2012 Simple REVOLUTIONS

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Ah, the inevitable New Year is upon us - blank canvases full of promise and optimism. Usually, I use the SMART checklist to plan my resolutions, most of which are weight loss related.  Then, since I'm an all-or-nothing personality, if I slip up slightly, I'm off the wagon completely and never really recover.
 
So THIS New Year - I'm trying something different. My resolutions are simple and achievable. 

I'm resolving to:

1. EAT KALE
2. RUN
3. OM


EAT KALE  

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I need to eat my greens and kale is a SUPER POWER food with SO many vitamins and minerals. It is so good for me. And I need to be good to me :) My plan is to eat kale at least once a day - preferably every meal, but I'm not going to get hung up on the details. Just eat kale. Simple. Since turning vegan back in July 2011, my diet has turned to completely animal-free, but I find I'm eating "veganized" junk food {cookies, snack foods, etc} more than REAL food. Eating kale and the like should also prompt me to revert back to the basics of a whole foods plant-based lifestyle - VEGETABLES, WHOLE GRAINS, FRUIT.

RUN 

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Running doesn't necessarily mean running, but it does mean sweating every day - walking, elliptical, biking, zumba - they all count too. I just need to break a sweat every day. I feel like a better, more successful person when I'm exercising, and cardio helps me feel on top of my game. I don't want to put a time restriction on my cardio because some days I'll get two hours {in my dreams!} and some days it will be 10 minutes. I just want EVERY LITTLE BIT to count and not discount my shorter cardio times.

OM 

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Yoga is going to be my favourite activity ever. I just KNOW it. I just have to get to class! I've tried hot yoga recently and LOVED it. But I'm a little shy/self-conscious, so I haven't been back to class. Yes, I feel a little intimidated. Well, I need to get over myself because my life is SO stressful sometimes, and I know that yoga can help me calm myself and feel more centred.

So, there they are - my three ingredients for a successful 2012.

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My {Herbivore} Holiday Wish List!

Don't forget to enter my Holiday Scentsy Giveaway - click here for details! The Giveaway closes Wednesday December 14th, 2011 @ 11pm EST :)
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For those still wondering {or care!}, yep -- I'm still vegan! Going on about 5 1/2 months now and loving it! Yes, it's a bit of a challenge at times in terms of convenience, but I get to experience a wonderful and expansive array of veggies, fruits, grains and other products {and by "other products" I really mean the vegan donuts & cupcakes from vegan bakeries! DELICIOUS!}

So what's a herbivore to want for Christmas this year? Well, in addition to my BIG WISH list {DSLR camera, VitaMix, Silhouette Cameo}. Here's my not-so-little vegan-friendly wish list in no particular order :)

1) Cool necklace from the Exaltation Shop on Etsy :) Only $21. You can also get one that says "vegan"!

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2) The Happy Herbivore cookbooks offer low-fat, uber-healthy & delicious plant-based recipes that are quick & easy to make.  The author {Lindsay Nixon} just released new cookbook called Everyday Happy Herbivore. I'd love that too!

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3) Since becoming vegan, one of my new favourite magazines to read is VegNews. It offers the latest information, news, articles and recipes -- even fashion trends -- that all comply with principles of compassionate and plant-based living. Subscribe here - and it even has a "tree-friendly" version!

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4) It's no secret that I'm a wee bit obsessed with make-up {although my work colleagues probably think I just got out of bed without combing my hair some mornings!}.  I've been doing some research into vegan-friendly, cruelty-free make-up & beauty products. One company that keeps coming up with rave reviews is Everyday Minerals. The online only company offers a wide array of mineral-based make-up options. I'm anxiously awaiting the free trial kit of samples that I ordered this past weekend.  I saw this $20 "No Makeup Kit" with bronzers, eye shadow & lip balm in their gift section. I love little kits :) Isn't it fab?

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5) Speaking of natural beauty products, the amazing LUSH now identifies their vegan products! SO AMAZING! I perused their website today and fell in love with this citrusy-smelling dry shampoo called "No Drought". My current dry shampoo is too fake-flowery. I'm super excited to try this :)

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6) I'm also dying to try the Clarisonic Mia facial cleansing system. It's a sonic brush that gently but effectively deep cleans your face. It looks like a bit of a contraption, but I'm told is AWESOME. And I need a bit more amazingness & indulgence in my life :)

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7) Lastly, no wish list would be complete without Lululemon. Although I do think they are a bit "sizist" sometimes, I'm still a sucker for their chic workout wear. Seriously, sometimes the only thing that makes me exercise is getting to wear the cute clothes :) Like this little puffer-style pullover is perfect for those brisk mornings. I like to be cool when I run, so even on the cold days, this would be just fine for me. Isn't it adorable?

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I'm sure this list could go on for days, but I'll stop here for now :)

What's on your wish list this Christmas season?

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It's POPPIN' - A Hip New Kid-Friendly App :)

As a Mummy, I'm always on the hunt for the coolest & latest App to keep my kidlets occupied engaged on the iPad and iPhone. EZ LOVES "his" iPad - he always corrects me that it is HIS iPad, donchyaknow.

Angry Birds is pretty awesome, but I'm not sure it's actually TEACHING my kiddos anything...except how to slingshot colourful birds into buildings, a very marketable social skill, I'm sure!

So when I learned that my childhood friend {and AMAZING blogger & a wildly talented graphic designer} has created a cool new educational app for your iPhone or iPad, I *HAD* to share it with MY lovely readers!

It's a super fun, kid-friendly app called:

"Make it Pop" by Tryangle Labs! 

First, who doesn't LOVE to *POP* things?

This amazing app is a great hybrid of good education & good design. It teaches kids numbers, colours & shapes but with a beautifully-pleaseing aesthetic with wonderful eye-catching and well-thought out visuals.  

It engages kids of all ages {and parents too!} with such fun & friendly graphics & audio in a variety of short games that they don't even realize that they are learning!

*POP* the bubbles which cluster together to form shapes!

*POP* the balloons to learn the Alphabet!

Mmmmm...*POP*  and COUNT the popcorn ...and pass the vegan butter!

Even the youngest of kids love to play on the iPad and iPhone. These app is easily accessible to kiddos of all ages :)

Okay. Full Disclosure...


I must admit that I downloaded this app during Church this past Sunday and then spent the next 20 minutes playing it on my iPad. In Church. Yep, that's how I roll. Clearly I liked playing it too - there's just something so satisfying about POPPING something :)


Anyhoo - I hope you check out this amazing new app. I know you won't be disappointed.
 

Download it here on iTunes.

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My first 5K Race!

I used to be a runner. Like a serious, long-distance runner.

I've run a few 10Ks & Half-Marathons and two Full Marathons {that's 42.2km & 26 miles of RUNNING for those inquiring minds}.

But I've never run a 5K race. Until this past Saturday!

Since becoming pregnant with EZ -- and let's face it -- since I ran the Chicago Marathon in 2006, I haven't really run. I had a bad race way back then {which I spoke about here}. Since this summer, I started training on my own, with friends, and then with a free Learn to Run clinic. It was awesome to be part of the running community again!

My good friend CC and I completed a 5K race together yesterday! She's awesome! It was a great experience. 

 It was a CHILLY start to the day, so here we are at the start line all bundled up. Then about 3 mins before the race started, it miraculously warmed up -- but I was all ready to go in my jacket! So I just kept it on!

Then about half-way through, I couldn't take the heat and I had to slip my jacket off. I stupidly pinned my number to my jacket, so I had to re-pin the number to my shirt while I was running. Silly Mummy! But it was worth it to cool off a bit!

Here we are at the finish line! Thanks CC for pulling me through and encouraging me to finish strong! We finished almost 8 mins faster than we planned, so we were BEYOND thrilled with our time!

The race was overall well-organized and was on a trail - which I'm not used to running on, but it was fun! There was even a Firefighter water station! Did I mention it was an all-women race?

There were good treats at the finish line, including a bananas, chips, and even Cadbury Dairy Milk Thin chocolate bars, but alas, I couldn't eat that because it's a milk product! I {heart} being a VEGAN! 

On that note, November 1st is National VEGAN Day! 
I encourage you to make ONE meal a VEGAN one! 
Being vegan is not that hard - be mindful of your food. 

Don't eat anything with a FACE or a MOTHER :) Simple as that!

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Snapshots from Turkey Weekend...ahem..Tofu Weekend!

 Here are some photos from Thanksgiving weekend! EZ had a BLAST visiting his Great-Grandma. Her house is SO fun to play in - but especially with his COUSINS! His cousins are a little older than EZ, but they are SO patient with him and I think they love playing with him too :)

Granddad drove up arrived just in time for Thanksgiving dinner. But before we sat down to eat, he wanted to take advantage of the exceptionally good weather and go to the lake to feed the ducks. As he turned out, the gulls were quicker & more aggressive than the little duckies, but we had fun all the same!

When his cousins went out for lunch, EZ was also able to have fun playing on his own!

I'm not sure why, but I didn't take any shots of our Thanksgiving meal as a family. Many of you were asking me how my 1st Vegan Thanksgiving turned out, so here's the story. I had brought ALL my ingredients up to my grandma's house in preparation for cooking my own Thanksgiving feast, but as it turned out, we ran out of time and I wasn't able to cook what I planned. Big A made a delicious pumpkin soup & I enjoyed eating that soup with sweet potatoes, veggies, hummus & pita for the big dinner. 

It was a great lesson for me in that being Vegan isn't hard AT ALL. And I find something to eat anywhere I go. It doesn't have to be a big production ALL of the time :) -- even for big Holiday Celebrations like Thanksgiving!

Once we got home and settled, Big A suggested I make my own Thanksgiving feast - and so I did! 

I made the most DELICIOUS walnut loaf using the recipe from the amazing  Oh She Glows Thanksgiving Menu. It was out of this WORLD! We also had vegan mashed potatoes & veggies. 

So no TOFU in sight! Haha!

Walnut Loaf is going in the oven...

But first it needs a GLAZE!

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It's {Canadian!} Thanksgiving!

Image via Pinterest

Happy {Canadian} Thanksgiving! 

I hope your weekend is full of fun, family & tofurkey! Just kidding :)

{Seriously though, this is my first Vegan Thanksgiving - wish me luck! Hopefully I'll be able to post about my vegan menu!}

Happy Thanksgiving! We have SO much to be grateful for!

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Pretty Vegan

Pretty Vegan by mummymaggie featuring chelsea crew shoes

Black cropped jacket
$82 - lulus.com

Steve madden shoes
130 CAD - gravitypope.com

Cri de Coeur wide boots
$66 - endless.com

Chelsea crew shoes
$65 - threadsence.com

Big Buddha gold ballerina flat
$39 - shoostore.com

Steve Madden t-strap platform sandals
$35 - amazon.com

Zip bag
$76 - shopruche.com

Bow belt
$15 - modcloth.com

Madden Girl Women's Fritzz Vegan Striped Bow Platform Sandal: Shoes
$40 - amazon.com

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My Transition to the Big V

image from her

 Back in July I watched an interesting episode of Oprah {what am I going to do when her show goes off the air?!}, called "Food 101" featuring Michael Pollan and Alicia Silverstone.  I had previously seen this episode when it originally aired back in January 2011, and was semi-interested in learning more. But for some reason when I watched it this time - I was transfixed and transformed.

Basically, the episode discussed where the food we eat actually comes from and highlights the documentary "Food Inc." {which I highly recommend watching!}. How the food we consume has changed in the last 50 years is shocking.

Something that really struck me in this episode was Michael Pollan's simple and powerful mantra:

Eat Food. Mostly Plants. Not too much.

These 7 words make so much sense. I was hooked. I immediately started researching more about Michael Pollan and his books. I decided to order his latest book, "Food Rules" from Amazon. I'll blog about his book later.

Then when Alicia Silverstone was interviewed about her book "The Kind Diet" - something else inside really struck a chord with me. For some unknown reason, in my world full of fast food, junk food, convenience and ease, I was ready to go VEGAN.

Yes you read that right. VEGAN. Not vegetarian, but full-on VEGAN - like no meat, dairy or eggs. Seriously. 

The Vegan Diet is simple: You don't eat anything with a face or a mother.

This actually isn't such a shocker because I've flirted with veganism for a while. Last year I found some amazing vegan, healthy living blogs that really inspired me to try new foods {Oh She Glows is my all-time favourite!}. There was always a dischord within me about my consumption of meat, dairy and eggs. But never before had I *ever* considered that I was capable of the level of discipline required to convert to veganism -- having failed every fad diet on the market!

Anyway, I ordered my books back in late July and started researching veganism, connecting with vegans online, trying out substitutes for things like cream cheese, yogurt and finding out where to get the vegan staple "nutritional yeast." I was pleasantly surprised that everything I needed to fully convert to veganism was close at hand and the transition would be simple. 

So one day I did it. I gave up meat, dairy & eggs - COLD TOFU! It's been a couple weeks now and I feel amazing. I haven't found it difficult AT ALL and I have tons of energy.

Since becoming vegan, I was happy to find out about all the famous vegans including former President Bill Clinton {recently featured on CNN's "The Last Heart Attack"} and Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi -- Ellen just launched a vegan website - check it out here!  And there's a whole magazine dedicated to veganism - VegNews! The vegan community is expanding and is very welcoming. The resources are amazing.

Don't worry I'm not trying to convert anyone to veganism.  Big A and the kiddos are definitely not full vegans {yet!}, but we try to make kid-friendly vegan meals for family suppers and no one's complained yet. I'm eating a whole, healthy and {mostly!} organic plant-based diet. You can't go wrong with that!

I still have a lot to learn about being a vegan and this is definitely a huge transformation for my lifestyle. If anyone has any feedback or  suggestions, please leave a comment or email me at: mummymaggie.blog@gmail.com

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