1,000 Youtube Subscribers!

Woohoo!!

I try not to get caught up in the numbers so much but damn this feels good!

In January of this year, I wrote down that I wanted 1,000 subscribers by the end of 2012. 

At the time, I had 49 subscribers and 873 video views.

Usually I crash and burn with goal planning because I don't make them realistic or measurable. I spend a lot of time building big dreams in my mind but very little time working on specific steps to make them happen.

This time around, instead of being too ambitious without a plan, I worked on those steps. I have to say, at the time,  I still didn't feel too encouraged. I started off with such low numbers, a terrible camera, and an iffy video format.

I stuck it out anyway and reached my goal 3 months earlier than expected!

This milestone has inspired me to set up some new Youtube goals for 2013:

*Upload 1 video per week-being consistent in this Youtube game is key!

*Respond to at least 95% of the comments- I plan to spend a great deal of time in the comments and encourage my viewers to respond to others as well. I will never pretend to know everything and want to build a fun community of plant-based eating. :-)

*Have FUN-try not to get offended by the rude, racist and ridiculous comments.  Delete them and move on. Majority of the comments are informative, supportive and sweet. I will focus my time on those!

*End 2013 with 5,000 subscribers-5,000! I just got nervous typing such a big number. Yikes!

I'm looking forward to doing a few collaborations with my Youtube friends, showing more delicious and affordable plant-based meals, and just having a good time building a community with those interested in eating a little more compassionately.

Thanks so much for all of your support! I really enjoy making videos and hope to bring so much more to the channel in 2013.

If you haven't already, subscribe below for plant-based cooking videos, vlogs, and reviews.  

Tell a friend!

Have a suggestion or a video request? Feel free to let me know in the comments. :-)

D.C. VegFest Recap (A Few Pics & VIDEO)

We enjoyed lunch with this fabulous view. 

I have to say the Richmond Vegetarian Festival was better this year because there were more vendors, the location was spread out, and the food lines weren't nearly as long.  We all wanted Everlasting Cafe but the line was sooo long, we settled for falafel & French fries.

We also wanted to drink a coconut but that line was just as long. *sigh*

The boys came for dessert and eating falafel was just a means to an end. 

I was glad to meet Afya Ibomu. Even though I prefer my Kindle, I purchased her book.

Overall, we had a great time and it's always good to be around so many like-minded people. 

I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I planned but I did a little vlogging.

Check it out...

Fresh Juice Without A Juicer

I got rid of my juicer about 2 months ago.

*waits for the vegan po-po to snatch my membership card*

In all seriousness, my cheap juicer just didn't work for me anymore. I found it wasteful (the fruit pulp always very wet after extraction) and cleaning the multiple parts got old fast. Plus, I was too lazy to compost the pulp and the subpar juicer didn't like green leafy vegetables.

I've always been more of a smoothie mama anyway, so there's no love lost (or money) since I didn't technically pay for it.  I used my debit card points to purchase but wish I used those points toward a flight. Just saying

Don't get my wrong, I'm not against juicing at all.  In fact, I think juicing is wonderful if you have a picky child or you want to increase your vegetable/fruit intake.  I just have a problem with the inferior juicers taking up space in most department stores. In my opinion, juicers are one of those appliances that you have to spend some serious dough on to get the full benefits.

But I digress.....

Want fresh juice but a juicer isn't in the budget right now?  No worries-your blender can handle that task for you.

You just blend your fruit/vegetables with water and use a nut milk or paint bag to strain it.

Here's a video demonstrating the process....

Maybe one day I will go fancy. *giggles*

Have you had a better experience with inexperience juicers?

The Documentary That Changed Me

I often talk about how reading Skinny Bitch in 2008 planted the seed of veganism; how reading Sistah Vegan helped me transition to plant-based eating; and watching Earthlings kept me a vegan for the last two years.

I was talking to one of my clients last week, and she asked me to suggest a documentary that would shine light on the animal industry as a whole.  She wants to become a vegan for health reasons and feels learning more about the industry will help her transition.  I recommended Earthlings.

This documentary depicts how what we eat and wear not only affects our health; but also other people, the environment, and non-human animals.  Earthlings does an excellent job of addressing nature, animals, humankind and the massive injustices that take place for greed and profit.

I'm not perfect, but watching this documentary helped to make me more conscious of what I purchase and how it relates to more than just my family.  

Here's the trailer....

I also wanted to post the full documentary if you're interested in watching.

Don't let the tame trailer above fool you. This is the most graphic documentary I've ever seen.  It will change you.

Overcoming Doubt & Defining Your Own Success According to Viola Davis

Even though I enjoyed reading The Help, I have no desire to see the movie.  Just like Dangerous Minds, The Blind Side, and Freedom Writers, I don't typically like "white savior" movies.

When that said, I've been a fan of Viola Davis for many years, and I'm so glad she's finally receiving recognition.

I came across this clip where she talks about overcoming doubt and defining her own success.

"All of the things you feel about success has been defined by other people" So profound.  I'm finally okay with my success not being measured by how many bedroomsI have, how much higher education I've acquired, and the cost of my clothing.

I still battle with self-doubt but not nearly as much as I used to.  I'm finally okay with my views not matching the mainstream.  Like Davis says in the video, it's so important to figure out what you want and what will make you happy.