I love when shiny new vegan cookbooks hit the market. I know how much work, sweat, kitchen-time, love and tears go into those hefty stacks of paper, so I am always thrilled to celebrate and share. And so it goes for Deliciously Ella’s brand new cookbook, Quick & Easy Plant-Based Deliciousness! Today I get to share a recipe from the book: Ella’s Super Veggie Fried Rice, as well as giveaway two signed cookbooks!….
…Blog
32 Stress Baking Recipes from Bloggers
Stress baking is an official hobby of 2020. So I thought it would be fun to poll some of my friends and ask them just what their go-to stress baking recipes are this year! And since food bloggers only bake up their most favorite things (on repeat) you know these recipe recommendations are going to be GOOD. And I love all the commentary that these bloggers added to their recipe choice!
Here’s What Bloggers are Stress Baking!….
…Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
So there’s a bit of a heatwave going on in LA this weekend, so it was perfect timing for me to be testing out this recipe for vegan, Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream. I have made this ice cream four times now in the past week and finally settled on the most perfect ratios of ingredients.
This flavor! I’m so in love with it. That clash of rich chocolate and nutty, savory peanut butter is a total summertime swoon.
So if you love all things chocolate and are up for a special summertime dessert, break out the blender and ice cream maker for this Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream…
…“Famous” Fresh Blueberry Muffins, Gone Vegan
Tis the season for fresh blueberry muffins made from those plump, ripe, could-devour-this-whole-bowl-in-seconds sort of berries. And today, I tried out a very famous recipe, with my own little tweaks and vegan spin on things.
These “Famous” Fresh Blueberry Muffins, Gone Vegan are an absolute dream with their ‘sugary crowns’ and juicy berries exploding out of every fluffy crevice. Moist crumb and buttery tones throughout, these taste like they were pulled straight off of a bakery rack at from your favorite cozy cafe.
So make sure you have some amazing summer blueberries on hand and whip up these muffins…..
…Easy Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
These super easy Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are perfect for a quickie, satisfying, vegan meal. My speedy 5-minute chickpeas are paired with creamy garlic hummus and a sticky-sweet stuffed sweet potato for a pretty much perfect easy meal.
If you are a sweet potato lover like me, you will want to add this recipe to your go-to meal rotation!…
…Maternity Photoshoot – Malibu
Fresh Cherry Cobbler
I have been buying a lot of cherries this summer and eating them by the bowl-ful. But I also wanted to make something sweet and lovely using fresh summer cherries, so this Fresh Cherry Cobbler it was!
Make it extra amazing by serving warm with your fave vegan ice cream…
…Easy Vegan Potato Salad
This Easy Vegan Potato Salad is everything you crave in a classic potato salad. Creamy, crunchy, with enough texture to accent the mashed and chunky boiled potatoes.
This potato salad is loaded with tangy, vibrant flavor. It’s one of those side dishes that you will seriously consider just making your main course because you cannot stop eating it.
…Easy Vegan Burrito Bowl
This Easy Vegan Burrito Bowl is a recipe that I have been making for years. I whip this warm and nourishing bowl up when I am in the mood for some healthy comfort food with some heat and color. You can easily make this in under thirty minutes with just a few basic ingredients.
This bowl can also be served as fajitas if you add some warm corn or flour tortillas on the side. Or fold everything into a giant tortilla for a vegan burrito. But if you are in the mood for a big, cozy bowl — here’s your meal!…
…Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
This ‘Chunky Monkey’ style, Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is loaded with melty chocolate chips and chunky walnuts, all clustered together in fluffy, vegan banana bread. I love the thick slice of baked banana right on top too!
Whip up this cozy loaf and I chat about the best way to serve banana bread… cold of warm?!…..
…A Hard Day.
I wrote this a few weeks ago when I was having a particularly overwhelming ‘pandemic pregnancy’ day. There were tears. And just sitting on the floor until I felt ready to stand up again.
As so many of us struggle to find balance between choosing joy and feeling overwhelmed, I decided to share it today..
Happy + Hard, Go Hand in Hand…
Personally, I try to share a lot of happy things on the internet. It makes me feel good. But hard days come. And those hard days are what make me appreciate the happy days so much more.
I try to remind myself that challenging emotions are not permanent. Despite how heavy they feel in the moment. And they always, always, teach me something.
I hope this post brings you some comfort on one of your hard days. You are not alone, and feeling all these feelings is not only ok, but in many ways a good thing — a healing process. Don’t bottle things up, or you will never be able to let them go…
…Pumpkin and Hemp Seed Bagels
You already know that bagels are basically my go-to item of 2020. I am a bit obsessed with baking them, eating them and sharing them with you guys. These Pumpkin and Hemp Seed Bagels are my favorites so far because they are loaded with healthy, protein-rich hemp and pumpkin seeds. At first I figured I would add any seeds as coating to my bagels, but discovered that both hemp and pumpkin (two faves for health) burn very easily. So I folded them into the dough and that process works perfectly!
Get the recipe and become a bagel baking expert in no time!…
…Peach Coconut Water Smoothie
This Peach Coconut Water Smoothie has been my summer smoothie obsession ever since I first made it last week. I’m pretty sure I have made it once a day since then.
This coconut water smoothie blends up frosty and light, super hydrating with a sweet and bright flavor. This is the perfect hydration beverage for when you feel a bit drained or just want something cool and refreshing and fruity to sip on.
Coconut Water Smoothie
I love that it is made with coconut water because that adds electrolytes, natural sweetness and keeps this smoothie super light. Sometimes you just don’t have the hunger for a richer, creamier, heavier smoothie — you want refreshing, yet still fruit-packed! This is that smoothie!
But this Peach Coconut Water Smoothie has one very important rule that you simple cannot skip to make it the best ever…..
…Are Bagels Vegan?
Yup, I have been on a complete bagel kick these past few months. It all started when I made my first batch of homemade bagels using this easy recipe. And one of the questions I see come up a lot in regards to bagel is: Are bagel vegan? So today, I want to answer that question for you and give you a few options for how to veganize the possibly non-vegan parts of a bagel….
…Sweet Potato Cauliflower Soup
What am I doing posting this warming, spiced, creamy Sweet Potato Cauliflower Soup right as summer is coming? Well, for me, pureed soups are an absolute year-round meal. And this particular vegan recipe is a spin on one of my most popular soup recipes – my Sweet Potato Soup in a Flash. And just like that recipe, this bowl has warming spices that wake up your palate, bright, summer-y citrus and the tones, colors and textures just feel very ‘any season approved’ to me.
This recipe makes one large bowl of soup – perfect for the solo diner, a la meal for one! Or you can easily double, triple or (whatever) the recipe if you are sharing this meal with some people you love. Spoons up!…
…Blueberry Lemon Loaf
This light and fluffy Blueberry Lemon Loaf is studded with juicy, antioxidant-rich wild blueberries. A hint of lemon in every lovely bite. This loaf pairs so well with a latte or mug of tea. Perfect healthy meets decadent snack loaf. This one is a keeper!…
…5-Minute Skillet Chickpeas
One of my favorite additions to a quick, easy and delicious vegan meal: these 5-Minute Skillet Chickpeas. The flavor is smoky with a hint of sweetness. And the best part is these chickpeas come together in just five minutes.
…Double Chocolate Chip Loaf
Today I am sharing my recipe for this Double Chocolate Chip Loaf, vegan, totally fluffy and spongy, studded with melty chocolate chips.
I was craving a chocolate muffin, but decided to go with a chocolate loaf instead, and so glad I did! This beautiful chocolate loaf bakes up like a dream and while definitely has a chocolate cake flavor, isn’t overly sweet. Pairs so well with coffee, tea or even a strawberry banana smoothie — which is what I just ate mine with. Strawberry + chocolate flavors for the win….
…Second Trimester Recap
Alrighty, second trimester recap!
Today I am looking back on my second trimester of pregnancy. Aka, what is usually known as the “feel good” trimester. While it was filled with so much goodness, it was anything but ordinary during such a crazy-historic time.
In this post I’ll be sharing how I’ve been staying busy, my low energy issues and how this crazy pandemic trimester has been for me!…
…True Botanicals Giveaway (Closed)
disclosure: this post is in partnership with True Botanicals, but all opinions are my own
I am so excited to partner with True Botanicals for this post. I get to share an amazing $250 True Botanicals Giveaway with you guys, plus share some big Anniversary Sale news.
True Botanicals Fan
If you’ve been following my blog or Instagram, you may have noticed that I have become a True Botanicals superfan ever since I first bought a few of their products back in February. I have been using them religiously every day and I can honestly say that my skin has never felt better.
Plus, some other cool news besides the giveaway, True Botanicals is having their 2020 Anniversary Sale soon and you can sign up for early access right here.
True Botanicals Giveaway details + entry form ahead!…
…7 Tips for Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls
One of my absolute favorite recipes to make (and to eat) is homemade Cinnamon Rolls. And over the years, I have made my fair share of batches, playing with ingredient amounts and brands and variations to see how I can improve on things. And one goal I always have in mind: fluffiness! Today, I am sharing my very best tips for making sure your cinnamon rolls bake up light, fluffy, poofy and full of softness. My 7 Tips for Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls..
…How to Make Soy Milk
Today I am sharing my method and recipe for homemade soy milk! Aka, how to make soy milk from scratch, using dried soy beans.
Homemade soy milk is super creamy, delicious and free of any additives for texture or preservation. You control the sweetness and you can even control the thickness and creaminess of the milk!
Is Making Soy Milk Hard?
Soy milk from scratch is actually insanely easy with a little prep and the right tools and some practice too. I will show you my method, and then provide a few additional methods…
…Fiesta Black Bean Burgers
I’ve been on a veggie burger kick lately. So this Fiesta Black Bean Burger was another way to satisfy my craving for a toasty bun with pickles, crisp lettuce, tomato, onion and some saucey sauce on top. This burger had a melty slice of vegan cheese too. Loved these warmly spiced fiesta flavors!…
…30 Pregnancy Essentials: My Ultimate List.
Today I am sharing my 30 Pregnancy Essentials. This is my ultimate list of pregnancy items and things to think about to make your pregnancy a bit more healthy +happy!
From pregnancy pillows and safe skin care to maternity clothes, cozy PJS, baby planning and belly oils. I hope these recommendations help bring you a very healthy, happy and comfortable pregnancy!…
…Cinnamon Raisin Bagels
Copycat Chipotle Veggie Fajita Burrito
This stay-at-home period has probably been the longest stretch of my life without ordering takeout! We have been cooking at home for a few months now and I have to say … it is actually incredibly refreshing and lovely. But sometimes you get those nostalgic cravings for your faves. And Chipotle has always been a fave of mine. This Copycat Chipotle Veggie Fajita Burrito is super easy to make (yes, even with all those components!) and it definitely satisfies that giant burrito craving you may have…..
…Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Today’s Vegan Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies are crinkly, flat and oh so chewy.
They have a slightly underbaked texture which lends to that supreme chewiness. Studded with melty chocolate chips, a few rolled oats and crunchy, buttery walnuts to bring some texture contrast.
These cookies are decadent and easy to devour. So if you have a craving for some to-die-for crowd-pleasing vegan cookies, give these a spin…
…(The Best) Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Between my blog and my first cookbook 365 Vegan Smoothies, I have written a lot of smoothie recipes in the past ten years, plus. But even though I love how fun it is to try creative recipes, new ingredients and spins on classics – the truth is – the old-school, classic recipes are usually famous for a reason. They are just that good! They stand the test of time and trends. And this Strawberry Banana Smoothie is an absolute classic to crave.
Here is the BEST way to make it. According to me….
…26 Weeks Bumpdate (Photos)
Well I’m rounding the corner of my second trimester and I have made it to 26 weeks pregnant! Craziness. Happy craziness.
Less than 100 days to go! About 96 or 97 now .. even though we all know babies never come right on schedule, so I’m ready for anything at this point.
I hadn’t taken my formal pictures in a good few weeks, so it was time to pull out the tripod and my handy little remote control and snap some shots…
…BBQ Tempeh Kale Bowl
I whipped up this BBQ Tempeh Kale Bowl for lunch the other day and it was so satisfying and yummy that I knew I wanted to share it here on the blog.
Relatively fast and easy when you have the right prep in place, this bowl is perfect for a busy day lunch or dinner – or as we have been eating a lot of lately – linner! Anyone else into dinner super early lately?
…Kathy’s Ultimate Green Goddess Salad
These days, I rarely include my name in a recipe title. But this one hit my taste buds so brightly that I just had to label it my own. This ‘Kathy’s’ Ultimate Green Goddess Salad is the green-goodness salad of my dreams.
Curly kale is coated in the yummiest green goddess dressing, and then tossed with avocado, kalamata olives, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, cucumber (or zucchini) cubes, celery and green pepper.
The combination of this dressing with the greens and fresh veggies and that pop of saltiness from the kalamata olives makes every bite end in a loud “Yummmmmmmmmmm.” Really.
So if you love a good marinated kale salad, give this one a try! (And if you don’t have time or feel like DIY-ing your dressing, I have a few options for you!)
…Fudgy Crinkle-Top Brownies
The first words out of my mouth when I taste-tested these fudgy, vegan Crinkle-Top Brownies…
“I’m not usually a brownie person, but oh my God these are GOOD.”
And yeah, it’s true, I’m actually not a brownie gal. I remember at high school sleepovers everyone would be devouring box-mix brownies and I was just like… meh. They were too sweet, too rich or just not my thing.
These day, I normally prefer the bite of a buttery chocolate chip or peanut butter cookie. But oh my goodness — these rich yet pleasantly buttery, totally fudgy vegan crinkle brownies may change my mind.
Need a chocolate fix? Try these!! Bonus, these are ridiculously easy to make…
…On Mom Shaming
I’m not even a mom to a birthed baby yet, but I already feel the Mom Shaming vibe. While I’m not out in the real world just yet (thanks pandemic) mom shaming is alive and well online. From Instagram to Facebook groups, articles and social media in general.
I’ve seen it happen to others and I’ve experienced a bit myself (from IVF to pregnancy), so I wanted to speak out about it.
It’s a Thing
Mom shame / mom guilt / mom shaming is a thing. I have often heard from experienced mom friends that mom shaming and judgement is one of the harder parts of mom-hood. That shame can come from outside sources or bubble up internally. I think it’s often a combination of both.
I knew it was coming. But during a pandemic pregnancy, can’t we all try to give each other a break?
Sharing my experience thus far, and how I plan to deal with it..
Where Mom Shaming Comes From
It is all around us. And the online presence of it can be pretty sharp, blunt and insensitive. It’s so easy to hide behind a screen. Sometimes it comes from a blatant bully – a stranger or someone you know in real life – and other times – probably more often – it comes from a well-meaning person who has no clue the pain they inflicted.
And it feels even more intense when it bubbles up from an internal source. Our own negative talk, mom guilt. Yes, we each carry shame around in some way, but luckily internal shame is the easiest to stomp out in my opinion. Working on creating self-esteem around your mom choices may be the best self-care act you can do for yourself. I mean…
Science Says Motherhood Tanks Your Self-Esteem for Three Years – Slate
…Really? Time to start building yourself up – NOW! You got this mom or mom-to-be or wannabe mom or child-free-by-choice non mom!
How to Protect Your Self-Esteem After Having a Baby – Offspring
Opinion-Giving Isn’t New
People love to give their opinions just by nature. We all know that. And we all deal with it in LIFE. I’m 39 and I have basically acquired a thick enough skin to deal with random negativity in my everyday life.
But when it comes to being a mom, your kids, your pregnancy, your emotions around motherhood (or lack of it), your choices as a mom – it can feel especially sensitive.
So yeah, mom-shaming and beyond is a thing. Check out these articles:
- Why Moms Mom-Shame – Parents
- 19 Things Pregnant Women Got Shamed for that will Make Your Blood Boil – BuzzFeed
- The Internet Is Applauding – Calling Out Pregnancy Shamers – Scary Mommy
- Stopping the Mom Shame on Social Media – New Mom Health
- 6 Things You Probably Never Realized are IVF Shaming – Cafe Mom
- Infertility Shaming is Alive and Well, Just Ask Chrissy Teigen – New Hope Fertility
- 5 Types of Mom Shame and How to Shut Them Down – RD.com
- Mom Shame Made Me Question Everything About Myself – HealthLine
And then this headline… - Stop Mom-Shaming the Mom-Shamers – TODAY
Mom Shaming Reaches Far and Wide…
A few topics that you may feel it from…
- Breastfeeding or not?
- Epidural or not?
- C-section or V-birth?
- Vegan or Paleo or Whatever Diet?
- Exercise during pregnancy or not?
- Stay-at-home moms vs working moms?
- Cloth diapers vs disposable?
- Too much or too little weight gain.
- You’re naming your kid, THAT?
- You put THAT on your registry?
- You are letting your baby sleep WHERE?
- Are you doing a home birth?
- You’re STILL breastfeeding?
- Your baby bump is TOO SMALL or TOO BIG.
- Are you taking your prenatal?
- You’re sharing photos of your kid online?
- Public or private school?
- Daycare or not?
- Plastic toys or wood toys?
- Potty Training at what age?
- Sleep training or not?
- Co-sleeping or crib?
- Non-toxic or whatever you can find/afford.
- Vaccinations.
- Adoption.
- Organic food always or when you can or never?
- You’re too YOUNG / OLD to have kids.
And pandemic topics… - You’re HAVING a baby shower in a pandemic?? You’re JUDGING me for having one?
- You wore a mask in your car?
- You didn’t wear a mask at all?
And social sharing… - Are you posting about your pregnancy online?
- That’s too personal to share … that person doesn’t share anything.
And this one, which I heard yesterday… - Are you actually complaining about anything pregnancy-related online — you should just be grateful. Remember when you wished you were pregnant?
…That last one hits home because I received it yesterday on Instagram. I was being pretty open and honest and vulnerable about my grief surrounding not being able to have a baby shower. Such a trivial thing, YES, but also something that so many pandemic-pregnant moms are feeling.
And those ‘just be grateful’ vibes really stung. Especially since I wake up everyday and rub my tummy and smile feeling insanely grateful in so many ways. I try so hard to express that publicly, but also — I’m human. And being pregnant during a pandemic kinda sucks. Complaining doesn’t mean you don’t have complicated feelings and sway back and forth from gratitude to being human and feeling grief.
Pregnant or not — everyone has the right to grieve something right now – no matter how trivial it may seem to others.
I think about those students without proms or graduations. Missing their friends or just feeling sad because they can’t go to their fave park to play. TRIVIAL things, but also – real feelings that are 100% ok to have and share.
“From small losses to giant ones, the world is grieving.
For many of us, facing this level of grief is unfamiliar and overwhelming, and we’re unsure how to process the intensity. Our “work hard, think happy thoughts” culture is great for a lot of things, but it makes talking about grief really hard.”
– Megan Devine, therapist + author — ‘Navigating this epidemic of Grief’
How Do I Cope When I Feel Some Mom Shame?
To cope, I self-soothe: Positive self-talk. Use my backbone of self-esteem and confidence in myself. But that doesn’t always work. Some days are more tender than others.
So when that isn’t enough, I seek out my people! So a few days ago, I went into one of my many private pregnancy Facebook groups and asked about mom shaming and referenced the comment that hurt a bit. Luckily, I received 55+ comments agreeing with my emotions and response. It made me feel so much better to know I wasn’t alone. And my feelings were totally valid to share.
Some people just don’t get it — and that’s ok.
Anyone who tells you to ‘just be grateful’ – after an infertility journey, and during a pandemic where you haven’t seen literally ANYONE except your OB and cats and husband your entire pregnancy – probably doesn’t know where you are coming from when you say you are sad about no baby shower. And don’t get the symbolic nature of what the ‘baby shower’ represents in this whole pandemic pregnancy. And I know that.
Pandemic Pregnancies are Kinda Weird.
Some articles + videos + interviews chatting about this…
- Coronavirus Adds New Anxieties for Pregnant Women – LA Times
- Tips to Manage Pandemic Pregnancy Stress – UTSW Med
- So You’re Having a Baby During a Pandemic? – NY Times
- What to Know About Being Pregnant During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Washington Post
- Pregnant in a pandemic: Moms-to-be have no visitors, lots of anxiety – Kansas City Star
- COVID-19 crisis changes hopes, dreams of first time mother-to-be – Town Talk
- Mental Health Tips During a Pandemic Pregnancy – Voice Online
IVF Shaming…
For me, mom-shaming goes WAY back. Three years back when I decided I was going to make an appointment at a fertility clinic and investigate treatment options – and eventually start my treatment journey.
Most people were supportive and just curious about IVF. But there are always the mom-shamers. The people who cannot keep negative opinions to themselves.
For infertility moms, we’ve heard it all..
- Why don’t you just ADOPT?
- IVF is dangerous.
- IVF is too expensive.
- You should just accept that you might not become a mom.
- Just be happy for what you have.
- It will ‘just happen’ eventually.
- Science babies?????
- Don’t TELL people you’re kid is via IVF.
- You spent HOW MUCH on your kid? That’s nuts.
- Medication of ANY kind is so dangerous during pregnancy.
- Messing with your hormones is so dangerous. I would never do that.
- An on and on…
I chatted more about my What Infertility Feels Like moments in this post.
People Love Their Opinions… Says Jerry
It’s funny, we watched the new Seinfeld comedy show on Netflix last night and there was a segment on how people just love to give their opinions – it’s human nature. They will say just about anything just to give an opinion – even if their opinion makes no sense. Jerry explains it much better than me, lol. It was a really funny show if you need a laugh. The very last part about movie theaters had us roaring. I was crying tears it was so funny to me. But anyways…
How Will I Handle Mom Shaming Online?
It will happen. Especially with the nature of my career and passion for sharing. But I’m ready. I am so excited to share this journey. Sharing and connecting online is a BEAUTIFUL thing.
But when the online bullies chime in….
I will feel it pretty deeply for a moment. (Sensitive person problems.) Then I’ll take a deep breath and either respond or delete.
Unfortunately, you can’t delete people in real life. So my usual response is to just smile and move on. Remove myself from the situation. You can do that online too!
Don’t waste your energy on people who just don’t get it. Save your energy for the people who do get it. And love + support you without judgement.
It may be human nature to judge. But it’s not human nature to be mean. IMO.
Hurt people – hurt people.
Gossiping is a Social Activity + We All Do it Sometimes
I will always believe that people are intrinsically good and kind at their core. Gossiping doesn’t make you a bad person. From a good distance, it’s totally normal and maybe even healthy – maybe even good for you! I mean, we all make silly comments when watching reality TV or The Oscars red carpet, etc…
People are fascinating! It’s impossible to not have reactions to other people. To analyze. Even compare a little. Why do you think Instagram is so popular? Humans love to see what others are doing. I think the entire Real Housewives Series is built around drinking and judging. (Ha.) And people love it!!
I 100% agree that this world can be a serious place and we all need to have a healthy sense of humor about ourselves. But..
Some things just feel more sacred. Motherhood being one of them.
And there is a fine line between fun and socializing and being mean.
When Judgments Turn Sour..
When judging / shaming creeps (or lurches full force) into someone else’s life and relationships – that is a problem….
The difference between analyzing people for fun and creating something negative really comes from what you do with your opinions. How accurate they actually are. And where they end up. Who they affect – who they influence. Directly or indirectly.
The Root Cause?
For me, I have noticed that when I feel most confident about myself and HAPPY, I tend to judge less. And it feels GOOD. Don’t want drama. Don’t feel like I need negativity. I am more apt to celebrate others and cheer people on in my thoughts and words. And it becomes this lovely cycle of positive energy. And THAT feels so much better than anything happening on Housewives. However entertaining they are, ha.
Message to Moms and Non-Moms
It doesn’t matter if you are a mom, wannabe mom, never-want-to-be-a-mom, pet-mom, aunty, surrogate mom, grand-mom or somewhere in between. Women have so much power when they come together. They can hurt and heal together in powerful ways. So I hope the next time I think something judgemental for whatever reason, I come back to a place of love and understanding on this truth:
We are all just doing the best we can.
And we all deserve love and support and light. And if you have something negative swirling in your head, just keep it there until it fizzles away. Don’t put it our in the world without some serious thought.
Women have enough shit to deal with, mouths to feed, people to take care of, work to get done, bills to pay and dreams to conquer. I just want to build women up – and hope you will join me too in that goal.
And when all else fails, realize that you have to love yourself first. Be confidant in who YOU are. And realize all the badass things you have done in your life so far. And walk right past anyone who doesn’t see all those things too.
Love you all and sending so much support to women, moms and non-moms everywhere.
My very first mom’s day flowers EVER from my sweet friend Cat…. Women supporting women is one of my fave things ever.
pps. To the boys reading this who made it this far. I hope you take some time to appreciate this whole concept of mom-shaming. I don’t think guys and dads get it as much. (Do they?) And just acknowledging that you know it happens could really help the women in your life.
Keep Browsing…
Looking for more pregnancy journey posts?
Find them in my BABY section.
Get kitchen-inspired – quick hop to ALL THE RECIPES.
(Chickpea) Vegan Banana Bread
Wait, hold up. Why? Why put chickpeas in banana bread? Well this Chickpea Vegan Banana Bread is crazy good and bakes up fluffy yet dense in real banana flavor. I love that every bite includes a healthy secret ingredient… beans! Don’t tell the kids. Or the bean-phobes in your house…
…48 Vegan Casserole Recipes
Looking for dinner inspiration? These Vegan Casserole Recipes have you covered!…
One of my favorite meals to make for dinner is anything using a casserole dish! I love the ease of tossing everything into a wide baking dish, then serving it for dinner, and for us, we always have leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day. Easy peasy.
So I asked the talented and uber-creative bloggers in my Finding Vegan Bloggers group to contribute their favorite easy vegan casserole recipes and here is what they came up with.
48 Vegan Casserole Recipes…
How to Turn a Salad into a Meal
This whole work from home thing has me eating larger lunches and earlier dinners. It also has me craving more big and fresh salads. But a simple salad, all raw and lovely just isn’t a “meal.” So today I am sharing 14 tips on How to Turn a Salad into a Meal.
I’m also sharing my recipe for this Fresh and Crunchy Vegan Salad, which is one of my fave salad meals to make right now!…
…Vegan Babka, Chocolate or Cinnamon
Everyone is on a baking kick right. Comfort food. Dough. Buttery flavors. Caramelized sugar. Chocolate. Oh yeah. And Babka is a recipe I have been seeing pop up lately. Looking for a baking challenge, I decided to dive in. This Cinnamon or Chocolate Vegan Babka is insanely delicious. Plus, I try a few Mini Babkas too!
If you love dough, baking and yummy things, keep reading…
…Homemade Vegan Pizza – Green Pepper + Olive
One of my favorite homemade vegan pizzas is this Green Pepper Olive Pizza. Vegan sausage optional, salty capers, fresh basil on top.
The homemade crust, using my pizza dough recipe is super easy to make and bakes up light and bubbly with crisp edges. I dust the bottom of the crust with some corn meal and the edges with vegan parmesan.
Vegan pizza is such a fun and easy eay to DIY a family meal! I hope you can give this recipe a try…
…Fast + Easy Stovetop Baked Beans!
One of my favorite meals is the simple combo of beans on toast. And while I have played with baked beans recipes here on the blog many times, I wanted to showcase a recipe that is insanely easy, delicious and fast! These Fast + Easy Stovetop Baked Beans take under ten minutes to make and contain only five main ingredients…
…What Infertility Feels Like (59 Things)
It’s April, and that means it’s NIAW, National Infertility Awareness Week. So today I pulled out an old draft of a post on infertility. A list of collected thoughts, experiences, emotions sharing What Infertility Feels Like.
I’ve already shared my infertility journey, but today I’m digging a bit deeper. By sharing my thoughts on what my own experience with infertility depression, grief and isolation look like to me now – more distant from it all – as I sit in a happier space…
(TW – trigger warning – mention of pregnancy + IVF.)
…