Minimal Summer Makeup

Here in the Northeast U.S., we have had some scorching hot days. For a while, it was also very dry, but the humidity has picked up and everything is droopy (plants and people included). I usually stick to light makeup, but that's especially true when it's so hot.

Note: The matte bronzer from Tarte is vegan, but the regular 

one is not. I have the non-vegan one pictured in the travel size, 

given to me as a gift. It is not vegan because it is made in 

China, and therefore required by law to be tested on animals.

I have normal to dry skin, with a few breakouts still, so I have a tough time finding the right balance of moisturizing products that don't leave me feeling sweaty or greasy on my face. I'm still working on a good skincare routine, but lately I make sure to wash and tone my face in the morning, and then apply a moisturizer with SPF. I like the Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisture SPF 47 because it uses titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, both physical SPFs, instead of chemicals. It is very greasy, though, so powder is a must (and I NEVER use powder).

For base, I've only been using concealer around my t-zone to even out redness and dark under-eye circles. I currently use the BareMinerals BareSkin Complete Coverage Serum in Fair. If I had the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, I'd probably use that instead, since it's a little less greasy, but setting the serum concealer with powder works fine for me. I use an EcoTools Buffing Brush to blend in the concealer under my eyes, around my nostrils, and on any blemishes (usually around my chin). It does seem to settle into my pores around my nose, so when I remember, I try to use the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer first.

The secret to my minimal summer makeup is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder in Dim Light. I picked up a mini size at Sephora this spring, and could NOT figure out what to do with it. I thought it was just a setting powder, but it was way too dark for me. However, since I'm so pale, it looks really nice on my cheeks as a sort of mix between blush and bronzer. It's so subtle that I don't have to worry about going too heavy or blending to long. I've also used it as an eye shadow, and it's really subtle and pretty as well. If I feel like adding a bit more bronze, I will brush some of the Tarte Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof bronzer to the top outside part of my cheekbones, near my hairline. And I'll brush some on my neck if I seem to pale/contrasting there.

For eyes, I'm trying out different nude/natural shades, but today I grabbed my HAN Skin Care Cosmetics 100% Natural Eye Shadow in Taupey Plum, and it's perfect for this bronzed but minimal makeup look. I put a small amount on the EcoTools Full Eye Shadow Brush, and applied focusing on the lash line and then blending out towards the crease. You could use a liner as well, but I kept it simple by just curling my lashes and applying a single coat of the Pacifica Aquarian Gaze Water-Resistant Long Lash Mineral Mascara in Abyss. As I mentioned, I used a setting powder because my face looked way too shiny. I have the Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Loose Powder, but it's really too dark for my skin tone.

I finish off the look by brushing through my eyebrows with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel in Brunette and adding some lip moisCrazy Rumors 100% Natural Lip Balm in Hot Cocoa. I should really find a lip balm with SPF--any suggestions? I don't care for the scent of the Hurraw Sun Balm, or I would use that. Let's be honest, though, I really don't like most SPF scents--they're too citrusy for me. If I could just wear a hat all the time, I totally would!
ture with the

How are you staying cool in the heat? Make sure to drink lots of water! xoxo

My Skincare Routine

I have been on a beauty and skincare kick for...a while now. It started last fall with a couple of subscriptions to some vegan beauty boxes (Petit Vour and Vegan Cuts Beauty Box). I was so excited with the boxes because, after six years of being vegan, I was still having a tough time figuring out what personal care products were vegan. Food is easy--makeup and skincare are not always so straightforward.

The beauty boxes helped me discover and fall in love with many products, and it turns out that there are SO many options! I mostly try to stick to natural, non-toxic products that are vegan and cruelty-free. For information about ingredients, I recommend the Environmental Working Groups Skin Deep database. For lists of vegan and cruelty free products, check out Tashina Combs' amazing blog full of resources.

You'll notice these products are focused on detoxing and anti-aging. I don't have particularly sensitive skin, but I've been prone to breakouts lately and I just like having more natural products on my skin. Grad school has not been kind to my skin, so I'm hoping that with time these products will help restore my skin and reduce some frowning wrinkles on my forehead.

One of the brands I was especially pleased to find was Derma E, and now I use their Hydrating Night Cream and Day Cream, as well as their Purifying Daily Detox Scrub and their Firming DMAE Eye Lift Cream. All of their products are vegan and cruelty-free, and they have great formulas that I find super effective. I've used their Hydrating Serum, but I just picked up their Purifying Youth Serum yesterday, so I'm trying that one out now. My mom, who is also vegan, has enjoyed using their products as well. I love that they look and feel high end, but they're actually really affordable.

Another affordable brand I've known about, but have recently been interested in more, is Pacifica Beauty. They're also all vegan and cruelty free. I think for a while they were mostly making perfumes and really smelly lotions, but lately they are upping their skincare game and it's amazing! I was so happy to see a few weeks ago that they launched a Cactus Water Micellar Cleansing Tonic. Micellar water is all the rave with the beauty bloggers, but all the brands I've heard them mention are tested on animals, so I could not have been happier to find a product I feel good about. Not only is this product both vegan and cruelty-free, it also smells great and the bottle looks so lovely.  I also picked up their Pore Refine Deep Detox Mask, which I think is helping to help reduce my blackheads, and I'm trying out their Cactus & Kale Oil-Free Stress Recovery Lotion. The lotion feels so nice, and unlike their earlier products, the scent is so subtle and soothing. I will say that I was also tempted to buy their Sea Change Future Youth Serum, but I got the Derma E serum instead, because it was on sale!  Next time! (EDIT: I picked it up in June, and like it just the same as the Derma E, so I just switch back and forth.)

Finally, I just discovered a local Rochester skin care company and have really enjoyed the products I picked up from them during Anthropologie's Pop Up Market in Eastview Mall. Red Moon Apothecary is located about half a mile from my house, and they make lovely botanical skin care products. Some of their products have milk or honey in them, but I found a few that are vegan. The Activated Charcoal Cleansing Cream is SO luxurious. It is like an oil cleanser, but it is so refreshing because of the activated charcoal. Like I said, my skin has been breaking out so much, and this feels like the perfect balance for my skin. Ob-sessed. I also picked up their Lavender and Citrus Cleanser, which is bright and fresh as well. The other product I picked out from them is their Hydrating Facial Serum, which is a lovely and light combination of 5 different oils plus essential oils. The jury is still out whether it's a keeper, but I think it will work well for an evening when I really want my skin to soak up hydrating and natural oils.

I seriously have so many more products that I have been loving, but I'll save those for next time! What vegan products do you have in your skincare routine? Any local, handmade brands you're proud to have discovered? Let me know!

Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm a huge fan of chocolate chip cookies. Last week, I accidently bought $18 worth of chocolate chips from the bulk section of the food co-op. I was eating about 5 handfuls a day, when Adam told me that he really likes chocolate chips, but only when they're wrapped up in sugar, oil and flour. He's very tactful. So I whipped these up. Unfortunately, this made less than 2 dozen cookies, and they've been devoured in less than 24 hours. Need I say more?

1/2 C whole wheat flour
1/2 C buckwheat flour*
1 C quick oats
dash of salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/ C oil
1 Tbs vanilla extract
1/2 C sugar (agave and maple syrup work too)
2-5 Tbs water
1/2 C chopped walnuts
1 scant cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 F. Mix ingredients together, adding the chocolate chips last. Let the batter sit for a few minutes. Spoon 1/4 C blobs onto a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Bake for 10 minutes, keeping an eye on them as they cook.

I adapted this from a recipe in the Rabbit Food Cookbook, by Beth A. Barnett. Her recipe calls for less oatmeal and lots of shredded coconut, which I didn't have. It's neat that not having all the ingredients grants you the right to copy someone's recipe.

*You don't have to use buckwheat flour. Use all whole wheat, or some unbleached all-purpose flour.

Blueberry Rhubarb Crisp

I modified a recipe I found in a book called "Celebrate the Harvests!: Michigan Farm Markets and Farm Stands." I bought the book at a used book store in Michigan and have never looked for a recipe in it until now. After a long season of rhubarb, I've taken several stabs at the best berry crisp recipe ever, and this is the closest I've come. The original recipe didn't call for blueberries, but clearly as a Michigan cookbook it should most definitely utilize them. As a note, I always make weird substitutions, so feel free to use whole wheat flour or pastry flour instead of buckwheat, different berries, brown sugar, etc.
Rhubarb mixture:
2 heaping cups of rhubarb, chopped
1 C fresh blueberries
1/3 C sugar
3 Tbs Buckwheat flour
1/2 tsp nutmeg or ground cardamom
3 Tbs soymilk
2 tsp tapioca starch (or cornstarch)

Stir ingredients together and pour into a 9-in pie plate (glass is best).

Topping:
1/4 C canola oil or margarine, melted
1/3 C sugar
1 Tbs molasses
2 Tbs maple syrup
1/2 C buckwheat flour
1/2 C quick oats
1 tsp cinnamon

Stir the topping together and sprinkle on top of the rhubarb mixture. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes. If the top begins to burn, use foil to cover for the rest of the cooking time.

I baked this and topped it with Cashew Cream:
Using a food processor, blend together 1 Cup unsalted cashews, 1 cup hot apple juice, and 1 Tbs maple syrup. Refrigerate for 1 hour, or serve hot.

Serve to someone you love. <3

breadmaking.

One of the things I have been doing to stay active while I search for a job is--and this is so cliche--bake. I've never really been much of a baker, since I don't like following recipes, but lately I've had such a sweet tooth, and I don't feel like bundling up to get some store-bought overly-processed cookies. Since I've been unemployed, I've made several wonderful batches of snickerdoodles, ginger cookies, scones, and even coconut cupcakes and shortbread. I've also made more than a couple of delicious loaves of bread, including French baguettes. I made those today, and they are delicious! The catch is that once you have some fresh out of the oven, the cooled bread just doesn't taste as great. And Adam surely can't get enough!

Anyway, I'm glad that I've had this time to get to know baking, and, especially, to make some delicious vegan treats that people simply adore. Brianne told me that the ginger cookies were hands-down the best vegan cookies she's ever had, and Charlie said that the coconut cupcakes were perfectly moist. I'm very proud to share these cruelty-free treats, and to have them enjoyed by all!

Baking bread used to be a mystery to me. The power of yeast seemed to be nearly godlike, having the ability to turn water and flour into gooey, expanding, airy dough. My mom used to put her bread dough in her KitchenAid mixing bowl with a towel over it in the front of our minivan to rise. It was pure magic. "Learn to bake bread" appears on my List of Things To Do alongside "Learn French" and "Hike to Machu Picchu". It's THAT huge for me. I feel that when I'm kneading dough, I'm connecting with millions of women over centuries and millennia who have mastered this art of nourishment. If I have nothing else in the house, at least I have a few cups of flour, a tablespoon of yeast and some salt, sugar and oil if need be.

I happened to have that same sensation of connecting with women when, in the backcountry, I would wash my clothes on the rocks in the cold river. Nothing makes you feel more indigenous than standing naked in the rushing water, rinsing the dirt from your day's activities off your clothes and letting them dry on the rocks while you scrub your shivering body. I used to throw everything in my sleeping bag case and hoist the heavy load onto my head to hike up the big hill back to camp. It really is the easiest way to carry such a load.

When I get fed up with life's complications, I like to think about simple, sustainable practices our species have carried on since the birth of our history. Despite the fact that we demand phone interviews, letters of recommendation, writing samples, electronic AND paper applications, and freaking NY State Drivers Licenses, life for human beings is really much simpler. We are not meant for the bureaucracy of this modern age. We were meant for more earthly purposes:

Create a home, create a community, bake bread, break bread.

We make things so much more complicated than they need to be. You can, of course, extrapolate and use these things as metaphors. Buy a house, start a family, make dinner, eat together. But I would encourage preserving the former and ignoring the latter. Except that you can eat more than just bread! I wonder sometimes how I can live in this world. It's hard to drive a car, take a hot shower, live in a house too big for its occupants, mow a lawn and send text messages when I have known another way. I have known what it's like to move exactly at the pace of my own footsteps. I have known cold dips in wild rivers and soothing baths in natural hot springs. I have lived in a tent with the wilderness as my living room. I have maintained trails and restored meadows. I have sat for hours around a campfire, writing songs and talking dreams with people who loved the mountains as I did. It's hard to take these things for granted.

Most days, I just want to move to a farm in a place that grows food year round. I want to "make a living" by building a life. Provide for my family by growing food that I then cook for them and serve. Put in a hard day's work and actually know what the weather was like that day. I want to move at the pace of my footsteps.

There are lots of reasons why that is not going to happen, at least not anytime soon. First of all, it's horrendously cliche and idealistic. And very privileged. I do believe in urban population and keeping the wilderness wild. I think cities are horribly designed and once cars become obsolete (okay, scarce) I will very much enjoy city life. There are great things that come from putting community within walking distance. I'm getting off track.

In the end, I'm thinking today about what is important in life. And I'm thinking about bread.

Baking bread is grounding. So is eating it. And washing clothes, and taking naps, and sitting still, feeling the earth between your toes. What have you done today that really grounds you? That makes you remember that you are a human being, with a long history of living off the earth? What makes you feel the stillness? What makes you feel whole?

I'm asking myself all of these questions, and thinking about the next good thing I will put into the oven...

white bean & kale soup with parsnips

I have had a bunch of kale in the refrigerator and a hankering for some white bean soup lately, but every recipe I looked up seemed boring. Some featured a tomato base, which I didn't want. And so I did what I usually do: I gave up on the recipe and let my tastebuds guide me. The parsnips and the tahini add a nutty, warm flavor to the dish. And, as you'll notice, this is a true-to-the-season winter soup. Add a splash of red wine vinegar or lemon juice at the end to give it a crisp finish:

INGREDIENTS
1 C dry white beans, soaked overnight (or 2 cans fresh)
2 bay leaves
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 large parsnip, cut in quartered rounds
3 medium potatoes, cubed
2 tsp dried sage
3 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 C chopped kale, stems removed
2 Tbs tahini
1/4 C soy creamer or soymilk

In a medium soup pot, cover beans with water and add the bay leaves. Simmer for 1 hour. If using dried beans, drain the water once and replace it with fresh water about half-way through, to reduce gas effect. If using canned beans, cook for only 30 minutes.

With about 25 minutes left for the beans, pan fry the potatoes and parsnips in olive oil and sage. Set on medium heat and cover, stirring occasionally. After 10 minutes, add the garlic. Once the garlic is soft, pour a splash of water in the pan and add the kale, covering once again. Steam for 10 minutes more. Once kale is tender, stir everything into the pot with the beans. Add the soy creamer and tahini and stir until creamy and smooth. Add more water, if desired.


We served this with some homemade wheat bread and some dipping oil with herbs sent to us from my brother and his partner. It was delicious, and I hope you enjoy it! Buen provecho!

Post script: After I made this, Jen sent me a recipe for Polenta with White Beans, Braised Kale and Roasted Pears. YUM!

compassionate meanderings...

I don't know what the hell I want to do with my life.

Heck, I don't even know what I want to do in two months when my Americorps term ends.
In a lot of ways, I'm okay with this not-knowing. It means that I can do anything, and I'm glad to have those options open. Especially because I feel that my life is still shifting and readjusting. I must be 24...

To try to make sense of my values and vision, so that soon I might be able to synthesize this into a five-year-plan, I'm going to explain what I know I believe in.

Compassion:
The mother of a good friend from middle school once told me that I was compassionate. At her house, my friends and I were discussing who was the "girl next door" and I figured I was. Being naive, I thought that term simply meant I was normal, unassuming and generally well-liked. But when she insisted that I wasn't a "girl-next-door", that I was such a compassionate young woman, I was confused, and touched. I guess I've carried that with me all those years. It was like a charge, a prophecy I was meant to live out. I am compassionate, and thus my life should be an example of compassion. I know I don't always live up to this trait, but I do believe in it with all of my heart. Caring about others and exercising non-judgment creates a space between us in which people can unload their worries and judgments, and then find the courage to move beyond adversity, and soar.

It is because of my commitment to compassion that I am so excited about speaking out against animal cruelty. Animal rights, human rights, women's rights, civil rights and all other forms of advocacy to marginalized groups have the same root evil: oppression. And nearly all of the acts of cruelty and oppression in this world are committed by one small group of power-hungry, greedy and violent human beings who believe they are entitled to everything in God's creation. In the past, men felt like they were entitled to women's bodies, slave labor, animal flesh and political power. But as time goes on, the human consciousness becomes aware of the immoral paradigms that define and enslave us. We are tied to our history of violence and exploitation, and strangely, we cling to it!

Across the board, those who belong to a privileged group find comfort and protection in the status quo, and even after they become enlightened to the atrocities of oppression, they can't see how the world could be any different. Women support patriarchy because, thanks to patriarchy, they live in a system in which they are sheltered, provided for and asked to do very little. But that same system makes it obligatory to sacrifice a woman's body to men's sexual desires (physical or simply visual), suffer ridicule, abuse and humiliation, and live as second-class citizens. It often takes quite a bit of nudging for women new to feminism to wash their hands of the so-called "security" of supporting masculine power. It is the same with any form of oppression.

As I wrote in my last post, it is so easy to support the status quo, because the messages that rationalize privilege are ingrained in us. But move just a smidge beyond those lies, and you will see things exceptionally clearly. It happened exactly that way when I finally understood and embraced feminism. And it is the same now, as I am uncovering the layers of ways in which we enslave, oppress and exploit non-human animals.

I've been thinking lately about how glad I am that I decided to be vegan--especially because I know I am doing something that is true to my values. I never have to feel hypocritical or compromising, at least when it comes to my food choices. It is a grand feeling to exude ethics on a daily basis. I am living in a way that is compassionate and intentional. When I talk to people about going vegan, I tell them that it was the best decision I've ever made (along with living in the mountains!). All of the initial "cons" that I imagined just melt away when I realize the impact my decisions have on ending oppression everywhere. When I choose compassion, I am fighting against racism, sexism, speciesism and any other -ism that exploits living things. Maybe I can't have anything I want a a restaurant, but by asking for those options and only eating things that align with my values, I can have a positive impact on changing this system. Someday all restaurants will have options for cruelty-free foods, and many will ONLY serve those options. Anyway, my advice is this: Once you take the plunge, you won't regret it, even if you have to say "no, thank you" to those scrumptious-looking chocolate cookies. Besides, you can make your own delicious cruelty-free cookies, and feel even better about them because you made them, and made them with compassion.

I'm writing about all of this because I'm so blown-away by my passion for it. For the last two hours I have been reading the newsletter for "Mercy For Animals," a blog about human exceptionalism, and an article about Race, Species and Dehumanization. I'm so amazed that I spent this much of my life unaware of the cruelty we demand for tasty burgers and chicken nuggets. And it's hard, having learned so much about animal rights and liberation, knowing that it's not so obvious or compelling to most people.

Yesterday, I found out that a girl who I had talked to only a couple of weeks ago about being vegan had decided to go vegan too. I know that a combination of talking to me about it, along with other positive influences and empowerment on Greta's part, helped her make that decision, and I'm thrilled. It's strange though, because already her family is outraged. ANGRY. About her wanting to live in a way that doesn't hurt others? It's insane. And that makes me more aware of the deep connection people have with their food. Even in the short time that I have been vegan, I have been pelted with arguments FOR eating meat that lack empathy, concern and true rationalism.

Most arguments against veganism are a defense mechanism, because veganism threatens to shed light on a subject about which we have been happily ignorant since before the 1950s, since before we started mutilating, torturing, drugging and violently slaughtering non-human animals for our exponentially increasing demand for meat. Most people I talk to who are rational, compassionate people in general but who eat meat admit that they "just don't think about the animals' suffering." And that's a problem. If you compare it to driving cars, accruing and throwing out excessive waste, or buying clothes made in sweatshops, you see that we are constantly turning a blind eye to the ways in which we are destroying our planet. And worse, we are participating in a system that is cruel and unmerciful. And it is senseless, ignorant, and lazy. Creating a disconnect between the pasture and plate is exactly what farm industry wants you to do. We are hypnotized by Beef commercials and tantalized by sexy women with milk mustaches on Got Milk? ads and we are made to think that if we just plug our noses and chug that we will be satisfied with this scenario. And it's not okay.

There are some amazing organizations that provide resources to help make a vegan lifestyle doable. Here are a couple of my favorites:

Vegan Outreach: http://www.veganoutreach.org/guide/

Mercy for Animals: http://www.mfablog.org/

Also, this is random, but I found a profile on Vegan Outreach of Jenna Calabrese, one of Adam's close friends. She's so great! Check her out: http://www.veganoutreach.org/enewsletter/jenna.html

I guess at this point I really feel like I care most about living compassionately, but next time I write I promise I'll include my passion for the Bitone Center, Local Economy and Bike Commuting.

this is why i'm vegan

more than three months ago, i decided to "go vegan." i think that's an awkward phrase because it makes it seem gimmicky and, in a way, temporary. "i went vegan once, but i got out of that quick." that's something that a girl selling vegan biscotti told me. i can say that i won't buy "biscotti for everybotti" ever again. if you ridicule your target consumer, you don't deserve their business. period. anyway, it's the catchphrases and cliches that really bog this issue down. looking at it from the inside out, i see how often people who are not vegan or who were never wholeheartedly vegan misunderstand and judge this compassionate choice. and it makes me think about all of these fringe groups that are so often the butt of jokes and the target of hate and discrimination.

the argument for eating meat is, to me, comparable to the argument for patriarchy. it is an age-old argument that is easily won. how can you argue against patriarchy when it is the dominant paradigm? that is what anti-feminists have been flaunting since feminism's inception. they have the points that always "make sense" because they are the generally accepted rule. but they are wrong. we know that about feminism. so what about the act of eating meat?

meat-eaters often point out to a vegan that "we have been eating meat for thousands of years. we evolved to be hunters and to have an omnivorous diet." even the beloved Michael Pollan, crusader-of-sorts for the semi-conscious eater, says that it is natural for us to eat animals. but there is nothing natural about the way that food animals are caged, drugged, and slaughtered for our "evolved" style of eating. there is no connection to the way we hunted only what we needed and held ceremonies to honor the slain animals. and there is no excuse for torturing and neglecting billions of animals. and anyway, just because we have been doing something for thousands of years does not mean that we have the right to continue doing it. in general, immorality is acceptable only as long as it can be excused by ignorance. once we reach enlightenment, every second wasted in inaction only diminishes our morality. and our humanity.

for the sake of keeping this personal, i'll stray now from ideology and paradigms (god, i love that word). it's sort of a strange thing to have become vegan and not have a big "coming out" party. is that weird? i am so proud of my decision and so glad that adam has helped me through this process so much. he is the most compassionate person i know and he is so understanding and empathic. i really feel like this solidifies my committment to peace and compassion for all things living and i'm just so damn proud of myself. so that's why it's hard when my boss makes rude comments and literally makes fun of me for not eating meat. and not eating any products that come from animals. i'm really proud of this part about me, and that makes it confusing when people think it's something weird or shameful. i make a decision every day on the side of compassion, and i'm not hurting anyone. and that makes me worthy of ridicule?

i suppose christians express this situation with the metaphor of "taking up the cross". i know that this is a difficult path that i have chosen to take but it is only difficult because of those who would try to make it difficult for me. i don't miss eating meat or cheese or eggs because i can no longer look at those things as food. they are parts of living things and that is either disgusting or disrespectful to eat.

this feeling did not develop the moment i saw an animal cruelty video. in fact, adam showed me his Fowl Play documentary and i continued to eat cheese and yogurt and butter. it's not easy to just eliminate these "normal" things from your diet. but once i gave it up and got over the cravings i had for those things, i realized how strange it was, to me, that we eat these things. "milk" is a cow's breast milk, meant for her calves. it does not flow from her constantly, which is a common misconception. dairy cows are regularly bred so that they always make milk (imagine if we had a factory where women were raped to produce milk for other people's children). eggs are a chicken's dead embryo, and therefore we are eating the result of the hen's menstruation. we wouldn't even think to consume the result of a human's menstrual cycle. and yet my boss tried, rather urgently, to tell one of my youths that she couldn't possibly live without eggs. i hope she wasn't listening very closely...

over the past three months, i have noticed a significant boost in my energy levels. i feel healthier and happier, and i have lost a little weight that was excess (i also bike commute, so that makes a difference too). i eat delicious food and find options everywhere, if limited. it is a bit expensive, but mostly because i am boycotting Wegmans, and only shop at the Abundance Food Co-op or the market. but i feel good about those decisions. i support locally owned and grown food, i boycott animal cruelty, and i live a healthy and happy life.

i thought about putting a disclaimer here, like, "i don't mean to call out the people who do eat meat" or "you can make your own choice about the food you eat" but i don't think that does this post justice. you don't have to agree with how i feel about eating cheese or eggs, but i really encourage you to consider that the argument for eating meat is archaic and based on capitalism and consumerism. it is age-old and it is heartless. eating vegan really is the most compassionate way to live your life. and that's why i'm vegan.

<3