Garrapata State Park

Lonny and I discovered this park a few months back and went for an amazing hike. We brought Addy back for some seashell hunting a few days ago and since we love it so much Lonny and I went back yesterday for a small hike along the coast. While we were on our hike we saw 4 whales! They were amazing to watch, so majestic and so in sync with one another, they literally took my breath away! I turned around to look up at Lonny and over him was flying a group of pelicans in the most perfect V formation, we watched them soar out over the ocean.......the moment was perfect and amazing and made me feel so small in comparison to these amazing creatures. We are a lucky family to live in such beauty and I am a lucky woman to be able to experience it with such an amazing man!

Addy's Books and Movies

Addisyn in a little sponge these days soaking every thing up and asking a million questions along the way. She is very much into books and as most children loves a good movie. We read with her every night and encourage her to "read" on her own. Every night she put her self to sleep with a flashlight and a pile of books. I know when she has fallen asleep cause I can hear the books fall with a big thud.

She is allowed to watch movies and sometimes TV (cartoons) but we really try to limit the amount to just a few hours a week. Yes there are those weeks where I feel like she has watched way too much, so we regroup and get back on track. We are no where near perfect and we get it, life happens.

While she is absolutely sure that her hair glows just like Rapunzel and thinks she can breath underwater like Ariel, she can also tell you all how sad the Lorax is when all the trees are chopped down and how important it is to recycle and not throw our trash in the ocean. Mixed in with the mainstream and age appropriate movies I really try to fine and promote ones that are going to send a positive message about our environment and animals.

So here are a few of her favorites.

I feel like these ones give a positive message about the environment and how we are treating it and that even one single person can make a huge difference good or bad.

These ones show how animals should not be used for food or entertainment, that they have feelings and families and feel pain and sadness just as we do.

This is one of my favorite books. The illustrations are beautiful and it put why we are vegan into very simple terms for Addisyn to understand.

Happy Birthday!

Addisyn recently turned 4! Wow!! Really where has the time gone!

We went to my parents house and had a wonderful vegan and semi homemade party for her surrounded by friends and family.

The spread! We had Sara's wild rice salad, a cold pesto salad, chips and guacamole, fruit, hummus and pita, pb&j sandwiches cut out as flowers, a green salad, water and homemade party punch and some yummy vegan cupcakes.

Homemade centerpiece and table runner.

Homemade "Lets Party" banner

Homemade "Happy Birthday Addy" banner

Homemade Birthday outfit with the help of my mom!

Vegan chocolate cupcakes with raspberry frosting. Made by my awesome friend Toni. Check out her site! http://www.rosycheekscupcakes.com/

Party favors 

Party girl!! She is so excited to be 4!

Our little family! Happy Birthday little Miss! We love you!

Earthlings

We watched the documentary Earthlings a few weeks back. It was intense and horrifying and I sobbed pretty much the whole time. Sometimes I look around our house and at our life and think that we aren't doing enough, there is so much more we could be doing for the animals and our environment. Then I watch something like this and I think, yes there is always more that we can do but with just our simple choice to not consume any meat or dairy is making a big impact and saving lives.

http://www.earthlings.com/

Check out the film if you haven't already, you can watch the full film through the website and let it open your eyes to what is being hidden to all of us. We would never push vegetarianism or veganism on anyone, we really try not to be "preachy" but we do insist that if you are going to consume meat and dairy and animal products, know where your food and clothing is coming from, understand whats behind those closed doors and research a more humane, eco friendly alternative. Your body and world will thank you for it!

Awesome Vegan Finds

We are always stoked when we find some new vegan food or product that we have never tried. Here are a few of our latest yummy food finds!

Dairy free cheddar crackers, found at Whole Foods. Addy loves them, they taste just like goldfish crackers. They are great cause now when she is somewhere like preschool or church and the other kids are having goldfish crackers she can feel included.

We found these candy bars at Whole foods as well. I was looking for something fun to add to Addys Easter basket. We added the Enjoy Life one and the Buccaneer one to her basket. They were so good that the next time I was at the store I picked up the Twilight one to try. There are a couple other flavors of that brand that we still need to try. We don't eat candy very often but it's nice to know when we are craving something sweet there are some yummy things out there!

We found these at the Commissary for a killer price! We have had the black bean vegan ones they make but have never seen the breakfast burrito ones...yummuy!

I found this at a store called Natural Grocers in St George Utah, They are so yummy and dairy free!!!