Author: Jasmine Briones

Easy DIY Cat Collar (Minimal Sewing)In June, I got a new kitty! Her name is Goji and she is the cutest little thing. And I am not being biased, she is adorable! When I started to look for a collar for her, I could not find one in any cute fruit/vegetable prints that I was envisioning. I sat down on my computer, searched etsy and picked a few out, but then I got to thinking: if these people could make these little collars, why can't I? I found a few tutorials (sourced below), ordered the hardware I needed ($1.80!), got my supplies together and made a collar! This tutorial is really simple and can be done in a matter of 15 minutes.

Golden Kiwi Pitaya SmoothieI always love visiting the asian market by my home and picking up a few fruits/vegetables that I do not normally eat or that I have never tried. If you are looking for something new, definitely try this out. I know that these markets do not sell organic produce, but once in a while I like to visit them and get a taste of something new. Plus, they always have jackfruit and durian, so it is worth the trip. I picked up these golden kiwis my past visit. I have tried them before at my auntie's house, but I never was able to get my hands on some individual ones of my own, as they always sell them in large bulk boxes. Well, this time they had them out with all of the other produce. I grabbed a few and when I got home I discovered that my Pitaya Plus smoothie packs had just arrived in the mail, so I decided to combine the two into a smoothie and see what happens.Golden Kiwi Pitaya SmoothieWhat I created this beautiful smoothie that will definitely now be one of my favorites. If you do not have golden kiwi, use a green kiwi, as I am more than sure it will still be delicious.

Gluten-free Triple Berry Tart & Sweet Vanilla Cashew Cream Last weekend I attended the Los Angeles Vegan Potluck! It was such an amazing event. I learned so much about people I have connected with on Instagram, getting to finally meet them in person, and I was also able to share company with people that I had not met before, but am so glad that I did. You can read more about the event on my previous post. I brought two yummy dishes to the potluck. The first was my Summer Squash Pilaf from my Lunch & Dinner Ebook. My mom was actually the creator of this dish. She made it for me as my Raw Till 4 dinner entree when we visited my grandparents a few weeks ago. Everyone loved it at the dinner so I knew it had to be brought to the event. Summer Squash Pilaf The second was this Gluten-free Triple Berry Crisp with Sweet Vanilla Cashew Cream I came up with. I actually threw the tart together on a whim and I had no idea how it tasted until I sampled it at the event. It was definitely nerve wrecking, so thank goodness it was good! This cashew cream is my favorite, I wish I could eat it all day everyday, its that good! Gluten-free Triple Berry Tart & Sweet Vanilla Cashew Cream

COMMUNITY is one of the most important aspects when transitioning into veganism. I chose to be vegan when I was 18, and I had no friends or family to help me, guide me, or to share my experiences with. The only reason why I was able to stay strong was because of the online communities I discovered. Youtube, Instagram, everything helped so much. Being able to know that there are people out there who love what I love and support what I do was really comforting and encouraging. Last weekend I attended the Los Angeles Vegan Potluck! This was the first time I had ever attended an Instagram meetup event, I was so nervous but I am so glad that I went. As none of you know me personally, I would like to share that I am not the most sociable/outgoing person. I get very nervous and I am definitely shy, but as I warm up I promise I am a fun person, lol. I challenged myself to step outside of my comfort zone and go.

Go Salt-Free With This Healthy & Green Raw Vegan Salt Substitute Being vegan, we all get those questions that, at a certain point, we dread answering. Don't know what I'm talking about? You do, trust me. Let me refresh your memory....
  • Where do you get your protein?
  • But how do you give up cheese? It is just so good.
  • Doesn't this meat smell so good to you?
  • How come you don't eat fish? They aren't technically animals...
  • How do you get full off of just that?
  • Do you get enough nutrients?
  • Don't you feel tired all day?
But the one thing that I have been hearing a lot of lately is "how the heck did you manage to cut salt out of your diet"? My answer to that? CELERY! Yes, Celery! I grew up hating celery. I know hate is a very strong word, but I just could not stand it. It was stringy, hard to chew and swallow, and of a flavor that I felt could not be tamed. But I have realized why that is, it's because celery itself is SALTY. I disliked it alone just as I had disliked salty french fries or saltine crackers. As I have adapted my taste buds in taking on a high raw diet, in some way or another, I have grown to love celery. I can eat it with spreads/dips, almond or peanut butter, in soups, salads, or just plain as is. It is what I needed when first transitioning into a high raw, raw till 4 diet to satisfy my salt cravings, which I no longer have! Go Salt-Free With This Healthy & Green Raw Vegan Salt Substitute

Celery is a good source of vitamin A, choline, vitamin C, niacin, pantothenic acid, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Phosphorus. Celery also contains Omega-6 fatty acids. So not only will you be adding a punch of that salty flavor your love so much to your food, but also a large variety of beneficial nutrients!

This is a simple and mess free DIY that I know you all will enjoy,  so let's get to it!