Everything and Anything

My life has been crazy filled to the brim with everything I love about Summer, typical middle school life, sports, vegan baking, and figuring out myself.

Soccer 
First of all, I realized that I am a soccer player. I love everything about it. At school, I love nothing more than getting out onto the field with the guys... as the only girl player. Playing the guys has made me tougher, fiercer, more competitive and has given me a whole new view into sports. And I love it.

Vegan-ism
I have gotten some compliments recently on my vegan baking. You may not know it, but compliment a vegan baker and you've scored free cupcakes for life. One of the hardest things - harder than finding the least expensive ingredients, calculating the perfect amount of oven time - is convincing people to try it. To be honest, most of those doubters that don't even want to try something 'because it's vegan' have never tried animal product-free baked goods. I refuse to use artificial flavors or colors in my cupcakes and I keep it natural... did I mention delicious? Some vegans that offer people homemade baked goods don't mention the fact that it's vegan. Although, it may take people some convincing to try it, being vegan is nothing to be ashamed about! I am the only vegan kid at my school and, as you might imagine, yeah it is awkward. Yeah, I do feel weird when people bring tempting snacks and offer some to me. But, I have the best non-vegan friends in the world. 

One of my closest friends has even explained to her parents the whole concept of being vegan. She checks ingredients before giving me any food. She asks the kindest, most curious questions about my lifestyle. She raves about my baking to people that haven't tried it. She may not be vegan, but when she is with me, she is always super excited to try my food. We bake vegan together. She understands and she tries it. She is the friend that every vegan needs.

Running
This summer I have gotten the perfect tan. I love it from being out in the sun and I don't even mind my running-short tan lines (ha ha). Soon, I'm starting on a soccer team, so I guess I'll also have shin guard tan lines, too. But, when it comes to running, I've been getting super inspired (with Runner's World, going to a local running store or whatever) and then I have three great runs up to three miles in a row. I go easy at the beginning, really push at the end. I make a delicious spinach and berry smoothie to celebrate. Then, I'm out of motivation.

I think that not completing the Runner's World Summer Streak kind of disappointed me. I expected more from myself, and I feel like I've got to redeem myself. So, instead I've gotten lots of great running gear and I'm inspiring myself instead.

Keep on running,
Lili 

Why I Cannot Wipe This Smile Off My Face

I ran a seven minute mile.



And... oh yeah, the Blackhawks won.


I am a Chicagoan. Proud Chicagoan. I may be a country girl who loves the heat, hates cold winters, and lives for those long country roads. But, I will never ever not love the Blackhawks!

I don't know, it might be their personalities, their contagious, passionate, endless, energy... well, they also happen to be pretty downright handsome in their playoff beards.

Good season, Tampa Lightning!

So, fellow Chicagoans, fellow Hawks. It's time for celebrating!

Right now I'm not thinking about The Streak, about camping, about writing a super long blog post. Let's celebrate!

The Ultimate Summer Bucket List

1.  Unplug for an entire week.

2.  Camp out in the backyard.


3. Make the ultimate batch of kale chips (#goals).

4. Run a 10k.

5. Go on a Random Acts of Kindness spree.

6. Have a lemonade stand for charity.

7. Make a Pinterest craft. Or Pinterest fail.

8. Attend a fundraiser.

9. Sing in public.

10. Be spontaneous.

11. Preform an instrument.


12. Car trip with a friend.

13. Go running on a long, country road.

14. Blast country music in farmland, windows down.

15. Make an entire course with all locally-grown foods.

16. Cook dinner with friends.

Camping at Devil's Lake

17. Sell baked goods.

18. Make granola bars.

19. Go laser-tagging with friends.

20. Make Popsicles.

21. Not go shopping for a week.

22. Make jam.


23. Buy Starbucks for the people in line behind me.

24. Have a sleepover with my cousins, cooking dinner and breakfast for the whole family.

25. Record a song with friends - instruments, vocals, and all!

26. Give fake names at Starbucks.

27. Find a stray cat or dog.

28. Paint on canvas.

29. Have a best friends' photo shoot.

30. Go to the movies at midnight.

31. Learn to do a back bend.

32. Do gymnastics in the woods.

33. Run a 10 miler.

34. Train for a race.

35. Finish my #RWRunStreak - NO CHEATING!

36. Have a bonfire.

37. Make a s'mores masterpiece.

38. Host a 'Cupcake Wars' with my friends.

39. Film a movie.

40. Make a music video for a song I've written.

41. Play tackle football.

42. Run the Color Run.

43. Run a race with my cross country team.

44. Perfect my punting skills.

Camping at Devil's Lake 

45. Make my own juice.


46. Go on a Whole Foods shopping spree.

47. Go fruit-picking (apple, strawberry,)

48. Run a six minute mile.

49. Enter a poetry contest.

50. Remember that summer only comes once a year. Make the most of it!

Happy Summer!

Summer (and the beginning of #RW Run Streak - Summer Style!)

 My first summer run streak.

This school year has gone by so fast! As we are nearing the end of the school year, things get more fun, more excited, and I start planning summer parties, gatherings... all the great stuff. I realized my camping trip is sooner than I thought. Now, my mind is flooded with things to do and thoughts revolving around camping:

1. Visit REI and grab some freeze-dried food (vegan options? Do they exist?) 
2. Just went online to their website and some of the meals look really good. 
3. Have to ask some camping friends if they are as yummy as they look. 
4. Is the fly on our tent leak-proof? 
5. Who will dog sit our pups when we're on vacation later this summer?      
6. Bigby (my dog) needs to get a smaller size for his hiking backpack. 
7. Will I need my North Face on our trip? 
8. Should I try an 'Unplugged Trip'? 
1. What about blogging pictures?
2. The lake is way too pretty to miss out on. 
3. But, maybe I would enjoy it more unplugged. 
4. Any ideas, blog readers?
5. 
   

And then this whole run streak thing: 

1. Will I find time to run on my other camping trip? 
2. Man, if we end up vacationing at my uncle's farm in Pennsylvania, those long country roads seem almost dreamy when it comes to running.                                                       

         There are all these things to do. To think about to wonder about. To stress about. But, why? Why can't we just enjoy the summer? It's only summer for a few months out of 12 in the whole year. That's why I'm making a bucket list. A work in progress, but a bucket list none the less. 

 This is my first summer full of running, at my new school, with new plans, new goals, new ideas! And I can't wait... 

Any ideas for Unplugged Trips? Are you creating a Summer Bucket List? 

 

2 Months Vegan, 3 Years Vegetarian

As you may know, April 26h of 2012 is the day I stopped eating meat. I marked each day that animals didn't come through my body with little cupcake stickers on my calendar. When, I realized that it was way too easy to stop eating meat, I cut out the first day of my cupcake sticker. That was the day I saw my grandma making chicken soup and I felt pure sadness. That was the day where my journey to becoming the happiest, kindest, humanest person I can be started. That was a really good day. 

Today also marks my two-month anniversary of becoming a vegan. I am healthier than when I was vegetarian, happier, more energized and much more fit and active. 

Why am I a vegan?

1. It fuels my lifestyle. As a runner, yogi, rock-climber and hiker, I'm constantly looking for energy-packed foods and meals. With some many unhealthy options available, it's important to take control of your diet by choosing the foods that are best for you and your body. Among those foods are fruits and vegetables. Although I don't eat completely raw or paleo, I eat little processed foods and focus on healthy grains, plant-based proteins, fruits and vegetables. Think about it - a big juicy carrot dramatically outweighs the benefits of a big juicy burger!

2. I can eat without regrets. Before I became vegan, I always felt a tug at my heartstrings when I took a bite of something that used to have a living, breathing heart. Pigs are in the top 10 smartest animals on the Earth, among rats, crows, elephants, dolphins and - coming in first - chimpanzees. It sickens me that half of American dog owners buy their companion animals Christmas gifts, while millions of farm animals are suffering throughout the nation. Even though I didn't harm the animal, I would be supporting an industry that finds nothing wrong with treating sentient beings like trash, or machinery. There was no way that I would live with myself becoming a part of that mindset.

3. I can inspire others. Although sometimes it's hard to stand up for your beliefs, I always remember why I became vegan in the first place. Sometimes I feel lonely when everyone else in the cafeteria is munching on a hot dog, when I've got a salad.Luckily, my awesome friends and family support my decision and have even thought about their choices of food. I've inspired my friend's mom to stop wearing down, my dad to stop eating pork and now I'm even working on my whole family become vegetarian. Just remember, when it comes to educating others, to never make somebody downright ashamed. Instead, share yummy vegetarian meals, recipes, tips and ideas to show them a whole new world of eating.

4. I found a whole new community. Different hobbies and lifestyles share different communities. At Cross Country, I made tons of friends who love running just as much as I do. And after eating The Lucky Ones, written by Jenny Brown - the founder of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, I couldn't even help but not eat dairy. It made me so, so sad in tons of ways - but in even more ways, I felt impowered. After reading the book and connecting with Jenny Brown's struggles as an animal lover turned plant-eater, I realized that I could really do this. With all of these health stores, vegan alternatives, websites, books, and newly-turned vegans, I was ready to become a vegan. You can follow my vegan eating at my Pinterest as well, https://www.pinterest.com/lilivaughan/

5. I can live happier and healthier. These days, I feel healthier and happier than I've ever been. I feel stronger and more energized, and in a way, more connected with nature and animals. I see no difference between my dogs and my cats in my family, the squirrels running outside, and the farm animals that I no longer eat. Animals are simply just like us, species that depend on others and deserve respect and compassion. I have big dreams for saving animals and I hope that my awesome readers will be with me every step of the way. You can follow my journey at ProjectforPaws.blogspot.com.So I ask you, share the hashtag,#ProudtobeVeg today to help celebrate becoming vegetarian.Be a friend to animals and I hope you realize that the world can use more compassion-filled people like you. 
Happy living!
Lili



For another post about vegan living, check out http://laugheverydayblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/vegan-for-week.html

Teammates

Reading the latest issue of Runner's World this morning, I really got to feel like I was a real runner. Sure, I still related to some of the tips in the beginner's feature, but I read also the form guide by Meb Keflezighi and (mentally) nodded along. I'm signing up for some races this year, and I've been a little jealous reading about all these people training with friends. Not all of my friends are runners, but the people that are usually want to do something else when we hang out. But, that's okay. My cousin and I are both training for a 10k - but not together. We're both really busy with sports and school, so we only run together about once a month.

We're depending on each other to get great PRs, since we promised to stick together.  My cousin and I both get up each other's spirits in a race, slow down for one another, encourage each other and run with constant smiles on our faces.

So today - appreciate your running independence, but consider recruiting some "teammates" as well.

Happy running!
Lili

Run Plans

(gasp) snow!!

Last night, I spent about an hour - Bigby snoring on my lap - searching for runs online. I was on such a mission to find one to sign up for.

Currently, I'm looking into the Color Run, Hot Chocolate Run and Bubble Run. I mean, hey, if I'm gonna 3.1 or 6.2 miles, at least have fun!

I will keep some updates on my latest thoughts on signing up for some races.

Keep on running,
Lili <3