Chicago Vegan Bake Sale for Haiti - This Sunday!

If you're in the area, be sure to stop by the Chicago Vegan Bake Sale for Haiti! All proceeds go to Food for Life. We will have all kinds of treats for you to eat and go home with!


Ok...maybe not ALL kinds...
And you can't go home with them all...
Whatever. You get the picture.


SUNDAY, JANUARY 31st
Noon - 5pm
Greenheart
1911 W. Division, Chicago

*Also, don't forget that The Glow Giveaway ends this weekend! Last chance to enter! Winner announced Monday!*

Cookie Box

My sister did the most thoughtful thing and sent me a beautiful box of individually wrapped cookies from The Sunflower Baking Company. She ordered the gift box from Garuda International, an online shop for fair trade organic foods, gifts, and products. I'd never heard of it before, but after doing some browsing on their web site I've realized that it's a really smart, eco-friendly way to shop online. I received a beautifully wrapped-and-bowed box with bright colored tissue, a well as a personalized card made from recycled materials. I thought this was such a sweet gesture, and now I have Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, Lemony Lemon, and German Chocolate cookies to enjoy for weeks to come. If you're looking for a nice gift for someone special - or even someone not so special but maybe you're trying to sabotage their diet - this is a great idea.

Celebrity Spotlight: Ginnifer Goodwin

Ginnifer Goodwin is one of those celebrities who is so cute you just want to give her a hug and put her in your pocket and force her to be your BFF. When I found out that she was vegan she just became that much more awesome in my eyes. I had read an article last year in W Magazine where she said that she was putting cream in her coffee one morning and just realized what she was putting in to her body (um, cow's milk). In the February 2010 issue of O magazine, Ginnifer has a one-page spread in which she writes about her veganism! Luckily the article is also online for you to check out here: Ginnifer Goodwin's Aha! Moment. To top it off, Ginnifer was also 2009's celebrity spokesperson for Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-a-Turkey for Thanksgiving. She may be a new veg, but she is definitely productive and certainly sexy.

Ginnifer is an actress best known for her role in the award winning tv show "Big Love," as well as her cute spunky parts in films like "He's Just Not That Into You," "Walk the Line," "Mona Lisa Smile," and "Win a Date With Tad Hamilton."

Veg is Sexy on the Radio!

I am so proud and honored to say that I had my first radio...appearance? interview!... yesterday morning! I received an e-mail last week asking to do an interview about food and restaurant service and... Veg is Sexy! The spot aired live this morning on Chicago's 89.5 FM and can be heard here on Vocalo.org. Thank you to Tom for a great interview and a chance to talk about the site.

Here are a few after-thoughts I would have liked to add:

• How do I survive? Those substitutions...and vegetables! Fruits! Whole grains! Nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, breads, rice, the list goes on and on and on...
  
• The "books" I was reading was Skinny Bitch, I just didn't know if I could say that on live the radio...
• Correction: the law is 200 million somatic cells. Read more here.
• More about those kissing pigs...yes, they are much better alive. Vegetarianism is also about compassion towards animals. Animal cruelty is lame.
  

I also have to thank Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, listening to the Food for Thought podcast has totally prepared me to answer these questions on the spot! She has influenced my opinions and ideas so much...I think I probably have her directly quoted in here somewhere ;) Thank you!

Recipe Review: Oatmeal Cookie Crepe Cakes

I decided to stray from my standard oatmeal breakfast and jazz it up by making Oatmeal Cookie Crepe Cakes from Chocolate-Covered Katie. I added cinnamon and raisins and topped the pancakes with maple syrup. They were definitely delicious and a fun change to my morning meal! I LOVE pancakes but try to refrain from eating them because it usually leads to calorie overload - this small batch only made two pancakes and it was nice to know that I was eating a healthier alternative! They could have used a little more sweetener for my taste, but isn't that always my complaint?! I recommend! Try them!

Birthday Dinner 4: Karyn's Cooked

I couldn't decide which Chicago veg restaurant I wanted to go to more, Karyn's Cooked or The Chicago Diner. Clearly the answer was...both. Four of us went to Karyn's on Sunday night for a lovely, delicious evening of stuffing our faces with delicious vegan food.


We started off with two appetizers, the first being The Combo Basket of deep fried broccoli, mushrooms, and zucchini served with a barbecue sauce and a creamy garlic herb sauce. I mean, how could this not be sinfully amazing, it's a basket of fried food, right? But the fried broccoli dipped in the garlic sauce was to. die. for. I couldn't get enough, and I think if I were to go back again for one thing it would be this. We also had the Guacamole served with veggies and chips, as well as a creamy chipotle sauce and a second garlic cream sauce. This was also really really good, but I feel like I eat so much guac at home that sometimes it's not as special in restaurants...you know? Anyway, still worth ordering! The garlic sauce on this dish was Maura's favorite.


My main entree was the highly recommended Vegan Pizza. This was a thin whole wheat crust topped with marinara, homemade soy cheese (which was more of a sauce), tons of veggies, and small pieces of seitan. While I used to be such a fan of Chicago deep-dish and this pizza was the complete opposite of that, I still loved it. Definitely enough to share and to take home, and it was voted the favorite entree of the table. I just can't stand olives so those came off.


Maura got the Jerk Tofu Sandwich and my mom got the Portobello Sandwich, but honestly the photographs looked EXACTLY the same so I'm only posting one. The Jerk Tofu had a sweet and spicy Caribbean flavor which isn't the kind of thing I normally eat, but I still thought it tasted really interestingly yum. The Portobello sandwich was great as well, but umm...maybe not as good as this one...


Speaking of things that aren't as good as the ones I make at home, I also ordered a side of the vegan mac and cheese. They forgot to bring it out right away and then I forgot to take a picture, but it was very pretty! Not to mention creamy and delicious. But still. Not as good as mine ;)


Of course my omnivorous father went for the Seitan Ribs, which had a fantastic smokey flavor and an amazingly awesome consistency. However, I think this is just wayyy too much protein - if one of these "ribs" were sliced up into a sandwich or a salad it would be perfect, but this was just a reminder that even for meat eaters the protein should be a side rather than the main course. It's just too much!


Of course we couldn't leave without dessert, but when nobody could agree on what they wanted, once again the solution was HAVE IT ALL! In order of my favorites: Lemon Meringue, Chocolate Silk, and Pecan Pies. Mmm. Speechless.

The service was fantastic and our waitress was unbelievably sweet. The restaurant had a beautiful, laid-back but classy and elegant atmosphere. The prices were...actually I don't know, it was my birthday, I didn't pay for it. Woohoo! But I'll be going back so I'll let you know next time.

Birthday Dinners 2 + 3

My day-of birthday dinner was so uneventful that it's not even worth mentioning. I'll just say it was a Middle Eastern restaurant that sucked falafel balls. (Luckily my mom and I got amazing organic facials to make up for it afterwards so all was well!)

On Friday, my work family took me out for a delicious stir fry at Stir Crazy! For those of you who are unfamiliar, it's a create-your-own stir fry restaurant. You chose all your own veggies, noodles, rice, tofu and sauce and they cook it up for you. It is perfect for vegetarians, vegans, or anyone trying to eat healthier. In my eyes, this place is only second to Flat Top Grill, another midwestern create-your-own stir fry with much more extensive veg options - seitans, flavored tempehs, tofu, and just tons and tons of fresh veggies. (Plus you get to write your own name on your stick, so it's a fun game to trade with your friends and when the servers come to your table they'll be like, "umm...Princess Boobalicious?")

More birthday gluttony to come. I think I'm just going to start calling it "birthweek." Happy birthweek! That's usually how long I try to drag it out for anyway ;)

Birthday Dinner 1: The Chicago Diner

On Wednesday night my dear friend Brittany took me for an-evening-before-birthday dinner to The Chicago Diner - the veg restaurant in Boystown where I've been dying to go for ages! It was very spontaneous and wonderful...and delicious! (These photos were taken on our Blackberries, sorry for the bad quality!)

We each started off with a Zevia, the new stevia-sweetened pop. I used to be a bit of a Diet Pepsi junky and rarely drink soda now, but when I saw this on the menu I really wanted to try it. It was good, but had an aftertaste of, um...pepper? I don't think I would buy cases of this to bring home, but maybe a few for a treat once in awhile. I don't know. If you've tried it before let me know what you think.


After doing some extensive "research," the Reuben sandwich was the second most recommended item on the menu. Obviously I had to try it. I had never been a reuben fan in pre-vegan days, but this was still so delicious. Sliced seitan, lettuce, tomato, saurkraut, soy cheese, rye toast. With a side of vegan mac and cheese, obviously. And it was great! The best vegan mac I've had in a restaurant (but not as good as the one I make at home...)


Brittany got the vegan Shawarma sandwich, which looked nothing like what I thought shawarmas were supposed to look like but was (I'm sure) 10000% more delicious. I think I liked hers even more than mine! Seitan and cauliflower, lettuce, tomato, chipotle sauce with a side of sauteed pesto veggies. It was fantastic!


This was the vegan Chocolate Chip Cheesecake. I've found that a lot of vegan cream cheese desserts taste like soy mozzarella with sugar. Not the case here. It was delicious, creamy, rich, and flavorful. The best veg cheesecake I've had so far. And look at those chocolate chips and thick chocolate topping! Are you dying?!


Ok, this WAS the most recommended thing on the menu and I WOULD SLAM MY HEAD IN MY NEW CAR DOOR TO HAVE THIS AGAIN. The Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Milk Shake. Omg. I don't know what kind of soy ice cream witchcraft they pulled here, but if you're thinking about coming to Chicago, this is the reason to do it. Brit and I split each the shake and the cake (they divided the shake up for us, hence the small glass), but if I weren't pretending to be healthy I would have ordered another one for myself for the road.


Before we left, Brittany had to suck the rest of her shake so I could lick the peanut butter drizzle out of the glass. Not true, but don't think it didn't cross my mind.

We got a super easy parking spot on the street right outside, our server was a total doll who comped the shake for my birthday, and the food came out faster than...fast food? No really, the sandwiches were out in mere minutes. After my first amazing experience at The Chicago Diner, I am definitely going back as soon as humanly possible. And you can bet your butt that I will be getting my own shake this time.

The Glow Giveaway

Wanna get that lovely vegan glow? Read up on Skin MD lotions here, and then enter to win a bottle here!

Ways to Enter (please leave a separate comment for each entry)

• Comment on this post and let me know what (or who) gives YOU a glow!
• Go to the Skin MD Natural site and let me know one thing you learned about their products.
  
• Tweet the following message: "Win a bottle of #vegan Skin MD Lotion on Veg is Sexy! www.vegissexy.com"
• Add me to your blogroll or let me know if you've done so already
• Post the giveaway on your blog or send to a friend if you don't have one
  

One winner will be randomly chosen on Saturday, January 30th! Good luck!

The Ice Cream Kiss

Last year Netflix had a "Greatest Kiss" competition where you recreate famous kisses from movies and send them in. A good friend of mine worked at a film company and was hiring actors to shoot a bunch of scenes, so I dragged my beautiful friend S along to smooch him onscreen (*sigh*, what a girl will do for fifty bucks...) Anyway, I knew they wanted us to do The Notebook, but when we arrived they asked us to do the ice cream kiss from the beginning of the film. I was not vegan at the time so I gladly accepted the vanilla cone they bought me downstairs and we ran around the corner to shoot. Since they were trying to crank out these scenes in as short of time as possible, it was kind of hectic and fast - let's do the ice cream kiss, done, somebody go buy her an ice cream cone, done, go grab the camera, boom, makeup check, hair check, outside to shoot. If I had been vegan at the time, it would have been a total inconvenience to deny the non-vegan prop, it would have made me look bad especially working with new people, and I would be causing eye-rolling problems in such a short amount of time. Plus, I was totally struggling that month and really needed that $50 for groceries.

Of course there are problems that can arise ahead of time, and for a long term project like a play or a film this thing can completely avoided. But sometimes these shoots happens so fast and I may have future vegan concerns in my job, so what should I do in this kind of last minute situation? If you were put in this position today, what would you do? Does your lifestyle ever interfere with your job?

Don't forget the Glow Giveaway will start tomorrow! In the meantime, check out Katie's Vitameata Vita-Mix giveaway or Lauren's You Scream Ice Cream giveaway!

The Kermy Coat

If you guys caught my girl Lady Gags on Oprah last Friday, she was commenting on some of her most controversial fashion over the last year. One of the favorites? Her Kermy Coat, of course! Gaga said:

"I don't like to wear fur, so it was my way of making a comment about fur."

Well, of course it only makes sense to wear a coat made of dead-looking Kermit the Frog dolls. Love her! All of her pieces say something, and this one really spoke to me. Fur is stupid. Don't wear it.

Product Review: Skin MD Lotion

I was honored to be asked to review the fabulous Skin MD Naturals body, face, and hand lotion - an all vegan, cruelty-free beauty product that I now have to say...I totally recommend!

I am a victim of that Post-Shower Lotion Song and Dance: if I put lotion on now I'll be wet and cold and freeze to death in my towel, but I should put lotion on after my face lotion because I don't want my face to be oily from the leftover residue... blah blah blah Yuck!

No Post-Shower problems here because this lotion was an all-in-one for the face and body! I loved that this stuff is lightweight, fast-drying, and silky smooth on the skin. It leaves a fresh, clean scent. It's hydrating. It's lovely. It works. Skin MD markets this as a "shielding lotion" that actually deflects irritants and locks in moisture. It has been recommended by over a thousand doctors for problems with dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis. They use yummy natural ingredients such as aloe vera, vitamin e, and chamomile to soothe your skin. It is also available with SPF for the daytime!

And best of all, it is totally vegan. There is no animal testing whatsoever. The plant is run by solar power. This stuff is as green as you can get! What more could you ask for?

I just wish that the bottles were bigger - there is just not enough in there to cover all the places I wanna put it!

Don't you wish you could try it too? Oh wait, you can! The amazing Amber at Skin MD has offered to give away one full-sized bottle of Skin MD Natural Lotion here on Veg is Sexy! Stay tuned, I will post more about our next giveaway on Thursday (cough my birthday cough)! One of my lucky readers will be soft and supple all through the rest of the winter.

.

Recipe Review: Black Bean Brownies from Happy Herbivore

This recipe for Happy Herbivore's Black Bean Brownies have been sweeping the blogs and I really wanted to find out what they were all about. I mean, a brownie that is based from BEANS?! What?! Crazy! But since it seems so healthy and the ingredients are so basic - you probably have most, if not all, of them in your pantry - I decided to give it a go. They were incredibly easy to throw together and only took a few minutes. Lindsay says to bake them for about 30 minutes, but they only took half that time for me. They're beautiful, right?

A rich, fudgey consistency. They slice easily and cut right out of the pan. This is a great health dessert, but I did find that my enormous sweet tooth was not totally satisfied with the subdued taste of these brownies. Lindsay says you can use an optional 1/4 cup of sugar (in addition to the required agave) which next time I would definitely do. However...I also found another great way to eat these that satisfies my candy craving!

With a smear of White Chocolate Wonderful peanut butter from PB and Co! Yes, I know this adds some of the fat and calories back into the intended low fat recipe, but this way you're still getting the protein, fiber and nutrients from the beans in the brownie AND some salty sweetness for dessert. It's a win-win. Overall, I would say these are definitely worth a shot. Nobody believed me when I said they were made with black beans, so it's really fun to create this unsuspecting recipe and fool people! That being said, I was the only one who went back for seconds. I think that extra sugar would do wonders for the taste of the brownie, but everyone is different! Try it both ways.

Grocery Store Adventure

A trip to Whole Foods for a few simple ingredients turned into a vegan culinary adventure. Here's what I bought this week:

Veggie Booty . Whole Foods was having a sale on snack packs of Robert's Gourmet Veggie Booty - this is a great and healthier snack for on the go or a replacement for your evening TV snack.

Peanut Butter & Co. White Chocolate Wonderful . This stuff is delicious. You have to try it if you haven't already.

Cashew Butter . Can you believe I've never tried it before? It's always way too expensive! Luckily I finally found a jar for $6.

Theo Chocolate . Another new thing to try, this dark chocolate has cherries and almonds.

Coconut Oil . Great for cooking AND skin care!

Earth Balance . The best vegan butter around. Usually I buy the regular one, but this time I went for the one made with olive oil because it's a little bit less calorie-dense.

Field Roast Grain Meat Sausages . The Smoked Apple Sage sausages are my favorite favorite vegan product on the market.

Follow Your Heart Vegan Mozzarella . I love this stuff because it melts!

Spinach Wraps . Purchased for my amazing Quesapizza creation!

QUESAPIZZA!

Behold my newest creation! The Quesapizza!!! This was possibly my favorite dinner that I've had in a long time. You guys. Seriously. You have to try this. I was craving a quesadilla/Mexican-y dish, but my spinach tortillas were so huge that I decided to make a pizza. But then I thought...why not fold it into a quesadilla like I wanted originally? Genius!

Ingredients:

• 1 soft Tortilla/Wrap shell
• 1/2 cup vegetarian refried beans
• 1 portobella mushroom cap
• 1 tsp olive oil
  
• 1/4 avocado
• vegan mozzarella cheese, grated (as much as you want!)
• garlic salt to taste

- Chop up your portabella mushroom cap. In a small pan, saute in a little bit of olive oil until soft and brown.
- Place your tortilla on a cookie sheet. Spread your refried beans over your tortilla shell.
- Slice your avocado and place the slices around your tortilla.
- Spread your mushrooms around the tortilla.
- Grate your vegan cheese over the tortilla.
- Sprinkle with garlic salt.
- Put under the oven broiler just until the cheese begins to bubble and melt, about a minute. Keep on eye on it so your tortilla shell doesn't burn!
- Let cool for a few moments, then fold in half. Enjoy!

* You can add whatever quesapizza ingredients your little heart desires: salsa, veg sausage, olives, roasted veggies, etc. Make sure that any cool ingredients such as lettuce or tofu sour cream are added after the broiler.*

Breaded Baked Tofu

I'm a huge fan of the pre-seasoned, pre-cooked, pre-packaged tofu blocks that you can slice up for sandwiches or eat as an entree. But to save up on cash and packaging, I'm always looking for new, fun, EASY ways to cook up regular blocks of tofu on my own. This weekend I tried a classic slice-marinate-bread-bake with much success. I marinated the 'fu in a mix of soy sauce, water, and spices and used Whole Foods vegan Italian breadcrumbs, then baked in the oven for about 7 minutes on each side (or until golden brown). This was a great dish, especially when served with a plate of sauteed spinach and kale. I definitely thought that the tofu was way too salty and soy-saucey though. If I were to make this again I would use more spices and less soy sauce, and do a better job of diluting the marinade with water. Ideally though I want to find a better marinade!

What is your favorite vegan marinade?

"All we need is art, love, and each other."

Remember on Friday when I mentioned that I was dying to see Lady Gaga but refused to pay the ridiculous scalper price? Well at the very last minute on Sunday night, I decided to suck it up and do it. And it was so worth it! I love that girl. She is incredibly talented, has a beautiful voice, and I love dancing around to her music. But my favorite part about her is that she's not just a "singer," she's a performance artist. She has something to say to the world and she does that through the entirety of her performances. Specifically, she is (well, clearly) all about individuality. No matter who you are or how big of a "freak" other people think you are, you have a place in this world and among other people.

As vegans and vegetarians we may sometimes feel very isolated in a room of people who don't understand our values. But we are very in tune with ourselves due to our connection with and perception of the world around us. We have opened ourselves to new ways of thinking and, therefore, eating. So good for us for being so open to change! But let's not stop there. Let's continue to open and perceive and grow.

It is my opinion that art is the best way to be in touch with the world. Art makes you think but allows you to form your own opinion. It entertains but touches your heart and your soul. Art is a way to express your creativity and to speak your mind. PLEASE keep art in your lives. Whether it is a concert, a play, a movie, a book, a painting, a photo, a story, a song, a piece of clothing - let it move you. Let it make you think in a new way, let it challenge you, let it inspire you. And in return, create something yourself - even if you get out the crayons and the computer paper, just express and create! It is so important for us to fill the world with art, because it is art that changes the world.

Love you guys!

The Baby It's Cold Outside Giveaway WINNERS!

Congratulations to the Five Winners of Living Harvest's Tempt Ice Cream!

Shelby HK from Vegreenist
@janessapk (from Twitter)
Gaby from La Reina Batata
Averie from Love Veggies and Yoga
HeyitsBeth

Please e-mail me at sexyveg@gmail.com and let me know where to send your coupons!

The winners of this giveaway were chosen with a random number generator at random.org. Stay tuned in January and February for two more awesome giveaways - I've got some great prizes in store! Thank you everyone for reading! xoxo

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday! Just a few more hours until the weekend! What are you up to on your days off?

I have been DYING to get tickets to see Lady Gaga in Chicago. She is definitely my favorite new artist right now - yes, she can seem a little cray-cray, but she is truly a performance artist and I admire that. Plus, she went to my school! (What up NYU Tisch) I would LOVE to see her live. But you know what sucks? People who have time on their hands to buy extra tickets and then scalp them for 500% of the original price. Seriously! It just prevents people - like me - who are dying to see her but can't afford to pay ridiculous money. Oh well, venting over. Just send good thoughts that I can find cheaper tickets!

On a much happier personal note, I bought my first car!!! I mean, my parents are helping me out - and by help I mean pretty much taking care of it (thanks student loans!) but I am so excited. Since I've been home I've had to share a car with my dad which is not easy when we both have full days of separate activities. Then he tried to pawn this beast on me:

To which I said no no. This is my great-aunt's 1975 Delta '88, it mostly sat it her garage so it only had 17,000 miles - also no airbags. It also keeps stalling on my dad, once on the train tracks. But hey, if anyone is looking for an antique car you just let me know! ;)

I'm glad I held out, because we FINALLY got an amazing end-of-the-year deal. This is my new car!


Isn't she pretty?! I named her Penny Lane after the Beatle's song. (The other option was Johnny Depp, but...I think she's a girl ;) ) It's been really hard for me to transition from New York City back home, from living on my own and coming as going as I please in a great city to sharing a car with my parents and having to ask for permission to go somewhere. But this is a little bit of freedom! And also the car I'll be taking to LA when I move in August!

Anyway, don't forget to enter The Baby It's Cold Outside Giveaway! There have been a couple of extra chances to enter, so click around to find them. Also RT my twitter post today for one last entry! All 5 winners will be announced on Sunday!

Have a great weekend my loves!

Dr. Oz Strikes Again!

If you haven't seen my first two Dr. Oz + Rocco-related posts, check these out first: Dr. Oz Gives a Cowboy a 28-Day Vegan Challenge and My Crush on Dr. Oz Continues!

Yesterday Rocco came back to the show with a new meat-loving friend, Tyrone! Tyrone, like Rocco, had dangerously high cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight. To reverse these frightening conditions, Dr. Oz gives Tyrone a Raw Food challenge and Rocco vows to join in! The first week DID incorporate meat, but again -- this is still GREAT news and advocates less meat/more plants on national daytime television. Baby steps, people.

I loved that this time Rocco was a health food expert, finishing Dr. Oz's sentences and giving his own advice and expertise. He actually said the words "I love green" as he was handed a spinach smoothie.

Keep checking Dr. Oz's web site for the clip to be posted!

My Girl Crush Confession

Ok. I'll just say it. I have a girl crush on Rachel McAdams. She's gorgeous, talented, and her kick ass career makes me green with envy. Speaking of green...I just found out about her web site, greenissexy.org! What?! Um, hello?! Veg is green, veg is sexy, green is sexy...I think maybe Rachel and I (along with her awesome friends Megan and Didi, who have all co-created the site) are on the same page here. While Green is Sexy is not veg specific, it shares some really wonderful and creative tips about living an eco-friendly life. And hey, at the end of the day, we're all here to make this world a little bit better. So, here I am sending out a big wet straight-girl kiss to Rachel, Megan, and Didi and telling you to check out their stuff!

Nasty Snacking Secrets

As much as I claim to be a health freak, I still find that I crave those crazy late drunken college bingey snacks. You know, the ones that you put together from all the random ingredients in your cupboards but taste sooo good in the moment? I hate to admit this, but in a fit of insanity last night I ate crackers topped with Vegenaise - WHAT?! Ugh. My stomach hurts just thinking about it. But it was sooo good at the time...

Past snacks include hummus-topped pasta, graham crackers with frosting, and pretty much anything with peanut butter.

Confess your nastiest or craziest snacking moments here to receive an extra entry in the Baby it's Cold Outside Giveaway!

Happy 101 Award

I am so grateful and excited that I have just been passed along my first blog award! Thank you so much to Michal at Earth Muffin for nominating me, it really means a lot. I'm so honored and thrilled and excited!

List 10 things that make you happy and 10 bloggers that brighten your day.

Ten things that make me happy right now:

1. Yoga pants. Maybe it's the comfort, the ease of slipping them on and tucking them into boots, or the fact that they fit the best on my pudgy booty after the holidays, but I wear them all. the. time. and I'm not mad about it.
   
2. Lady Gaga. Every time "Bad Romance" comes on the radio I get way too excited.
3. Christmas socks. Cute, comfy, and fun to wear year round. Great with yoga pants.
   
4. My parents. Despite their total insanity, they are actually pretty ok people.
5. Johnny Depp. Even in a bad movie (cough Public Enemies cough), I can count on my future baby daddy to be amazing.
   
6. My new journal. I love writing new goals in fresh pages. Oh and bitching about things.
   
7. iTunes shuffle. Gotta love it when your playlist suddenly includes Sam Cooke, Broadway musicals, The Dave Matthews Band, and lessons how to speak with a British accent.
8. MMMBop. See #7.
   
9. My Charlie Brown Christmas Desktop Background.
10. This amazing comfy cute warm robe I got for Christmas and am wearing right now.

Ten blogs that brightened my day today (probably due to food porn):

1. Earth Muffin
2. Vegan Crunk
3. Veg Out With Us!
4. Yo Soy
5. Chocolate-Covered Katie
6. Fatfree Vegan Kitchen
7. Ginger is the New Pink
8. Coffee Run
   
9. Pride & Vegudice
10. Veganalyst
    

Thanks again, Michal!

Here's the D(eal).

Since I moved back home to Chicago in October I have been having a serious problem. It's called getting out of bed. No wait, seriously. I know what you're thinking, you're thinking "well Andria, that's because you don't have to work until later and you couldn't go to the gym with a stress fracture so you had no will to get up plus you are, well, lazy!" Ok ok I hear you -- but seriously! I have been sleeping for, like, 10-12 hours a night! And in the morning I STILL have trouble getting my eyes to open. What is happening?!?

I realized this was becoming a problem and did some investigating, and after talking to my friend Jess (from Veg Out!) landed on the possibility that I could be lacking Vitamin D. I haven't been walking the streets of NYC, no runs outside, and I'm battling a Chicago winter with as many layers as I can handle. No sunshine = new problem!

I clicked onto Vegan Essentials and bought myself a bottle of DEVA Vegan Vitamin D tablets. After taking them for a few days, I have more energy in the mornings and can actually sit up without pressing snooze! (Ok, maybe once. But not 15 times). It may or may not just be a placebo, but I think with this dark dreary weather and avoiding the outdoors, the D is giving me the boost that I need.

If you're not getting outside much this winter, make sure you're keeping up with your vitamins and minerals! Stay in tune with your body and double check that you're feeling energetic, strong, and healthy. D is an essential vitamin for our bodies, so make sure you're getting a sufficient amount through your food, the sun, or a supplement and/or multi-vitamin.