Big News!

We have BIG NEWS in the Vegan and So Forth family!!!




No, we aren't having another baby. Not anytime soon, at least.






All 8 of us (Jenny, Ryan, 4 kids, 2 dogs) have packed up and moved across country. It hasn't been easy - what were we thinking, moving with a very active toddler?! - but we are looking forward to new adventures.

I'm also looking forward to having Internet again. Bear with me as I attempt this post with my blogger app. I have no idea how the format and photos will be.

WHERE did we move? Here are a few clues:

1) about 1,000 miles from our old home in Arkansas

2) We didn't move to NYC. :(

3) Here are the two Whole Foods in our area if anyone recognizes one of them.

Any guesses? You aren't allowed to guess if you know me in "real" life and actually know already. I will be back when I can see over the stacks of boxes, and technology is with us again.

The Wild Cow

During a bout of insomnia around 3 a.m. the other night, I began reading through several of your blogs. It made me miss you all (well, more than usual, of course)! I just haven't been into blogging lately (as it seemed like some of you had voiced as well), but I'm pushing myself through my writer's block! 

I sometimes do not blog because I am so backed up with blogging material, I don't know where to begin. My OC side wants to go in order, but I determined to blog whatever pics I had last taken with my phone! Fortunately, it was decent material.

A couple of weeks ago, we found ourselves traveling through Nashville on an ARDUOUS trip home from somewhere (a location I'll disclose at another time). A good meal was the only thing that promised Ryan determination for the remaining 6 hour drive. And he had to drive because we had so much stuff in our car, he wouldn't have been able to fit his legs on the passenger side. Short legs come in handy sometimes.

We stopped at The Wild Cow and remained as patient as possible standing with 4 kids (who somehow remained fairly vertical with inside voices) during our wait, which turned into at least 45 minutes. I suppose the popularity should be seen as a good sign. It was even a weird time to eat, like 3:00 p.m.

My oldest son ordered Nachos with all the extra topping choices like fajita style seitan, peppers, and onions and avocado (around $10). They come topped with homemade salsa verde and homemade vegan sour cream.

The other kids ordered beans, rice, and a plainer version of the Nachos to share.

Ryan ordered the French Quarter Dip (homemade seitan, mushrooms, and onions marinated in a Creole seasoning; served on a wheat hoagie with au jus dipping sauce: $8.50) and Garlicky Kale (yummmm) as his side.

I opted for the Caesar Salad (fresh spinach and green leaf lettuce tossed in homemade dressing; topped with cashew parmesan, seasoned croutons, pumpkin seeds, and grilled tofu, $8.50). It was really delicious, but I have been obsessed with salads lately. I've even been eating salads for breakfast most mornings.

I remembered that I never blogged about our only other trip to The Wild Cow, which was during our 2010 Cross Country Road Trip to NYC. I remember not being overwhelmed with the experience, but you know, maybe it was because of the circumstances rather than the food. 

Something had been majorly wrong with our car, and Ryan had to drop us off at the restaurant while he went to find a mechanic. I don't remember what that sandwich was I had ordered for Ryan to-go (I'm guessing Buffalo Grinder, and it sure does look good to me), but I had the Wild Reuben. During our second visit, I didn't remember having that the first time, so I almost picked it again. I'm so predictable. 

I do remember being sad that the kids' meal consisted of a piece of bread with Daiya melted on top. But kudos to The Wild Cow for the probably mark-up of that meal. I also didn't love the raw pie I had last time, and I usually love raw pie. So I guess those were my only complaints. Maybe I just wasn't as used to raw pie in 2010 as much as I am now. I should say, though, that the kids weren't at all displeased with their meager offering. They thought it was cool to get cheese toast at a restaurant.

The Wild Cow is entirely vegan unless you ask specifically for non-vegan (hormone/rennet-free cheese) to be added to your meal. That's nice that you have to ask for non-vegan, rather than the other way around.

Happy Birthday, Monkey!

I got accused of being a tease on my previous short post. This one may be overload. This month, my baby boy turned ONE so bear with me and all of my pics. I can't believe it. That's what we parents always say as our kids grow. It's true, though. I can't believe it has been a year. The infant stage of life is entirely too short for me. I wish the baby stage lasted 2 or 3 years. 

Sock Monkey theme, obviously. I went "shopping" at my parents' house for antiques to use, like this old potato crate, books, and lantern. 

painted paper mache letter: Hobby Lobby 

organic cotton stuffed monkey: 

Heidi's shop at Etsy

birthday printables: Cupcake Express at Etsy

candy: Natural Candy Store

 decoupaged paper mache 1: Hobby Lobby

old wooden Coca-Cola box: my parents

 

mixed nuts, olives, crackers, carrots, hummus, fruit, pasta, Smiley Face fries, tater tots, soy nuggets, Gardein strips, chips, salsa, PB & J sandwiches, banana chips, and banana mini-muffins

I Love Monkey by Suzanne Kaufmann 

is a cute book about being yourself.

Dr. Oetker Organics brand
cake and frosting mixes

t-shirt: this Etsy shop

He really didn't know what to think about having a cupcake. Upon examining it, he thought it was weird and seemed to wonder if he was really supposed to eat it. He figured it out, though, and wanted to share with everyone. He didn't make a huge typical 1st birthday mess as it was just a little cupcake...

however, his little pal didn't seem to have any trouble.

Every monkey party needs to end with banana splits, of course.

We had Rice Dream, Almond Dream, So Delicious soy and So Delicious coconut milk ice cream (added with bananas, chocolate syrup, strawberry sauce, crushed pineapple, nut topping, sprinkles, cherries, and Soyatoo) to choose from. One non-vegan family preferred the Almond Dream, and I think one family preferred the coconut.

He did also enjoy a few bites of ice cream.

lots of sweet help opening presents

I love you, my ONE-derful little man who has brought so much joy to my life. Every day with you is fun. (Slower and more difficult, etc., but I smile and laugh so much every single day because of you.) I love that you love it when we squeeze you into a group hug. I love how you've recently been hugging your brothers and sister around the neck tightly when we tell you to give them a hug. I love how fast you army crawl toward Daddy as soon as you see he's home. I don't like how you make a face and spit out pieces of steamed veggies, but we'll work on it! I secretly love how you can be screaming inconsolably with someone else, then the moment I enter the room and pick you up, there's silence - and you sometimes even giggle through your tears because you're so happy. I love your comb-over, and I promise I'll figure out a way to style it soon. I pray for peace and goodness and all wonderful things for you. Happy birthday!

*Thank you to my photographer friend/party guest Sarah who let me use her camera at the party and took a lot of the pics for me!

Merry Christmas!

Hey, friends!

Don't be blue...

I'll be back to blogging soon!

But until then, 
have a Merry Christmas! 
I miss you all!

Texas State Veggie Fair/Handmade Girls Dresses Giveaway

I'm heading off, on my way to the Texas State Veggie Fair in Dallas. If you're going and you happen to see me, say hi!!! I'll be the one with a bunch of obnoxious cute kids hanging onto me. And I'll try to catch up on my blog reading this weekend, too.

Until then...

This isn't going to be applicable to many of you, but if you have a young girl or know someone who does, take a look at the rest of the post. (And sorry for two consecutive posts with my daughter modeling. I promise we'll move on to Kid A in the next post.)

**********************************************

I was really excited when one of my hometown best friends told me about a sewing initiative that she is working on. It is called Gingham Trundle, and it is helping to provide jobs for women in Africa.

Taken from Gingham Trundle's website: Who we are: We started as a mother and daughter making clothes together. When a good friend (www.leastofthese.net) of the daughter donated sewing machines to a sewing collective in Africa, we all got an idea. Now, we bring Gingham Trundle to you.  Fair trade: We employ fair trade principles in all of our purchasing. We pay above-market wages agreed upon by the women; we give no time frames (so no undue pressure); we put a portion of our profits back into the community through healthcare and economic programs; and we ensure safe working conditions and no child labor. We are too small to afford the free trade certification process, but we are working toward that goal.

**********************************

I am offering this giveaway to help spread the word about this project. Right now, they are seeking to improve the development process (creating products that are high enough quality to sell - and verifying fabric content, etc. so they can be sold in the U.S.), and as they do this, they are offering free dresses in the hopes of building customers and gaining feedback. There are imperfections in this round of dresses. The women are selling the dresses in their communities. The end goal is to create sustainable, long-term jobs for these women. Great, right?

My 5 year old daughter helped me out by modeling the dresses. They are sized anywhere from 3T-5T, but this will kind of show you that they will fit a range. (I mean, my daughter still has 2T dresses in her closet that she wears as shirts. It's really hard for me - and her - to part with them, if you know what I mean.)

I wanted to show you the cute pocket on the back.

Tiny Flowers

I believe this one is sized 4T. There are some faded spots on the material, but it fits very cute. (Read more about this and the dresses in general here.) My daughter has one like this that she is going to wear as a shirt. I think any girl from age 2 to a small 6 would fit.

Red, Red

The equivalent of a "little black dress," this one would go with so much and could be dressy or casual. I love it.

Grandma's Quilt

This one is sized 4T. It's very sweet. I would say it's a true 4T size, as she could wear it - but it's starting to get a little snug under the arms. I love the short-sleeved dress designs.

**********************************

I will pick a winner for the 4 dresses on November 4, at 9 pm. Please just leave a comment telling me which dress you like the best. If you do not have a blog, comment as "Anonymous." Just make sure you leave an email address or way that I can get a hold of you.  If you would please share a link to this giveaway, I'll give you 2 extra entries. (Feel free to leave it all in one comment, however, to make it easier for you.) I am going to list this giveaway on my family blog and combine the entries.

Please check out Gingham Trundle's website to see more designs like this one above. Check out the reversible coats which are so cute and include a hidden doll in the pocket. You can request a FREE DRESS on their site, but you will just need to pay for shipping (flat rate $5.15).

Thanks for taking a look, and consider supporting Gingham Trundle in the future!

Vegan Cuts: Vegan Jewelry

Have you had a chance to shop at Vegan Cuts? I have been browsing around for months, determined to make an order, so I was very excited when they asked if I wanted to participate with a review.

Vegan Cuts was co-founded by a vegan couple named John and Jill. They work with a team to find vegan products to sell at more affordable prices. They offer daily deals, the vegan version of groupon.

I was sent two necklaces designed by 

Christy Robinson, an artist in Texas.

You can view more of Christy's jewelry (including rings and bracelets) on her website. Two of my favorites: here and here. (Oh, I keep seeing more that I like: this Ahimsa locket.) She can custom design something for you, as well.

These necklaces are made from recycled aluminum with a sterling silver chain. Also, the baggies are biodegradable, and the cards are made from recycled paper!

You know how I said I was excited about reviewing these products? Guess who was EVEN MORE excited to open the box and try them on?

I like this necklace, which is only 

$13 right now at Vegan Cuts.

When ordering myself, I might choose something longer than the 16" chain. But it is definitely light and a good feel.

We'll get back to the cuter model.

Here are Christy's other designs listed on Vegan Cuts right now. They all ship FREE.

Some of the other goodies from Vegan Cuts that caught my eye: GF lavendar cake mixes, flavored caramels made with coconut milk, glass straws (I need some more.), Parmesan (made with almonds and cashews), and kale chips (less expensive than the ones I get at WF). You can even find a deal right now on vegan caviar. I'm also thinking about trying out November's Snack Box for $19.

Andrea recently highlighted some yummy chocolate and peanut butter treats, available through Vegan Cuts.

**********************************************

Until October 31, 2012, you can save an additional 10% off your order, when using this code: 

BLOGFRIEND

If you want to shop, consider going through my referral link: SHOP HERE NOW.


*I received these necklaces free for the purpose of review. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Dunwell Doughnuts

There's no way I would have left NYC without heading to Williamsburg for DOUGHNUTS!!!

One thing I love about this place is the story behind it. Dan Dunbar and Christopher Hollowell (get it: DUN-bar and HolloWELL = DUNWELL) raised $15,000 to help open their store front. Watch this video for more about them. I'm just really into the idea of someone being inspired and brave enough to take on something like this. (I SO WANT to open a restaurant or business one day.) And then others rallying behind them in support!

Watch this video from their website. Before our trip (and after), I think my kids and I watched it no less than six times. We called Ryan in to watch it, too. 

"Finally, the solution to all our problems..." 

Anyway, I just thought it was fun advertisement.

The store is really cute, somewhere I would want to hang out all of the time. It's really easy to find, as well. Just take the L to the Montrose Avenue stop, and it's RIGHT THERE.

It's too easy to get there. If you know what I mean. We were staying in Chelsea (my new favorite area to stay) right by the 23rd street subway entrance, so we were one stop away from the L.

Each day, they rotate a variety from over 200 flavors. Check out all of the flavors. I'm talking Pecan Pie, Root Beer, Raspberry Pistachio, Maple Blueberry, Sliced Pear and Pumpkin Spice, etc.

Since this was my first time, however, I stuck with my old-time favorites. Chocolate Covered, Chocolate and Peanut Covered, and Glazed. (And my son also chose Raspberry.) They use fresh, organic ingredients.

Although it's hard to go against Glazed (I mean, soooo good.), the Chocolate Peanut Covered will probably always be my favorite because it evokes a memory of being the first kid to get up on Sunday mornings. I was an early riser back then, so I got to ride to Casey's General Store with my dad for a newspaper and Chocolate Peanut Covered Long Johns.

We only bought half a dozen on our first visit. I questioned Hollowell about how long the doughnuts would stay fresh. He suggested only a day or two. As my son and I were contemplating how many to order for our hotel room, the guy asked, "Is it just you two?" 

My mind pondered quickly with panic, 

"Tell the truth or not tell the truth?! 

Tell the truth or not tell the truth?!"

"Yeah, it's just us."

"Oh, I would think half a dozen would be more than plenty."

Dang it. Now I had to choose between looking like the Vegan Dessert Pig that I am - or presenting myself normal and cool in front of this very cute, charming person. I agreed with him that 6 doughnuts would be plenty, we ate those 6 doughnuts within a few hours, headed back the next day hoping outfit and hairdo changes would throw him off...smiled at him when he commented that it was good to see us again...and scurried on our way with another DOZEN doughnuts to go.

You can even get a Doughnut Sundae!

I can tell you what I'm getting next time.

a Doughnut Sundae

I mean...there are just those places that can merit a visit to a city all on their own. Dunwell Doughnuts is one of those places for us. I'd travel to NYC, pick up a dozen or two, then come right home. To Arkansas. I would.

And if that's not enough to convince you, Dunwell's were chosen by The New York Daily News as the city's best doughnuts. Of all the doughnuts, not just the vegan ones.

On our second visit, they had started serving Lavendar Lemonade, an excellent addition. I can't speak on the other drinks such as coffee, "egg" creams, Italian Soda, etc. I think they also had vegan candybars when we were there.

They're open 7-7 on weekdays (closed Mondays!) and 8-7 on weekends. Free wi-fi. Cash only.