Hauls and Life

I went to Trader Joe's and Natural Grocers the other day and got my weekly haul. Natural Grocers still had the Live Kombucha sodas on sale, and I decided to try the concord grape drinking vinegar, and I loved it! I love grape anything. If I had to drink soda it would be grape, and when I was a kid it was always grape bubble gum or bust. This drinking vinegar tasted to me like an upscale grape soda. It had that vinegar tang, but if you didn't know it was vinegar, you would just think it's an interesting grape soda. I loved it!!

spinach, mango, cilantro,green onion, English breakfast tea, green onion and chocolate raspberry baton

Rice, lite and heavy coconut milk, black beans, tomato paste, sunflower seeds and chocolate

sliced bread, olive baguette, and vegan mayo

Pineapple, tofu,bananas,celery,beets,pasta, lemons,sweet potato

Remember how I was grousing awhile ago about how expensive vegan sliced breads can be? Well, leave it to Trader Joe's. The whole grain and flax bread is vegan, not full of funky ingredients, and it's $1.99 a loaf.  And it's pretty tasty too.
Since today is the last day you can sign up for Vegan Mofo, I wanted to mention that I am sadly not signing up this year. I am wrecked about it. Last year was my first Vegan Mofo, and seriously I was so so proud to be part of something that I had enjoyed so much in the past. I love Mofo time, I have discovered so many new blogs, and it's just such a positive thing. And even though at first I wasn't thrilled with the prompt thing, in the end I enjoyed them, and I think I only skipped one or two prompts. When I first heard mofo was going to be in November, I kind of had a sinking feeling. After looking at the prompts this year, I just can't do it. We are heading into what is the hardest part of the year for me. It's family and loved ones shoved down my throat, no matter where I go. And deep down I am a mushy, sentimental softie, but this time of year makes me put on a hard shell. I have spent every Thanksgiving and Christmas alone for as long as I can remember. Even when I lived in PA., and my adoptive family lived ten minutes away, I spent the holidays alone. It was just easier, and less lonely and stressful. I've already seen a few Holiday themed ads, so I'm trying to brace myself for the onslaught. A lot of the prompts for this years Mofo are friend and family related, and I just can't do it, or try to pretend. I don't have the energy to pretend this year.
I was watching some competition type show, and the contestants had their family up in the wings cheering them on, and I thought of how my part of the wings would be empty, unless they allowed cats.
Sorry that today's post is such a downer, I just figured I'd address Mofo before it starts. And to be honest, it feels good to admit that this time of year is tough. I always go out of my way to act like it's no big deal, and it just feels good to be honest.

To cheer everything up, here is Kanye in what has become THE SPOT. They love their little kitty tent.They feel safe and covered, but they can still keep an eye on what's happening.
Happy Friday!