OH BABY!!!

I'm PREGNANT!!!!! WOW! I still can't believe it!
I can't say we were exactly trying to get pregnant right now. Dave and I just opened a coffee shop 2 months ago and I've been working 15/16 hour days. I guess you could say that we weren't exactly not trying either. I think if left up to our own planning skills we would surely have waited another year... or longer...BUT, it seems this tiny life had a plan of it's own. CHRISTMAS!!!! Seriously! C'mon Kid! You're gonna have to share your birthday with the biggest Birthday spotlight stealer of all time! Jesus! Conceived on Easter and born on Christmas. I might have a mini disciple on my hands! Uh-OH! ;>
THAT BEING SAID...
WE ARE SO HAPPY! SO EXCITED! I don't care what day of the year my water breaks! "Mom, could you pass the Yule Log... and a roll of Brawny! My water just broke!!! EEEEK! Just the thought of things like water gushing from my nether regions and things I've heard about like "mucus plugs" makes me squirm. It hasn't really sank in yet that I will be feeding something from my boobs. I'm really more accustomed to plate art and garnishing when I feed others. This whole thing is going to be the ultimate challenge of my entire life. I wasn't thinking about babies or getting pregnant at all. I've just been too crazy with running a business. I love children and have always thought I would have them someday, but with every year that passed I just thought I could wait a while longer... now I'm 35. I'm considered high risk! I don't feel high risk. I feel alive! I felt instantly protective of this mini being growing inside me from the second I found out. I want to eat healthy and A LOT!!!! I've been a vegetarian for many years now and I haven't craved meat at all other than an occasional pang for crispy bacon. I admit I used to LOVE bacon. Thank SOY for Facon! I love that stuff! I am concerned with everything I eat now. I just want everything I ingest to have a nutritional benefit. Should I eat meat while I'm pregnant? I have been asking myself that. Am I truly missing out on some B vitamins and proteins that I can't easily get from other vegetarian sources??? My good friend Amanda, a long time vegetarian, just had a son recently. She gave me this advice: if you are craving meat you should eat it. If it disgusts you then you shouldn't. I think she's right. I eat a lot of nuts and beans and other things that can fulfill my protein needs. I'm not so worried. I ate some of my boyfriend's Italian sub tonight at dinner. It was ok. it didn't make me wretch or anything but I certainly have no desire to try that again. EVER! I'm going to read up on vegetarian pregnancy and ask my other good friend Shaun what she has to say on the matter. She has been a vegetarian for over half her life and didn't eat any meat during either of her pregnancies. Her children are super healthy and super smart. I think if I do have a hankering for meat, I'll buy some free range organic turkey and go that route rather than just trying to chow into a nasty Italian sub from the local pizzeria. THAT was a mistake!!! I'd love to hear your opinions on a vegetarian pregnancy and also raising a vegetarian child.

I have a lot to learn, a lot to accept, a lot to teach and a ton to love. I can honestly say I've never fallen so hard and so fast in love before which is crazy since he/she is just a miniature weird looking sesame seed with arm "buds" right now.
It's a pretty amazing feeling to know that I am now two.

Oh BABY,

Mary and Mary Junior (Due Christmas 2010)

HB 281 and HB 285

I spent this morning working with the Humane Society in Richmond at the General Assembly Building lobbying for increased animal cruelty penalties. We arrived at 10:00 for a quick overview. I was under the assumption we were going to be helping promote a bill written to protect abused hunting dogs. Sadly, we were told that that bill has been pushed back but it will hopefully be ready for next session. Apparently, since hunting is such a controversial topic, especially in Virginia, there needs to be further rewrites and further work done to secure a bill that will pass with out being killed by the first committee.
Today we went office to office talking to our representatives about HB 281 and HB 285.

HB 281: Violations of minimal animal care standards would be increased from a Class 4 to Class 2 misdemeanor.
The penalty for abandoning an animal would be increased from a Class 3 to a Class 2 misdemeanor.

HB 285: Allows courts to issue a protective order prohibiting harm to a companion animal when a child or family is being threatened.

Both bills were edited and amended substantially just before this morning to keep them from seeming too extreme.

It baffles me that animal cruelty is only punishable by a slight slap on the hand fine, and that animal well fare advocates have to fight so hard for the slightest changes to be made to protect animals. I do realize positive things have happened regarding animals in recent years but there are still so many areas that need to be brought to light.

I spoke to Lashrecse Jones, assistant to Delegate Dance who represents Petersburg, at length about what I have been witness to as a property manager, and in the area. I often call animal control to report chained dogs with no water, food, or shelter left out in harsh weather. Ms. Jones was very interested and seemed to be in favor of HB 281 and HB 185.
I also spoke to Jessica Bowman, assistant to Delegate Lewis who represents the Eastern Shore of Virginia where I grew up. She said she knew of the bill but did not say how she felt about the issues.

I feel like my presence at the Assembly Building today was such a small effort but that the importance of speaking out is great.
The most important thing we can do as animal defenders is keep our eyes and our mouths open. Please, always report animal abuse. We must be the voice for our furry friends. They can't call for help, or show up to Lobby.

I'm looking forward to lobbying next session on behalf of hound dogs! If you are interested in helping out or if you have any questions please let me know.

Thanks so much for all the work you fellow animal lovers do!
Here's a little video in memory of Bonesy Jonesy the beloved hound dog I took in last year. When I found him he was nearly starved but soon fattened up and was crazy for attention and love.

Fun Vegan Fall Frocks

Don't forget all the little animals when you're shopping for Fall and Winter! There are oodles of cruelty free stylish faux fur and faux leather alternatives available!
:>

Check out these finds:
All Vegan...

Life's Water

I'm fascinated by spirits, cocktails, and mixology; and not just because I like to drink. The stories and histories of alcohol are just as intoxicating as a night out on the town with my girlz. I can just imagine standing in an old barn, cellar, stone hearth kitchen, back woods clearing, or even a cave, staring at a pile of corn, potatoes, grapes, herbs, whatever, trying to figure out how to transform produce into a magical elixir. Elixirs meant to soothe ailing bones, rotting teeth, or a burdened mind! The whole process seems a bit crazy, fermenting and straining, aging and flavoring to refinement. All over the world spirits were being born without written recipes, immaculate stills, bottling machines, or even printed labels. How did anyone know what the hell they were drinking? How did they know it wouldn't kill them? Our beverage crazed forefathers were imbibing mad scientists! But truly, the heros of alcohol are the mixologists. The art of taking those raw spirits and blending them with fruit muddles, syrups, herbs, or other spirits to indulge us all, is what keeps this liquor love affair alive. I'm pretty sure most folks use ambosol or just see the dentist if they have a tooth ache these days. We drink for enjoyment, most of us anyway.

My best friend Kate recently brought me a bottle of Linie brand Aquavit from a trip she took to Sweden. Aquavit is a slightly licorice flavored spirit made in Scandinavia. Linie, which means equator, sends it's batches voyaging on ships to cross the equator twice in sherry casks, enduring changing temperatures and humidity, and the jostling of waves, all to tint Aquavit its' signature amber color. Now that's creative dedication! Sending your booze on a cruise half way around the world to perfect it has to be the real definition of a booze cruise.

Stories abound. The next time you're at a bar or in the ABC store try something you've never heard of, read it's label, google it. You're most likely to learn a little something! Not everything about alcohol will kill your brain cells.

Failed Veganism

I have not been able to kick the dairy for more than 2 weeks straight at a time. I start the week out on a good vegan diet and inevitably someone wants to order pizza and I always eat a slice. That opens the door for cheese and crackers at get-togethers and caprese salads etc. I've done really well baking without dairy all summer long. I have even managed to give up my former favorite food, REAL BUTTER, on everything, for Earth Balance Spread. I just can't seem to turn down the dairy in social settings.
I'm about 90% dairy free now which is better than before, but I still just wanted to do it, the whole vegan diet, for good you know. I'm not giving up. I say that thinking "what am I not giving up on" dairy, or becoming a vegan? We'll see which one wins. I'll report back in a few months. My cellophane cheese wrappers go off to all you hardcore vegans! You have some major taste bud will power!

Tiramisu Cupcakes from "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World"

I want to share my favorite vegan desert recipe with you. You have to try these extra delectable Tiramisu Cupcakes from "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World"
I really love "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World"! One of the reasons I love this cookbook so much is that I can tell that Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero really experimented with the recipes. They make special problem solving notes through out. For example: I made a very similar vegan cream cheese icing for a cake recently; the icing came out runny with little chunks in it. Moskowitz and Romero surely must have had this problem before too! They note that you should always let your icing ingredients warm to room temperature before mixing them. I did that and the (no)cream cheese icing turned out perfectly and delicious.

Here's the recipe. Experiment and have fun. I had to leave the cocoa powder out because of my allergy and they were still the bomb-diggity! I highly recommend just buying the cookbook for more great cupcake recipes.

Vegan Tiramisu Cupcakes:


1/4 cup nonhydrogogenated margarine (softened)
1/4 cup vegan cream cheese (softened)
2 cups of confectioners' sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Second! Prepare the cupcake batter. You will need:

1 cup soy milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar mix vinegar and soy milk together and let sit to curdle for about 10 minutes
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour mix your dry ingredients together with a fork and set aside
2 tbsp cornstarch
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup canola oil mix wet ingredients in a mixer for a few minutes and then add dry ingredients a bit at the time
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract


Third: Prepare your soaking liquid
1/3 cup espresso or strong coffee
1/3 cup Kahlua or other coffee flavored liqueur


Save for last to sprinkle over cupcakes and garnish:
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
12 chocolate covered coffee beans or chocolate chips


Mix your icing and put it in the frig.
Mix your batter and bake it for 22 minutes at 350 in cupcake papers
Let your cupcakes cool
Cut a little cone shape of the top of the cupcake and save it
Pour about 2 tablespoons of Kahlua in to the divot you cut in your cupcake top and let it soak in
Fill the divot with icing and then swirl some up on top
Dip the little cone shaped piece of cup cake you cut out in to the Kahlua mixture then place it on top of the icing
Put another little dollop of icing on top of that, then dust with cocoa, cinnamon, and add coffee beans and chocolate chips.

Serve right away! You might want to make a double batch once you've mastered this one. They go fast!

Food, Inc.

I just saw Food, Inc. the very informative movie about where our food really comes from. Food, Inc. does an excellent job of unveiling the facts about the so called farms that bring meat, dairy, corn, and soy products to our dinner table. The majority of these so called "farms" are actually mass production factories. Little or no concern is given to the well being of animals being raised at these giant agribusinesses. Even if you are not an animal activist you will be shocked by the inhumane treatment. The use of ammonia and antibiotics, and pesticides, and genetically modified organisms in commercial foods will send you straight to your local organic farmers market or whole foods store. I learned a lot from Food, Inc. I didn't realize that 90% of soybeans grown in this country are genetically modified and protected by a patten put in place by the huge chemical company Monsanto! It's appalling what has happened to farmers across America because of this. You've gotta see this movie! If you eat, you should know the facts!
I saw it at the new Bowtie Cinema in Richmond, VA. It's a great theater. The tickets were expensive, $9.50!! I looked around the sold out show to see 225 people who definitely appeared to already be folks who knew a lot about the subject and who were already probably doing their parts to make changes by either choosing vegetarianism, veganism, or being whole foods advocates. This struck me as a classic "the church preaching to the choir" scenario. I think this film and others like it, Fresh, Fast Food Nation, all need to reach the masses, especially those who can't afford to pay $9.50 to get in. I asked a woman who was on the panel of experts invited to answer questions after the screening if she knew if the film would be shown at a discount anywhere. She did mention that her organization wanted to show it for free after it ran it's course in the theaters. That's good. I checked online and found out that Chipoltle's across the country are also showing Food, Inc. for free! This is great! Below I've posted some links with more info.
Food, Inc. is an excellent resource. Plus the film features one of America's best organic and free range farmers, Joel Salatin, of Polyface Farms, in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.


I could write an essay on this subject but instead I'll just leave you with these links. See the movie, do your own research, and be a part of the solution to the problems by demanding better products by making conscientious purchases and sharing your discoveries with others! :> All of us can help make this world a better place for ourselves, others, the animals, and environment by just refusing to be kept in the dark!

Thanks,

Mary

Food, Inc. Official Website: http://www.foodincmovie.com/about-the-film.php

Polyface Farm

Free screenings of Food, Inc

Bowtie Cinema Richmond, VA