Stay

We stayed in a two-bedroom Airbnb, which was in the most ideal location for hopping on the metro, shopping, eating, and experiencing the city like a local.

There is something about having a fridge, washer, and dryer, and a walk-up (not ideal with all our bags LOL) that makes the international travel a little more like home.

I will say, I do not think it was any better than staying at a nice hotel. The apartment itself was nice enough, and again, great location.

Here is the link to the airbnb!

Eats

Land & Monkeys - most visited place by far! All vegan cafe with coffee, pastry, handhelds, bowls, cake, and more. I tried new things every day and still didnt get to try everything on the menu.

Marcus Pizze Amore - Italian place with vegan options, but everything looked good! I recommend having a reservation if possible.

Folderol Wine and Ice Cream - a cute place to celebrate sweet treat o’clock

L’As du Fallafel - LIFE CHANGED FALAFEL !!! You must go if you like traditional Mediterranean food. The Special Sandwich (hand-held wrap) and the plate where you can taste a little bit of everything are naturally vegan, but the animal protein options looked phenomenal as well. They have a nice inside seating setup with more menu options. There will be a line, most likely, but it goes quickly, and they are pros at getting people in and out. But I will say ordering from the window and eating it on the street was so fun too! We did both, and the staff was so nice and genuinely kind to everyone. This is a MUST-visit.

VG Pâtisserie - all vegan pastry and OMG so good. So many options, I wish I had the room to try more. It is a bit out of the way and in an area that didn’t have many other stops near it, but it was worth a train ride for :)

Le Potager de Charlotte - a higher-end vegan restaurant run by two brothers, and they celebrated 10 years of being open when we were there. Drinks were delish, food was great, and get the chocolate mousse! You will not regret it. Also, definitely make a reservation!

Cloud Cakes - cute vegan coffee shop and brunch place. As a gluten-free girly, I was taking advantage of being able to enjoy the gluten in Paris and got to have French toast (which I can never eat in the States), and it was delish! Topped with coconut whipped cream, too! My mom had the grilled cheese, and that was amazing too. I will never get over being able to enjoy gluten pain-free.

Wild & The Moon - similar to Land & Monkeys, plant-based vibe with juice, wellness shots, small bites, smoothies, and protein bowls. “Jack’s Bowl” was soooo good!

Chapon - the famous chocolate mousse place! They do not have vegan mousse, but they do have dairy-free and so many pretty gifts like chocolate boxes, truffles, and the viral fruit desserts.

Patate - imagine a cafe that only makes French fries…well, this is that! A true potato loved dream! I would recommend this place more if it weren’t for getting a stomachache afterward. Both my mom and I were messed up after these fries, but if you are open to risking it, they are delicious fries! And make for a super cute photo opportunity.

Dalia - one of my favorite places for lunch or dinner! The vibes are so cute in there, and definitely check out the mirrored bathroom if you visit! Mediterranean food with good cocktails and mocktails. We got hummus, which was nothing compared to the famous falafel place, but still good. We also got a pumpkin spread that was delish (and SO pretty), and falafel. The falafel itself was really but whatever sauce they put on them is OUT OF THIS WORLD. There was a sauce drizzled on top, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Le Potager du Marais - traditional French food made vegan!

B.Better - all vegan food

Sips (mostly coffee)

Sevenly Heart

RECTO VERSO

Cafe Pli

Landline

Buddy Buddy

Little Red Door

Ralph’s

Noir

Café Kitsuné

Le Flow - Barge Bar

Back in Black - great coffee 

Activities

Studio Patisserie - This was probably the best thing I did the whole trip. It was so fun, and it was just my mom and me, so we really got special treatment. They can have up to 10 people in a class. We took the vegan croissant class just so we could eat the finished product, but the steps are the exact same with dairy butter. They also have French macaron classes and are expanding to a bigger space to accommodate more classes and people. Seriously can’t recommend this enough. It is expensive, but you get to eat all the croissants made and you get a copy of the recipe, so worth it in my opinion!

PHOTO BOOTH - 53 Rue des Trois Frères - such a cute memory, and it was very cheap, so I did it about 6 times, haha

Shopping

Merci - go to both locations!! And there is a Noir Coffee shop branded with Merci, and it is super cute and a great place to people watch

Shakespeare & Co - famous bookstore that is worth the hype. It has a good coffee shop right next door, too. Across the street from Notre Dame

Sonny Angel Store

Jellycat Patisserie at Galleries Lafayette - that mall was also super fun to walk around in. They had a very cute kids’ floor, and don’t forget to go up to the rooftop and get a 350 view of the city. You can see the Eiffel Tower! Search Galleries Lafayette Rooftop to find it.

H&M Home Store - fun store to see in person. They honestly have such cute stuff

Zara Home Store - similar to H&M Home, but the store is beautifully done and has lots to look at

Papier Tigre - Stationery store

Fleux (3 locations) - all the locations are on the same street, so you can hit them all in one trip. These were some of my favorite stores in the whole city, and someone randomly suggested them to us. We are so glad we went. They have so many unique gifts, Jellycats were STOCKED, fun table scape items, home decor, prints, etc. I got some of my favorite items at these stores.

Sabre Paris - Custom Silverware store open from 11 am-7 pm, and if you order anything, it takes a few hours to make it or could be overnight. If you are interested in getting anything from there, I would go earlier in the trip to make sure you can get what you want made in time! I got a 3 piece dinner set with vintage metal in a sage green color. I am obsessed with it and so excited to have it for years to come. I also got a cake cutter/server in hot pink, and cutie dessert spoons in all different bright colors.

Officine Universelle Buly 1803 - Personalized combs, lip balm, brushes, mirrors, etc. Very expensive and the line can get long, so I would try to get there early in the day or right when they open. We didn’t buy anything, but it was fun to look. Their perfumes and soaps smelled AMAZING. They do stop all personalization 30 minutes before closing, so keep that in mind.

Saint Ouen  - famous historic flea market open 10am - 6pm. It is in a rough area of town because there are tons of vendors who sell fake goods like designer bags, Apple products, etc, so just be aware of your surroundings. There was a lot of vintage decor and niche items, which were cool to see.

La Grande Épicerie de Paris - the official Erewhon of Paris (according to me lol). They have so many great gifts and fancy food. You must check out every floor. There is a grocery floor, a home decor floor, and a kitchenware floor. It was basically my dream store.

Subdued - very similar store to Brandy Melville. Basic clothing, neutral colors, cute accessories.

Le Bon Marché - Luxury department store with some great finds! I didn’t buy anything, but it was really fun to walk around and see all the French brands.

Unbottled - plastic-free soaps, hair care, and skin care. Very cute store and would make for good gifts.

Les Nouveautes - cute bookstore!

Marché aux Fleurs de Paris - The cutest flower market with so many florals and live plants. It is all outside, and there is a lot to see

Kitchen Store Tour

All of these stores are in the same area except for the last one, so I suggest hitting them all at once. They are all neighbors to one anothe,r but open at different times, so make sure you plan it out to go to them when they are all open!

A Simon - opens at 9 am. I think this was my favorite kitchen store out of all of them. They had so many affordable plates, dishes, flatware, and cooking utensils

TOC Paris - opens at 10 am. Three story, mostly bakingware. They did have some chef coats and other chef equipment, which was cool!

MORA - opens at 9:45 am. This one was all for bakers, the ingredients they need, the molds, equipment, etc.

G detou - opens at 8:30 am. Also, mostly for bakers. Very unique equipment I didn’t know I needed, but now I do LOL

E.Dehillerin - opens at 9 am. This famous kitchen store was so unique and PACKED. I honestly did not do it justice in my content because there were so many people, but it was really cool to see.

Sightseeing

Jardin du Palais Royal / Palais Royale

Louvre Museum

Tuileries Garden

Place de la Concorde

Eiffel Tower

National Archives Museum

Hôtel de Soubise

Rue Saint-Dominique - cute street!!

Place des Vosges

Paroisse Saint-Paul Saint-Louis

Pont Alexandre III

Pharmacie Picks

The Pharmacies in Paris are so different than those in the States, and the formulations in France are different in products we have over here. Price point was cheaper as well, so stock up, bestie !!

Biafine Emulsion

Nuxe Shimmering Body Oil

Nuxe Melting Honey Body Oil Balm

A313 - Retinoid alternative

Caudalie Instant Detox Mask

Avene Smoothing Hydrating Mask

Embryolisse Lait Creme Sensitive - great under makeup

Caudalie Shower Gel

Avene Water in a Can - luxury

Marvis Toothpaste

Cavailles Lait Bain Douche - body wash

Content

@earthyjane

BEST BIRTHDAY EVER (sugar crash and all)🥐☕️🥂🍝

♬ original sound - Jane Olivia👩🏼‍🍳✨🍝🥒🍒🍰

@earthyjane

and now we have the cutest photos to have forever🥹🥹

♬ original sound - cinemacloudz

@earthyjane

my dream date, cute🍴✨

♬ original sound - Jane Olivia👩🏼‍🍳✨🍝🥒🍒🍰

@earthyjane

get me a cart STAT💥💳💥💳

♬ Carefree Days - Peaceful Reveries

@earthyjane

Paris kitchen store TOUR of my dreamsss👩🏼‍🍳🍳🛍️

♬ original sound - Jane Olivia👩🏼‍🍳✨🍝🥒🍒🍰

@earthyjane

I love this concept!! it would be so fun to do with your friends at home too!

♬ original sound - Jane Olivia👩🏼‍🍳✨🍝🥒🍒🍰

@earthyjane

what an EXPERIENCE!!!!👩🏼‍🍳🇫🇷🥐

♬ original sound - Jane Olivia👩🏼‍🍳✨🍝🥒🍒🍰

@earthyjane

let the bday trip of my DREAMS commence !!!!

♬ original sound - nicole

Aloha!! I just returned from a 5-day girls trip to Maui and documented all the places we ate, drank, and swam. The food scene is everything you want it to be. In walking distance to the beach and shirts and shoes are optional. Here are all the places we visited and that I recommend as well as where we stayed! Save this for your next trip to the island. It is incredible and I do plan on returning so maybe one day this will be updated :)

Stay

Kamaole Condo

In walking distance to the beach, food, and overlooking the pool. This condo was perfect for our group with a fully equipped kitchen, beach chairs, towels, and in-unit laundry which we utilized. Slept all 6 of us comfortably. We all agreed we would stay here again.

Coffee

Lava Java 

We visited this cute coffee shop and it was so yummy. So many syrup options including macadamia nut which is a must. I suggest trying their coconut milk as well. Super fresh. They also have big bags of coffee to bring home. I recommend it because it is so good

Java Cafe 

Yummy coffee and pastry place for a morning pick-me-up. More limited in the non-dairy milks but the dirty chai was delish with almond milk. Their pastries looked so perfect. 

Akamai Coffee in Waliea

The vegan veggie wrap and vegan Rancheros were so yummy. I went twice on this trip and tried both the Hawaiian honey bee coffee (yum) and a dirty chai. Both were phenomenal. Also got myself a cutie reusable insulated cup. Definitely on the pricier side but so worth it if you are in that area. 

Food

Kihei Food Truck Park

Thai Mee Up - So many plant-based options and very fresh!

Burger Boys - Incredible fries!!  Known for their unique wagyu burgers

Roll It Up - Sushi and dumplings were amazing!! They also have ramen!

Papio’s - all plant-based!!

Howzit Eh! - vegan poutine, Bahn mi, and more!

This park also hosts events like late-night movies, live music, artist markets, and more. Here is their event calendar!

Kihei Caffe

Super yummy breakfast/brunch place. Coffee, pancakes, french toast options. Minimal vegan options but their chia seed pudding was a delicious option! Lots of fresh fruit too.

Choice Health Bar

They had so many yummy options here. The vegan burrito bowl was incredible. All the juices were good and came in little glass bottles! The ChocAloha protein shake was so creamy and was a great post-beach treat!

Fred’s Mexican Cafe

Can’t go wrong with Mexican. Lots of options for all dietary restrictions. Fun atmosphere. Chips and salsa were bottomless and complementary. The drinks were so delish. Highly recommend the Jalapeno Margarita with mango added!!

Black Rock Pizza

Holy Moly this place was probably my favorite meal! Tons of vegan and gluten-free options! They make their own vegan cheese in-house and have a gluten-free crust option as well. I got the cauliflower wings with the mango barbeque sauce as an appetizer. They were super crispy and sticky! And then I built my own personal pizza with spicy red sauce, vegan cheese, and veggies. The crust is thin and crispy and has so much flavor. We sat outside at golden hour and it was perfect.

808 Pops

Fresh fruit popsicles and gelato with lots of dairy-free options

Maui Brewing Co.

Very fun atmosphere and fast service. You order from your phone and they are speedy with the orders. I tried a flight and a cocktail. All were great with the live music. They had a vegan burger and it was delish. Lots of yummy food options for everyone!

Surfing Monkey Hawaiian Shave Ice

They had amazing vegan coconut ice cream, Dole Whip, and homemade ice cream. A perfect place for a sweet treat.

Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade

Their smoothie bowls were SO good. I got the King bowl and it was so creamy! Tons of topping options and mix-ins.

Maui Thai Bistro

This was such a good last dinner as a group on the island. Most of their dishes can be made vegan and they have quite a few options. I tried the drunken noodles and the drunken fried rice. They also have summer rolls, edamame, and other appetizers! Their drink menu was surprisingly big and their mule and ginger margarita were top-notch!

Shopping

Whalers Village in Lahaina

Mahinia - very cute and simple Hawaii merch

SoHa Living - cute boutique with fund jewelry, pens, and stationary

Tattoo Whalers - temporary custom tattoos

Beaches

Pa’ako Beach (Secret Cove) or Big Beach in Wailea

This was the best place to spend the day. Not too crowded, plenty of space to spread out. We arrived around 9 am both days and had no issues with parking. It is $5 per person and $10 to park for the day. The waves were pretty big and really fun when we went

Black Rock Beach in Kaanapali

We spent an afternoon shopping and at the beach here and this was a great beach to hang out at. It was a little crowded but there are restaurants lining the beach and live music!

Eats:

Vital Root

First on the list is none other than Vital Root. Hands down my favorite restaurant in the city and a must-visit. If you listen to any of my recommendations, this is the one I would suggest the most. It is a 100% gluten-free restaurant and pretty much everything on the menu can be made vegan. They have great substitutions for scrambled eggs and things like that. I went TWICE during this trip and this is what I ordered in the order of how much I recommend it. Number one, the Korean BBQ Veggie Wings! They are battered and fried cauliflower and broccoli wings with an incredible hot sauce and ranch for dipping! Such a good appetizer to start with and maybe share if you are feeling generous. Next is the Sweet Potato Pancakes. They are probably the best gf & vegan pancakes I’ve ever had. So much flavor and they have a purplish hue to them which is fun! Served with some unique toppings of popcorn and burnt maple whip! Those are on the brunch menu so make sure you get there between 11-2. If you are a fan of falafel like me, I definitely recommend trying theirs! It is some of the best I’ve tried yet. So light and fluffy inside with a crisp crust on the outside. You can get it as a side or if you want to have it as a meal, you can get the Falafel Wrap! It has a delicious gluten-free naan wrap with roasted tomatoes and tzatziki sauce! I am always a fan of noodle dishes so I had to try the Pad Thai. It was packed with veggies and was on a bed of a spicy chili sauce. So fresh and the flavors were on point! If you are looking for a bowl, the Siagon Bowl was really yummy. It has lemongrass tofu, sweet potatoes, and just a bunch of goodness. If your a fry connoisseur like myself, you’re gonna want to try their Sweet Potato Fries. They are a great addition to pretty much any meal in my opinion. They are waffle cut, AKA the superior of all fry shapes, and come with their homemade ketchup! On to desserts, the Beet Brownie is a must. I got it both times I was there and it is just such a solid dessert. So moist and lightly sweet. Is more of a cake than a brownie in my opinion but regardless of its category, so good. Next are the cookies. The Peanut Butter Tahini Cookie is delish! If you know me at all, you know I like anything with peanut butter and this cookie is no different. It is more of a crunchy cookie so if you’re into that, you’ll love it as much as I do. And finally the Chocolate Chip Cookie! Another great treat to grab on your way out (or on your way in if you are like me and like to eat dessert before dinner). It is a soft-baked cookie and is perfect!

City ‘O City

This is a new place since I’ve been in the city but it is now one of my top favorites! Owned by the same people as the famous Watercourse, they are not all vegan but pretty much everything can be made plant-based. Tons of gluten-free options and good substitutes for things. I was there for Saturday brunch and tried the Chicken and Waffles which was to die for! It was breaded ‘chicken’ cauliflower and a delicious waffle with a savory sauce, carrot bacon, and maple syrup. Doesn’t get much better than that. They have a very extensive breakfast menu so if you love breakfast like me, I recommend getting there for their breakfast hours! I also had the Chophouse Burger which was amazing. Made with their homemade patty, mushrooms, and steak sauce. Served with really good fries as well. Make sure you save room for dessert because you are gonna want to try their soft serve ice cream called Wizards! Basically vegan DQ Blizzards, they have vanilla, chocolate, or swirl ice cream, and then you can get mix-ins. I tried the Peanut Butter Cup, Funfetti, and the Cookie Dough. They also have a few other flavors that rotate I believe. I wish I had a bigger stomach to try more things on their menu but I will 100% be back! Their menu is pretty big with so many things that sound incredible.

Watercourse Foods

Watercourse is such a solid place to go! 100% vegan with plenty of gluten-free options. Great outdoor seating and the menu is pretty extensive. I tried the Potato and Leek Frittata which is totally unique to anything I tried this week. Such different flavors and it’s a meal I don’t usually have. If you like messy sandwiches, the BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sandwich is something you should consider trying! Jackfruit is hit or miss but they hit a home run with this sandwich. The bbq sauce is delish and there is a creamy slaw on it that is just chefs kiss. You gotta try the Mac & Cheese is something everyone should try without a doubt. You can add it as a side to one of the entrees or you can get it by itself. Such a good version of a classic. Their fries are also really good if you want to get that as a side too. As for desserts, they have delicious cheesecake which is always such a good vegan dessert to try. They have flavors that rotate all the time but we were able to try the Carrot Cake Cheesecake and it was so good! They have a HO HO Cupcake that is a must-try as well! Gluten-free version and regular :)

Whole Sol Blend Bar

I love me some good smoothie bowls and this place delivers!! All the bowls are served in coconuts and the atmosphere in every location is so so cute! We tried the PB&J Bowl and the OG Bowl with added plant protein and peanut butter on top! We also tried the Vegan Breakfast Sammie which features Just Egg scramble! It was my first time trying it and I actually really loved it! Especially when it is on soft gluten-free bread and with all sorts of veggies! Everything is plant-based and literally, every smoothie sounds good. If I lived near one of these I would go there all the time!!

Piante Pizzaria

Okay okay. THIS PLACE. You need to check out. It’s 100% vegan and they have an amazing gluten-free crust. It is mostly wood-fired pizza and everything on the menu sounds amazing and I hope to try it all one day! I had the Lasagna Pizza which has ‘meat’ crumbles, red sauce, and cashew ricotta on it. So so so good! Also had the Mr. White which is their take on a classic white pizza. Also amazing!! I highly recommend getting their ranch and some marinara sauce to dip the ‘za in! I also got the Jalapeno Poppers as an appetizer. Such good vegan junk food!!

High Point Creamery

Ice cream is always a requirement for these vegan food tours and this place delivered! It’s located on the same street as Vital Root and in the mix of a lot of cool shopping so it’s a great place to grab a little treat. I tried the Coconut Crème Brûlée and the Mango Coconut Lassi which is a seasonal flavor. Both were delish. They do not have gluten-free cones but hopefully, that will change in the near future.

Bang Up To The Elephant

Now I didn’t get a chance to go to this restaurant BUT it’s 100% vegan and everything looks incredible. The pictures that I’ve seen are so cute so I hope to someday visit! If you are in the area, definitely check it out and tell me what you thought.

Allegro Coffee

One of my favorite coffee shops to visit! And this time I was able to fully enjoy it by writing this blog post there :) I am not a coffee drinker but I am sure it is good coffee since they roast the beans in-house. They have lots of teas though. I love a good iced green tea and theirs is really good.

Shopping:

Union Station

Lots of walking around to do and fun shops in and around Union Station and in downtown Denver. Lots of little stores and unique outdoor brands with showrooms there. Lots to see plus it is just fun to be downtown.

Denver Farmers Market

The farmers market is two days a week and is fun to go to just to see what Denver has to offer. It is smaller than the Boulder farmers market but still fun to visit!

Peak Thrift

Peak thrift is a fun thrift store to pop into. It’s super close to downtown and you might be able to find some good stuff. Not as good as a buffalo exchange and not quite as much to look through compared to a Goodwill, but I found a Free People Dress and some cool Colorado University t-shirts. Also, they have an awesome Colorado mural painted on the side of their building to take pictures in front of. The thrift store is kinda a bonus to that :)

Feral

This is a super cool outdoor equipment store with cool hats, stickers, professional gear, etc. Plus they have a little second-hand/thrift section where they buy used workout and outdoor adventure clothing. I got a nice lululemon long sleeve for only $9!

The Yogi Exchange

If you like good quality yoga clothes and care about the brands you buy, but don’t want to buy new or full price this is the place for you! They have tons of Lululemon, Alo Yoga, Athleta, Spiritual Gangster, Outdoor Voices, and lots of other big-name brands. Their prices are definitely higher than other thrift stores but the quality of the items is much higher. They also have a table with tons of crystals and rocks which is fun to look at and browse. Next door, they have a sister store with regular clothing like jeans and tops and dresses. Brands like Madewell, Free People, Anthropology, etc. I feel like it is a little overpriced but still super fun to look at.

Inspyr Boutique

This is a super cute boutique in the same area as Vital Root. Lots to look at and such cute clothes! I got a cute pair of sunglasses :)

Cherry Creek

This is one of the largest clusters of stores in the country and there is so much to explore. There is a nice regular mall with fun stores like Zara and then there are stores along the streets right outside the mall. Cool stores like Yeti and CB2, and then also smaller boutiques.

Stay:

Best Western Plus

The Best Western Plus Executive Residency Denver-Central Park Hotel was actually super nice and VERY affordable. Since we wanted to go all over the place in Denver, we stayed in this hotel which was about 15 minutes out of the city. It was not hard to get in and out of the city to go back to the hotel at all. There are so many hotels downtown but it is hard to do research on the exact area you want to be in, plus they can be so expensive.

Hiking:

Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater

I love love LOVE Red Rocks and exploring that area. It is so beautiful and there are lots of different difficulties and lengths of hikes to do there. It is a little touristy but there is a lot to explore. There are more popular hikes, which I try to avoid. I went to a concert at Red Rocks so I hiked during the day and then stayed for the concert. It was amazing and I highly recommend doing that if you are going to a concert there!

Skincare Devices

Cleansers

Moisturizers

Toners & Serums

Masks

Body Scrubs

Protein Powders

Supplement Powders

From 1st grade all the way up to basically sophomore year, I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian. It all came to a halting end when I went to a career speaker at school who was a technician at a local vets office. She was not the peppiest, kindest person I ever met but wow she really turned it around. She told us about how she spent 8 years in school and spent over $200,000 on college and isn’t making a whole lot. Not that money is everything, but I understood enough to realize that that is not good and how I wanted to spend my life. And she also mentioned how you have to put animals down, perform surgeries, memorize a ton of stuff in school like diseases, parts of the body, etc. Not for me and I knew that immediately. Walking out of that talk, I knew I needed to find something else.

At this time, I was transitioning to becoming vegan and learning more and more about the health of me, the animals, and the Earth. I had also been working on building my online bakery for a few months along with this blog, but neither one of them were vegan and no longer went along with my morals. So I transitioned my bakery to vegan goods and focused on new, better recipes for cookies, cakes, brownies, and granola that didn’t cause so much destruction. I also started posting recipes and some good vegan information like documentaries and things on here.

It was junior in high school and the pressure was on to get into the best school, get the best grades, and get the biggest scholarship. But I was over in the corner trying to find a degree or program where I could do something that I loved: promoting a healthy diet and lifestyle while helping people reach their health goals. I found all sorts of good programs like Plant Lab Culinary School and the Online Cornell Program for Plant-based Nutrition. Both of them fascinated me but I had to wait until I graduated high school to pursue them. I did some more searching and typed in “Holistic Nutrition Certification”. The first result was the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN).

IIN is an online-only, year-long program that focuses on healing from the inside out with simple and natural ways. There is so much information to learn in the year including over 100 dietary theories from around the world, macrobiotics, gut health, the importance of self-care, and so much more. We learn about how to start a health coaching business and they set you up with all the tools you need. Business cards, handouts, a website demo, and more. It is pretty remarkable what we can do all through a computer screen and in one year.

In February of 2018, I enrolled and was on my journey to become a health coach. At first, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with my certificate. I wasn’t sold on becoming a health coach. I thought maybe this was a good stepping stone to see if I wanted to go to college and get a degree in Integrative Health perhaps, or maybe this wasn’t for me. I had to try it out. It is all great information to have just for yourself/family but I wanted to share it as soon as I started. I instantly knew that this was what I needed to do. I felt the need to help heal people and change people’s lives with this information.

So that’s what I am setting out to do. I work with clients through online coaching sessions and over the phone to help them reach their health goals. I offer multiple packages to tailor to anyone and everyone to get people where they want to be. Self Care, Intention Setting, Primary Food Balance are the most popular packages I offer. I can help you reach goals like curb caffeine + sugar cravings, manage stress, lose weight, and much much more. But I also have a Vegan Package. It’s tailored for all those people out there who want to make the change but don’t know what to shop for, what to buy, and/or how to change your lifestyle.

Click here to learn more about Integrative Nutrition.

Click here to inquire about becoming one of my clients

Click here to book a session right here, right now

In a way, everything I have ever dreamed of and hoped for has come together in harmony all at once. From the beginning, I have dreamed of healing and studying health. I have always hoped I would one day have my own business and be own boss. I have manifested my dream. And this independent practice may not be the end result for my career. IIN is just a stepping stone. But it is a step that will lead to more healing and helping.

Now I am in college and loving it! I am studying at Arizona State University. My major is called Integrative Health. Sound familiar? It took a long time for me to find something I wanted to study. I didn’t want to go for nursing or pre-med. That just isn’t what I want. I want holistic health with a focus on the mind and body. And let me tell you, that is exactly what I got from this major. Here is the description of the major:

Health care is not “one size fits all.”  Every patient has their own unique needs and background that must be addressed to ensure proper treatment.  That’s why the Integrative Health degree prepares graduates to treat each patient holistically, focusing not just on their body, but their mind and spirit as well.  By engaging patients as individuals and drawing treatments from traditional, conventional and complementary medicines, graduates are well-positioned to address health care challenges for diverse populations.

I absolutely love it and if you are passionate about health like I am, I really recommend it. I have been about to study online so I can continue to have my health coaching practice, make Youtube videos, and other content for you guys. But don’t worry, I am still having my college experience :) I love having the flexibility and learning at my own pace. Online is a great option if you are working or don’t want to move to AZ. I am so happy to be living there in the heat and in a very vegan-friendly area. No complaints there!

I hope this inspired you to make some changes and go for your biggest dreams. I am living it right now and I want to inspire each and every one of you to do the same. If you have any questions about anything mentioned above or college or anything, please feel free to contact me here <3

“The Manner Of Giving Is Worth More Than The Gift”

Stay:

The NoMo SoHo Hotel

This hotel was probably one of the nicest hotels I have ever stayed in. It was only about two blocks away from where we stayed previously so it is still in a prime location. I was on the 18th floor which made us feel like royalty. A lot of the rooms have amazing views with floor to ceiling windows, the staff is very accommodating and helpful, and I basically want to move into this hotel. There is a restaurant on the first floor and in the basement, there is a pretty nice gym if you are one to work out while on vacation. Overall this hotel was 10/10 and I would recommend it to anyone.

Food:

P.S. Kitchen

A bit of a higher-end restaurant with a higher price range. The menu is mostly burgers with unique flavors and other sandwiches. Everything I tried was phenomenal, especially the fries! I had the P.S. Burger which is made with the Beyond Meat burger. Had great bread and a thousand island sauce which was killer. I also had the BBQ Seitan Sandwich and the Maple Roasted Honeynut Squash Sandwich.

Baked My Melissa

This is a chain of small bakeries all around the city. The only things sold at Baked by Melissa are one bite cupcakes! They are so cute and they have 5 vegan flavors to try. All are really good but I highly recommend these ones: Chocolate cupcake with vanilla icing, Double Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Peanut Butter. They aren’t very expensive and you can try a bunch of them at once.

The Pennsy Food Hall:

A great place to grab a bite to eat. Tons of dietary options including a lot of vegan and gluten-free goodies! Lots of outdoor seating with a good view of the city. The next two places are both located at the Pennsy Food Hall.

Cinnamon Snail

All vegan place with an extensive menu of basically vegan junk food heaven. Nothing to complain about there. I wanted to try soooo many things but just didn’t have the room in my belly :) I tried the Beastmode Burger Deluxe. It was phenomenal and unlike anything I have ever tried before. It is an ancho chili seitan burger grilled in maple hickory bbq sauce with jalapeño mac n cheese, arugula, smoked chili coconut bacon, and chipotle mayo on a grilled pretzel bun. I mean you cannot go wrong there. I also tried a classic glazed donut and a lemon ginger donut. Both very good. Located in the Pennsy Food Hall.

Taco Dumbo

A trendy booth within the Pennsy food hall with an extensive vegan and nonvegan menu. Their coconut soft serve basically tasted like cotton candy with coconut granola on top. One of the best things I’ve eaten in New York. They have a lot of vegan options including impossible meat tacos, house-made guac, salads, and rice bowls. Lots of great things to try there. I highly recommend checking this place out.

Van Leeuwen

Such a classic destination. No matter where you are in the city, I am sure you’re close to one of their 18 NYC locations. They usually have 5-10 vegan flavors at a time so there is something for everyone. During my four days in New York in June, I got Van Leeuwen 6 times so I think it’s safe to say I recommend it. They change their vegan flavor menu often so try as many as you can.

Chelsea Market:

Los Tacos No. 1

Lots of cool places inside and around the Chelsea market, including this Mexican booth. From the menu, I built my own ‘bento box’ with two different vegan tacos with a side of chips and salsa. Very good and tasted authentic. I really liked their house-made chips and marinated tofu from inside the tacos.

Chalait

Cute coffee shops and cafes galore in NYC and this one is one of my new favorites. Located right inside the Chelsea market, it is close to a bunch of shops and restaurants. I tried an iced vanilla latte and an iced chai latte. Both were so delicious and are in the top five coffees I’ve ever had.

Red Bamboo

Vegan comfort food at it’s finest. It’s a very extensive menu with lots of different types of food. Italian, American, and Chinese style food. I tried the orange chicken, chicken parmesan, Asian dumplings, and carrot cake. I would love to try more of the menu.

The Organic Grill

Holy cow. This place is a killer and I can’t believe it isn’t more popular! I heard about this place on a Plant Proof podcast and it was totally worth checking out! Everything I tried was AMAZING! They have breakfast and dinner menus which both look great. I tried things from the dinner menu but would really like to go back for some omelets. I had the fried mac and cheese bombs (umm yess!), the original OG burger, the cauliflower parm, and the fried buffalo pops which are basically buffalo wings. You have to go try everything!

The Confectionary

This all vegan dessert shop is amazing. They have cookies, brownies, and scones. But they specialize in french macarons and chocolates. I tried the classic chocolate chip cookie, s’mores cookie, shortbread, and 4 different flavors of macarons. Lemon poppy seed, lavender, jalapeno, and coconut. There are a lot to choose from, about 20 different ones a day.

Experiences:

The Highline

The Vessel

Shopping:

Artist and Fleas

Buffalo Exchange

Strand Bookstore

ABC Carpet and Home

As race day was approaching, I needed to make a decision. Am I running it or not? I’m not one to give up on things so made up my mind in early April. I am doing this. And my reasoning you ask? I feel like this is something I would like to do one day and why not do it was I am young and can recover more easily. 18 is such a good age and I would love to say that I ran my first half at 18. I told my friends and family that I was doing it and they were skeptical. Mostly because I am not a runner, but also because doing a marathon was never on my radar. I literally know nothing about it. I was so far behind in training, I didn’t have great shoes, and I needed to find some leggings that didn’t fall down. At that point, my farthest run was four freakin FOUR miles on a track and it was torture. How the heck was I going to run 13.1 without actually dying? And to top things off, the night before the marathon was my senior prom. Yep that’s right. The night where you wear your highest pumps, dance for 5 hours straight, and basically never go to bed until the sun comes up. Well I am sitting here still boggled by how I managed to get up at 5:30 am after all that.

May 5th 2019. It’s here. Today is the day. I had my (hopefully) chafe-free outfit picked out, shoes ready to be tied, and my airpods charged. I was feeling so many things. Kind of dazed, a little mad that I was actually up and standing in the rain at 6:30, but also full of built up adrenaline. I have been ready for this for so long. Waiting for my section to start felt like an eternity but I feel like it helped me run farther. Building up the energy to go go go. I was ready. The horn went off and I crossed the line in an instant. I was doing it. I was running my first half marathon.

The course went all over Pittsburgh and we touched pretty much every neighborhood. The beginning was good. A little crowded which made it hard to navigate but I started out real slow. At around 11 minute mile. Slow I know. But going this slow was setting me up for success and if I would have started any faster, I may not have finished as strong. Miles 4-6 were great. I felt so good. I was cruisin through the crowd feeling good, jamming to my music and I felt no pain! Hundreds were lining the street holding funny posters up and yelling “You got this!”. And you know what? I do got this. I really believed I could finish this thing.

And then miles 7-10 came. The bridges seemed like 10 miles each and I swear everyone was passing me. I started to feel a bit more alone in the crowd and started to feel some pain. My right knee started to hurt but I kept going. I stopped at every water station and walked for 10 seconds and that really helped me recover.

After mile 10 everything was kind of a blur. I had to think to myself a few times to put one foot in front of the other. The last few hills I practically scooted up without lifting my feet off the ground. Everytime I would stop for water my knee would throb so I literally could not stop. I had to keep going. Breathing deeply and making sure my posture was decent was a good distraction. More and more people started to line the streets and tell us we were almost there. It was mile 12 before I realized it. That was a long mile though.

Eventually I saw the finish line. Man what a glorious sight it was. I tried to pick up the pace and run through the homestretch as fast as I could. It felt like I was zooming but it was probably slow motion for everyone else. As I approached the arch my knee began to feel like it was going to explode and I knew as soon as I stopped running it was going to get worse but all I wanted to do was stop running lol. I did the classic arms raised finish line run as I finished. I stopped running and it wasn’t exactly knee pain that I felt, it was basically my whole lower body. I could not walk properly. I was walking without bending my knees or lifting my feet. If only someone would have gotten a video of that :)

As I walked into the crowd I saw signs for bananas and just like that my body was craving bananas like never before. I took three and ate them in 30 seconds. Then I saw signs for bagels and I don’t think I have ever ingested that much food so fast in my life. And as I walked and enjoyed my plain processed carbs, it hit me. I had done it. I really actually did it. I completed my first half marathon. I was handed my metal when I got to the end of the seemingly endless buffet. I earned this piece of poorly designed metal. I really did and I am pretty proud of it too.

As I sit here and type this I am actually truly amazed at what I accomplished. I am so thankful for my body. It is pretty freakin amazing. It’s crazy how you can run miles and miles if you put your mind to it. And that’s what I have learned through this whole experience. Long distance running is all mental. If you really really want something, you can do it. We are all capable of so much and I am so glad I was able to see exactly what that looks like for me.

So my advice: If you have any desire whatsoever to run a half or full marathon, do it. Just sign up! That way you have something to work towards and look forward too. Double check to make sure its not the day after your senior prom though.

Buying produce that is only locally grown is kind of impossible depending on where you live. That’s the whole reason we started transporting produce in the first place. Nothing grows all year round in Pittsburgh so I am thankful for all the food that is transported in. With that said, I do believe that bringing food from across the world or even across the whole country is unnecessary. There are always stickers and labels on produce saying where it was grown. It’s a law. Start glancing at those little stickers. You may be surprised at how far away your food has traveled. Keep this in mind when your are grocery shopping for the week.

So let’s try to put an end to this excess food travel. I know farmers markets are not everywhere and all year round in most places but most have a seasonal one. Farmers markets are the cheapest and easiest way to cut down on food travel, buy seasonally, and cut down on your waste. Win, win, win! Supporting your local farmers is so rewarding for you and your community.

This website lists all the registered farmers markets in the country. You can search your state or city to find local markets to visit. It’s a great resource to reference if you are traveling and want to see the local farmers markets there (I did that in Colorado) or find one that is convenient for you visit regularly.

Visit this website to see your local markets

1. Cancer in Humans and Animals living near or on the farms

2. Chemicals leaking into the streams and rivers around the farms and flowing out to the oceans causing mass habitat destruction underwater

3. Species extinction of birds of prey since they consume the critters targeted with these chemicals (ie. bees, insects, rodents)

4. Fertility and fetal development problems in women who consume chemical laden foods or live near a farm that sprays.

And the list goes on and on unfortunately.

The Dirty Dozen

Buying organic is the best but I know that is not always accessible to everyone. It is definitely more expensive to buy all organic, which is why there is this magic list of the Dirty Dozen. Foods you should always buy organic if you can. These foods get sprayed the most and hold onto the most chemicals. You can download and save this picture on your phone to reference anytime you are shopping for your produce.

The Clean Fifteen

Good news! There’s also a list of foods that are okay to eat non organic. The items on this list are the foods that are sprayed the least and/or have a removable skin which helps protect the parts we eat from the chemicals. These items will lower the cost of your grocery shopping trip if you are trying to purchase mostly organic.

So now that you know what’s bad and what’s okay, you should be able to make more informed decisions when grocery shopping. Eating well and grocery shopping on a budget can get hard and overwhelming (which is why not a lot of people do it), so keep these lists in mind when deciding on if you should buy the organic broccoli or spinach. Now you know to always buy organic spinach!

Resolutions are soooo 2015. New Years is a holiday where we beat ourselves up about all the bad choices we have made in the past year and how we are going to step up our game in the coming new year. I am all about bettering yourself and being the best version of you but not when it comes from a feeling of guilt, disgust, and anger towards yourself. Yes it is March. Yes most people have already fallen off the wagon with their resolutions. And yes it’s okay. Most of the time, our resolutions are too hard and unsustainable for us to follow anyway. Like going to the gym for two hours every. single. day. Who the heck has time for that? How about losing weight? That’s a solid resolution right? Yep, absolutely but not when you are starving yourself, counting every calorie, and beating yourself up every time you slip up and eat a carb. It’s time to put resolutions to rest. It’s the year of intentions.

in·ten·tion

noun

a thing intended; an aim or plan.

Intentions come from the heart. They are something you wish for, you want to work on, or manifest. Something you plan on doing or plan on changing. It’s a nicer, more casual way of saying “this is my goal”. It’s important to note that just like a goal, these are ever changing and morphing into new ideas and thoughts.

How Do I Do This?

Get a journal, a piece of lined paper, watercolor paper, or even the notes on your phone. Write out some ‘goals’ you have. People usually have a better time understanding goal setting first. Think about things you can make happen now, today, in the morning, or in 10 minutes. Not futuristic goals. Wanna get more sleep? make more money? Eat more greens? How about be a better listener?

Things of that nature are intentions. It’s fun and you can do this as often as you wish. This year I have decided to sit down every month and write out my intentions on a piece of watercolor paper and doodle. Make it an art piece. I hang in on my wall and read them outloud almost everyday. It has become a monthly ritual I look forward to on the first of every month. It has become my creative space where I can create anything. Anything I want to manifest in that moment. I get to play with paint and color not on the computer. I can write down whatever is on my mind, what I want to change or stop doing, and the best part?! I can make it happen by simply writing it down and reading it aloud. It’s pretty special.

My Examples:

FOOD:

Brooklyn Whiskers Bakery

O.M.G. This place was a great way to get our party started. The staff was so nice and helpful. The owner helped us find more vegan places to try which is great! Everything we ate was AMAZING and I wished I could have tried more things. The atmosphere is very cute, a little small but I kind of liked the cozy feel. They are most famous for their tofu scramble so obviously we had to get that. You can get the scramble on sourdough toast, bagels, or their croissants. I got it on a Pumpernickel Everything Bagel (highly recommend) with Avocado and then the scramble on top. Really good and not too much if you want to go somewhere else afterwards.

They have a long list of teas and coffees that all sounded really good. I got the chai tea latte and it was probably the best chai tea latte I’ve ever had! Loved it. While we were waiting for our tofu scramble, we tried the Blackberry Muffin which was so moist! And to-go, we got two free old fashioned donuts (thank you so much) which were Carrot Cake and a Cinnamon Streusel flavored. Both of them were amazing! I think I liked the carrot one better but that’s just a preference. Both were delicious. Over all 10/10. Kind of out of our way compared to everything else but worth it! Top 3 for sure.

Champs Diner

Well where the heck do I begin. This place is a must if you are big vegan foodie. Champs diner has been around for over 20 years dishing out all the diner classics vegan style. Super edgy vibes. I would have loved to try everything on the menu, it all sounded so good. We got to try the Buffalo Seitan Wings which were phenomenal. So much lighter and fluffier than any seitan I have ever tried. You can get them with the BBQ sauce or Buffalo sauce. Went with the Buffalo and it was the right amount of spice. We also had the Classic Pancakes with chocolate chips. Ummmm…YES PLEASE. The best vegan pancakes I have ever had, no doubt about it.

Their menu was the most impressive by far compared to the other restaurants we visited. Just pages and pages of classic diner food that al sounded so amazing. The recommendations we got from the server was: The Seitan Wings, Tatertachos (TATER TOT NACHOS PEOPLE), The Benedict, Chik’n and Waffles, and the Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes. Wish I had 20 stomachs so I could try all of that ;) Those were mostly breakfast/brunch suggestions but they have burgers, shakes, burritos, sandwiches, and ice cream sundaes. Definitely give it a try! But save room for Dunwell Doughnuts because it’s right across the street!

Dun-well Doughnuts

The cutest little coffee shop. It’s super rustic looking and with a lot of refurbished furniture and wood in the design. The menu is pretty extensive but donuts are their specialty. I got the Chocolate Peanut Donut and it was really good. A very classic styled donut with lots of flavor options. Super light and fluffy and doesn’t taste like it’s vegan at all. They have an extensive espresso bar, specialty cakes, and a few other goodies like ice cream sundaes. Highly recommend if you are a big donut fan. Also it’s perfect for a photoshoot ;)

Van Leeuwen

Well this was my second visit to a Van Leeuwen on this trip. No regrets there. Their ice cream is top notch! I actually loved visiting a number of stores to see how they all differ from each other. I went to a different one on my last trip to NYC and this one has to be my favorite. The Brooklyn location is the largest I’ve seen with a bunch of cute photo spots! Tons of seating and space for a large crowd. At this location I got one scoop of the Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough in the vegan sugar cone. Super good. Highly recommend that flavor. They also had two Valentine’s Day specials happening so I got to try those too.

Screamers

This pizzaria has been on my list for quite some time now because when I went to the Vegan Street Fair in NYC a few years back, they had a booth and I loved it! They have two locations in the city, both loaded with their best pizza topping combos. An all vegan pizzeria is kind of hard to come by in my experience so this was quite a treat for me. You can buy pizza by the slice or order a whole pie (which will take more time). I was able to try three different types of their pizza. The White Pizza was my favorite, Plain Cheese was heavenly and tasted just like non vegan pizza, and the Margarita Pizza was very traditional and super flavorful. The crust is the best part. So fluffy and light. I chose more basic toppings but they have some pretty interesting ones like buffalo cauliflower, sausage, and pepperoni. If you want to try a bunch of different flavors, I definitely suggest ordering by the slice. Loved the vibes in there, kind of edgy with lots of vegan propaganda all over the place.

Modern Love

Well this restaurant was my #1 favorite place in Brooklyn. I probably would love everything on the menu. I suggest making a reservation if you are going at a regular dinner time on the weekend. It can get pretty busy. The staff was so helpful in suggesting what to order and try. Their recommendations were fantastic. The plates are fairly small but pack quite a flavor punch. I was able to try the Almond Ricotta Toast which was so amazing. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. It is so flavorful and offers so many texture components. It’s super soft toast with homemade almond ricotta, seared beets, and hot “honey”. Next I tried the Mozzarella Sticks. Super yummy, definitely not the healthiest choice but omg, how are these vegan?!? Freshly fried vegan motz covered in a crispy herbed crust, on a bed of delicious spicy marinara. YES PLEASE. Then off the specials menu the waiter listed, we tried the sampler platter which was a BBQ Cauliflower Slider, Buffalo Tempeh, and Potato Skins stuffed with two cheesy sauces. So freakin’ good! The only entreè I tried was the Mac & Shews. It’s a delicious cashew based mac and cheese with roasted cauliflower florets, sautèd kale, and breaded tofu on top. Kind of a weird combination but all the elements on their own were good. 10/10 restaurant. I highly recommend trying this place out. Also there is a huge mural painted on the side of their building which is a great photo opportunity.

Little Choc Apothecary

What an adorable little restaurant/cafe. The first floor is the “kitchen” and where you can just order take-out or pick up to-go orders. Upstairs is the seating for the restaurant and it’s so quaint and cute. The staff was very nice and helpful. They specialize in crèpes, savory and sweet. Their menu is all vegan and gluten free as well. They have a ton of different crèpe fillings/toppings including a homemade nutella spread! You can build your own crèpe flavor or pick one off the menu that they have curated for you. They also have cookies, a mud cake, and an energy ball that has 33000% of your daily B12 intake. That is not a typo! They also have a ton of teas (hence apothecary) on the menu. Lots of green teas, black teas, and really good caffeine-free teas if you try to avoid caffeine like me. I was able to try a crèpe with chocolate sauce, peanut butter, and banana. Really delicious. Thoroughly enjoyed that. Then we tried a Chocolate Chip Cookie (fresh out of the oven) and the Mud Cake with caramel sauce. Kind of gritty tasting because of the gluten-free flour they use but decent if you need to be GF. And finally, I tried the B12 Ball which was not very sweet compared to the crèpe but still pretty good for all the health benefits it offers. The crèpe was 10/10 and I love how you can build your own.

SHOP:

Bird

A cute and trendy clothing shop. I loved and wanted everything they had. Very expensive and high quality brands like Acne Studios. Everything was just so nice to look at and gave me lots of fashion inspiration. Recommend if you are in the area and just walking around exploring.

Bulletin

This isn’t necessarily a ‘vegan’ place, but I just LOVED this store. It was great. Everything I love and believe in about feminism and politics was brought to light in this store. All woman-owned and run. SO many cute unique products I have never seen before like, stickers, patches, apparel, posters, cards, and more. Everything has this super bright and fun color scheme and stands out on the street. Highly recommend popping in there to just check out.

MUJI

What. The. Heck. This store is like IKEA on steroids. I can’t believe I have never heard of this amazing store before because I loved everything. The whole concept, the design, and the products! MUJI is a Japanese store with locations all over the world in China, Japan, and in NYC. The flagship store is on 5th Avenue so that has now made itself onto my bucket list. The store in Brooklyn is super awesome though and right across the street from Van Leeuwen so it’s a must see too. All the products they sell are very simple and well made and very inexpensive. The kitchen utensils are so beautiful and simple, they had little metal boxes that were so unique, and stationary that just feels nice. I don’t really know how to describe it. You just need to feel the paper! They also have clothes (that are the nicest basics ever), cleaning supplies, furniture, bathroom accessories, luggage, and even cosmetic products.

Unfortunately, they do not sell everything on their website. Most things actually need to be purchased in store. But that just gives me an excuse to go back! I bought a few things (only enough to fit in my suitcase) like a little pencil box, a notebook, a few basic hoodies, a pair of sweatpants that look like dress pants (the best concept ever), two tiny little wooden spoons, and a few little dishes. You have to check out their website to see exactly what I am talking about.

Spoonbill Books

A really cute bookstore with new and used books to sift through. Super fun to browse and look at what new books have come out. They also sell trendy magazines and really nice notebooks. Fun to just check it out. It is on the main drag in Williamsburg so if you are in the area, I am sure you will probably walk past it at one point.

Package Free Shop

Holy cow. I loved this store so freakin’ much. I got so much inspiration from it and could have stayed in there all day. The store is adorable and totally #goals. I literally want to work there. The design and layout of the store was perfect and so aesthetically pleasing. I seriously didn’t even know this place existed until I was walking by. I saw the little sign and was like…”Omg, we are going in!”. When you walk in the door, you come to a set of stairs that open into the the huge room of package free goods. The stairs are a perfect place to take a photo btw. Example below. They have so many zero waste products I never knew existed! I now know where I am going to shop when I am in need of something specific. They have everything from lunch containers, to deodorant, recycled greeting cards, reusable period pads and menstrual cups, and even biodegradable glitter. They had every type of metal straw in every size, shape, and color, every size produce bag, and even charcoal infused bandages (which I got).

So as I said before I got two packs of the all natural charcoal band-aids, a new produce bag, and a silicone straw (no more excuses that a metal straw cant fit in my bag). Everything was reasonably priced in my opinion and totally accessible to anyone even if you don’t live in Brooklyn. Sure the store is amazing in every way, but their website has every product for you to purchase and have sent to your door. Definitely check out their online store!

Sprout Home

If I am being honest, this store was even better than The Sill that I went to in my Manhattan Guide. They have big house plants taller than me, tiny succulents, and everything thing in between. They also have a ton of cute pots that I really wanted but couldn’t fly home with. It’s hard to find nice pots other than terra cotta because Sprout has them all! I felt like their plants were reasonably priced and worth checking out even if you don’t buy anything. They have a second store right across the street and down the block a bit. It is mostly kitchen and dining room sets with really cute utensils and plates. I took a lot of pictures for inspiration there. They also have a back patio that opens up to the store. There are a ton of plants out there with pretty strug lights. Lots to look at there.

So those were all the places I went to in Brooklyn. I actually really loved Brooklyn and the vibes it had. Everyone was very friendly and it was more neighborhood-y compared to Manhattan. More calm and clean. Below I have my map with every vegan establishment that interested me. I couldn’t get to all of them on this trip but I want to someday! Some of them are in Brooklyn, most are just all over the place. All the olive green pins are in Brooklyn. If your planning a trip to the big apple then here’s your guide!

Below I have linked all my guides to my favorite cities!

Manhattan Guide

Vegan Food Guide to Denver Colorado

Best of Philly Guide

Boulder Colorado Guide

Stay:

The Solita SoHo Hotel

This hotel was in such a prime location. It is really close to great subway lines to get to Brooklyn, Downtown, Queens, etc and was in walking distance to all the shopping and great restaurants. There’s a Starbucks right around the corner (which you get 15% off at if you stay here) and a great convenience store one block over. It was very inexpensive for the location and they were very accommodating. We are kind of high maintenance guests and they were absolutely great. It looks kind of shady but don’t fret. Everything was good. I felt safe and clean in my room. They changed my sheets everyday (upon request), gave us extra towels, more conditioner, a plunger (lol), and held our luggage with no questions asked. The only thing I would be wary about is the elevator. It is very loud and sounds like it’s going to break, but I survived. There are stairs if you are really worried about it. After awhile though, you do get used to it.

Food:

Beyond Sushi

The first place I went after the flight in and taxi ride, was Beyond Sushi. One of the top three places this whole trip for sure. If you love the clean, Japanese aesthetic this place is for you! They have multiple locations all over the city, so chances are you can get to one fairly easily if you are staying in the city. Everything on the menu looked phenomenal! I would have loved to try everything if my stomach was 10x the size ;)

I was able to try two different sushi rolls. The Sweet Tree was great! Loved it. Black rice, avocado, roasted sweet potato, topped with micro sprouts. And I also tried The Pickle Me which was delicious as well! Pickled carrots, avocado, and black rice. The #1 thing I recommend is The Badge Dumpling. Maybe the best thing I have ever put in my mouth. Charred cabbage, roasted onions, garlic, bell peppers, carrots and sesame oil, topped with chili toasted panko and cilantro. Ummm…yes please. The last thing I tried was the citrus roasted cauliflower and broccoli. Delicious. And since we were there for brunch on a Sunday, we had a slightly different menu (the things listed above are available all the time). We got The Fava Bean Dip with seeded crisps off the brunch menu. Very good. Really enjoyed that as an appetizer.

JaJaJa

For dinner, we went to at JaJaJa. The best thing that has ever graced NYC…seriously. They are open for brunch through dinner and have a bar. Lots of interesting drinks that can all be made into mocktails if you are into that sort of thing. They have a decent size menu (all vegan) with lots of yummy things to try including gluten-free options. There are two locations in NYC, one in Brooklyn and another on Broadway which is the one I went to. Pro Tip: Make a reservation!!!! We unfortunately did not make one and had to wait there for a bit, but the wait was worth it regardless.

I would 100% recommend the Nachos. That’s the best thing I had on this trip I think. The nachos do not come with guacamole but you really must add that. Adds a great creamy element, not that they really needed it. The layers on these nachos were unreal and you got a bunch of toppings on every chip. The nachos come with their homemade vegan chorizo, fermented black beans, turmeric nut queso, spicy relish, and “sour cream”. Heaven in every bite. I also tried the Buffalo Flower Tacos. They were really flavorful and fresh. I imagine these taste just like fried chicken. The cauliflower is battered and fried and wrapped in a tortilla with shredded carrot, queso, celery, and apple blossom. Very interesting flavors. All their tacos looked good. And then lastly I got the Chorizo Burrito. Super big and probably worth sharing. The presentation was wild and super cool. It was packed full of their chorizo and cauliflower rice, fermented black beans, and guac. It was very heavy but good. It could use some more fresh veggies or something but overall it was good.

Joe & The Juice

This was not originally on my list of places to go but I went twice when I was in the city and loved it both times! It’s a little coffee shop with lots of unique juices to choose from. They juice it right in front of you and have a lot of organic ingredients. All the juice combos were very different from what I have ever seen. They juice ingredients like butternut squash, broccoli, mint, bell pepper, and passion fruit. They have 288 stores worldwide and when I landed at home I saw an ad that a new location is coming to the Pittsburgh Airport! Can’t wait! I was able to try Joe’s AMG (apple, mint, ginger), Go Away Doc (carrot, ginger, apple), and the Natural Born Joegurt which is coconut yogurt with their granola. So good. Highly recommend all those things.

XYST

This is a restaurant owned by a world-renowned plant based chef, Mathew Kenney. I have been to his pizza restaurant Double Zero and loved it. This place was no exception. Very trendy interior and very nice staff. They were not busy at all on a Monday night so if you come on weekend, you may want to get a reservation. I was able to try the Cashew Halloumi which was amazing. My favorite thing I got from there. It is served with za’atar crackers, smoked paprika, dehydrated black olive, and radishes. The presentation was stunning on everything especially that cheese. Then I got the Za’atar Roasted Carrots with pistachio yogurt and sesame. The Smoked Hummus was delicious with sumac, harissa oli and grilled pita as well. All of those were great appetizers to share.

Juice Generation

Great place if you need a quick bite to eat when you are walking around or heading across town. All their juices looked really yummy and there are a ton of different smoothies to try. When I was in NYC the last time I got to try a lot of different things so I already knew a few things I liked such as the Almond Butter Bliss Bowl and Joyful Almond smoothie. This time, I got the Peanut Butter Split and it was so good! Basically like drinking some melted ice cream. Nothing to complain about there! HIghly recommend that smoothie. I feel like there is a Juice Generation on every street corner in New York so if you are in the city, I am sure you are very close to one at all times.

Van Leeuwen

I went to a Van Leeuwen twice on this trip and once the last time. I think it’s safe to say I am a big fan of this place. Not all vegan but they have about 10 vegan flavors daily, two of which are usually specials. Certainly the best vegan ice cream I have ever tasted. Loved every flavor I sampled. They have a vegan sugar cone, offer vegan sundaes, and vegan milkshakes! I got two scoops of Mint Chip ice cream and also tried The Vegan Sundae with one scoop of mint chip, one scoop of chocolate, and it comes with walnuts, chocolate syrup, and most importantly, coconut whipped cream. 10/10. They have at least 10 locations all over New York plus an ice cream truck so no excuses to not pop into one of their adorable shops!

Pressed Juicery

This is a super trendy juice place (not as good as Joe & The Juice tbh) that has lots of juice options juiced right in front of you. A few of the locations have the pressed juice soft serve which is definitely worth trying if you are near one of those ‘special’ stores. Lots of toppings are offered for the soft serve.

by Chloe.

If you are familiar with any popular vegan ‘fast food’ restaurant, this is probably the one you know about. It is pretty popular and there are a ton of locations all across the country. I went to the one is SoHo this time and it was so cute. The design of all the stores is retro and fun. There was even a porch swing hanging from the ceiling! The staff was super fast at getting orders out at this location. Seemed like a lot of people ordered online and picked it up or got Postmates to deliver.

I was able to try the Gluten-Free Choc Chip Cookie (A+) and the Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin as my ‘premeal’. Both were delicious, as expected. The cookie had literally just come out of the oven and was so fresh. The muffin was super dense and not real sweet which I liked. Tons of lemon flavor. The Classic Burger, The Pesto Meatball, the Smashed Avo Toast and the Mac and Cheese were the main dishes that I tried. The Classic Burger is great for beginner vegans. Super simple ingredients and has all the flavor elements of regular burger. The patty is no Impossible Burger but it is full of healthy ingredients like tempeh, lentils, walnuts, and chia seeds. The pesto meatball was super filling and had so much flavor with two sauces in addition to the beet ketchup I added. The Avo Toast had so much happening. It’s not your grandma’s avo toast people! This had pomegranate seeds, citrus, crispy kale, and almond parm on top. Welcome to flavortown folks. Now that Mac and Cheese was phenomenal. 10/10 all the way. The shitake bacon was out of this world. The sauce itself was very traditional tasting and I would recommend it to anyone, vegan or non vegan.

Butcher’s Daughter

Such a great name for a vegan restaurant! I went to this place during my last visit and wasn’t able to get to it this time around but I figured I would add it here anyways because I really recommend it. There is so much on their menu I want to try but couldn’t. There’s always a next time! Read my post about my last trip here to see what I ate there before.

Ramen Hood

New L.A. fan favorite pop-up opened recently right by my hotel, obviously had to try it! An all vegan ramen place with a super casual scene and lots of delicious options. They have a few different broths to choose from and then they all come with the basic toppings. You have a whole list of add-ins to choose from which makes it easy to try something new each time you go. I got the Spicy Ramen with an added Vegan Egg. I just wanted to try the egg to see what it was like. Kind of just tasted like savory jello. Not much flavor but it’s cool they offer it. The noodles were the best part in my opinion. They are so soft and are made in house. The broth was rich and flavorful as well. I also tried the Broccoli, which was crispy broccoli with a soy chili glaze, and sesame seeds. Really tasty. Then we also tried the Pokè Tuna Balls. The tuna did not taste fishy at all. It is made mostly of beets so it’s pretty healthy. Lol. Loved the atmosphere, highly recommend even if you just get one ramen bowl and share it.

Orchard Grocer

OMG. You need to go to this all vegan grocery store. It was quite a bit out of the way for us but totally worth the travel to get there. I wish I had a kitchen or something in my hotel so I could try some of their mock meats and nut cheeses. They had a bunch of unique brands that I have never seen before. No fresh veggies or anything, mostly specialty items like high quality nut milks, new snack foods I’ve never seen before, and a ton of different candy and sweets. But the most exciting part….they have vegan SOFT SERVE! You need to go there just to taste this heavenly soft serve. It is like nothing I have experienced before. You need to add it to your bucket list of things to do before you die. Not joking. They alternate flavors but when I was there they offered peanut butter and vanilla. I got a twist of both.

Shop:

MooShoes

This is a very convenient place to visit if you go to The Orchard Grocer. It’s right next door and owned by the same people. This is a super fun store to check out and even just to get ideas for vegan shoes there are in the world. It’s hard to find cute, high quality, non leather shoes sometimes but they put them all in one place. There is a lot of Matt and Nat items there and vegan birkenstocks but new brands I have never seen before too. They also have two kitties! Big mens section which is helpful sometimes and lots of vegan apparel. Super cute overall. Highly recommend just stopping in.

CW Pencil Enterprise

Well this was just the most adorable store ever. It’s a store dedicated to pencils. That’s it. Just everything that has to do with pencils. Rare pencils, pencils made in unique places, adorable pencil cases, really good erasers, and more. I got quite a collection going now! I bought a few pastel colored ones made in Japan and some original Ticonderoga. Worth every penny to support this really inspiring women-owned endeavour.

The Sill

This is a super trendy plant shop. They are so famous they are verified on Instagram! But I was surprised when I walked in because it is SO tiny! Super cute but couldn’t fit more than 10 people in there. They specialize in shipping plants so they don’t really need a huge brick and mortar store. Plus they have more than one location around town. They do however host lots of workshops and events. The store was really cute inside with plants crawling all the way up to the ceiling. Worth checking out if you are in the area and are a huge plant lady (or gentleman) like me. Their website is so cute and already convinced me to order plants. Check it out.

ABC Carpet & Home

ABC Home is such a cool store with all sorts of gift items, home decor, and kitchen essentials. I want so many things in there! Some things are really pricey and out of most people’s price range but it is really cool to just look at everything and get inspiration from it. It is an eight story building so not hard to miss. It’s a good place to walk around in between vegan feasting to walk off the food :)

Strand Bookstore

Such a fun bookstore. I love looking at books (especially their covers even though that’s breaking the rules) and seeing what new books are out. I mostly listen to books or check them out of my library but this helps me find new ones to look for. If books aren’t your thing, they have a ton of feminist and environmental issue related pins and stickers. All fun to look at. Strand specializes in rare and used books so it’s basically like thrifting your entertainment. Nothing to complain about there.

ALO Yoga

If any of you have been following me for a long time, you would know about my love for ALO Yoga wear! I didn’t even realize they had a store in SoHo until I was literally walking right past it. I love ALO because of all their unique designs and colors. The materials they use for all their apparel is such good quality for street wear or yoga. Everyone who worked at the store was very helpful and knew what they were talking about. This particular store had an upstairs with a yoga studio. Wish I could have practiced there before I left!

Outdoor Voices

I love Outdoor Voices and what they stand for as a company so it was cool seeing their store. Not necessarily a must see, but it was cool to walk around and check out stores that I order from regularly and feel the product before I buy it. It was right by my hotel so I walked by it several times over the course of the week.

Matt and Nat

OMG! I loved seeing this store. It was right next to by Chloe (makes sense) so I couldn’t not go in. They had so many bags and shoes out for display. I have been wanting to buy something from them and now I know exactly what I want to get since I got to feel them and see the colors in person. Again, not a must see but I love seeing more vegan stores like this pop up.

Wild Fang

If you love a good feminist store, you should really check this place out! The basis of the company is to make more ‘masculine’ clothing and apparel in women’s sizes. They sell jumpsuits, blazers, suits, and flannels that are in women’s sizes. I think it’s a really cool concept and I hope they spread my way. They have a few feminist t-shirts and hats. And of course some pins, stickers, and jewelry with a feminist vibe. Very cute and trendy store. Love it.

Glossier

Ummm….you need to visit the Glossier store whether you’re a fan or not. It is literally a museum and it’s amazing. If you don’t like Glossier now, you will after you visit the flagship store in SoHo. It is stunningly beautiful inside. Everyone who works there is so nice and helpful and knows the products SO well. If you have a question about anything, they know the answer.

The way it works is super cool: you walk in and go up the stairs. Every product they sell is out and is a sample to test. You are able to try any product they have and see if you want to buy it, what shade works best for you, etc. Then you find an employee (in an adorable pink jumpsuit) with an iPad and tell them what you want. I got some new vegan products to try out. I got a new Haloscope, the Stretch Concealer, and a LidStar. Very excited about these. After you tell the employee what you want, they swipe your card and you give them your name. Then you can walk around the giant Boy Brows, take selfies in the adorable mirrors, and try out more products to add to your wish list. Then a bag with your name on it will come down on a conveyor belt and they call your name. You get one of their famous pink pouches, stickers, and all the products you bought! That’s it. That’s the production. I loved every aspect of how extra that is. You need to go. No question about it.

So that was the trip. It was amazing in so many ways. I love making these guides and hope to do many more in the future.

Check out the Brooklyn Guide Here.

Denver Colorado Guide Here

Philadelphia Guide Here

Boulder Colorado Guide Here

I got a real big girl job! And I am making money and learning how to deal with it. And let me tell you, financial stress at 18 is reeeaal. I am learning so much at my job about independence and responsibility. Learning how to work for people and how to truly work with others. It’s crazy how much I am learning and realizing about what I want and don’t want in life just by working for someone else.

Also I got my license. That’s kind of a big one. I was a little late on that getting it at 17 but hey, your girl took her time. But getting my license didn’t really change anything until I bought my car. That’s the game changer right there. I drive to school, to work, grocery shopping, run errands for family, and have freedom. I have been able to have many more experiences now that I have a car. Thankful for my little Subaru for blessing me with freedom.

Getting my car also helped me understand paying bills and expenses. Glad I got a car that’s great on gas, not just for the environment but also my wallet. Paying monthly bills before I even move out is something I think every kid needs to learn. Because once you move out, the bills hit you like a brick which is where a lot of young people get flustered and start to see money as the enemy.

This year I also did my first ever VegFest for my online baker Love Cafe! What an eye opening experience! Really got me thinking about my future and all the paths I could take. I took full responsibility for a company I created out of nothing. I was proud of the work and money put into and I hope to do it again in 2019 because why the heck not!

I also so started an education that will forever shape my life. Institute for Integrative Nutrition. The education I needed to jump start my passions and business ventures. it helped me find my calling and something I love doing. It got me excited about education and learning more about what I love. This pushed me to take a U-turn on my education goals.

I applied to study at Arizona State University for Integrative Health and got in. Completely unexpected by everyone I know and talked to. College was something I wanted to avoid like the plague. I felt that college was unnecessary for what I wanted to do and was a scam. Just a super expensive way to party and make friends and get a piece of paper saying you have a bachelor’s degree in a super broad area of study. Most students have no work experience. Business students are told to read a book about how to start and run businesses but they have no idea what it actually takes.

But when you find something you love, something that drives you and makes you want to make a difference, that’s when you need to follow your heart. I fell in love with IIN and crave more. I want to dive deeper into subjects and learn more about holistic health not just so I can say I have a degree or that I felt I needed it (because technically I don’t, IIN gives me my certification to start after graduation). I just want more. That’s what education should be about. Learning should be exciting and fun. Something you crave and dream about. So that’s what I am doing. I am diving head first into this big life step starting 2019.

2018 Spotify Playlist

As per usual, here is my playlist that I played all year round. Every song I fell in love with year and wanted to carry over into this year are in there. Each song represents some feelings or emotions I have felt this year. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Restaurants

1. PS and Co

This is probably my favorite restaurant. I have been to hundreds of vegan restaurants and this one takes the cake. Literally. I had the BEST carrot cake this time and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. They are 100% vegan, gluten-free and organic. And don’t even get me started on the atmosphere in there. Rustic wood, plants everywhere, and the owner is so nice. Everyone who works there is so pleasant and they remember us everytime we come.

I have been able to try both the day menu (breakfast & lunch) menu and the dinner menu and both are phenomenal. I love the Breakfast and Forbidden burrito, Bikini Burger and the Meatball Sub from the day menu. Everything is so flavorful and the portions are just right, especially if you are sharing a bunch of dishes. On the dinner menu I love the Imperial rolls, Layered Nachos, and Cauliflower Meatball Pizza. Also great for sharing.

But we can’t forget about the dessert. Everything is a little pricey but this is certainly a treat. You can’t leave without trying some cake. They change the flavors everyday but the carrot cake is heave, that’s a must if they have it and the Peanut Butter chocolate cake is really yummy too. The Tiramisu is super rich. Definitely to share. The Grain-Free cookie sammies are good too and they have a bunch of different flavors. I have never had their smoothies or juices but based on how good everything else is on the menu, I can pretty much guarantee they are probs amazeballs.

2. Wiz Kid

100% vegan, authentic Philly Cheesesteaks. That taste like the real deal, or at least what I would imagine they would taste like. The perfect balance of flavor and texture to give you the best sandwich possible. I tried the Wiz Kid Philly which is seitan, mushrooms, fried onion, and rutabaga wiz (which might be the best thing ever), all on a perfectly baked roll. Next I tried the Reuben Steak which is smoked “provolone”, sauerkraut, spicy thousand island sauce, pickles, and tomato. Can I get a heck ya??!? Then the CFT. The sandwich of all sandwiches. Country fried tempeh, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and thousand island ranch sauce. And last but not least: RATTLESNAKE FRIES. The best fries ever, coated in roadhouse spice with a drizzle bbq sauce. GET IN MY BELLY! 100% recommend this place.

3. Blackbird Pizza

Probs the best pizza I’ve ever had. Yes it’s out of the way and not in center city but worth it if your willing to really explore. All vegan and pretty much everything on the menu is great. I always ask the people who work there what they recommend and I am always satisfied.

4. The Tasty

A 100% vegan diner with all the classic comfort food. It has the cutest atmosphere and I want to try everything on the menu. The pancakes and waffles are right up my ally but there are more savory items too like toasts, and breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and biscuits and gravy. But that’s just the morning menu. There’s a whole other menu with burgers and philly cheesesteaks which also looks fabulous. Lots to try there!

Shopping

1. Buffalo Exchange

Obviously I had to find my way to a buffalo exchange on this trip. How could I not. I mean the buffalo exchange is the holy grail of thrifting. I love fashion, one of my favorite hobbies is ‘designing’ my wardrobe. I think it’s important to showcase vegan clothing (non-leather, fur-free, etc) because it’s another excuse people use against themselves when commiting to full vegan. “Oh I couldn’t give up fur/leather/down/hide/etc. But when you see healthy, happy vegans living their life looking fashionable and up to beat with the trends it gets them thinking.

Shopping ethically is a whole other level that I am currently working on. There are too many companies that fit into the fast fashion category. They employ children, have unfair wages, bad working conditions, pollute the earth, the list goes on and on. I am trying to avoid big companies as much as I can. Sometimes it’s hard when you are also trying to set a good fashionable and financial example. Ethically made goods are not cheap. But that’s what makes the Buffalo Exchange so great. It’s all second hand and in good condition and usually a big name brand. Win, Win, WIN!

The Map:

Below is a map I created for anyone wanting to visit Philly to eat all the vegan food and shop until you drop. There are quite a few thrift stores on the map but if thrifting isn’t your thing or you also want to check out some more unique clothing stores, they’re on there too. Safe travels!

As some of you may know, I have been uploading a ‘Favorites’ video every few months. I find these videos helpful especially if you are looking for vegan, cruelty-free, ethically made products, etc that people actually use. I haven’t been making one every month because I just don’t have that many favorites lol. I am very picky when it comes to things I consider to be a favorite. There’s a checklist I go through in my head to make sure it’s a fav:

1. Does it bring me joy?

   That’s it. That’s the list.

With the holidays quickly approaching, you may need some ideas. I already have a Vegan Gift Guide from last year that is packed with gift ideas (that are still very relevant) that have a price range of $5-$200. There are personal care items, makeup, clothes, shoes and purses, jewelry, books, fitness items, kitchen appliances, and much more. Be sure to check it out.

I guess you could consider this a 2018 version of the Vegan Gift Guide but it is basically a compilation of all the things I have found this year and love! All could make great gifts for someone else or yourself ;) Below I have linked all of my Favorites videos.

More favorites on my Products page in all the categories! I hope these gave you some inspiration for gift giving/ receiving ;)

My favorite part is that there is no service or wifi or anything. The only reason we really use our phones is for the camera and a flashlight every once in awhile. No social media or texting others to distract us from what is important and from living in the moment.

Not only is spending time in nature relaxing but it refuels my creativity. When I return home, I have all of these creative juices flowing through me. New ideas, new projects, and new recipes in mind. Below is a bunch of photos that will tell the story of this year’s 12th annual camping trip. I figured photos are worth a thousand words and trying to type that out doesn’t sound super fun tbh. Please enjoy!

When I first decided to only buy cruelty-free products, I got to experimenting with more makeup and I think I have officially “grown” out of that phase. I am totally laid back now about my beauty routine. I don’t go through all the steps of priming, foundation, concealer, powder, setting spray crap (No offense if you do that, not hating. Do you boo). I don’t have time that! I focus mostly on my skincare routine because having healthy skin is more important to me, plus it’s a little self love I give myself every morning and night.

So below are all my favorite cruelty-free products that will always have a special place in my heart <3

Glossier

The typical ‘trendy’ brand of any content creator. But guys…this brand is the bomb.com. No kidding, every product I have ever tried from them works like a charm and I am never disappointed. Half of purchasing the actual product is just to see their awesome packaging tbh. Every product has its own personality based on the packaging. Very simple but fun.

Every product is easy to use and natural looking and feeling. They don’t have a high focus on complicated or heavy amounts of product. Being healthy for your skin is their main priority. *Not all their products are vegan. Read the descriptions!

Lush

I don’t know many people who don’t know about Lush. I mean it has become pretty mainstream which is amazing because everything is cruelty-free and made with natural ingredients. All of their products are ‘vegetarian’. Meaning they may contain honey or egg whites or something. They also focus heavily on paying and treating their employees well. That is super important these days because so many workers are treated so poorly, especially in other countries. All of their containers are recyclable and they take them back to reuse. If you order online, they use packing peanuts that are water soluble! How cool is that? Very innovative company and they are working on banning animal testing in the states!

ColourPop

Thank you ColourPop for making quality makeup that doesn’t break the bank. EVerything is cruelty-free but not everything is vegan so read the descriptions! Their design and packaging is a close second to glossier. All of their makeup is so pigmented and they have nailed the formulas! Best makeup I have used, especially for the price. I mean my go-to concealer is only $6. Can’t beat that.

So these are my favorite cruelty-free brands and a few products that I love from them. I hope to add on to this list as I discover new ones that I love. If you want to check to see what brands are cruelty-free or vegan, I highly suggest checking out Cruelty-Free Kitty’s website. They have a great database with every brand that is and isn’t cruelty-free!

So now after that relatively deep intro, I thought it would be good to share my back to school essentials and what I always feel the need to get before the new year starts. When I was younger going back to school shopping was a big thing. I had to get all the new styles in clothes, the coolest pencils and highlighters, and get the newest and brightest folders, binders, and pencil cases. I mean one: it's a fortune (sorry mom + dad) and second: could I be any less ethically conscience? To be fair that is basically what society has taught us. To get kids to be big consumers by the time they are in kindergarten. Success society! 

But now that I have educated myself and learned about money and the value of it, I have completely redirected my wants and needs for school. And I also don't feel the need to spend $200 on a new wardrobe at the beginning of every school year now that I have pretty much stayed the same size since middle school. AND also who wants to have the same exact shirt as every other girl in the school? Not me. That's why I choose to thrift my back to school clothes  this year. There is no chance that I will be matching with the mean girls this year :)

So now that we are on the topic, let's talk about thrifting.

Thrifted Fashion

Obviously, if you watch my videos or follow me on Instagram, you know I thrift all the time. It's kind of like my little hobby I am constantly perfecting. Since thrifting is so hit or miss, I try to search multiple different stores in a span of a few days for my back to school stuff.

I love Goodwill for finding t-shirts (which is the bulk of my wardrobe). The men's section is where it's at ladies. I mean that oversized old man look is so in and damn it's the comfiest and easiest fashion trend evvva. Thank you for that. My morning routine really appreciates a good 15 second fashionista. You can also find some good jeans sometimes at Goodwill which I usually buy just to cut off and turn into shorts. I typically don't like the cut of most jeans at the bottom but if they are high waisted and fit the booty then I am all about a diy situation.

If you have a serious dress code then this could be a great way to make something suppa cute that no one else has and fits the dress code. When I was in Colorado and thrifted a ton, I found some super cute Levi jeans that had already been cut into mid-thigh shorts and they are super cute. They look really cute with a t-shirt tucked in. Super easy and the principal approves (not that I care, just don't want to get written up thanks). 

Goodwill is also a great place to find decent shoes. It's rare but sometimes you can snatch some converse, vans, sandals, or sneakers that are in decent shape. 

If you have a Buffalo Exchange near you, I 100% recommend checking it out. They always have bomb shoes and more high end clothing items. Of course you are going to have to pay a little bit more than $1.99 for a shirt there but you will find brands like Free People, Madewell, Nike, Zara, and Brandy Melville. I have found some really great stuff there and it is so fun to go with friends and get your new stuff together!

Other consignment shops and vintage stores are other great places to look if you have the time and a bit of a higher budget. I mean it will always be way cheaper than going to the mall but if you have a really tight budget, Goodwill is your babe ;)

Since I not only live in my leggings, i also need them for school as fitness is a big part of my day (we have gym everyday), I have to be on the lookout for nice fitness wear too. I found a bunch of Lulu Lemon leggings and tanks at the Buffalo Exchange which have saved my life. Of course that is quite a rarity to find such nice clothes so it will take some effort to find the gold. 

Non-Thrifted Fashion

So of course I love thrifting but it can be really hard to find all of your fashion statements. Don't get me wrong, it is definitely possible but sometimes your girl just needs a new pair of shoes. So of course vegan only shoes are key. This year I ordered a pair of white vans as a simple, versatile, and casual shoe that goes with everything. I got a pair last year and basically wore them every day. By the end of the school year, I had two holes in each shoe from my toes. So I definitely got my use out of those. Here are some other vegan shoes that I love:

I also wear my vegan Birkenstock sandals almost year round. Socks and sandals are such a bop and that is my go to in the winter/fall other than the vans. They are so easy to wear and go with pretty much anything. Not to mention they are so comfy. 

If you want the birk look but don't have the funds or want to shop from a more ethical company, I really like this Australian company called Freedom Moses. They are basically a super cool birkenstock style shoe made out of natural and recycled rubber material. They come in so many different patterns and colors to go with every outfit and they all cost an average of $40 for adult sizes. 

Some of my only non thrifted back to school clothing is active wear and athleisure. I mean that is basically the comfiest and easiest outfit to put on at 6am. If I am unable to find something specific (aka a sports bra, nice pair of leggins, etc) at a thrift store, then I will get some stuff from Girlfriend Collective. I love all of their styles and everything is made out of recycled materials! (heck yes to that!) Here are some of my faves:

I also LOVE Outdoor Voices for athleisure as well. THey have a ton of super cute styles and colors for every season. A heck of a lot more money than shopping at Goodwill but worth it if you are looking for something new and really good quality.  

Next is jewelry. Never have been a big jewelry fan until about this year. I have been digging the bracelets look and the layered necklaces. So I ordered a few simple jewelry pieces from Brandy Melville. They have super inexpensive items (their shipping is kind of ridiculous but whatever) that go with everything and are made fairly well for the price. Obviously Brandy isn't the most ethical brand in the world. There are ethical jewelry brands but you are going to have to pay a lot more. I have a few items from YCL Jewels that I love. Just again, way more expensive. 

School Supplies

School supplies are hard because you can't by lined paper at Goodwill but I have found that they do sell some office supplies like calculators, pencil boxes, binders, rulers, etc. However I have accumulated so much stuff over the 12 years I have been in school that I don't need much of anything in terms of supplies. My school has a recycling program so if I need some paper, binders, folders, etc I can always check that out and get what I need. But with the times changing, we may not be needing paper and pencils all that much in schools which I guess is a plus for mother earth :)

Backpacks have always been my favorite thing to shop for! I haven't needed a new one for a long time but the one I have been using is a bit too big for what I am going to be needing this year. So this year I was on the hunt at the Goodwill for a decent backpack. And lone and behold, I found one. A brand new L.L. Bean backpack! Just what I needed! Perfect size for all my crap lol. I also have a Kanken backpack that I may switch over to later in the year. Both are perfect canvases for my pins. That is basically the whole purpose of a backpack though isn't it? 

Lunch

Lunch at school is basically the only thing to look forward to in the day, other than leaving. It's is the only half hour to socialize and be with people you can somewhat tolerate. At my school you have the option to either buy lunch or pack (You can probably guess what I have done my whole life lol). I find packing my lunch to be super rewarding. I am able to basically pack whatever I want and actually get excited to open my lunch and see that I have tofu coconut curry or soup, or homemade fat balls! Love that. 

I pack all my lunches myself the night before and it always seems to workout just fine. It is usually leftovers of some kind that don't have to be reheated. I sometimes pack soup or chilli in a thermos but that is the most effort I put forth. Thanks to meal prepping I have really gotten a hang of it so it is easy and takes very little time out of my night. 

Of course your girl is super anal about never having any waste when eating her lunch at school so I pack in a reusable lunch bag, use containers and jars, and always have a water bottle with me throughout the day (thank goodness my school has multiple bottle refill stations). I bring a cloth napkin and my wooden utensils as well. #zerowastestudent 

Tech

In this day in age doing all schoolwork on paper is not really a viable option. One, it is just a lot of work for both the students and the teachers but also it is so wasteful! I mean we do recycle paper and stuff but it just seems ridiculous for our teachers to print out papers for each student just to write our names on and then throw away basically. So to combat that wastefulness, I use my computer when I can. I have had my laptop for quite some time and it is a complete game changer not just for starting a blog or business but also for school. Taking notes, participating in online discussions with the class, making powerpoints, quizlet, checking grades, etc. 

Some kind of headphones or earbuds are key too. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't listen to music during school hours. It has become such a routine. Below I have my favorites:

Music

As I said before, there isn't a day that goes by where I don't listen to one of my playlists. Pretty much a playlist for every activity or time of day on my Spotify. I got you covered if you need to focus on your homework, or you need a pick me up after a high school breakup. 

Alright. So now you know what I do to prepare myself for the new routine. Here's to my last year.

Note to self Jane: SAVOR IT. High school isn't forever and senior will go by in the blink of an eye. It may not be your favorite way to spend your time, but it is an experience that should be at least somewhat memorable. Don't waste these next 182 days Jane, please. For your future self :)