Bits & Pieces Archives - Page 13 of 15

Anatomy of a Dog Rescue

May 15, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

Animal rescue is something very near and dear to my heart, and dog rescue is something that I’ve been lucky enough to actively participate in. It’s gut wrenching, heartbreaking, stressful, tragic, inspiring, and extremely rewarding. It’s taught me that every life counts and every life is worth saving and fighting for.

I want to tell you a story about a very special dog named Pretty Girl. She’s taught me a lot and I’m very proud of her. If you look closely at the photo above, you’ll notice that Pretty Girl is missing one of her front legs. This by no means defines her, it merely makes her extra cute & unique.

If you’ve ever rescued, adopted, or loved a dog, maybe you can relate to this post and the struggles I went through for this girl. Regardless, I think everyone can relate to fighting for something they believe in and for someone they love. This “someone” just happens to have a shiny fur coat and a wet nose.

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My China Diet

April 29, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

I just returned home to Texas after a six month stay in Beijing, where I was teaching English to little kids and cultivating my blog. Before I went, I imagined that being a vegan in China would be fairly easy. Even though China has adopted a more Westernized diet in recent years (lots of meat and dairy), I figured it would be pretty easy to find plant based dishes.

Boy was I wrong! All I ate the first two months I lived there was rice with vegetables because that’s all I could find in the way of vegan options. That got tiring after a while and didn’t give me an array of needed nutrients. Eating out was wreaking havoc on my digestive and immune systems because the quality of food is so low in China, plus they tend to over-do it with the oil. I was always sick, had headaches, couldn’t sleep well, and felt tired and light headed. I decided to stop eating out, get a blender and food processor, and make all of my meals at home. What a difference!

For anyone that plans on being abroad for an extended amount of time, here are some suggestions for quick, easy meals that are healthy and plant based.

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How to Pack for a Cruelty-Free Trip

April 17, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

When I decided to go spend several months in China, I knew that I needed to have a plan for packing. In Beijing, you can buy just about anything – anything except all natural, cruelty-free beauty products. With the research I did prior, I was aware that I wouldn’t be able to find most of the health & beauty brands that I normally use. There were certain things I wanted to stock up on in America and bring with me. I planned on being in China for several months, but even if you’re taking a short trip somewhere, consider bringing these items with you.

Boost Your Immunity

My worst nightmare was getting sick from the long, arduous journey to China. I didn’t know what to expect when I got there and I didn’t want to be in a foreign country feeling crappy and helpless. So I decided to do some research and figure out what to bring along to ensure my immune system was kicking butt.

First things first, I knew without a doubt that I needed to bring a bottle of high quality probiotics with me. I had already been taking a daily probiotic at home to improve my digestion and overall health. I learned that if you don’t have a healthy gut, you are leaving your entire body vulnerable to disease and sickness. So not only would the probiotics optimize my immune system, but they would also help my stomach adjust to the fact that the water and food in China are fairly low quality. I decided to go with Nutrition Now’s PB8 Vegetarian Formula. I liked the fact that it was vegan and free of gluten and soy. Plus, it contains a high amount of good bacteria – 14 Billion. And with 120 capsules, I could make one bottle last me for a while in China. I had a feeling it would be tough to find probiotics over there (and it was). I think this one bottle ended up lasting me 2 or 3 months.

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Compassion In Numbers

March 29, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

Today’s blog is all about numbers! Being a compassionate, caring individual that makes a difference in the world can be as easy as 1-2-3. In my opinion, it’s all about baby steps and focusing on what you can do today. Every little choice we make and every little action we take has a ripple effect. No matter how small of a good deed, it’s worth it and it impacts someone, we just don’t always witness that impact. Here are some simple suggestions to help you get started if you are overwhelmed or not sure where to begin.

ANIMALS

puppy love

Our furry friends need our help! Working with animals in various settings, especially homeless cats and dogs left to suffer their fates alone, I really realized how much of an impact I had on them just by spending ten minutes petting them or playing with them. It means the world to them. There are other ways to help out, too. Here are a few:

13 Ways To Help Animal Shelters

7 Ways You Can Help Wildlife

For kids:

5 Ways Kids Can Help Animals

10 Ways to Save Animals

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Veg Head In Vietnam – Part 2

March 10, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

Hello my compassionate friends! A couple of weeks ago I wrote about my trip to Nha Trang, a beautiful and vibrant beach town on the southeast coast of Vietnam. I had such a great time exploring the culture, the food, and the natural beauty. But my adventure didn’t end there! From Nha Trang I traveled about an hour north to Doc Let Beach and spent three relaxing days swimming, reading, eating, and meeting other travelers. Let me tell you about my veggie vacation!

A FRUITY TRIP

My last morning in town I wanted to try out the breakfast at Lanterns, the awesome restaurant I went to a couple of days earlier for their vegetarian options. I chose the banana pancakes, coffee, and a fresh coconut. It was delicious! Their pancakes are more like crepes, very thin and light. It came with a small dish of honey rather than the traditional syrup I was used to. I personally don’t use honey because I’d rather leave bees to free roam the world and pollinate our food, rather than use them to manufacture products for us. Luckily, the pancakes were so tasty I didn’t need any honey.

After that I packed up all my things, checked out of the hotel, and took one last walk down the main beach road. I grabbed one last Vietnamese coffee and watched all the barbers set up their chairs and mirrors on the sidewalk to cut hair.