I'm a vegan! Technically...

New Year. New leaf.

I started this blog (formerly titled "Veggie Kiss") shortly after becoming a vegetarian-- that was last year's New Year's resolution. And I succeeded! I've been meat-free for a little over a year now (after a solid fourteen years as a "flexitarian," natch).

This year's goal? Ascend to "True Veganism." Yes. I'm trying to live my life according to "ahimsa," eschewing all animal products. But remember, nobody's perfect! I still own a beat-up pair of leather Skechers I've had since high school. My mom got me a cashmere sweater for Christmas, and continues to make every vegetarian entree she prepares for me revolve around cheese. Only recently did I learn that many vegans use only raw sugar, since it skips some nasty-sounding "bone char" process that apparently most sugars go through. Ick! And for me, the jury is still out on honey. I have yet to try agave nectar, but plan to give it a whirl.

So there's still a lot for me to learn as I begin my vegan journey. And I'm hesitant to even label myself "vegan," because I don't want someone to "catch" me with a leather belt or non-dairy creamer that still has casein in it and scream, "HA!" -_- Labels are just something we give ourselves, or other people ascribe to us. We shouldn't be defined by them. Generally, I'm just trying to live with compassion-- I think we should applaud anyone who tries to do so.

And when you think about it, there are no absolute, perfect vegans out there. There are no "levels" of Veganism (Or are there?!? Anyone a Level 99?). The only perfect vegan to ever walk the earth was probably Ghandi. Or Jesus. Then again, Jesus likely wore leather sandals and ate fish. And I wouldn't want to suggest Jesus was immoral in any way! That would be ludicrous. See why labels are so dangerous, folks?

My plea for like-minded herbivores: let's not bicker and argue about who's a better vegan (I've known vegan friends to sneak a non-vegan cookie or two! Tsk!) and just focus on living thoughtfully, healthfully, and doing the things we love. :)

As I learn more, I plan to post some recipes here-- I'm constantly experimenting in the kitchen, and loooove watching the Food Network and veganizing what I see! I also post my thoughts on random veggie topics and any interesting news or health breakthroughs. So this blog is a bit of a smorgasbord, and now that I'm making a deeper commitment to my vegetarian lifestyle, I plan to post more frequently.

Bon appetit!