Vegan Born and Bred [A Vegan Pledger Story]

I’m the odd-(wo)man-out in my family when it comes to veg living, distant relatives included. There’s not another vegan (or vegetarian) in the bunch. So it’s super-inspiring for me to hear from Vegan Pledger Clare Haworth who was the catalyst for cementing veganism as a family-wide lifestyle:

I was inspired by Nick Twose from Torquay when I was 18 on an animal rights protest at Porton Down. Twose said, ‘Of course you can go vegan, it’s easy.’

I am now 49.

I brought up 5 children from birth as vegan and have a vegan born-and-bred beautiful and bright-as-a-button 20-month grandson.

My kids say they are so glad I brought them up vegan and cannot imagine why people want to eat other sentient creatures.

My brothers went veg and still are, and my auntie and her family followed suit and have been veg for years and years.

My best friend went vegan at 18 with me; she still is.

My husband is sill vegan after 31 years.

It is the only logical, rational conclusion to adopt a vegan lifestyle if you believe that causing unnecessary suffering to sentient creatures is unjustified and simply wrong. No drama, just wrong. Spread the love.

Read full article at TheVeganPledge.com.

My One Act Opens With Los Angeles Playwrights Lab

Last year I joined the Los Angeles Playwrights Lab and am humbled to see my first play take the stage at the Theatre Asylum Lab.

The Disconnect is the story of a recently-widowed woman who tries to rewrite the history of her 35-year marriage through the social media-saturated love lives of her three grown daughters. Directed by Lisa Pelikan, and starring Ann Bronston, Heather Long, Jennifer Pollono, and Joy Darash.

Mine is one of five shorts in the Los Angeles Playwrights Lab’s first production – Beginnings.

WHEN: March 14-April 12, 2012 (Wed/Thurs at 8 p.m.)

WHERE: Theatre Asylum Lab, 1078 Lillian Way (at Santa Monica Blvd), Hollywood, 90038

For more details and ticket info, please visit LosAngelesPlaywrightsLab.com.

11 Most Popular Places to Focus Social Media Efforts in 2012

If you’re feeling torn about where to turn for the biggest bang for your social media buck, seek solace in this list. Granted, 11 places to focus still sounds like a lot, but in the grand scheme of social media things (i.e., with hundreds of sites vying for our attention), this is a short list indeed!

1) Facebook. Need I say more?

2) Twitter. I’m continually surprised at how reluctant my friends and colleagues are about getting on Twitter. Though I personally don’t spend as much time there sharing and engaging as I should, Twitter is a goldmine for building networks with people from all over the world who you would otherwise never be able to meet and ultimately build relationships of mutual support. It’s not about tweeting meaningless mundane things. In fact, I find Twitter users to be far more likely to share and engage about newsworthy stories than their Facebook counterparts. And if you are a public figure, or have a product you’d like to see hit the mainstream, securing your Twitter name is imperative before someone else does!

3) YouTube. This is the number two search engine in the world, second only to Google. So if you don’t think your business is conducive to video-worthy content, think again! Know the keywords relevant to your product or service and get creative with it.

4) Google+. When I talk to people about this one, they moan and they groan. “Really, another social media site I need to update on a regular basis?” Uh, yeah! This is GOOGLE‘s social media site, so it’s no shocker that Google favors it in the search engine results. It really is easy to use, quick to update and well-worth the time and effort.

5) Tumblr. Of all the micro-blogging platforms, this is the big one and is poised to grow even bigger. It’s easy and fun to use, not only as a blogger but as a re-blogger (i.e., post interesting content and re-blog others, and chances are good they’ll re-blog you).

Read full article at FlutteringIvyMedia.com.

Happy New (Vegan) Year!

Anyone’s first day living vegan is something to celebrate, but it is especially heartwarming to me personally that Sacha Brown took time today – her first day vegan – to sign The Vegan Pledge:

Today, 10th Jan 2012, was my 1st day as a vegan. I am finding it easy because I really want to but let’s see how the rest of my life goes, lol. I need recipes that are sweet and tasty! And quick and easy as I am a mum of 2!

I am doing it to improve health and to be at one with my environment. I use shea butter and black soap now and I even wear my hair natural (afro hair). I love my new life.

For a ton of great info on vegan living (including sweet and tasty recipes!), check out the Vegan Outreach Cruelty-Free Eating Guide. I also highly recommend Alicia Silverstone’s The Kind Life website, for recipes and more.

Of course, a thoughtful way of living is never confined to just one area of our lives. In addition to adopting a vegan lifestyle, Sacha Brown is also the founder of Brown Girl Promotion, “inspired by the lack of representation of women of African origin within business and entertainment within the UK.”

To Sacha, and to all you other pledgers, Happy New (Vegan) Year! There will be many more inspiring stories to share in 2012.

Learn more about vegan living at TheVeganPledge.com.

5 New Year’s Resolutions for a Financially Fit New Year

Fitness goals usually top the list of New Year’s resolutions, but they need not be limited to your body. Financial health is equally important to balanced living in 2012.

1) Keep track of your spending. Regular monthly bills aside, how much of your spending can you account for each month? I’m talking about what you spend on all those extras that get logged into your bank account every day, but rarely get added up over a month’s, or even a week’s time.

For a week, or even a month, keep a running log of where you spend every penny, from coffee to lunch. Log your spending as you go, in your smartphone or a little notepad, or save every receipt and log purchases later.

2) Make a budget. If you don’t already, it’s time to go over your budget with a fine tooth comb. This means looking at how much you’re bringing in every month, and how much is going out. With this knowledge, you can more clearly see where you can cut spending and have more left over for the next resolution on our list.

3) Save. While one general savings account can suffice, you may want to have multiple savings accounts for multiple purposes, such as an account for emergencies, an account for fun purchases, and/or an account for next year’s Christmas gifts.

Though it varies from person-to-person, a good rule of thumb is to set aside 10 percent of your income for savings. If this doesn’t seem to work for you, try five percent, even one percent! The point is that you are setting aside something and getting yourself into the essential, lifelong habit of saving money.

Read full article at CreditInfoCenter.com.