Vegan Sample Bags

The Vegan Craft Samples holiday bag is here! The bags have just been unveiled, and they're going fast, so you probably want to order yours today! What's in the bag? Any number of vegan samples from crafters and artisans all over the world. Of course many Vegan Etsy team members contribute to the bags, as well as a large number of other vendors. The only way to really know what it's all about is to get one of your very own and discover it for yourself!

Bags are available in small ($15), regular ($25), and large ($25) sizes. You can also purchase a "subscription" for 2011 and receive every bag that comes out throughout year.

Importantly - and as always - 100% of profits from the sale of the bags will go directly to support animals in need. Funds from this round of holiday bags are going to Joey's Feline Friends!

To find out more, stop by the Vegan Craft Samples website or facebook page!

What are friends for?

When everything seems awful and it takes all of your strength just to get out of bed in the morning, a friend suprises you and makes life a little more bareable!

My friend Amanda and I have decided to become penpals, so I sent out the cutest dinosaur postcard that I could find...and look what she sent me! A really nice card and some cookies and granola bars, at a time where that is the best thing anyone can do. The card telling me she knows how close I was to my gramma, and telling me a little bit about life in the mountains this time of year. Also a little side note saying that these were the first vegan chocolate chip cookies shes ever made....well they are the best chocolate chip cookies I have EVER had the pleasure to consume. They were so good, that they were eaten before dinner, every last morsel.

So, what I am trying to say is, when everything seems awful, and it seems as though noone understands....there is always the chance that a good friend will suprise you with some cookies and a nice letter.

WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR?

Vegan Derby Girl

I recently decided to go for it and join the local roller derby league, and I had no idea what I was in for when I did!
If you know me, you know that I try to incorporate my crafty nature into everything I do, so lets just say...keep your eyes open for some awesome derby related crafts in the near future!
So what do you do if you are vegan AND you want to be a kick butt derby dame? Well, you buy vegan roller skates, of course!

If you are just looking to go to an open skate here and there, or dont want to be left out when your friends go and rent those nasty leather skates...these skates would be a great option! They are also VERY affordable.

If you are looking to do roller derby and represent animals and vegans by rejececting the typical leather shoes, Riedell now makes a vegan roller derby skate! I researched online and these skates are pretty new to the market, but all of the reviews I have read have been excellent. They arent much more than most Riedell non-vegan skates, and a local skate shop gives a 10% discount to all roller derby people! It has been about 3 weeks now since I special ordered my vegan skates, a first for the shop I went to, and I am so excited that they will be in early next week! I got the exact ones in the photo, but I opted to upgrade to a metal plate instead of the nylon as I am a bigger woman.

Whether you plan to just go skate with friends, or you want to kick some butt on the track playing roller derby...you dont have to compromise your beliefs or sit it out becuase these days we have options! I have also started a blog and facebook fan page where I will chronicle my journey from uncoordinated bike riding vegan to vegan derby girl! Not interested in roller derby? That's cool, I will also be posting workout tips, pre workout recipes and general healthy living blog posts as well!

Go Vegan, Thrash The Derby Track With Your Veggie Powered Skates!

Posted by: Heather from

Holistically Heather

Aunt Flos Pads

Vegan Craft Samples

The world lost one of the most amazing, inspiring, compassionate women...my grandmother

Here is a little video my cousin Adriane and I put together to remember my grandmother...a true inspiration and my soul mate.

Valentines Day the Cruelty Free Way! Vegan Craft Sample Bags

Valentines Day doesnt have to mean tons of processed sugars and dairy, it can mean compassion and love!  This Valentine's Day you can order a Vegan Craft Sample bag for your love, and know that it is all vegan and all compassion!
Vegan Craft Samples receive samples of handmade items from Etsy shops around the world, puts them into reusable hand stenciled tote bags and sells them.  Everything in these bags is vegan and cruelty free and 100% profits from each bag goes to a different sanctuary each time.  Valentine's Day 2010 sample bag profits go to Pigs Peace Sanctuary
The bags come in 3 different sizes now, they used to only offer the regular sized bags, but now they offer small and large bags as well!

Small bags come with 8-10 samples and are $15

Regular bags come with 17-20 samples and are $25

 

Large bags come with 23-25 samples and are $35 

The next round of bags after our Valentine's Day bags are our Earth Day bags, we are always looking for new handmade shops to contribute samples.  When you contribute samples you promote a compassionate lifestyle, raise money for animals, and promote your craft!  Please sign up under "get in the bag" on our website!

What to do when your 6 pounds of bananas go from green to rotting in less than 3 hours?

Well you make dog treats from It's A Vegan Dog's Life new book!

This book is chock full of delicious recipes and tips for your furry friends. Whether the pups are vegan or not this book is a great resource, and full of recipes your dogs will love. Our dogs dont even let us finish making the recipes, they lay right under out feet in front of the oven waiting! You can also grab a copy on the Vegan Essentials website!
What else to do with a gaggle of rapidly turning bananas? Why break out the trusty ole dehydrator of course! Check out all of these delicious banana chips we just made!

Wintertime Pick Me Up

Even though it is not summer, I love berries and today it is freezing outside and all I want to do is pretend its nice out...and I am drinking a fruit smoothie after a long bike ride!

Berry Smoothie

Blend all of these:

1 quart of blackberries

1 quart raspberries

2 mangoes

2 bananas

1 pear

Top it all off with some organic raw cacao nibs....delicious!