What Does A Vegan Bring To A Party?

So what exactly does a vegan bring to a birthday party?

I brought vegan lasagna, vegan chocolate cupcakes, and tomato bruschetta. Yum!!

Right now I'm reading Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows by Melanie Joy. Very intriguing, I highly recommend it.

What Does A Vegan Bring To A Party?

I Meant It.

On Saturday we had a surprise birthday party for The Knight. His parents and I rented a hall, and we had food, music, raffles, and dancing. It's always fun to get together with family, and this party was no exception. He certainly was surprised!!

I think about how far we've come since filing for divorce. And how things seem so much better, and we seem so much stronger.

And when I wrote, "I love you forever" on his birthday card, well...I meant it.

Happy birthday to my Knight. Love always.

I Meant It.

One World

"If the cropland we currently use to produce grain for livestock was redirected for humans, we would be able to feed 800 million people who are starving in third-world countries." - Kim Barnouin

Our journey to becoming vegans is going really great so far. We've phased out all the foods that contain animal products out of our home, and are now starting to work on other items with animal products (shoes, purses, etc.)

I definitely think that taking it slowly and thinking of it as a process has helped a LOT in our transition. I've definitely had to re-think how I approach things; before I hated cooking and at first, cooking healthy vegan meals seemed overwhelming and time consuming. But now, cooking has been so relaxing and a way for me to unwind at the end of the day. Once I got used to cooking, I found it really didn't take that much time at all. And to see my family eat the meal I cooked and know that the food they are eating is healthy for them and the earth, well it makes me so happy.

Another benefit: I've lost 35lbs!! Some of it I lost before becoming vegan, but a majority of it was after. I feel great, my wedding rings fit again, I have more energy, etc.

I have a bunch of new cookbooks that have been so helpful. We try 1-2 new recipes a week, and I make their favorites on the other days. One of our favorites so far is Seitan, we can't get enough of it!! And of course all those veggies!

The more I keep researching and learning and cooking, the more happy I am with our decision and the more positive I am in knowing it was the right one. If I want a more compassionate world for my children when they grow up, then it starts with me. Animal agriculture is not only insanely cruel, but the biggest polluter of our environment. By teaching the girls about why eating meat is not healthy and not good for the environment, I help grow their compassion and caring for our world.

After all, we only have one world.

One World

Handsome Little Man

Dearest Tadpole,

Nine months old!! Nine months! And in the past month, there have been so many changes!

Like how you seem to think, "Who needs toys when I can play with the dishwasher and tupperware?"
And now you take big boy baths!!!
And eat more big boy food!!

You laugh and play and tumble and laugh some more. You say "Mama" now, and you know what it means. You try to pull yourself up, but only get as far as up on your knees.

Every morning when I wake up I swear you are bigger than the day before.

But...but you still love your na-nas. You still love being held in my arms. You throw your arms around my neck and give the cutest hugs and kisses. When I walk into the room, you quickly crawl over and hold your arms up to me.

So thank you, my dearest Tadpole, thank you so very much for making this transition into toddlerhood easier for me. Sometimes I swear you let me cuddle with you all day just to humor me, to make the fact that my little baby boy is getting older just a little easier.

Three more months and you will be a year. I'm almost just starting to consider planning your birthday.

Almost.

Happy nine months little one. You bring our lives such joy.

Handsome Little Man

Teaching Kids About Money

The Knight and I are big fans of Dave Ramsey and his Total Money Makeover and I wanted to incorporate those principles into homeschooling when teaching the girls about money.

I started by taking three jars each for the girls and labeling them: Save; Spend; Give. I made sure the jars were glass, so the girls could see the money as it was piling up.

Next I made up two chore charts. The first chart are the daily chores the girls must do and they don't get any commission for.
I got this chart from Homeschool Curriculum for Life. Every day they check off the boxes as they complete the chore. These chores are mandatory.

The second chart consists of chores assigned to specific days of the week. All the chores on this chart are optional, but if they choose to do the chore then they get the amount of money assigned to each chore.
This chart I whipped up in five minutes and while it's working for us now, I'm sure I'll be tweaking it to improve on it in the future. The girls look at what day of the week it is. If the chore has an "X" in the box on that day of the week, doing that chore is not an option. I did this so that they wouldn't vacuum every single day of the week. If the box doesn't have an "X" for that day, then they have the option of doing that chore for some commission.

We use the word "commission" instead of allowance to drive home the point with the girls that in order to have money, you have to earn it. No, they don't have to do the chore, but then they don't get money. The more chores they do, the more money they make.

Our family's commission chores are: dusting; vacuuming; cleaning the litter box; cleaning the bathtub; cleaning out the van; watering the plants; and folding laundry.

After they complete the chore, they write their initial in the box so I know who did what. I also check their work when they are done; they don't get paid if they didn't do a good job.

At the end up of the week I add up what they earned. They put 50% of the money in their save jar, 25% in the spend jar, and 25% in the give jar.

So far The Mermaid has been all about earning extra money. It relieves some stress for me as well, because she does such a good job on the chores and it makes for less cleaning for me. The Guppy hasn't been that interested, but I wonder when she sees The Mermaid spending some of her hard earned money if that will peak her interest in it more.

How do you teach your kids about money? I'd love to see any charts you use :)

*Sorry for the poor quality of photos, the lighting was terrible.

Teaching Kids About Money

THUD

Yesterday The Tadpole fell down an entire flight of stairs :(

We spent most of the day in the ER, where The Tadpole had to be sedated so he could have a CAT scan. Thankfully he is absolutely fine.

We're all a little exhausted over here, trying to get back on schedule. It's hard to do, though, because I can't seem to stop snuggling with my little man.

THUD

Diva

She is such a little diva.

She makes me laugh every. single. day.
I am so blessed, so lucky to be her mother.

Wordless Wednesday.

Diva