The Friday Feedback Forum

July 31st, 2010 - filed under: Furthermore » Feedback

IMG_0840This is becoming a regular thing – the ‘Weekly Waits’! =D



Hello there, and happy weekend!!! It’s time to sit back and relax, and as always, it’s time for comments, critiques, thoughts, support, and suggestions.

So don’t hold back! Let me have it! I want to know what’s on your mind, what’s got you going, and what’s been exercising your big ol’ brain! What are you doing to become the kind of person you want to be? And here on Bonzai, what are you most interested in?!

As usual, the Feedback Forum will remain here at the top of the page all weekend, so if you’ve got an idea or a question or you just want to introduce yourself and say ‘Oi!’, you can stop back by any time. This is your community, so get involved and have your say!

Enjoy another spectacular summer weekend! This one is especially dear to me, as it’s my 2-year Veganniversary! I’m celebrating all weekend, with good foods and good animal-love time, and picnics and friends, and I’m ‘un-baking’ a big RAW cake! I’ll tell you more next week . . .
sign-off

  • http://sara-and-company.tumblr.com Sara

    Hey everyone! I have a question for the readers today.

    I’ve been using almond milk for a few years, which I love, but it’s just not as creamy as the real thing when it comes to chai tea. Sounds like a rather particular request, right? But the real chai tea is made with spices and cream/milk and honey (or in my case brown sugar), and I don’t know what to use for a substitute.

    Any good creamy alternative milks out there? Thanks guys and happy weekend! :)

  • Melisa

    That kid has the best eyebrows ever.

  • http://itsmemelissardean.blogspot.com/ Melissa D

    I think it is a great idea to continue MMM #13 for another month! Love, love, love the idea of random acts of kindness!

  • Meghan

    I love your blog, as always. I’m leaving tomorrow for another 3 weeks outta the country… I’ll miss you! (I mean that in a totally uncreepy way, I swear!!)

  • Christa

    @Sara – try using a non-dairy creamer substitute to enhance the almond milk. I really like the silk brand unflavored coffee creamer (it’s what I use in my coffee every morning) and it adds richness like real cream does.

  • Alex

    Wow Waits is one adorable kid! But I am sure you already know that! I just wanted to say I just started reading your blog about a month ago and I love it. Keep up the good work!

  • Erin

    With babies on the brain… is there anything you insisted upon having new instead of used when it came to the babe? How on earth do I tell folks to buy me diaper covers, baby slings, and cloth pads instead of plastic junk from Babies R Us? (I know people will still get it… but yeesh!)

  • http://www.etsy.com/shop/vtgrrl Carolyn

    I make my own soy milk and you can make it a lot thicker than the commercial ones on the market. I don’t know if that would work for Chai, but it is an idea.

    My suggestion this week? Post more about your animals!!!

  • http://vegantasticness.blogspot.com Felicity

    @Sara- I totally agree that store-bought almond milk just isn’t creamy enough. You should make your own and then you can make it as creamy as you want! Just use less water to blend with the almonds and it’ll be pretty thick–and really yummy.

    Sayward- That picture of Waits at the top made me giggle :-)

  • SJ

    Sayward- OMG Waits is the cutest baby EVARRRR lol ^_^

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    @ Sara – I second other people’s suggestion of homemade almond milk. If you’re not sure how to make it at home, never fear! I’ve actually got a tutorial slated for very soon! =)

    My other suggestion is coconut milk. It’s soooo creamy and very good for you. So Delicious makes a carton version that would be your best bet, you you could use the canned stuff as well.

    @ Melisa – My sister says he has eyebrows like an old fashioned movie star. =)

    @ Melissa D. – Yes! We’re doing it!

    @ Meghan – Well in a totally non-creepy way, I’ll miss you too! Both here and LJ, where you’re often a much needed dose of rationale in a whole lotta drama, haha.

    @ Alex – Thank you! Welcome to the site and I promise to keep on keepin’ on! =D

    @ Erin – The only thing I insisted on new was a car seat, and that was a safety issue. As far as family, man it’s tough. It really depends on your situation (I’m assuming you’ve read my article on this) If you know they’re going to go for the big box store, then I’d make sure to register there – even Babies R Us carries cloth diapers and slings and some organic stuff. So register for the stuff you actually want! And when they buy you a bunch of crap you don’t want, well, smile politely and then return it for stuff you do want! =D

    That’s my best advice. It’s a really tough situation. I feel for ya!

    @ Carolyn – What kinds of animal stuff would you want to see??

    @ Felicity – Aww thanks, he’s a pretty silly little dude. =)

    @ SJ – I KNOW RIGHT??!

  • http://www.etsy.com/shop/vtgrrl Carolyn

    re: animals. Pretty much anything. Pictures. How they are transitioning with Waits. How they fit in to HQ and your lifestyle. How they get along with each other. Anything you feel like sharing!

  • Sheperd

    I’d be interested in a discussion about shaving. It can be very wasteful, throwing away all those razors whether they be disposible or not. I personally stopped shaving in highschool so this isn’t an issue for me, but lots of people (duh) choose to do it. A while ago, my boyfriend started shaving his face with a straight razor. It can be a bit of an investement in the beginning, but I’m sure you’re well aware of the fact that more sustainable methods of things are often like that. It’s far less wasteful, though, and far more badass! I was a bit concerned in the beginning because strops are almost invaribly leather, but we did manage to find a synthetic one.

    And just a note about being a woman who doesn’t shave…it’s not that bad. I frankly love it.

  • Minna

    I loved your post on fermented foods, that’s one of the coolest things on this blog – that you post some educative material every once in a while. Not that your other posts aren’t educative.. :D But you know what I mean. I can imagine that you’ve been working so hard lately with this blog, tons and tons of great stuff to read!

    Thank you :)

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    @ Carolyn – Excellent! I’ve had a few animal posts I’ve been meaning to write up for a while now, thanks for the kick in the butt! =D

    @ Sheperd – Very interesting idea! I’ll have to think about how I could frame that. As it is in my house, we shave very little. Damian keeps a trimmed beard so no disposable razors. I do shave my pits and legs but . . . *ahem* . . . pretty infrequently! I’m blessed with baby fine hair and D says he doesn’t even notice when I don’t shave.

    Anyway, good for you for going all the way! I know it’s not something most women would be willing to embrace, but I bet there’s a happy green medium. I’ll think on it!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    @ Minna – Hey, we were posting at the same time! =D

    I’m sooo excited about the fermented foods stuff. Lots more to come and it’s SUCH fascinating material. I love nutrition!!!

    Thanks as always lady, you always make me smile. =)

  • Kelsey

    Hi there,
    I’m thinking about going vegan, and I’ve tried out a bunch of your recipes. All of them turned out marvelously, and I’m really excited to see what else you come up with!!! However, I’m going to be a poor university student soon, so I’d really love to see a staple vegan shopping list. Your blog is a huge inspiration in my decision to go vegan, mostly because your recipes have shown me that vegan doesn’t mean boring at all! Thanks a bunch for all your hard work!

  • http://sara-and-company.tumblr.com Sara

    Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

    @Sheperd
    Another way to save the environment while shaving is also using a brush and traditional shaving lather. Of course it depends on the brand (although your boyfriend may already use shaving lather, I don’t know about straight razors). Personally I use castile soap as shaving gel.

    @Kelsey
    You should go vegan! I *AM* a poor university student and eating vegan is super easy and super cheap. It sort of depends on living in a dorm or not (and the style of dorm, personally there aren’t dorms available for my school so I don’t have a choice), so I’d think living in a dorm would be harder, but universities are getting so progressive. Happy vegan thoughts!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    @ Kelsey – Oh that’s so exciting! Yay, you should totally go vegan! =D And thank you, I’m so glad you like the recipes here.

    Vegan can be totally cheap and totally easy, but what your grocery list looks like will rally depend on your situation. Will you be in a dorm? An apartment? How much space will you have for storage/food prep? Will you have a dining hall or will you be responsible for all your own meals?

    If you want to email me, I’d be more than happy to talk to you about your specific situation!

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