perfect solution.
ReLove Plan.et's "Going Vegan" Guide is your go-to guide whether you're making the transition or are still in the beginning stages and still have a lot of questions or are finding yourself struggling a bit. It is specifically prepared to get you started, informed, in the right direction, and to make your new vegan life fun and spectacular--and easy!
(**What this guide isn't is a horrific fact sheet on the cruelty of animal-based industries. While I do think that you should be educated and informed on such topic, there is far too much to cover and share, and that is not what this guide is for. There are however links and suggestions at the end of this guide for you to look into those topics yourself. ;) **)
My hope is that after you have this guide you will be armed and ready to go out into the world, eager and excited to embrace the spectacularly rewarding lifestyle of being vegan! ♥
Some things you can find inside? Things like, what to eat in a day. Making the transition. Food suggestions and meal replacement ideas. Product suggestions. Staying on track. Being a healthy vegan. Things to expect, and so forth! Lots and lots of useful information that is fun to read (since I know how boring "how-to" guides can be to read). But you know how ReLove Plan.et is, upbeat and fun! Weeee! And there are cute ReLove artwork inside to make the guide extra fun and entertaining! ;)
This Guide is:
26 pages
Printed on 100% recycled paper
Will make you Love being vegan! ;)
Anyways, I won't bore you talking about the guide, I'll let you grab a copy yourself. ;)
Time and time again I hear people defend drinking milk. These are the most frequently said things:
"Milk is good for you."
"It doesn't hurt the cow, it's not cruel."
"Cows need milking."
Let me tell you, (time and time again) it IS cruel, in fact, I would sooner eat meat than ever consume dairy again on the level of cruelty involved. Cows do Not need to be milked. And Milk is terribly bad for you.
Today, I will spare you a long ramble and jump right into this little Infographic. ;)
(Please note, this inforgaphic is thanks to PETA--whatever you think about PETA you can put aside for a moment, they are not the topic of debate today. ;p)
Please realize what consuming dairy does to the lives of cows. Please make an ethical change. If you want to know more about the dairy industry I have several posts, ranging from lighter to fully-detailed (links below in that order).
Let me tell you about Design Specimen; they ROCK! This little vegan company is run by the lovely Christine Wagner, a crafty lady who combines her talents and passions for jewelry making, graphic design, and animal activism to create some hella kick-ass jewelry. The jewelry is fun and each of the wonderful designs promotes positive messages of animal compassion.
Christine has been vegan for about fifteen years, she has several adorable fur-balls in her life which are a source for her inspiration, as well as her obvious love for all things vegan. She also volunteers at a local animal sanctuary every week and donates a portion of her sales to the Sasha Farm Animal Sanctuary. AND she takes custom orders. Super rad yes? :)
I am fortunate enough to own one of Design Specimen's lovely necklaces and let me tell you how much I love it! The pieces are beautifully crafted and the quality is superb, you can tell they are made with love, and they feel like they will last forever. The lettering and images are super crisp and clean and the work is sturdy. The messages are powerful yet enchantingly subtle--which is sometimes nice to go for the more subtle approach when it comes to animal rights instead of throwing it in people's faces (not that I don't like doing that as well ;)). I feel like you could wear a Design Specimen necklace and get all sorts of people compliment you as you walk down the street, striking up kind conversations about animal rights to promote the compassionate lifestyle with dignity and love.
The other thing I love about Design Specimen is it suits anyone and everyone of all walks of life. The designs are pretty and intricate and beautifully simple while still provoking a powerful message. The chain and colour of the metal is soft and calming and pretty and sophisticated. You could easily dress it up or dress it down according to any look you wanted. Anyone could wear these and get away with it and look fantastic doing so!
I love my Design Specimen necklace! It hangs beautifully, it's nice and light, and it compliments any outfit. I love the font, I love the little details, I love the little heart, I love Design Specimen!
Really, I think every vegan needs a Design Specimen necklace (or five) in their life. So what are you waiting for? Go check out her website and online shops (either directly on her website or through etsy) and get ready to fall in love!
So I saw this from my lovely sister who shared a fellow blogger's post on Facebook, such a blogger who'd posted it after seeing someone else's blog post, who saw someone else's blogpost, who'd… well, taken inspiration from the brilliant Albert Einstein. I decided to share this myself as well, and add a couple more lessons he was so brilliant to teach.
Before I list off these inspiring life lessons I'd also like to add this: use the man himself as inspiration! What I mean by that is that Albert Einstein challenged our way of thinking, he challenged different ideas, concepts, and was utterly brilliant. He wasn't afraid to be different, to challenge the norm, or to just go for it. So be adventurous and do what feels right instead of following the "norm" of today's society. Because, let's face it, there is plenty wrong with today's society that is worth challenging and doing it yourself.
Now, on to Life Lessons from Albert Einstein:
1. Follow Your Curiosity: “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”
2. Perseverance is Priceless: “It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”
3. Focus on the Present: “Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.”
4. Imagination is Powerful: “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions. Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
5. Make Mistakes: “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”
6. Live in the Moment: “I never think of the future – it comes soon enough.”
7. Create Value: “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”
8. Don’t Be Repetitive: “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
9. Knowledge Comes From Experience: “Information is not knowledge. The only source of knowledge is experience.”
10. Learn the Rules and Then Play Better: “You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.”
11. Become a Vegetarian: "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."
12. Widening our circle of Compassion: "Our task must be to free ourselves . . . by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty."
Do you have any other favourite Albert Einstein quotes? :)
If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.
This smoothie is heaven in a cup! A great way to load up on some greens for the day and tastes absolutely delicious, sweet, and creamy. Pure goodness! Since you can't taste the greens I imagine it would be a great way to get little ones to eat their greens as well--but having no little ones to personally try this on, you'll have to be the judge. ;)
Green Almond Smoothie
1 frozen Banana
1 heaped Tbsp Almond Butter (or peanut butter)
1 cup Spinach or Kale (or combination of both)
1 cup Almond Milk
1/2 serving of protein powder (optional)
Add all your ingredients together in a high-speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy! Add less or more almond milk to get your desired consistency.
Makes 1 smoothie. Enjoy!
If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.
Linh La of Love Peace Vegan just hosted a giveaway on the blog so I'm not going to dive too much into talking about her super duper amazing shop filled with unique clothing and lovely wristbands. You can check out the original giveaway post for more on Love Peace Vegan, my interview with Linh and her awesome youtube videos. ;)
But today, I just wanted to share the goodies in the mail I received for Linh; a set of her beautiful wristbands which I have been wearing almost every day since receiving them. They are absolutely perfect, go with anything and feel really nice to wear. I know lots of those plastic wristbands can be kind of, well, plasticky feeling and these are super lovely. I'm a happy girl! :)
[with my cow tattoo!]
"This clothing line was created to raise awareness for those that cannot be heard, the health of humans, and our Mother Earth. Thank you for being veg, going green, 2 save the planet"
~Linh La of Love Peace Vegan
I hope to add one of her clothing pieces to my collection very soon… or, you know, if someone wanted to buy me one of her dresses or tanks I certainly wouldn't oppose. ;)
Take a look around her shop if you haven't yet, it's absolutely lovely! And that the shop proceeds go to such wonderful causes is so amazing. Seriously, let's hear it for Linh!!!
If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.
Just a quick post since I tend to forget to do these types of posts that share what's new and exciting in my shops. ;) Lots of new stuff at www.reloveplanet.etsy.com with more coming all the time :)
I just finished drawing, colouring, and creating these adorable cards printed on recycled mid weight paper :) I will have more coming with some "Birthday" themes. If there are any that you'd like to see be sure to leave a comment letting me know. Also, these cards are usually customizable for the text.
And brand new to the shop are three adorable blank journals with my original artwork on the cover. 100% recycled paper inside and the cover is recycled mid weight cardstock. I wanted to create these because I am always encouraging people to keep a "Happy Diary" so I thought these would be super cute for that, and to doodle in of course. :)
Lastly, I just finished another set of drawings that are all ready and are available in necklaces and magnets. :) Also, I have more shirt designs coming as soon as I get photos, but for now you'll have to be left in suspense ;)
If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.
I am overly excited to share another lovely giveaway with all of you! This one is hosted by the positively inspiring Linh La of "Love Peace Vegan"! :)
"This clothing line was created to raise awareness for those that cannot be heard, the health of humans, and our Mother Earth. Thank you for being veg, going green, 2 save the planet"
~Linh La of Love Peace Vegan
First off, I don't think I could possibly say enough good things about this amazing wonderful woman! She is a fellow kick-ass eco girl as well as a vegan. Her etsy shop is adorable and no two pieces are exactly the same. Her classic "Vegan" graphic is beautiful and classy with a modern touch that is perfect for anyone and everyone. Plus you can find anything from tops to pants to hoodies to dresses to adorable wristbands!
As if this wonderful woman and her shop weren't amazing enough, her shop is not for profit purposes! The point of the shop is to help Earth and its fellow inhabitants with proceeds going to support several charities like Ocean Conservancy, Humane Society, Nature Conservancy, Savethechildren.org, and more!
Now, before I go on to my little interview with Linh La, I would like you to see for yourself just how fun and positive and inspiring this woman is! These two videos are a MUST watch and will guarantee a smile on your face! She is such a fun and inspiring person and I am so thrilled to be sharing her wonderful personality and work with you all! :)
*********************************************
Tell us a bit about yourself.
LL: (Pause for 172.6 seconds) . . .
Well. Type A Personality. Lover. Vegan. Cancer Sign. Designer. Ego-Slasher. Asian. Meditator. Traveler. ESFJ. Seeker. Sinner. Student. Evolving Being.
Now, take a little bit of each, and you have me! Vwah-La!
How did Love Peace Vegan come to be?
LL: I was scouring the internet for shirts with Vegan Graphics that matched my aesthetic and I could not find it. So finally, one day, I made one. I wore them everyday and a stranger of a lady suggested, I should sell them. LIGHT BULB! My friend Galaxie introduced me to Etsy and here it is!
How long have you been vegan and what started your cruelty-free lifestyle?
LL: I was Vegetarian for about 17 years and then Vegan for over 4 years now. My body told me to: I was 7 years old and my stomach suddenly had these major pains and I could not eat anything. I was in the hospital for 4 days and 3 nights. The funny thing is they could not find a reason. My mom was a vegetarian for about a month. When I came out of the hospital, I distinctly asked my mom to become a veg-head. I never turned back since. Even when I was starting to eat food as a baby, I would chew the meat forever and then spit it out. I don't think I was ever meant to eat it.
What other projects are you currently working on or a part of?
LL: I am the creative director of all the Loving Huts in the USA where I work with the interior and graphic design (www.lovinghut.us).
I do freelance work and photography with "Linh La Design & Consultation". (www.linhla.com)
My mom and I own a Loving Hut Vegan Restaurant.
How do you spend your time when you're not saving the world?
LL: Relaxation. Meditation. Dance. Design. Laughing. Trying to find enlightenment in every corner.
One thing you can't live without?
LL: Aw man. My computer. It connects me with the world-wide-web, allows me to design, and is just marvelous!
Best piece of advice for life in general?
LL: My favorite quote that I am living by: "“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” Edward Everett
I think human beings are spectacular creations. We are so powerful, but I think we are afraid of that power or not willing to let it reach its full potential. With my eyes, hands, and feet, I will try to do everything that I am able to do. I am just one person, but my quality of a person will make a difference in this world as long as I am here! Let's save the world now, shall we?!
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