Being vegan is hard. It’s also rewarding, meaningful, and satisfying for many reasons: health, environmental, ethical, spiritual…

However, I am frequently asked why it matters to me if (insert name of animal here) dies, suffers, or is eaten. This is usually followed by something along the lines of: it’s not “that” smart/developed/cognitive and/or: it’s tasty. I can’t answer why it matters for all vegans, but I can try to answer it for myself.

I was born this way. I was born drawn to animals. As a child, I felt loved by our family cats, who comforted me when I felt lonely and gave me my first conscious experience of cuddling. I felt innate compassion for bugs and critters very early on in life; even before I started the 10 year long journey to whittle away consuming or wearing any animals or their byproducts. For me, veganism is a concrete way to show my feelings about animals; not your feelings, but mine. (more…)

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In 1992, a cargo ship container tumbled into the North Pacific, dumping 28,000 rubber ducks and other bath toys that were headed from China to the U.S. Currents took them, and news reports said some may have eventually reached Maine and other shores on the Atlantic.

Thirteen years later, journalist Donovan Hohn undertook a mission: He wanted to track the movements of the wayward ducks, from the comfort of his own living room.

“I figured I’d interview a few oceanographers, talk to a few beachcombers, read up on ocean currents and Arctic geography and then write an account of the incredible journey of the bath toys lost at sea,” he tells Fresh Air’s Dave Davies. “And all this I would do, I hoped, without leaving my desk.”

But Hohn’s research led him on an odyssey that took him from Seattle to Alaska to Hawaii — and then onto China and the Arctic. He details the journey — via plane, foot and container ship — inMoby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them.
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Happy Meatless Monday!  My recommendation for a meatless meal today is spicy pad thai with tofu.  If you don’t like spice you can order it mild, but I’m from Texas and I need the burn! Having tofu in pad thai was the first time I tried tofu and liked it. Somehow when they stir fry it the texture changes and is a little tougher, I loved it. Before, tofu weirded me out because it was kinda slimy and cold.  I’m telling you this pad thai changed my life.  Okay, well, that’s dramatic, but I really do love it!  So may I suggest a little pad thai in your life today.  Let me know what you think.

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I absolutely love design that incorporates reclaimed elements.  I recently moved into a new house and pretty much had a suitcase, a few boxes and no furniture.  One item I knew I wanted was a reclaimed wood dining table.  I searched all over for reclaimed furniture.  I found a lot of beautiful pieces, many were quite pricey, so I continued on my search for some down and dirty reclaimed sources.  Craigslist is super handy and I came across a local guy that builds reclaimed tables as a hobby.  He came over, we measured the space and sketched it up.  I asked for old barn wood with a golden tone and that’s what I got.  I went ahead and had benches made too.  In 3 days I had a dining room set with tons of character.  Of course now I’m totally addicted to custom building all kinds of reclaimed wood pieces for my house.  My next project is going to be a headboard out of pallets, wish me luck!

Unique isn't it? I got the additional chairs on Craigslist too. I like the eclectic look.

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Here I am again, pushing my shirts! Come on, I have to, I’m my own publicist and it’s tough. I am even Twittering now, which if you know me, then you know I fought it as long as I could. But truthfully, I’m kind of loving it now, shhh, don’t tell.

The factory farm chicken tee is arriving this week and it will compliment a special guest post by an amazing vegan, mother and friend on Monday, very exciting. Hope you like surprises cause I’m trying to pull one on ya. Check out the shirts on Etsy. I’d love your feedback!

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