Miami Vegan Blog
Saturday, November 29, 2008
What your handshake says about you!
The Top 10 Handshake types and what they reveal about you, your clients and your candidates
Recruiters are meeting people all the time (or they should be anyway!), and one thing we all do as a matter of course in the greeting is shake hands with people. Wouldn't it be great to actually know more about the person you are meeting? A sales expert called Dr Gregory Stebbins has written a book that helps us understand the people side of sales. So primed with this new found information you will be able to learn the hidden messages with your clients or your candidates.
Below are the Top 10 Handshake Types - and what they reveal about your client or your candidate:
1. Sweaty Palms – When a person is nervous their sympathetic nervous system often becomes overactive, sometimes resulting in sweaty palms. Do what you can to put this individual at ease.
2. Dead Fish - Indifferent handshakes that feel like the person has no bones in their hand often indicate a passive or reserved personality. This handshake ranks as the number two least favored. Individuals with this type of clasp are generally not people-focused. Knowing this, you can tailor your presentation to de-emphasize the people aspect and focus more on the mechanical or thing-focused benefits. Exceptions to this rule might be musicians and surgeons whose livelihood depends on sensitive hands and who are therefore reluctant to open up to a bone crusher.
3. Brush Off – This handshake type is a quick grasp and then a release that feels like your hand being shoved aside. This handshake is a statement of “it’s my turf and my agenda that matters, yours doesn’t.” Listen first to what the person wants before talking about your ideas for them.
4. Controller – You feel your hand being pulled toward the person or strongly guided in a different direction, perhaps towards a chair. People who do this are controllers. This means they want to dominate any inanimate or animate object in the room (and that would include you). If your goals are different than theirs there may be challenges ahead. Do more listening than talking and see if you can find common ground so these individuals can control the situation toward your desired objective.
5. Politician – Your hand is firmly grasped as in a normal handshake. However, their other hand may cover yours or be placed on your forearm or shoulder. Unless the two of you are good friends, this is a form of false sincerity. The person is attempting to communicate that the two of you have a deeper relationship than you actually have. After receiving this kind of handshake, I recommend you check your pockets or purse to see if anything is missing. Similarly, be cautious about relying on this person’s word for anything and be attentive in your dealings with them.
6. Finger Vice – When someone grabs your fingers and not your entire hand it is meant to keep you at a distance. These people are often insecure. If they also crush your fingers they are adding a show of personal power, which is also designed to keep you at a distance or at least create some fear of challenging them. I wouldn’t recommend becoming submissive, however it will serve your purpose to be somewhat deferential to them.
7. Bone Crusher – The message of squeezing your hand until you cringe is clearly designed to intimidate you. Even when the person may not know how strong they are, there is still a message of intimidation and power behind the grip. You don’t have to pretend to be a wimp with them, and, in fact, they may respond positively to you if you present yourself with strength. Just don’t get into a hand-squeezing contest when you shake because then it becomes a competition and even if you win, you’ll lose.
8. Lobster Claw – Like the claw of a lobster, the other person’s thumb and fingers touch the palm of your hand. The person doing this fears connecting at a deep level and may have challenges building relationships. Take your time. Allow them to open up at their own pace. As they become more comfortable with you their handshake may actually change. Once they fully accept you, they can become a client for life.
9. Hand Wrestler – Your hand is taken normally and then twisted under the other person’s. This is usually done aggressively. Be very careful in your own presentation as this person is absolutely committed to being on top, regardless of what they say they want.
10. Teacup – This handshake feels normal except that there is no palm-to-palm contact. The other person’s palm is cupped, like a teacup. This handshake indicates that the person is hiding something from you. It might just be a serious case of shyness or it could be something more substantial. Always check for missing information when working with this individual.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Do you like fish?
Well, this is what fisherman go through so people can eat crabs, catfish, lobster, shrimp, tuna etc. I think the waves are nature's way of saying, "Let my people go before I take one of yours".
What if all the fisherman turned into organic farmers? It's a dangerous job and no one has to do it. :)
~inga~
Marsha Sims - Raw Vegan, Professional Organizer - Interview #11
http://www.sortitout.netMarsha Sims, Raw Vegan, Potluck Organizer, Life Coach
Marsha Sims is from Miami, FL. I met her at a Raw Food Expo in November. She organizes raw vegan potlucks in South Florida. She also is a professional organizer and holds workshops to help people organize their homes, clutter and personal lives.
1. How long have you been vegan/raw vegan?
I’ve been a vegetarian for a little over a year. I’ve been raw since March 16, 2008.
2. Is your immediate family vegan?
No.
3. How do you make it work?My sons are adults (one lives with me). I don’t cook. If they want to eat what I fix, they are welcome to it. If they bring home something I choose not to eat anymore, I enjoy the smell.( It’s 70% of the enjoyment of food anyway, but 0% of the detriment). I now choose what I want to put in my body.
4. How are you perceived by extended family and friends?
As having a lot of will power. As a renegade.
5. What are you making for Thanksgiving?
Raw sweet potatoes (with cranberries, pineapples, apples, agave, pecans, and walnuts), raw cranberry sauce, raw plantains, raw spinach, raw strawberry cream pie.
6. Do you have any pets?
No.
7. What is your profession?
Professional Organizer.
Marsha Sims, Sort-It-Out8. Do you think being vegan affects your profession in any way?
Workshop: January 23-25, 2009
Now you can learn the secrets of getting organized from one of North America's best known professional organizers and motivational speakers, Marsha Sims. For over two decades, Marsha has been a pioneer in the field of professional organizing.
Marsha has been interviewed on television, radio and in newspapers. She has appeared in national magazines such as Woman’s Day, Self, and The Costco Connection. A storyteller at heart, Marsha enlivens her tips and information with true-to-life accounts drawn from hands-on, one-to-one organizing in the homes and offices of clients. Sharing their personal struggles with order in an intimate way has given her an in-depth understanding of what really works. With empathy and good humor, Marsha will teach you about getting organized as no one else can, in a way that will keep you interested, encouraged, and sometimes laughing.
Marsha is the founder of Sort-It-Out, Inc, the first hands-on organizing company in Miami, Florida. An expert in the field of organizing, she has presented workshops both across the nation and internationally. In addition, she consults with businesses, organizations, and institutions in developing solutions to organizational and time management problems. [More Info]
No. My clients and my staff are amazed that I’m not temped to eat what they eat.
9. What tips would you give someone considering raw veganism? Challenges or Revelations you've had?
You have to have a compelling reason to do this. After you start, keep in mind WHY you are doing this... so when you get tempted to stray, you can remember the reason.
Plus – you need to know other people who are raw vegans. They will give you advice and encouragement. You need to create a community around yourself, either through pot lucks or attending meetups or something. Frequent raw websites to get recipes.
They are a compliment.
11. Are you involved in any activism, groups, organizations?
I host local raw vegan pot lucks in Miami.
Thank you Marsha - I'm going to come to one of your potlucks, can't wait! Blessings, Inga ...
If you would like to be interviewed please contact me before November 30th @ [cageybutterfly@gmail.com]
Labels: living food, marsha sims, miami, potluck, raw food, raw vegan, thanksgiving, veganism
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Enjoy Yin and Yang in your life - don't fight it!
sometimes
we fight so hard
to get things right
when all along
in hindsight
they are just
as they
should be
dark vs light
wrong vs right
if you sit in
the middle
you can appreciate
both without
justifying either
duality, polarity
some people
say it doesn't
exist
some people
say - it must
it does or it does not
whether or not
we believe it
one day
maybe it will not
one day
everything will
be serene,
heaven, blissful
all one, the same
but
is that what
you want
appreciate things
as they are now
and when they
change, you will
not notice
because when
you stay in the
present
past and future
are 'now'
at some point
even at the
same point
in time
which doesn't exist
Happy Thanksgiving
~inga~
Vegetarian & Vegan Thanksgiving in Miami
Vegetarian Restaurant by Hakin
will be having a Special Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner
Thursday, November 27 from 12p - 7pm.
73 NE 167th Street, North Miami Beach, FL (305)405-6346 or (786) 210-8787
On the East side of Wendy's in a plaza. Between N. Miami Avenue and NE 1st Avenue.
Menu includes:
Tofurky
Cranberry Sauce
Mashed Potatoes
Macaroni & Cheese
Pumpkin Pie - w/whipped cream
Vegan Stuffing
Sweet Potato Pudding
Green Beans
Broccoli & Cauliflower
Living Food Items
You don't have to cook or work hard in the kitchen.
Come give thanks with us! Can't wait to see you. Bring the whole family.
RSVP is recommended. Email: vegetarianrestaurant@yahoo.com
Cost: $15 per person
will be having a Special Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner
Thursday, November 27 from 12p - 7pm.
73 NE 167th Street, North Miami Beach, FL (305)405-6346 or (786) 210-8787
On the East side of Wendy's in a plaza. Between N. Miami Avenue and NE 1st Avenue.
Menu includes:
Tofurky
Cranberry Sauce
Mashed Potatoes
Macaroni & Cheese
Pumpkin Pie - w/whipped cream
Vegan Stuffing
Sweet Potato Pudding
Green Beans
Broccoli & Cauliflower
Living Food Items
You don't have to cook or work hard in the kitchen.
Come give thanks with us! Can't wait to see you. Bring the whole family.
RSVP is recommended. Email: vegetarianrestaurant@yahoo.com
Cost: $15 per person
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sharon Valencik, Vegan Cookbook Author - Interview #10
Sharon Valencik, Vegan Cookbook Author
Sweet Utopia: Simply Stunning Vegan Desserts
Sharon lives in NJ and is raising two young vegan sons and rescued rabbits. She comes from a lineage of artistic chef matriarchs and has been baking since age five. She holds an advanced degree in Urban Geography. Sharon’s hobbies include: anything outdoors, exercise, reading, watching good movies, and of course, eating and creating luscious vegan food. Sharon is currently hard at work developing the sequel to Sweet Utopia, called World Utopia. Sweet Utopia: Simply Stunning Vegan Desserts
1. How long have you been vegan/raw vegan?
When I was a kid of around 5, I was always saying “oh the poor cow” when I first understood the link between the hamburger and the animal. I was raised on mostly vegetarian food, a lot of Middle Eastern food like falafel with the works, spinach pie, and pasta, though I did eat the occasional meat fed to me until about my tweens, when I really took responsibility and said no more. I’ve been vegan for many of my adult years, I really lost count…
2. Is your immediate family vegan?
I’m raising my kids (sons ages 4 1/2 and 1 1/2) vegan, and my house is vegan.
3. How do you make it work?If we have to attend events like birthday parties, I call ahead and find out what’s being served. I will make equivalents and take them along for the kids, like pizza, cupcakes etc. If we’re traveling somewhere, I always research restaurants first. This way, I get to visit all the veg places around the world, and bring backup when needed. I also travel with mini-soymilks and peanut butter.
4. How are you perceived by extended family and friends?
It hasn’t been an issue. My mother is a fishatarian, and loves to cook vegan food, and she’s usually the one cooking with me! Cooking vegan has always been a fun thing, and believe me, my family is really into eating good food. As for friends, well, more and more I am surrounding myself with people who are either vegan or learning about it, and it’s been very positive and fun to spread that knowledge and to teach food preparation vegan-style.
5. What are you making for Thanksgiving?
We make a ton of various veggie and vegan meat dishes. There will be a huge spread, and not one Tofurky in the mix! We’ll have a gourmet stuffing, an exotic sweet potato dish, a cashew roast, you know, Thanksgiving-type stuff. I also do all the desserts. Perhaps my magnificent pumpkin trifle will make an appearance. I’m sure I will make my chocolate cheesecake too because I consider chocolate a major food group.
6. Do you have any pets?
Currently I have 2 rescued house bunnies who are litter-trained. People don’t know how easy it is to train bunnies, and that they are really great pets! I will be adopting a dog soon too. The recession has been toughest on the animals who are kicked out of their homes due to tough finances. I feel compelled to take in as many as I can handle.
7. What is your profession?
I work with information - market research, marketing, etc. for various fields. In my second career, I write vegan cookbooks based on my own recipes and techniques for creating vegan foods. Sweet Utopia: Simply Stunning Vegan Desserts, is a collection of my vegan dessert recipes that I developed because I didn’t want to sacrifice flavor or texture just because I am vegan. Desserts to me are the last frontier in veganism. I believe I succeeded in making any type of dessert taste great! And it’s really quite simple. Anything too complicated I wouldn’t bother with. Sweet Utopia will be out in early 2009. Now I am writing World Utopia: Delicious & Healthy International Vegan Cuisine. I’ve taken the foods from around the world that most appeal to me, and veganized them in as simple a way possible that also maximizes flavor. It’s got every type of food, and includes a yummy dessert section of course. Please keep in touch via www.sweetutopia.com and check in to see what’s new.
the magnificent vegan pumpkin trifleOnly positively. It’s always a great discussion point and hopefully one day will be the entire focus of my career.
9. What tips would you give someone considering veganism? Challenges or Revelations you've had?
I have helped many people transition to veganism, and one of the biggest obstacles they have is fear of giving up certain foods. I let them know that it is so much easier now than ever before to eat REALLY well as a vegan, because of all the substitute foods there are, and better techniques for creating delicious vegan food that tastes familiar and comforting. That’s been one of the main reasons I have been writing vegan cookbooks. I want non-vegans to eat more and more vegan food because it is just delicious. And if it tastes good, people will eat it. In turn there will be less impact on the animals and environment and our own health. A great chain reaction. I often have non-vegans over to eat. Just the other day a friend of mine came by and we made vegan pizza. She loved it and said she never would have known it was vegan, which is the same reaction I get with my cakes and even cheesecakes!
10. How do your spiritual beliefs coincide with your veganism?
My spiritual beliefs center on not harming any creatures, that we are all one, and we need to be kind, so it meshes quite nicely. I can’t actually understand how anyone of spiritual nature can NOT be vegan. That, to me, is one of the puzzles of human nature. There’s so much to eat, that any dietary laws created thousands of years ago are irrelevant today. We are past our times of mere survival, and there’s no excuse to eat animals.
11. Are you involved in any activism, groups, organizations?
I participate in local fur protests and other activism through various groups. Facebook and other social networking sites have been revolutionary tools in organizing petitions, protests, and activism around the world, bringing the movement to a whole new level. I do as much as I can to help all the animals in bad situations. I wish there weren’t so many, but that’s the state of the world today. We’re trying to change it, and awareness is at an all-time high level. I’m also raising 2 kids to be compassionate advocates for animals in the next generation, because we need more of those. It’s a monumental undertaking but I think it’s vital to humankind. You know, kids are taught how cute animals are, they sing Old MacDonald, then they are fed chicken nuggets and hamburgers. Initially, as I see with my older son, the kids don’t believe that there is a chicken in their food, or a turkey, or a cow, so they eat what’s fed to them. Once they really get it, the desensitization kicks in, and it’s sad. People are trained early on to turn off their compassion for other beings, and we need to stop that. That’s why we need more vegan kids out there.
Thank you Sharon - Vegan children and parents are the future! Blessings, Inga ...
If you would like to be interviewed please contact me @ [cageybutterfly@gmail.com]
Grant - Raw Vegan Athlete - Interview #9
Grant, Raw Athlete/Health Counselor/Retreat Coordinator
Grant lives in Australia. He is a marathon runner and is very active in health education for those considering the raw food/living food diet.
1. How long have you been vegan/raw vegan?
7 years cooked vegan, followed by 1 year high raw vegan and now 2 years 100% raw vegan.
2. Is your immediate family vegan?
No. By the power of influence, they now eat more fruit than ever before.
3. How do you make it work?It would be naive to not accept that everyone makes their own choices (and lives with the consequences). Although my family's awareness of raw veganism is growing through my influence, they haven't made the choice to stop supporting animal abuse.
When animal flesh is cooked in the house, I usually take the opportunity to get in a long training run. I suspect relationships generally don't last if large ethical differences remain present. Not being judgmental and not having expectations of others allows friendships to survive beyond lifestyle or ethical differences.
4. How are you perceived by extended family and friends?
That's a question for my extended family and friends to answer. I believe I'm perceived as the fit, healthy one who never gets sick. I find people are usually aware enough of the shortcomings in their own health to be open to the knowledge and experience I have to share from my ultramarathon running, lifestyle coach studies and wealth of knowledge on the benefits of a raw vegan lifestyle (and detriments of other lifestyle choices).
5. What are you making for Thanksgiving?
We don't celebrate thanksgiving in Australia. I'll be feasting on organic mangosteen and a jug of green smoothie (banana/green oak lettuce).
6. Do you have any pets?
No. My pets are the animals I encounter when I go trail running or walking down the street.
I offer my respect and a nurturing gesture to any animal I come in contact with. The concept of animal ownership is as flawed as land ownership. If an animal chose to live on the land I live on, that would be cool with me.
7. What is your profession?
Lifestyle coach in the making (studying Doug Graham's Certified 80/10/10 Lifestyle Coach program). I regularly run raw vegan health and fitness retreats (http://www.rawreference.co
A raw vegan natural lifestyle has only benefits. With more vitality every aspect of your life inevitably grows. If there was conflict it would be a clear sign that I was in the wrong profession. Having a belief system which is congruent with my lifestyle, and the myriad health benefits of raw veganism and natural hygiene allow me to give more to everything I choose to do.
9. What tips would you give someone considering raw veganism? Challenges or Revelations you've had?
- Eat enough fruit to meet your caloric needs.
- Include leafy greens for minerals and a balanced diet.
- Be physically active so you eat enough to be well nourished.
- Eat simply as we would in nature.
- Learn the basics of natural hygiene and food combining.
- Find self love. Discover your purpose. Embrace every opportunity.
- When making change, do it for yourself. Don't force your ideals on others.
Keep in touch with your intuition. Living imperfectly by your own influence allows you to learn and grow more than you would by perfectly following the influence of someone else.
10. How do your spiritual beliefs coincide with your veganism?
They are completely congruent. I believe everything is intimately connected and all life has equal value. I believe in karma and the law of attraction. I believe we live in a perfect universe where everything that happens is an opportunity to learn from and grow. Our only mistakes are experiences we don't learn from.
11. Are you involved in any activism, groups, organizations?
I support animal liberation and natural hygiene groups/organizations.
I am active in numerous raw vegan groups:
http://www.raw-pleasure.co
http://sports.groups.yahoo
http://www.gaiastable.com
http://rawfood.meetup.com/
http://www.giveittomeraw.c
Grant (left) - Raw Chef Kevin Gianni (right)Thank you Grant - Great information! Blessings, Inga ...
If you would like to be interviewed please contact me @ [cageybutterfly@gmail.com]
Cindi Trunk - Raw Vegan/Entrepreneur - Interview #8
Cindi is a resident of Daytona Beach, FL. She is an administrator at an academy for homeschoolers, and owns a sports trading cards store.
1. How long have you been vegan/raw vegan?
We've been raw vegan for 13 months.
2. Is your immediate family vegan?
My husband, my 10 year grandson who lives with us, and myself, are all raw vegan.
3. How are you perceived by extended family and friends?While it is obvious that we are enjoying the health benefits of this lifestyle, we are perceived as very radical in our approach.
4. What are you making for Thanksgiving?
For Thanksgiving, my DIL (also raw vegan with her husband and 7 year old daughter), invited our mothers to enjoy a "Harvest Dinner" where we celebrated the apple with as many different dishes as we could think of with apples. It was a lot of fun (we did this on Monday as we were traveling down here to South Florida during the Thanksgiving break). This allows them to still spend Thanksgiving doing the traditional stuff if they want, and we were able to feel good about the foods we prepared and served.
We had Waldorf salad, an apple timbale, apple yogurt (made with fermented rejuvelac cinnamon yogurt), apple/carrot pie. We also served a variety of non-apple crudites before everyone got started on dinner. Not very Thanksgiving-like in the traditional sense, but we stressed our appreciation for the harvest of beautiful apples. We had several varieties in bowls as decorations. This really resonated with the children at least.
We have no pets.
6. What is your profession?
We are teachers by profession, and being vegan gives us the opportunity to teach responsibility in our choices.
We have not had any adverse effects, but a lot of our students have asked for more information.
8. What tips would you give someone considering raw veganism? Challenges or Revelations you've had?
100's of revelations! The biggest challenge I had to overcome was that I couldn't eat anything I wanted just because it was raw. I now strive to eat more fruits and vegetables in my daily diet. I use fats as supplemental foods to enhance the veggies (a salad dressing made from nuts rather than handfuls of nuts as a snack). Recently I have felt that fermented foods are an important addition to my diet and have been experimenting with them.
10. How do your spiritual beliefs coincide with your veganism?
My spiritual beliefs coincide perfectly with this lifestyle as we are LDS and have a Word of Wisdom which advises us to eat veggies and fruits as the basis of our diets and to avoid meat.
11. Are you involved in any activism, groups, organizations?
I am not an activist except through my teaching when I try to help students be more aware of conscious decisions.
Thank you Cindi - I love your idea of celebrating apples very much. Blessings, Inga ...
If you would like to be interviewed please contact me @ [cageybutterfly@gmail.com]
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Peter Cervoni - Vegan/Raw Vegan Chef - Interview #7
Peter Cervoni - Vegan/Raw Vegan Chef
Peter is a fellow South Floridian. He is active in the Food Not Bombs organization which serves vegetarian/vegan food to the homeless. His raw food creations are amazing!
1. How long have you been vegan/raw vegan?
I have been vegan for 12 years. I have never been 100% raw. I have been as much as 90% for several years.
2. Is your immediate family vegan?
No, not even close. However, they will try to eat vegan from time to time.
3. How do you make it work?They respect my decision. If anything, I need to have more compassion and understanding for them. It works out just fine though.
4. How are you perceived by extended family and friends?
At the beginning it was tough. My decision was perceived as very radical and extreme and there was a lot of fear and anxiety directed towards me. Now, they see that after more than a decade I am healthy and happy. It also helps that veganism appears on the media radar more and more now.
5. What are you making for Thanksgiving?
Even when I was a meat eater, I never really enjoyed turkey that much. I always went crazy with the side dishes. This year I will "veganize" many of the traditional side dishes and through a few simple raw dishes in there as well.
No. But I would love to have a dog!
7. What is your profession?
I am a classically trained Chef. Since becoming Vegan, I will only prepare Vegan food.
Dessert Sampler: Goji Berry Cheesecake Tower,
Pumpkin-Pie Petit For, and Chocolate hazelnut brownie
with Cardamom Coconut Cream
Cheese Sampler: Jalapeno Popper,
Peppercorn Crusted Macadamia Chevre, Cashew Boursin in a phyllo cup.
For me, it goes hand-in-hand.
9. What tips would you give someone considering raw veganism? Challenges or Revelations you've had?
Raw veganism definitely has its advantages. However like my mentor, the amazing Dr. Fred Bisci, often warns: we often overstrip our emotional capacity to deal with challenges in life. In theory the raw lifestyle makes a lot of sense. However, in practice it can be very tough. One emotional setback can drive you to reach for comfort foods that can get you in trouble. You can get way too clean on the raw vegan diet and if you decide you want to go back and have some cooked food you can really mess yourself up. It happened to me and many others that I know of. My 90% raw diet combined with exercise, fasting, colonics and cleanses added years to my life. However, just over the past year with a failed romantic relationship and a very hectic international travel schedule for work, I ended up eating a lot of cooked vegan food. All "healthy", all "organic" but it totally messed me up: hormonally, physically, emotionally: you name it. Also, I would offer as a caveat to many newbies: a lot of the "gurus" out there do not practice 100% raw veganism all of the time. Don't get blinded by the celebrity: keep your eyes open and make decisions that resonate with you.
10. How do your spiritual beliefs coincide with your veganism?
They are inseparable. Being a conventional/animal chef forced me to look at the suffering that animals endure for our "pleasure" and "nutrition". Once I had my epiphany, I never looked back. Thou shall not kill is the cornerstone of my beliefs. I believe speciesm is the foundation for all the pain and separation in the world today. We are ALL connected...we are ALL ONE. If one being suffers then we all suffer.
11. Are you involved in any activism, groups, organizations?
Yes, I am a member of PETA, Earthsave and from time to time I donate my time and talents to Food Not Bombs which delivers handmade vegan food to the homeless.
Thank you Pete- You are wonderful! Blessings, Inga ...
If you would like to be interviewed please contact me @ [cageybutterfly@gmail.com]
Erik Marcus - Vegan Author/Podcaster - Interview #6
Most vegans know who Erik Markus is. He runs the website Vegan.com and is very active in the animal rights community. He has a podcast discussing current events and health topics which you can find on his website or on Itunes. Erik has written such titles as:
1. How long have you been vegan/raw vegan?
I've been vegan for more than twenty years; I grew up eating meat three times a day, but during my freshman year of college I encountered some slaughterhouse footage that inspired me to begin removing animal products from my diet.
2. Is your immediate family vegan?
My mother has vegan days, and my sister has entire vegan weeks. Getting family to change is always the toughest task, don't you think?
3. How do you make it work?They don't eat meat in front of me. They've read my books and know the issues, so given that that's the case, what they choose to eat is beyond my control.
4. How are you perceived by extended family and friends?
With unalloyed awe and admiration. Seriously, I'm not sure that anyone truly knows how they're perceived. I hope people think I'm kind.
5. What are you making for Thanksgiving?
The Robin Robertson Thanksgiving recipes posted at [Vegan.com].
I've got one cat, Conrad. He's in my lap as I'm responding to this.
7. What is your profession?
I used to be a tech writer, and now I'm a writer and publisher of vegan books, and I also publish the Vegan.com website. [New Book out entitled, The Ultimate Vegan Guide @ Amazon.com]
8. Do you think being vegan affects your profession in any way?
Sure, it's the basis of my profession.
9. What tips would you give someone considering raw veganism? Challenges or Revelations you've had?
I'm not a raw vegan. From what I can see, people seem to do either incredibly well or incredibly poorly on it. If I went down the raw path, I'd try to find out what the people who do incredibly well on this diet have in common so that I could pattern my behavior accordingly. And I'd go out of my way to ensure my basic nutrition and caloric needs were being met.
10. How do your spiritual beliefs coincide with your veganism?
I think the concept of Ahimsa is about the most beautiful religious teaching I've encountered, and that obviously is deeply connected with being vegan.
11. Are you involved in any activism, groups, organizations?
I leaflet for Vegan Outreach, and I've gotten active with my local campus animal rights group.
If you would like to be interviewed please contact me @ [cageybutterfly@gmail.com]
Douglas McNish - Vegan Chef/Activist - Interview # 5
Doug McNish - Vegan Chef/Activist/Blogger
Doug comes to us from Toronto, Ontario - Canada. He participates in protests to protect animals, and he educates people about how they don't need to eat meat to live healthy.
1. How long have you been vegan/raw vegan?
I have been vegan for almost three years. Vegetarian for a year before that.
2. Is your immediate family vegan?
I have come to undertsand that you cant push your set of beliefs on anyone. Understanding comes with time and patience. I am me and I let them be them, in the end everyone is happy that way.
4. How are you perceived by extended family and friends?
I am perceived as a fun loving guy that enjoys life. I'm serious about what I do and ask for support. There are some that still don't understand how I cannot eat meat, but they see me being happy, healthy and full of energy.
5. What are you making for Thanksgiving?
Our Canadian Thanksgiving was last month and at the restaurant we did a duo of set menus. The restaurant is half cooked and half raw so we did both. I did a wild mushroom stuffed seitan roast with coconut garlic mashed potatoes, herbed stuffing, roasted root veggies, caramalized onion miso gravy and pumpkin pie. For raw, we had a yummy nut "roast", jicama mashed potatoes, root veggie chips and a miso mushroom gravy.
6. Do you have any pets?
I live with three beautiful cats that I adopted from the humane society, they are wtaching me now as I type this.
7. What is your profession?
Vegan Chef.
8. Do you think being vegan affects your profession in any way?
It makes me AWESOME! Seriously though, it helps with my palate and being able to check for seasonings and the different herbs, spices and vinegars I use in my cooking.
9. What tips would you give someone considering raw veganism? Challenges or Revelations you've had?
Go slow at first and learn the different food items out there. Make a list of all the health food stores, supermarkets and restaurants that serve the food you are interested in. With time it gets super easy.
10. How do your spiritual beliefs coincide with your veganism?
I believe that everyone and everything has a right to live and be happy regardless of age, race, gender, shape or species or phylum.
11. Are you involved in any activism, groups, organizations?
With the nature of my job i am a busy guy but do my best to get out there and be active. I am part of a few grassroots organizations in the Toronto area but I feel I do a good part through my yummy cooking.
Thank you Doug - I think you're a great asset to the vegan community. Blessings, Inga ...
If you would like to be interviewed please contact me @ [cageybutterfly@gmail.com]
1. How long have you been vegan/raw vegan?
I have been vegan for almost three years. Vegetarian for a year before that.
2. Is your immediate family vegan?
Not a single one of them.
3. How do you make it work?I have come to undertsand that you cant push your set of beliefs on anyone. Understanding comes with time and patience. I am me and I let them be them, in the end everyone is happy that way.
4. How are you perceived by extended family and friends?
I am perceived as a fun loving guy that enjoys life. I'm serious about what I do and ask for support. There are some that still don't understand how I cannot eat meat, but they see me being happy, healthy and full of energy.
5. What are you making for Thanksgiving?
Our Canadian Thanksgiving was last month and at the restaurant we did a duo of set menus. The restaurant is half cooked and half raw so we did both. I did a wild mushroom stuffed seitan roast with coconut garlic mashed potatoes, herbed stuffing, roasted root veggies, caramalized onion miso gravy and pumpkin pie. For raw, we had a yummy nut "roast", jicama mashed potatoes, root veggie chips and a miso mushroom gravy.
I live with three beautiful cats that I adopted from the humane society, they are wtaching me now as I type this.
7. What is your profession?
Vegan Chef.
So I made some five spice tofu the other day. I just marinated it really quickly in white balsamic vinegar, agave and lots of dried oregano. The salad that is stacked in between the two tofu halves is made from fine green beans, arugula, avocado and lots of fresh herbs. I finished the dish off with a sweet basil oil, it really accentuates the whole dish!
8. Do you think being vegan affects your profession in any way?
It makes me AWESOME! Seriously though, it helps with my palate and being able to check for seasonings and the different herbs, spices and vinegars I use in my cooking.
9. What tips would you give someone considering raw veganism? Challenges or Revelations you've had?
Go slow at first and learn the different food items out there. Make a list of all the health food stores, supermarkets and restaurants that serve the food you are interested in. With time it gets super easy.
10. How do your spiritual beliefs coincide with your veganism?
I believe that everyone and everything has a right to live and be happy regardless of age, race, gender, shape or species or phylum.
11. Are you involved in any activism, groups, organizations?
With the nature of my job i am a busy guy but do my best to get out there and be active. I am part of a few grassroots organizations in the Toronto area but I feel I do a good part through my yummy cooking.
Thank you Doug - I think you're a great asset to the vegan community. Blessings, Inga ...
If you would like to be interviewed please contact me @ [cageybutterfly@gmail.com]
Solla Eiríks - Raw Vegan Educator/Food Designer - Interview #4
Solla Eiríks - Raw Vegan Educator
1. How long have you been vegan/raw vegan?
I became vegan 1980 and raw vegan 1996.
2. Is your immediate family vegan?
my oldest daughter is vegan (she´s 28 years old) my teenager is about 90% raw vegan and my husband is "in and out" but eats healthy food but sometimes meat and fish.
3. How do you make it work?We just make vegan things at our home - so if he wants to eat something else he does it other places:)
4. How are you perceived by extended family and friends?
My grand mother got Raw in 1915 when she was abroad studying in Copenhagen - there was a great awakening back then, Kristine Nolfi a Danish doctor and Dr. Bircher Brenner were teaching people about raw and healthy food: (check out: www.wholisticresearch.com/info/artshow.php3?artid=71) and my parents have always grown their own organic food and are very much into vegan/raw - so I have been a legal health "freak".
5. What are you making for Thanksgiving?
We don´t have any Thanksgiving here in Iceland but when we make something special I make soup out of young coconut and a lot of Thai spices (1 young coconut cost about 20$ here in Iceland now.....)
6. Do you have any pets?
Yes I have a cat - Norwegian forest cat - a beautiful female who loves sea weed - specially nori and dulse.
7. What is your profession?
I am educated a teacher and a textile designer, but I make living of giving classes, mostly Raw but also Vegan, I give talks all over, both at banks, jails, and I work with people recovering from cancer and other things (this I do for free)and I also work with a company who makes my own organic food line - and they sell it their shops.
8. Do you think being vegan affects your profession in any way?
Totally - I changed my diet 29 years ago and that changed my life - so I changed from designing fabrics and cloths to designing food....
9. What tips would you give someone considering raw veganism? Challenges or Revelations you've had?
Take one day at the time and bless everything you eat - read books, go to classes and connect to other people who are doing the same.
10. How do your spiritual beliefs coincide with your veganism?
I have to have strong spiritual life and practice both yoga and meditation and the 12 steps.
Thank you Solla - You are doing great things. Blessings, Inga ...
If you would like to be interviewed please contact me @ [cageybutterfly@gmail.com]
Labels: classes, iceland, living food, raw chef, raw food, raw vegan, solla Eiríks, thanksgiving, vegan
Scott McMahan - Raw Foodist Interview #3
1. How long have you been vegan/raw vegan?
In April, 2004 I was introduced to raw foods in such a way that I literally went from steak and ice cream to 100% raw organic vegan. In a little over three months I had lost 90 pounds. I no longer have rules for myself. I tend to eat seasonally and flexibly. Sometimes I go in cleansing phases. I've been eating 100% raw for the last few weeks. Keeping the weight off has been very easy for me.
2. Is your immediate family vegan?
I live next to my mom and she is mostly vegan. She sometimes eats cheese, yogurt, and eggs. My daughter is the same. She was 100% raw and breast milk for most of her first 2 years and never once got sick.
3. How do you make it work?We're all free to make our own choices, right? My mom likes how she feels when she eats with me and I like to sit down to eat with her. When my daughter, Nayra, is with me (a little less than half the year-the rest of the time she lives in Florida) I become more flexible. I find that I can feel just as good when I'm eating more cooked grains and dairy if I eat small portions of it and get plenty of exercise.
The key for me is to be simple and flexible. I make great salads and smoothies that everyone enjoys partaking in. Sometimes I'll do more fancy stuff, which always has wide appeal. I have a Cordon Bleu degree, so the cooking is often left to me in my family.
4. How are you perceived by extended family and friends?
The feedback I get from those around me is that I'm a role model. When I first started eating raw and losing weight and getting healthy, I wondered why everyone else in the world doesn't do the same. I saw people complaining about their body fat or their back or disease and got very dogmatic, preaching "the way" of raw foods. I eventually realized how egotistic that was and how much distance that created between me and those around me. It's no different from evangelicals of any religion and I see it a lot in raw foodists - especially those new to raw foods.
For me, it was based in judgment - that my way was right and theirs is wrong. Of course, if they're getting poor results it means their way isn't working for them. But I only help people now if they ask for it in such a way that they demonstrate a real wanting for what I can offer.
5. What are you making for Thanksgiving?
We're having Thanksgiving today - two days early - because my brother will be out of town. I'm making some really fantastic raw sushi with veggies, fruits, sprouts, and a variety of spreads I made including a ginger hummus, cherry walnut chipotle spread, kung pao tahini, and some fantastic lime - thai curry marinated figs that are making my mouth water while typing this.
I'm also making some raw "stuffing" with cauliflower, bean sprouts, pumpkin seeds and pecans, a fantastic fennel, red cabbage and local greens salad, and a raw soup.
Then my brother and his girlfriend, Marie, are bringing over a nice cooked sweet potato dish.
6. Do you have any pets?I have a dog, Muna. I found her as a stray shortly after I bought my first house. Her personality is more that of a cross between a human than a cat than a dog. She hates the water, curses me and God for making it rain, and doesn't understand why we don't really comprehend and respond to her whining language.
In our backyard we have regular visitors of javelina, coyotes, and lots of birds. My landlord has a beautiful pet cow named Hawthor. She has a good life. We live in the country and our neighbors have all kinds of farm-type animals. We plan to get chickens next year to help with the grasshoppers in our yard and give us fertilizer.
7. What is your profession?
Right now I'm a fund raiser. It's not a role I expected to be in. I'm raising money for a greentech company I'm on the board for - we're developing superconducting materials and it's hugely exciting. I'm also about to start a transformational energy spa clinic in either NYC or San Fran. Listening to guidance for that.
I'm also getting more into my writing. It's something I've always wanted to do and I'm finally starting. I find a lot of joy in letting energy flow through my fingertips and sharing in this way.
8. Do you think being vegan affects your profession in any way?
When I'm eating very well, minimally, and breathing and smiling I have much more energy for everything I do. I get comments from the people I work with that they feel I'm being especially clear.
9. What tips would you give someone considering raw veganism? Challenges or Revelations you've had?
For me what worked was just doing it. To this day, I still have never read a book on raw foods. Reading books just slows you down. All you really need to know to start with raw foods is that the goal is to eat completely intuitively, and to get more greens than fruits and more fruits than fats. Try new superfoods one at a time to see how they affect you. I find that for me I don't get any benefit from many of the "superfoods" some "experts" make a lot of money selling and other superfoods I really enjoy.
Also, eating local is enormous. It's benefit is way more than environmental or economic. This summer my mom and I ate at least 90% local and it was a huge part of my mom's healing. There's magic in eating foods grown in the region you live.
10. How do your spiritual beliefs coincide with your veganism?
My spiritual path really began when I started eating raw foods. I was so amped on sugar and blocked with animal fats that I couldn't really think clearly - and I never even knew it. When I lost most of my body fat and my body shape changed I actually began to feel energy. I didn't know that's what I felt at the time.
Now I'm very focused on my spiritual path. It's what I'm most passionate about. The spiritual work I focus on is learning to be natural in my breath and smile, to be a clear, open channel for old energy to depart without sticking around and new energy to flood in. I'm learning to let energy in at will and use it in everything I do. It's more rewarding than anything I've ever done.
11. Are you involved in any activism, groups, organizations?
I am co-founder of Living Earth Village. (http://LivingEarthVillage.com), a permaculture subdivision for 100 families or more that is in formation. We're looking at land in both Maine and Arizona. I have much of my next 40 years mapped out for me with a list of some 30 businesses and projects I plan to be involved in. These projects are on the scale of reforesting all of the tropics by creating communities where families who are rural refugees can buy their own family land to create a space of love where they practice permaculture to create a new intentionally designed rainforest on previously deforested land that also creates prosperity for them and their future generations. Another is restarting my old raw chocolate and confectionery business to become an internationally successful brand that can connect small family farmers from the thirds world with consumers through the most amazingly beautiful and delicious desserts. All of these projects have the central theme of inspiring healthy and happy families to really connect with nature - both their own inner nature and that which Energy has created for all of us. Many exciting projects.
Everything that I'm doing now will help to make those projects possible. My goal is to become someone who can plant whole forests all at once. Almost all of us - including myself right now - have to go about planting one tree at a time and asking our small spheres of influence to help us. This can be hugely effective as we're all expanding our spheres of influence and it's becoming increasingly easier to communicate with those around us. And there are a few people on our planet whose influence is so great that they can choose to plant a whole forest here or there and it happens. I choose to become someone with that level of influence. That is why I train energy. And my diet certainly helps!
Thank you Scott - I learned a lot from this special interview. Blessings, Inga ...
If you would like to be interviewed please contact me @ [cageybutterfly@gmail.com]
Labels: arizona, living food, raw food, raw vegan, scott mcmahan, thanksgiving
Mariela Rodriguez, Raw Vegan Chef - Interview
www.vegansantafe.com
Mariela Rodriguez, Raw Vegan Chef
Mariela Rodriguez, Raw Vegan Chef
In our second interview for the Vegan Interview Series (Thanksgiving), we are pleased to have Mariela, a native of Puerto Rico and current resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is a vegetarian/vegan/raw vegan chef at Casa Del Toro, a bed and breakfast.
1. How long have you been vegan/raw vegan?
Vegan for about 4-5 years now. Raw for about 3 years.
2. Is your immediate family vegan?
No. My partner is vegan. My kids call themselves flexitarians (meaning they eat vegan with me but eat meat at gatherings, etc). My sisters and my parents are avid omnivores.
3. How do you make it work?
It takes a lot of determination during family gatherings. They still don't understand it and ask me to "bend" the rules and eat their food for this occasion. I am the only one [of my siblings] without diabetes and/or high blood pressure because I eat healthy. It pains me to be able to help people all over the nation but not my own family. When it gets intense, I remind myself that veganism is about compassion, and that engaging in an argument does not align with that. To make it work, I usually bring a tray of one of my creations to share with the rest of the clan. Ironically, my tray is one of the first to go.
4. How are you perceived by extended family and friends?
Family does not get it. They think I am crazy for eating healthy. Everyone gets the concept of fuel efficient cars, but not the concept of fuel efficient bodies. My friends are great! I am deeply touched when non-veggie friends who invite me over, and make the effort to have dishes that are cruelty free.
5. What are you making for Thanksgiving?
I love my rescued mutt Pancho (German shepherd mix).
7. What is your profession?
Vegetarian/Vegan/Raw Vegan Chef. I love what I do! I get to have artistic freedom. My cuisine is environmentally friendly. It's healing food. I get to meet all kinds of interesting people and receive lots of hugs and love from happy people on their journey to health. Granted, sometimes I do get the occasional cranky customer that allows hunger to get their better side, but that's usually easily fixed with a big smile and a plate full of yummies.
Tofu Scramble, Vegan Biscuit, Super Melon Raw Vegan bowl, Herbed potatoes
Bowl of raw vegan buckwheat porridge, fresh berries and cacao beans.
8. Do you think being vegan affects your profession in any way?
Being vegan helped me realize that this was my calling in life. Anyone can char a piece of carcass and call themselves a cook or a chef. Preparing food for people is about nutrition mainly. Being a vegan chef is a higher calling. For me being a vegan chef is not just a profession, it's an art, it's a mission, it's a labor of love.
9. What tips would you give someone considering raw veganism? Challenges or Revelations you've had?
I was raised Catholic. It's curious to me how certain verses of the Bible are willfully ignored in the Christian community, such as: Gen 1:14 God gaves us the perfect diet right there. In the Commandments God said: "Thou shall not kill" it wasn't specified that you shall not kill humans exclusively. Ever since I embarked on this vegan journey I've become more aware of my spiritual side. I've learned that most religions in the world have ideas that align with veganism and compassion. In fact many religious leaders are vegetarian or vegan.
11. Are you involved in any activism, groups, organizations?
I belong to the local RawFoodsMeetUp Group.
Thank you Mariela for an insightful interview. Blessings, Inga ...
If you would like to be interviewed please contact me @ [cageybutterfly@gmail.com]
1. How long have you been vegan/raw vegan?
Vegan for about 4-5 years now. Raw for about 3 years.
2. Is your immediate family vegan?
No. My partner is vegan. My kids call themselves flexitarians (meaning they eat vegan with me but eat meat at gatherings, etc). My sisters and my parents are avid omnivores.
It takes a lot of determination during family gatherings. They still don't understand it and ask me to "bend" the rules and eat their food for this occasion. I am the only one [of my siblings] without diabetes and/or high blood pressure because I eat healthy. It pains me to be able to help people all over the nation but not my own family. When it gets intense, I remind myself that veganism is about compassion, and that engaging in an argument does not align with that. To make it work, I usually bring a tray of one of my creations to share with the rest of the clan. Ironically, my tray is one of the first to go.
4. How are you perceived by extended family and friends?
Family does not get it. They think I am crazy for eating healthy. Everyone gets the concept of fuel efficient cars, but not the concept of fuel efficient bodies. My friends are great! I am deeply touched when non-veggie friends who invite me over, and make the effort to have dishes that are cruelty free.
5. What are you making for Thanksgiving?
- Raw Vegan Cranberry Relish
- Raw Vegan Stuffing
- Raw Vegan Green Bean Casserole topped with onion loaf crumbles
- Raw Vegan Nutloaf
- Raw Vegan Mashed "Taters"
- Raw Vegan Pumpkin Cheezecake topped with Gingered Pepitas
I love my rescued mutt Pancho (German shepherd mix).
7. What is your profession?
Vegetarian/Vegan/Raw Vegan Chef. I love what I do! I get to have artistic freedom. My cuisine is environmentally friendly. It's healing food. I get to meet all kinds of interesting people and receive lots of hugs and love from happy people on their journey to health. Granted, sometimes I do get the occasional cranky customer that allows hunger to get their better side, but that's usually easily fixed with a big smile and a plate full of yummies.
Tofu Scramble, Vegan Biscuit, Super Melon Raw Vegan bowl, Herbed potatoes
Bowl of raw vegan buckwheat porridge, fresh berries and cacao beans.
8. Do you think being vegan affects your profession in any way?
Being vegan helped me realize that this was my calling in life. Anyone can char a piece of carcass and call themselves a cook or a chef. Preparing food for people is about nutrition mainly. Being a vegan chef is a higher calling. For me being a vegan chef is not just a profession, it's an art, it's a mission, it's a labor of love.
9. What tips would you give someone considering raw veganism? Challenges or Revelations you've had?
- Educate yourself. Read as many book on raw food and nutrition as you can. There are lots of FREE podcasts too like RawVeganRadio, Rawkin Radio, Health Renegade
- Join social groups and participate in MeetUp groups, potlucks, retreats, etc. Not only you make lots of friends, receive support, learn a lot but you also get to have fun.
- Challenges: Some people discriminate against vegans and raw vegans and think they are entitled to be rude, attack or challenge your lifestyle. Greatness is to love despite reasons to do the opposite.
- Revelations: I've had so many revelations during this journey. I've become more aware of my spirituality, of my impact on the environment, I've become more aware of my responsibility of my own health, I've become more aware of my emotional well-being and how I affect other lives. I strive to be a harmonious, happy person.
I was raised Catholic. It's curious to me how certain verses of the Bible are willfully ignored in the Christian community, such as: Gen 1:14 God gaves us the perfect diet right there. In the Commandments God said: "Thou shall not kill" it wasn't specified that you shall not kill humans exclusively. Ever since I embarked on this vegan journey I've become more aware of my spiritual side. I've learned that most religions in the world have ideas that align with veganism and compassion. In fact many religious leaders are vegetarian or vegan.
11. Are you involved in any activism, groups, organizations?
I belong to the local RawFoodsMeetUp Group.
Thank you Mariela for an insightful interview. Blessings, Inga ...
If you would like to be interviewed please contact me @ [cageybutterfly@gmail.com]
Labels: living food, mariela rodriguez, new mexico, raw chef, raw vegan, santa fe
Monday, November 24, 2008
Suzi Sharrard Scott, Raw Vegan Photographer - Interview
Suzi Sharrard Scott,
Child Photographer & Raw Vegan
I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Suzi online and wanted to interview her in time for Thanksgiving. Suzi is a child photographer out of Grand Blanc, Michigan.
1. How long have you been vegan/raw vegan?
Since April of 2007. About a year and a half.
2. Is your immediate family vegan?
Yes, for the most part. Sometimes the kids and my husband have pizza with their friends and eat cheese, but at home we are all vegan all the time!
I think they mostly think I am crazy. Sometimes it causes problems at get togethers and holidays such as the upcoming Thanksgiving dinner! Last year we ordered food from Whole Foods for my parents and my sister and her family and we split the cost 3 ways. My sister got an attitude because she doesn't feel she can afford to eat healthy and organic. She never paid her share, but was more than happy to eat all of the great food, including my raw dishes. My dad also jokingly says things like "I don't want to eat hummus and veggies for my Thanksgiving meal" It kind of makes me mad that if you eat junk food nobody really cares, but if you want the best food for yourself and your family you are just crazy. This year my sister is making a turkey. My husband and kids all want a small bit of turkey. So knowing that my sister wouldn't have organic turkey I was going to pick up a little bit off the deli at Whole Foods. Everyone got mad at me and said I should just let up because it is Thanksgiving. Can you tell what an issue this is?!!!!!
4. What are you making for Thanksgiving?
I am making a Mushroom and Dried Cherry Tomato Fettuccini from the Raw Food Real World book. It is my mom's favorite and she eats alot of raw food. Also, I am planning to make a raw pumpkin pie, some raw brownies, maybe some stuffed mushrooms because everyone likes those.
5. Do you have any pets?
I have a big 90lb Airedale Terrier who is the sweetest dog ever! Her name is Olive. She also loves raw food and begs for my salads and likes when I pour my leftover dressing on her food! We also have a gecko named Space Godzilla, 2 fish, and my youngest son always lists his hibernating caterpillars that he has in the garage as his pets!
6. What is your profession?
I am a Child Photographer. www.photoartbysuzi.com
Photos by Suzi Sharrard Scott. Copyright 2008.7. Do you think being vegan affects your profession in any way?
Yes, since going raw my creativity has just exploded. I have more confidence in myself. I feel like I finally found the career that was meant for me and also the way I was meant to eat!
8. What tips would you give someone considering raw veganism? Challenges or Revelations you've had?
I think if you are considering it you should just give it a 30 day try. If it is right for you, you will know after 30 days. Also, don't worry so much about cheating here and there. I think I was too hard on myself when I first went raw. I think that hurt me later in the game. I have had a lot of challenges since passing the one year raw mark. I started wanting to cheat more. Now that I lightened up a little I feel like that has helped. I see that I feel and look so much better if I just stick to it!
9. How do your spiritual beliefs coincide with your veganism?
Well, I am a Christian and I believe that the Bible is my instruction manual. God's original diet that he made for us was fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds. I also feel that having a clear mind helps during prayer time and it is easier for me to get into that special place with that direct line to God.
----- Taken from Suzi's Blog ------
My name is Suzi and I am a children's lifestyle photographer in Grand Blanc, Michigan. My specialties are babies, children, and High School Seniors. I like to work in a relaxed atmosphere without distracting props and cheesy smiles! Photography is my passion and I feel so blessed to be able to capture memories for my clients that they can cherish. The moments slip away so fast and photography is a way to hold on to a piece of those memories forever. I have created this blog to share my client's photos with everyone, as well as my own photos I take in my daily life.
Thank you Suzi for a great interview. Blessings, Inga ...
If you would like to be interviewed please contact me @ [cageybutterfly@gmail.com]
Labels: photography, raw vegan, suzi sharrard scott, thanksgiving
Shing Wang - Restaurant Review
- SHING WANG TAIWANESE VEGETARIAN CUISINE, SHAVED ICE & BUBBLE TEA
- 237 NE 167 ST
- N MIAMI BEACH, FL 33162
- Tel (305) 654-4008 Fax (305) 654-4007
The other day me and my raw vegan friend ate at this vegetarian restaurant. You can get their meals veganized if you tell them you are "full vegetarian". We had spicy pork and spicy peppered steak. In the past, I know I said I don't do fake meats, but I decided to give it a try.
Let me just tell you, my brain did a short circuit when I tried this stuff. It tastes and looks exactly like the real thing. I couldn't enjoy it. If you were on the fence about whether or not you wanted to try veganism, this is the place for you. You won't be missing a thing.
The only thing I didn't like about this place was the fact that SPICY means SPICY AS HELL. The waitress thought I was Jamaican so when I asked for hot, she gave me the hottest sauce she could find. You could smell it before it got to the table. My fingers were burning, my feet, my brain. Not cool!
I didn't take a picture because I was not inspired to take one. We also tried Bubble Tea, this tall creamy concotion with tapioca in the bottom - made with soy milk. It was gnarly. It actually made the hotness go away, but when you tried to eat again - it magnified the sensation.
The people were cool and everything, but I had a so-so experience. Try it out for yourself if you want the taste of real meat without the guilt.
Not sure if I will go back because I'm not a fan of fake flesh but - you can be your own judge.
~inga~
[Menu]
posted by Inga Ambrosia at 11/24/2008