Cissy Lala is a vegan mama of three, living in San Diego, CA, and spreading the vegan message both through her Instagram account and new business, So Cute Co. I came across Cissy on Instagram when I first started my account, through Ellen Fisher, and I have been following her ever since. What I love most is that she is real and straight to the point about her life and her beliefs. She shows families just how easy and important it is to raise your children with a foundation of knowledge in nutrition. She even includes kid-friendly recipes in her posts, like the one below that you guys will love!
Without further or do, let's meet Cissy and make some muffins!
My parents named me Emily von Euw, and I have been hanging around this planet for about 20 years plus a few months. I reside in Vancouver, Canada with my family, friends, lover and approximately 1 million other people I don't know personally.
I adore being alive. I also adore avocados. I've always defined myself as a critical thinker, and part of being a critical thinker is hyper-analyzing everything that surrounds me (which, in this modernist world, is quite a lot). Being in my brain is overwhelming much of the time but I have learned to manage being me by treating myself with respect (this includes meditating regularly, getting outdoors whenever possible, and feeding my body and mind whole, nourishing, organic foods). I think while we are here for these some odd 80 years most of us get on average, we should make those happy years. Ultimately, who really know if anything matters? So let's just have a good time while we can, and not tell other people how to live their lives.
I like to dance, laugh, eat, drink, eat some more, always learn, always try to improve myself, do anything that gives me a natural dopamine rush (all of the things just mentioned, plus sex, exercise, hiking, cuddling other animals, and looking into the eyes of people I love). I study history at university (getting my bachelors now, plan on getting my masters later) and I am also a full-time food blogger! What the heck does that mean? Well, it means I spend a lot of time making raw vegan recipes, taking food porn pictures of them, then sharing it all on the world wide web.
Name: Yvonne Ardestani
Origin: San Diego and Santa Cruz, California
Current City: Los Angeles, California
Occupation: Vegan, Gluten-free Chef. Founder of My Eclectic Kitchen Recipe App (available on iTunes and Google Play), eBook, and blog.
Interesting Facts:
1- Prior to attending culinary school, I was an accountant and sold real estate.
2- I am the youngest of six daughters.
3- I have an autoimmune disease. I was first hyperthyroid, and now I am hypothyroid.
4- I was once a size 13 and went down to a size 2 within 1.5 years, with the help of a cleaner diet and a lot of exercise.
5- I’m often asked what ingredient I miss most since going vegan. I have to say honey. It used to be so good in my granola and granola bars. Luckily, I discovered great alternatives for honey.
It is important for me to maintain a balanced life. This includes daily meditation and prayer to thank God for my many blessings—my overall health, a wonderful marriage, my family and friends, and, of course, for the abundance of delicious, natural food that I am privileged to enjoy each day. As I live an active and healthy lifestyle, I work out at least 4 times a week and enjoy a plant-based, whole foods vegan diet. Taking yoga a few times a week and journaling daily help me achieve a sense of self-awareness. Maintaining healthy and peaceful relationships is a priority so spending time with my supportive and loving husband, family, and friends is a must. In my spare time, I enjoy watching the LA Clippers at the Staples Center, writing music with my husband, learning about nutrition, and keeping up with current events.