Nail Polsih Fun

I have been painting my nails for a few weeks - it is said to beat stress. While I fancy the look of artsy nails that I have seen online and in Japanese magazines - I am not that good. I am trying though and get a few happy compliments! Tip: to create dots, use the tip of a bobby pin dripped in nail polish and dot away!

I was using a polish remover that was cruelty free to my furry friends but it was cruel to my skin. My fingertips were raw! I had to slather on super thick hand lotion for days till things looked better. I picked up the E.L.F. polish remover pads thinking that they will not work...Boy was I wrong! I used them last night and they did the job using 2 pads and left my nails glossy and my hands not dry! For $1 pick these up now!

Natural Medicine Cabinet

I am scared of the chemicals found in OTC medicine not to mention the side effects! I have discovered a few new products that are worth stocking in your cabinet.


I picked up Peaceful Mountain's Shingles Rescue after reading about it. It has helped heal the shingles I had and it really helps cool the area! The recovery time was really short after I applied the gel, things seemed to start healing over night!



This morning Mar decided to wake me up with a claw in my upper lip - OUCH! A few weeks back I won a gift certificate to Foreue from Vegan Cuts. One of the items I picked up was the Blue Magic antibacterial spray that helps numb the pain. Since it was safe for the mouth I applied it, it stung a bit at first (only natural) but it has helped all day long! You need this for all your boo boos!

Amy Winehouse

I remember when I first heard her music, it was on TV before she got big and I just had to get her album. Actually Matt went out and bought it for me - it was one of the first albums he bought me. I fell in love with Back To Black and sought out Frank and anything else I could get my hands on by her. I remember seeing her on a cover of a magazine in Barnes and Noble and buying it, reading the article and feeling sad for her and the relationship she was in.
Her style was something I was doing before she came into the homes of many...big hair, lots of eyeliner. When I was working someone told me "you have Amy's style" - I remember being a bit angry thinking - no she has my style...I think about it now as how people just try to group people together...

When I read that she died yesterday I was shocked, I thought it was a joke. Last month I heard she was trying to get help again and I was hoping for a new album and a tour! It really broke my heart, I do not want to listen to her music right now, it would just hurt to much.

I do not know what drug addiction is like, I have seen it but I have never experienced it. I know how scary it is to feel hopeless though. Getting help for your problems being drugs or depression is scary. Change is scary, we are creatures of habit, change is never easy. For the people dismissing her and saying horrible things - I wonder if they have ever lost someone...

I do not think someone turns to drugs and alcohol because they are happy, I think the opposite emotions are what draws people into addiction. For everyone who is saying such cruel things think about what made her turn to drugs, possibly sadness. You cannot fault someone for being depressed or feeling hopeless. For those who think treatment is so easy, I do not think they have struggled with demons...

Remember we lost a celebrity - someone we only knew through tabloids and music. A family lost a member though, parents are grieving right now....

Chocolate Goodness

I tried coconut water a few months back after all the hype. I did not care for it. So a few weeks back on a Sunday shopping trip in which I was not really looking forward to having dinner I saw the new Zico chocolate coconut water flavor, I was curious though at $1.99 a bottle I was hoping it was good.

I got home, let it chill and cracked it open. I was really surprised at how chocolatey it tasted and the smoothness. Matt hates coconut so I was curious as to what he thought - he really liked it too and asked for me to buy more.

With really hot days and not feeling well lately I buy a few bottles at a time and have one for breakfast. It is yummy and comforting without weighing you down! It tastes much more than 110 calories! Try it you will like it - even if you hate coconut!

Things, Zines and Wingz

I have not blogged much this last week, I know! Our A/C has been broken, we have been hot, I have had back to back shingles, stomach problems, Matt's new work schedule...Things are working themselves out! I am working on a special summer giveaway for readers of my blog! Stay tuned! I ordered some special things and hope they will come in shortly!

I am crazy for vegan cook zines and craft zines. I ordered these two from Fight Boredom Zine Distro. Both are really cool! I love Bananarchy Now's layout and the images they used!

As for issue #3 of the Easy Vegan - I am still working on it. This issue will focus on being a vibrant vegan, from healthy recipes, DIY spa days, yoga and more...I am taking in ads if you want to see your ad in the next issue (free of charge) please contact me. If you want to contribute let me know your idea - you get a free copy if I print your article/recipe...

I wanted to create some buffalo type wing things for dinner last week. After scouting around the net I combined a bunch of different recipes and tips and came up with this.

Buffalo Style Tofu
1 block of extra firm sprouted tofu
1/2 cup all purpose flour
a pinch of garlic powder
a pinch of black pepper
1/2 cup of plain soy milk
vegetable oil for frying
1/2 cup of Earth Balance
1/3 cup of Frank's Hot Sauce (or your fave brand)

Slice the tofu into thick strips after splitting the block into 2. Assemble to bowls - one with flour, garlic powder and pepper mixture and one with soy milk. Dip each tofu strip into soy milk, then coat with flour mixture, place on plat till you have all them ready. Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan on medium high heat, enough to coat the bottom and a bit extra. Place all the tofu into your frying pan leaving enough room to turn each piece. Fry each side till they are light brown and crispy - about 3 minutes on each side. While frying heat up Earth Balance in a small pot, ad hot sauce and mix. Dump this on the tofu and turn down the heat and cook for a few more minutes. Serve with celery sticks, fries and ranch dressing! Yummy yummy yummy!

Random Fur swirl picture of Mar!

San Francisco Shopping & Eating

My boyfriend and I headed out to SF over the weekend to check out Renegade Craft Fair , shop in Japan Town and eat!


Shopping - love it, especially when I find cute things for cheap or unique hand made things. This year at Renegade I loved Life {with tigers} - I scored a cat toy, a cat friendly print and a card! I also loved Dorklandia's cute plush ice cream cart! I always feel off taking pictures at craft shows so I refrain, I know I get jumpy when people (not associated with the press) snap away at my table.

In Japan Town I scored lots of fun things at the $1 stores like a cat shaped dish scrubber, odd candy (vegan of course), cell straps. I also did some magazine, stationary and accessory shopping. Black Peace Now even had a 50% sale on some awesome accessories! Like kawaii stuff? Don't worry I picked up some cool items for a giveaway coming up soon! :)

I was looking for a new place to eat in SF and discovered Source. So after taking a bus over there where I was probably seen as a rude vegan for asking two people not to pass a animal laden sandwich across our lap and eat it within inches of my nose (I heard the comments, so whatever, I already had a guy's crotch inches from my face - ick) - I was hungry and hoping to have a good experience.


We were greeted, went over the menu and started off with Spicy Buffalo Cluck. I know the names are a bit odd, but I read they decided to go with the sounds animals make thanking you for not eating them (awwwww!!!!!). Really good - we were missing ranch, so when I posted a Yelp review about not having ranch I got a reply from the owner stating all I had to do was ask next time! Score! Awesome customer service!

I ordered a Koney Island Bow Wow - smoked apple sage field roast with a side of yummy spicy lentil soup. Really good - the fries were perfect and the bow wow - was perfectly cooked as well!


For dessert we went with the Living Mousse Parfait - so amazing! I wanted to lick the bowl clean. It was light and airy and the cocoa nibs provided a tasty edge to the dish. We were happy when we left and texted for our Uber town car to pick us up - no more buses that day for us!

I cannot wait to do more Sf shopping and eat at Source again.

The Clouds Have Eyes 8 - Bit Concert and Art Show [pt2]

My boyfriend finally got up the footage from the art show and concert last month. Enjoy!


Teslow


WDUWSTS


Crashfaster


The Glowing Stars (check my boyfriend's channel for part 2!)

Summer Heat Calls For Cool Food

It is hot, the heat and a case of shingles has made my appetite rather off. Yesterday before the fire works began I made a simple pasta salad based on this recipe from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen. I omitted the asparagus, added more tomatoes (I used vine tomatoes, could not find grape that were organic) and tofu. I used basil as my herb and Annie's Tuscany Italian Dressing. I made some simple but super yummy cheeze biscuits that I based off various web searches. Everything was yummy and I ate the rest of the pasta salad for lunch today!

Cheezey Biscuits

2 cups Bisquick (it is vegan!)
2/3 plain soy milk
1/2 cup plus big pinch of cheddar Daiya
3/4 cup Earth Balance (melted)
1/2 tsp garlic powder + a teeny tiny pinch of salt

Preheat your oven to 450. In a large bowl mix the Bisquick, soy milk and Daiya together till a stick dough forms - do not over mix. Drop big spoon sized dollops on a parchment prepared cookie sheet. Mix in garlic powder and salt into Earth Balance - drizzle on each biscuit reserving a bit for later. Bake the biscuits for about 10 minutes till they start to brown. Remove from oven and drizzle with Earth Balance mixture again. Enjoy!


Heat the oven to 450 degrees.

Catching Up On Birthday Fun

I am officially 32 now! It was stretched out a few days and my actual birthday was spent just catching up on errands around the house and opening gifts! Also consuming my mom's banana nut bread!


This plush ice cream sandwich has to be one of my fave gifts from my boyfriend!


My mom and boyfriend know that I love books and movies...Here are a few I got. Plus my boyfriend found me a vintage Pee Wee doll - yes!!!


Last night we met up with our friend Rae for dinner at my fave place to eat in town Thai House. When we got there Rae had the table decorated with birthday confetti and pineapple straws! Spoiled right! Also on the psychic front she bought me the new O.P.I. black shatter polish I was lusting after!

Thank you to my friends and family for a wonderful birthday!