TUESDAY BLUESDAY

Only labeled Bluesday because it's been alternating between being rainy and being blue (as in the sky). I didn't feel like being Springy or Summery. Actually, that's a lie; I wanted to wear my new jewelry that the Easter Bunny got me (a.k.a. Kathy a.k.a. my mom).

Here's a photo:

Sarah, you might recognize these pieces. Both of them are from Kohl's, specifically from Vera Wang's collection. I like them for their metallic feel and how they accentuate the jewels on my shirt. So, to review...
Bracelet & necklace: Vera Wang collection (Kohl's)
Shirt: Express
You can't see my face, so don't worry about it. There's a cat to my left, though!

Also, today at JCPenney's, I bought a pair of earrings from a brand called Color Craze. The website's selection can be found here.

April Showers & Winter Mixes

So far, the end of April has been one big clusterfuck of snow, rain and sleet. Not the most productive weather for creativity, but you have to take what you get.
Oh, say hello!

Today's outfit:
Oversized blue & brown rose shirt from H&M
Blue & turquoise earrings & peacock necklace from Juke in Pittsburgh
Brown heeled boots

That's all you need to know.
I figured I needed some color to brighten up the day.

ALSO.
Break starts today at 4.

day eight: alterra

Vegetarian is awesomely easy at Alterra.
Well, to me, it's easy nearly everywhere but I enjoy Alterra because they endorse a handful of local companies. I went with Katie for lunch and we both indulged in the Pesto Mozz sandwich. Culinary divinity in its greatest simplicity. Later,  Nojus made me an iced dirty soy chai. Delicious. Love.

day seven: this is boring

being an evo-vegetarian really is boring. essentially, it's what I was before eating meat again. So it's not hard. At all. I do miss the challenge of being vegan for two weeks. I haven't really made anything fun. But for lunch, I'm having a classic salad with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and kalamata olives with balsamic vinaigrette and tomato soup. Yum!

day five: ultimatum

I decided that for the remainder of the time I am experimenting for this essay, I'm going to be an evo-vegetarian. This means the only animal food I eat are dairy products. This seems to be an efficient, yet healthy way to do this assignment without feeling like I'm going to pass out.

Change of Plans

I might stick to vegetarianism for the remainder of this essay because the vegan thing is making me sick. Lack of protein? I'm frustrated because I've never had this problem. Sigh.

Suitcase Chair

This is interesting to me.

1. This is awesome. I want to know how you do this.
2. The color is very unique and, obviously, it is from a suitcase.
3. Thanks, stumbleupon.

Veganism = Fail

Officially broke all the rules of eating vegan. It all began with making vegan mac'n cheese and it tasting nasty as hell. I also starting feeling sick, probably from the lack of nutrition from what I've been eating. So I caved. Ugh. Having an apple now?

Day 3

Last night for dinner, I snacked on sourdough bread and Greek dressing. Fulfilling dinner, but Panera isn't the most vegan-friendly establishment in the planet.

Today's breakfast:
1.) White Rose Melange tea with German rock sugar
2.) Banana
3.) Strawberries

Mid-morning snack:
1.) Blueberry bagel with peanut butter

I had some Coke. Shoot me.

This day is boring food-wise. I'm stressed and I want chocolate and other dairy-licious things that veganism won't permit me to have. Ugh. Fuck.

I also bent my fingernail backwards and it hurts to type.
Additionally, yesterday I was having very intense stomach pains. It might have been from excess soy intake. I'm not sure.

Completely offhanded, I bought a Louis Vuitton bag and Chanel sunglasses, all for under $100.

Much thanks to my dear Swedish lady. :)

Day Two

BREAKFAST:

1. Kashi Strawberry Fields with vanilla soy milk
2. White Rose Melange tea with German rock sugar
3. Banana

SNACKS:
1. Seaweed
2. Cauliflower with garlic hummus
3. Vacuum-dried pineapple

LUNCH:
1. Potato salad (made with Veganaise)
2. Blackberry Italian soda
3. Blackberries


P.S. : I think I'll hold off on the fashion aspect of the blog until after this experiment is over.

Grocery Shopping Vegan

Grocery shopping vegan is rough. You read labels constantly and have to make sure there isn't an obscurely naming insect/animal-derived byproduct in any food you eat. My friend Melissa gave me a small, but neat packet containing easy-to-make vegan recipes. I decided to make the mac un-cheese, which needed nutritional yeast. Couldn't find it for the life of me. Damn you, Outpost! But eventually, I found it in the bulk foods section. Relief.

I would have a picture of what I bought but I already put everything away, but a list can't hurt
- Soy yogurt (strawberry and peach)
- Vegan margarine
- Vegan cheese
- Tumeric (it's a popular spice in a lot of recipes)
- Fruition, vegan granola-esque bars. You'd be surprised how many bars aren't.
- Chapstick (No Burt's Bees for two weeks :/)
- Nutritional yeast
- Kashi Strawberry Fields cereal

If I missed anything else, salty me. But that's roughly $39. Maybe if I have time down the road, I'll compare dairy prices versus the non-dairy ones.


Oh, and from Sendik's, I bought myself Soy ice cream bars. Yum yum! Dessert tonight?

Happy [Vegan] Monday

Today is the day: I'm going vegan for two weeks. How terrifying, the concept of not having dairy for a whole two weeks. Oh well. Life is rough. I imagine there are children who have never had the blessing of cheese or Chobani Greek yogurt so I will shut up. 

I began day one of being vegan with a sesame seed bagel with black olive hummus and a soy chai tea latte. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Bean's chai does not have honey. Hallelujah! However, I was not happy to find that Nerds have carmine in them, which is pigment from a crushed cochineal insect. Boo. But Sweet Tarts are! Thanks, Terry Steele. 

For lunch, I have a banana, apple, baby tomatoes and carrots with hummus and Green Machine Naked juice. Yum. 

I'll give you an update on today's eatings later, along with my fashion for the day.

The computer is on two minutes of battery life. 

Womp womp.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

More specifically, the Andy Warhol Museum because, besides the convention itself, Pittsburgh kinda blows. We beat their team during the Super Bowl. 

No big deal. 

But I digress.

My good friend Katie and I decided to explore downtown Pittsburgh and make the most out of the place. We walked to their local coffee shop, Crazy Mocha, and found out that city is actually Andy Warhol's birth place! We decided to walk all the way over there. The result: totally worth it. Here's a few photos of what's inside.

 From the street.

 The Jackies.

 Andy and his pet Siamese cat.

 Andy with Bob Dylan and his crew.

 The man.

 Illegally taken photo of Andy's version of "The Last Supper."

 Pug

 This was in the room dedicated to Andy's friend who translated the Qur'an into English.

 Illegally taken Skull.

The Interview magazines. 

That's the Pitt!

Dorian

I've been writing a novel for nearly a year now.
Surprisingly (or not?), I've only gotten to the third chapter.
This is probably because a.) I'm busy as hell, b.) writing a novel is somewhat difficult and c.) the human brain can run out of gas sometimes.
However, I am pleased to say that Dorian, Emmeline and all the characters in the world I created for them are doing well and running rampant in my head. 

On a completely random note, Spring is right around the corner. This means it's the perfect time to bring out the bright, poppy pinks and flower sundresses. This brand has been my go to:

NARS. I wear their foundation and now lip products almost religiously. The lipstick I wear is called Manhunt and initially looks orange when inside the tube. However, upon application, it is gorgeous. Thank goodness for Sephora.

Oh, and on another artsy note, my good friend Katie and I went to the Andy Warhol Museum while in Pittsburgh. Photographs of that excursion to come later.

Introductions

For those who do not know, my name is Leah. I'm a junior at a small, private university in Milwaukee, doubling majoring in creating writing and psychology. However, the psychology major will probably be dropped to a minor very soon. Originally, this blog was meant to focus on my daily fashion sense, exploring new places and simply things I find aesthetically pleasing. But in an unexpected turn of events, this blog will document my experimentation with the vegan diet. I will be doing this for two weeks for my final essay for my non-fiction workshop. I will document recipes and post photographs of the specific recipes. I will record how my body changes, if it does at all, and the difficulties and roadblocks I experience throughout this test of mine.

This is me on a normal Friday you could say. In this photo, I'm wearing just foundation, a knit hat from I don't know where, earrings from Charlotte Russe and slouchy white shirt from Victoria's Secret. That tattoo you see says "life imitates art." For those who are not familiar with the phrase, it's an Oscar Wilde quote from his essay The Decay of Lying. Another random fact: I'm a nerd. I just returned from an international convention about English and writing last Sunday. I'm enlightened. I'm also exhausted. More later.