5 Vegan Swaps that "Taste the Same"

Hello everyone, happy Friday! 

So, again, I love food. Fridays, in my humble opinion, are for eating out for lunch, maybe eating out for dinner, and also eating out at happy hour.

I chose to switch to a plant-based diet in January. At first I thought this meant I was going to have to cut out a lot of the things that I love- breakfast sandwiches (brunch in general), burgers, hot dogs, burritos. But I've been pleasantly surprised! Not only are more and more restaurants offering vegan/plant-based options, but it's becoming increasingly possible to make these same things at home.

So whether you're considering going plant-based, looking to cut down on meat or dairy, or just looking for some healthier alternatives to try out, I present to you, in no particular order, my five favorite vegan swaps- things that I swear taste the same (and that I even trick my fiancee with sometimes). 

1) JUST Egg- Big shout-out to my friend Yuliya (who is flexitarian/ not vegan) who asked me if I'd had JUST Egg before, because she loves it. I had seen it once at Vons (and then never again), but that text was the push I needed to run to Sprouts that very weekend, and my life has been forever changed. I think I've cooked with it every single day since. Ignoring the fact that it literally makes for decadent, tasty (honestly, kind of cheesy tasting?) scrambled eggs, it is just aggressively convenient. Needs eggs for baking? Done. Just don't want to crack an egg? Done. Breakfast sandwiches with avocado and Cholula on accidentally vegan Pillsbury biscuits? Done :)

2) Earth Balance Butter- (Or really any vegan butter I've tried so far.) My personal favorite are the sticks, but I always have a tub of the margarine too. They both taste exactly like butter, I kid you not. So much so that I once heard Jordan telling his friends (over video games) that it tastes the same, and it doesn't get any more real than that. It's perfect for baking, for greasing pans/woks, on toast, or in just about any capacity.

3) Impossible (or Beyond) Ground Beef- I know there's some great debate between the two, but I like them both! With the rise of Impossible Whoppers and Beyond Breakfast sandwiches, I know everyone is realizing that these plant-based meats taste pretty dang real (short of maybe a side by side taste test). But if you are one of those few (or someone in your household is) that swears they can taste the difference, I promise you when these plant-based meats are added in lasagna, bolognese, or some other dish that has other flavors to blend with, they'll never know the difference. It's gotten to the point where if I cook with this stuff Jordan doesn't even cook an additional meat, he just goes with it (victory!). Disney Food and Wine Festival Impossible Meatball Sub, I'm coming for you next.

4) Swerve Zero Calorie Sweetener-  I actually discovered this sweetener when I was actively in Weight Watchers (Lifetime now!) as a sugar alternative. I absolutely hate the taste of artificial sweeteners like Splenda, but I legitimately can't taste the difference with Swerve, even if I'm having it sprinkled (okay poured) over fruit. It also measures cup for cup with sugar, making it a super easy swap for baking and cooking. Not into artificial sweeteners? Another super easy swap is to switch to organic sugar! While I can't speak for all brands, I do know the Sprouts sugar and the Kirkland organic sugar are not bleached with bone char (blech), so you'll be safe there! 

5) Trader Joe's Marshmallows- I am that weird person that loves marshmallows. I love them melted in hot chocolate, I love them as Peeps at Easter. I love them straight from the bag and I especially love them when I'm sick (no idea why). But I hate that they're made with gelatin. Thankfully, the marshmallows at Trader Joe's are 100% vegan- and they are AMAZING. I can and will eat a full bag in a sitting. One of these little pillow-y babies and you will wonder (as I did) why in the world anyone would ever make marshmallows in any other way. Make it make sense. The bummer is they aren't always carried at every Trader Joe's and I'm pretty sure they're seasonal (mini in the winter and big in the summer)- so when you see them, stock up! 

So there you have it, my favorite swaps! It's amazing to eat unprocessed, whole foods when you can, but sometimes you just want those decadent, fatty cheat meals, and that's okay! 

If you haven't tried these swaps yet (if you haven't braved an Impossible burger) I challenge you to try one! You may find you like the way they taste as much as the way they make you feel.

And more importantly, if anyone has a good dupe for a perfect, runny yolk, definitely send it my way.

All my best (with mini marshmallows), 

Whitney (@whitnibble)

Sustainable Engagement Rings

Hello everyone!

Two posts in a week, I'm definitely on fire! I'm very hopeful that this will be my posting schedule- Thursdays and Sundays :)

One of the most exciting things that's happened to me over the last few months (years) is that I got engaged. When my now-fiancee, Jordan, and I first started talking about getting engaged (yes, I wanted to be on the whole thing from the get-go) I knew I wanted a sustainable engagement ring. 

There are a definitely a few sustainability issues associated with "traditional" engagement rings. The actual mining of the diamonds is difficult on the Earth- ie., soil erosion, deforestation, air and water pollution, to name a few. I've even read that some communities have been forced to relocate because of the impact the diamond industry has had on their local ecosystem. Additionally, there is a huge presence of child labor and slave labor in the diamond mining industry- numbers have said around 16% of workers in that industry are underage. Lastly, a ton of resources go into the mass manufacturing of rings that we see in big box jewelry stores- from the actual manufacturing of them, to the cross-country transport and delivery.

The good news is, there's quite a few ways you can shop sustainably, while also finding something you'll love seeing on your finger forever. These are some of the options I explored when I was looking for my ring! 

Option 1: Buying second-hand. A grand total of 0 resources go into manufacturing something second-hand- because it already exists (see what I did there?). Pawn shops carry tons of second-hand, unique, vintage jewelry pieces- talk about the ultimate thrifting find! Even just for the sake of exploring different cuts, I couldn't think of anything more fun than going to a pawn shop with your fiancee-to-be or your friends and seeing (and trying on) a few different styles to see what you like (post-COVID, of course.)

Option 2: Buying a lab-made diamond. As much as I love thrifting, I wanted a new ring. Personally, I liked the idea of something that was just mine, for all of time. Lab-made diamonds are not mined from the Earth and are completely synthetic- but they look like the real thing. They have the same optical, chemical, and physical properties as a diamond, but often times for less. There are a ton of different retailers that carry lab-made diamonds- I even saw you can buy some from jewelers like Kay. Brilliant Earth is another  well-known one! But I got mine from Diamond Nexus and I couldn't love it more. It was extremely affordable (less than $1,000) and (in my opinion) is stunning in every way. Many of these retailers operate online only, so again, I can't recommend enough exploring different cuts in person as much as you can (even trying them on, if you can do so safely) to ensure you like what you're ordering before you pull the trigger.

 

Option 3: Purchase from a small business (such as an Etsy shop). A quick Etsy search will pull up thousands and thousands of stunning engagement rings (again, often for significantly less). While you can't guarantee the sustainability of the materials used, you can rest easy knowing that your ring is not being mass produced, likely is handmade, AND you're supporting a small business while getting a great deal. Your ring may also be one of a kind- and who doesn't want that? :) I'm considering doing this for my wedding band- I have seen some gorgeous ones. 

All in all, choosing an engagement ring (assuming you have a choice) is about picking something you love and that fits within your values and budget. And never forget- there's always that option of upgrading as your relationship progresses! 

Next for me is trying to create some sustainable bridesmaids gifts (plastic-free) and planning a low-waste wedding as much as possible. Not gonna lie, the small, intimate quarantine weddings are really appealing to me. Any other quarantine brides/ bride-to-be's out there? What did you do? :)

Well until next week, I hope you all have a great Sunday! And huge thank you to Katherine Grace Photography in San Diego for our stunning engagement photo shoot (and our best man Eric for being there at the actual proposal). I'll talk to you soon!

- Whitney

Why I Went Eco-Friendly

Hello everyone! First post since the big rebrand! What a crazy world we find ourselves in. Quarantined, a new era of social justice, and so much more.  

Now when I say rebrand, I don't necessarily mean this blog (though this IS the first post in over two years)- but more a rebranding of myself.

My values, my lifestyle, my diet, my purchasing habits- all changed drastically over the last few months. Ask my fiancee- vegan, environmentalist, and eco-friendly were NOT words I would've used to describe myself just 9 months ago. And that's what I'm hoping to really use this space for- to share my journey, my missteps, and my take-aways with you all.

But why? I mean a few months ago, I couldn't care less about factory farming, climate change, or single-use plastics. I knew these things existed on the periphery of my mind, but they didn't impact me directly. My air was clean, my make-up was brand new out of the packaging, and my Starbucks cups were stacked up.

I don't want to get preachy, but I want to be transparent. Here are the three main reasons I wanted to make a drastic change. 

1) The landfills are literally filling up. I don't know about you, but the thought of living on the Earth depicted on Wall-E is not appealing. According to the EPA, the average America generates 4.5 tons of waste/garbage everyday. The landfills in the States are almost at capacity and when you think of the staggering sizes of those landfills (Miramar landfill here in San Diego is 1,500 acres of trash) it's appalling. All of a sudden, throwing out a Starbucks cup a couple times a week instead of bringing my own just didn't feel alright anymore. Now, my dog Cash and I are all about the resusables. ("Could I get a venti Strawberry Acai Refresher.... but in my own cup?")

2) It's not too late! There are some real environmental atrocities happening right now. The coral reefs are dying. There is an actual garbage island floating in the Pacific Ocean (Google it, I dare you). Deforestation of the Amazon is, for lack of better word, aggressive. But it's not too late. Climate researchers are aware there is a tipping point, or a point of no return from which our climate will be irrevocably altered. They aren't sure when it will occur, but the good news is: it hasn't happened yet. There's still time for us all to collectively make little changes that add up to big changes (I'm talking, change your consumer habits, and organizations will change, and we can create systemic change) so our kids and grandkids won't have to live in a world where Finding Nemo is set in a fantasy world. 

3) Factory farming is just bad all around for the environment. I love food. Ask anyone. Like, I LOVE food. I want to eat all the foods in the world. But with just a bit of research, I realized the way I was eating (carnivorous AF) was having a huge impact... all around. From the land destroyed for monoculture farming (generally soy and corn in the US, and often times for animal feed for meat production), to the usage of pesticides harming the environment, the the carbon and methane emissions, to just straight up animal cruelty- I wanted to do better. I'm never going to be someone that criticizes ANYONE for the choices they make (again, I LOVE food), if you can switch to a Beyond burger (or Beyond Nuggets!) once or twice, you have my whole heart.

These are just three of the reasons- but believe me, there are so many more. Again, I'm not trying to be defeatist or negative or preachy- I want to be completely transparent about why my life, my values, and most importantly my Insta (just kidding) look pretty different. 

Again, I'm by no means an expert but I'm learning everyday. I have to give a huge shoutout to the Environmental team at my work- I've learned so much from them and I am constantly inspired by the changes they manage to implement. I've got some really big plans for what comes next for me and for this blog- especially a N-Sale secondhand dupe post I'm pretty excited about (definitely wearing my Poshmark-purchased Revolve jumpsuit as we speak).

I'm excited to take this new step in my blogging life and share a bit about my journey with you. I hope you're along for the ride.

Stay green, stay clean, and definitely stay beautiful.

- Whitney

SS 18 Trend: Two Piece Sets

Hello all! Happy hump day!

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen that I've been really into two piece sets (or co-ords) recently! So today I wanted to share a few different sets that I received through a collaboration with SweatyRocks. For my Shein girls, SweatyRocks may literally change your life. All your favorite pieces from Shein, with all the ease of ordering from Amazon!! Honestly, what a game changer. I know they've got a customer for life in me :)

Below I've styled two of their cutest two piece sets (as well as gotten some practice shooting with my new Canon D3400!). Both sets were super comfy and lightweight for the summer, and fit exactly how the sizing charts claimed they were (gotta pay attention to those measurements). I think they were both fantastic value for really low price points. I got a TON of compliments on both, but particularly on this first one! Let me know in the comments whether or not you're feeling the matching set trend, and definitely let me know if you've checked out SweatyRocks!

Stay Beautiful!
- Whit

Crop Top and Shorts Set // SweatyRocks ($16.95)

Sunglasses // RayBans ($153)

Gold Slides // Target ($22.99)

Purse // Forever 21 (sold out, similar linked)

Floral Two Piece Set // SweatyRocks ($18.99)

Purse // Rebecca Minkoff (on sale for $136.50!)

Flats // (on sale for $44.99!)

Temecula Wine Tour

Hello all! It's been a little while :) However, now that I'm out of grad school (!!) I'm hoping to be a lot more active here. This will be a place for me to talk about fashion, beauty, bullet journaling, travel, and whatever else crosses my mind! And with a new D3400 camera, who knows, maybe there'll be a few Youtube videos in the future as well!

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to take a few of my best friends out on a celebratory wine tour with me up in Temecula. Transportation was provided by the amazing Aall In Limo & Party Bus located in San Diego. Before we get too deep into the wine (and believe me I got deep into the wine... yikes) I've got to give a shoutout to Aall In for being so kind, patient, and considerate with me and my guests throughout the whole process. They really care about their customers and have top notch customer service (even pulling over for me when I really really needed to stop). We took the 9 person limo, which seated everyone comfortably and stylishly, with a built in air conditioner and an aux cord. They were even sweet enough to provide us with a bottle of sparkling wine for the drive up!

Our first stop was to Danza Del Sol, where Mike of Aall In got us a discount so that the wine tasting (6 wines) was just over $6 each. I opted for the sweeter wines, and they also provided us with a few oyster crackers to munch on. It was actually my second time to this winery, and just like the first time it was so good! It was such a gorgeous day out, we all got some lovely photos as well :)

The second winery we got to was Falkner. Here we opted to buy bottles instead of glasses (my first mistake) as it was a better deal (our bottle, the Luscious Lips, was about $17-$18). I believe we bought three bottles between seven people? I have to say, it was delicious though. Falkner also had a small courtyard area with a gazebo and several games out (Cornhole and Giant Jenga) so we spent about an hour or so drinking, playing games, and taking pictures before heading home!

Despite the fact I'm now nursing a hangover, it seems like a good time was had by all. Thanks again to Aall In Limo and Party Bus for providing transportation for this trip, definitely definitely check them out for your next event :) And thanks to all my friends for coming! I hope you all still love me even after seeing this side of me! I guess everyone blacks out at some point, at least I waited till I finished grad school to do it, haha :)

Much love,

Whit

Travel Diary: San Diego!

Can you really call a visit to your hometown a travel diary? I'm gonna say yes, since technically I don't live there, haha.

Hey guys! It's been quite awhile since I've posted here- just short of a full year! A full year would've been July... which is just crazy. A lot has changed for me in the last year- I've moved to LA county (LBC) and almost completed a full year of graduate school. Now that I'm  on the tail end of my first year of my MS (which I've been told is the hardest year!) I've decided it's time to come back to my passion project... running this blog!

And I figured what could be a better way than returning to my roots? :) One of my best friends recently came back to visit San Diego from Maryland, and brought with her another friend who had never been to the west coast before. I had the opportunity to go around with the two of them to a few of my favorite spots- places I'm now gonna share with all of you! If you follow me on instagram you may have seen a few of these shots, but I'll go a bit more in depth here :)

OOTD

Dress // Charlotte Russe

Flats // Topshop

Bag // Zara

Bracelet // Ava (via Le Tote)

Sweetest Stitch x SC Collab :)

Dress // Sweetest Stitch

Cardigan // Cotton On

Flats // Topshop

Bag (both) // Forever 21

Tie // Forever 21

Wow, I can NOT believe it's been so long since I've posted!! It's been a really wild time for me what with graduating undergrad, applying to grad school, and now the process of moving up to Long Beach to attend grad school. Still, in such a hectic time, I'm really hoping to find more time to sit down and do some blogging :)

Throughout this craziness, I've definitely found an appreciation for cute, simple pieces that look very trendy but still require little effort on my part. Cue this ADORABLE dress form the Sweetest Stitch, which I've linked above. Just by itself it's the perfect kind of throw-it-on-and-go outfit, like I've got it in the first look. Just a pair of sandals and a pair of sunglasses and you look effortlessly chic. You can also dress it up for a more polished look, like I've done in the second look. All I did was throw on a cardigan, dress the shoes up a bit, and throw on a cute choker/ neck tie, and I instantly felt 100 times more put together.

I feel like pieces like this are so perfect for this time of year because they can be worn in such a variety of ways. What are some of your guys' summer faves? Be sure to let me know!!

Oh, and thank you so much to the Style Collective and Sweetest Stitch for working with me on this collab. Much love!

Stay beautiful! xx

Whit