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January 8, 2020 Blog News

19 Favorites from 2019

Chef Veggie’s 2019 Favorites

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and winter break!
As the decade comes to a close, I like to do a review of this past year.
Here are my favorites! They could be about vegan food, sustainable beauty, a healthy lifestyle or ways I’ve grown this year.
(This post has some affiliate links but no Amazon links because I want you to shop locally if at all possible or get it directly from the business so they can provide you with excellent service!)

1. 20th anniversary

My husband and I celebrated our 20th anniversary with a trip back to Oahu where we were married. See this post if you would like to read about it.
20th anniversary at Captain Howie’s

2. Tane Vegan Izakaya

While in Honolulu, my brother/sister-in-laws treated us to such a delicious evening at Tane Vegan Izakaya. This is some of the most creative vegan sushi I’ve ever had. The restaurant is also tastefully decorated in a minimalist, rustic Japanese style. It seems like all the beautiful and in-the-know people of Honolulu were eating there! If you are on Oahu for any reason, I highly recommend a visit. They also have tempura, vegan poke, soups, grilled items, and ramen. My picture doesn’t do it justice but this roll was called the Manila Dune. Check out that fried renkon (lotus root)!

3. Rose Gold Goddesses

Have you noticed the ongoing shift to recognize the divine feminine? Most ancient cultures revered different forms of a goddess, whether she was an earth mother, a beautiful maiden, a fierce warrior, or sensual seductress.
I found a fun group of women who are celebrating the feminine. It was founded by Sahara Rose whose book, Eat Feel Fresh, I reviewed last year. As someone who has been interested in Vedic philosophy, Ayurveda, Jyotish (Hindu astrology), plant medicine and more, this group has been a lot of fun. Click ROSE GOLD GODDESSES to check it out!

4. Sakara

Sakara is a women-owned, plant-based business offering some of the most creative meal delivery options out there. Geared toward working women who want to glow, I highly recommend them, especially if you are out of Chef Veggie’s service range! I tried their 10 Day Reset this past summer before I went to Hawaii for my anniversary. It came with beauty minerals, detox chlorophyll drops, yummy blue spirulina cashew bars, a guide with great recipes, roobois tea, superfood protein powder, and probiotics. No need to do a juice cleanse or go on a calorie-restricted diet! I just found it to be fun to do and to reduce some bloating from eating a bunch of Beyond Burgers!
I still order Sakara Detox Bars and I like their probiotics because they are affordable, shelf-stable, and contain digestive enzymes and candida inhibitors. The Eat Clean, Play Dirty cookbook is fun if you like weird ingredients as I do. If you don’t like using adaptogens, fruit powders, eating lots of vegetables, or high vibrational food, there may be better choices for you out there. But is you have an open mind, time, and can buy all the things, you’ll probably enjoy it.

5. Loli Beauty

This year I went very minimal with my skincare routine. No more foaming cleansers or lotion-like moisturizers. This was the year of oil and masks.
One company that is making the best and simplest facial care products is Loli. All of their products come in glass (no plastic tubes!)
I love their Plum Elixir. Besides my use of plain sesame oil for abhyanga (Ayurveda self-massage), I have basically just used this as my moisturizer.
The Date Nut Brulee is great for taking off natural mascara.

6. Using 2 Instant Pots

I have been using pressure cookers for over 10 years and can’t imagine cooking for clients or at home without them. I’ve had the brands Fagor and Magefesa (from Spain) and have been happy with the quality of the pots except for the fact that the handles are plastic. When cooking on fancier, commercial-grade stoves like Wolf or Thermador that a lot of my clients have, my handles would often start burning or melting because of the intense heat. Sadly, these pressure cookers are just not going to last because finding handle replacements is very hard. So I bit the bullet and bought another counter appliance, the Instant Pot. And much to my surprise, it has been fantastic. So great that I now have 2! I can make rice and dal for dinner in under 15 minutes.
The inner pots are so easy to clean and fit nicely in my dishwasher.
I’m not recommending that you get 2 but I think that having an Instant Pot or a multi/pressure cooker is an indispensable part of the kitchen!

7. Cuisinart Airfyer Toaster Oven

I wanted to try out an airfryer since I met the Phillips people at SXSW several years ago and they were sharing air-fried carrots. I couldn’t justify having another appliance. Then my toaster oven just wasn’t working as it used to. I saw this stainless steel beauty and knew it was time for an upgrade. How truly wonderful it is! The Cuisinart Airfryer Toaster Oven is an air fryer/toaster/convection oven! I’ve made so many things – all kinds of vegetables, a blooming onion, baked cornbread, reheated pizza, dehydrated kale chips and more. The best is just air frying tofu…all you WFPBD (whole foods plant-based diet) people would be proud that I can do it with NO OIL if I want to and it turns out great.
If you are looking for a new toaster or an air fryer, get this because it is both! I bought it at my local Costco for a great price. Call ahead to see if they still carry it. I’ll be sharing more recipes using this fantastic machine!

8. Johnson’s Backyard Garden

I’ve been subscribing to Johnson’s Backyard Garden CSA small box on and off for several years. It’s just so fun to get farm-fresh produce delivered to my front door and to know that I really am supporting a local farmer. My favorite time of year is winter and spring because of all of the leafy greens.
My ramen bowl above features JBG sweet potatoes, scallions, and their awesome purple daikon. I’m still hoping that they will grow more Asian vegetables (CHINESE BROCCOLI!) and partner with a mushroom grower (HiFi Myco would be great!)
If you want a free box, put in my referral code at checkout:
REFERRAL CODE: CSA85926
If you end up subscribing and want recipes for what to make with what you get, contact me on my website: https://www.chefveggie.com

9. Wheatsville

When Amazon bought Whole Foods, I started to notice a lot of changes.
While I do still shop there, I don’t want to give Jeff Bezos all of my food $.
Sure there were cheaper prices on some things but they also cut out some smaller, local, artisan food producers. From some of the cashiers I’ve talked to, the work culture has really changed.
I’ve been a Wheatsville Coop owner since I moved to Austin 12 years ago and remember having my business name in the Wheatsville Breeze. I have been shopping there a lot more nowadays. It’s not crowded, there are always happy people giving out samples or asking if you need anything. They don’t give you stink-eye for bringing your own containers. If you don’t bring them, they have paper bags! I love the fact that they have a $5 meal on Thursdays with a vegan option for those looking for an affordable dinner. Their newsletter tells you when they have owner discounts and special sales.
They carry great local greens and sprouts, awesome local ferments, Soy Curls, a favorite chocolate bar that I had to recreate (see my Maqui Rose Chocolate), and who doesn’t love all of the popcorn tofu (which heats up awesome in my Cuisinart Air Fryer!) or the Austin Cream Pie donut (drool!)
Check out my Finn bread made with GF bread, vegan blue cheeze, and popcorn tofu all from Wheatsville.

10. Booda Butter

Looking for a sustainable, plastic-free, vegan lip balm you don’t have to make yourself. Look at Booda Organics Eco Balm. It comes in 3 natural flavors and in a cardboard tube. I love this stuff! And you can buy it at Wheatsville!

11. Dip Dip Dip Tatsuya & Oseyo

I’m always craving Asian food. I ate rice every day growing up so it’s in my blood. When I find out there is a new Asian restaurant with some vegan things on their menu, I will drive across town (I hate driving far and during rush hour which is between 8am-8pm!)
Two Favorites this year are Dip Dip Dip Tatsuya and Oseyo.
I had been trying for months to get a reservation at DDDT and I finally got an early one on a Monday in November before Thanksgiving.
It was so much fun! You cook all of your veggies, tofu, and mushrooms in an iron pot. It’s not communal because each person has their own, but you share the experience in an intimate setting. It’s truly beautiful in there and the service is fantastic. They gave us all the vegan options to choose from. Try the silky tofu, fresh yuba, and of course the mushrooms.
It is quite pricey though! I’m not new to the experience because I ate nabe, hot pot, and sukiyaki as a kid living in Japan.
My mom recently gave me her vintage donabe (clay hotpot) and I’ve used it twice since Christmas. If you try it out there, it’s really easy to do at home.
Contact me for more details and maybe I’ll start offering Donabe Nights in homes as a chef service!

Oseyo offers some fantastic Korean food in a rustic setting. Let them know you are vegan and they will give you some great options. If you like mushrooms, I highly recommend the Beoseot which is grilled shiitake, maitake and cremini mushrooms with appropriate sides and banchan.

12. Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp

“Sometimes Asian food gets a pass,” my husband says. And it’s true! I usually eat locally produced and organic food. But when it comes to some things they don’t have to conform to those guidelines. That’s how I keep from having orthorexia. So yes, I do enjoy MSG from time to time! I’m not sensitive to it any more than you are to eating Parmesan cheese.

There’s been research into the idea of people not wanting to eat MSG more having to do with racism and cultural bias. MSG exists in lots of processed foods, not just Chinese food. It was discovered in Japan, the home of umami. I understand people wanting to eat super healthy but don’t vilify a substance when you might still eat Doritos, red food coloring, food preservatives etc. Watch David Chang’s Fried Rice episode for how Ugly Delicious on Netflix or this presentation on MSG and umami at Mad 2012.
Anyway, Lao Gan Ma’s Spicy Chili Crisp is one of the best chili condiments out there. I swear you can eat this with just plain rice and you will feel so happy. This Chinese godmother of spicy, crispy crack is one of the richest women in China after starting her own business after being widowed.

13. High Quality Vegan Sneakers

I actively sought out getting some better vegan shoes this year. I’ve been loving these Onitsuka Tiger Sneakers from Japan. They are lightweight and provide enough support even going to the gym to do Stairmaster and some bodyweight exercises. They have a whole line of vegan sneakers in different colors and styles. I liked that the Ultimate 81 was mostly fabric and with a rubber sole.

My other sneakers were made by Reebok. The line was called Cotton + Corn. I was looking for creamy sneakers that I could wear in the summer and even with spring casual dresses. They are sustainably made with a woven cotton upper and a molded bottom made from bio-based corn plastic. How cool is that? 3 additional colors are now available.

14. Comrad Socks

More feet related items! I’ve been listening to a lot of podcasts instead of music while I drive to client’s houses. Sahara Rose of the Highest Self Podcast recommended these compression socks. I thought I would try them out because I stand on my feet, sometimes 6-8 hours straight with a minor potty break when I’m cooking for families. These socks are fantastic! No ankle edema after a long cook day! I even gave them away to some elderly family members for Christmas. One cool thing is that they come in great colors! I have some pink ones that match my pink chef coat and some ombre ones that are just so cool. Get $10 off with this link and code: Comrad Socks

15. Backpacking in Big Basin

I didn’t think to use the Comrad socks while hiking, but I think they would have eased post-hike swelling. I haven’t tested them for warmth though.
For those of you who have read my other blog posts would know that my family likes to backpack or sometimes go skiing over the Thanksgiving holidays. We went to Big Basin Redwood State Park and did the Sky to Sea Trail from Castle Rock to Waddle Beach. California has been in a state of drought for a long time but the week we went there were powerful rainstorms. So we were rained on most of the trip. But that doesn’t mean there was water in the creeks! My husband had to hike 6 additional miles total and climb down a steep ravine to get water because a map given by the park was incorrect. We’ve backpacked a lot and know things like this are a possibility so if you are a newbie, make sure you bring enough water. We found oyster mushrooms, saw ancient redwood groves, and ended by the turbulent Pacific ocean. Anyway, if you want more info, leave me a message in the comments.
We were quite wet and hungry by the end and had an interesting meal with Impossible Burgers at Burger King in Santa Cruz. After 4 cold, wet days and having to get on a flight back to Texas, we found a good place to relax and get cleaned up. O’Paradise Spa has a large wet area with rainfall shower, sauna and steam room.

16. The Pig Liberation Party

Even though I’ve been veg for a long time I still held some biases against pigs and honestly probably still do. I know there are a lot of people who like pigs as bacon so at least I have that going for me.
I did have a great time at the Buzz Mill learning about the pigs at Central Texas Pig Sanctuary. I’m also a big fan of going to places where I can eat anything. I really enjoyed the sandwich from HappeaVegan.

17. Marceline at Austin ComicCon 2019

Growing up in Japan exposed me early on to characters, cosplay, kyaraben, and the whole anime scene. So I have a special affinity to somewhat otaku things, one being the nerdy culture around Comic Con.
I love the series Adventure Time! I’ve dressed as Marceline so many times and thought, “Why not again!”
I found my own little Fin while there and bumped into Princess Bubblegum.
There was a fun Transformer-like band called the Cybertronic Spree that sang the Thundercats theme in full costume (See my video on my Instagram post). My daughter dressed at Uraraka Ochaco from the popular Manga/Anime My Hero Academia.
Check out my previous post called “Daddy, Why Did You Eat My Fries?” for a Marceline inspired recipe!

18. Inay’s 100th Birthday

My grandma turned 100 years old this September and as of this posting is still doing well! I got to see family who came to visit from outside the US and to celebrate her life. My grandma’s name is Josephina (we call her Inay because that’s what my mom called her – it means Mother in Tagalog – one of the languages spoken in the Philippines) She has lived with my mom for over 40 years so she has been a part of my life since I was 3 years old. We have had our ups and downs and both generational and cultural differences but I’m thankful for all of the meals she made for us and bringing Filipino culture to be part of my life.
She liked to make lumpia, turon, kutsinta, pan de sal, polvoron, putong puti, and siopao so that we would have snacks after school.
She took great pride in being healthy, strong and had great self-care practices – she was always scrubbing with a flat rock from the Philippines and using all kinds of oils. She loved old Western movies and even had an American boyfriend at one point. The picture above shows her smiling with about half of her great-grandchildren, including my teenage daughter. We love you Inay!

19. Anima Mundi

2019 meant learning more about herbs, adaptogens, and plant medicine and I hope to continue to learn more in 2020. I’d already been experiencing Tulsi both spiritually and medicinally for a long time as it is sacred to Vaisnavas. I’ve been taking ashwagandha, triphala, dashmula for about 4 years after having them recommended to me by my Ayurvedic doctor for my constitution. Plant medicine from South America and the experience of shamanism is something that is new to me. Adriana Ayales of Anima Mundi shares many that I had never heard of.
Mucuna pruriens or Kapikacchu in Ayurveda, the dopamine bean is a great mood and nervous system balancer. As someone who is an avid and colorful dreamer, I was interested in her lucid dreaming herbs. I’ve been drinking the Blue Lotus tea occasionally on the weekends when I can indulge in better sleep.
The Blue Lotus was sacred to the ancient Egyptians. Since I’m not into alcohol or recreational drugs, these mind-opening herbs are an interesting way to feel or experience something different. I did get some itchiness from the Blue Lotus Tea but also calm happiness or euphoria and then some brief experience of being in control of my dreams. I hope to do more in the new year and drink some calea sacatechichi that was included in my dream kit, along with Palo Santo essential oil, a dreaming tea blend, and a dream tonic/elixir.

20. Insight Timer

Wow! You made it this far or were smart at skipped to the bottom of this long post. You must have patience or really like me!
Anyway, I’ve been working on a healthier mental state of confidence, worth, and also knowing more about what I really like. That’s why making this list was so important even if no one reads it.
I participated in a 10-week meditation course with other parents from my daughter’s high school where they have a mindfulness director.
I have done japa mediation for many years and pranayama and yoga but never much of a seated, quiet practice. I wanted to do a 10-day Vipassana course but felt unprepared to jump in. I found Insight Timer and it was a great way to jump-start my daily practice. I usually just use the timer for 15 minutes in the morning for silent and then do untimed japa meditation. I listen to talks in the car or nature/ambient music when I take a bath. There is also some great 432mHz binaural beat music on there too.
Maybe you’ll find me there!

I’m happy to have grown in insight, tenderness, and experienced another year! The cookbook is still in progress. That’s another post…. Happy 2020!

August 22, 2019 Blog News

20th Anniversary at Captain Howie’s

2019 is a big year for me! It’s been 20 years since I graduated from college and when I married the veggie love of my life.

We met online via CollegeClub.com (a website for college students looking to meet friends around the world ). I was looking for vegetarians to chat with. I met my husband there and we corresponded for 3 months before I flew out to Hawaii during my Spring Break to meet him. Coming back to Texas to finish my last semester was difficult but I graduated and then I moved to Oahu.

Captain Howie married us in 1999. He was recommended by friends at the ashram. At the time, he was just beginning to build a beautiful property near Waimanalo Beach to conduct weddings.
Since we were basically eloping and had no money, we paid him a little something and said our vows by a tiny waterfall. No pictures were taken. Later that year we had a full Vedic fire ceremony where family and friends could attend. But that simple garland exchange we did at Captain Howie’s is still so special.

Pukalani Falls Garden – Heaven’s Gate

When we thought of celebrating our 20 years together, I thought about going back to Oahu and seeing if Captain Howie was still there.
Sure enough, he was and his property and wedding services has grown.
The Hobbit House has been featured on travel shows and is an artistic dwelling you won’t find anywhere else. Pukalani Falls Garden is a heavenly place full of lush greenery, waterfalls, and a koi pond. He was happy to see us! We were once two young kids escaping from the world. Now we are responsible adults with a beautiful daughter. He said we are on a sailboat together for life and no matter what comes we have to hold tight to each other.

Waimanalo Beach – Angel’s Bay

Many people have their ceremony at the falls and then take a small stroll to Waimanalo beach for pictures. I recommend buying a dress you won’t mind getting wet. I found mine at Lulus.com. Waimanalo Beach is a local beach far away from Waikiki. I felt like we had a golden strip to ourselves.

Captain Howie and his crew made this special day so easy for us. They arranged everything – flowers, hair, photos, video and even a cake. A vegan lilikoi macadamia cake was a tropical dream come true!
Taking photos with Dylan of Dylan Dawson Photography was so much fun.
Our best smiles came out when we gave each other a squeeze.

I couldn’t have asked for a better time with my husband. He still sweeps me off my feet. Having our daughter there felt so natural and we could see just how happy she is for us.
We felt blessed by Captain Howie and the earth, water, sun, and sky.

January 14, 2019 Backpacking

18 Favorites from 2018

It’s fun to reflect on the previous year when January comes around. Even though January 1st is an arbitrary time that does not really have a cosmic event related to it (no moon phase change or equinox), many of us have time off and can spend it with ourselves and those we love.
As 2019 begins, we start to think about the year ahead, but let’s not forget all that we have learned and how we have grown in 2018.

These favorites are not all food related but I think that’s OK because there is so much more to life than what we eat!

1. My Hurom Juicer

This juicer is the bomb! If you like to make fresh fruit and vegetable juices this is perfect! Even if you want to just do straight greens, the Hurom Slow Juicers are perfect because they use a masticating, pressing action instead of shredding like a centrifugal juicer. You can also make your own nut milks, including almond and also soy milk to make tofu! It comes with a tofu press. It is wonderfully easy to clean! Pomegranate juice is milkier and a beautiful rose pink color. One of the best pieces of equipment I got this year! Hurom often has sales if you sign up for their email list. I got mine for 30% off.

2. Sahara Rose and Eat Feel Fresh

I don’t remember how I came across Sahara Rose. I think it was via Instagram and researching something about Ayurveda. I have been studying Ayurveda since I lived in a Vaisnava (Hindu) ashrama 20 years ago. I learned all about my mind-body type or dosa and in the mid-2000’s I even considered going to Santa Fe, New Mexico to study with Dr. Vasant Lad. When I stopped eating dairy products 5 years ago after being vegetarian for 15, I found it hard to reconcile not having ghee and yogurt. I thought to follow a sattvic diet that Ayurveda recommended I needed to eat these items, so I took a break from Ayurveda. Then I decided to dive back in 2017 and just tell my Ayurveda doctor that I wouldn’t be eating dairy. In 2018, I started a more consistent Abhyanga practice, doing nasya (oiling the nasal passages), eating less raw food in the winter to not aggravate my vata tendencies and more greens and sweet fruit in the summer for pitta.
I got so excited to see Sahara’s book and how all the recipes were going to be plant-based! I also loved her fresh perspective on mushrooms, which I generally enjoy, but always thought of them as being tamasic (or foods that promoted ignorance, dullness).
Her podcast, Highest Self Podcast is the best! She interviews people in the wellness and mindfulness space and also shares many of her own insights on how Ayurveda can help today’s woes. I highly recommend all of her content!

3. Mochiko

In September, I adopted a sweet white kitten named Sake at the POP Cats Convention, here in Austin, TX. It featured IamMosho the Cat Rapper! So many cat vendors selling feline fun and adorable kittens for adoption. I have always wanted to have a white kitty and after seeing her there and knowing that I had more cat love to give, she came home with me. I named her Mochiko, which is a type of sweet rice flour that is used in making all kinds of Asian desserts, including mochi! This kitty loves to give hugs and kisses! She puts her paws gently on both sides of your neck and licks you on the cheek or chin. She’s not an angel though because she loves to eat fabric. Throw pillow corners, prized stuffed animals, clothing, blankets, rugs, and shoes are all fair game. Soon my whole house will be covered in bitter apple spray…which does help!

4. Kinokuniya Bookstore

If you love all things from Japan like I do, you will love going to Kinokuniya and their stationery store Maido. Kinokuniya opened a new location in Austin, TX in August 2018. I can go here to look for Japanese language cookbooks and magazines. My daughter really got into the popular manga and anime, My Hero Academia and was able to meet the voice actors at the grand opening. I’m still trying to convince them to carry my favorite magazine from Japan, Veggy!

5. Birthday Dinner at Crossroad

I celebrated my Pisces birthday on a trip to LA and dinner at Tal Ronen’s Crossroads Kitchen. It’s not that often that I can go to a fancy restaurant and eat everything on the menu! My husband and daughter and I try to order as much as possible without busting out of our clothes. Austin, TX is great but you can only eat so many tacos and fast casual food.
One part that was especially fun was cutting into a romanesco cauliflower en croute! See the fondutta spill out on IG.

6. Trip to Ojai

A Hippie Dosa from Food Harmonics in Ojai, CA

I had never been to Southern California other than the LAX airport. I wanted to visit somewhere else besides LA. Then I learned about Ojai!
What a magical orange pixie land! The farmer’s market was full of what California had to offer despite the fires that happened during the winter. This small town is full of cute boutiques with bohemian wares, farm fresh restaurants, an outdoor bookstore, and spiritual retreat centers.

7. Fermented Meyer Lemon

My Meyer lemon tree made 4 lemons at the end of 2017. So I quartered and covered them in salt and let them rest in a jar (with airlock) for a 2 weeks before putting them in the fridge. Fermented lemons are a great condiment for Middle Eastern dishes. I like to make mujadhara (lentil rice porridge) and have a bit of this golden goodness with it.

8. Cookbook Mastermind

In September, I joined a cookbook mastermind with Maggie Green of the Green Apron. Maggie is a wealth of knowledge and the author of 4 cookbooks, including the Essential Plant-Based Pantry.
This group has been a source of accountability for me. I get to know other cookbook writers and get support others who are going through the process of creating a cookbook.
I’m still not quite sure what route I will go for publication but as I learn more about myself and how I want to accomplish this goal, it will eventually be apparent. I’ve decided to do a cookbook diary on this blog to remember the journey. Look for upcoming posts!!!

9. Cooking with Avocado Oil

This year I cooked mostly with avocado oil and coconut oil. Avocados create a neutral oil high in monounsaturated fats, like olive oil. I use it for stir frys, baking, roasting etc. I’ve been trying to reduce the amount of any polyunsaturated oils and avocado oil has made big difference.

10. HMART Opens in Austin

I didn’t go to the official opening but decided to check it out a month later. Talk about Asian supermarket heaven! I think I was there for 2 hours.
So many mushroom varieties are available at such a good price.
I was able to find Hawaiian papayas, ube, lumpia wrappers, shiso leaves, coconut icecream mochi and more. Even though it’s quite a trek from Southwest Austin to Hmart it’s well worth the trip about every 2 months.

11. Miyoko’s Vegan Butter

Along with using avocado oil, this year has also been all about Miyoko’s Vegan Butter. It feels so decadent and really tastes creamy. No weird film on the roof of your mouth after eating it. Goodbye Earth Balance and other non-dairy butter and margarine using palm oil. Even though palm oil isn’t made from animals, it’s a commodity that wreaks havoc on the local ecosystem in Indonesia and other countries that have huge palm plantations. Orangutans are suffering from habitat loss. It’s an example of how eating only plant-based foods still can cause great harm. Unfortunately, a lot of processed food, especially in Asia, has palm oil in it to make shelf stable foods. Another reason to look at food labels, even if it says “Vegan”.

12. Pacifica

Wearing Pacifica sunscreen on Lani Kai beach on Oahu while being hugged by the Mokulua islands.

Even though this brand is now marketed to millennials or younger, I have really enjoyed this fun, vegan natural beauty line. I used to buy Pacifica candles and solid perfume tins 10 years ago but this year I really dove in and bought so many products. Shampoo and conditioner, mascara, facial oils, and lip balm are staples. They even have a mineral sunscreen that is a coconut bronzing body butter with SPF 50. It’s tinted and has a little mica for sparkle. When I was on Kauai this past December, there was no need for me to be zinc white!
Pacifica is something I feel like appeals to my teenage daughter but not full of toxic chemicals. She can get her glitter on and still be healthy!

13. Dungeons and Dragons

Shakuntala (my WoW druid character from 15 years ago!)

I’ve always felt comfortable with the fantasy genre and even spent 2 years playing World of Warcraft. I even won an honorable mention for an official World of Warcraft cookie contest when I made the Exodar building out of vegan sugar cookie dough.
I wanted to have a Dungeons and Dragons party for my 40th birthday but my husband said none of my lady friends would come. So I had to wait a few years. Then came Stranger Things and a renewed passion among people in the US for D&D! We’ve hosted several D&D evenings with my daughter’s friends and they are so sweet to let me play. I’m a wood elf druid named Shakuntala (Shak for short.) My awesome husband is a super dungeon master and is resuming the role he had in childhood.
It’s a great way to spend time with family and friends, requires teamwork, creativity, and embodying a character for several hours. I highly recommend it!

14. Backpacking Salmon River Trail

This past summer my husband and I celebrated our anniversary with a backpacking trip to the Salmon River near Portland, Oregon. We both love the Pacific Northwest in the summer! The forest and mountains fill me up more than the beach ever would. Heaven would be living in an alpine meadow in the spring with flowers blooming everywhere!
Even though I still have bruised toenail beds from a 3 mile downhill hike with hiking books that somehow shrank from our Yosemite trip, I would definitely love to do this hike again. Cooking while on the trail, getting your water from the stream, and sleeping under the stars really makes you feel alive. I feel connected to humanity who had lived like this for thousands of years. I crave the dirt, sweat and the earthy feeling of surviving. And then I love the feeling of a hot shower and going to eat a fabulous brunch or dinner somewhere!

15. Organic Roasted Chestnuts

I’ve been trying to reduce the amount of grain-based snacks I eat. I’m not a big fruit eater. I enjoy savory foods so I instantly get pulled toward salty and crunchy items. It’s easy for me to have a Vata imbalance (look up Vata dosha and Ayurveda if you don’t know what that is.) Here is where organic roasted chestnuts come in! These tasty nuggets are popular in Asia as a snack. They taste a bit like sweet potatoes but will be a lot less messy to bring with you. They are a good source of manganese, Vitamin C & B6, copper, and fiber. You can buy chestnuts and roast them yourself, or find them in shelf stable snack packs.

16. Meow Wolf

This is the best interactive art exhibit I have ever been to. Meow Wolf defies explanation! If you travel to Santa Fe, NM be sure to check out the House of Eternal Return and look for a special refrigerator and clothes dryer!

Forest spirits at The House of Eternal Return in Meow Wolf

17. Alakai Swamp Trail

We did this great hike again and actually made it to the lookout out! It was incredibly sunny at the swamp this year. Lots of rotted boards have now been replaced with fibercrete and should last quite a while in those damp conditions. The view of Hanalei Bay after the fog and clouds floated away was magnificient. My favorite part of being on the Hawaiian islands is being high on a mountain and looking down at the beach. Being there with Nature and sharing it with my loved ones is one of Life’s greatest moments.

18. Family Gatherings

This year my grandma/lola, Inay, was very ill in the spring and had a pacemaker put in. I visited her a lot in the spring and we talked a lot about family, the Philippines, and Filipino food. I can’t wait to celebrate her 100th this year. A couple of aunts and uncles came to visit from New Zealand. In December, we traveled to Kauai to meet family, including new nieces and nephews. We took this big photo at Shipwreck beach on the south shore.
I’m grateful for having a supportive family in all corners of the globe!

I hope you all have a wonderful 2019! I’m looking forward to finding new favorites!

September 13, 2015 Backpacking

Kayaking the Na Pali Coast – 2

The day we left Kalalau was another gorgeous morning with the glorious sun. The beach was not hot yet so I took a walk with my sweetie. We noticed lots of paw prints in the sand too. There are feral kitties hunting sand crabs.

It’s a little hard to cast off into the waves. Sean helped Ryan and Kimberly and I’m so glad they didn’t tip! Luckily, we picked more of a lull in the waves and I paddled while Sean hopped in. We said goodbye to the beach and all those who continue to live there. We paddled past Honopu Beach and its beautiful arch. Boats and kayaks aren’t supposed to land here. You can swim to it if you are an expert swimmer with fins and aren’t afraid of swimming in the open ocean.

Nualolo Kai

We paddled to Nualolo Kai. It was smooth sailing. Parts of the ocean were like glass! We tied our kayaks to a rope and did a little bit of snorkeling near the shore. I saw a lot of live coral which is something you don’t see at Poipu Beach as people are always stepping on the reef.

Miloli’i

We left Nualolo Kai and kept paddling to reach Miloli’i, where we would set up camp. We arrived at the beach to all to ourselves.
There are 2 pavilions on the beach where you can set up your kitchen and take some time out of the sun. We put our tents nearby. Kimberly and I found the shower building and were able to use it and wash the sand and seawater out of our hair.
It was nice to be able to comb and get all the knots out after a couple days. The water that came from the faucets was definitely stained red from the cliffs above and needed to be filtered. Our manual filter broke so we relied on the UV one. I’m so glad none of us got ill. The pavilion we stayed in had lots of biting insects. Perhaps they were sand fleas or sand flies? That was the only annoyance of our stay there.

Miloli’i is a very quiet beach once all the boats that pass it on coast cruises have sailed back to their normal ports.
The waves don’t break hard so our landing and launch were smooth. Lots of shells wash up on the beach and I was able to gather quite a few whole cowries to take home. I have made a bunch of hairclips and they are on Etsy. My mother-in-law liked to collect shells and that’s something that makes me remember her and her love for this island.

A gentle monk seal gets to take a break on the beach. They are a protected species so we gave it lots of space. Sean and I took a swim as much as we could while we were in this private place.

We had our vegan chili with rice and peach cobbler and enjoyed the evening.

The sunset was so quiet and amazing. No loud party goers, drunk people, or music. The view of the stars was the most spectacular I had ever seen in my life. No light pollution to speak of. I feel really fortunate to have had the experience and I wish that those who would love to feel that too find a place in this world they can. I know it doesn’t have to be Kauai.

When we woke the next morning, we were nice and refreshed for the last leg of our trip to Polihale. On the way back we came across a school of dolphins! Being in a kayak is a lot different than being in a boat. When a dolphin swims past you, you are so close you can feel the shift in the water. We also saw a great big honu (sea turtle).

Polihale

Our trip ended on a Saturday, so Polihale was crowded. I eyed the beach and saw that there were not many places to land. By the time we arrived, the wind had picked up too. There were keikis (kids) on the beach and fishermen who cast out they lines and left their poles in the sand. We saw a stretch of beach where there wasn’t anyone. We tried to time the waves so that we would sail in nicely. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened. As we came toward the beach, a large wave was about to break and push the back of the kayak that had Sean in it up. Our kayak flipped vertically. I tossed myself out remained underwater as I tumbled for a while, hoping that when I came back up I wasn’t going to be hit in the face. Sean said he was thrown out and hit the bottom of the beach on his right hip as the waves crashed. Ouch! Even our wetbags were floating in the surf.

I’m still thankful that all I lost was a hat and sunglasses. Kimberly’s face was in shock as she said she watched the whole thing and was so glad we were all right. Their landing was a lot smoother and I’m glad. The locals seemed to not notice a thing, so maybe it wasn’t too bad. The sun and sand were so hot! We piled all our stuff and carried the kayaks up to wait for Miguel. We took a beach shower and ate our BBQ soy curls.

On the van drive back with Miguel we were exhausted but cheery. We are thankful for the experience and our lives. These kinds of adventures make you appreciate your abilities and also help you realize your worries at home are often mundane. All we need is food, water, shelter, warmth, and love. Much ALOHA to you!

August 10, 2015 Backpacking

Kayaking the Na Pali Coast -1

In July, we took a family trip back to Kauai to have a memorial for my husband’s mother. Sean grew up on the island, so Kauai is a special place for everyone in his family. We brought her ashes out to the Na Pali coast and surrendered them to the waters along with flower leis.

A couple days later, we would be back out on the waters but not in a boat with an engine, but in kayaks!
We would paddle 17 miles over the course of 3 days, with stops at Kalalau and Miloli’i. 10 years ago I had attempted the same trip but was so seasick that it’s embarrassing to say that Sean had to paddle a green-faced girl almost the entire way. Seasickness is a serious concern. This time was going to be different! Thanks to a Scopolamine patch (this is actually a creepy nightshade that’s used in Colombia for nefarious activities!) I was fine the entire time.

Kayaking The Na Pali Coast

We met Miguel (Micco) at Kayak Kauai in Wailua at 6am and took the trip with his kayaks to Ke’e Beach at Haena State Park.
I highly recommend his business as he has a passion for the ocean and love for Kauai. He has awesome stories to tell and will give you some good tips. We were lucky to have him pick us up at Polihale too. But our trip was going to be unguided as we just rented the kayaks from him. It was just me, Sean and our 2 friends, Kimberly and Ryan. They were so stoked at being on Kauai and doing this awesome adventure with us!

So we had a great launch off the beach with clear skies and the wind at our backs. Could we not be luckier? The expanse of the ocean and the cliffs at our left were breathtaking. Since kayaks travel much slower than boats, we could take our time and appreciate the views. We passed Hanakapi’ai Beach. Most people end their day hike from Ke’e Beach and enjoy the waterfall. I’ve done that hike several times, even with a 4-month-old. It was fun to pass that beach and continue on without having to hike the entire Kalalau Trail!

Kalalau Beach

When we arrived at the Kalalau beach, we had our first frantic landing. This is why I would encourage everyone to do this trip with a guide. Sometimes the surf and the way the waves break can be unpredictable. Needless to say, I went huli (flipped) out of the kayak, lost my Herbivore baseball cap, and had a nasty bruise on my right shin from the kayak hitting it. My father-in-law who is a doctor said that there is the potential for broken tibias from kayak impacts while landing ashore. So again, get a guide and when out, get away from your kayak if you can’t get it under control.

Kalalau Beach is amazing from the shore. You see cathedral-like cliffs, green rainforest, and beautiful waterfalls. Wild goats dance along jagged edges. There are interesting people too! The longer you stay, the more your clothes seem to disappear! Camping is by permit only so please pay your $15 a night and get there early in the day to grab a decent spot. We found a nice place to set up camp that had a great view of the ocean and not too far from the waterfall (our source of water that we filtered). Though the water may seem pristine, there is a spirochete that causes Leptospirosis, a sickness that lands you in the hospital about 1-2 weeks later. It comes from the excrement of wild pigs and goats so the only way to make sure you don’t get it, is to filter your drinking and cooking water and be careful with open wounds. We had a manual filter and also a UV filter (SteriPen). Did I mention this trek was going to be fueled with hearty VEGAN food? Not just granola and bars, but real hot food, like scrambled tofu, Soy Curls, cinnamon rolls and other yummies that you wouldn’t expect while roughing it! Do you know how awesome it is to camp with people who eat like you do and know that you will get to have Smores with Sweet and Sara Marshmallows?

Here are some of the meals we made:

We hauled our perishable food in a collapsible cooler by Icemule. You couldn’t do this if you hiked in, well maybe someone could but by kayak, it was easy! We filled it with cold water from the waterfall to keep some of our packaged food cool.
This camping oven by Backpacker’s Pantry helped us make baked goods like PIZZA. Thank you, Daiya for being in a waterproof bag! We made sure to kayak out all of our trash and recyclables. It’s amazing sometimes the stuff you find in a remote place even among so-called Nature loving hippies. No lovely Hawaiian creatures or fishes were consumed by us.

Big Pool & Waimakemake Falls

Another great part of Kalalau is the hike to Big Pool and Waimakemake Falls that is far back in the valley.
Along the way are mango trees, guava trees, lilikoi (passionfruit) vines and ginger plants. We were able to humbly partake of nice ripe fruits! Someone is cultivating taro up there and has created a farm by the stream. Lots of ALOHA in this sacred valley. You will come across ancient Hawaiian terraces and also heiaus. If you respect the land, and the spirit that lives here and in all of us, you will be shown amazing things.

It was easy to get to Big Pool. The water was refreshing after a long hike.

After the Pool we headed out on a narrow trail farther in until we came to a rope hanging over a steep incline. The hiker’s guide we had read online said we needed to ascend this rocky outcropping. It was a bit hairy but we did it. We took no pictures and concentrated on getting everyone up (and later down) safely. Our perseverance was rewarded with a private viewing of Waimakemake Falls.
The water hitting the shallow bottom of the falls was quite loud. If you have never embraced under a waterfall, I send my best wishes that you get to do it in this lifetime! We had a mini lunch of tempeh bacon sandwiches with some greens similar to watercress or miner’s lettuce that grew near the waterfall pool’s edge.

We found the trail back to Kalalau Beach even though I think we took the longer route back. Nothing is really marked, you have to trust the aina (the land) to show you the way. Kalalau means “to wander” and it’s a great thing to do if you have the time. We have the GPS coordinates of everything as we tracked ourselves on the trail, just in case we decide to go back and want to discover more.

See the next page for Part 2 of this post and the rest of our trip, including Miloli’i and Polihale.