Finding a New Purpose

2018 ended in a terrible way for me. 

This brought me into a new year in a major funk. I am a gal who always has clear intentions going into a new year. I know what my next steps are going to be, where I want to go, how to get there. 

2019 did not start that way. I felt lost. I was floundering for ideas, purpose, I was down, feeling like I was just existing.

Yesterday I started to write stuff down to help me start a direction. Anything. While I don't have any major goals yet, I have a few plans to keep me positive and moving forward.

2019 Goals

1. Learn Italian. 

After our trip to Europe last spring, it is certain that Italy is my favorite country to visit. We stayed in Airbnbs and tried to do as the locals do, but also enjoying a tour or two. I fell in love with the food, the language, the culture, the architecture, the history, and did I mention the wine? Definitely the wine.

Learning Italian will empower me to visit the country again and feel braver when conversing with Italian locals. That was a big pain point for me on our last visit, while luckily, most people speak English; I am certain I would feel much more comfortable knowing more of the language, rather than just the general greetings. 

I am starting with the Duolingo app, but will be looking into actual lessons or courses soon. Do you have any recommendations? Do you speak multiple languages?

2. Grow more/eat more plants.

Plants ground me. Whether I am growing them in my garden, in a pot indoors, or a cactus on the mountain, plants connect me to something bigger than me. I am a vegetarian, working harder on eating less and less animal products. By eating more plants, I will have more energy, be healthier, and reduce my carbon footprint. This will also continue to create good habits for my boys and their health.

My sister, who just finished her last round of chemotherapy (YAY!), and I will be working together on creating some plant-based meal plans. This is a form of cooking together, but across the country... and may play into my next goal, too.

3. Act creatively.

This is to ensure I am doing something outside of being a mom, wife, friend. While all of those things are of dire importance to me, it's easy to be lost in those roles. This ensures I look inside to find me, my voice, my visions for things. This can be painting more, writing more, blogging more, picking up my real camera again... 

How did the beginning of 2019 find you? I hope you have some clarity in the path you are venturing down this year. I hope it is a year of growth and positivity for all of us. 

Interview with "The Vegans"

I lovingly call these friends of mine "The Vegans," because they are the only friends of mine who have gone vegan and stayed vegan. The first time I attempted at the vegan lifestyle was after I read the book "SkinnyBitch" in 2009. Randi had gone vegan as well around the same time frame and I found a lot of comfort in having a friend who found the same things important as me. It's often a lifestyle change that brings about a lot of "concerns" from folks... ie "Where do you get your protein?" (Another post for another day). It is good to have community for support in the early days when you may not have the tool set to educate the people questioning your motives.

Since then, I have gone back and forth between vegetarianism to meat-eating, but I always found myself going back to vegetarianism. Recently, I have been inching closer and closer to vegan, but haven't quite made it. Randi and Kevin have been been vegan since forever. I think it is so amazing and admirable! Here is a quick Q & A with them. As my plant-based experts, you will likely see more from them down the line!

How long have you been vegan?

Randi: 8 years, almost exactly to the day.

Kevin: 6-ish years….I don’t know the exact date.

What inspired you to go vegan? (Reasons, resources, books, movies, etc.)

Randi: I was introduced to some undercover footage of animal agriculture and processing. It was enough to change me right then.

Kevin: My lovely wife [Randi]. Like anything positive in my life she was the catalyst for change. She came home one night with the book “The Engine 2 Diet” and it all clicked from there.

Have your reasons for being vegan changed? If yes, how so?

Randi: I originally started out vegan for animal rights. The more I dove into the lifestyle, the more I learned about the health and environmental benefits as well.

Kevin: I started out exclusively for health reasons. As the years go on, animal rights and the environmental side have become more important.

You have a son, has he been vegan since birth? How have you dealt with the haters?

Randi: In all technicality, Ira was given cow based formula during his first two days of life. Everything else has been vegan. I really try to avoid anyone who might have differing opinions towards raising children vegan. I usually take everything they say with a grain of salt because everyone has an opinion on the best way to raise your child.

Kevin: That is my absolute favorite thing. Raising our kiddo to be a compassionate person is an amazing feeling. We actually haven’t had to deal with too many “haters.” I’m a big believer in educating those that have differing or misinformed views. You don’t get anywhere by being defensive or attacking.

Have you found community in other vegans?

Randi: YES! We have met some amazing people in the vegan community. They have always been so welcoming.

Kevin: Absolutely. Some of our best friends have been a result of the vegan community (thanks Instagram).

How do you eat when you travel or visit family and friends?

Randi: We usually try to bring as many snacks as possible but also research through Happy Cow or other websites places to eat. We get really excited looking at food.

Kevin: We plan our trips around food so we rarely get stuck without anything to eat. I LOVE making “omni friendly” vegan dishes for friends to help show them that our way isn’t so bad.

How do you plan/prep your meals for the week?

Randi: We don't and it's really something we are trying to work on. Dinner is always decided on last minute so it's always a scramble putting it together. It usually ends up being a super simple recipe from Happy Herbivore.

Kevin: Simplest answer…..Rice, beans, and greens.

What changes have you noticed in your health?

Randi: I have always noticed I have felt “lighter” in my conscience. I also notice my energy levels are higher. Also, the more veggies we add, the better I feel.

Kevin: Quicker recovery time and a clear conscience. When you stick to a predominately whole foods diet you are giving your body the best fuel possible. When the food on your plate aligns with your values you really can’t go wrong.

Kevin, you said "quicker recovery time," what do you mean by that?

Kevin: After working out. Quicker recovery time equals little to no soreness. Ability to get back to it without taking any supplements.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start a vegan or plant-based life?

Randi: I always congratulate them on the conscious step. I say, every little bit counts. It can be a huge change and it does get easier.

Kevin: Jump in and get shit done, simply put. Go all in for 28 days (that’s how I started) and you will never go back. Also, stay positive and educate yourself at all times.

Will you share your favorite vegan recipe?

Randi: Cheater Pad Thai from Happy Herbivore.

Kevin: Black Beans and Rice from “The Engine 2 Diet.” We’ve been eating that once a week for the last 6 years and it NEVER gets old.

If you have any questions or need resources on a plant-based life, they Kevin and Randi are an excellent resource, they certainly have been for me! They will be visiting early in June and I cannot wait to share some of our plant-based food adventures!

Have you thought of going vegan, vegetarian, or pescatarian? What attracts you to that lifestyle? Or, what prevents you from making the change?

Breathe Easier: 6 Air Purifying House Plants

Summer is encroaching. While this season is for vacations, holidays, and general easy, breezy livin', it is also the time of year when we Arizonans hunker down indoors. We close the windows and the shutters and live off A/C until October. I hate living off A/C for many reasons, but one is the terrible air quality that starts circulating, and then re-circulating through the house. Many indoor air toxins are potential carcinogens, and the closed up house and A/C pushes them from room to room.  

What's a girl to do? House plants. That's it. Well, that's not it, but it's a start! House plants gobble up toxins up for breakfast. While I don't want to be paranoid, I will do the simplest thing I can, and that is let the plants do some of the heavy lifting.

Spider Plant

This little baby loves sunshine and makes more little babies when treated well. My mom gave me my first one when I moved into my first apartment, and it has moved with me ever since! We've seen our ups and downs, but it's thriving again in my bedroom window.

Removes: Formaldehyde (found in car emissions, pressed wood, and other building materials) and benzene (found in plastics, lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents, drugs, gasoline/emissions, and pesticides).

Golden Pothos

Another plant that swings around our house as well as my childhood homes. This plant is practically unkillable. So if you don't have a green thumb, get this one. It tells you when it's unhappy, and you can easily re-root the trimmings. Given the toxins it removes from the air, I put one in our entry way and near the garage.

Removes: Formaldehyde, carbon monoxide (car emissions, stoves, lanterns, fireplaces), and benzene.

Snake Plant

My son and I recently planted this  new addition to our house. I have known of its crazy nightlife for a while, and I am super stoked to have it as an addition to our air purifiers. This plant does its work while we are snoozing, improving oxygen levels.

Removes: Carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, benzene.

Boston Fern

We received a sprig of this plant from my mother-in-law, who received it from her mother, who inherited it from her mother. This is a fourth generation fern. Oh the pressure! I finally have this fern in a place where it can be happy! It needs high moisture and humidity, of which Arizona has neither. This one takes a little more care, but it also takes care of us.

Removes: Formaldehyde

Lady Palm

This is a slow-growing corner charmer of a plant. It needs a little more real estate, but it can be a show stopper once it gets going.

Removes: Ammonia (found in house cleaning products, fertilizers, fabric dyes, and latex).

Peace Lily

This lovely, large plant doesn't require a lot of light and makes the most beautiful flowers. Use caution when choosing this plant, it is poisonous to animals, causing difficulty breathing, swallowing, and vomiting.

Removes: Acetone (found in nail polish remover, paint thinner, varnishes, plastics, and cleaning products) and Benzene.

There are many more plants that do good work in your home, and you can certainly find one that fits your decor. Plants also earn their keep making a house feel like a home, and I often dispose of un-drunk water into their pots as to not waste!

I am hoping to start adding more plants for the summer and have a few Golden Pothos rooting right now. What plants do you keep in your home?