Goodnight, What Day Was It?

Friday, really? When you are working all the time, you tend to lose track of the days. The days, and weeks, and months all start to meld together in one big clump of work. Luckily, I love what I do, and my life's work has proven that; I have worked on this cause tirelessly for many years. I can go to sleep at night knowing I did good work and feeling like I have served in my life's mission. Service is important. I'd rather give than take, that's what makes me happy. And I am blessed to have found my calling.

However, when you do what I do, you don't get the weekends off. Fridays don't really mean much in terms of getting any time off. Even when I do take vacations, I'm tweeting or blogging it, or searching animal rights news for things to share and get involved in. I'm happy with what I do, but you know what I miss? This...

I miss outside.

I mean, I go outside, I'm not a vampire, but I don't spend nearly as much time outdoors as I would like. Maybe I'm feeling this way because the weather is still wintry, but even then, many of us don't get enough outdoors time. Not like when we were kids. I used to be outside all day long when I was a child. In college, I used to try to convince my professors to hold class outdoors on the lawn, somewhere nice and grassy on campus. Sometimes they listened, but not as much as I wanted. I even campaigned when I was working in the corporate world, to bring our desks outside - the outcome of that was, my bosses thought I was nuts. I told them we'd be more productive, we'd have a more positive outlook - nope, they were against the idea.Why don't people want to be outside anymore?

My goal for the deep spring, I say deep spring because it is far too cold right now in New England, is to bring my laptop outside and work there more. When I'm creating vegan recipes, that isn't always going to work, but I would like to do more writing and photography outside feeling the warm sun on my skin and the cool breeze on my face. I also think we should walk barefoot more often - feel the plush grass beneath our feet and connect with the earth more.

Do you spend a lot of time outside and what are your favorite outdoor activities when you peel yourself away from your desk?

Just When You Think Canadian Seal Hunts Couldn't Get Any Worse

Photo Credit: Huffington Post Living Canada

Just when you think the horrific slaughter of seal in Canada couldn't get any worse, it somehow does. How could it be any worse, you ask? I read an article by Sheryl Fink from the Director of Canadian Wildlife Campaigns at the International Fund for Animal Welfare which just confirms my disgust in the human race. Canada has decided to start the senseless killing of innocent beings seal hunt early this year... during pup nursing season!

Imagine for one moment that you are a mama seal, protecting and nurturing your newborn, nursing and bonding with that child, then a spineless hunter slaughters you both. Even if they can distinguish between the genders and try to only target the males, which is almost impossible to do and trust me they don't care, imagine being that new family and the trauma that comes with other seals being slaughtered. This unimaginably cruel practice must be stopped. First let's voice our outrage on that fact that the very minute protection that wildlife does in fact have, is being ripped away from them. What's next, entire species of animals are just wiped off the earth? Not like that hasn't happened before right? Why are we going in the wrong direction? We should be protecting wildlife and moving away from barbaric acts and start living in the modern civilized times that evolution and technology has afforded us.

Please start by giving Sheryl's article a read. She explains why starting the hunt early is not only more cruel, it won't work for their purpose and it equates to senseless killing - so there's no point to this, Then, contact Canadian officials and Fisheries Minister Dominic Leblanc to voice your concern for the early hunt and this inhumane practice in general. Ask for the abolishment of Canadian seal hunting, once and for all.

Thank you for all your activism! We are winning this fight for equality for ALL.

The Most Rad Vegan Soap, EVER!

So I got this package in the mail. You could smell it from a mile away - not a bad smell at all - it smelled like there was a giant godzilla made entirely out of natural soap lurking around. I checked every corner, nothing. Then I looked down and realized the delicious smell of cleanliness was coming from the box within my hands. Rad Soap Co. I should have known.

Upon opening the box, I noticed the beautiful and thoughtful packaging. Oh, who am I kidding - I noticed the photograph. Pictured is Rad Soap Co. founder Sue Kerber and her hot sons. I'm a marketing expert and I'd like to commend you, Sue; smart move putting those handsome boys in the box.

Then I got distracted and I forgot what I was reviewing here. Oh, yes, of course, the soap. 

This soap smells good, like really truly heavenly. Then I found myself going back to the photo...those are really good looking humans you made there, Sue. Oh, gosh, yes, the soap, let's get back to the soap.

How do you insert the heart eyes emoji into your blog post?

The kind folks at Rad Soap were so kind to send me their Kryptonite and Chaga soap, as well as their Project Hemp Cream. I was so excited by the smells of these soaps, I couldn't wait to try them out!

Chaga has a beautiful sweet smell. It is an antioxidant soap, which I absolutely love, and it is made with wild chaga mushroom. There's also scents of primrose, sweet orange, tangerine, clementine and patchouli. I can see this becoming my go-to soap and it is a perfect way to start the day. This soap reminds me of the way we should all be waking up and getting the day started. Now I'm wondering how anyone ever lived without starting the day with Chaga soap.

Kryptonite is also a skin detox soap with matcha tea, reishi mushroom and tea tree. Amazing ingredients for healing the skin! This is why Sue started the company, to heal her son's eczema, which is really a beautiful and amazing thing. I love companies that have a purpose that's not driven solely by making money - companies fueled by love. I dig it. 

This soap instantly brings me back to childhood. It brought back memories I thought I'd forgotten about. Being outside all day, exploring nature. I smell the trees, grass and leaves in this soap. I slightly smell mushrooms but the kind that you smell among nature on a warm foggy day after the rain has stopped. I smell camping and I smell the times my father would make furniture out of wood and when my grandfather would be cutting wood for the fireplace, while I was a kid outside playing with my brother and cousins. I was suddenly brought back to the home I grew up in, in a small town in Connecticut, by a smell. This was so unexpected. Now I'm wondering what my family would feel smelling this soap, if they'd recall the same memories and feelings that I had. I'll buy them all a bar, it is certainly worth a shot. Beautiful soap - very well done, Rad Co.

Next I rushed to trying the Project Hemp Cream which is the company's first product. My hands are really dry right now because I've been working on my vegan cookbook, doing tons of cooking and food styling, and lots of hand washing; my hands have been dry and uncomfortable. I used a few other creams and they always left my hands burning and getting red afterwards. I was so eager to try Project Hemp Cream because these products are designed specifically to heal and nourish your skin. This package couldn't have arrived at a better time!

WOW! I haven't seen my hands this moisturized in a while! I thought I had to wait for summer for them to get back to normal, I didn't think it would take one application of this scent-free wonder cream! I should have taken before and after pictures.

I'm loving these Rad products, truly! Everything is Vegan, Plant-based, Cruelty-free, Pet-friendly (YES! So when my dog gets sprayed by the same skunk for the millionth time, I can use this soap on her too!), and made by a wonderful (and good-looking) family company. 

When this stash runs out, I will be replenishing my soap and skin care needs with Rad Soap Co. for sure. Thanks so much for sending this to me!

And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. I didn't frame the photo of Sue's sons, what are you talking about... *whistles*

Are YOU a Green Monster? Giveaway!!!

Hi Folks, it is giveaway time! Here's what we are doing.... One Green Planet has some awesome and green Selfie fun happening right now; let's get in on it! I happen to personally know that my readers are the ultimate Green Monsters! I get countless e-mails, tweets, and messages telling me about all of the cool vegan and environmentally-friendly things you all are doing.

#IMAGREENMONSTER because I eat vegan all day, everyday. What do you do that makes you a Green Monster? Share as many times as you like (I will count each selfie that you use #IMAGREENMONSTER as a giveaway entry! Just make sure to tweet to me and tell me that you shared your selfie!), and don't forget to check out the One Green Planet link first, include that link and @OneGreenPlanet in your tweet! You can check out my #IMAGREENMONSTER tweet on Twitter.

In case you don't already know, One Green Planet is an awesome vegan-friendly organization that has a plethora of online resources for eating healthy, helping the environment, saving the world, and so much more! One Green Planet is really a one-stop-shop for all things green; I absolutely love them and what they are doing for our world! Basically, help spread the word about their bad-ass Green Monster campaign, and you may just be the winner that I choose!

So, let's see how many Dirty Vegan readers can share their Green Monster selfies! The winner will get a box of my favorite vegan and environmentally-friendly goodies! I will collect the coolest vegan menagerie of items and ship them right to your door! I will choose and announce the winner on Monday, June 30th.

Get tweeting for a good cause! Spread the word about being a crusader for the environment, in a fun way! And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Plant a tree.

Make Candy Bird's Nests! Kiddo Friendly!

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. -Chinese Proverb

This recipe is so much fun! This is such a great recipe to make with your kiddos, whether you are a parent, teacher, caregiver, babysitter, or a big kid yourself. There are lots of things that your children can help with, like mixing the nests, molding the bird's nests, spreading the chocolate, and decorating with jelly beans. Just be sure that you let your ingredients cool before you or your child start messing with them with your hands. 

Happy Spring 'Peanut Butter & Chocolate Granola Cereal Bird's Nests'

recipes makes 16 nests

What you will need:

• 2 cups granola (I used Nutty Steph's Vermont Granola)
• 2 cups of your favorite cereal (I used Erewhon's Crispy Brown Rice & Trader Joe's O's)
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 cup vegan cane sugar
• 3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter (think about texture when choosing cereal and pb, it makes your nests more beautiful)
• 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips
• splash of almond milk
• About 80 of your favorite vegan jelly beans, about 1/4 of the bag 
• 1 tbsp vegan butter, for hand buttering (I used Earth balance. Great for hand buttering!)
• 1/3 cup measuring cup for molding nests with
• baking sheet lined with parchment paper (I always use If You Care brand)

What you will need to do:

In a large mixing bowl, combine granola and cereal. In a saucepan on low heat, melt maple syrup and cane sugar until smooth, then add peanut butter. Continue mixing until smooth and well combined. Remove from heat and let sit for a few moments so that your mixture is not too hot to handle. Butter your fingers and hands with the vegan butter. Pour sugary peanut butter mixture into your granola and cereal bowl. Mix and mash with your hands until it seems good enough for forming nests with. Take your 1/3 cup measuring cup and scoop some mixture, indent the middle with your finger, packing down into the cup, then tip cup over in the palm of your hand, placing the indent-side up on your parchment paper. Once you make all of your nests, place in the freezer to set while you melt chocolate chips and almond milk in a saucepan on low heat, making a thick ganache and let it cool for a little bit. Decorate the tops of the nests by spreading chocolate on top with a spoon (when ganache is cool enough to work with), and placing jelly beans on top. Place these in the freezer (or refrigerator for longer) for a moment or two to set, then enjoy! You can also color shredded coconut and place these on a serving dish for a pretty presentation. 

Or you can use shredded brussels sprouts for "grass" like I did!

This is also a great opportunity to talk to your children about nature. You can make this a fun activity about nature. If it is a nice day outside, maybe take your nests, chocolate, and jelly beans outside to decorate them on your deck while you look at birds and nature together. Or you may want to talk to your children about birds and tell them some nature facts like, "There are about 9,865 species of birds alive today.". Or, "The largest bird egg produced is by the Ostrich, and it can measure up to 9 inches long.". You may also want to talk to your children about how birds start their families by laying eggs and caring for their babies in their nests once they grow out of the eggs. Starting this respect and understanding for nature early, makes it easier when your children grow and wonder why you don't eat eggs in your household. You can then refer back to your discussions about animals and their lives. Knowledge is power! Talk with your children and you will be surprised on how they will come to their own conclusions about this. In the end, no one really wants to hurt another living being. If you provide alternatives, eating animal products seems like an odd concept and outside of the norm. Making these fun and yummy bird's nests, offers a great chance to have a thoughtful discussion about nature and possibly observe nature while you are doing so. If you are making and decorating these nests indoors, later on you may want to take some outside with you and enjoy them with your child in the park. These can also be a fun Easter dessert. Enjoy!

You Are a Vegan? Why Do You Look So...Normal??

One time I was doing a Dirty Vegan Foods event and I was approach by a gentleman who looked quite confused. His wife was trailing behind him. I thought he was probably going to ask me where the ATM or restroom was located. To my dismay, he wanted to ask me about my veganism. He said, "You are vegan?". I replied, "Yep!". He asked me how long I have been vegan. I answered, "About a decade.". This man looked thoroughly confused. He then proceeded to say, "But...but...you look so, so, healthy. You have color in your face, your eyes look bright, your hair is shiny and bouncy, and you are not skin and bones!". So to break the ice I said, "Well I am an Italian vegan...I don't particularly shy away from food", and we laughed. Now after breaking the ice, I knew there would be questions. I answered all his burning questions about veganism. Where do we get our protein from? Lentils, tofu, beans, soy products, quinoa, nuts, seeds, and many vegetables contain high amounts of protein, such as peas. I told him how I practically slather all my food in Braggs Liquid Aminos, which contains 16 out of the 20 essential amino acids that your body needs to function well. I told him that I take a daily vegan multi-vitamin, although I don't have to, all my food is nutrient rich and my vegan milks are enriched with vitamins and minerals. He was an overweight man and so was his wife, and they couldn't believe that our vegan sweets could taste so delicious and be cholesterol, trans-fat, preservative, and artificial free. They wanted to know more about my lifestyle and were now interested in veganism for their own lives.

I am glad that I met that man and his wife. I'm happy to have answered their questions in a non-defensive manner, even though he came off a little unwilling. Being approachable is something that being vegan for a long time has taught me. See, at first I was a vegan warrior...I still am, but in a different way. I used to approach people in a defensive way like, "Do you know what you are eating right now, that is a dead baby chicken, are you out of your mind?!?! Murderer!!!". And guess how many people I turned vegetarian back then. You guessed it. Zero. Now, everyone I meet wants to be vegan. I lead by example now. But I never withhold the information and facts. I tell it like it is; statistics ready to slip off my tongue at any moment, but I have learned a special way to approach the issue and answer people's questions. I notice that people approach me rather defensively, and not the other way around (you know the old stereotype about how us vegans supposedly act), and I always manage to change their mind and make a new friend. No matter who they are, people want to be that beautiful, happy, healthy person. Since becoming vegan, I am all those things. I float around with happiness in my heart and it radiates out. Every problem or issue is minor when it used to seem so major. I can sleep at night knowing I did a good day's work and didn't contribute to another's misery. I attribute this feeling of peace to my veganism. I no longer consume an animal or an animal's products, in which that animal was held against his or her will, abused, tortured, and then killed. That animal either fought for it's life or was too sick and weak to do so. That animal was most certainly scared and didn't deserve this life. That animal was a child to a mother.

Before I was living a plant-based lifestyle, I would often be sad, or anxious, or upset, or even mad...for no reason at all. Do I think that was directly affected by my diet? Absolutely. As I was transitioning from vegetarian to vegan, I paid attention to what I ate and how I lived my life. I also paid attention to how I felt and what happened in my world. Back when I even ate a little honey, I felt frenzied and on edge. When I became full vegan in everything that I did, I sat back afterwards and realized that I felt better. I became vegan for the animals, and the bees, and the bugs...then my heart and soul became happy and light. If I didn't believe in karma, I sure believe in it now. Karma has affected me first hand and I get some good karma returned to me regularly.

I was able to have a really nice and pleasant conversation with that reluctant man and his wife and completely change their minds about veganism. In a not-preachy-whatsoever way, I was able to convince them to consider a plant-based lifestyle, just by chatting and by them observing ME. So YOU should lead by example too. If you are a nasty vegan, people will think veganism is mean and nasty too. If you are an open and welcoming vegan, people will be drawn to you and the vegan lifestyle. So give it a try; try to infect everyone you meet with happiness and positive vibes! They may just go vegan!

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Has Your Pup Been Skunked?

Help! My pup has been skunked! 

Recently I was saying, "Help! Shirley Girl has been skunked!". She is very curious of the wildlife that come visiting our yard. Needless to say, she stuck her nose where it really did not belong, and got sprayed by a skunk. Here is the recipe I used to bathe the stench off of my sad pup. I say sad, because after she got sprayed by Pepe, she was sad until we got her smelling like her normal self, understandably so.

Dog De-Skunkin' Bath Recipe

-1/4 cup baking soda

-dollop of puppy shampoo

-10 hyrodgen peroxide wipes/ or a few cups of 3% peroxide

Do not mix this stuff in a bottle! This will explode! You have been warned. Get your pup into a warm bathtub full of water and mix these ingredients into the tub. Scrub the stench off of your dog. Dry your dog and repeat if necessary. A little dab of white vinegar also works on a cotton ball afterwards and applied to the fur if smell is concentrated in one spot. This was the case for Shirley. Also, if your house stinks like this strong pungent smell, even after cleaning it up, fill up glass bowls full of white vinegar and place one in each room. Overnight should do, but longer if the smell lingers. The vinegar absorbs foul odors.

Please understand that this advice is not in place of veterinarian advice, this is just what I used on my Shirley and what worked for us. Please use these tips at your own risk.

They also sell skunk bath products for your dog and some groomers have de-skunking services available. Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? What did you do?

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Two More Chain Restaurants With Serious Veg-Friendliness

Recently, I dined at two chain restaurants that really impressed me with their veg-friendliness. The first is Rainforest Cafe, which really is a fun place to eat and shop! I really love all the mechanical animals that are moving around as you eat; it is like you are in a jungle! If you look up, you will see stars and periodically a shooting star will go zooming by, which I think is really cool. Also, every so often a storm will happen where the lights flicker, resembling lightening, and you'll hear thunder and see the animals moving around. The Rainforest Cafe that I dined at was in Burlington, MA and had a cool waterfall inside. Each one is slightly different, Burlington had a mechanical alligator in the entry that moves about, and the decor is really fun.

The service was amazing! I called ahead to ensure a vegan dish was available. The server Dan was amazing, I couldn't dream up a nicer person, and Chef Paul was the best! They both took the time to talk with us to ensure we'd get to enjoy a truly vegan meal. Chef Paul was so excited to be able to put his culinary skills to the test, and had such great knowledge about vegan diet. He is the Head Chef and still took the time to come to our table twice, once to talk with us about what he was about to make, and twice to see how we liked it. What a cool experience! 

Special Rainforest Cafe vegan nachos to start!

Chef Paul also made an awesome grilled veggie wrap that came with Safari Fries! The wrap had so many different veggies in it like fresh spinach, avocado, peppers, onions, and zucchini. It looked so great that I ate it so fast and forgot to take a picture! I thought to take one once it was already in my belly! So yummy; compliments to Chef Paul!

The second restaurant we enjoyed eating at was P.F. Chang's China Bistro. I was excited to be able to review and dine at the Providence, RI opening weekend. This was my first time at P.F. Chang's. They have an entire vegetarian menu, but I was really impressed with the restaurant's partner Brian for coming by our table to tell me that everything contains sugar, and that he is almost positive its a bone char processed/ containing sugar, and he can substitute the sugar for a vegan cane sugar or agave nectar for me. That right there was damn impressive and told me that Brian knows a lot about food and the vegan diet. The decor was modern and contemporary. The service was wonderful, especially since it was a crazy-busy Saturday night on their grand opening weekend. We had a great time and our server was so funny! We had a lot of fun joking with her and felt like we knew her forever. You know someone is an experienced server when you feel like they are one of your pals.

P.F. Chang's Ma Po Tofu and you get to choose white or brown rice; I chose brown rice!

For a starter, we had the Chang's Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps that they made vegan by using the same sauce as in the Ma Po Tofu. The wraps were very tasty and had little cubes of tofu in them. Those also went right into my belly, too quickly to even snap a photo of them!

As you can see in this post and in so many of my previous restaurant reviews labeled under "Review", dining out as a vegan is quite easy. I've never had a problem dining out, no matter what type of restaurant, no matter what veggie dishes they do or don't have on the menu. This is why it baffles me when people say they are or have been vegetarians with dining out issues. I find decent to amazing vegan food at any type of eatery, no matter where I go. All you really have to do is ask. And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off! While dreaming of Safari Fries! Tootles!

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Take a Walk on the Wild Side!

"Art may imitate wild nature; less often does it dare to place itself in the midst of it, and when it does, it may come out second best." -John Hart

One of my pals

When we moved from the city to the country, I had one condition - the next place we would live must be just like camping. The scenery looked just right and I was pleased to see wild bunnies upon moving in. I got more than I bargained for, but I couldn't be happier. Here is a look at the crazy critters that live in our trees, shrubs, bushes, and even underground in the neighborhood. I call them my friends.

Chipmunk. I see this little one and his/ or her mama all the time.

Squirrel eating some food.

I call this squirrel Donut. I know I'm not supposed to have favorites, but I do. We have a bond.

Can you spot the little birdy?

Please, please National Geographic, stop calling me for this picture. Just kidding.

I thought it was funny that this bird likes to sit on St. Francis's head. And ironic too.

"We don't communicate through words, but yet the time I spend observing wildlife, is the best conversation."

-the Dirty Vegan (that's me)

Another shot of this gorgeous bird sitting atop St. Francis. Look at the pretty coloring, feathers, and tail. Again, NatGeo, I'm all booked up! Gosh!

Bird scoping out the seed situation.

Two birds singing.

Uh oh, they caught me! I'm like the Critterazzi!

Two squirrels foraging.

We think this handsome darling is a woodchuck!

One of the resident bunnies. There are a few of them that live in the neighborhood. One was abandoned because its mother was killed by probably a cat, so I introduced the baby bunny to a mother bunny who gave birth and made an underground nest in our yard. Luckily, the mother accepted the abandoned baby, and now it is alive and healthy (and pretty big now - juvenile size). That very same bunny can be seen laying in patches of grass in various yards and also hanging out with another bunny of similar age.

It was funny when we accidentally discovered the nest, my husband was mowing the lawn, went over a patch of overgrown grass, and saw a bunch of bunnies pop their heads up out of a hole. It was funny to see a bunch of babies that looked the same and then this different looking wild bunny that Mama Bunny decided to care for. I'm grateful she did.

Funny, Mama was always so large, I thought sheesh this bunny looks more like a giant cat! Then she didn't come around for a bit. Next time I saw her, she was noticeably smaller. It finally dawned on me that this large rabbit was not overweight, just very pregnant!

Note: Its best to just observe wildlife; you should not feed wild animals. I never do while hiking, and during camping animals will only get what we happen to drop and not end up picking up. We don't want to mess with their natural ability to forage and survive. These animals live in the yards in our neighborhood. They reside here and procreate here. So our little community is all that they've ever known. If you've ever been to Boston or NYC and have seen the squirrels in the parks there, you will know exactly what I mean. You know when your strolling along and these squirrels just come right up to you? It is kind of like the Enchanted Forrest where I live. Or Disney World, except here we have to clean up after ourselves, no magical brooms. But I still do not get too friendly with my wild animal pals. I do not want them to trust people, because there are people out there that might be mean to them. Also, I put out bird seed, bird baths, fountains, and Apple Feeders only) especially now since Shirley got sprayed by one of the resident skunks, which I am told by neighbors is old and has been around many years carrying on his evening ritual of visiting yards at 8:00 pm. We have rescheduled Shirley's bathroom visits and no leaving out trash or sweets; skunks are known to have a sweet tooth. In addition to skunks, we have been visited by raccoon, possum, so many wonderful birds (ducks too and even an owl!), and bats too! I also love to observe the insects; I love to watch the dragonflies dance. Dragonflies do not fly their entire life. They fly for only a period of their life, usually brief. That is why when you see a dragonfly, they normally do not take breaks - they fly, fly, fly with not a care in the world. If only everyone could see that life is too short, so the time you do have to fly, go for it, fun and breezy, and don't sweat the small stuff. And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. 

"Want to know a secret? Promise not to tell? We are standing by a wishing well. Make a wish into the well, that's all you have to do. And if you hear it echoing, your wish will soon come true." -Snow White


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Cat Talk: Claws, Litter, and Fur Shedding

Today I'm going to address three topics that are common among cat parents, including myself, with some simple solutions or ideas on how to keep the whole family in balance at the same time.

Simon making his Puss In Boots face!

Claws

When we rescued Simon a few years back, he had a problem with little Rocky. I talked about it in a Previous Cat Talk Post. At that time, Simon was attacking Rocky and it even resulted in some scratches. In fear of Simon ripping Rocky's eye out, kitty received regular nail trimmings and SoftClaw applications. Since this past winter, peace has been restored in the house, no more SoftClaws for Simon, and he now just gets regular nail trims. He no longer attacks Rocky, but not because he fell in love with him, its because we rescued Shirley, a dog who wouldn't stand for anyone being mean to anyone else in her pack. 

Shirley saves the day!

There are many other instances where your cat child may be causing doom and gloom with her claws. Many cats kneed on furniture or even scratch up the entire house. It is also not uncommon in the world of rescuing animals, to encounter feral or non-feral cats who just want to claw the crap out of you! Declawing is NEVER the answer. SoftClaws and similar nail covers is a better and more humane alternative. Thankfully it was temporary in my household and since, the canines and felines created their own boundaries and territories. I really didn't have to do too much there. However, if your fur children aren't making their own space and separating themselves, you may want to create a space for each, in which they feel comfortable and safe. It takes time and is trial and error, but eventually peace should be restored. Offering scratching posts, lots of toys and play/ stimulation, is also always a great idea.

Litter

There are always issues when it comes to litter. The mess, the strong fragrance, the way your cat reacts to litter, if your cat favors a particular brand or not, and so on. There is also the potential harm to your cat's health and the environmental impact to think about. A lot of clay-based litters that contain perfumes and other chemicals are risky for cats, especially since cats are such keen groomers and are prone to ingesting these chemicals. Alternatives are fragrance free litters or natural pellet and pine litters. I've heard a rumor that the small natural company that owns Feline Pine, has been bought by Arm & Hammer. I am still researching this, but if this is true and A&H is still testing in animals, then obviously Feline Pine would not be a vegan-friendly recommendation  However there are many other natural litters available, and other pine products. Another perk of using clay-free litters is that you don't have that dust cloud when you are pouring litter into the box. That is kind of gross.

Fur Shedding

Whether your cat child is a short haired breed or long haired breed, chances are you're dealing with fur everywhere. Embedded in your rugs, on your furniture and clothing, and even clumps slowly breezing by like tiny tumbleweeds. Well, regular brushings help keep everything under control, and also will create a bond between you and kitty. Also, some groomers have a brush that trims a little while it brushes, if your cat is very fury. For rugs and such, I notice that a hard bristle broom (plastic bristles work great) will get the hair unstuck. Just sweep as usual, applying firm pressure to your rug and sweep into a dustpan. You may also want to use a small handheld sweeper. I usually take Simon's fur from the rugs and brushes and put them outside in the yard for the wildlife to make nests with. Its always funny to see nests made with an array of materials, including your cat's old rug fur! It must keep the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and other wildlife nice and warm in the fall and winter months. Not to mention it must make a soft and comfortable home for them.

Do you have any neat animal companion tips or stories?

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The Path I'm Taking...

Okay, so I just got a generous package of goodies sent to me from Nature's Path (thank you!!!)...and I'm embarrassed to say I've completely wolfed through the entire stash (okay maybe I'm not so embarrassed, I am the Dirty Vegan after-all. Did you expect anything different?). 

I've been a Nature's Path Organic fan for years now. I love a vegan-friendly cereal that has no dairy products or honey in it! Hello, Organic Flax Plus Multi-Bran! Nature's Path makes other vegan-friendly foods as well (bars, waffles, etc.). Here is what I think of the new NP products I've just tried for the first time...

Hemp Plus Granola - I love a granola cereal that is 3/4 cup per serving!!! Calories are good, fat is all healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated, protein is 6g per serving (great for cereal/ granola!), lower sugar, has iron...and I haven't even gotten to the taste! This box only lasted a couple days between my husband and myself. This stuff is ridiculous tasty! What can I say, vegans love their granola, and their hemp...

Crunchy Maple Sunrise cereal (gluten free) - The taste of this cereal is crunchy, fun, and totally reminds me of camping and autumn for some reason. For that, I am hooked on this - my new breakfast staple. It's got potassium (add banana slices and you'll have even more), quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth, fiber, whole grains, Omega-3, and other good-for-you ingredients (while tasting like a dessert cereal). And its even gluten free; too cool.

Mesa Sunrise cereal (gluten free) - This cereal is healthy cereal at its finest, and tastes really amazing for something so healthy for you. This cereal will get your metabolism revved up with body fuel like flax, corn, and amaranth. Sodium and sugar are real low in this too, which would make this my go-to cereal the next day after being maybe a little too Naughty (is there even such a thing?).

Trailmix Granola Bars - I'm in love with these bars! Best bar I've ever had! Its not a protein bar, so don't expect that. These are trail mix granola bars. Some have more protein than others. I think this is the perfect snack. Incredibly yummy, not heavy or junky, and the Pumpkin-N-Spice reminds me of camping and autumn - two of my favorite things. 

Any food that reminds me of good times like that is definitely a keeper. Remember, food is very emotional and significant. Food is fuel, keeps you alive, can represent family or friends, can heal, can bring back memories, can bring people together, can comfort, can nourish, can break the ice...and so on. I think Nature's Path Organic nailed it all. Wholesome food that also fits into people's lifestyles. I'm more of a fan than I was before (and before I was a big fan, so now I'm a MEGA FAN!).


I would also like to note that Nature's Path uses a lot of wholesome ingredients such as: ancient grains, hemp, quinoa, buckwheat, flax, and more  - all organic. And I love their eco-packaging, called EnviroBox ("Less Package. More Sustainable") and they also do Eco Pacs for products like Mesa Sunrise! They also are the makers of EnviroKids cereals and snacks (oh, don't pretend you don't eat em'...you know you do! I do...kid at heart!).

Thank you NP for making awesome products! Keep on keepin' on! And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Wishing your next meal brings you joy, great memories, smiles, and good health!

The Dirty Vegan Favorite!

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Wildlife-Friendly Gardening

"Adopt the pace of Nature: her secret is patience." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Garlic has been a well-known natural way to keep away unwanted insects. Maybe you like to observe insects in their habitat like I do, but realize that the two of you don't quite mingle well. Their way of life might destroy your home. They don't do it on purpose, it is instinctual. Garlic can keep away bugs and other wildlife from your home or gardens. I also hear they keep vampires away too (unless they are the Twilight kind, then you might want to find ways to attract them - wink, wink).

Speaking of coexisting with wildlife and attraction, bees are one of those buggers that are doing such a brilliant instinctual job at their tasks that they can be pretty damaging to a home, or on rare occasions, dangerous to us. There are so many species of bees that if I were to talk about this all today, it would be very lengthy, maybe even novel-size. Briefly, some species of bees, wasps, hornets, etc. are friendlier than others. Also, some are considered scavengers (living mostly alone or few together and just looking for food) while others are considered territorial (forming large colonies, protecting queens, and if anyone gets in their way, they can be aggressive - especially if threatened). The best way to keep bees from building hives in your hive is to maintain your home and plug up any little holes or crevices on the outside of the home. This will also prevent them from getting inside. Another great idea is to plant bee friendly plants that will attract those bees to another part of your yard, preferably furthest away from your home. Basically, make your dwelling undesirable to them and make another area more habitable for bees. Bees are very important for pollination and to our environment. Not only would killing them be sad, it also contributes to the scarily dwindling bee population - which is a problem. Everyone can live happily, it just takes some thought and a little effort. The karma you will receive for being kind to all wildlife will be great. Also, the outdoors is their home - be respectful of that.

Other wildlife that are absolutely stunning but can practically inhale your plant-life are bunnies and other ground critters. They will get into your lettuce, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes - pretty much all vegetables besides onions. I've yet to see bunnies eat onions (as onions are also used to repel), but I'm sure some critters like them. A trick to help solve this is planting vegetables in pots high off the ground. Your bunnies will not climb up on them and you can take them inside during frost. You can buy a plant ladder or make one yourself. A neat idea I saw in a magazine recently takes a wooden step ladder, securing planks of wood across the steps, painting it a super-cute color, and placing your pots on them. Note this will not help if you have gracious deers visiting your yard. A very high fence might help with that, but please know that deer can jump over high fences. To be honest, I love seeing wildlife and enjoy them in our environment - I don't do too much to keep them away! I will be deterring the bees with some rose bushes in the far yard. I will also be trying the potted plants, like herbs or grape tomatoes in recycled and decorated pots on the step ladder. Once the tomatoes get too large for pots, I might give them to a city friend who gardens or just plant them in my yard and let our wild bunny pals have their day. 

Enjoy wildlife, enjoy your garden and nature. And have a honeysuckle sweet kind of day!

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