holiday weekend: giving thanks

I'm thankful for family living in another state, providing a warm and inviting home for us when we visit.

Dad + sister, here we come!  ...all four of us.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there celebrating the holiday!  I'll 'see' you next week. :)

{photo source: walking around where the sidewalk begins}

vegan nail polish remover

I've read good things about Peacekeeper vegan nail polish remover, so now I just need to track some down at a local drugstore. 

All varieties that our local Nugget Market carries contain gelatin and other unkind ingredients, so I am hoping I have better luck at Whole Foods or Rite Aid.  Has anyone tried this?  If so, what do you think?

My nails currently look seriously jacked, and even if that's the cool new thing, I would rather they be well manicured.  Plus, I am looking forward to testing some vegan polishes next...  And recommendations?

Have a fabulous weekend, friends! 

wool: TKL response

For years I have been bummed about being allergic to wool. 

Today, I am happy to report that I am no longer bummed, nor will I ever be bummed again.

Yes, every coat at J.Crew is a work of freakin' art, and 95% of these coats are made with wool, but I can pass.

Alicia Silverstone recently shared on The Kind Life {TKL} the scoop on wool in the clothing industry--a close look that I was robbed of when earning my degree in Apparel Marketing and Design many moons ago.  While I cannot bring myself to watch the video {I'm sheltered}, I did read her post on the issue, and I am now grateful that I am allergic to the stuff!

Besides, there are plenty of vegan works of freakin' art available.  Enter: this beauty.

Tulle All Business Black Vegan Leather Jacket

While shopping on Lulus just now, my search for 'vegan' produced 371 results.  Impressive.  I'm also digging this:

Tulle Butterscotch Candy Vegan Leather Skirt

I've been looking for a mini for an upcoming holiday party, and this would look pretty damn adorable with some masculine pairings like those oxfords.  Okay, I'm off to cyber-shop.

day-before prep + a taste test: soup

So, tomorrow my friend Abby is coming over for dinner, wine, and stories, and since I have planned a three course meal {four, with dessert}, I decided to make the first course, minestrone soup, tonight.  Plus, soup always tastes better the next day, like pasta and popcorn.  I love stale popcorn--I get it from my mom. 

I got the delicious minestrone recipe from VeganYumYum, the site I am currently stalking for recipes and inspiration, and I have to say it is equally sweet and savory, and seriously flavorful.  I used fire-roasted tomatoes and half veg broth/half water, which added a ton of flavor.

The little ladleful in my teacup is vivid with iridescent red broth, bright green peas, and fresh lemon zest.  As I am typing this, I am gobbling it down and just went back for seconds.  The base has thickened a bit which means by tomorrow night the soup will be a hearty consistency--perfect for this cold weather.  And anything I get to put kale in makes me a happy camper.

Also on the menu for tomorrow night's dinner:  asparagus and white bean pesto tart, also from VeganYumYum {I told you, stalker}, and chickpea picatta over mashed potatoes, which I found over at the Post Punk Kitchen.  For dessert, I am making banana 'ice cream,' which is literally just frozen banana, blended in a food processor.  Really, just banana.  I swear the consistency is exactly like ice cream and is really yummy.  Have you had this?  I found it a long time ago on the kitchn.  The first time I made it, which was that very day it was posted, it came out creamy and delicious, but was quite messy, which I guess is half the fun.  I made a lot, so I stored the leftovers in the freezer and it kept a few days.  Nice.

I scored a bottle of Burgans Albarino on clearance at Cost Plus last night while shopping with friend Vicki, for only $7.88!  It's normally like fifteen bucks at Nugget Market, and since one of the recipes calls for white wine, I figure I'll use it and serve the rest at dinner.  Abby said she found Cakebread Chardonnay on sale at Nugget, so we'll definitely be covered in the vino department.

I love vegan food.  Love it.  Abby's vegetarian, so I won't need to defend any part of the meal.  Easy. 

What are your plans for Friday night?  Fancy food?  Friends?  Vino?  I sure hope so, because the holidays are in full swing, and everyone should be in a festive mood.  :)

Have a festive weekend!

{photo source: 1}

just discovered: wonderful resource for raising veg kids!

Click. Read. Share!

I found the Boston Vegetarian Society page by way of VeganYumYum's blog post about the society's annual food festival, which I just missed, sadly.  I would have flown cross-country to hit up those festivities in a heartbeat!

I'm a sucker for a well-organized melting pot of resourceful info when I am learning about a new field of interest, and this site does not disappoint.  There are book rec's categorized by age-appropriateness, and several helpful vegetarian and vegan site links.  I'm interested in checking out The Teen's Vegetarian Cookbook for my teenage vegetarian sister {Christmas is rapidly approaching!}, and the vegan pregnancy books and sites recommended on the society's page.  My sister is the only vegetarian in her house, and her mom doesn't cook much {she's my half-sister for those of you with the confused Cocker Spaniel head tilt}, so I think this book would be great for her.

vegan burgers for lunch

Another book that looks promising in the Vegan Lunch Box, with over a hundred ideas for animal-free lunches.  This book keeps both adults and kids in mind, and their photography is adorable.     

The society's website is bursting with information, not just on raising veg kiddies.  I just found my new cyberobsession for the week...

Let me know what you think of the site, and what you learned.  I am sure this is not the last time I am going to refer to this site.