Earth Day 2019

Earth Day should be celebrated everyday! Why?! We live on earth and share it with each other and all of nature. Earth deserves our respect and protection because it sustains all life, without our awesome plant where would you live? #recylce #plantatree #nomoreplastic #reducecarbon

In honor of earth month in April I have started a new garden. The goal is to try and be sustainable in growing my own vegetables. I have also tried to repurpose some plastic pots and plastic egg cartons. My favorite repurposing are the wood panels that I have decided to use for my garden!

It is easier than we realize to actually put the effort to garden and that it can be done in any type of container. Be sure to give your seedlings a lot of love, patience, sunlight, and heat to ensure good sprouting. after the first two days you will want to have a new home for the seedlings because they can die very quickly if left in to moist of an environment or begin to get mold. Check out my new post on gardening to see more details and the step by step process!

I purchased the most perfect reusable bag from Publix supermarket. “Earth is Not Disposable”. Something as simple as this bag made my heart sing. We are stewards of this land. Protecting the earth, our home should not be dedicated to just one day a year, or just one month. Our planet deserve our protection, every, single-day. We are bound to preserve nature as it exists along with the innocent creatures.

 

Earth is NOT Disposable

Our destruction has no doubt lead to the destruction of other animal and plant life. We must realize that more has to be done about the plastic problem. Single-use items need to be banned. All plastic production needs to cease. The goal is to become closer to renewable energy and using more friendly reusable or recyclable products.

 

There are other great alternatives to plastic life sustainable food/silverware and reusable cups, straws, and everyday items. WE can stop single use production. Today, please pledge to stop using plastic.

End the plastic pollution. Not for us, but for Earth.

 

Happy Earth Day 2019. #endthetrashpollution

Everglades Day and Majorie Stoneman Douglas- April 7, 2019

Shero. Activist. Inspiration. Legacy.

All words to describe a woman I grew up revering as a modern goddess, in the sense of maternalism for wetlands.

Today, is Everglades Day and more importantly, Majorie Stoneman Douglas’ birthday. I learned about her greatness while in elementary school. Everything I know today about the importance of the Florida Everglades is a combination of living here and reading the work of Majorie.

While in law school, I wrote a paper about restoring the Florida Everglades. Majorie is one of the people who inspired that vision, but also brought to light why we MUST protect this wetland. Today, I would like to honor her by asking you to donate to the Friends of the Everglades Fund. They continue to fight for protection of the wetlands.

The Everglades is a one of a kind ecosystem, found only in Florida. Yes, there are other wetlands. Yes, there are other marshes. However, there is only one Florida Everglades. An ecosystem filled with so much biodiversity. Where the limestone and the aquifers are vital to the survival of Florida’s fresh drinking water. The animals and plant life depend on the restoration of the flow south.

The mangroves of the everglades acts of the first sign of defense when a hurricane wants to make landfall. Those roots are meant to dig deep into the ground and act as a natural barrier. The animals work together to carve the paths of the river and it flows and brings forth all the nutrients for plants and animal to survive.

Rapidly, we have destroyed the Everglades. Taking more and more land for development. By removing more water. Adding invasive plant and animal species which are destroying this once vibrant ecosystem. Lack of water flow from Lake Okeechobee is stifling the “River of Grass”, making it a barren wasteland.

The history stems all the way to the Army Corp of Engineers. I could sit here and talk about their involvement and the fact they destroyed the everglades creating all of these canals for waterfront properties. Also, the other culprits are those involved in “Big Sugar”, which is heavily lobbied here in Florida. Sugar = Poison. Yes, you read that correctly. Did you know the US subsidizes the price of sugar, just like they do gasoline! Mind-blowing. The East Agricultural Area is located right outside of Lake Okeechobee and that is where the water must be restore. Dilemma, that water is tainted and polluted. This is actually also the cause of the lovely Red Tide, I think you’ve heard of it. (The dumping of polluted water of the east and west coast of Florida, pouring into the estuaries. – FYI estuaries is where ALL baby sea life start, great start, poisoned water, but I digress).

What will you do to change your impact? We must stand up and speak to our government. Hold them accountable for the environmental atrocities and reckless negligence forced upon the Everglades.

I am doing my part, now it is your turn!

 

Meatless Monday Chronicles!

I’mmmmm baaacckk!!! Guess what that means?! More fun recipes. Yes, I know my last food post was about salads, but it only seems fitting that my first post of the year, be about salads. We are all eating better for different reasons: to lose weight, to just eat healthy, for blood pressure, heartburn and any other reason.

I have had to continue to inspire myself and come up with more innovative ways to eat plant based. IT is not easy. I am going on 3 solid months of no meat consumption. I must say, how proud I am of my self.

Check out my lunch I made at work today. Yes, I made this whole salad. with all the components.

 

Anything can be an amazing in salads, you just have to get creative! I made this all at work. I took a whole avocado and cut it, strawberries, cut cucumbers, carrots, walnuts, dried cranberries, avocado, and spinach. It seems so simple, but this is so delicious.

What do you put on your salads? Tell me in the comments! I’d love to here you absolute favorite!!

World Wildlife Day 2019

I’m a day late, but yesterday, March 3rd was World Wildlife Day. The United Nations decides to proclaim March 3rd, which is also the day of the convention on International Trade in Endangered Species or Wild  Fauna and Flora. The purpose of World Wildlife Day is to raise awareness of the words beautiful species both plant and animal life. All life is precious. Our world relies on intricate ecosystem that support each other’s existence. It is the ever changing nature and balance between these ecosystems that we see life and purity. Keeping the “wild” protected is safer for the animals, but also for humans. Remove humans from the wilderness and most forms of life will thrive. This years theme is “Life below water: for people and planet”.

We Must Stand Up for Animals

Powerful. Their lives are not more important than our own. We share this planet. We have babies, just the same. They only want to live and watch their families exist.

Animals do not understand why humans make their choices. Why humans cause their destruction. Why humans enjoy torturing them. Why humans must expand and continue to take everything. No more wildlife, no more natural lands, no more “never been touched by humans” lands. Just a world where humans seek control. To continue to destroy and cause destruction.

Animals deserve better caretakers and stewards of the earth. They deserve better.

Lakeside Serenity

Glorious is the early morning sunrise. As the fog rolls in across the small lake in a small subdivision in Orlando, Fl. You would never think an entire community surround this lake by looking at this photo. All you see is the serenity and peacefulness of clouds as they float above the lake. Find the peace in every part of nature. Lose yourself in the sounds, the blissful quiet and the calmness before everything awakens.

Meatless Monday Chronicles: Who Say’s Salads are Boring?!

Okay, I’ll admit it, I hate salads. Yes, I said it!! I was a ballerina for so long that I was forced to eat salads all the time. However, going meatless does not necessarily mean you HAVE to eat them all the time. It does mean that you can make them more fun!

I know I have been away for a while and I apologize if anyone is still out there!! I have another post that will explain my disappearance.

Salads, what do you use for the base? Well, anything that is green and leafy. You can use regular romaine lettuce, ice berg lettuce, spinach, kale, chard, and more yummy greens!!

Now, that you have your base, just sprinkle on the toppings!!

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• Base: I used Romaine Lettuce
• Morningstar Buffalo Chik’n Patty cooked via package directions (this is the only item we are cooking which takes about 20 minutes)
• Carrots
• 1 Mandarin (Orange or any other citrus fruit)
• Strawberries
• Golden Kiwi ( I did not even know this was a type of of kiwi until last week lol!!)
• Chia Seeds
• Walnuts

Dressing:

• 2 Tbsp Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar
• 2 Tbsp Agave
• 1 Tsp Salt
• 1 Tsp Black Pepper
• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil

Process

• Cook the chik’n patty
• Lay down the lettuce (or whatever green of your choice) in your bowl or plate.
• Peel the mandarins and slice the strawberries
• Add the walnuts, strawberries, mandarins, chia seeds, carrots and chopped chik’n patty.
• Combine all the ingredients for the dressing and whisk together.
• Boooom! Just like that the salad is ready to assemble!!

 

I hope you guys enjoy the salad!! Let me know about any variations you decide wit the salad toppings!! Check out the pictures below!! Happy Meatless Monday!!

 

 

Today, June 5th, 2018, is World Environment Day. Yes, everyday has it’s own national or global purpose now. However, one like World Environment Day, should be celebrated everyday. I know, it sounds cliche.

But, it is true.

The environment brings forth life to all organisms creating plant and animal matter. We as humans, have destroyed much of the planet through our quest for profit.

Biggest Threat: Plastic!

Plastic pollution is currently the most disastrous product that was ever invented. Take a moment and look at your surroundings. How many items are made of some form of plastic? Uncanny, it’s a vast majority of items. I, myself, this laptop I am typing on, my lap desk for the couch, my wireless mouse, my cell phone, my FitBit, my clipboard, the pens and pencils, the television, the printer and so much more.

We have become infatuated with single use and disposable and durability. However, some durability has no other function or purpose. One it has served it’s purpose it is discarded. Ends up on the ground, oceans, and forests. Even the lowest point of the ocean, the Mariana Trench. This is located in the Pacific Ocean more than 36,000 feet, which is technically if “higher or deeper” than Mount Everest (at 29,026 feet).

That is insane!! we have literally found a way to pollute every part of the planet. The problem with plastic: there is no “shelf-life”. They live inevitable. There are no natural micro-organism to break down plastic. It may break into smaller pieces, but those pieces never go away. They continue to accumulate on land and in salt and fresh water bodies.

Many sea-life creature have been found dead with an accumulation of plastic found in their bodies. Animals unintentionally consume plastic and suffer dire consequences. Plastic is used for primarily every product. From food containers, microwaving products, food ware, school and office supplies, shoe wear, electronics, automotives, clothing, edible, non-edible. PLASTIC IS EVERYWHERE!

Conundrum: How do you avoid it? How do you prevent it from becoming more pollution?

• Stop your consumption of plastic products:
  • Fast-Food Dilemma 
    • You do not need plastic silverware for lunch, dinner, fast food etc. First, fast food is not good for your health so, you should omit it. Also, fast food enterprises are primarily guilty for creating the supply and demand for “single-use” products. Everything you purchase for $5-$10 you will only use once, not recycle it and disperse of it.
    • Solution for fast paced life: MEAL PREP. Yes, it is time-consuming to an extent, but you are in control. All my meals are made fresh, no preservatives and no plastic use. I use glass container to carry my lunch and meals. I take my own silverware so there is no need to purchase plastic silverware, which you cannot recycle because of the food contaminants. It real is something, that small and simple to induce a change.
  • Buy items only sold in recyclable packaging.
    • Meaning no more plastic bags, containers, peanut butters, etc.
    • Solutions: purchase jars to keep products fresh. Go to stores that sell items not in plastic packaging, but wholesomely so that you may refill your from home jars.
  • Gardening!
    • One of the simplest things you can do is start your own garden. This will limit the amount of items you buy in stores that come in pre-packaged plastic bags or containers.
    • You can reuse old items and convert them into flower planters or use glass jars to start a garden.
  • Carry your own bag!
    • Many states have implemented an additional charge on plastic bags to limit the use and sale of them. Customers bring their own reusable bag to carry items home from any type of purchase. Thus, decreasing the use and demand for single use.
    • Plastic bags are not biodegradable and harm so much of wildlife. Animals get stuck or caught in bags. Ocean animals consume bags mistaking them for other sea creatures.
  • Convert your products.
    • Every item you have in your home, most likely has a eco-friendly or bio-degradable version. Please consider switching to that alternative. Toothbrushes are plastic, use a bamboo toothbrush instead! Most office supplies can be made with recycled materials. Home filtered water is the best alternative to single use plastic water bottles.
  • Save MONEY!
    • Huh, how does not buying plastic save me money? You pay for the cost of being lazy. That is right, I said it. You are LAZY. Humans are lazy. The single-use catasrophy has made humans lazy and dirty. We purchase one-time items and literally throw them away. We no longer take the effort to make meals, learn to cook, learn to garden, learn to make and create things. The average human is not that creative, because they no longer have to use their brains to form something to be useful. We literally rely on pre-made products to “function”.
      • When you purchase single use items, you get less of the actual product you are purchasing. For example, cookies. the quantity is less, but you are paying for more plastic or aluminum packaging. You then discard that packaging because it cannot be reused. Purchasing non-individually wrapped items that you have to portion, you pay significantly less, but you also reduce waste. Saying no to plastic will not only save the world, but it was help make you affluent.

Did you know it takes more water to create and produce plastic than there is on the planet to consume? Think about that. Water sources are depleting all around the world and they are being used for plastic production.

Take a moment today and analyze your home. See what products are plastic that you can do without or will no longer need to re-purchase. You will be surprised how much less you will have to throw away and how much money you may actually save.

Join the revolution against plastic! Say NO to plastic. No more plastic pollution.

Last Day of Wetlands Month!

Did you know May is called “Wetlands Month”?!

I wish I knew earlier that it was #WetlandsMonth! My entire passion and reason for going to law school is to protect the Everglades. Once, one of the largest wetlands in the state of Florida and in the world!! While in law school I wrote my upper level writing requirement on the everglades and restoring it. In this blog post I will cite to some excerpts from my paper. (DISCLAIMER: Please do not plagiarize. I busted my butt for two years working on it and intend to be published, okay thanks!) Fun Fact: My logo picture is of the Everglades. I went there 3 years ago to get more information on the Everglades and what is being done to protect and restore it.

Being a native Floridian from Miami, the Everglades is very near and dear to my heart, so are the protections for it. Knowing the south Florida continues to destroy the everglades is one of the reasons I decided politics may be where my career lies. Now, I live in Orlando, but who knew my drive for protecting the Everglades would have grown with the physical distance. I actually live in the wetlands in Orlando. Also, the headwaters of the Everglades is located in Kissimmee, Florida. Yes, the Everglades used to encompass more than a third of the state. Now, it barely covers the south eastern portion of the state.

What is a wetland?

A wetland is an area where much of the land is submerged in water or covered in water. It maintains this state for much of it’s duration through out the wet and dry seasons. A wetland is home to an array of animals and plant life. Many of which are not found anywhere else in the world. More specifically, the Everglades was formed over 100,000 years ago! (Book I cite in my paper!)

Purpose of a Wetland

From an ecocentric perspective, it has a right to exist solely for its on inherent value. Meaning, it is natural and should exist on its own. Wetlands are one of the only ecological systems that brings forth various forms of life into one area to coexist. The Florida Everglades is one of the only places where you may find the American Crocodile and Alligator in the same place.

A wetland is one of the key sources of potable (drinking) water. Rain and run off waters seep into the ground through the marshes and then down into the limestone. This is the purest form of cleaning pollutants and contaminants out of the water. This beautifully, naturally filtered water eventually ends up in our aquifers. An aquifer is underground layer of permeable rock, which essentially acts as holding tank for water. (Over the years the water table has been dredged by huge conglomerates in processing bottled water. (I’ll go off that tangent another day).

Pretty much, wetlands act as a natural sponge to soak up all contaminants and then create purified drinking water! So, why are we destroying it?!

Destroyers of the Everglades: Big Sugar and Corporations

Again, these are people who have no regard for the sanctity of nature to just exist. Further, they have only one goal: money.

Big Sugar, refers to the huge lobbying industry in the state of Florida. A lot of the agricultural land near Lake Okeechobee is owned by sugar cane farmers. They are heavily subsidized by our government! Why? Obesity. (again, another tangent). The East Agricultural Area, is all sugar land. Much of this run of water from the pesticides and over use of phosphorus end up in the lake. The lake once connected tot he beautiful “River of Grass”, but has stopped. There are many proponents to release the headwaters back from Kissimmee, but the issue is the pollution.

IF those waters are released from the lake the will transfer polluted water into what is left of the wetlands. High levels of phosphorus allow for invasive plant species to thrive. Additionally, these high volumes are too much for the depleted wetland to clean. This also creates algae build up, which in turn blocks oxygen in the water. No oxygen, then the plant and animal life begin to suffer. Thus, creating a catastrophic chain of events. Single handily we are destroying an entire eco-system that existed long before humans ever “conquered” these lands.

What will you do to help protect our innocent Wetlands? Remember, Florida is not the only place with wetlands, they are found all over, but are being destroyed at an alarming rate by human sprawling and the need to create farms everywhere…for profit.

Profits will not protect the environment, nor will it prevent destruction of innocent sentient beings throughout the world. Will you be a part of the solution? To protect, preserve and restore!!

Meatless Monday Chronicles : Veggie Hotdogs!

These taste fahmazing!! Yes, fah…mazing!

I never really loved hotdogs growing up, but I did eat a lot of those processed ones that were chicken that my mom would make for me. I pretty much went rogue Vegan when I was in middle school. It was a choice and it was great with the support I had from my friends that were like minded. We all enjoyed eating various vegan products and sharing them with each other. Veggie hotdogs were one of them, but as an adult I kinda forgot about them. Mainly because I was always around people who consumed meat and I never really found the need to eat anything grilled because it was primarily foods I did not eat, nor want.

Then a few years ago, a very good friend of mine and former boss, re-introduced me to the wonderful vegan hotdogs! We were at a fancy South Beach pool party and she had just converted to Veganism and becoming a vegan chef. She had these hotdogs that were for people like us. It was able to stand up to the heat of the grill, the texture was smooth and delicious and the toppings were endless!

Today I bring to you my creation of the Veggie Hotdog!! I really hope you give it a chance, whether you enjoy or dislike hotdogs, this is a must!

 

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• Smart Dogs -veggie dogs
• Hot dog buns
• 1/4 cup onion
• 1/2 cup mushrooms
• 2 slices cheese
• 1/2 Hass avocado
• olive oil cooking spray

 

Process:

• Turn your grill on to medium/high heat!
• Turn the stove on to medium heat.
• Dice the onions and slice the mushrooms.
• Let them sauté for 5 minutes.
• Get your hot dogs out and head to the grill! Make sure you oil them evenly.
• Add tot he grill and cook following the instructions. (make sure to rotate them).
• Take your buns and toast them on the grill.
• Cut, peel and dice your avocado.
• Now, the best part! ASSEMBLE the DOG!
  • Toasted bun
  • Cheese
  • Hot dog
  • Mushroom onion mixture.
  • Avocado
  • DONE!!

 

Below are the picture of the yummylicious hot dogs!! Trust me you will LOVE them!! Let me know if you experimented with any other recipes!