small blog about nice things
vegan, adventurer, lover of chai lattes and winona ryder
You can expect: book reviews, diy tutorials, photos, complaints about the world, and much more

Friday 27 November 2015

Dear Celeste #1

A new segment on my blog, where I post a letter I've written to my friend Celeste. These will be letters I've sent to her as well as letters I've written for her, but will probably not send. I just find them beautiful and I think they allow you to have a look into my daily thoughts. Have a nice day!

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Dear Celeste

Rainy days are beautiful amazing. Not enough people appreciate the wonder that is liquid glass falling from the sky. I feel like if you looked hard enough you could see a million tiny reflections staring back at you in each raindrop. I feel like that could potentially be a beautiful self portrait. Imagine, someone portrayed completely in the reflections of rainfall.

I have become obsessed with the idea of holding claim on a heart that is mine to have and possibly break. I suppose I would just like to have a person that is mine. I wouldn’t say I am largely lonely, so much as I feel that I am missing something. I will catch myself feeling like this at random moments. This happened recently at a show that I went to with a friend. There was a point during the show where I turned around to look at her and realized that we had been separated. Her boyfriend was standing behind her with his arms threaded around her waist and as a mosh pit broke out around me and I stood there, high and alone, I realized how truly pathetic I felt. Sometimes I’m embarrassed by my sudden seeming need for another person to make me feel whole. Why can’t loving myself be enough? I wish I knew what to tell myself. It doesn’t help that I have always been a hopeless romantic. I guess I’m just worried about never finding a person. Someone you can point to and say “that is my person. My heart is theirs to care for. They know how I take my tea and support my sock addiction. They tell me I smell good every day and whenever it rains they make instant ramen and we watch Inspector Gadget reruns. They read John Keats to me and play with my hair because they know I like that. Someday they will probably break my heart but that’s half the thrill. That is my person”.

I don’t really know what to make of my feelings. I am just a teenage girl with messy emotions and a fragile belief in love. Life is ridiculously ridiculous.

I will leave you with one of my favourite lines of John Keats in his love letters to Fanny Brawne:

“For myself I know not how to express my devotion to so fair a form: I want a brighter word than bright, a fairer word than fair. I almost wish we were butterflies and liv’d but three summer days—three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain.”

Is it so bad to want to be loved with this amount of worship?

The world is weird. But our ABBA dance sessions make it all a bit less confusing! V thankful for your friendship,

Cami

Sunday 2 August 2015

Music: Playlist - monsoon

Rainy day music for snuggling under cold sheets and feeling a little bit sad. Sound good?





Wednesday 20 May 2015

Transitioning to HCLF Veganism

Hey guys!

Cami and I are in the midst (me more than Cam really, she was already pretty much there) of transitioning from regular ole vegan to the high carb low fat lifestyle. We'd heard a lot about it for a while and eventually decided to give it a go. We'll keep you updated on how it goes for us, our thoughts, our experience, etc. But for now, just thought we'd give you a heads up.

So far, we've both been doing pretty well. Cami is really working to cut out all overt fats in her diet to help deal with her cystic acne (she'll post about that soon), while I'm sticking to minimum plant based fats and avoiding added oils and salts when possible. If you're wondering what the hell high carb low fat veganism is, don't worry. We'll be writing all about it soon enough!

ALSO - we're going to start making videos!! Exciting, am I right? We'll post them here and on Cami's Youtube account. We'll let you know when those go up.

We've missed posting on here and are excited to be back, though I'm sure that with exams looming, we might not be as frequent posters as we'd like. We'll do our best!

Happy summer!!

C + K

Science and Tech: The Local Food Movement - Is it REALLY Better?

The local food movement has really taken off in the past 10 or so years. It's claimed benefits are driving health and environmentally conscious consumers away from the aisles of their local Loblaws and down the gravelly paths of their neighbourhood Farmer's Market. An Iowa based study, led by Dr. Rich Pirog, found that, on average, produce travelled about 1,500 miles before reaching dinner plates. Conversely, locally sourced food was found to typically travel less than 50 miles from farm to table (Pirog, 2008). Really, the concept of 'eating local' seems pretty common sense. Produce is fresher and riper, local farms are supported, gas emissions from transportation are drastically reduced, and everyone is happier. In fact, a Canadian study estimated that replacing imported food with locally grown/produced items would save nearly 50,000 tons of transport related carbon dioxide emissions - or taking over 15,000 cars off the road for good (World Watch Institute, 2013).



But WHAT is actually local food? Are green peppers grown in Kingston local to us in Ottawa? They're a lot closer than California, that's for sure - but what does that mean? This is one issue with trying to figure out whether or not the green food movement actually is greener - there is no long standing definition of what local food really is. Since the publishing of the '100 Mile Diet' and other such books, 100 miles or just over 150 km is seen as the typical boundary. "A 100-mile radius is large enough to reach beyond a big city and small enough to truly feel local. And it rolls of the tongue much more easily than the 160-kilometer diet" (Alisa Smith, 2009). This seems like a perfectly valid way to think about local food, but it doesn't have much to do with environmental costs and benefits.

Food miles, in some cases, don't actually determine how environmentally friendly the product may be. For example, trains are 10 times more efficient at transporting cargo than freight trucks. So eating potatoes from 100 miles away transporting by truck, or eating potatoes from 1000 miles away transporting by train have pretty much the same amount of emissions. It's also important to note how a foods are grown and what impacts that process may have. Swedes, in fact, are better off eating tomatoes grown in Spain than down the street, because Spanish tomatoes are grown in open air fields, while their own must be grown in fossil fuel heated greenhouses (Annika Carlsson-Kanyama, 2012).

Or maybe not? 

To get a true, comprehensive scope of the environmental impacts caused by our food system, you have to track the greenhouse gas emissions through all phases of the food's production, transportation and consumption. This method was created by two scientists, Weber and Matthews, from Carnegie Mellon University, who coined the process 'life cycle analysis'. They weaved together data from environmental agencies, trucking call sheets, and a variety of other US government sources to discover that the actual transportation accounts for only 11% of the total emissions. The two found that the most emissions actually occur before the food even leaves the 'farm' gate - over 83% of emissions occur from agricultural production (Drs. Weber and Matthews, 2009)!

Another clear pattern that emerges, according to Dr. Garnett from MIT, is that the type of food in question can have a big impact. In fact, the emissions generating from the meat and dairy industries account for more 53% of all food related emissions worldwide (World Watch Institute, 2012) and much more than all transport emissions globally. "Broadly speaking, eating fewer meat and dairy products and consuming more plant foods in their place is probably the single most helpful behavioural shift one can make to reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions" says Garnett. Weber and Matthews point out that even if food miles were reduced to 0 - an almost impossible goal, by the way - this would only reduce emissions by 5 - 11%, but replacing red meat and dairy with fish, eggs, or even chicken one day a week   is the equivalent of saving 760 miles of driving emissions. Even better, replacing meat or dairy with veggies one night a week would be like driving 1, 160 miles less. Wow!

Now, all of that said, let's return to this concept of 'eating local'. What we didn't discuss earlier are some un-food mile related benefits that locavore eating can bring about. Local foods are often seasonal and much less processed, both of which are associated with lower green house gas emissions than conventional foods. Local foods found at farmer's markets or from CSAs are also often organic, which typical is greener, as the emissions produced by the creation, transportation and application of chemical fertilizers are eliminated. Organic food also has some other benefits; less use of toxic anti-pesticides and other chemicals is much easier on ecosystems and encourages greater biodiversity, organic fields require less irrigation (normally). Additionally, local farmers are typically smaller scale and can therefore adopt more sustainable practices to meet market need (Wolfe, 2003). Let's not forget about the relationships and community eating local can foster either - knowing where you food is coming from and meeting the grower face to face is quite remarkable.

As local food is so often discussed only in terms of it's mileage, we tend to forget about it's other benefits - but as Gail Feenstra says (a food analyst at the University of California), a food's carbon footprint "can't be the only measuring stick of environmental sustainability". According to local food advocate Sage Winn, eating local is about "how those [foods] were farmed, how the farm workers were treated" - a sprawling collection of ecological, societal and economic factors combine to form true sustainability (Winn, 2003).

In my opinion, eating local is a pretty cool thing to do. Going vegetarian or vegan, even one night or two a week, is also a fabulous option for reducing your carbon footprint. My Mom and I actually shop at our local farmer's market every Sunday morning - for the yummy foods, the sense of community, and honestly, how much fun it is! As Canadians, going local is a little harder in the winter, when our only 'local' produce are pretty much potatoes and last season's apples!

Wednesday 13 May 2015

Update

Hey folks, it's been a minute!

Kate and I have been extremely busy busting our butts at school. It is exhausting. And emotionally draining. And what I imagine hell to be like, except less fun.

I won't go into the boring details, but let's just say that I am currently not The Universe's biggest fan at the moment. Is it weird that I capitalized The Universe??? I have always been a strong believer in other worldly "powers-that-be" and I mean, what is any more mysterious/magical than da UNIVERSE?! Nothing, that's what.

Speaking of otherworldly, my birthday passed a bit more than a month ago (omg possibly verging on two months, how long have we neglected our poor blog?!) and I got some very celestial, witchy lil play thangs. I've decided I will soon be doing a fashion post regarding modern witch attire a la Cami, as well as a witch-haul/essentials/my journey through Wicca. Ooh and maybe some general fashion lookbooks of what I wear day to day when I'm not a lazy butt. Also I thought it would be cool if I did some style icon posts! Who's down for that?

Anyways, I realize I am crazy ranting, but I am slightly frizzle frazzled and for some reason decided catching all of you peeps up on Kate and I's current life sitch was a good way to beat stress. I can't tell if it's working.

Actually, I will force Kate to do a lil update-y post of her own as I do not want to take responsibility for giving you all the downlow on her life. I would probably sound dumb and make her life sound boring when it is really jammin!

I will however tell you that for school Kate and I have been required to write some blog posts on chemistry related subjects, and just to keep this blog updated I'm thinking we're going to start a new Science and Tech section for all the lovelies out there who like this sort of stuff, just like me n Kate. I think it could be super cool and I know we've put a lot of effort into the posts, so stay tuned for some of those ya'hear?

Alrighty, I am officially tapped out. I must now go and try to do some calculations for chem and quietly weep into my notes. Possibly eat a lime popsicle after as a reward. Actually fuck that, I'm gonna eat it now and then work. I need the motivation.

Ciao babes,

C

Thursday 19 February 2015

Life Post: Self-Care

To me, the words self care sound almost indulgent, over the top. However, I've come to learn that self care is pretty frickin' important and can make or break my day. Whenever I get really stressed with school, overwhelmed with work, or my routine changes in some way, I pretty much give up. I hardly shower, eat mainly chocolate and toast, don't cut or paint my nails, don't moisturize, don't even wash my face, don't hang out with my friends, ignore my family, and sometimes even skip brushing my teeth and hair. I turn into this intense hermit cave-lady who hates everyone (except my pup) and refuses to leave her bedroom. Everything seems SO POINTLESS and I struggle to motivate myself to perform even the most basic of tasks. This past exam period has really made me realize how key it is for me to fight my basic turtle-ing instincts and focus on taking good care of myself, even ramp up my usual routine. Just a heads up - when I say self care, I don't mean stuff like taking saunas and getting acupuncture and doing crazy forms of intense yoga or meditating for 6 hours a day. It's more like the basic things we, like most mammals, need to thrive. Lots of good, nutrient dense food, water, consistent exercise, plenty of sleep, love, time with friends and family, etc. As I said before, these can easily fall by the wayside during busy or stressful times, which only makes things worse.

I've put together a list of the top 4 things that help me feel more solid during intense times. Next exam season or family reunion or crunch-time at work, maybe try giving these a go. The goal here is to keep swimming, not just float (and oftentimes in my case, flail).

1. The basics:
The classics - you know, showering, brushing your teeth and hair, washing your face, sleeping, etc. This may sound obvious, but trust me, once you stop doing 'em for a while, you realize how important they are - and not just on a superficial level.

2. Breathe
There are tons of studies out there that show a clear link between taking some time (even if it's only 5 minutes) to meditate and being smarter, more relaxed, happier, and even healthier. Don't get freaked out by the stereotype of weird chants and uncomfortable positions! I use this cool app called Headspace (highly recommend), where this Scottish/British guy with a remarkably nice accent guides you through the whole thing, starting from Day One. Download the app (it's free) and give it a go. If you can't really see yourself meditating, even taking the time to just focus your breath can be beneficial.

3. Movement
I know, I know, the last thing you have time for is exercise. In fact, I feel like a total poser suggesting this because when I'm busy, exercise is the first to go. But seriously, it can be a total lifesaver. My mood goes up (after the first dreadful 5 minutes) and I ultimately end up being much more productive. Even just a quick walk can do the trick. Force yourself to put down the books, friend, and your body and mind will thank you. I feel like such a yuppie just writing that sentence, but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

4. Date Yo'self
Take your sweet self out for coffee! Take an hour to sit in a warm shop, drink a cozy beverage of your choice, listen to the convos going on around you, and absorb it all. It is so relaxing. Also - hot tip - the ambiant noise in coffee shops is the exact right decibel level or some shit to help you work more efficiently. Oh man, I love spending time in coffee shops. Coming up soon is a guide to the best coffee shops in Ottawa, so keep your eyes peeled.


Good luck with your rough seas!

Love,
Kate






Saturday 7 February 2015

Food: Hippie-Dip Granola

Before the recipe, the news!! Before Christmas, my family adopted a sweet lil pup. He's a Brittany Spaniel, called Junot after my Dad's and I's favourite author, Junot Diaz. (If you haven't read any of his books, check them out!!!) He can be a total terror sometimes, because he's got this boundless energy thing going on, which is so sweet and pure and also sometimes frightening. I love him so much it's kind of ridiculous. There's something about dogs that are is so genuine, it's impossible not to love them. They don't hide their emotions or lie to you or do any of the shitty things humans do. AND THEY ARE SO CUTE.

Here's an old pic of him being a derp and chowing on a soy bone. 

Anyway, he got his rabies shot today and this afternoon his leg got all swollen and he whimpered whenever he tried to stand up and man oh man was it ever heartbreaking. He just kinda wobbled around until we snuggled him into his lil doggie bed underneath the island. We covered him up in a blanket (future over-protective mom right here!!!) and I lay with him until he fell asleep. I'm amazed by how much I love him, already, so fast. Ahhhh!! Here's him as of last week (he's getting so big!!):

Now, granola!



Iconic in it's yuppie connotations, granola nevertheless is one of my favourite snacks. At my old job, I sometimes used to be responsible for breaking up and packaging the restaurant's house granola. I hung out in the little basement bakery by myself, smashing up giant sheets of crispy granola with a rolling pin, with free rein to eat all the bits I wanted. Mmmm, that was the best. That granola used sugar to sweeten however, which I'm trying to avoid in this case, and lots of palm oil, which again, I'm trying to get away from using, after reading about the horrible impacts inflicted on the environment to harvest it (http://www.saynotopalmoil.com/Whats_the_issue.php). So for now, olive oil all the way!




Check out the recipe below. I hope you give it a try!

Hugs,
Kate

A quick note: this is not a clumpy granola. It's looser, and hella crispy (my personal preference), perfect for sprinkling over yoghurt or fruit, or grabbing by the handful.

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats
1 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened, please)
1 cup cooking dates, chopped
2/3 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
2/3 cup pumpkin seeds, roughly chopped
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsps ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg*
1/2 tsp cloves*
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 tsps vanilla

*optional, add if you've got them on hand, but if not, no worries

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line two baking trays with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine all the wet ingredients.
3. In another bowl, combine the dry.
4. Pour the wet into dry, stir until everything is coated. It should look pretty wet still, but that's good! No worries.
5. Using a large spatula, half the mixture over each baking tray, making sure it's smoothed into an even layer.
6. Place in oven, stirring ever 4 - 6 minutes to avoid the edges burning.
7. Bake for around 15 - 20 minutes, depending on the your oven and the vigilance of your stirring.