I managed to drag the whole family to VegFest this year. I've been looking forward to attending for months. I probably should have bought a lottery ticket the day I talked my husband, and both kids!, into attending because I feel pretty lucky. Actually, my family is pretty supportive of my "special dietary needs". (I won't go into detail how we ended up going straight from VegFest to an oyster bar though.) I didn't get any pictures but sampled so much food that I was stuffed. Even my husband sampled several products that he said he "could eat". Too funny. A couple of highlights include:
The raw chocolate cheesecake from Prasad. Seriously. SOOOO GOOOOD!
Grow Your Family Healthy's Heaven Sent ice cream. Yum!
Vege Thai's salad rolls. If you know me at all, you know I LOVE salad rolls.
I think the biggest highlight though was running into the very beautiful Sayward from Bonzai Aphrodite.
Already looking forward to next year!
I LOVE produce day! Columbia County Naturals food co-op orders organic produce every other week with Thursday delivery. I volunteer to help sort produce when it arrives and find there are few things better than spending the morning drooling over fresh, organic veggies and fruit. Not to mention dreaming up recipes for my loot.
I have been meaning to post pictures for a while and finally got around to snapping a few shots. My order was a little smaller this week because I am being gifted with homegrown goodies too. If you are interested in learning more about the co-op, email me at colcovegan@yahoo.com.
Drool away!
Namaste
Today is the last day of August. As I sit here enjoying fresh baked gluten-free, vegan chocolate zucchini muffins and a cuppa chai, I can't help but wonder where the heck summer went. Literally and figuratively. Its cold, grey and wet outside. The kids head back to school next week but our evenings are already filled with marching band rehearsals and soccer practice. It seems fall has already settled in and that is okay with me. I love, love, love Autumn.
Anyway, a busy summer has limited my ability to keep up with my little blog. Something I hope to make more time for this fall. I look forward to sharing more vegan love.
I will mention a couple of things that have caught my attention in recent weeks... plus a little shameless self promotion. Enjoy!
*I discovered this website a few months ago and really enjoy it. Bonzai Aphrodite is a Portland based site. Great resources, photos, and ideas!
*Last week I had the opportunity to try the new Chinese restaurant here in St. Helens. Happy Garden is located on Gable Road in St. Helens in the same complex as Starbucks and Great Clips. I'm not a big Chinese cuisine fan but was pleasantly surprised to find a decent vegetarian section on the menu. I ordered the Szechuan vegetables with tofu for $9.75. It was a good size portion served with steamed white rice. Might be worth checking out.
*The annual NW VEG Fest is coming up again in a couple of weeks and I cannot wait! I highly recommend checking it out. Lots of vegetarian and vegan education, tasty food, free samples, music, demos, and a really fun vibe. It will be held at the Oregon Convention Center the weekend of September 18th and 19th. Check out their website for more information.
*Shameless promotion time. One of the reasons I've been so busy this summer is because I began teaching four yoga classes each week. I have completed my 200 yoga teacher training program and am in the process of finalizing a few requirements so I can submit my application for certification with the Yoga Alliance. Eager to teach though, I jumped right in! I am currently teaching Monday and Wednesday evenings, in two locations. You can find me at The Vault Climbing Gym and Fitness Center from 5:30-6:30PM or at Pure Serenity Massage from 7-8PM. Also, I will be holding an Autumn Equinox Restorative Yoga class on Thursday, Sept. 23rd. It will be held at Pure Serenity Massage from 7-8:30PM. The cost is $12.00 and limited to the first 10 students that register and prepay. Please email me at colcovegan@yahoo.com if you would like to attend.
All for now,
Namaste
Anyway, a busy summer has limited my ability to keep up with my little blog. Something I hope to make more time for this fall. I look forward to sharing more vegan love.
I will mention a couple of things that have caught my attention in recent weeks... plus a little shameless self promotion. Enjoy!
*I discovered this website a few months ago and really enjoy it. Bonzai Aphrodite is a Portland based site. Great resources, photos, and ideas!
*Last week I had the opportunity to try the new Chinese restaurant here in St. Helens. Happy Garden is located on Gable Road in St. Helens in the same complex as Starbucks and Great Clips. I'm not a big Chinese cuisine fan but was pleasantly surprised to find a decent vegetarian section on the menu. I ordered the Szechuan vegetables with tofu for $9.75. It was a good size portion served with steamed white rice. Might be worth checking out.
*The annual NW VEG Fest is coming up again in a couple of weeks and I cannot wait! I highly recommend checking it out. Lots of vegetarian and vegan education, tasty food, free samples, music, demos, and a really fun vibe. It will be held at the Oregon Convention Center the weekend of September 18th and 19th. Check out their website for more information.
*Shameless promotion time. One of the reasons I've been so busy this summer is because I began teaching four yoga classes each week. I have completed my 200 yoga teacher training program and am in the process of finalizing a few requirements so I can submit my application for certification with the Yoga Alliance. Eager to teach though, I jumped right in! I am currently teaching Monday and Wednesday evenings, in two locations. You can find me at The Vault Climbing Gym and Fitness Center from 5:30-6:30PM or at Pure Serenity Massage from 7-8PM. Also, I will be holding an Autumn Equinox Restorative Yoga class on Thursday, Sept. 23rd. It will be held at Pure Serenity Massage from 7-8:30PM. The cost is $12.00 and limited to the first 10 students that register and prepay. Please email me at colcovegan@yahoo.com if you would like to attend.
All for now,
Namaste
Columbia County Naturals is a recently organized local co-op that brings organic produce, Bob's Red Mill products at wholesale prices, organic spices, herbs, coffee and tea, plus so much more, right to our own neighborhood! This co-op is an off-shoot of Rose City Co-op which was originally based in Scappoose. After the founder moved to Beaverton, Columbia County Naturals began operation!
Our supplier list, and membership, continues to grow. We are currently ordering organic produce every other week and other items, such as Bob's Red Mill and Frontier, about once a month. There are pick-up locations in Scappoose and Columbia City.
I keep meaning to photograph my produce box on pick-up day... I will really make a better effort next week... but I promise, the produce is amazing! My last order included spinach, leaf lettuce, apples, strawberries, blueberries, corn, cucumber, basil...so good!
If you would like more information about the co-op or placing an order with us, please email me at: colcovegan@yahoo.com.
Namaste
Our supplier list, and membership, continues to grow. We are currently ordering organic produce every other week and other items, such as Bob's Red Mill and Frontier, about once a month. There are pick-up locations in Scappoose and Columbia City.
I keep meaning to photograph my produce box on pick-up day... I will really make a better effort next week... but I promise, the produce is amazing! My last order included spinach, leaf lettuce, apples, strawberries, blueberries, corn, cucumber, basil...so good!
If you would like more information about the co-op or placing an order with us, please email me at: colcovegan@yahoo.com.
Namaste
Yesterday was the much anticipated Dread Day! My time with the Dread Goddess at Akemi Salon was magical and went by so fast. So now, I'm an official Dread Head. : ) As I mentioned in a previous post, Akemi is an all vegan salon. Its super quirky with lovely, beautiful, divine people. Stephanie made me feel so welcomed and I'm honored that she helped this dream become reality. The dreads are crazy, wild and SEXY and it's only day two!
Namaste
Who would have ever thought the words recycling and serene would be used in the same sentence? But my first time experience at the recycling center yesterday was just that: serene. The sun was shining, there wasn't much activity at the transfer station so I could hear the birds chirping, all while doing something so lovely for mama Earth. I should clarify that it was my first time delivering our recycling to the recycling center, not my first ever time recycling. We've been avid recyclers for years. At the end of 2009, we decided to forgo traditional curbside garbage pickup and do it ourselves. In theory, depending on how much garbage we produce, this could ultimately save us more than $100 per year. The other big motivator is trying to reduce our overall output of garbage by consuming/purchasing less, buying in bulk, eliminating products with excessive packaging, composting, etc. I'm also trying to re purpose and reuse as much as possible. It is a work in progress but after four months, we've only delivered one load of actual garbage to the transfer station, though we are about ready to do it again. I've already got another load of recyclables loaded up and ready to go for delivery sometime this weekend! It feels so good to be capable of helping care for this exquisite planet we call home!
Namaste
Namaste
This post, while titled vegan hair care, is actually a little deeper. I've decided to spill my heart and soul. I'm about a month away from getting dreadlocks. Yep. You read that right. I've been dreaming of dreadlocks for years. However, about six months ago, my dream became a complete obsession which has so, so many levels. The final motivation to actually DO IT came when I found out that I am going to be laid-off from my somewhat high profile, public service job. I decided that it is time! I don't want to be an old, wrinkly woman sitting in my rocking chair regretting that I didn't do something that felt so true and beautiful in my heart.
Enter the Dread Goddess (aka Stephanie) of Akemi Salon in Portland. While I originally planned to make the dreads a DIY project, I've since reconsidered and have decided to let a professional create my masterpiece. The super cool thing about this salon in particular is that they are a "vegan" salon. They don't use any products that contain animal ingredients and I believe most of the stylists are vegans themselves.
I am plugging the salon a little premature, as I have yet to actually visit it...I have a pre-dread consult scheduled mid-April...but just knowing that the salon is staffed by such conscious and caring individuals, I know I will be in sweet, loving hands.
http://www.akemisalon.com/
Enter the Dread Goddess (aka Stephanie) of Akemi Salon in Portland. While I originally planned to make the dreads a DIY project, I've since reconsidered and have decided to let a professional create my masterpiece. The super cool thing about this salon in particular is that they are a "vegan" salon. They don't use any products that contain animal ingredients and I believe most of the stylists are vegans themselves.
I am plugging the salon a little premature, as I have yet to actually visit it...I have a pre-dread consult scheduled mid-April...but just knowing that the salon is staffed by such conscious and caring individuals, I know I will be in sweet, loving hands.
http://www.akemisalon.com/
I have really dropped the ball with blogging. I have become overwhelmed with personal shifts in my life over the past few months. My heart is never far away though and I was compelled to write after learning that a fairly new vegan is still at it. I'm so happy and proud to be apart of the vegan community.
My life as a vegan is ever changing and evolving. I now consider myself a high-raw, gluten-free vegan. Most days, I aim to eat mostly raw until dinner and then enjoy a cooked meal. Some days, I eat about 95% raw. Other days, 50%. I'm learning to go with the flow!
My original intention with blogging was to share my knowledge with local friends where to score vegan treats. I have not given up on the notion but I know I have slowed and I apologize. That said, I recently made an exciting gluten-free and vegan discovery, right here in St. Helens, thanks to Starbucks.
Enter Dr. Lucy's Cookies! My-oh-my...YUM! They are vegan, gluten-free, allergen free and super yummy. Paired with a soy chai latte...ah...pure love. I highly recommend the chocolate chip (as they are the only ones I've tried so far) but I can't wait to try the others.
I'd love to hear from you if you've tried the other varieties or found a fantastic local vegan find! Please email me at: colcovegan@yahoo.com.
Namaste
My life as a vegan is ever changing and evolving. I now consider myself a high-raw, gluten-free vegan. Most days, I aim to eat mostly raw until dinner and then enjoy a cooked meal. Some days, I eat about 95% raw. Other days, 50%. I'm learning to go with the flow!
My original intention with blogging was to share my knowledge with local friends where to score vegan treats. I have not given up on the notion but I know I have slowed and I apologize. That said, I recently made an exciting gluten-free and vegan discovery, right here in St. Helens, thanks to Starbucks.
Enter Dr. Lucy's Cookies! My-oh-my...YUM! They are vegan, gluten-free, allergen free and super yummy. Paired with a soy chai latte...ah...pure love. I highly recommend the chocolate chip (as they are the only ones I've tried so far) but I can't wait to try the others.
I'd love to hear from you if you've tried the other varieties or found a fantastic local vegan find! Please email me at: colcovegan@yahoo.com.
Namaste
I hope this post finds you in good health and cheer! We are already eight days into 2010...WOW! I am already experiencing some dramatic shifts in my life, some of which are beyond my own control. With the current state of the economy, I think most people are feeling the effects of it. Big changes are coming and my intention is to focus on allowing myself to be open to whatever the universe has in store for me.
I spent some time over the Christmas/New Year holiday creating a vision board, thanks to the suggestion of the magnificent Kris Carr. I found some recurring themes, one of them being raw, vegan food. I enjoyed some raw "cooking" during my time off too. I'm exploring what it all means. Perhaps there is some sort of future for me with raw foods. Hmmm.
Other themes were yoga (of course!), writing and a creative project that I'm developing. I'm also beginning another blog that challenges me to capture my life with pictures. I can't praise the idea of the vision board enough. I feel like it is already guiding me, or at least helping to keep me focused during this time of uncertainty.
I wish everyone a healthy, prosperous and joyful year!
Namaste
I spent some time over the Christmas/New Year holiday creating a vision board, thanks to the suggestion of the magnificent Kris Carr. I found some recurring themes, one of them being raw, vegan food. I enjoyed some raw "cooking" during my time off too. I'm exploring what it all means. Perhaps there is some sort of future for me with raw foods. Hmmm.
Other themes were yoga (of course!), writing and a creative project that I'm developing. I'm also beginning another blog that challenges me to capture my life with pictures. I can't praise the idea of the vision board enough. I feel like it is already guiding me, or at least helping to keep me focused during this time of uncertainty.
I wish everyone a healthy, prosperous and joyful year!
Namaste
