Happy Vegan Birthday to Me!

Today was my vegan birthday. I'm four, ladies and gentlemen, four vegan years old. I found this picture that was recently taken at my friend's valentine's day party, and I feel like it's very representative of my vegan birthday. First of all, i'm wearing a big bow that says "I'm 4" in puffy paint, also, i'm holding a cat wearing a fucking bow tie. Yep, that pretty much sums up my journey thus far as a vegan.

Brenda and I celebrated my vegan birthday by making some vegan shrimp cocktail...well...not really...but I guess I just don't know what to call it. We mixed tomato, onion, cilantro, lime, valentina hot sauce, kethcup, tvp chicken, and avocado and placed it all on top of a tostada. It was really good...I ate 4...which is a lot, but I had to because I'm 4 vegan years old.

I also made myself cupcakes to share with my friends...it also gave me an excuse for people to sing me happy birthday and to blow out a candle and make a wish. If having an extra birthday wish isn't enough of an incentive to become vegan...I don't know what is. I made a chocolate cupcake with coconut whipped cream and shredded coconut topped with a chocolate almond cluster. It was pretty damn good.

But in all seriousness, it has been an awesome 4 years. I've learned a lot, volunteered a lot, figured out my niche of activism, met a ton of amazing people & animals, and have eaten/cooked a crazy amount of amazing food. If anything, I've become more aware of my surroundings - discovering the impact that my food choices have on myself, those around me, the animals, the earth, and other social justice issues. I've been enlightened by so many animals - particularly those I've nursed at shelters, visited at farm sanctuaries, and my own domestic animals - and I can't wait to meet more inspiring animals that provide me with a humbling perspective.

Enough sentimental yip yap, i'm gonna go eat a cupcake.