On a sidewalk in Los Angeles.

I’ve always promised to keep this blog authentic. To share the bad as well as the good, the sad as well as the happy, and everything in between.

So. This week.

This week was hard (hence no primary post). And let me count the ways: on Tuesday morning I dropped Waits off at school only to notice that my engine was smoking. Like, a LOT. My car needs major repairs. Also, this week I found out that my house, my little tiny cottage that I love with all my heart, has been sold. I don’t know what that will mean for my residency here, but I’m feeling pretty heartbroken about it. And also, this week I had to make a very difficult decision regarding my path in graduate school. The new path is better, but I had to let down someone who’s done a lot for me, and that hurt (it was also empowering, something I don’t think I’d have been strong enough to do even a year ago, and a testament to my personal growth . . . but still, of course, very hard). So yes, it was an emotional week, and all that on top of life’s ever-revolving parade of small stumbling blocks.

But, well, onward and upward. Amidst all that sadz, there were quite a few special moments this week as well. Like these:

Out and about on the 4th of July. Ghost streets.


Fireworks over palm trees; oh I ♥ southern California!


This is a Monarch Butterfly chrysalis – they’re called “monarch” because of the golden beading along the top, which looks like a crown. Nature is so exquisite.


When bloggers brunch, haha. This is the lovely Elana, who joined me last weekend for a delicious meal at one of my favorite LA eateries, Flore in Silverlake.


My meal at Flore: classic tempeh reuben, and a vegetable juice on the side. SO GOOD.



Later that night with Whitney and Jason, for Jason’s birthday party at SunCafe Organic. And dessert? Organic gluten-free sugar-free waffle cones with raw ice cream and coconut cream whip, HOLY MOLY AMAZING, handmade and served tableside by the incomparable Jingslingers.


This is what co-sleeping with a 4 year old looks like. Ha! No but seriously. Every. Morning. (and I’m not complaining ♥)


We were at Jeremy’s work, and Waits wanted to get into this “cage”. “I’m a baby lion, mama!” he growled. “Rawr! Rawr!” . . . “Now you’re the mean zookeeper, you won’t let me out of the cage.” And then Waits decided that Jeremy was the daddy lion who was coming to rescue him from the cage, and we all staged a jail break, and then the whole game ended with the three of us chanting “Animal Liberation! Animal Liberation!” and it was maybe the MOST VEGAN moment of my entire life, and I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. You’re totally allowed to roll your eyes – I would!


This guy, beautiful Murgatroyd, is companion to Waits’s great-grandmother. If you call him “pretty bird”, he’ll proudly flash you a little tail feather.


Summer = mojitos (with mint right from the garden!)


Rowing his boat at The natural History Museum.


The bumble bees love our sunflowers. They just load up on sweet summer pollen. And they pack so much on, Jeremy says they look like they’re wearing sweat pants. Ha!


And now, since I started this post with a big ‘ol grumpy grumble, how about a quick little gratitude adjustment: Le Love List!

Picking my very first homegrown tomato of the year. It tasted like pure unadulterated summer! I ate it on toast. // Filming a video with Waits all about raising, and being, vegan kiddos! I can’t wait to share this – coming soon from Eco-Vegan Gal. // Therapy. I wish it for everyone. I believe it should be offered for free by the government, for reals. Just think of the jobs it would create! // Spending quality time with my mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law. You don’t [have to] divorce your family. ♥ // Raw food recipes for summer. // Planning a massive road trip/camping extravaganza with Jeremy and Waits. It’s going to be so fun! And of course, I plan to blog all about vegan camping. // Fresh herbs in everything. // Growing. Feeling myself grow. Knowing it. That’s just so good!

Alright guys, now it’s your turn! I hope you’ll leave your own little Love List in the comments below, and let us all know what’s making you smile these days.

I hope you all had a happy happy weekend!

♥

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