10.27.2013

52 LISTS PROJECTS MAJOR CATCH UP

Lists, lists and more lists.  They are never ending but for me oh so necessary.  Tonight I am feeling the need to play a little catch up on projects that I have abandoned.  One of those projects is creating lists from Moorea Seal's 52 List Project.  I have introduced the readers to Moorea before.  She is a style icon.  She also cleverly creates list prompts to get people really assessing and organizing their lives.  I find it so helpful to write things down.  Plus, admittedly I have been scattered so tonight I will attempt as many of the lists I have failed to complete.  So here goes

WEEK FOUR: LIST YOUR CURRENT & FUTURE GOALS & DREAMS

create a wonderful homeschool curriculum for my babes and implement // make a rockin bunch of diys for Christmas // organize our space to welcome our neighbours into when their babe joins us // draw portraits to begin selling // make dolls for my babes // get a new tattoo  // date nights with the papa // expand the blog and develop it as a place for creating, sharing and supporting mamas with similar interests // homestead on a farm with my babes // learn an instrument // be a vegan advocate // teach art as therapy


 WEEK FIVE: LIST WHAT YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR

my body and the spirit and strength it houses // my babes, for each day they amuse me with their intelligence, test me with their curiosity and push me to be the best // the Papa for helping me navigate my mind, supporting my lofty ideas and being my best friend and partner // the moon for it is she who guides and pulls me // food that nourishes my mind and body // the earth upon which all life exists and for the amazingness that it has provided // the sun for
warmth // my fingers although they have been broken and ill because with them I can rub my dear babes foreheads, tickle their bellies, touch the Papa's lips, write my perpetual thoughts and do.art // the beautiful mind // my friends who love me unconditionally // the Papa's family that love me as though I am their own // coffee


WEEK SIX:  THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN LOVE OTHERS

tell them // give them gifts from the heart and personal tokens of affection out of the blue // hold them tightly // cry and laugh with them // keep your promises // surprise them // commit  // go on an adventure // indulge their dreams // be part of their dreams // get matching tattoos // put everything down to just be
 

WEEK SEVEN:  THE THINGS THAT MAKE ME FEEL HEALTHY. MIND. BODY. SOUL.

talking with those people
In my life that I listen and do not judge // cardio  // amazing vegan food // cleansing when need be // crafting // art // creating // nature // dance // green tea // journaling // finishing goals // the  thought of homeschooling // running // flexing my body  // strength // serenity // hugs from the Papa
 

WEEK EIGHT:  FAVOURITE ALBUMS
(I will have to spend more time on this one but for now some of my fave artists)

sucre // Robyn // Tchaikovsky // Donna Summer // Crystal Gail // Johnny Cash // Hedley // Madonna // MJ // Frou Frou // Imogene Heap // Lana Del Ray // MUmford and sons // The neighbourhood // the lumineers // Florence and the Machine 


WEEK NINE: THE PLACES I WOULD LIKE TO GO

Europe but specifically London, Paris // the Baltic Sea // South Korea // Hawaii // west and eastern canada // New Zealand // Australia  // anywhere my babes are
 

WEEK TEN: THE WAYS TO CLEANSE FOR SPRING
(To accomplish at a more appropriate date)


WEEK ELEVEN:  MY ESSENTIALS

water // coffee // oversized bunny sweater // Mary's crackers // maple syrup // tiny brush // black paint // black nail polish // skulls // French provincial furniture // my library card // my Salvation Army black purse-bag // my doc martens // my iPhone // lip chap stick in tasty flavour // black eyeliner // Pinterest account // warm socks // decorative pillows // tattoos
 
 
 
 


 

10.13.2013

REVIEW: MAD FAUX CHEESE


 

This year my favourite craft show announced that they were doing a food show and I of course wondered if there were vegan vendors.  Yes!  Mad Faux Cheese.  I was destined to meet Madison Conlin and her artisanal vegan cheeses but alas, timing and life made my meeting impossible.  So in the meantime, I added Madison as an instagram friend and drooled over her amazing vegan recipe results and cheeses from afar.  

I just had to try them.  A nut cheese sounded awesome.  This past week the lovely posted an offer for a trio of cheeses for thanksgiving.  Here came my opportunity.  I placed my order and drove into ottawa at 6 in the morning to arrive at vegan bakery extraordinaire, auntie loos to pick up this deliciousness.

Yesterday evening I set out all the "cheeses" with some plain old crackers and prepared to have my mind blown.

Little backstory regarding the taste testers.  I use to love chèvre...until we became vegan and you find out how bad cheese is for your body and for les animeaux.  My babes are picky eaters.  Dips are usually a no go.  It is terrible trying to get them to eat my homemade hummus and vegan cheese brands.  My hubby cannot stand cheese and has not had cheese in a decade.

I put the board down and these guys just devoured it.  My eldest babe avoids all vegan packaged products but she just went for it.  The beautiful colours of the cheeses were so enticing.  Cranberries in the lemon cranberry chèvre.  Real basil and sundried tomats in a beautifully coloured cheese.  A smoked Gouda.  A creamy Brie.  She dove in.  The papa could not help himself and the taste reminded him of that real cheese taste but oh so cruelty free.  There were not enough crackers to go around.

We were amazed.  I vowed never to eat any other packaged faux cheese again.  The papa agreed and a decision was made to make this a staple in our home.

Why is this faux cheese really so great?

1.  You can pronounce every ingredient and it isn't soy based.  
2.  The presentation is awesome.  I even cut out the labels and stuck them in the cheeses for a great display.
3.  All picky eaters in my house jumped at the chance to eat this amazingness.
4.  The cheese tastes similarly but better than real cheese... No joke.

As for the cheese favourites.  We each had our own.  We all loved all but I personally love the lemon cranberry for a bagel, as a dessert or on Melba toast.  The eldest was all over the Brie.  The papa loved the smoke Gouda, sharp but not overwhelming and the littlest big loved the sundried tomato.

Go on ahead and order this loveliness. Unfortunately only ottawans are lucky enough to taste this magic but please like Madison on Facebook at Mad Faux Cheese and on instagram with profile @madisonconlin.  She had mega #veganfoodporn.

(Note:  this is not a sponsored post.  I have asked Madison about her cheeses and I paid for the amazingness and told her that I would do an honest review.  I was lucky enough to get to sample all her choices as she added in one extra cheese as an added bonus, so not only does it taste amazing, she is a sweet mama too!)