Vegan, Chickens and Whidbey

I am totally biased, but how sweet is this guy?!?! Melts my heart. 

How about some random's since I have been really bad about updating lately - I am getting really good at posting pictures but the meat is lacking. I guess I can only do one well at a time :)

We are thinking about getting chickens. Yes chickens. Ok, we aren't thinking about it, we are getting them - we just need to build the coup. A few thoughts about chickens. Yummy farm fresh eggs. And how about an amazing learning op for Bear!

Now, Nick wants to call me a Cheagen or a Veager (they are words that combine Vegan and Cheater) but I am thinking I am going to give veganism (ish) a try. The ish is because I am not really going to be vegan

I am already Dairy free and I am going to try to go meat free for a month. Here is where the cheat comes in. I'm keeping eggs and I am keeping wild fish. I'm still full time breastfeeding so really, I need the Vitamin A and B12 that I get from these foods. Yes, I supplement with vitamins, but I think these nutrients are important. I feel so good dairy free so I want to just give it a try. 

Bear and I spent the weekend up in Oak Harbor, WA on Whidbey Island with auntie Amanda! Bear loves her! It was stormy and she has an amazing view from her living room of the Puget Sound and it was so fun to hole up inside and watch the wind tear at the trees and make white caps in the sea. 

Cozy. Fun. Good conversation. And Bear slept the WHOLE 5.5 hour drive home (woke up 6 miles from home screaming because he was hungry :(

Going Vegan - On my body that is

I was giving Bear a bath last night. We have 2 soaps we use on him. 

Aveeno

and

Earth Mama Angel Baby

I was glancing at the Earth wash and it had a little picture of a bunny - the one that means cruelty free. That got me curious so I checked the back of the Aveeno bottle but there was no picture of a cute little bunny. I googled it and it turns out, Aveeno is Johnson and Johnson and it is tested on animals. 

Humph. 

There is just something slightly icky about that. So I figured, once the Aveeno is gone, we won't buy more, we will stick with our Earth wash which we love anyway :) 

But then I started researching. There is cruelty free for products and then there is vegan. 

What's the difference?

Cruelty free means no testing on animals or cruel treatment of animals by the company that makes the product. 

Vegan means no animal products (think crushed up bugs to make the pigment in your lip stain - Gross)

So while I won't be throwing out my products because honestly, I already bought them, I have them and I am not going to be wasteful, I am making the pledge to purchase Vegan cruelty free products for my body in the future. Now the worst part about this is having to hope that they have good Shampoo and Conditioner...I have very testy hair. 

There is one company that I am super sad about losing. Keihls (L'Oreal). Boo. 

But being Vegan in products doesn't mean a complete lack of awesome product. 

TARTE

Urban Decay

Ecco Bella

Make it easy! Sephora

Aveda - Read labels for Beeswax & Honey

Vegan Product reviews

So here we go. As I use up the items I have, I will replace with new Vegan items. 

Give a hug, get a hug

Nick and I are enjoying a much needed vacation in Bend together in our Airstream. We are staying at Crown Villa, a resort RV park that we have stayed at previously. Nick is taking a class today (Thursday) and I am just hanging out in the Airstream for the day. Tomorrow, we have the whole day to explore Bend and enjoy time together. We are definitely trying to enjoy time together just the two of us (three if you count the woof) before our lives change forever and time alone comes with a lot of planning.

Recently, unexpected deaths and sicknesses have touched the lives of some otherwise very young and healthy people. It is a reminder that there are many things that just are not important. Getting frustrated over an unfinished bathroom and entryway, getting overwhelmed with yard work, being annoyed with the uncertain nature of childbirth and when the baby will come - it is all so trivial. These events are reminders that in the end, there are only a handful of important things in life. Health, Happiness, Love, Family and Friends. Everything else is really just distractions that keep us from looking at what is important.

I hope that today, everyone takes the time to just enjoy time with their loved ones, revel in their health and smile big smiles of happiness. Give a hug, get a hug - and tell those you care about that you love them.