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“When a man wantonly destroys one of the works of man we call him a vandal. When he destroys one of the works of God we call him a sportsman.” – Joseph Wood Krutch, Literary Naturalist, 1893-1970

Some people seem somewhat shocked initially. Others are in disbelief and others still feel it necessary to dish out mild jabs in good fun. While at the same time, some people have simply exclaimed “finally! I was wondering how long it would take you…”

While I previously went through a two-year period of vegetarianism when I last lived on Vancouver Island, I had long been a big fan of meat. I loved eating it, cooking with it, creating new recipes with it, smelling it as it baked or broiled or barbecued. April 12, 2009 was the last time I ate meat.

A little over three months without meat seems like a short time for most and, while some may doubt the genuine intent behind my decision to cut meat entirely from my diet, that time is irrelevant. I’m still new to this “vegetarian thing” and know that there’s still a lot to learn. I’m constantly educating myself, researching the lifestyle I’ve undertaken and finding new recipes and ways at which to keep myself healthy without eating meat. My choice didn’t come about because I decided it suddenly tasted “gross”. In fact, my diet still includes eggs and dairy products from humanely-obtained local sources.

With so many questions being bounced around between my family, my friends and even my blog readers, I’ve felt the time is right to deliver my vegetarian’s manifesto, if you will. I can’t necessarily pinpoint the “how” but I can definitely articulate and expand on the “why”.

It’s no secret that I’ve long been a lover of animals. This includes everything from cats to dogs to chickens to birds to whales and every other living, breathing creature under the sun. To me, they have always been beautiful, abundant and gentle beings, each possessing somewhat of an innocence that we humans dropped along the way at some point. What was missing in my own life in this regard was a connection.

There was no particular incident that spurred on my decision to shed animals from my diet, my make-up bag or my closet. I know that I can honestly say that, although it may have been an idea floating in the furthest reaches of my subconscious, I truly did wake up one day and realized my perception had changed entirely.

It was Easter Sunday and my mom was out of town, so my aunt and I were left to our own devices for dinner. Rather than cooking a large turkey for the two of us, I found a recipe for Cornish game hens and planned for that instead. Easter Sunday was also the day I decided I was done. I carefully prepared the meal, as well as the vegetables to go along with it, and then sat at the dinner table with my aunt that evening. “Today is the last day I’m going to eat meat,” I told her without batting an eyelash. It was simply that matter-of-fact.

What caused that connection or that proverbial light bulb to illuminate is beyond me, but perhaps it was simply an inevitable culmination of my personal beliefs. If I love animals as much as I purport to, then why do I have no problem at all throwing parts of their carcasses on a grill or in a pan and proceed to devour them?

This is where the problem lies: animals are living, humourous, loving, emotional, intelligent beings that eat, breathe, sleep, feel, think and move. Food, on the other hand, is completely inanimate. A hot dog just sits on your plate without movement or sound. The only thing meat will do if you leave it long enough is decay. But making the connection between the living and the non-living isn’t easy. What joins the two usually involves a sharp blade, inhumane treatment and much pain.

It isn’t my endeavour to shock each of you through facts or unbelievably disturbing details of how the animals make it from the farm to the plate. Many of you have seen the PETA videos while others still may have witnessed it first-hand.

It’s my belief, as a woman and an individual human being, that we are all here on the planet by the design of something greater than all of us. Animals have personalities and feel, experience and understand many of the same quotients and emotions we humans do. If you have met Jordy, you know what I’m talking about! We are all species and none of us can say that one is greater than the other. Animals feel physical pain, experience the emotion of fear and feel the natural urge to flee when threatened just as you or I do.

Something as simple as a backyard BBQ with family is deemed more valuable than the life of the pig whose ribs are being devoured. Dispute that if you will, but actions always speak volumes above words. Last month, an Oklahoma woman and her friend were charged with killing and skinning a seven-week-old puppy with the intent to make a belt [source]. While the community was outraged, I couldn’t help but wonder how this was deemed to be a “despicable” case of animal cruelty, yet if the belt had been made of a cow, it would be okay. Something doesn’t add up.

I’ve heard a million arguments made to justify the consumption of meat. While some will say that the production of meat is actually good for the environment and the economy, others still will tell tales of the astronomical impact it has on the global environment. The point can also be attempted that eating vegetables is also killing living things, but it is scientific fact that plants do not possess both the central nervous system and brain required to feel and register pain [source]. But instead of respecting these beings, we assume we own them by locking them up in zoos, keeping them confined to large tanks at city aquariums and corralling them until they’re ripe for slaughter.

All of that is besides my point. The irony is that humans take such pride in being a group of beings so incredibly evolved as a species that our lives are seemingly worth more than those of animals. Yet, we rely on the idea that eating meat is our primitive right.

The truth about us humans is that yes – we are evolved; so much so that we no are longer required to consume meat to ensure a balanced diet and live a healthy and wholesome lifestyle. While at one point in time, eating meat and testing on animals may have been essential, it’s no longer necessary. Technology has moved us past that, and the choice to eat an animal is no longer premised on a need but instead on desire.

Very recently, I was discussing the beauty and gentle nature of cows with someone close to me. “I love cows too but I could never look one in the eyes – I’d just feel too guilty!” was what they told me. That, right there, is precisely the reason for my choice. I can no longer look at what is literally staring me in the face and deny it any longer.

I have made a decision and declaration to live a vegetarian lifestyle. I now make every single effort possible to use products that have not been tested on animals. No longer will items purchased for my wardrobe be made of leather products. By making these choices I am not claiming to be perfect, just as I do not attempt to describe those that eat meat as imperfect.

However, no matter what kind of argument anyone attempts to make against my choice, there can be no argument against compassion. There can be no argument against equality or love. I believe that every living being, whether toes, heels or hooves, has the exact same right to live a normal, happy and healthy life.

In 2007, Academy Award winner (and bonafide babe) Joaquin Phoenix passionately contributed to a film called Earthlings. It is as incredible as it is intense. In it, he points out the direct correlation between all of the Earth’s species and their individual values. While containing compiled videos that are not isolated events, but instead the norm, Earthlings is perhaps the most violent and graphic film you will ever see. Except it’s real.

Earthlings can be viewed online in its entirety here.

Comments and contributions to the discussion are both welcome and encouraged. In doing so, pleasure ensure that you’ve read this article in its entirety before doing so. All opinions are to be respected, and comments of a belligerent or abusive nature will be deleted after the IP address is flagged.

While there is close to 600 species of wildlife in Canada that are currently endangered, the single most endangered of them all can be found only on Vancouver Island. Appropriately named, the Vancouver Island marmot’s (Marmota vancouverensis) population has dwindled from over 300 in the mid-80s to only about 25 remaining in the wilds of the Island’s mountain range as of 2001. While logging has certainly created an impact, cougars, wolves and eagles are the primary culprits to the demise of the Vancouver Island marmot’s numbers

Photo: mattdil on Flickr (used with permission)

While there are more than a dozen varieties of the marmot all over the world, the Vancouver Island marmot is truly unique. They are easily distinguishable by their chocolate brown-coloured fur with white patches and are the only species of marmot found on the Island. Because the Vancouver Island marmot whistles when it’s in danger, the species are also known as “whistle pigs”.

Photo: mattdil on Flickr
(used with permission)

The mountain ranges that run along Vancouver Island’s spine provide an environment full of sub-alpine meadows. Since the Vancouver Island marmot lives in neither forests nor on mountaintops, meadows provide enough space to burrow for protection, as well as forage for the more than 50 different kinds of plants and wild flowers that this vegan species is known to eat.

Adult marmots tip the scales somewhere around 12 pounds, so while larger than squirrels, they’re smaller than your average house cat. However, much like squirrels, the Vancouver Island marmot’s covered with thick hair and a fluffy tail, making them appear much larger than they really are. Like many animals of Canada’s wild, the Vancouver Island marmot hibernates for almost two-thirds of the year, emerging in late April or early May to reproduce. Most litters are born during the month of July, producing three or four new pups.

Photo: mattdil on Flickr (used with permission)

Despite its critically endangered status, a number of initiatives have been taken to preserve the current population while encouraging it to swell back up to the numbers seen over 30 years ago. While some Vancouver Island marmots have been bred in conservation centres across Canada to be released back into the wild, more is being done directly on Vancouver Island to further this plan.

The BC government appointed The Recovery Team, a group of scientists and wildlife managers from government, industry and non-governmental organizations, to develop and implement an intensive program. In 1998, the Tony Barrett Mount Washington Marmot Recovery Centre was established to reach the goal of 400-600 marmots in the wild. Today the population is on its way, having been brought back up to over 100.

Photo: newmajen on Flickr

For more information on the Vancouver Island Marmot – and to find out how you can help support The Recovery Team – visit Marmots online. And remember, when encountering a Vancouver Island marmot in the wild (which isn’t unheard of during the summer months), you’re in their home and not the other way around. Keep quiet, keep your distance and respect their habitat. Don’t forget to take your garbage with you.

Last week I was invited to visit the Island’s newest antique boutique, located in the picturesque community of Union Bay. Situated above a still-functioning post office that dates back to 1913, Blinking Star Antiques is the result of the hard work and passion of Beth Campbell Duke and her husband, Tony Duke.

Tony comes from a family of “antique buffs,” growing up in a home where virtually every item had a tag hanging off of it. Now an antiques appraiser himself, Tony has been featured on one of my guilty television pleasures, the Canadian Antiques Roadshow.

I spent some time wandering the historically-laced rooms of Blinking Star Antiques, admiring all the exquisite items on display. The majority of what is sold at Blinking Star is done so on a consignment basis.

Some of my favourite items included these silver bottle tags, some of which dated back more than a century. Though the definition of an “antique” is often a gray area, Beth told me that items can generally be considered antique if they are both more than 100 years old and if they are unique pieces as opposed to mass-manufactured items.

A fantastic concept to keep in mind when considering an antique to either adorn your mantle, splash onto your home’s walls or surprise someone with a gift is that doing so is a great way to be environmentally friendly. Blinking Star Antiques supports and encourages the concept that buying antiques is another way in which was can “go green” – something we can all get on board with.

These silk kimono sleeves date back to the mid-1800s and featured hand-stitched embroidery that was simply stunning.

On a final note, Blinking Star Antiques is also excited to encourage a sense of community through featuring gorgeous locally-made soap (they all smelled so great!), candles, delicate glass and so much more.

If you find yourself on the winding, seaside highway between Parksville and the Comox Valley, keep your eye open for the sandwich board sign on the side of the highway in Union Bay (a few kilometres north of the Buckley Bay ferry terminal). Blinking Star Antiques is currently open between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. from Wednesday to Saturday, as well as by appointment at other times.

I like my boots.

I wear them a lot.

I also love my UGGs.

I also wear them a lot. I have two pairs.

I am pretty sure that Long Beach sand is still stuck in my brown ones.

Ever since I decided to switch to a vegetarian diet and an animal product-free lifestyle several weeks ago, I’ve received many joking nudges from friends. “Sooo… what are you going to do with those boots now?”

I can’t change what I did/bought/said in the past. I can only change what I do from now on. I’m not going to chuck all my boots in the garbage and I’m not going to give them away either. So don’t ask.

Go buy some of these when they’re available instead. I am pretty sure I will.

P.S. Remember this chicken? Epic failure, Wings.

Barf.

P.S. Look who’s on Twitter now!

1. My Hair

Thank you all for your marvelous input and suggestions on my new ‘do this weekend. I suppose it comes with no surprise that “the big reveal” will take place on Saturday, so stay tuned for the drum roll…

2. The Women

Last night, after a gorge-fest on Olympia pizza and Pacific Pilsner beer (what can I say? I’m an Island girl), Amy and I burned off calories by heading across the Burrard Street bridge and found ourselves at Fifth Avenue Cinemas. In the spirit of all things womanly, we took in the 2008 remake of 1939′s “The Women,” starring, well, a lot of women.

In particular, some of those women include Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Bette Midler, Candice Bergen, Cloris Leachman (who was terrific!) and Annette Bening (who is very quickly becoming one of my favourite actresses). Though I felt the movie lacked in character development, it made up for it with humour, relatable storylines and a few fabulous handbags. [website]

3. Stella McCartney CARE

I’ve now had a few days to try out the full line of Stella McCartney CARE products sent to me last week by Matchstick. My tote bag full of delicious-smelling, pretty-packaged, 100% active organic ingredient skin care has proven to be a lot of fun to try! Here’s the breakdown…

Purifying Foaming Cleanser – This by far my favourite of the two cleansers sent to me. It has a delicate and light – yet luxurious – foaming quality to it that truly leaves my skin feeling clean.

Gentle Cleansing Milk – This was the second of two cleansers I tried, and while the idea of a gentle milk to cleanse my skin sounds dreamy, it didn’t feel as though my skin was clean after (and that feeling is important to a girl!) so it’s not the cleanser I’d choose. Smells great though…

Toning Floral Water – I wish I had this a few months ago in the heat of summer! It’s a refreshing, aromatic water mist that spritzes in a steady stream, leaving my skin feeling cool, dewy and fresh.

5 Benefits Moisturizing Fluid – One of two daily moisturizers and this one has been receiving the majority of my attention. It’s a milky, light cream that locks in the love I get from the Toning Floral Water. I’m totally okay with natural, woodsy scents, so this one gets two thumbs up from me.

5 Benefits Moisturizing Cream – This is the sister product to the 5 Benefits Moisturizing Fluid and to me is really no different except in that it’s seemingly got a heavier concentration and a richer viscosity. I haven’t used it as much but have no doubt that it will be fantastic when those drying days of Winter hit.

Nourishing Night & Day Cream – Definitely not something that is necessary on a daily basis, but sometimes a girl’s skin needs a bit of extra TLC. This is where the Nourishing Night & Day Cream comes in. It’s like the 5 Benefits Moisturizing Cream on natural steroids. It’s rich, it’s deep and it’s intense. Use only before bedtime.

Radiance & Youth Elixir, Calming & Soothing Elixir and Nourishing Elixir – Ahhh…the elixirs. My absolute favourite part of the line! Remember those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books we all loved as kids? Consider the elixirs to be somewhat of a “Choose Your Own Skin Today” potion. Each is a heavily concentrated serum intended to pair up with your moisturizer for added benefits, and each is designed with a different skin goal in mind.

I’ve found the Radiance & Youth Elixir great in the mornings before applying make-up for a brand spanking new skintone and the Calming & Soothing Elixir does just that at the end of the day. The Nourishing Elixir is strong and derived of natural oils, so use it sparingly and only when your skin needs a bit of extra attention.

IN SUMMARY

My overall impression of Stella McCartney’s CARE skin care line is definitely favourable! I’ve long been a big fan of natural and organic products when available but find they often miss the mark. While I feel there is a bit of room for tweaking, I am quite sure Stella is onto something really good here.

Suggestions for the future? One absolute essential that is missing from the line is a daily exfoliant or scrub to slough off dead skin cells. Also, I am rather fond of cleansers that take off all make-up – including mascara. It was a bit of a pain in the butt to employ the use of a specific make-up remover. Sometimes a girl just doesn’t have time!

While I can’t say I would purchase the entire line, there are certainly a few pieces that I can’t imagine not having in my bathroom – in particular the Toning Floral Water and a couple of the Elixirs. Stella McCartney CARE is available across Canada at Holt Renfrew and in the United States at Sephora. For more information on the entire line of products, please visit the official Stella McCartney CARE website.

Years ago, when I still spent the Summer months at a beachfront kids’ camp, I was given the nickname “Princess of Products.” I had stuff – so much stuff – in bottles, jars and containers. Lotions, potions, perfumes and make-up. In fact, I am constantly on a quest for a skin care line to call my own. After 27 years of searching, I settled on Clinique, if only because I consider it to be “Old Faithful.”

Then one day last week I got a phone call…

As it turned out, the lovely folks at Matchstick thought me and Stella McCartney would really hit it off. Stella McCartney has recently released a full line of luxury skin care products called CARE, made with 100% organic active ingredients. Agreeing to try out the goods was a no-brainer for this chica, and today I received a tote bag full of goodies!

Aside from some yummy essential orange oil and organic tea, the tote bag contained nine items from the Stella McCartney CARE line:

I’m such a sucker for pretty packaging. Each product came in a shiny, silver tube which can easily be reusable. And the product inside? All items in the Stella McCartney CARE line are ECOCERT certified, guaranteeing social and ecological values. I should also mention that the inserts were printed on 100% recycled paper – thoughtful touch, Miss McCartney.

The natural scents danced lightly under my nose as soon as I opened the packages. The fragrances are composed of 100% organic essential oils. Before hitting the bathroom with my new loot, I logged into the official website to read more about the products and how they’re best used. Surprisingly, I also found some tips on alternate uses for the items – check them out for yourself.

Tonight I cracked open a few to try, so make sure to check back in a day or two for the re-cap. Because there’s such a variety to experiment with, I’ll need a few days to give them all a whirl.

And last, but certainly not least, a few words from Stella herself:

“My skin is important to me. It’s one of the first things people notice about you. But for many years now, I have found myself dissatisfied with what is available in the world of skincare. Just because I don’t want to put something unnatural on my face, doesn’t mean I should have to make sacrifices. I ask the same things as you do from my skincare; I want it to help me feel and look younger, more radiant. I also expect it to feel rich and luxurious and to sit proudly on my bathroom shelf. It needs to fit into my lifestyle in an uncomplicated way. Why shouldn’t it be possible to adopt a more natural, organic lifestyle without foregoing luxury?”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

*This post is about tampons. You might be grossed out. Consider yourself warned.*

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by the friendly people at Matchstick, curious to know if I’d be interested in giving o.b. tampons a try. I’m a girl, thus tampons are an important part of my monthly purchases. A good friend of mine swears by o.b., and whenever her and I are out somewhere and I find myself in a moment of need, she will unfailingly slip an o.b. tampon under the stall door. So, I figured it was worth a week-long shot.

Matchstick sent me a bunch of neato stuff. In my reusable tote bag, I found a week’s supply pour moi, hot water bottle (a godsend, really), eye mask, durable water bottle and the July, 2008 edition of Elle Canada (FYI: it’s September). Also included in the tote were 20 to-go sample packs to hand out to all my girlfriends (let me know if you want one or two to try).

Keep in mind that you’re talking with a girl who only ever uses Tampax Pearl tampons. In truth, I find the average tampon provides just as adequate protection as the next, so for me, it’s all about the applicator. Here’s where o.b. tampons differ: one is required to employ, um, manual application. While I find the idea of less waste in the environment enticing, this was the deal breaker for me.

Though I have no qualms with this manual application concept, it simply isn’t efficient for me (personally speaking, of course). I found the process to take twice as long than with a regular applicator, and then you have that much more of a…mess…to deal with. I’m more of a 1, 2, GO girl.

I kept to my word and used o.b. for an entire week. While I find they’re great in a pinch, easy to conceal (rather than taking your entire handbag to the bathroom) and obviously environmentally friendly, I think I’ll be sticking with my usual brand. Don’t take my word for it though: click here to get your own free “mighty. small.” sample of o.b. tampons.