4/21 A Look Back & A Winner

Congratulations Julie from CT Soaps and Candles, you are todays Birthday Bash winner. You have won a very decadent prize from Veganville Bakery of California. GiGi of Veganville will handcraft and ship a special Exploits birthday creation just for you. Every single thing I have ever had from Gigi has been more mystical than the last, culminating with the Veganville feast Sandy ordered for my birthday in February. Everyone that tasted the birthday bootie freaked out with joy and vegan pastry exhuberance. Enjoy Julie  and thank you for your comments.

A Look Back

A  year ago I wrote my first blog post. It was the beginning of a thirty day challenge to try veganism that morphed into one of the most significant and exciting changes of my life. A year ago I had never eaten kale,  I wore more wool than a Merino Sheep and had never heard of Nutritional Yeast. I thought liquid aminos could burn you and Chia seeds were for Chia pets. I had never attended let alone taught a vegan cooking class and I fed loneliness, fear and shame with double scoop waffle cones and Marlboro Lights. A year ago the thought of writing for public consumption inspired  nearly paralyzing fear. Now, writing Exploits six days a week has become as much a part of me as raw cashews and Crocs….we just fit and I like it alot.

As I reread the first week of posts from April 2010 I felt a lump in my throat. It was the manifestation of the feelings of gratitude and pride and hopeful expectation I feel one year later. I am grateful to you for sharing in this journey. It really has been so much more fun with friends. I am proud of all of us for taking small steps that have lead to great change. I have witnessed, experienced and shared in tangible change from all of us making micro shifts in our routines and food choices.  We have done all of this with grace and style so lets keep doing it.  And I also have a generous amount of  hopeful expectation for the  experiences yet to come.

We really are changing the world, one meal at a time and living more compassionately. Lets continue to feast on interesting foods, allow new experiences and to learn to nourish our bodies abundantly with praise, naturally energizing, healing  foods and love. We deserve that.

I have  enjoyed the past year and look forward to our next adventures.   Thank you for sharing your time with me.

Have a delicious day.

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Please leave a comment

  1. julie Says:

    woohoo! I am super excited. Thanks so much for your friendship, recipes & inspiration. Thanks :) Julie

  2. Amanda Says:

    Isn’t it amazing how little baby steps can add up to a world of difference in just a year? You are amazing and inspiring! I love reading your blog. Thank you!

  3. Jennifer Says:

    Happy re-birth day! <3

  4. Lisa Says:

    Oooooh Julie, Gigi’s baked goods will rock your world!!!

  5. GiGi Says:

    Thanx Lisa :)

  6. GiGi Says:

    Congrats Julie and of course Happy B-day to the dynamic duo behind Exploits. Please let me know if you have a hankering for anything or have any allergies, Julie.
    Please visit my blog at http://gigi-2boomers.blogspot.com/
    lotagigs@yahoo.com

  7. julie Says:

    OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 I love the Maple Vanilla Cupcakes. My son loved the CC cookies. I am glad I was the winner :). Thanks Dynamic Duo and Gigi

  8. Sherry Says:

    Julie, couldn’t you eat the cupcake frosting with a spoon. I have thoroughly deeply enjoyed everything we have ever had from Veganville.