32 Things Before 32 // #32 Ignore Haters

This is a harder one to post about because I don't have physical proof of accomplishing it, just my story. My entire life I have struggled with always wanting everyone to like me. I've always wore my heart on my sleeve and been hurt many times because of it. Over the years though I learned that when something bad happens to me, I just become a little bit stronger. Last year when my vegan lifestyle was more fresh and new to me I really had a hard time adapting emotionally. I didn't know how to ignore negative comments or reactions that I would receive from people. I didn't get what the big deal was. Yes, I don't eat animals, what's the problem?


I would seriously just fall apart. I know now that people are going to dislike me because of my values and beliefs. There is always going to be haters. It doesn't matter what you do or say. Over time I realized that people feel attacked personally if you talk about not eating animals. Some people view it as you are trying to be pushy and change them. I have never wanted to make someone feel that way. I just like giving information to people. Plus I just simply get excited when I talk about it. I feel like I am glowing and I have a smile from ear to ear. I get so happy when someone asks me questions about the food I eat and why. It's so nice when someone is curious and listens to what I have to say. I've learned to just focus on the people who are willing to accept me for who I am and not treat me like a freak or a crazy person. Why waste so much energy on those who don't care or show interest? This was the lesson I needed to learn and I feel like in the last 6 months I have.


I used to stress over influencing family and friends to go vegan. It's hard to influence the people I love since they live 1,200 miles away. The best way to prove to people that eating a plant based diet isn't hard is by cooking for them. Since I can't cook for them on a regular basis, they will never understand that I don't just eat tofu and carrots. When I post things about animal rights on Facebook they can just choose to ignore me. Which would cause me to get very sad sometimes. I could never understand why no one cared. One of the reasons Cody and I visited Ohio back in April was to hopefully talk to our families about adapting our diet. I didn't expect my family to want to go join Peta and become animal activists, but I would love for everyone to be healthier. Once I was there with the people I love I decided not to bring it up. It's like the saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink." One of my blogger friends said that to me once and it's stuck every since.



During our visit we fed people good vegan meals, they saw how happy we are and how healthy we have become,....done. All I ever hope to do is inspire people and lead by example. Conversations were started with family but ended fairly quick. It just proved to me that I need to let things be. Even though it's hard on me at times, I definitely learned from it as well. Things don't seem to be bothering me as much. I still struggle with watching people eat meat or even seeing it. I don't know if that will ever change, maybe just get easier over time. I do, however, not worry about what people think or say when I tell them I don't eat animals. I also will straight forward tell them why. Which leaves me with this video below. I stumbled across it by accident. This guy is vegan and he took the words right out of my mouth. I found it very inspiring. He speaks out about why vegans shouldn't be scared of speaking their minds.

Skip ahead to 2 minutes and 15 seconds. That is where he starts talking about vegans.

I speak my mind when it's appropriate and I'm never mean or pushy. That doesn't get you anywhere in any aspect of life!! I have always treated people the way I want to be treated. It's so simple yet very powerful. A few months back I had someone tell me that I was going to live a life of depression by being vegan. This was said to me because one day I was really sad over animals being killed for food. As if we don't all get sad about something that happens in the world from time to time. We are human aren't we? Those words were said to me as a personal attack.

Funny thing is, it did the opposite. It made me learn to "Ignore Haters" and I think I am stronger now. I am just going to keep being me. Which is actually a rather happy person I think. If I inspire some people along the way then that's just an added bonus. I hope that this post wasn't just another vegan one to you. I think we all have things in our lives that we are passionate about and wish that others were as well. Just lead by example and always wear a smile on your face. It's contagious. ;)

Things on my list I have accomplished so far:
#3 Learn to Knit | #26 Dye My Hair Pink | #24 Biking in Ohio
#20 Kick My Coffee Addiction | #29 Surprise Someone | #23 Visit A Farm Sanctuary

You can view the full list HERE.
Or check out my labels below to find similar posts like this one.

Yes, My Dogs Are Vegan

I've gotten quite accustomed to getting weird reactions about eating a vegan diet. When you mention that your dogs are also vegan you really get some strange looks. Honestly though I just laugh about it. I'm the type of person who believes in physical proof or solid evidence. The results I have seen in both my dogs since switching them to a vegan dog food formula have been amazing. That's all I need to know that it's the right choice for my Fur Babies.

Photo taken just a few days ago.
Let me give you a little history about Muffins. She is 13 years old and has a curved spine. Also when she walks her knee caps move out of place. Things started getting hard for her back in 2011 when we lived in California. Back then she still had a lot of spunk and we were able to take her for walks on the beach. Shortly after California she seemed to be in a lot of pain when she walked and she became very lazy. When we moved to Wyoming I took her to a vet and had her put on pain meds. I didn't like giving her meds because I know they cause liver damage. I kept her on them for about a month and saw no improvement at all. I stopped giving them to her.

Muffins in California, 2011
Fast froward to 2012, which is when Cody and I went vegan. I never would of thought that I would find a vegan dog food or even consider switching my dogs to a meat free diet. My views and beliefs changed overtime, I educated myself on how the dog/cat food is made and I just decided that if meat causes so many problems in the human body, isn't it possible it does the same to our pets? Made sense to me.

Muffins and I on the beach in California, 2011
Stephanie from Share The Love informed me that the pet food brand Natural Balance made a vegan dog food formula. I was so excited about it and I was able to just go to my local pet food store and buy it. The price is pretty comparable to brands like IAMS, which is what they were eating prior to switching to Natural Balance. Within only a few weeks of switching the dogs to their new food I saw results. When I fed Muffins IAMS she would barely eat a bowl worth a day, even go a few days without eating. It was heartbreaking.


There were days where I would come home from work and have to check to see if she was still breathing. It was awful. Sometimes I would just start balling my eyes out because I feared the worst. Muffins would sleep for hours and never even get up to drink water or go outside. I had watched my poor little dogs health decline very badly over the last year. She was super skinny and had trouble getting off the deck to use the restroom and even going over the doorway to get in and out of the house she would fall.


It's so hard to watch your pets get old. For a long time I didn't think she would make it to the end of this year. However, after switching her diet I have this completely different dog. It's as if I rolled back time. For one she loves the food and she is eating regularly. She has gained some much needed weight. She wants to be up and about. She goes outside multiple times a day on her own without being forced. She shows happiness and excitement again. All I did was switch her food.


I actually was talking to a co-worker about the vegan dog food the other day. It was so refreshing to have someone show interest and ask questions about it. She planned to tell her aunt about the food because she has a dog that's older and not doing that well. That's when I knew I really wanted to share it with my readers. :) Cody and I plan to take a vacation this year to California. It means a lot to me to take Muffins to see the ocean again. I've never seen her so happy. As far as Chloe goes, she has lost some much needed weight.

Chloe eating a vegan dinner

Chloe is no longer the shape of a barrel. She now has an hour glass shape the way she should. The results with both my dogs have been great. I wrote this post so that I could pass the information along. I know not everyone will agree with me and that's fine. Again, this is my choice and all the proof I need is in front of me everyday. I can't wait to walk Muffins on the beach again!

You can visit the Natural Balance website HERE.

The Vegan Project // Video Update From Dan

Dan was kind enough to put a video together to tell us about his progress with his new vegan diet. I wanted you guys to be able to hear it from him first hand. He talks about his weight loss, food choices and feelings on eating vegan so far.



I am so proud of Dan. I knew he could do it!
If you missed the other Vegan Project posts you can see them all HERE.

Other Links:
Forks Over Knives
Peaceable Kingdom

The Vegan Project // Dan's Progess So Far

It's been about a month since Dan first started making some vegan changes to his diet. When we started the vegan project we decided to just take it slow. Instead of Dan just completely changing everything over night. In my post last week I talked about going grocery shopping with Dan and shared a video of him trying his first vegan sandwich. You can see that post HERE if you missed it. Our grocery trip happened around Easter weekend. About a week later I received an email from Dan updating me on his progress. I can't put into words how happy I was the entire time I was reading it! Now I would like to share it with you...

Hello Jess,

The recent changes I've made to my diet are working really well so far. :) This morning I weighed in at 173 lbs, which is the lowest in many, many years. It was around 178 when you were here. For the last two years I've been around 185, and then before that I was over 200.

One thing I've really been enjoying is Spinach Leaves. I bought a medium size container the other day just for the hell of it, and I've been just eating the leaves non-stop. They are really a great treat to munch on. I started with one leaf, and would just continue eating them. For some reason I always thought spinach had a very different taste, maybe like kale. I didn't really like the kale I tried, but I'm really happy about the spinach. I just can't believe I've never tried it before.

I haven't had any meat or dairy products that I am aware of since the day before we all went to the zoo, March 29th. The night before we all got together, I had two chicken sandwiches from Chick-Fil-A on my way home. But since my PB & J sandwiches at the zoo, I've done extremely well. I have even been giving food to my parents that I no longer have the desire to eat. Foods include a pound of butter, some of that shredded cheese I showed you, soup requiring milk, that large jug of Hawaiian Punch, powder (sugar) to make Iced Tea, and probably a couple other things. I'm going to watch that movie you let me borrow, after I return from my vacation. (Peaceable Kingdom) I did watch Vegucated last week. :)

When I visited my parents last weekend, I just brought my own food. I ate the rest of the vegan pizza we had cooked together. And yesterday, I packed strawberries, pistachios, and a non-meat sandwich. Things THEY were eating included birthday cake for my nephew, steak hoagies, and pizza. Back when I hung out with you a year ago when you became vegan, I remember you saying how certain foods would make you sick just looking at them. At the time, it was hard for me to fully understand because I was still eating those foods. When my mom offered me cake, and those other foods, I just told her, "I'm good", and "I brought something". If you looked in their refrigerator, it's twice as bad as mine was. I've eliminated almost all the crap from my home. I did have 2 Sprites today, because I don't want to waste them. But, I'm positive I won't buy any more. I have 5 left. There are a couple other bad foods left. Most I've given to my parents. I don't want any new food that is unhealthy coming in my house.

Dan's first Vegan Tacos!

There are several aisles I won't even need to go down any more at the grocery store. All the bad snacks, cheeses, and sugars I don't want a part of right now. Only a week or so in, I feel very comfortable being able to make these changes last. Of course time will tell, but I'm feeling really good about it, and you know that's not always an easy thing for me. I did have to work late two nights last week, but I stopped at Subway and got the foot-long Veggie Delight on Wheat. No cheese or mayo. I had lettuce, tomato, pickles, spinach, olives, and oregano. When I've gotten home earlier, I've been eating those Boca spicy Chick'n sandwiches. I was shocked at how much I LOVE them! I didn't try those when you were here, but those are so awesome. I can't believe it's not real chicken. It made me so happy. I put a little of the organic ketchup on one, and also ate one with spinach. I'm sure I'll try different toppings in the future. I already had to buy another box of those...actually 3 more boxes so they would last! I bought some healthy wheat buns for those sandwiches. I already know I can eat those instead of Chick-Fil-A. They are just as good.

It's been going great so far. No more turkey sandwiches in my lunchbox for work! And no more Cheez-It crackers. I drank only water for lunch last week, and like I mentioned, I just have a few Sprites left til those are gone. My vacation will be interesting. I think I will have to make a few exceptions, basically because I had the trip planned for a couple months. I may have *some* bad foods, but not everything. I will stop at the grocery store and mix in some good things. But, I know when I get back I'm gonna stick to my healthy foods, so that's good. Oh yeah, those Snicker Doodle cookies. I said I would mail them to you if I didn't like them. Haha! Well, you are not getting them!!! Those are excellent too. I'll eat two or three as a treat. Much better than times I'd be on the computer eating 8 or 10 chocolate cookies just because they were convenient.

Also today, I made my first pizza. It turned out alright for my first one, but there are some changes I need to make. It ended up a bit runny, so I need to eliminate a bit of the water so it cooks better. But the toppings worked out well and I ate just over half of it. So, I'm sure I'll get better at it over time. When I was making the "cheese" with the cashews, I started thinking that was probably the most complex thing I'd ever cooked in my life. It's something simple to start out with, and I can learn from my mistakes. I didn't heat up the tomato sauce, so that's something I need to do next time. That's why it was so watery I think. I did buy a blender ($30), and a rice cooker from Target ($40). I used the blender to chop up the cashews, and that's probably the first time in my life I've ever used one! Hopefully I can make some rice this week. Looking forward to trying that out.


This has all been very exciting so far. I will save a few bucks from eating at Chick-Fil-A once a week. It will take a little while getting used to buying ingredients instead of everything already made. If I can get back to the grocery store next time when it's not so busy, it will be even better. I will keep you updated so you've got stuff to use for the blog whenever you decide to do that. I just wanted to be as thorough as I could so you've got enough for your next update. Right now, I am very optimistic. Looking in other peoples carts and seeing the crap just makes me want to eliminate the bad stuff immediately.

Dan


I am so proud of Dan's progress so far! I was pleasantly surprised at how easily he changed over. He was able to find things right off the bat that he loved. I couldn't believe he had already cooked the pizza himself. I hadn't even gave him the recipe yet, he got if off my blog! My next step is to get some recipes together for him. He mentioned how he is going to be watching the movie Peaceable Kingdom. I haven't done an actual post about the film here on the blog yet. I think the only way you can watch it is by purchasing it from their website. It's a film about the farming industry. Probably the hardest thing I have ever watched in my entire life. I am curious to see how Dan handles watching it. It's very graphic, real and honest. A lot of things that most people wouldn't dare watch. I am so thankful that Dan is being as BRAVE as he is.

The Vegan Project // Part 1 - Introducing New Vegan Foods

In the end of March I introduced The Vegan Project here on my blog. My close friend Dan agreed to attempt changing to a vegan diet to see if it would work for him. If you missed the first post you can read it HERE. Dan started making changes to his diet during the last week of March. One of the first things I suggested for him to do was switch from dairy milk to vanilla almond milk. A very easy and simple change. Then I asked him to watch the film Forks Overs Knives. The great thing about Forks Over Knives is that it gives you lots of information. Watching the film can help you make an educated decision on whether or not a plant strong diet is good for you.

During my visit to Ohio I was able to go grocery shopping with Dan to show him first hand how to shop for vegan foods that would work for him. It was so much fun for both of us. I was able to teach him how to read ingredient labels and learn what things to stay away from. I have to give kudos to the Kroger grocery store by him. They have put all the organic, meatless food options and healthier stuff ALL together. Even better it's next to the produce section.
Woot-woot!!! Making it super easy for Dan to grocery shop.


Below I have made a video of Dan trying his first Tofurky sandwich.
I also talk about the vegan foods that Dan purchased at the grocery store.



I am super excited for Dan and really had a blast going grocery shopping with him. It was so nice to "share my world" with a good friend. While I was in Ohio we fixed a vegan pizza for Dan which he really loved. It was great too because he got to watch us cook it. He got to see how easy it actually was to prepare. I do plan to give Dan lots of recipes that are easy to prepare. I hope to help him move towards a plant strong diet verses the processed vegan foods.

When Dan and I first decided to start this vegan project we weren't really sure how it was going to go. Originally we were going to wait till the end of April to start because Dan is getting ready to go on vacation. I didn't want him to have to worry about his "diet" while traveling since it's all so new for him. For both Dan and I, things seem to be going better and quicker then expected. Which is great! Next week I plan to share with you some of Dan's progress! It is pretty awesome and he's made me super proud already! Stay tuned....

Introducting The Vegan Project

I am really excited to share this with you today! I was inspired by the movie Vegucated to do my own kind of vegan experiment here on the blog. In the film Vegucated, three ordinary meat eaters decide to try out a vegan lifestyle and diet for 6 weeks. I love the idea and thought it would be fun to ask someone in my own life to do something similar. I have asked one of my best friends to try out a vegan / plant strong diet for a period of time. Meet Dan...


Dan and I have been very close friends for over 12 years now. Dan has always been there for me whenever I needed him. Dan knows me very well and actually is one of my only friends who reads my blog. He has watched me transform into an entirely different person over the past few years. Of course I want everyone I know and love to be vegan for health reasons. I want them to be living the longest life that they possibly can. I believe with a plant based diet that is what you get! Dan has volunteered to kinda be my guinea pig here on the blog. Great friend right?


Needless to say that we are approaching this just as an experiment. Dan is mainly interested in eating healthier, picking up some new meal plans and some new eating habits. What will Dan being doing during this vegan project? I will be asking him to give up processed foods, added sugars, soda, dairy, meat and many other items. I will teach him how to read the ingredient labels on food products, help him with vegan meal planning that fits into his busy work schedule, have him watch the film Forks Over Knives and others like it so that he can learn the facts about a vegan diet.

I've decided to do this on my blog because I felt it would be inspiring for others. Dan and I don't know if he will actually stay vegan or not. We are approaching this as something fun for him to try. We are both approaching the project with an open mind. Needless to say he will have my full support along the way! At end of the time period we agree upon, we'll just see what changes stick. Below I had Dan answer some questions. First he also introduces himself to you guys! Lets read what he had to say....


Hello everyone! My name is Dan, I'm currently 30 years old, and I've lived in Ohio my entire life. I met Jessie in 2001 while I was working at an antique mall. She has been my best friend ever since! I keep up with Jessie's blog on a daily basis. We now live over 1,200 miles away from each other, so it's really a great way to keep current on what she is doing in Wyoming. As you all know, Jessie is now completely vegan, and definitely on her way to a healthier life. I'm very happy for her, and wish her the best! Recently, Jessie e-mailed me asking whether I'd be interested in trying out the vegan lifestyle for a short period of time. I currently eat the same foods that most Americans eat...beef, chicken, plenty of dairy products, and just about anything else you can imagine!

As I was considering whether or not to accept the challenge, many things went through my mind. There are many benefits associated with changing to a plant-based diet, and a healthier body is my biggest motivation for giving it a shot. I've read how happy Jessie has been lately because of her decision to eliminate animal products from her diet. This also gives me hope that I can succeed as well. But since I am new to this, I do have some worries as to how far I will be able to make it. I will be honest when I say there are certain things I am very nervous about. There is a bit of uncertainty about whether I will be able to give up the foods I enjoy so much.

There are many foods that I feel will be extremely difficult to quit eating. I love chicken sandwiches, cheeseburgers, and tacos very much. However, I am learning about how unhealthy those all can be. My unpredictable work schedule frequently makes it difficult to plan a healthy meal. Many times I just settle for fast-food, which is about the worst thing out there! However, I'm willing to give this a serious attempt. I could have easily backed out from this offer and said NO before even starting. "Change" is a very difficult word in my mind. There will definitely be lots of changes to what I eat, once this project really kicks in.

One of the biggest things I want to come out of this upcoming experience is a much greater knowledge of the food I am putting into my body on a daily basis. A majority of people eat what they do, because it's basically what they were brought up to eat, and don't even think twice about the harmful effects it may be having on them long term. There is a significant attachment to the food I eat in my life. The hardest thing in my mind will be breaking that connection I have with certain foods.

Right now, I have come a long way, just to even try this. I never would have imagined myself not eating animal products for an extended amount of time. The thought just never crossed my mind. But, I have some great motivation to move forward. Obviously, my health is an important factor, and in the past I've never given it as much thought as I really should. I hope a majority of the changes I make actually become permanent. That would be terrific! But for right now, and with Jessie's help, I am going to educate myself on some vegan foods, begin sampling them, and try very hard to cut out a lot of the junk I currently eat. I am very much looking forward to preparing different foods I've never tried before. I want this whole experience to be fun, and not scary.

A very special "Thank You" to Jessie for even thinking I would be a good candidate at doing this. Being Vegan is one of the most important accomplishments in her life. Without trying different things in life, there is simply no chance of success, so I will do the best I can. I know there will be many challenges, but hopefully I am able to overcome them and come out a healthier person. That's the main goal!

Thanks to all of Jessie's great blog followers for taking the time to learn about this project!
Dan

Thanks Dan for sharing your thoughts and concerns about the vegan project. I asked Dan to be very honest with the way he was feeling. The doubts and emotions that he is experiencing are so normal and typical. The most common fear for people about being vegan is all the food they will have to give up. The key is replacing them with new foods that you will soon crave the way you did the OLD foods. When I talk to Dan I say things like," Yep. Yes. I know." I understand all his worries about changing his diet. I am very proud of him for even accepting this challenge at all. For even putting himself out there! Some people look at my food and turn their noses! Silly really.

The next part of the vegan project will be taking Dan grocery shopping while I am visiting him in Ohio. I am so excited about this. It's going to be so fun having a close friend really see what it is like to be in my world! So stay tuned for a video of Dan and I together next month talking about grocery shopping and his most current thoughts on a vegan diet.

Compassion from a Vegans Point of View

Shai from The Vagabond Studio asked me to do a guest post over on her blog about compassion. I would love it if you would head over there and read it! Have a GREAT WEEKEND friends!!! Link to the post HERE.

The Cruelty Free Bunny Trapped Me

That is the question. If you read my blog and you know me at all, you will already know the answer is.....drumroll.... NO.
I bet some of you already knew this fact. Sadly I did not. I was fooled by the cute little bunny on the packaging last week when I purchased some makeup at my work. I had been completely out of eyeliner and mascara for a few weeks and just wasn't wearing makeup. I wear makeup because I think it's fun. Plus, I do look like a 12 year little girl without it. I know I don't need it and when I do wear it I don't feel like it's a lot. Even one of my co-workers was shocked one day when I told her I had liquid eyeliner on.

Being a fairly new vegan I feel like I learn new facts and information almost daily. Whether it's from my blogger friends or searching the web. PETA has an amazing list of companies that DO and DO NOT test on animals. They also add little V's next to the companies that actually are vegan or have vegan product options. Why didn't I just do this in the first place??? So what makeup did I buy which then caused me to type this post? Wet N Wild. Which actually seems harder and harder to find now a days. I love their black liquid eyeliner and I have used it for years! I'm a pretty sure it's safe to say it started in 1995 because of Gwen Stefani...


So that's like a million years ago so by now I have mastered the art of liquid eyeliner. I love it. I assume that I'm not the only person who falls for the cute cruelty free bunny! I assumed if something isn't animal tested that is wouldn't have animal by products in it. FAIL. Now that I actually think about it, I feel dumb for thinking that. I just thought that cute bunny would always be my friend. Pretty much every product I buy now is "not animal tested". My shampoo bottle has the cute little bunny logo on it but also says "cruelty free and vegan". That's when I made the connection that something might be wrong with my makeup. I grabbed the makeup packaging and starting searching some of the crazy terms and words that most people don't understand. It kinda makes your brain hurt to even look at it...


I did a Google search for animal by products in makeup. I found this website that had a simple list of about 6 ingredients to look for. Here is what it says about Stearic Acid:

Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid often taken from animals including cows, sheep, pigs and, according to PETA, even euthanized dogs and cats from animal shelters. You may see stearic acid listed on ingredients lists as Stearamide, Stearamine, Stearates, Stearic Hydrazide, Stearone, Stearoxytrimethylsilane, Stearoyl Lactylic Acid, Stearyl Betaine or Stearyl Imidazoline. It can be found in cosmetics, soaps, hairspray, conditioners, deodorants, facial cleansers and creams. Stearic acids can also be found in many vegetable fats.

It is good however to read that last line that says it can also be from vegetable fats. How do I know which version Wet N Wild uses in their products? Here I go assuming again,....I'm going to say the animal fat since the package doesn't say vegan on it. I could call them but honestly I find it better to just support vegan businesses and products. I shouldn't have to guess or Google search what things are. None of us should really have to do that. Lets check out what Carmine is:

Carmine, also referred to as cochineal or carminic acid, is a red pigment obtained by crushing tens of thousands of female cochineal insects. This colouring is used in cosmetics, shampoos and food dyes. Beet juice or alkanet root are non-toxic options for those who may have allergic reactions to carmine.

WHAT!?! This is craziness. I don't want bugs to be crushed just so my body wash or eyeliner can be colored. Call me crazy, but I don't think this is right. I find it simply unnecessary. I had heard of bugs being used for coloring before and I guess I shouldn't be surprised it's in my makeup. I'm sure many people would just say they are bugs, but to me it's just not right. Technology is way more advanced then this. Animal testing and killing bugs for dye STILL, really? I just don't want to eat or wear animals. That simple. I will miss my Wet N Wild products, but I know I will find something new. I'm not picky as long as it doesn't involve animals being harmed and it works. (and I love purple eyeliner and shadow.)


On another note, I can't say that Wet N Wild has bad products. They actually are good products that serve their purpose at an affordable price. It's just not the right product for me anymore. I simply can't say that I am vegan and then put animal fat on my eyelids. Something about that doesn't feel right for me. I do find it frustrating that all of us are basically forced to purchase items that have the animal by products in them or that ARE animal tested. I only say forced because most stores that we all shop at only offer the typical brands. You know Cover Girl, Revlon, etc..

This isn't just a vegan issue either. Many animals that are tested on are cats and dogs. I know this because a friend in Ohio adopted a cat who had been animal tested at P&G it's entire life. It's just heart breaking. I believe that your dollar counts as a vote every time you spend it. Buying products that are NOT animal tested does send a message to the companies. It's a message that all animal lovers can send!

A few months back I posted a video of some Beagles that had never been out of cages.
They had spent their entire lives as test animals. See that video HERE.
I am looking into purchasing some Urban Decay Makeup. Have you ever tried it?
Do you know of any good vegan or non animal testing makeup products?

Link to PETA list of animal testing companies HERE.

RECIPE: HAWAIIAN CHICKPEAS

Hawaiian Chickpea Teriyaki
By Lindsay Nixon // Happy Herbivore
This has become a new favorite of ours. It's so easy and quick. It's sweet and spicy!

THE INGREDIENTS:
1 can 15oz Chickpeas, drained & rinsed
1/4 cup Teriyaki Sauce
1 tbsp of Hot Sauce
1 tbsp of Raw Sugar
2 cups cooked Brown Rice (or cooked greens)
Pineapple or Mango Salsa



Combine chickpeas, teriyaki sauce, hot sauce, and sugar in large cooking pan.
Allow to marinate for at least 5 minutes.



Cook over medium heat, stirring regularly until most of the liquid has absorbed.
About 10 minutes.



Spoon over cooked rice or greens. Top with salsa.
We eat ours with brown rice to make it a more filling dish!
Cody eats almost a full jar of the salsa it seems. LOL

So are you inspired to buy the Happy Herbivore cookbook yet???

Trip to The Peaceful Prairie Farm Sanctuary

I am so excited to share this trip to the farm sanctuary with you! Last year when we went to Vegfest we picked up some literature for an farm sanctuary that rescued farms animals. The farm is called Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary and it's located in Deer Trail Colorado. It took us almost two and half hours to get there, but the drive was well worth the experience. Get ready to see a ton of cute pictures...


The drive was gorgeous. It also helped that the temperature was in the 50's and no snow or wind. Perfect. We really lucked out for January. One of the first things I noticed when we arrived was this Llama that was hanging out by the cars. I thought it was funny to see him next to a mini van. The animals that live on this farm really do get to roam free.


Above you can see Michelle. She and her husband own and run the farm with the help of volunteers. I loved this photo of her because she is "glowing" with happiness. You can tell she loves giving tours of her farm and teaching people about the animals. One of the main reasons why I picked to tour this farm is because they educate people about the truths of ALL farming. Pretty much what it comes down to is slaughtering is slaughtering, free range or not. Most people think free range makes it okay or better. It's Michelle's mission in life to break the myths and educate every day people. Sometimes we don't want to hear it but it doesn't keep it from being reality. I learned during this tour that "free range" farming isn't any better and in some cases worse then factory farming. (more information on that HERE.)


As soon as the whole tour group reached the top of the hill to start the tour, these two guys knew it was time to greet us. I found it amazing how they knew when they saw people it meant it was time to get petted and be scratched. Frank is the large black cow and the smaller one behind him is Piere. Piere is blind and Frank acts as his "seeing eye cow". Frank guides him around the farm. They have created a strong bond between each other. It was really sweet. Piere was more laid back, but Frank however was much more demanding of your attention. It's very cool to have a huge cow want to be petted like a dog...


I probably should mention that I hadn't ever done anything like this. I had never been this close to a farm animal in my life. The cows did make me a bit nervous since I am so short. Frank headed butted me because I stopped petting him. I just stayed clear of his path after that. I let the taller people pet him instead. Cody kept trying to get close up shots of him, but Frank would head butt the camera...


Once we visited with Frank and Piere it was time to move on to the goats. They were off in the distance waiting for their turn for affection. I love how they just watched us patiently. It's like you can read their minds,"Oh here comes another group of people to pet us!" The goats were my favorite animals on the farm...


I was in love with this black and white cat that lived on the farm. One thing that really warmed my heart during our tour was seeing all the different species coexisting together. Humans need to take a lesson from these animals. Michelle pointed out two goats that were sunning themselves together. They were a mother and son. She said that a lot of people don't believe that farm animals can create family bonds, this is proof that they do...


I LOVED how we walked with the animals. The animals became part of our group. I think Cody made more friends on the farm then I did. They seemed to keep seeking him out. This little goat was so sweet. Cody would take a step back from her and she would then step close to him putting her head up against his leg. It was so cute...


Off in the distance the Llamas on the farm just watched us.
The Llamas aren't that fond of people, but will leave you alone. I can't get over how tall they are...

After walking by some of the Llamas, we got a look at some more animals that were just wandering around and being curious. I am pretty sure this cute guy was a goose. He was so adorable...
Then it was time to meet the chickens...

This was sad. Michelle wanted to really educate us about how chickens are used in the farming industry. Male baby chicks are useless, so are usually killed. (Usually ground up alive.) Female chicks are only good till the age of 18 months because they are so exhausted from all the egg laying. They are then also killed. Something about the chickens get me teary eyed every time. Once I watched Vegucated and saw the reality of what happens to these animals, it instantly gave me an attachment to them.


This hen had only been at the farm for 2 weeks. She had been rescued from an "egg laying" operation. You can see how she is missing feathers on her wing. So sad. I want to cry just looking at the photo. She will get better and stronger. She will get to live out her life peacefully and never have to be in a cage again.


The last part of the tour was the best part I thought. Every Sunday the grocery store Whole Foods donates produce to the farm. It was produce that they would other wise just throw away. A few volunteers from the farm will go pick up boxes full of goodies for the animals. It is so funny to watch the feast that unfolds. The animals are so smart and have learned the routine and know that Sunday is when people visit the farm and Sunday is when they get produce...


I hope the photos of the goat eating the orange didn't completely gross you out. Cody and I were laughing so hard watching this goat eat a full orange. He was in heaven. After watching him struggle to eat the orange, I started peeling oranges for some of the goats. Well, it ended up being one goat once he figured out what I was doing. I fed him about 8 oranges...


Another really cool animal that we met was named JC...

Michelle told us that during every tour of the farm JC picks one male in the group to follow around. He picked Cody. He wanted Cody to join his group and stay on the farm with him. How cool? It was so funny. He would not leave Cody's side. The animals on the farm were all so smart and unique.

I was so happy when I was at the farm with the animals. I felt so at peace. I didn't cry till I started editing these photos and doing this blog post. It hit me like a tons of bricks. These animals look you in the eye and you see love. You see a personality, just like a pet in your home. This was a very moving experience for me and I'm already vegan. If you have any type of animal sanctuary near you I urge you to visit it. It's really fun being with the animals and getting to know their stories. I think I have found my purpose in life. To try to save as many as these guys as possible. :)


The Goose you hear in the video next to Cody is JC talking to him. LOL

You can learn more about the farm by visiting their website, Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary
The animals living on this farm will never be killed or eaten. This is their forever home.

This was a goal of mine from my 32 Things Before 32 List!