Illegallyblonde's profile

My Major Life Changing Veganista Journey started in 2017. The best change in my life ever that came together effortlessly and magically. Maybe divinely. In other words it wasn’t my “plan”. I seriously tuned out, tuned in and cut out way more than just meat and dairy. I started running again, joined back with my fitness pal, lost 50 pounds and bought some new clothes/pieces at Maurice’s. I finally discovered (DiscoverShe) my favorite color, PINK! Another natural development. I was bothered for years and thought that there was something seriously wrong with me for not having a favorite color ever. It started out as Plum Purple, Hot Pink workout clothes/Asics walking/running shoes next and Soft Pale Pink Yoga Knits with Nike Running shoes after the weight loss for the ongoing favorite Pink finale. Hints of Pink! Think Pink! Pink is Powerful! I Just recently remembered I always had a favorite Baskin & Robins flavor though, Peanut Butter & Chocolate. Makes sense. I read the Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone. A book I had for a few years and I guess it finally was the right time to read it. There are definitely books in my life that find me and this was one of them. I didn’t have “pets”, furry friends, growing up yet always was a nature lover. My Matey’s on the trail I would run every morning started paying extra attention to me, showing up, cheerleader’s, sunshine, saving grace’s I call them. We were an Irish/german meat and potatoes family, not hunter’s though. That would have made a huge difference for me and that connection if I were required to actually hunt, kill and process a cow before I ate that steak. I found vegan website’s on Facebook and Pinterest for recipes and seriously got cooking. I was into baking prior to this new vegan lifestyle with a few Martha Stewart recipes and another great book that found me, Julia Child’s, My Life in France. Her story is so inspirational. Julie and Julia was a great flick to watch as well. Like Water for Chocolate was another favorite book and movie that I relate to more than just the love for cooking. Tita being the youngest daughter never to marry and her bout with major depression. Nacha’s secret ingredient to always cook with love! The latest inspirational movie was One Hundred Foot Journey. I loved Hassan, “the boy who knows” and “the vegetables here have no soul”! A chef who cooks with mind, body, heart and soul. The 3 best meals I’ve ever had in all of my life came from exactly this kind of chef. All family home cooked meals straight from Nigeria, Guadalajara and Pakistan. Heart and Soul, Cooked with Love. The person, the chef, the country. Cultures that truly connect Family, Food and Life. Simple dishes yet very distinct special ingredients and spices. Epicurean. The secret is not just in the sauce. Something priceless that money could never buy. After 20 plus years of wanting a garden, I finally planted my secret garden out my back patio door from seeds not starts. TP A-Frame Cucumber Trellis with Star Solar Lights, whiskey barrel of heirloom bumble bee artisan cherry tomatoes and a square foot garden of lettuce and tomatoes. Nothing like sitting quietly under the moon and stars skywatching in an Adirondack chair, eating some fresh veggies with a can of Angry Orchard cider in a perfectly sized fitting paper sack from my local gas station owners from India. That utopia was short-lived and crap has been hitting the fan ever since. I have been forced to eat a whole lot of seriously life threatening crap and I’m not talking food. 13 moves in 5 years, takes a major toll on one’s life and lifestyle such as Veganista. Not to worry because I never give up, I never give in, I never quit and I will never shutdown. My first all vegan bakery restaurant visit on my 50th birthday in my hometown of Portland, Oregon was really the start of my Happy Cow page. I’ve made it a goal to really support the All Vegan restaurants as All Vegan is my passion. I just bought the Whole Foods book and that will be the next leg of my Veganista lifestyle journey when the right time and place to read that book comes along.