Ruby Roth Interview!

This weekend Annie (my younger sister who has been vegetarian since birth!), my mom, Jack, my Aunt Chris, her partner Carrie and I all went to VegFest in Novi.  This was my second time going and I really enjoyed it.  Each year it keeps getting better and better.  My Aunt Chris and Carrie are interested in eating vegan and have been for a couple of weeks (Carrie's mom went vegan for health reasons recently).  My mom came along to help with Jack but I think she was really impressed with what she saw, tasted and learned!  For $7 we were able to sample amazing food by cooks made in their own homes, by local restaurants and by national brands as well.  A lot of coupons were given out, animal rights activist swag to pick up (tons of stickers for my classroom) and speakers to learn from. 

However, the highlight of our time at VegFest was being able to interview Ruby Roth.  Ruby is a vegan artist, who when teaching art to students and talking to them about her vegan lifestyle, saw that there were not any children's books that discussed the vegan lifestyle.  She has illustrated and wrote both That's Why We Don't Eat Animals and Vegan is Love (and I was sure to get a signed copy of both for Jack!).  My friend Renee does marketing for VegMichigan and presented Annie and I with the opportunity to interview her.  It was a pleasure to do so; Ruby was so kind and well spoken and even took the time to give my sister Annie some advice on art (as she hopes to do something similar to Ruby in her future, combining veganism/vegetariansim with art).  I'm thankful that she wrote these books so vegan kids like Jack have the opportunity to read and learn about being a compassionate consumer and eater.  I highly recommend these books to vegan and vegetarian families, those interested in the lifestyle or maybe that are not vegan/vegetarian but have children who are.

How did you become vegan?
It started as a health experiment for me.  I used to get sick all of the time, I thought it was a normal part of the seasonal cycle and I tried it and stopped getting sick.  I never went back and after that, I started researching the animal agriculture industry and that solidified my decision.

I've read that you were inspired to write this book from your intereaction with the students you taught art to, do you think that kids naturally understand the choice of being a vegan as opposed to adults?
Absolutely.  They respond with a great sense of diplomacy.  They think about it, they question and reflect on how our behaviors affect others versus adults who often become defensive or offended.  Adults normally feel criticized or judged.  Kids don't feel that way.

When you were thinking of writing That's Why We Don't Eat Animals what was your purpose in writing this book?
I wrote it primarily to fill a niche that I felt was empty.  When I went to explain to my students why I was vegan and I searched for a book, everything I found was about a talking animal or a talking vegetable.  These kids were street smart from LA city and they wouldn't relate to that and it wasn't going to keep their attention.  I was motivated by the conversations I had with kids which were very direct. 

Do you think that the issue with the controversy you've encountered has more to do with adults being uncomfortable with eating meat and dairy rather than kids' ability to handle the information?
I think the controversy is 100 percent an adult issue.  I have never once ran into a children who is overwhelmed, only adults.  So I think that only proves that what we do to animals is scary and people know that inside of themselves.  They may not know the whole scope of it but they're saying it is too scary and it is too scary to talk about to children, then I think it is too scary to eat it.

Was it hard to find a publisher?  What was that process like?
I always say that I could replant a whole forest with rejection letters that I got.  I found a company that was interested but I still had to push it.  But between the first book and my second book, the word vegan has become way more mainstream.  It is now a selling point rather than something to hide.

Was it more challenging to illustrate or write the message?
I am an artist primarily so that comes more naturally to me, but the first drafts that I wrote for the first book were about 4,000 pages.  So, it was hard for me to pick the most essential and relatable for kids and the information that they would not feel frightened by but inspired by.

I love that with your new book Vegan is Love you share with children that they don't have to wait for presidents to be elected or laws to change to make a big difference every day with the foods they chose to eat or the products that they buy.  However, these changes aren't always the mainstream ones that their peers will make.  I know that you are step-mother, how do you deal with that with your step-daughter?
I think it is mostly about building confidence in the children.  Once you give children the information they need to make educated choices, they choose wisely.  If a kid understands why, then they can't be shaken by what other kids don't know.  And I think it is really important to emphasize, "Look, you are reading these books, now you know more information than most adults do about animal agriculture.  This is why it is so important to be a hero for animals".  And ultimately it isn't about forcing kids.  You can't force them.

Do you have any advice for parents raising children?
Don't make it a forced issue.  Stick to education and actual experiences that kids can have with animals like at a farm sanctuary or a rescue shelter so that kids learn about the real lives of animals, not the imaginary ones that we see in the zoo. 
 

Liebster Award

So, in an effort to be more active on my blog, I am going to take part in an "award" that my friend Ali gave me.  Ali says that Liebster is "a German word meaning sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome ".  The premise is that I must state 11 facts about me, answer 11 questions that Ali wants to know, then ask 11 new questions and send those to 11 new blogs.  This award is for those who have a new blog with a small audience in hopes that they will continue to blog.  Like Ali, I do this for personal reasons: to share what is happening with family and friends.  I really only follow one other "amature" blog outside of Ali's, so Heather, since I am lazy...go ahead and answer the same questions I am going to! :)

11 Facts About Me:

• Like Ali, I have a tattoo that I forget about.  It is the Japanese character for "dream".  I got it the summer after my freshman year of college before going to Spain.  I forget about it often because it is on my right shoulder and I rarely see it.  I chose that tattoo because 1) I wanted to minor in Japanese but my school didn't have enough 300 and 400 level Japanese courses for me to get a teaching minor in Japanese and 2) I have always been a dreamer.  I have vivid dreams every night and I am always day dreaming and thinking of new ideas. 
• I did studio dance for 18 years and I will still randomly relevé or rond de jambe when out shopping or standing.  I loved it and would like to do it again but I feel like I am in a weird age group of being too old for studio yet too young for the "mom" groups there.
• I have a photographic memory.  Honestly.  My mind takes pictures of EVERYTHING and I can never forget them.  It is awesome and annoying at the same time.  It really helped out with school.  Trevor and I always make a fake camera taking a picture motion with our hands when I remember something so random.  He is always shocked at random names and places I remember.
• I can't even tell you if I have ever ate hamburger or ground meats.  Even before being vegan or vegetarian I couldn't get over how the texture must be (boogery) and it repulses me too much.
• I have been to Spain three times and it is my second home.  I love it there and everything about the laid back culture.  When I studied abroad, I had more culture shock coming back and adjusting to the US lifestyle than going there.  When Trevor and I are tired of the tough life here he will say "Let's just sell the house and move to Spain."  He loves it there, too!  Boy do I wish we could do that sometimes.
• This probably isn't a surprise:  I'm an info junkie.  I love NPR, reading books, etc.  I think being informed and continuing to learn is really important.
• Although I really do love my job, I wish at the same time there was enough time in the day to do something with yoga, veganism, breastfeeding, babywearing and the "earthy/crunchy" things I love as well.  I'd like to do both.
• Speaking of yoga, I did it every day for an entire year about a year and a half ago.  Then it got too be too expensive when Trevor went to paramedic school and now I want to spend my time with Jack when I come home (and Trev is at work).  I miss it terribly and it was SO good for me emotionally, physically and psychologically.  I hope to get back to it soon.
• I think most of you know that I have 2 Persian cats and 1 border collie/black lab.  Here are some neat things about the cats.  I have had Gato since I was 8...she will be 19 this July!  Her name was originally Bailey but when I started taking Spanish in 6th grade I changed it to Gato (even though she is female, lol) and it stuck.  No one in my family even says Bailey anymore.  Leo was originally Lola until we went to get her/him neutered/spayed and the doctor found testicles!  He called me and left a voicemail singing some song about a cross dressing Lola.  He even offered to show them to me as proof!  OMG.  So we changed Lola to Leonardo.  All of our pets have Spanish names.  Eventually I would like a white cat named Nube (cloud).  :)
• I'm currently trying to not eat processed sugar (it is really my only guilty thing since I eat plant based and no caffeine) but it is SO hard.  I'm doing it because the little I do eat makes me crash and tired. 
• Um, I'm running out of things here...I guess lastly, I really want to travel in the US more.  It'll be easier to do now that we have a family but I always do so much international travel (and I am certainly not done) that I want to see more places like Boston, NYC, Cali, Oregon, etc.

Ali's Questions for Me:

If you could spend a day with one person (living or dead), who would that be?  My late little brother Jack because it would bring a lot of joy to my family.

How much time do you spend on Facebook, really?  Maybe an hour total.  It's just a lot of quick skimming.

If you have a pet and animals could talk, what do you think yours would say about you?  Feed me, throw my Kong, let me lay on you, stop talking to that baby and play with me more.  Unfortunately it would probably be negative.  I feel bad about not being as good of a mama to my furbabies as I used to now that Jack is here.

What did you want to be when you were in fifth grade?  A lawyer and the local newspaper said marine biologist when they came to interview my class when we graduated.  It really annoyed me.  (Clearly, since I still remember it.)

If you could vacation anywhere (cost is not an issue), where would it be?  I really don't like laying by the beach vacations, I am too much of a busy body.  But I would say one of those little huts in Fiji or Tahiti on the water.  Just because life is so hectic and I would love to just relax and spend some quite time with my little family.

What is your favorite meal to prepare? (Please include a recipe... Clearly I will want it to add to my meal planning.)  Since Trev works many nights, I am just cooking for myself.  I do manage to make a homemade meal every night but they are simple.  I like whole wheat penne tossed with roasted tomatoes, spinach and garlic with crushed red pepper flakes or baked marinated tofu and potstickers and rice or quinoa, steamed spinach and vegan gravy with chickpeas.
What is your favorite Internet pastime?  Reading blogs

Ok, assuming you get off the computer ever once in a while, what's your favorite pastime in general?  Outside of being with my family?  Cooking, reading and yoga.  They are all equals.

What age do you view yourself - you know, you stop and think you are still that chubby fifth grader and haven't changed much since then (my own example)?  Middle schooler.  I'm still goofy and silly but I am also sassy.

Does your life feel complete?  I don't know that life can ever feel that way but I love my life and am very content with it.

Ending on a simple note, what's your favorite color?  Orange!

Did you know...?

So did you know you aren't supposed to use Q-tips to clean your ears? I'm finding out that pretty much every one knew that but me! Guess how I found out? A trip to the urgent care facility yesterday! The story:

During third tri I started getting lots of drainage in my ears. It was so bad. I would be sleeping and could hear and feel water-like stuff go from one canal to the next. It kept me up at night and drove me nuts during the day. I would get these random moments of clear hearing and it was great. Like all weird things pregnancy wise, I figured once I delivered, it'd go away. And for the most part it did. Except some days, I would get these weird moments of clear hearing that would tell me I wasn't hearing well; but I wasn't uncomfortable, so I let it be. Well this past week my hearing got worse. And I had a lot of pressure on my ears, especially my right ear. All this time over the months I've been trying to keep them super clean by "clearing out the drainage" with Q-tips. So stupid.

Well Friday I was teaching and I could not hear my students talk. Like at all. They'd ask what a word meant, I gave ridiculous and weird translations. They thought I was crazier than ever. I googled like crazy for natural remedies and it said I could drop hydrogen peroxide in to clear them. So I stopped at Target on the way home and bought that and droppers. When I got home I did it and I was deaf. Instantly I couldn't hear a thing. Trevor would talk to me and I would say "What?!?". We were like a couple of 90 year olds. Trevor yelling, me not hearing, Jack being creeped out. I proceeded to freak the f out. I was panicking hard core. Trev called into work because without my hearing, I was dizzy and in no shape to drive and I called my doctor's. They were closed. Awesome. So, off to the urgent care room. There was no way I was waiting until Monday afternoon. We get there and the doctor confirms my ears are plugged up and need to be irrigated.

I'll save the nasty details in case you're eating while reading this but they took a huge syringe with warm water and hydrogen peroxide and shot it into my ears over and over and over and let them drain into a container. So so so so so gross. I had pretty much compacted a years worth of wax with the Q-tips. When they were almost done I got seriously dizzy and had to lay down. I felt drunk or like when you're little and spin a bunch and stop and the ground moves. I pulled out some of my college hangover tricks and put one foot off the bed and on the floor flat. It was rough. But! The plus is now I am hearing in HD clarity. Like I can hear an ant walking on a piece of grass! It's a little creepy after not hearing well for so many months.

So the moral of the story is to not use Qtips. The staff there said this happens all of the time and they don't use them and said no one should either! Well it was a nasty enough experience to make it so Trev and I will never use them again. It felt really weird getting out of the shower and just cleaning with the towel but I will never go through that again.

Afterwards we went to HFWB to meet our friends', Heather and Seth, new baby girl, Avery Rozz Stern. I can't link on mobile, but she has an awesome blog called Confessions of a Wannabe. She (Avery) is such a peanut and looks just like her mama. I wish I would have remembered to take a picture! Jack loved her and was a trooper through such an eventful evening (after he had been out to lunch with Daddy and Grandma and visited Grandma's work). We are certainly blessed with an easy going and happy baby.

Today we scrubbed the house (spring calls for baseboards, doors and all those nooks and crannies being cleaned). Thank goodness we have a Dyson since we have a zoo (read: two adults, a baby led weaning baby, two puffy Persians and a black lab/border collie).

So was that nasty enough for you? Earwax impaction, labor, and a dirty list of chores? Sorry I'm blogging more ;)

Jack is 7 Months Old! (and an update on our family)

What is it about each passing month that time picks up greater speed and he grows, changes and learns faster than I can jot things down?  My baby is growing up so fast!  It was so great that I was on spring break last week and able to just slow down and enjoy more of the simple moments with him.  We woke up later, cuddled in bed, took our time doing things and just all around relaxed, played and enjoyed our time together.  Trevor and I both commented on how low key life was while I was on break.  Needless to say, we are both looking forward to the summer when I am off! 

Over break we did do some things, though!  We were hoping to start the moving process.  Waterford Schools are no longer what they were when we were there and although I can send him to the school district I teach in for free and not pay tuition (it is not a school-of-choice district), I am not sure I want to do that for several reasons.  We also would like him to live where he goes to school.  Well those plans are going to be on hold for a bit.  We looked at some houses in neighborhoods/districts we liked but we felt that they were all downgrades and they could potentially suck us into bidding wars.  We were fortunate to buy our house in 2009 when the housing market was so low that we walked away with a pretty much brand new house on the lake for a steal.  Now, with the market on the rise, we really can't get an equivalent house for a decent price.  I'm happy the market is making a comeback and that our house could have made us a significant profit in 3 years, but we were really bummed about the prospects.  In addition, because our house is so awesome, we know it would have sold almost immediately and then we would have been crunched to find something quickly and we were worried about settling when the house we have right now is perfect.  We didn't want bigger or better, we just wanted our house but in a different location.  So, instead of moving, we are going to refinance to take advantage of the great interest rates and to get rid of our PMI now that we have plenty of equity in the house.  We are lucky enough to be able to refinance to a 15 year loan and only pay $100 more a month.  If we stay in our house, how awesome will it be to be mortgage-less at 42?!  And that will be right when Jack starts driving and before he goes to college.  We will see, though!  We also took our savings and paid off my car 3 years early and are just a few months away from paying off Trevor's 2.5 years early.  Then we really hope to start saving lots of money and redo our floors and get new appliances (and maybe take a family vacation or two, and start planning for that eventual #2). 

Also, over break we did our spring cleaning.  Any one who comes to our house knows we are very neat, tidy, clean and minimalist people so they probably don't know what we cleaned but our computer desk, spare room and garage were looking a little crammed for our standards so we spent a day sorting through that stuff.  It was such a nice to-do to check off.

I did purchase a few things over spring break but with our minimalist viewpoint I was really mindful of my choices.  I bought a few clothing items for summer that would be easy to wear to work, mix and match and nurse in since I have a funky new body shape (thanks excess skin, gross!).  I didn't spend much money at all and was able to get several outfits from a few things.  I also bought a glass LifeFactory water bottle because of how nasty my plastic ones were looking.  The environmental impact of that bottle is much lower than other options out there.  Trevor and I have been really committed to making eco-friendly, vegan, minimalist choices and I think that is an awesome example we are setting for Jack on how to be happy without doing harm.  (Trev has been pop free and eating plan based and looks awesome if I do say so myself!)  If you get a chance, check out the short videos by The Story of Stuff on youtube.  I can't say I see things the same afterwards! 

Lastly, Easter was actually during spring break this year.  We took Jack with us to Inn Season where we always have a yummy vegan Easter brunch.  The Easter bunny brought Jack the book The Giving Tree to leave in his re-usable wooden Easter basket from his late Uncle Jack.  He also received another book from his Grandma and Grandpa Sheldon (which he loves) and some soft blocks from Nana and Papa that he loves to throw.  We also celebrated the short life of his late Uncle Jack, met Avery and Jianna at the park, hung out with Nana lots, and FaceTimed with Brittany.  It was the perfect spring break!

Now onto Jack!  He amazes me more and more every day.  I can't believe how much he changes.  Here is what he is up to this month (no weight/height stats because we don't have to go to the doctor's again until 9 months-woo!)

Eating:
Most importantly, we are still nursing and we are not having any troubles.  Over break it was so nice to not have to pump and worry about drinking my tea and how many ounces and cleaning bottles, blah, blah, blah.  Nursing is infinitely quicker and easier than pumping and bottle feeding so yet another reason I can't wait for the summer.  He has tried mashed potatoes (with breastmilk), mashed sweet potatoes with nutmeg and cinnamon, roasted potatoes, mashed peas, asparagus, hummus, mango, and cauliflower (in addition to things he already tried last month and is still loving).  Any time we eat he will get angry if we don't offer him anything so we have been eating super healthy so that we can always have some of what we are eating (Trevor has had some amazing weight loss and I am below my pre-pregnancy weight by 5 pounds!).  It is really cute when he eats, he chews so well and goes "mmmmmmmmm" the whole time.  We know he is done because he starts feeding Sofía (and laughing when we say no) and ripping his bib off and sending food off everywhere.  I did get my second plugged duct, though, this month and boy, are those painful!  Again, pumping I am sure is to blame.  Bonus to nursing is now that he is more active, he bumps his head often but a quick nursing session has him tear free and happy almost immediately!

Sleeping:
He is doing better!  We now have his crib side-carred to our bed (the front rail off and the bed pushed up against ours, level with our mattress).  We bit the bullet and are letting him sleep on his belly and he is doing so much better (he sleeps just like his mommy and even snuggles like me, with one leg on the other person, lol).  I was wearing him in the Boba to get him sleepy and then transferring him to the crib, but now that we made his bedtime around 9/10 instead of 8, he falls asleep on his own much easier.  He still nurses throughout the night and then wakes around 7/7:30.  Even though it is a small improvement, it is better than regression and it feels great.  I'm pretty much used to this now and if he sleeps for long periods, I actually wake up to check up on himWe notice that when he gets tired now he pulls at his right ear, it is pretty cute!

Development, learning, play, preferences and everything else!:
Jack is a very vocal and social little boy.  He loves to scream and talk LOUDLY and make a noise that sounds like an owl going "hoo, hoo".  We think he has waved hi a few times but it is hit and miss at this point.  Speaking of hitting, he loves to slap the skin of anyone around him and hear that noise, so watch out!  He is also in love with touching books that have fur, scales, etc.  He loves to learn and experience new things!  Thanks to object permanence he is understanding things leave and come back so Peekaboo is a huge hit, as is throwing things off the high chair and looking for them.  In addition, when we each come home after being at work, he is not only thrilled but when you say "Mommy/Daddy is home!" and he hears the garage door, he starts looking around.  If you hide during peekaboo he will start pushing off, moving and looking for you.  This pushing off is becoming more common as he wants to investigate and even be mobile!  He rocks in the crawling position, can stand holding on to things (though not pull up), doesn't like laying down, can sit on his own and even reach all around pretty well (just the occasional fall), can scoot backwards and sideways a little and wants to be active.  I am starting to think he will love his swim lessons that start in about two weeks.  I've been taking baths with him in our tub to get him ready for being in deeper water with me and getting his face wet.  He loves it! 

His blonde hair is really filling in.  He is still in 6-9 and 9 month clothing.  I am glad I bought 12 month clothing last summer for him for this summer.  He loves his teddy bear that Aunt Annie and Uncle Max got him when he was born, will only take Dr. Brown's pacis and can hold them, twirl them, put them in his mouth and fling them everywhere!  When he sees himself in the mirror or a picture of him on our desktop monitor, he is besides himself with joy.  He enjoys sitting down and flapping his arms non stop like a duck and is being a little bit of a Mommy's boy right now and reaching for me when Daddy holds him (I'm sure we will trade off being favorites throughout his life, though!).  He did great on our weekend trip to Traverse City for cousin Matthew's baptism and he was able to meet Great Grandma and Grandpa Moore for the first time.  We used disposables during the day (not night) while gone and we HATED them.  What a disaster.  I will be traveling with cloth from here on out!

Well that is what is happening in the Sheldon household! :) Right now we are anxiously awaiting spring and considering growing veggies but I have no idea what to do!  Any advice would be great :)