Happy Valentine’s Day! Because this year we’re pinching pennies, Jon and I agreed not to do anything huge this year. Typically I load him up full of candies and sweets, and we go out for a fancy-shmancy dinner. One Valentine’s, he surprised me with a limousine, and swept me away to an eclectic cafe downtown!

So, in light of our budget-conscious Love Day, I crafted Jon these cute and geeky Breaking Bad themed Valentines! Tutorial + Template below!

Supplies

• Breaking Bad Valentines from butthorn on Tumblr, printed out onto recycled paper.
• A black felt tip pen
• A pair of scissors
• optional: crafty, patterned scissors
• White glue
• 3 sheets of construction paper in yellow, pink, and green

Directions:

1. On a firm surface, sign each valentine. Cut out.

2, Align your Valentine’s on both the green and yellow papers. Cut around the Valentine, leaving aprox .5cm of the construction paper bordering the valentine. Optional: cut these edges with scalloped scrapbooking scissors for a frilly edge.

3. Align your yellow and green construction paper on the pink paper. Cut around and leave a .5m overhang.

4. Glue and assemble!

5. Press each into a hardcover book to dry flat.

I have the Winter Blahs. And yes, if you were wondering, that’s why I hadn’t posted here in a few days. I’m feeling really down and deterred lately, and I think the crummy weather is only keeping me in my pajamasallday funk.

So, I’m thinking Spring. We’re almost there! And if I can’t get excited about warmer temperatures, I sure can get excited for yummy food. And who doesn’t like Avocados??

Check out this fabulous recipe from La Cazuela Vegana for Vegan Guacamole! A note; the recipe is in Spanish, I’ve provided the translation below!

INGREDIENTS (serves 4)

Man, I am on an indie biz finding roll. I have an ever-growing list of companies to fork my non-existent disposable income to. norf.

A couple of weeks ago, fellow blogger HEYNICHOLE began following me on tumblr. I love checking out new followers, and it was while perusing her page that I discovered her company – THE CULTLABEL.

And if you dig edgy, dark fashion – you’ll want to check her out!

I’m in love with these lipstick leggings. So rad.

You’ve probably heard of Drop Dead Clothing. I’m probably just way out of the loop on this one. I don’t care. Any dress featuring Donuts In Space warrants a blog post.

As soon as I have a billion+ dollars, I plan on burning my wardrobe. And then burning some of that billion+ dollars because Drop Dead Clothing‘s prices are so reasonable.

Have you heard of Drop Dead? What’s your favorite item?

Do I know how to find vegan comfort food, or do I know how to find vegan comfort food!

Today’s featured vegan recipe, Spaghetti and Meatballs comes from Whole Foods! Can you believe those delicious looking meat-free meatballs are made with sunflower seeds!?

I know right? I bet your unplugging your laptop and bringing this post over to the kitchen to get started as we speak. No fear! Recipe Below.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup chopped yellow onion
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup roughly chopped cremini mushrooms
1 cup packed baby spinach
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup cooked or canned black beans, rinsed, drained and divided
2 teaspoons 365 Everyday Value® dried Organic Basil
2 teaspoons 365 Everyday Value® dried Organic Oregano
1 cup frozen 365 Everyday Value® Organic Brown Rice, thawed
8 ounces Whole Foods Market™ Organic Spaghetti
1 (25 ounce) jar 365 Everyday Value® Organic Pasta Sauce

Method

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in mushrooms and spinach. Cover and cook until mushrooms are tender and spinach wilts, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in the bowl of a food processor, pulse sunflower seeds until coarsely ground. Add cooked vegetable mixture, half the beans, basil and oregano. Pulse until mixture is just coming together. In a large bowl, combine puréed mixture, remaining beans and rice. Stir until combined.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Form mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls and transfer to a lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake meatballs 30 minutes or until heated through and crisp on the outside. Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain well and return to pot. Add pasta sauce and toss until combined and heated through. Add meatballs and toss very gently to combine, taking care not to break up meatballs. Serve.

- Whole Foods

When I was a kid, I once went to a 60′s theme birthday party. It was decked out with lava lamps, and pink groovy flower stickers — and as an activity, we all went out in the backyard and made tye dye shirts. I was a bit of a pudgy kid growing up, so the shirt never fit. But I loved it. So it sat unworn in my drawer, quietly coveted. And I’ve never warn a tye dye garment since.

Alright, end of sob story. I think the real reason I never wore any tye dye (apart from that shirt) is because I wasn’t really into it. Bright colors colliding together in seams of mud and brown? Count me out.

But then we started bleaching, dilluting and washing out. Pastels have made me a tye dye fan. And who knows, you may be one too!

I am in a very envious mood right now. Last week, I happened upon Gina678 on flickr, a fellow cupcake kitchen enthusiast.

LOOKATHERKITCHENN.

Have you ever seen so much glee in one place?

I’m not quite sure yet if this has either encouraged or discouraged me to continue filling my (now sad, pathetic) kitchen with cupcakes. Actually, that’s a lie. Almost immediately after flickr stalking Gina’s kitchen, I ordered these christmas cupcake ornaments, and this cupcake handsoap from fredflare. I couldn’t stop myself!

I’m also now tempted to talk my landlord in letting me paint the kitchen. I’m sure future tenants will appreciate a little turquoise.

Check out more pictures of Gina’s kitchen below.

See more at Gina678′s flickr!

I don’t recall how I happened upon German indie company Fuchsteufelswild, but I immediately fell in love. Who wouldn’t? They’re  DIY, Vegan-Friendly and Sweat-Shop-Free!

I am in desperate want of their Veggie Necklace. Spy anything up your alley?

Recently, I’ve been getting back into Make-Up artistry. Being a vegan, I am having a very difficult time.

It has been awhile since I’ve offered my services professionally, and my beliefs and eating habits have changed dramatically. I went from being an occasional meat-avoider to full-blown vegan in the time between. And now, trying to flesh out my make-up artistry kit, while still holding onto my beliefs, I find myself running into a brick wall.

With so many ‘cruelty-free’ pledges, and ingredients lists half-a-page long, a girl can get overwhelmed. Major cosmetics companies come up with ‘nothing found’ when searching for animal ingredient free products, yet if you have a qualm about animal testing, you just have to scroll to the bottom of the page.

HEY MAJOR COSMETIC BRANDS – Veganism is a growing trend. And with the internet, the number of conscious consumers is ever-growing. is it so hard to have a section, a stamp, or at least a list of vegan-friendly cosmetics in your FAQ? I would very much like to give you my money, and share your cruelty-free products with my clients.

 - BUT -

Though most major cosmetic companies website’s have no whisper of veganism, there are a few who’ve got it right. Here is a small list of cosmetics companies who are either entirely vegan, or have clearly posted vegan items!

1.  Urban Decay – http://www.urbandecay.com/

• Purple Paw Stamp Representing Vegan items.
• Vegan brushes, color cosmetics, primer/moisturizers.
• Vegan Search Filter.
  

2. Tarte – http://www.tartecosmetics.com

• Vegan Section
• Color cosmetics, primer
• Small selection

3. LUSH – LUSH Cosmetics

• Vegan ‘V’ stamp on items.
• Extensive selection
• Cleansers, Toners, Moisturizers, Lip Balms, Bath & Shower

4. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics – http://www.occmakeup.com/

• 100% Vegan-Friendly
• Color Cosmetics, Airbrush Systems, Brushes

Other Companies

This list is by no means extensive. Yes, many large companies like Mac Cosmetics and Too faced will send you a list of currently vegan items, but for resource purposes, I will not post these sites. If you are looking for vegan products from any major cosmetics brand that does not have their vegan products posted publicly, I would contact them directly, prior to every purchase you make. Ingredients lists can change.

Sleuthing

If you arm yourself with the proper resources, you can determine vegan products for yourself. Here area few references to get you started:

• Animal Ingredients A to Z by Carol Adams
• A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients by Ruth Winter
• Peta’s Animal Ingredient Guide

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Do you purchase vegan cosmetics? How do you find the companies you support? Who do you recommend?

I’ve never been a big fan of the idea of tofu in soup. But this vegan-friendly Tofu Pho from For the Love of Food looks amazing! Recipe Below.

Tofu Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup)
Adapted from The Kitchn
Serves 2

Broth
1 cinnamon stick
1 star anise
1 large yellow onion, peeled and roughly chopped
2 green onions, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, sliced
2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
4 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
4 cups (unsalted) vegetable stock
1 Tablespoon Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (or soy sauce)

Other Ingredients
1/2 block tofu, cut into cubes
2 Tablespoons coconut oil (or another oil suitable for medium-high heat cooking)
1/2 pound dried, flat rice noodles
1.5 cups broccoli, chopped
2 heads of baby bok choy, chopped
1/4 cup snow peas, chopped

For serving, optional
1 lime, cut into wedges
2 large sprigs of Thai basil
1 jalapeño, sliced
1 cup fresh mung bean sprouts
sprinkle of red chile pepper flakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large pot over medium heat, dry roast cinnamon stick and star anise for one minute.  Add the onions, garlic, ginger, and carrots. Saute for about 5 minutes, until frangrant, stirring to prevent sticking.  Add the stock and Liquid Aminos.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.  Strain and keep hot until ready to serve.

Toss tofu with oil and lay flat on sheet pan.  Bake for about 30 minutes, flipping every 10 minutes, until tofu is crispy on the outside.  Set aside.

Place noodles in a large bowl.  Cover with hot water and soak for about 8 minutes.  (The soaking time depends on the width of your noodles.  I used 1/16″ noodles which require little soaking time.)  The noodles should be firm, but not hard.  Drain and set aside.

While broth is simmering, tofu is baking, and noodles are soaking, lightly steam your veggies for 5 minutes.  They should be bright green and crisp, but not tough.

Assemble:  divide noodles, tofu, and vegetables into two bowls.  Top with broth.  Serve lime, basil, peppers, mung beans, and red pepper flakes on the side and add into your soup, if desired.

- For The Love of Food