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Check out sweet Cordelia in her vintage sweater from Sarah’s Place!  🙂

I have all sorts of one-of-a-kind vintage kids outfits.

Check them out HERE and have the best dressed kiddlet on the block.  🙂

Just re-stocked Jessicurl!!! I now have 8oz and 32oz sizes … If you’re not sure which of the products you want to order – you can order mini-samples HERE!!

I am so thrilled to be carrying Jessicurl vegan haircare products at Sarah’s Place. I have had a life-long battle with trying to tame my wild hair. I’ve worn it long. Worn it short. Even had a mohawk at one point … What? It was the 80’s. 🙂

Since my teen years I’ve tried everything; crimping, straightening, shampooing, not shampooing, olive oil, Vaseline, copious amounts of gel, mousse, (remember when mousse was a big deal?) and a lot of hairspray (sorry ozone) but no matter what I did or what product I used … I’ve never ever ever liked my hair. Ever. 🙁

Until I found Jessicurl.

I don’t mean to sound like a commercial but these products really did change how I feel about my hair. Jessica at Jessicurl has created an amazing array of VEGAN haircare products that are specifically designed for curly hair. Let’s talk about my favourite products from her line:

Shampoo:
Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream changed my life. I never thought I could love my curly hair … but it cleans my crazy curls without leaving it stripped and straw like and now my hair is adorable! *laugh* This shampoo doesn’t lather up like a conventional shampoo but don’t be alarmed. It’s because Jessicurl products are anything but conventional!

I normally don’t shampoo my hair every day (too much shampooing leads to frizz) but with Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream I can! The super moisturizing formula will make your hair soft, silky and wonderfully clean and it’s safe for color treated hair … but as you know I embrace the gray. Gray is the new black!

Conditioner:

After I shampoo with Hair Cleansing Cream I add a quarter sized amount of Aloebe Conditioner. You can rinse it out if you like but I use it as a leave-in-conditioner and I find that it smooths out the frizz and helps to make styling my hair easier.

This conditioner uses coconut, jojoba and avocado oils to moisturize the hair without being too heavy. The added benefit of a variety of herbs and spices make this a truly fabulous conditioner.

Drying:
I LOOOOOVE the Jessicurl Microfiber towel and I use it for frizz free curls! Other terry cloth towels dry my hair out where the Microfiber Towel squeezes out the damp but doesn’t pull out the moisture … you curly haired girls know what I mean. The microfiber towel is the size of a hand-towel and I “squeeze” out any excess water before I style with Confident Coils. You won’t believe the difference this towel makes!! Plus because it’s made from microfiber it dries quickly and travels well.

Styling:
Before I found Jessicurl I used to use 3-4 different kinds of product to get the same results that I get with a small amount of Confident Coils Styling Solution.

I run a “loonie” sized amount (that’s silver dollar size for you Americans) of Confident Coils through wet hair and then style, dry and VOILA! Adorable ringlets. Don’t settle for frizzy or poofy curls anymore!!

If I want a little more hold – I also use Rockin Ringlets. It has a thin consistency and light-to-medium hold so it won’t give you ramen noodle hair, but helps control frizz all while allowing your hair to stay touchably soft. SEE why I love it so much? I’m pretty sure you will too.

If you’re not sure which of the products you want to order – you can order mini-samples HERE!!

My friend Jamer passed away last week…

Jamer reminded me of my friend Peter who also passed away at a young age. Even though they were polar opposites physically (Peter was a giant and Jamer was a shrimp) they were both bigger then life personalities.

Both were men about town. Everyone knew them or knew of them. They both smoked like chimneys. Both were captivating story tellers. Both laughed easily and would draw you in with their smiles. Both men were attentive listeners who would cock their ear and listened earnestly when you spoke.

Everyone Peter came into contact with felt like they were best buds with him and judging from the outpouring of love and affection on Jamers facebook page … I would say that Jamer had the same gift.

I used to help run the indoor skatepark at Esquimalt Rec center in the early 90’s. I think I was about 19 or 20? So what did that make Jamer? 14-15? At that time the gap between 20 years old and 15 was huge. I felt like I was an adult and he was just a “kid”. I mean – I was paying rent in a drafty rental house on Bay Street with my long-time boyfriend. I had a credit card and was working a full time job. I felt like a proper grown-up.

What a charming “kid” he was. He always had a smile and a hug for me when I saw him. He’d usually follow that with “Do you have an extra smoke?”

One day we ended up together in the bathroom of the rec center together. Why? I can’t recall. I think I was shooting photos of him for a zine? Who knows … but what I do remember is our conversation.

“Dude, you’re such a bro!”
I was like “Huh? What do you mean?”
“You know Dude. You’re such a BRO! I don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s not like you’re a dude. I mean – you let your boyfriend skateboard whenever he wants. You don’t give him any grief. That makes you such a BRO, dude!”

Sometimes we wouldn’t see each other for years and sometimes I’d bump Jamer every day but no matter how much time passed in between – he’d always greet me with a giant smile and a hug.

My last conversation with him was a couple three weeks before he died. I was walking down Pandora (near China Town) and saw Jamer across the street. It had been a few months since I had last seen him and I had heard that he had lost his job and had been struggling with his addiction again. I could see in his face that he wasn’t well.

“It looks like you have a giant marshmallow there!” he said grinning and pointing to my very full shopping bag.
“I actually have vegan marshmallows in here.”
“WHAT!!” Jamer looked into my bag in disbelief.
We laughed at the absurdity of our conversation and I gave Jamer a hug and said “See you later.”

As I walked away I thought about how unwell Jamer looked and I kicked myself for not asking him if he was ok. I guess I thought I’d get another chance …

If you’d like to read more about Jamer there are excellent articles HERE and HERE.

ssssNNNNOOOOOOwww!

Snowpocalypse 2012 has struck the Pacific North West and I’m miserable!! I moved away from Saskatchewan 20 years ago to get away from the weather and I wake up to THIS??

Snow in Victoria is the worst … we don’t have the infrastructure to take care of it. I think the city only has 1 plow … So the city completely shuts down. Stores close. Nobody (but idiots) drive.

I mean … it’s kind of cool. I enjoy the apocalyptic nature of it all. How quiet everything is … desolate. Like there’s going to be a zombie jumping from behind the bush …

It’s just me, Gerry and the dog out there … with just our wits to help us survive!! 🙂

I think the snow is hardest for Fergus. He enjoys a good romp in a snowy field but the streets of Victoria are painful.

There is so much rock-salt and chemical de-icer on the streets that it hurts his paws…

So we got him some booties. They help a lot!!

Plus they make everyone on the street smile … Fergus always spreads love wherever he goes.  🙂

On Monday we weren’t able to go anywhere (I was not about to drive on black-ice) so we went for a walk and bumped into some deer. But we weren’t walking in the woods … we were only a few blocks from our house walking through the gardens of Government House.

Three deer came right up to us and I think they would have come up and given me a kiss on the cheek but Fergus barked and scared them away.

I found out later that these urban deer at Gov’t House are aggressive. They are NOT scared of people and I’ve heard from numerous people that they will stalk you through the garden and then chase you away. Thank you Fergus for saving our lives!! 🙂

All this weather has been bumming me out … but there was an article in the Globe and Mail about me and the vegan Cash Mob I organized at x-mas and they ran that fabulous photo Gerry took of me in front of my store.

I’ve been getting some good press lately … especially about the Go Vegan! w/Sarah Kramer iPhone app. It’s been steadily climbing up the iTunes lifestyles charts. It’s very exciting!!

Gotta try to focus on the positive more. I’m having a hard time shaking this winter funk. #winterblahs

I’ve had a busy couple of weeks … did a quick visit over to Vancouver for my annual visit to see my niece Heidi who comes to town every year to see family.

I picked up Heidi from her Mum’s and we headed over to the renovated Waldorf Hotel to meet my parents for dinner at Nuba.

They did such a lovely job with the hotel … Every detail of the hotel is amazing!! I was having a mid-century KITCH attack!! Check out the Tiki door handle to the restaurant!

The restaurant was so beautiful … ugh. Those chairs. I want! I WANT!!

We had a great dinner. Heidi and I split La Fest which included olives, hummus, falafel, baba ghanooj, etc etc,

We were STUFFED and very happy.  🙂

In a couple more years Heidi and I can visit the Waldorf Tiki Bar!! I can’t wait.  🙂

We headed back to my parents house where we sat around in the kitchen catching up with Heidi and she played us some of her favourite songs that were in her iPod shuffle. The girl has pretty good taste in music … would like to see more punk rock in there but what’s an Auntie to do?

Heidi and I hit the hay but the fun didn’t stop … we had a little facetime visit with Fergus.

The next day we wandered around Vancouver with my parents. They were searching for the “perfect suitcase” … (they are always looking for the perfect suitcase).

And while they were checking out hard-shell vs soft shell luggage I tried my best to inspire Heidi to think about what she’s going to do when she graduates.

I was pushing for travel … 🙂

Fingers crossed she heard me …

How on earth do you inspire a 16 year old to start thinking about the future. *laugh*

Heidi and I said good-bye to my parents and we hit up our favourite dollar store to look for goodies. Check out this doggie shirt we found. Doesn’t that look like someone Photoshopped a Fergus head onto a weird poodle body?? Oh my dog those ears are hilarious.

We also did a little thrift store shopping and found this beauty … we decide not to buy it because it makes me feel funny in the pants.  🙂

I had a fantastic visit with everyone … I love my family! 🙂

There are a bunch of “Shit (insert name here) Say” videos hitting the internet.

Shit Vegans Say is very funny …

My favourite is from the comedy duo The Tall and The Short called Shit Goth Girls Say. So funny!!

Just got in a new collection of vintage baby clothes!! These ones are even cuter then the last batch!!

Remember. These outfits are vintage – so that means they’re one of a kind and once they’re gone you’ll never see them again!! 🙂 Buy them online HERE.

Hey Vancouver
THIS sounds like such a fun event.

On Saturday January 21st, 2012 at 753 6th St, New Westminster for an incredible event! Let yourself indulge in a fulfilling evening of naturally sweet goodness.  Your palate will delight at the heavenly selection of treats from your own personal dessert buffet!

More info HERE.

Don’t forget to wear your eating pants! 🙂

Hey!!
I’ll be doing a live interview on Friday with Ric & Suzanne on CJAD 800.

You can listen online HERE!

Tune in Friday Jan 10th at 1:30pm (10:30am Left Coast time). 🙂

Great article about the Go Vegan w/Sarah Kramer app over at The National Post!

My favourite quote from the article? “If there’s one revelation in GoVegan!, it isn’t how simple it is to prepare satisfying animal-free dishes, but that Kramer is such a dynamic, engaging presence that she should be hosting her own cooking lifestyle show. (Are you listening, Food Network Canada?)”  Yesssss!!! 🙂

Read the article HERE.