This photo was taken over a year ago, when my daughter was just a wee one. I was sifting through the recipe folder, looking for a recipe to post and finding none, I came across this photo. So much has happened in this year. Our small business has grown and we have celebrated birthdays and cried over the passing of my beloved Grandpa. I want everyone who comes across this to be happy in knowing that love is such an infinite force. It cannot be contained, bottled or canned. I spent two weeks in Georgia with my grandma who had just lost her partner of 65 years. I am so amazed by her strength and her foresight. She was prepared to lose her husband, I wasn’t prepared to lose the man who had stepped in as my father for the past 30 years.

When my grandparents still lived in NYC, they took me everywhere with them. I went on countless road trips from NYC to Georgia. I remember my grandmother always making more food than we could eat and my grandfather always impeccably dressed. He was a proud man and he was always loving, affectionate and proud of me. I was their first grandchild and the only grandchild for ten years. My father being their only child, they welcomed me, an unexpected gift as their daughter. As I write this, the love and positive example that he showed me is engraved permanently in my heart and my soul.

Like my grandfather, I am quiet, choosy even with the folks that I share my life with. However, “I love you” should never be left unsaid. I am grateful that I have the loving memories of the times that I spent with my grandpa. He could always make me laugh. He didn’t miss much and often had colorful observations to share.

As you read this, you must know that love is a powerful choice and it feels so good to have it in your life. If you are out there seeking it, stop, for it is first found within. Everything is already there, just open your eyes. If you are going through a hard time, if there are troubles in your midst, remember to love. Give love freely in kindness to others and receive love through forgiveness.

I am just sharing with you a portion of my journey because I have found that love always wins, the spirit lives on and we are all magnificent beings with an amazing capacity for love.

I know more about Grandpa George through my wife’s eyes, than I do on my own accord. I’ve only met him a handful of times, but he has affected my life exponentially. He was raised in Southern Georgia, during the days a black man didn’t need to experience. His principles: family. He doesn’t need anything else; well, maybe, fishing and gardening. Whether he was in Georgia, in New York City or back home after retirement, family is always his priority. He taught my wife that men should provide for their family, always be there for your relatives and nurture the creation.

He knows farming like it is first grade math. He always kept a garden no matter what climate he resided. When I tasted his crop, my experience of vegetables was transformed. Vegetables so good, you could eat them plain. But why do that, when his wife can add them to a dish and make everything around them better…the same way he affects other people around him, the same way he affects me.

My wife is his first granddaughter and she adores him. At age 10, my wife’s father decided not to be an active part of her life anymore. Grandpa George stepped in and became that father figure for her. He showered her with love, support, time and adoration. He never missed a birthday or an important accomplishment in my wife’s life.
He is who I asked for her hand in marriage (thanks for saying yes). I believe he is proud of me, because I promised to love my wife as much as he loves his granddaughter.

One of my wife’s favorite Grandpa George acts: He’ll fill up the car’s tank the night before his wife has errands to run or when it falls below half a tank. Of course I am reminded of this standard whenever I fail to meet my wife’s needs before she knows she is in need or when she sees the Christmas lights that light up on my dashboard every time I start the car. I’m learning and thankful to have such a standard to be judged by.

I am sad I will not be able to see you anymore, to shake your hand or see the light in my wife’s eyes when she sees you. Thank you for raising my wife to love me and share your wisdom with me. Be at ease while you’re separated from Grandma Pearl, I will be here for her.

I’m so glad April is over.  It sucked.

Anyway, on a positive note.  We are still making vegan cheese, our children are still healthy and my mom is still awesome.

There are a couple of updates I am going to add, like other stores we are currently in, what new services we are offering and just some all around house cleaning.  Things were getting a little dusty around here.

In the meantime; I found the cutest vegan couple: http://www.meettheshannons.net/ Please check them out!  In the spirit of Julie and Julia, they are veganizing the Betty Crocker cookbook!

Speaking of veganizing.  I have veganized many of her recipes, but I am so unofficial about it…lol

Thank you for being awesome!

You know who you are…

P.S. Someone goes vegan with Ste Martaen cheese!

http://planetverge.com/2010/03/going-vegan-episode-6-whats-cooking/

This is just a ploy to get you to ignore the fact that this is not a recipe post. Don’t worry, we didn’t run out of vegan recipes that will make your inner thighs touch (unfortunately I know this as fact). This month went by so quickly. Where does the time go?

Time thief!

It’s not her fault.

Okay, it kinda is.

Those cheeks man!

I can kiss those cheeks all day.

Seriously.

Oh, look! She wants to share!

She really wants you to take it.

Sike! (Don’t act like you don’t know what that means.)

Enjoy the fleeting moments.

She thinks she can talk! Actually, she knows she can talk, we’re just not up to her speed yet.

Pitter Pat goes my heart!

The Mercy For Animals’ 2nd annual Celebrating Compassion Gala was amazing! This has been such a hectic holiday season and we prepped ourselves for this event, however it’s been a while and we don’t get out much…together. I had so much fun being around grown ups, dressing up, serving our cheese, taking pictures, hanging with friends (Kevin & Chelsea) and spending time with my Silver Fox!

The man behind the Ste Martaen brand.

Our spread. Many people came back not only for seconds and thirds, but fourths and fifths. We were flattered!

We shared the table with other vegan Chicago local talent–Karyn’s and Great Taste Cafe. Their food was so beautifully presented!

Karyn’s Raw Sushi Rolls

Great Taste Cafe Roasted Sweet Potato with Chipotle Cream & Green Onions

So Pretty!

Early on in the evening before we were swarmed…

The decor was quite beautiful! The room where we ate dinner was amazing, however it was so dark in there I didn’t attempt pictures. The dinner meal was provided by the lovely people from Chicago Diner, dessert was Delicious Cafe, Raw Creations and Great Taste Cafe, the Late Night meal was provided by Uptons Naturals (someone stole our sandwiches) , Pattycake Vegan Bakery (They had so many vegan desserts to choose from, it was a true dessert buffet!) and Turtle Mountain.

The cast from Oh Brother Where Art Thou showed up! j/k

Kevin auditioning for the new Bond movie.

Not really.

Food, friends and fun!

As much as I love and have embraced the vegan lifestyle, I certainly ain’t no snob about it.  My best friend is not a vegan nor does she plan to be any time soon.  We’ve been friends so long that meat does not come between our love and respect for each other.  I love my grandparents totally and completely and being meat eaters for over eighty years they eat what I give them (the only time they eat vegan) as their precious granddaughter when I visit.  They think I’m cute but they certainly are not changing their meat eating ways even for me.  They also respect my choices and see with their own eyes my four completely healthy vegan children.  So when I come across a blogger who eats meat, I don’t immediately turn away, especially if we have common interests.

When I first came to Chicago my husband could not join us right away.  I came to Chicago alone with our three sons and I spent a lot of time on the phone with my husband.  It was lonely but I had no choice and I had absolute faith that he would be joining me soon. I stumbled upon Pioneer Woman’s website one day and was instantly fixated by her humor, her honesty and her detailed recipes, shot by shot!  I was hooked and immediately started following her recipes and veganizing them.  Good cooking is good cooking and when the recipes are simple enough the vegan ingredients can be easily substituted in place of meat or dairy with fantastic results.  I have done so much of her food that I can literally dedicate an entire section of this website to the veganization of her recipes alone.   Her recipes kept me company for weeks until my husband arrived.  I have kept up with her website and have admired her gumption and energy.  I also loved the fact that she is a homeschooling mother raising her children with the love of her life, here was a woman I could totally relate to!

Last night I finally met her.  She came out to a book signing in Skokie. I won’t detail the journey it took me to get there or back home but I will say that it was well worth it.  Barnes and Noble was totally unprepared for how many people showed up.  I think over 300 people showed up and Ree stayed well past closing time to meet every single person who stood in line to see her.  How awesome is that!?  I think she signed my book at around 11pm and there were still people there!  What a class act.  She clearly made everyone feel welcome and she made sure that everyone who came out and stood in that line got their book signed.  She even gave away t-shirts which I forgot to get.

“The Pioneer Woman Cooks” cookbook is just as engaging and detailed as her website.  She is just as tall and pretty, her kids (the boys were there) are just as cute and frisky and yes her husband is just as rugged and handsome.  Everyone has a story, what’s so special about Ree is that it’s not just a single story but many stories rolled into one.  The love story between her and her husband; the homeschooling of four children on a cattle ranch; adjusting to life in the country and so on.  Each story is given merit, she respects her readers and puts her best self forward.  This all comes off in her writing and her photography and her constantly evolving website.

Ree, “It was a special treat to meet you and maybe one day my husband Nahum (I’m still tickled about how you pronounced his name) and I will get to prepare for you a delicious vegan meal!”

My husband and I can measure our lives in one of many ways. Recently our blackberries have become the gauge. There was life before our blackberry phones which was devoid of excitement and without purpose and life after the blackberry which trumps our bebes.

We barely talk to each other anymore, we’ll just text each other. GAH.

We have moved from the stone age to the industrial age all in one jump. It’s like sleeping in tents in the forest and moving into a penthouse suite. Is this a good thing? Only time will tell. The fact is, we’re addicted now and are more interested in protecting our phones… than eating, sleeping, drinking. I think I might be dehydrated right now. But I tweeted though.

The blackberry pictured above is mine. The blackberry pictured below is my husband’s.

Aren’t we cute?

I have been neglecting my husband and my children for up to the minute status updates on uber twitter and facebook!

Aside from all that, we are excited because we get to talk to our fans on facebook, our followers on twitter and kewl people in general, ALL THE TIME. Awesome. In the end we got our snazzy new phones just to be closer to you. For real.

Choose Joy!
Laviyah

P.S. As soon as I find a WordPress App for my blackberry I will so be posting from my phone.

Come out this weekend to Chicago Vegan Mania.  We will be sharing a table this coming weekend with our delicious peeps.  Come and have some Ste Martaen vegan cheese.  Come hang out.  Come vibe with other vegans.  Right now, we are prepping and getting ready for the excitement of this weekend!  See you shortly!

The food, I know, I know, I will get back to that in a sec. Be patient. It’s just me since my husband utterly refuses to post recipes. He’s on strike, something about the wages and working conditions. In between relatives visiting and having a 100% raw house-guest who is visiting for an extended period of time. Homeschooling the kiddies, organizing, decluttering, we managed to make it outside for some much needed sunshine.

I think the pic above describes the dynamic between the boys perfectly. The eldest being bossy, the middle son playing along and my youngest son doing whatever the heck he wants to do. This time, it’s running to me to tell on his older brothers.

My daughter ate grass, because that’s what babies do. She seemed to enjoy it. She needed the roughage. All the cheerios and yogurt she eats had her backed up.

One day I will run a comb through this child’s head.

Why are boys so prone to violence?

This is Mr. Sensitivity. He loves to cook and long walks in the park… I am going to have to beat them back with a stick in a couple of years.

Just as long as they all know that their number one job is to protect this little princess right here.

For a girl raised up in Brooklyn, I love the outdoors.  I spent weeks out of the summers off at camp.  Fishing, hiking, canoeing…  I’ve done it all.  Even jumping into a pool first thing in the morning for Polar Bear.

Summer is over around these parts and I am reluctantly saying goodbye to short sleeve shirts. For some reason this summer in Chicago didn’t turn out to be a scorcher at all. It kind of sucked, mainly because it took soooooo long for the weather to break, but when it did I was elated to get outside amongst the trees and whatnot.

I walked through Hyde Park today and went to a street fair, spent all my money on books walking away a happy women. I am in love with the Simple Things in life…

P.S. Don’t worry, we will be back for our regularly scheduled programing.