So way back at the beginning of spring when I was planting this flower-filled vegetable garden, I sprinkled an entire package of chamomile seeds in amongst my vine fruits (melons and squashes). Chamomile has the teeniest tiniest seeds I’ve ever seen! And when the garden took off, and especially when those cosmos went ca-razy, I completely forgot about the chamomile. Until . . .


Look what I found when I was digging around, the chamomile actually came up! Well, some of it did – just three plants buried in the cosmo jungle, and one random stalk all the way across the yard, over by the taters.

I was thrilled. I had home-grown medicinals! I pulled them all up when their flowers were blooming, brought them inside, and laid them out to dry. It didn’t take long, and before I knew it they were crispy as can be:


I detached the flower buds (I didn’t want to do this before they dried because they were so delicate) and transferred them to a small glass jar, and there they waited. And waited. For the perfect opportunity . . .



Yesterday evening I became inexplicably nauseous (no dears, it’s not that). My normally “iron stomach” was doing back flips, and I felt sick every time I stood up. I think I pushed my luck on some old carrots. Whoops. ANYWAYS.

What better to tame the tummy than a nice cup of chamomile?



Steeping . . .



The pour . . .

. . . at which point I realized it was actually, like, 93ºF in my house, and maybe I should drink this treat over ice.



Which I did. No sweetener needed, because it was truly the most delicious tea I have ever tasted. ♥

~~~

This book is the sum of everything that I’m passionate about, and I am so joyful and so proud to put it out into the world. This book was an absolute labor of love, and most of it was typed with one hand while my son was asleep and nursing on top of me. And truly, this book was only possible through partnership with other incredible people, people who see hope in the world like I do and who work to make it all happen. Thank you so much Josh and Michelle “Herbivore”!

~~~

About the book:

“The Vegan Pregnancy Survival Guide is a fun, informative, and totally comprehensive reference manual. Leave the heavy textbooks at home! This is a “pocket guide” with quick answers to all your most pressing pregnancy questions – from straightforward nutrition information and strategies for maximizing meal plans, to tips on choosing cruelty-free antacids (by brand name) and advice on how to throw a vegan baby shower. Written in an upbeat and casual tone, reading The Vegan Pregnancy Survival Guide is like having an awesome conversation with a super-supportive and super-positive girlfriend . . . who just so happens to know a ton about vegan nutrition and pregnancy.”

~~~

My dears, I’m just excited beyond words. So what are you waiting for? Go get your copy now, woo-hoo!!!

and I’d already witnessed your unconditional love
when you became my husband

but seeing you as a father
shine love so blindingly, brilliantly bright
inspires me to be a better person
like you always do

Happy Father’s Day

It’s a hired assignment and truly came out of the blue. When I was first approached about the project – to curate the largest collection of 100% raw and 100% vegan recipes ever compiled in one place – I couldn’t help but think, “Why me?” I’m not actually a raw foodist, nor am I formally trained as a live foods chef. Sure, I eat a lot of my meals uncooked. I love the living foods lifestyle and I’m well-versed with the underlying philosophy. I have experience writing about, and experimenting with, extended periods of eating an exclusively raw vegan diet. And if I may be so bold as to say, I’ve made some pretty awesome raw recipes in my day. But with all that aside, I’m not a professional, no matter how you slice it. So I had to ask: why me?

Passion, baby.

The truth is that I adore – simply adore – eating raw foods. I start each and every day with a big green smoothie, because I love the way it makes me feel. I’m giddy for my greens and I swoon over fancy seaweeds. Fresh juice makes me feel like all my cells have been infused with a double dose of vitality. Will work for wheat grass. You all know how the Farmer’s Market sends me into a frenzy, and darlings, don’t even get me started on cashew cheesecakes! Raw foods taste amazing and they make me feel fantastic; lighter, brighter, and overflowing with *life*. I want other people to feel this way too!

The bottom line is that I’ve got a big bonfire of passion burning inside me, lit up bright for fresh, whole, unadulterated vegan food. And I just can’t wait to share all my knowledge and excitement!

Rawesome!, slated for release in January 2012, will allow me to do just that. I’ve signed on to edit this incredible collection, featuring over 300 recipes from some amazing chefs: everything from smoothies to entrees to decadent desserts, from simple techniques to intricate gourmet applications. And of course, a few of my own creations!

Expect photos, LOTS of photos, coming out of my test kitchen . . .

Happy Mothers Day

Bonzai Moms

(and aspiring moms!)

love,
Waits

Today was pure magic. Today (Sunday, it’s almost midnight but not quite!) was the first day that finally, finally it felt like spring time. And we had such a lovely time.




























Happy Spring!

And now, almost 2 years later, well . . . I took her advice! I wrote a handbook to help plant-eaters navigate their pregnancies, and Herbivore is going to publish it!

amazing art by Leslie Magee

The Vegan Pregnancy Survival Guide is a comprehensive reference book that covers it all – from straightforward nutrition and strategies for maximizing meals, to choosing cruelty-free antacids and how to throw a vegan baby shower – and *everything* in between!

I am thrilled to be working with such amazing, inspiring people on this project, and I’m honored to be able to share this information with the world. Look for The Vegan Pregnancy Survival Guide to hit the ‘shelves’ in early summer 2011!

This little site has done a lot of changing since her last birthday. And like all things, she will continue to evolve. In that evolution, I feel like a lot of my stricter boundaries are breaking down, with a loss of formality that I find liberating. I see a transformation from a mostly professional endeavor, to a more personal, shared experience. I imagine less structure. I imagine more intimacy. I’ll probably post less frequently. I know we’ll have a lot of fun!

And speaking of that, I had so much fun putting together my 20s retrospective, that I thought I’d do the same for this last year here on Bonzai. So without further ado, here are some of the highlights from our second year:

February

In February I finally found my vegan White Whale – the perfect rich and creamy Alfredo sauce. I shared my carpet cleaning recipe and my liquid dishwasher detergent recipe, both of which are superstars in the DIY home cleaning repertoire. We learned how to make newspaper seed pots for the upcoming planting season, and I was nominated for the rikrak Handmade Olympics. At the end of the month, 9+ months pregnant, I put the site on baby watch!

March

At the very beginning of March I went into labor. (!!!) A few days later I introduced you to my first son, Waits Rebhal. I took a few weeks off from blogging, popping in at the end of the month to say hello and welcome in the spring with the first Farmer’s Market!


April

I pretty much disappeared into motherhood – and who can blame me?! However, I did post an important Mini Mission that’s really worth a visit if you’re a relatively new reader.


May

In May I returned to the blogosphere refreshed and impassioned anew! I posted a kombucha hack for growing your own mother, just in the nick of time before the elixir was pulled from store shelves all across America. I shared my new natural hair regimen and my new favorite green beverage. And somehow, despite my sleep deprivation and a newborn to cuddle, I managed to start the 2010 [micro] garden!


June

In June we took on our toughest MMM yet – facing our demons – and I was awed by the bravery of so many readers who met this challenge with complete self-awareness and honesty. On the lighter side, Waits became a super model and I concocted the weirdest spaghetti sauce ever (delicious!). At the end of the month, due to reader demand, I posted my very first baby-related article, on low-impact child rearing.


July

With summer in full swing the micro garden was chugging along and I also introduced my potted herb garden. I wrote an epic two-part piece on my adventures with cloth diapers (part I and part II). Finally, and most importantly, I shared my latest (and current) passion for probiotics, in an article entitled “Eat Your Beasties!”


August

August 1st marked my joyful 2-year Veganniversary, which we celebrated with a picnic. In the kitchen, I explained the importance of soaking nuts, grains, and legumes, and I posted a tutorial on how to make DIY alt milk. Inspired by the Farmer’s Market I began my RAW 101 series with a post on pasta, and I continued the cultured love with a recipe for homemade vegan yogurt. At the very end of the month I asked you to tell me 3 random things that made you happy, and thus the Love List was born! (still going strong ever since!)


September

September was official “Get Out The Bonzai Month” – we had our first annual shareholder’s meeting, I updated my commenting policy, and the Bonzai Aphrodite Amazon Store was born! I continued my culinary alchemy with recipes for sauerkraut and fermented pickles. I took you on a tour of the henhouse and I wrote a love letter to autumn. Also, Waits dressed up like a duck.


October

In October I finally formally introduced my dogs, and then I introduced our first merchandise – the Mini Mission Wall Calendar! I grew my very first pumpkin, and played with it all sorts. Waits started crawling so I made some baby knee-pads/leg warmers, then at the urging of readers I added a big kids version of leg warmers (and arm warmers!) too. And with clothing on the brain, I defined my style direction for fall 2010.


November

November marked Vegan MoFo, and I eased up on my blogging [or I tried to, pretty unsuccessfully] as I took on a new big project. Waits and I squared off with a spaghetti squash. I pondered people’s relationship with food and I cleared up some confusion on icky-sounding ingredients. At the end of the month I was honored to offer my perspective as a work-at-home mom at galadarling.com.


December

In December I said goodbye to my garden and welcomed in the winter. My vegan taxidermy was received with mixed reviews, but everybody loved my overnight oats in a jar. The end of the month was all holidays and hiatus, but I did offer a sneak peak at healthy vegan travel days.


January

In January I presented my definitive vegan cheese report – a post that was 2 years in the making. I said goodbye to the Farmer’s Market (sad!). I pledged to share more of myself, and in true Sayward fashion I jumped in feet first with an in-depth portrait of my 20s. Last week I turned 30, and celebrated in part by sharing 30 of my most favorite little things.

~~~

Last night I spent an hour and a half tediously composing this post (a billion links, blargh!), and then come 1130pm, completely out of nowhere, my computer up and shut down. Almost all my work disappeared! It was gone, lost into the ether (which is why you’re getting this post this evening instead of first thing birthday morning). All I have to say is . . . Welcome to the Terrible Twos???

Ha!

1) Stripey long socks. Will they ever get old? Methinks not. And with this particularly warm winter, they’ve been my ultimate ‘uniform’. Love!

2) 90s radio on the internet. Oh. My. God. I’m one seriously nostalgic sucker, and live-streaming straight up 90s top 40 . . . I’m in heaven! Salt n Pepa! Nirvana! En Vogue! Friggin’ SWV! I squeal. Like over, and over, and over again, I squeal.

3) Coconut Water. Have you discovered this stuff yet? It’s isotonic, full of electrolytes, naturally sweet goodness. Mmmm, my favorite brand is Amy and Brian’s – what’s yours?

4) Wooden baby paraphernalia. Why am I so drawn to wood?? Little pine rattles, tiny painted trains, itty bitty bamboo spoons, gah! I AM SO CRUNCHY!





5) Children’s music! From the nostalgia of Raffi and Peter, Paul, and Mommy, to the incredible, rockin’ modern melodies from the likes of They Might Be Giants. Seriously, kid jams are SO GOOD these days, as evidenced by the awesomeness of the art, music, and ‘message’ (science!) in the video above.

6) Celestial Seasonings Peach Passion tea. No, really. BEST. TEA. EVER.

7) And speaking of, I’m still drinking daily herbal infusions and truly, I swear by them. Nourishing and energizing!

8) Glass Drinking Straws from Glass Dharma. I love love love finding new ways to eliminate disposables and replace them with sustainables. And with my green smoothie habit, having these re-usable glass straws lets me sip with a clean conscience – and some style!





9) The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Undying devotion since high school, and I hear it’s making a come back, yay! Remember Rocky wisdom: Don’t Dream It: Be It (I had that scrawled on my bathroom mirror all through college . . . )

10) My Body. Fucking finally! I could write a whole post about this, but suffice it to say that through most of my twenties I wore a size 0 – along with a heaping dose of insecurity, self-criticism, and body shame. Now, many years, quitting smoking, and one baby later, I’m a size . . . um, not 0, ha! (just kidding, I don’t care about telling, I’m a size 5-6!) And you know what? I dig my new hips and I love my round rump and as far as I’m concerned, my shit is bangin’. And the imperfections? They just ain’t worth the time to worry about. CHEERS!

11) Typography. Mmmm, here’s an Internet trend I can get behind. Yes with the fancy fonts, yes with the word love!

12) My neti pot! Gross? Or just totally crunchy? Yeah, I know. But come on, you get to pour water up your nostril and it flies out the other side, and you cough and sputter and your eyes water and your husband laughs at you, and then you get to not get sick. *I* think that’s pretty cool.





13) Raw Vegan Desserts, which I enjoyed in abundance for my thirtieth birthday party. Blood Orange Cheesecake (tasted like a Creamsickle!) and Chai Spice Cheesecake. Um, YUM.

14) Rediscovering Bath Time. I wrote a bit about my long-term relationship with baths (ha!) in my 20s Retrospective. I really used to take a bath every single night – sometimes twice a day! In this coming year of pleasure over practicality, I’m recommitting to my former flame. Bath love!

15) Year-Round Farmer’s Markets. Yay! My co-op actually sponsors a mini market each week all the way through winter. It’s so wee and wonderful, all mushrooms and beets and bitter greens. Love it! And I love eating seasonally/locally in January!

16) Taking my ethics to the next level. Since going vegan over 2 years ago, I’ve continued to wear a few of my ‘pre-gan’ leather items. Namely, 3 pairs of boots that I’m seriously emotionally attached to (my combats, which are ‘essential Sayward’, and 2 other pairs which each took me 2+ years to track down, because I was determined to find the perfect look and my feets are huge and I only buy secondhand). But anyways, blah blah sob story. Yeah, I love those shoes. Yeah, I’ll get over it. It’s time for me to stop helping leather look good. New boots for me!

17) Vegan Donuts. I think this made the list last year, too. It had actually been ages since I’d had one, but then some friends flew into town for my birthday and showed up at my house at 11pm with a full box of Voodoos. Good friends, good donuts!





18) Vida Vegan Con! The first ever vegan blogging conference is being held next summer right here in Portland. And I’m speaking there! Eeeee! Public speaking is hands down my biggest fear, so volunteering for this was a *huge* act of courage. And I’m so excited!

19) French Roast. I’m so damn picky with my coffee these days. And I’m french roast, all the way. Give me french or give me death! Mmm, smokey goodness.

20) Mormon Mommy Bloggers. True! I read this article and now I’m totally hooked. My favorites are Rockstar Diaries and Underaged and Engaged. Help me!

21) Herbalism. I’ve slowly been incorporating medicinal herbs – mostly teas – into my life over the past few years. But recently I did some serious research, and all I can say is, fascinating. I love the empowerment that comes from diy care. Like nutrition, herbalism is all about taking control of your own health and well being. A new obsession? I think so!





22) VEGAN BABIES! There’s a whole crew now – Clementine, Amelie, Maceo, Madeleine, Ruby, Scarlett, Kavi, and more! They are all so sweet and amazing and they fill me with so much hope and joy. You guys, I’ve seen the future and it is BEAUTIFUL!

23) My bangs. Yes, from hope to hair just like that. The littler things are important too!

24) Homemade Blackberry Liquor. It was a *very* happy birthday party for me, hee hee. That stuff was a hippie heaven . . .

25) Rotten Food. Of course by which I mean, cultured and fermented foods, ideally diy. Life changing. Essential. Delicious! My favorite these days is homemade coconut yogurt, which I feed to Waits (and myself!) every morning.

26) And speaking of feeding Waits, I love making baby food! I’m totally into preparing the most nutrient-rich, nourishing foods – from probiotics to soaking and sprouting, I’m having a blast. I actually had a moment the other day where I thought, “Wait, you can like, buy baby food?” Ha! HIPPIE!





27) Playing “I’m Gonna Get You” with Waits. It’s his favorite game, and he is SO FREAKING CUTE laughing hysterically as he flees. Please note the wild hop he does at the very beginning of this video. Gah! Too adorable!

28) The Vegetarian Food For Thought podcast. I can’t even describe how much Colleen inspires me. Just listen to it, seriously. She is a true teacher.

29) Loooong Walks. Especially at night, and especially the fact that it’s January and I’m still able to do that. It’s the best way to digest my dinner, baby strapped to my front and a podcast in my ear. Bundled, umbrella-ed, and blissed. Oh and have I mentioned how much I <3 Portland? I love Portland!

30) 2011. Because man, it’s gonna be grand.