Decadently Vegan, on Facebook!

Since I'm pretty horrible at taking pics, I have yet to get some good ones of my newest creations. One day I went kind of earring crazy, but am pleased at the results. Even with the hemp I've done pretty well (one bracelet is even a kids' size). What I do have pics of, though, are in my "For Sale" album on my Facebook page! I even have a rockin' shirt I prettied up a bit :)
If you have a Facebook profile, please look up my page and click that lovely little "like" button & share with all of your friends! You will get posts for when my blog (yes, here) is updated, and you will also get first dibs on new product postings. Any specials, deals, or discounts will be listed on my page before anywhere else, and it would be the best way to get any special orders to me! You can also find me on Twitter (RogueDecadence; it's linked to my FB page). I will also be updating my page's statuses with various quick tips on planet friendly/vegan life, and most likely much more!
I look forward to seeing you all on Facebook!!!
I have heard a person or two voice some concerns over security issues and that is why they do not have a Facebook. As long as your computer has all the needed up to date security programs & you do your settings on Fb right, there are no real worries! 

New Shop is up & running... kinda...

All of the items in my old Esty shop have finally expired, and I have been working on the new one... www.decadentlyvegan.etsy.com! Yes, it is currently empty... but that doesn't mean that there aren't items on their way. A recent purchase of some hemp thread and new beads has given me creative hope, as has the pending purchase of a book on different hemp designs (I like to be able to learn on the go, and my phone doesn't always have web access in the many places I go). For some reason the hippy in me is starting to show it's self again... which I always love. I'm constantly searching for hippy clothes online, have a great desire for anything made of organic hemp, and if it isn't fair trade I give it a dirty look. 
My favorite thing about this time of year, though, is being able to hang my clothes out to dry. The smell of sunshine in my clothing beats any fabric softener out there, and is as all natural as it gets. I have an umbrella style clothesline, and it's portable and folds easily for storage. The portable part comes in handy if you're yard doesn't have one certain spot that stays sunny as it can be moved around. For those of you who read my old blog, you saw some pictures there. Sadly, those pics died with that blog, and I will have to take new ones. 
I have made a couple of new peices to go along with the new shop, but have no new pics yet. Am hopefully going to find the time to work with a friend on taking better pictures of things, and just better pictures in general. Even though my phone has an amazing camera (and takes great video, too) I just haven't used it as much as I used to. There are so many things that I loved that I let slip to the side while I hid in the darkness. I let the negativity surrounding me suffocate me until I had almost forgotten. 
Strangely, what I think pulled me out of it was getting very, very, very sick a few months ago. It lasted for about 2 weeks, and kept me out of work. A trip to the ER taught me that I had an ear infection, sinus infection, chest infection, a little strep, and whatever strain of flu that was going around at the time (I basically NEVER get anything that is contagious since going vegan, so I was shocked). Kalifornia helped to protect me from the hyperness of the other dogs and stayed by my side through almost all of it (she deserved the right to go potty, ya know). I truly felt as if I was dying, and when it was finally over I felt like a dark cloud was gone from my world... and I could allow myself to enjoy life again. So I am dating someone new, who does truly care about and want to be with me, and am slowly getting back into yoga. One small thing I really dig right now are wasabi peas... the hot kind. They can be found in many stores, especially asian ones. I have to force myself to not eat a whole can at once. 
Also, I love coconut milk but still do not care for almond milk. There was a sale at my usual grocery store so I could afford to give them a try (again, for almond milk, hoping it was the brand I had tried before). I think I will still stick with soymilk as my staple, and have yet to try hemp milk (rice milk tastes too much like rice for me, though I love rice). 
So... what is new with you guys?

Avocado Update (Strange Happenings...)

After discovering there was a huge lack of sunny windowsills to place my avocado seeds in I decided to put them outside in the sun, as in the pictures in the previous post. Seems like this was a bad idea. I went to check them today to find that they were gone. Yes, gone. Toothpicks and the seeds, but not the little cups (which were still filled with water).
I'm sure the dogs or any other animal would have knocked over at least one of the cups, so I have no clue what happened. And I'm not really going to worry about it since that will honestly do no good.
I will probably wait until it gets to be a bit warmer, since this time of year the temperature fluxuate so much that it's difficult to tell what time of year it truly is without  looking at a calender...

One good thing is that my hair is pink again, though it was on accident. The red bled into the bleached part in the front (my beloved Rogue stripes) and is now bright pink. I will post pics when I am able, and of course I used Manic Panic brand in the shade of Vampire Red (which always turns pink on the bleached out parts of my hair).

Now to get back to "real world" stuffs, and fantasize about what it was like when I had time to do some crafting... beading, oh how I do miss you...

Finally, growing an avocado plant...

For some time I have been saying that I wanted to grow two things; an avocado plant and a lemon tree. Well, I've finally started one. Ever since the last time I started a container garden and locusts decided to take it over I have been hesitant to begin again, and just the other week my aloe plant (the great grand baby of my original one) died. But with two avocados in my fridge that needed to be eaten soon, I decided to take the opportunity to at least attempt to test out my green thumb again.

To find out how to grow my avocado plant I did the only thing I knew to do, I googled it. There are many many links to blogs and vlogs giving instrucitons and showing how to do so with little variation in the directions.
In the pictures above you see how I have set them up. The toothpicks help to keep the avocados suspended on top of the water with only the wide actually in the water. I also found information that lightly scraping the skin off that part will help it absorb water faster (I used my thumbnail, you want to do this very delicately so as not to damage the seed).
It is easier if you are lucky enough to have a seed that already starts to root in the fruit. If you ever notice you have one like that, go ahead and start it then!
Some links said these will not grow fruit, some said it will take several years at least if you have other trees around to help polinate. Either way, I look forward to the beautiful plant that will grow and help to oxygenate our world.
Things I will have to watch out for: the weather turning cold again, and nosy dogs. I will keep them inside and give them as much sun as possible, and keep them out of reach of the furkids... I took the pics of them outside because there was no sun coming in through any windows at the time, and the lighting was better. :)

At least once a week I will post an update, even if there are no changes... 

Recipe: Oatmeal Crisps (Cookies)

This recipe was very easy to veganize, and I'm sure this version came out much better than the original. I don't recall eating them before (it's my mother's recipe, but she's not much of a baker) but my mom said they came out really really good. 

Not the best pic... not the prettiest of cookies... but they taste damn good! 

The banana is in there as an egg replacement (1 banana = 2 eggs). I also love the flavor it adds to the cookie, seems to make the oatmeal taste even better. I use organic ingredients whenever possible, and all of these things can be bought at most grocery stores (like, Krogers). Turbinado sugar is different in the way it is processed, and is not bleached (yes, that white sugar you use has been soaked in BLEACH THE EVIL CHEMICAL). Those Dixie crystals you are used to have been processed using a carbon filter, and they make that carbon with animal bits etc etc etc... google it all to find out more. This post is about a cookie recipe, not sugar. :)

1 c Earth Balance vegan margarine

1 c brown sugar

1 c turbinado sugar

1 banana

1 tsp vanilla flavoring

1 1/2 c organic all wheat flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

3 c oats

chopped nuts, about 1/2 c, I used pecans 

Cream the butter and sugars thoroughly. Then mash in the banana, mix very well, and the vanilla. Mix the flour, salt, and soda together, then slowly mix in with the other. Stir in the oats and nuts, and make sure the entire mixture is mixed very well. I used a fork at first, but finally ended up just using my hands. Form into rolls that are 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. Wrap in wax paper, or the like, and chill thoroughly. You will know it's ready when you go to do the next step. 

Once ready, use a sharp knife to slice the dough into cookies about 1/4 inch thick. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350 or until lightly browned. It makes about 5 dozen or so, but this does freeze really well so you can make a few now and save the dough for later. 

My Laundry Soap Recipe (& how I actually make it)

For years I have said that I would make a powdered version of this, but the liquid has worked very well for me for years and years now. I found the original recipe somewhere online, or from someone online, but of course had to make it my own. So you can do the same, I included the original recipe as well as the way I made it the last time. Each time I make something, I do it a bit differently. To me that is the way it should always be. That's what home made things are all about! 


Here is the original recipe:
1/3 - 1/2 c liquid castle soap; 1/2 c borax; 1/2 c washing soda
Put in a 2 gallon bucket, and add enough hot water to almost fill it up.  Stir.  Use 1/4 to 1/3 cup per load.          *Grated Castille bar soap can be used in place.  Use scented soap, like lavender, for an added touch.


Here is what i did last time and i think it's the best yet....
Being that I use white vinegar to clean stuff all the time, we always buy the big bottle of it. We usually recycle them, but one worked out great for this. Since they are only one gallon in size I halved the amounts of stuff in the recipe, and used Dr. Bronner's Liquid Castille Soap, lavender scent (my fave). The borax and the washing soda can usually be found in any laundry isle, I've bought mine at Kroger for years. I filled the bottle/jug about 1/3 up with warm/hot water (it helps the powders dissolve faster), used a funnel to add other ingredients, shook it up to mix, added more hot water, shook up, and so on until it was all dissolved and mixed. Remember that it's easier to shake to mix when the bottle is not full. 
Since I halved what the original recipe called for, I use one eighth of a cup per load... which if i recall right is a tablespoon... not sure. But I do know that those Simply Orange juice bottles are great for storing it because not only do they look nifty but their caps are just the right size to measure it out (the inner part for reg loads, the outer for super big and nasty ones).


I stopped using bleach years ago, now I only use Oxyclean (or another item like it, like a super earth friendly kind I once got at Earth Fare) instead. It can be used for lots of cleaning purposes, not just laundry, so don't forget to read the packaging. 
Sometimes adding some extra vinegar can help get nasty odors out of your laundry (and help disinfect as well). It's perfect if you have some lil ones that have "accidents" and so on. The washer I am currently using has a special bleach dispenser, and that's what I use to add the extra vinegar to the wash (remember, we are bleach free in this house).
For really nasty stuff (I use hankies instead of tissues most of the time, or stuff a dog may have peed on, etc) I will soak it in a bucket with hot water, some laundry soap, and some Oxyclean at least overnight. I never use hot water with the washer, though. It can be damaging to clothing, and using only cold can save you bunches on your power bill year after year... or gas bill if your hot water runs off of gas.
Now for the easiest but messiest part of all... the "fabric softener". Take one part white vinegar, one part baking soda, 2 parts water and MIX SLOWLY! I cannot stress the mixing slowly part enough. I like to add a few drops of an essential oil (once again, I love lavender) as well.  The best part about this stuff is that it can be used in a Downy Ball (if you don't have one, buy one now... best thing EVER). Just don't expect this stuff to work like Downy or Snuggle, etc... it's so much better. The way that commercial fab softeners work is they break down the make up of the clothing, the cloth, the material... it makes it softer but makes your clothing wear out a lot faster. And I don't know about you guys, but I love my clothes and want them to last as long as possible. 
Another great point about the laundry soap and fabric softener is that they aren't full of harsh chemicals that damage our water supply, clothing, and even our skin and air. All detergents are automatically harmful in that way, but for some reason they can be found in everything (yup, shampoo, hand soaps, and even toothpastes... ick).  That's why I like to make my own when I can, but if I can't I always look for things that are not full of nasty detergents. 
The next step in doing laundry is naturally the drying process. I love to hang my clothes out to dry, but it's starting to get too cold here to use my outdoor umbrella style clothes line. We do have a set up for delicates, but I must admit that certain things like my jeans and sweatshirts just don't come out right with them... so my weakness would be using my dryer at this point. 


One thing I will mention, when you go to buy the stuff to make the laundry soap you may think it's too expensive. Keep this in mind: I went about 2 plus years without having to buy anything else. I did start with grating the bars of soap, and had more than one, but still... this stuff will last forever. Plus Dr. Bronner's Castilleborax I linked does not test on animals or use animal products as well, but Arm and Hammer (they make washing soda) does... so be careful. We want to make sure these companies know that we demand cruelty free products and will accept no less! 


Please give it a try, and comment here to let me know how it went for you. Laundry tips are also always welcomed! 
**You may notice it starting to look a bit cloudy or some clumps to show, depending on how chilly it may get where you store the laundry soap... but that's just fine. Give the bottle a few good shakes (after making sure the top is on tightly) to mix it back up. The fabric softener will separate, so also check and make sure it's top is on and shake really really well before each use. 

Quick update

My plans to blog daily have not exactly gone as smoothly as I wanted... ok, they haven't gone as I wanted at all. But it doesn't mean I am not planning something... the gears in my mind are constantly running and thinking of ideas to share with you guys. Sadly, life is taking it's toll on me. I'm still trying to get it all together, and with so much going on right now it isn't so easy.
So.
Please, be patient.
I will let you know that I am working on some house renovations, getting back into school, and possibly starting my own business (outside of jewelry making, though).
In the mean time, go check out TheKindLife.com, and join (yup, I'm Rogue Decadence there, too), vegnews.com, care2.com, and all the other fun stuff we can do from our desks to help learn how to live a happier and healthier life in a happier and healthier world.