1.15.2013

VEGAN FOR 1 YEAR & A GIVEAWAY!

VEGAN 1year Pic

So we did it. Vegan for 1 full year. A year ago we watched the film Forks Over Knives on a whim. Little did we know it was going to change our lives so drastically. It effected our everyday food choices, the products we buy, the way we view the world and our overall well being. Since going Vegan I view life completely differently. I don't feel like I have an empty VOID anymore. I feel like I have a life to live and it's full of things to live for.

vegan1yr cantwrds

The one thing I find frustrating as a Vegan is people always saying to me, "I couldn't do it." OR "I can't do it."
I can't give up Cheese.
I can't give up MEAT.
Etc..etc..

I get it, I understand. The difference for me I think is I watched a film on a complete WHIM and it simply just made sense to me. I didn't have a blogger or a Vegan sit there and tell me I needed to change. It all happened by chance. FATE I guess you could say. :) I ate meat, dairy, and everything else for the first 30 years of my life. The way I look at it is, I am living proof. Don't ever say that you CAN'T do something. You should never underestimate yourself or set yourself up for failure in anything you do in your life. I've lived my life both ways and I gotta say if someone would of gave me the information I know now SOONER, I would of went Vegan years ago.

vegan1yr side effects

I will admit that there are side effects to being Vegan. I do however feel like the side effects are different for everyone. My friend Kara who I inspired to go Vegan (woot-woot) has a hard time giving up Twizzlers and Mac N Cheese. (Twizzlers probably are Vegan, but loaded with sugar and chemicals. Which we also do not eat.) Giving up the food from my old life was NOT hard for me. There are so many great meals that imitate meat and dairy products that help you to fight your cravings. Being Vegan to me is not hard. It just seems hard till you try it out yourself.

The main problem for me is being judged by all the HATERS out there. If you follow my blog you may have read about it HERE. I get very emotional over people who DON'T know me at all, criticizing me for my lifestyle. This is not just a diet or food choices, it's the core of my being. It's becomes practical a religion. May sound crazy, but it just happens. I remind myself of the Grinch from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. At the end of the movie when his heart grows like 5 sizes bigger, that's me. Being Vegan has made my heart full of love for life.
It's amazing.

vegan1year grinch

My last side effect would be the sadness I feel over watching all the people around me everyday NOT be Vegan. Sound crazy? You seriously judge the world so differently and it makes you sad when others don't seem to care about the things that you do. Again, this could just be me NOT all Vegans. For me I would love for my family and friends to adapt to my lifestyle. The health benefits is the number one reason. Of course second being animals rights. I want my family to live a long healthy life and being Vegan can help do that.

The way I look at it is, I went my entire life NEVER knowing about Veganism or evening knowing what a Vegan was. No one was around to tell me about it or educate me about the food choices I was making. Now I have the knowledge and the tools and I want to spread awareness. Especially to the people that I love. Like I said above, if I would of know about this years ago I would of changed then. When I watch the videos of how (most) farming is done in this country, it rips my heart out every time. This brings me to my last topic I want to talk about...

vegan1yr compassion

In my daily life I know lots of people who LOVE animals. Have many pets of their own, can't stand animals being beaten and abused and just have COMPASSION in general for animals. If any of this is you, I believe from the bottom of my heart that you could be Vegan. All it takes is COMPASSION. I recently have been debating on getting a Vegan tattoo. I lean towards just getting the word compassion tattooed on me instead. It's all about loving all living creatures. I went Vegan for the health benefits after watching Forks Over Knives.

vegan1year tattoos

Months later was when I started learning about how abused farm animals are. It's disgusting. How any human being can throw a LIVE baby chicken into a machine that grinds them up I will never understand. My heart aches for those animals that die such painful deaths just to end up on someones plate. I can say that up until last month when I watched Vegucated, I didn't realize how bad the treatment of farm animals is. So needless to say, I'm going into 2013 even STRONGER. I don't like to go into details on my blog posts about animal abuse. I know if you are interested, you will make the decision to research it yourself. In conclusion, for me the word Vegan and compassion have basically the same meaning. I also want to give a shot out to all the awesome Vegetarians out there!!! :) Now let me lighten the mood a bit and move on to my giveaway....

vegan1yr cookbook giveawayvegan1year happyherbivore

I wanted to celebrate my 1 year anniversary of being Vegan by giving away one of my favorite cookbooks. It's called Happy Herbivore by Lindsay Nixon. She is like a hero to me. She is making being Vegan super easy for people worldwide. Many of the recipes you see here on my blog are from her cookbook. I figured if you won the book for FREE, you would be more likely to try some of these yummy recipes out yourself. (Free is always good.)

How is this giveaway going to work?
Well just leave me a blog comment below just like you always would and also tell me how you follow my blog. :) Simple.
I am using Rafflecopter for this giveaway. Make sure to enter below...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope to offer my readers more personal giveaways like this throughout the year. This book will be purchased by me with my own money. Make sure that you leave me contact information or a link to your blog so I can email you if you end up being the lucky winner! The winner will be drawn on Friday January 25th! GOOD LUCK! :)

(I will ship this this book international!)

35 comments:

  1. Congrats to you and yours on your one year! I agree, the word can't just doesn't fly in my book. I wish people would just be honest and say won't because they can, oh can they. I love your before and after of the Grinch, very clever and spot on!

    What a lovely giveaway. The Happy Herbivore is also one of my favorite cookbooks but I don't yet own it. I've just been taking it out of the library, using their website or borrowing it from my mom. Thanks for the opportunity!

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    1. Sounds like you NEED this cookbook! ;) I don't have her others yet. (but will!!!) Thanks so much for your support. :)

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  2. I'm so happy for you! And mostly happy that you are happy for yourself! At the end of the day its how we feel about our own lives and choices that really matters. Keep up being who you are! :)

    Also, I follow you on Blogger :D

    Madison
    atthedogparkblog.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks Madison. You are so right. It's all about self-esteem! It's good to feel like your life has direction. :)

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  3. (Is it open worldwide? If not, just delete my entry, I know shipping is repulsively expensive.)

    You have inspired me a lot already. I really think you are a great exemple of how to really commit to the best lifestyle there is for you. I feel that you are right about saying that you can't do it is not the truth but I do feel like that it has to have a time. I could try to live up to what I would actually want but it might make me uncomfortable at this time. I'm not saying that I will go vegan in the coming year of that I'll never be vegan but I'm saying I'm just not going to be right now. I do make efforts to cut back the dairy products and meat in my life already so I'm just going with that. Oh and in other products like soaps and shampoos. I'm taking it slow and eventually I'll probably get there.

    I feel like I haven't actually said anything but well yeah, that are my thoughts on the subject. I think it's awesome that you're giving this cookbook because you're right, people will likely try to make recipe easier with this book.

    And again, I think you (and Cody) really did an awesome job in an immediate switch and you both are an inspiration.

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    1. Dorien, Yes it is worldwide! I will pay whatever the shipping is. :) I'd love for you to win. You are heading in the right direction. You are making good efforts. :) Especially with buying products that aren't animal tested. Every time you do that you make a VOTE against the companies that do. YAY!

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  4. Congratulations on your one year mark! That is a great accomplishment and one that took a lot of heart, which you have! I think it's fantastic that you feel strongly about something and aren't backing down. That's important in life. (Also, I follow with Google Reader)

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    1. Thanks Kim! I feel like my life is really on the right track!! :)

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  5. Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this.

    I love people who are compassionate about what they eat and how they treat animals just like they do with people.

    I am 95% pesco-vegetarian (why I say that is because I can't give up meat the other 5% of the time between chicken and london broil) and I would love to try to get my fiance, my son and father-in-law more accepting of my vegetarian lifestyle by eating more veg-friendly meals (as if they already aren't, just more of..yanno?).

    I follow your blog through BlogLovin, my blog is Beaute Sombre (of which I an currently getting up), and my e-mail address is djkittiex@email.phoenix.edu.

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    1. You are very welcome. It's hard to get others to switch their diet. Trust me, I'm right there with you. I think if you educate people about what is actually happening in the farm business they would "get it". You can't force people to watch it though. And people are scared of change and don't want to know. :(

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    2. I know right. It is much better to educate someone and let them choose a path rather than to be like "You're not going to eat meat, so just stop it right now while you're ahead".

      Even though David eats way more meat than I do, I am very proud that he now supports the fact of working at a restaurant where they serve fresh ingredients (http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/fwi/fwi.aspx) and will purchase organic ingredients when we have the money just so he can please his diet as well as to please the earth and what is around it.

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  6. Congrats! That's awesome to do for a whole eyar!

    <3 katherine
    of corgis and cocktails

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    1. Thanks Katherine. :) I am always so happy when you stop by to read my posts.

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  7. Thanks!! I like those lyrics. :) I don't see myself ever looking back! I am super exciting about having a vegan baby someday.

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  8. Congratulations on one year of being vegan! That's a huge commitment, and an inspiration for me, since I often question my ability to maintain a plant-based diet on a budget. Maybe I should just go for it!

    I follow your blog via GFC (Jordan Dunne)

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    1. Thanks Jordan. It's not as hard as you may think. With the right recipes and cookbooks you can do it. :)

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  9. congratulations! I am passionate about animal welfare but relecutant to call myself a fully fledged vegan because I am partial to cheese and yoghurt occasionally (albeit mostly vegeterian cheese/yoghurt). I have lived with a variety of animals pretty much my entire life and could never comprehend eating them... every living thing is deserving of compassion and respect not a life controlled by greedy humans. That is my opinion anyway :)
    Enid xx

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    1. That's a great opinion I think. :) I am visiting a farm sanctuary in a week. I can't wait to see the farm animals!! Thanks for your comment.

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  10. Happy one year. It's been nearly a month for me and I've never felt better. I'm having a positive effect on those around me, even some of my workmates want what I'm eating (when I made vegan chocolate moose i didn't even get to try any myself).
    I bet 1 year has gone by so fast for you. I want you to understand something:
    You can't convince everyone that this is the best way to live. But what I can tell you is that halfway around the world you influenced this gal to become vegan and she is influencing others. You are making a difference. I am so thankful for your sharing of knowledge. I'm never go back to the way I was.
    Here's to many more vegan meals, I hop to make one for you one day.

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    1. Thanks Cazz! It has been a quick year. I know I can't convince everyone to change. LOL I'm stubborn though. ;) I think Cody's parents may go vegan though. Woot-Woot!!! If I ever make it to Australia you will cook for me. :)

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  11. Your blog is one of my favorites! You always have something cool to talk about. I especially like your design posts. Plus I am also totally into eating healthy, low-carb in particular, no soda, no junk food, etc. Keep on rockin' the blogosphere!

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    1. Thanks "unknown". :) So sweet of you to say.

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  12. Happy 1 year anniversary! I love this post Jessie! And I love the way you spread such a positive message about veganism

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    1. I'm trying. ;) Thanks for always commenting on my posts.

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  13. All I have to say is Vegans rule!!!
    I folllow via GFC

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  14. I think it's a very cool thing that you do what is in your heart and love how you eat. It's such a great approach to life, our Earth, and things in general.I also like that you aren't too pushy... information, yes, but you don't make it hard to swallow! I follow you in Google Reader!

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    1. Thanks Melissa. I appreciate your comment. :) I try not to be pushy.

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  15. I just found you! Supercool blog! I love your DIY projects and would like to make valentines using your Map Heart Cutouts idea...it's so sweet! Plus your recipes are easy and vegan (yay!!). I soooo want Pirate Stew and Vegan Pizza and 3-minute Chocolate Cake!
    ...and I hate facebook too...hurray for you, be true to yourself! Cheers! :)

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    1. Thanks. Such kind words. :) I hope you like all the recipes.

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  16. This book has been on my to-read list for some time now! I've been a vegan for almost a year and a half now and it has been a great lifestyle choice. Congratulations on you veganniversary! Also, I follow you via GFC. xx

    <3 Melissa
    melissa.lynn.amaral[at]gmail.com
    wildflwrchild.blogspot.com

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    1. I am so glad you stopped by and saw the contest Melissa! I figured you'd like a chance at winning it. :)

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  17. You are so inspirational! I've been very curious about this lifestyle, but a little scared as well. You've given me the push to work towards your lifestyle, a little bit at a time. I follow you using GFC

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    1. Thanks Lizzie! If you ever need support or just have questions please feel free to contact me. :)

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