Sunday, September 4, 2016

From communal to tiny living: Why an RV?

If you don't know we bought an RV and have been living in it for 4 days already: well, in what world are you living? ;)
And if you know but can't tell by my RV spam on my social media: We are so excited for this new chapter of our lives that keeps unfolding in front of us!




Some people asked me if I was going to blog about it and seriously blogging lately hasn't inspired me as it did before, but THIS. This is so inspiring that I really want to share every piece of it with all the people that cherish this adventure with us.

Lets start from the beginning: Why an RV?

A couple of reasons:

1~Seattle rent
2~Pinterest~ if we are being honest.
3~HGTV Tiny homes show. (We always flirted with the idea of a tiny house & I STILL want Aaron to build our dream home but time was an important factor: we needed a home ASAP)

On February of this year, after living in Seattle for a couple of months, Aaron got laid off from the job we moved across country for. We were renting an open spaced one bedroom apartment in Shoreline (pretty much a studio with a wall dividing the room from the living area~ $1,500) and it became obvious we couldn't afford that place anymore.

We had to move but we didn't have enough money for deposits, first and last months. Brainstorming, we decided to humble ourselves and surrender to our situation: it was time to consider communal living. We found a single dad with a teenager, renting a room in their house. It needed to be a family friendly house for us to even consider it so when this person reached out, we felt it was our best option.

I am grateful that despite our very difficult situation we had a roof over our head, considering the alarming amount of homeless people living on the streets in Seattle~ including families. We lived there a couple of months while we figured out our next move but a few days into the situation it was SO obvious that it wasn't the place for us or a home for Che. This family was not vegan or careful about Che's allergies, they were constantly fighting & cursing at each other, the teenage daughter was always bringing noisy friends who would leave their weed out and reachable to little hands, once Che found drugs (that belong to the single dad) on the floor, Che started imitating very gross characteristics from them...and the list goes on.

We appreciate the idea of communal living, in fact, I think we thrive when living with others, but this experience pushed us to the edge of our limits. We were looking for other communal houses that would welcome us as soon as our patience ran out but people were not really interested in sharing their space with a toddler.

The idea of paying 1,000 for a micro studio with a shared kitchen wasn't on top of our list but: what was our option here? After looking at a couple places, it didn't feel right to rent such a tiny place for such a big part of our salary. Since moving to Seattle that's how it always felt: working so that we could survive, so that we could meet ends. Not working to create the life we wanted. We were not saving for our future or for the things we wanted to do, but instead the last cent of our check always had a name on it.

Aaron is the adventurer & the idea of getting an RV was always brought up but I was never sure about it. Then one day I was browsing Pinterest and the renovation of an RV popped up on my fee because I was looking at other tiny spaces & I fell in love with it. That night I sent Aaron the pin and told him I wanted THAT. The decision was made then, we started RV shopping for ours. Day and night we would browse, email, call, research until we found THE ONE.

Everything about the search, saving for it, day dreaming about it, down sizing EVEN MORE, felt so right in our hearts. Like: hell yeah, we are home owners of this badass cutie pie!

So, that's how we got here. Getting rid of layers of possessions with every move since we left Iowa has always felt like learning experience, especially for me who used to own so much. Living in such a tiny space I know will bring so many demons and angels out of me, & Im so ready to experience them all.

Now, if you have requests for new posts on a vegan family living tiny: Im all eyes! I have a couple topics I want to write about & I cant wait to share more.



Sunday, May 1, 2016

Zero waste snacks

If you are my friend on FB you know of my failed attempts at making yogurt. I bought myself an used yogurt maker, a starter and tons of milk. I thought it was gonna be easy peasy but I keep failing. Its so frustrating.

My desire to reduce my waste was bringing me to create even more so I'm taking a little break from it and while I can't for the life of me make yogurt or bread, I do can share some (maybe too obvious) snack ideas that can be found completely package free or made at home with very simple ingredients...

The more I learn about zero waste, the more I realize it bring us to eat more pure, whole foods. So simple is key.

Here is a small list, please comment below with more ideas. I would love to learn more!

•Banana+date mylk
•Chia coconut milk pudding
•Dried fruit (papaya, apple, ginger, cantaloupe~ you could either dehydrate it yourself or get them in bulk.)
•Dates+nut butter 'sammiches' (you can get in bulk, too or recycle the jar for future use)
•Bliss balls (oats, dates, nuts)
•Homemade hummus + veggies
•Veggie chips (i get mine from the bulk section) + guacamole
•Popcorn
•Nice cream (sooo many possibilities)
•Apple sandwiches (apple slices, nut butter+ coconut flakes)
•Kale chips (If you are up for it: homemade POTATO CHIPS!)
•Roasted chickpeas
•Homemade granola

Next time you go to the store, don't forget your recycled jars!


Monday, April 11, 2016

Pinteresting Indian food (vegan meal plan)

There is a small indian market near our place & the other day I went in to get some curry spice & black salt because we were running out. While browsing I saw they had moong bean &  got super excited!

Not long ago we ordered some dahl for Che's dinner when we were out & he wasn't impressed but I fell in love. So I've been pinning some recipes with a hopeful heart that my very Hispanic hands can duplicate such magical dish. Wish me luck!

Monday: Falafel Wraps

Tuesday: Moong Dahl

Wednesday: Alfredo Gnocchi + Asparagus

Thursday: Jamaican rice & beans + Tofu

Friday: Breakfast potatoes + Sauteed peppers & mushrooms

Monday, April 4, 2016

Eating this week...

This might be the most boring meal plan ever, but I promise next week is gonna be uh-some. We just need to go grocery shopping. Mmm still, so much abundance in this vegan life we get to live!

Monday: Chickpea salad sandwiches (Isa does it)

Tuesday: Veggie quinoa + Sweet tofu

Wednesday: Mushroom Pizza + (beet, spinach, quinoa) Salad

Thursday: Lentil + Roasted Sweet potato & Brox bowls

Friday: Who fucking knows?




What are you eating this week?

Friday, April 1, 2016

Working mama musings

After reading a couple books last night, we took our co-shower, brushed our teefs & got ready to go to bed. In the middle of the night I woke up smelling poop.

"Cosi, did you poop?" 

But Guru didn't respond as he was immersed in his trascendental travel.

We woke him up and Papa Vegan changed him. He had indeed a dirty diaper.

"Sleepy" you kept saying. & I saw you crawling back to your corner next to me.

Now I can't sleep. Its almost 3 am and I have to get up in 3 hours to go to work. Oh guru, if you read this: mama has been working for a while now. Sometimes you come with me, but commute has been intense & you are staying with papa at home.

Yesterday I missed my bus so I had to take a different route which meant I had to walk a little bit to get home. On my way home, with a grocery bag on hand & a heavy purse full of library books for guru, I felt an intense desire for crying. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of deep~humbling gratitude but also guilt and sadness. 

I haven't felt this empowered in a very long time. But everything in this mama body keeps evolving constantly; always surprising me with new discoveries. Oh, guru, I am so your mama but I am also so much more than that. I didn't know how to separate this divine devotion for you from my fights, my poetry, my independece, my fierce~badass womanhood.

I couldn't find myself after you & I was fine with it because I had you. You are enough. 

But, guru, if you read this, know that mama wasn't away because you were not enough. 
I want you to remember me genuinely content but also strong; with an open heart, ready to catch you if you fall. So I need to keep finding my~self so I can be a good mama for you. 

And even though I'm exhausted & sometimes guilty to the point of tears, I get home & find the strenght to cook the most delicious~nourishing meals for you; we snuggle up in bed and read the books I bring for you from the library & soak up this new space we have created for each other. There: everything is right in the Universe again. No more guilt, just pure~raw~i bow to you~ gratefulness.

You are too little to ask questions, but all I can see is that you care that I always show up. For you, for me and for us. 

This time is sacred. All of it. The ugly crying on the sidewalk, the awareness, the humbleness while looking at the face of "holy shit, i can do it all!", the pieces of growth I discover on your body & speech every day I come home from a long day without you. Everything is new & sacred.

How much we've painfully and blissfully grown, little gnome. How much we are healing in the process. Together.
Thank you, my teacher; my forgiver. So much.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Che says the b word

OH em gee. Che repeats everything. Considering papa & I have pretty much the pottiest mouths it shouldn't be a surprise that the other day he said the word 'boo-shed'. *mama hangs head in shame*

here is a cute list of things he is saying lately, though:
~ ah-loo (salud~ kinda like a 'bless you' after you sneeze)
~ nee-poh as in nipple. (Hurray for teaching kids proper anatomy names!)
~ mama, bella (taught by his dad. ^_^)
~ whaaaaat?

He likes to call his dad from the bathroom when we are done with our "ny ny"-coshowers: "papa, ven (come)" but while we were at the store two days ago he started calling papa "BABEEE".

This boy makes me laugh every day a little harder.

Friday, January 8, 2016

Guru's bed: a letter

Oh sweet juicy peach,

Since the day you were born, every moon you've lived, every dream you have had, I've been keeping them for you. I smile so big when you talk in your dreams and I wish I can see the colors you are dreaming... I bet you dream in colors, my cosmic mirror.

You made my bed your bed; your earthly temple...and here I am, falling asleep to your simple trascendental way of meditating.

Oh. I struggle, mi guru, my wise tree, every time I think about the day you leave this bed... Or the day you dont look for comfort in my arms every time you want to rest your eyes from the world during these rainy days.

We are living the dream, my Spring. And I live it because you came to me. To remind me there is a journey worth living slowly...slow, like a Sunday morning.

Guru: I hope you know, my sweet teacher, that my love for you has no limit or space or words because we are not from this world or these bodies. ~ Lucky me that could see that with the eyes of my soul cause I wouldn't have known that it was YOU all along what I was looking for- chasing always with my mortal eyes- what this material world was missing before I could leave it feeling complete.

So if one day, seed of my womb, you want to feel at home again after wandering the world, my traveler: find mama. There is always going to be space for you inside her arms.