Resources....

I'm going to regurgitate two excellent websites that I found thanks to Shreve at The Daily Coyote (http://dailycoyote.blogspot.com/):

http://www.eatwild.com/

and

http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/Resources2.html

These are awesome resources! (Yet another reason of why I love 'The Daily Coyote'.)

Check out Shreve's post here:
http://dailycoyotefaq.blogspot.com/2008/08/cows-cruelty.html

She writes: "The thing that is so horrifying to me is that 90% of the meat people eat is from cows that have spent a year - more than half their life - in feedlots. The animals are completely contained, with no grass, no space to move, wallowing in their own refuse, fed horrible things with the sole purpose of having them gain weight as fast as possible for maximimum profit.

The best thing anyone can do if they want to support the humane treatment of the animals we eat is buy only grass-fed, grass-fattened beef - these are cows that spend their whole life on pasture. The way the industry works now, ranchers raise calves for about 9 months and then sell them to middle-men who put them on feedlots and "finish" the calves, and from there they go to the consumer. "

You say to-may-to, I say.....

I have some to-MAH-toes!

My first ripened home-grown maters!

They've survived despite an extreme lack of watering, numerous deer assaults, and a mishmash wire system for support. (Yes, my gardening skills need some honing.)

Don't they look delicious?

Top 10 Reasons....

To Not Eat Pigs:

(My biggest reasons)

#1 - Porking You Up:

It’s a fact—ham, sausage, and bacon strips will go right to your hips. Eating pork products, which are loaded with artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated fat, is a good way to increase your waistline and increase your chances of developing deadly diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, asthma, and impotence. Research has shown that vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease, and they have 40 percent of the cancer rate of meat-eaters. Plus, meat-eaters are nine times more likely to be obese than pure vegetarians are. Every time you eat animal products, you’re also ingesting bacteria, antibiotics, dioxins, hormones, and a host of other toxins that can accumulate in your body and remain there for years. Learn more about animal products and your health.

#2 - Pigs Have Feelings Too: Ninety-seven percent of pigs in the United States today are raised in factory farms, where they will never run across sprawling pastures, bask in the sun, breathe fresh air, or do anything else that comes naturally to them. Crowded into warehouses with nothing to do and nowhere to go, they are kept on a steady diet of drugs to keep them alive and make them grow faster, but the drugs cause many of the animals to become crippled under their own bulk. Learn more about cruelty to pigs. Check out these videos from pig farms in Oklahoma, North Carolina, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

#9 - Killing Them Without Kindness: A typical slaughterhouse kills up to 1,100 pigs every hour, which makes it impossible for them to be given humane, painless deaths. The U.S. Department of Agriculture documented 14 humane slaughter violations at one processing plant, where inspectors found hogs who “were walking and squealing after being stunned [with a stun gun] as many as four times.” Because of improper stunning methods and extremely fast line speeds, many pigs are still alive when they are dumped into scalding-hot hair-removal tanks—they literally drown in scalding-hot water.

Read the rest of the reasons here:

http://www.goveg.com/f-top10pigs.asp

Milestone: Over one month!

Well it’s been over a month since I’ve made the switch to vegetarianism and…… I feel great! In ways I can’t even explain – I just feel healthier physically and lighter of heart and just so happy knowing I’m not contributing to the cruelty and suffering of an animal. It may sound cheesy or unbelievable – but I feel great.

I haven’t had any meat that came from a chicken, cow, lamb, turkey, goat, or pig for 30+ days. Basically, if it has legs, I haven’t eaten it. And you know what? It hasn’t been that hard to give up! Not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be!

I have had eggs – but only cage-free eggs (with the exception of when I had those veggie bites without realizing they had egg product). I’m still drinking/using milk though and that’s something I’m looking into to see if there’s a brand that treats its cows as humanely as possible.

So far the biggest thing has just been the change in mindset I’ve had to make. I have to order more carefully now and scrutinize labels. I have to make the decision to override my interest in that chicken chow mein and instead reach for the grilled zucchini. I have to remember to take my vitamins and to stop by the store on the way home for more vegetables.

In a nutshell: I have to think more before I eat and about what I’m eating. Which sometimes can be annoying, but the fact is – its better for me all around.

As a result of my new “thinking”, I’ve had to turn down fast food outings, cupcakes at work, burgers at a bbq and a brunch outing. But it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be! And that is the a wonderful free-ing realization. Especially for me, for someone who’s always been a bit of a food-lover and emotional eater. It’s given me freedom to not obsess about food so much in a weird way. It’s like I’ve learned I can say no to my taste buds and go with a healthier choice and I’ll still feel ok.

What’s been the hardest so far was realizing that some of my favorite junk foods have egg product in them and therefore I can’t have them. Specifically, Hostess chocolate donuts and Charleston chews. Sigh. Passing on the Charleston mini-chews my husband was devouring in the car the other night was harder than saying no to a burger. I have such a sweet tooth! ugh!

While becoming a ethic-octo-lacto-vegetarian has been a decision based simply on my ethical beliefs, I’ve been pleased to read and discover the many positive health benefits of vegetarianism. I haven’t had a migraine all month and only one or two headaches.(Which is really good for me!) I’ve lost a few pounds without trying. Not enough to be noticeable but considering I haven’t really exercised in a month (yikes!!) that’s still something. And mostly – I just feel great inside.

So I’m going to keep on going and follow my heart!

Side note: this weekend my mom was telling a story about how when I was three I said, "I love McDonald's hangaburgs" (that's what I called them, i have no idea why) and I asked, "What are they from?" And my mom said, "They're cows". And I burst into tears crying and I wouldn't eat anymore. When she was telling this story I was like, "See?! I've felt this way since I was three!" ha ha

Transition Advice and Mercury Poisoning

Excellent article "One Bite at a Time" by Kathy Preston on making the transition to vegetarianism:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/one-bite-at-a-time-a-beg_b_42211.html

Among many others, I also think she makes a great point here: "The goal is to show others how easy it is to eat in an animal-friendly manner and that restaurants can satisfy vegan customers without having to do cartwheels....Vegetarianism is not a personal purity test--our positive and reasonable influence on others is just as important as our own commitment to a conscious and compassionate diet. "

She also mentions the dangers of mercury poisioning due to eating fish. At first I was a little irked - because one of the articles she mentions as proof of the danger is where the child ate
3-6 ounces of tuna every day for a year. That is an excessive amount of tuna! No wonder!

However, the other link she provides a lot more information on mercury poisioning and some of it is quite alarming. Especially considering the affects it has to a person's brain.
I'm a little worried I have been eating fish a lot more frequently since becoming a vegetarian and with my risk of Parkinson's Disease I want to do everything I can to protect my brain. So I'm going to do some research into the dangers of fish - because while I hesitate to rule such a prime source of protein - if it is in fact a serious risk it may be something I need to give up or eat seldomly. (I'd also be seriously bummed because when I go out to eat, salmon or seafood is my go-to choice most the time now as a vegetarian. And as I work/live near Seattle - we have a lot of seafood and fish readily available and there are some incredible dishes out there.)

Another year older.....

Today is my birthday. Number 26.

Feels different than 25, that's for sure. Maybe its the impending 3-0 which I can already feel bearing down on me with so many goals and experiences left untouched.

On that note, here are my goals for this next year of my life:

1. Get healthy(ier).....lose weight, eat better, take my vitamins, floss :)

2. Finish the book I've been writing...(if you call writing slow painful jotting down of snidbits)

3. Work on my art: hone in my style, develop a marketing plan and go for it!

4. Give up fear and take risks - creatively, physically, emotionally

5. Start taking action in things I care about

6. Spend more time and connect more with those I love

7. Get some in-progress around-the-house/yard projects done! (aka my wedding scrapbook)

So those are my goals - I'll report back in a year. :)

And now I have to share my two favorite gifts this year, which I'm thrilled about:

#1 - This cookbook:

I was so touched to receive something supportive of my new lifestyle. Not to mention I'm really excited to have some incredible recipes and ideas on hand now! The book is awesome - its huge and has thousand of recipes! Literally! (Thanks Rach! aka lovely blogger of http://rdkphotography.blogspot.com/)

#2 - These little furballs:

Introducing Thomas O'Malley and Isabella!

My "gift" from my hubby. Although, they're not really a "gift" as its something we've been considering for awhile. But we both wanted to rescue a cat as we have the space and room and as it neared my birthday we decided to go for it....so really, its more like the money spent to adopt and spay/neuter them was my "gift".

We planned on just getting one, Isabella, but after corresponding with the adoption coordinator and finding out she was bonded to another cat - we ended up with Thomas too! (And I'm so glad we did - they adore one another!)

Our other 2 cats are adjusting, slowly, but with much hissing. But eventually we hope to be back to our harmonious household.

(And now, you're scratching your head thinking we're crazy cat people as we have 4 cats! yes, we know we are crazy. But when we heard how bonded they were and saw his adorable face - we couldn't leave him. So now, we have to spend more time cleaning but on the other hand we get more kitty cuddling, love and laughter.)

Cheers!

PS - If anyone is looking for a pet - please consider adopting one. There are thousands out there that need homes - purebreds, mutts, mixes, old, young. Take a look here:

http://www.petfinder.com/

Turbulence

Its been a rough week since I last posted.

On Thursday, I received the devastating news that my mom has Parkinson’s Disease. This shook our world pretty hard. She’s young (48) and healthy in every other way. Her father had Parkinson’s Disease (PD) so when she started mentioning her left leg felt stiff and weird and was headed to the doctors – I secretly was afraid that’s what it might be. My grandpa’s disease was fairly rapid and heartbreakingly painful near the end: dementia, inability to feed himself, talk, even move. So my first reaction was just emotional shock and grief at a possible similar future for my lovely, amazing mom.

But we’re trying to be positive – she’s young and proactive and healthy. She’d holding off on meds until she really needs them and instead is going to be focusing primarily on exercise. The doctor recommended this as did several PD websites. Its going to be a rough road – and we’re all still reeling from the news – but I’m positive that that she will make great strides because of her focus on her health, her positive attitude, tenacity and faith.

This news is also a reminder for me to focus on exercise and better nutrition as in this case, it could be genetic. I’ve been lazy and haven’t gone to the gym in a long time – but since making the change to vegetarianism I feel like I’m making healthier decisions regarding food.

I’ve eaten less fast food and less readymade food (like greasy chicken chow mein and corn dogs) since making the change. When I’ve gone out to eat – if they don’t have anything readily vegetarian, I order fish. Not something I would ever order typically – but now, it’s the first thing I look for. When I go to the buffet near my office, I load up on vegetables even though the fried chinese food looks divine.

So while it was not the main driving decision behind me becoming a semi-vegetarian, the healthy aspects of vegetarianism is nonetheless a motivating factor. I haven’t lost weight (well, maybe a pound or 2) and I don't feel like I have a huge surge of energy – but overall I have noticed that I feel less bloaty and I'm eating way more vegetables than ever before. Which my digestive system is thankful for. Yay fiber.

Side note: I want to investigate and see if there's a correlation between slowing PD and vegetarianism. If anybody out there has any personal experience with Parkinson's and vegetariansim - I would love to know.