This was my first full year of blogging! I loved it and can’t wait to do more of it in 2012. For now, though, let me share some 2011 highlights.
I. If there is one thing I am most proud of on this blog this year, it’s the Vegan 101 series.
I simply turned to people I admire and respect and asked them to participate–to help new vegans and the vegan-curious. And they did.
- How I learned to go vegan by JL of JL goes Vegan
- How to Travel Like a Vegan Pro by Jill Vegan Backpacker
- Kitchen tips from a chef by Emily of Daily Garnish
- The Ethics of Veganism by Gena of Choosing Raw
- A Newbie’s Guide to Seasonal Eating and Cooking by Christy of The Blissful Chef
- Planning Healthy Vegan Diets by Ginny of The Vegan RD
- The Higher Raw Diet by Kristen of Kristen’s Raw
- Eating Vegan and Low Fat by Lindsay of Happy Herbivore
- Vegan Meals for Kids by Keri of I Eat Trees
- Reading Labels to Avoid Animal Products by Bitt of Bitt of Raw
- The Pressure Cooker–The Vegan’s New Best Friend by Jill of The Veggie Queen
- Five Easy Ways to Eat More Leafy Greens by Nava of VegKitchen with Nava Atlas
- Vegan Baking Made Easy by Ricki of Diet, Dessert and Dogs
- Health Reasons for Going Vegan by Carrie of Carrie on Vegan
- How to share your passion with compassion by Lisa of Vegan Culinary Crusade
II. The hand’s down favorite moment for me, as a vegan blogger, was attending Vida Vegan Con!
I was able to meet fellow vegan bloggers in person. I was able to dig deeper into my own motivations for being vegan and writing about my vegan lifestyle. Throughout the year I was moving from dietary vegan to ethical vegan and my experience at Vida Vegan Con pushed me further to the side of the animals. I gave a pretty thorough recap of my experience through a series of posts:
- #1: Food Trucks, Voodoo Doughnuts and a Waterfront Run
- #2: Hungry Tiger Too
- #3: Shopping, “Vegucated” and, well, more food
- #4: Opening Reception
- #5: The Conference (Day 1) – We are ambassadors of compassio
- #6: The Galarama
- #7: The Conference (Day 2) — What’s your mission statement?
- #8: The End (or the dinner and lunch dates of my dreams + a 15-hour trek home)
III. Here are the Top Five recipe posts:
- “Ice Cream” for Breakfast
- Vegan Breakfast Casserole
- Chickpea – TVP Burgers
- Mac ‘N Rice ‘N Beans ‘N Soy Curl Burrito
- Very Veggie Split-Pea Soup
IV. And the Top Five general posts
:
- Homemade Vegan Ice Cream!
- January diet? Nope, I bought bigger clothes.
- VLOG: A Pressure & Rice Cooker Lesson (When the pressure cooker’s rockin’, don’t come a knockin’)
- Good (raw + cooked) eats!
- Lessons from Christina: Rethink Breakfast
V. My most unexpected blogging move of the year? Starting a second blog.
On a whim, while on vacation this summer, it struck me. My Stop Chasing Skinny Series on this blog deserved its own space. Because it’s not just about being vegan. It’s for anyone who is ready to focus on body-love, not deprivation. That blog is successful because of YOU because it’s not my blog. It’s a community blog. I want to post your stories about finding happiness beyond the scale (submit here)! Be sure to check out the year-end post on Stop Chasing Skinny.
VI. Which leads me to my number one top love: YOU.
You, my readers, are why I do this. I consider blogging the best-ever, worst-paying, part-time job a vegan could have. I love getting to know you through my blog, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Thank you for inspiring me to continue to blog. I blog because I want everyone to know that eating, and living, vegan is easy and that you can make the change at any time in your life.
Finally I must conclude with this solemn belief: it’s about the animals.
Clover
I became vegetarian because of a goat. I became vegan for my health. I remain vegan for a goat and for every single animal that deserves to be respected and revered and not used and abused for human consumption and use. I was honored to be invited to serve on the board of directors of the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary this year. I’m a member of WFAS, I sponsor a goat, and I am a donor to the general operations of the farm (I donate my time and money). My donations not only support the animals on the farm but the education and outreach efforts to spread the vegan message far and wide.
Courtesy Jenny Brown
YOU CAN GIVE, TOO.
Anything you donate today will be matched, dollar for dollar, and is tax deductible.
I wish you all a healthy, happy and prosperous 2012. (Don’t forget to make some black-eyed peas for luck!) May your year be filled with joy and passion. May every step you take in 2012 begin from a place of compassion.
