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Love Warrior review

Published on January 10, 2017April 14, 2021 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

I finished Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton a fews months ago and have been meaning to write about it since. You know those books that come to you exactly when you need them? This was like that for me. I raved about it to anyone who would listen. While I was reading Glennon’s words, I couldn’t help but feel connected to her.

In short, this book made being me make sense. I am a sensitive, emotional person and reading Love Warrior made me feel like that is okay; that maybe it’s even normal. And that’s a line I’m rarely fed.

How refreshing to read that having feelings – complicated, intense, scattered emotions – is just apart of the game. Whew. What a relief.

I don’t have to live this muted, mundane life with a limited emotional range.

I can cry hard. Laugh loud. Be in lust with my yoga practice. And periodically feel like my whole life’s tale is told in a song so good it just has to be turned up full blast.

Love Warrior is a highly recommended read. But be sure to have another book lined up after, because you’ll be done with this one before you know it.

** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe.**

Staycation vibes

Published on January 10, 2017April 14, 2021 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

After Tahoe with Mike’s fambam, we came back to California to explore more fun things.

First up? Alcatraz!

I was born and raised in the Bay Area and surprisedly had yet to do a tour of the former federal prison. Mike on the other hand has been there at least 5 times with all of his visiting friends and family from Toronto. But he was a trooper and made the trip again so myself, his sister, and her husband could check it out.

After a short ferry ride, we were on the island and ready to start the self-guided tour. Being on Alcatraz was a tad creepy, really interesting, and …surreal. I kept thinking to myself how weird it was that I was standing where former convicted felons were. Overall it is worth it to do once (especially being a local!) but I wasn’t a big fan of the self-guided part and wished we had an actual tour guide to show us around.

(Of course the I mostly took pictures of the food related stuff there…)

After the tour, we met Mike’s parents and little Ella at Pier 39. As to be expected, it started cooling off significantly as the sun went down. We found a place called Fog City were we popped in for a quick happy hour before we continued up North to Santa Rosa for our final Airbnb stay of this vacation.

Once we arrived and unpacked, we headed to Belly for dinner. I ordered the truffle mac n cheese with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. It was good but I was starving and the portion was small… oh, well! More room for wine. 😉

The next day was New Year’s Eve and we kicked it off with a late morning coffee at My Friend Joe and bagels at Sonoma Valley Bagel. The best Cafè au lait and bagel sammy I’ve had in a while!

img_20161231_170609 — Look at that rooftop garden!

We had a late lunch at Amy’s Drive Thru and everything was SO GOOD. I order a veggie burger wrapped in lettuce and the chili fries. Love Amy’s emphasis on organic, healthy food!

img_20161231_163507 — Not the best picture but you get the idea..

img_20161231_163043 — Ella and Uncle Mikey coloring

We kept it casual for NYE and stayed in with a variety of apps, drinks, and games. Cheers to 2017!

The next morning, we went for massages and have declared it a new family tradition! Such a good way to start the year.

After our massages we did a bit of shopping and then headed to The Russian River Brewing Company for lunch. We had this massive 16 beer taster before deciding on our beers and pizza. I ordered the Dribble Belt because it was deliciously hoppy but later found out that it was disappointedly only 4.5%. Weak. Although I was already a little tipsy from all of the samples so it was probably for the best.

That evening was an early night for us all (we might have still been recovering from NYE).

On Monday we woke up and packed up in preparation of heading back to San Jose. For breakfast we hit up Grateful Bagel where Mike and I spilt two bagel sandwiches and of course loaded up on coffee.

Full and caffeinated, we were ready to tackle the drive home. It was nice to be back home and start adjusting back to a schedule. Mike’s family stayed in town for the rest of the week and, although we both had to go back to work, we had the chance to take them to a few of our favorite local eateries in the evenings.

Now we are into the new year and trying to detox from all of the indulgences!

** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe.**

2017

Published on January 3, 2017December 28, 2022 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

The New Year is a time of reflection. Last year I wrote this post and, in summary, really wanted 2016 to be about living an authentic, creative life. It was a year about my mind as much as it was about my body. (We all know the drill come January 1st… More toned, less flab. More greens, less booze.)

As with every year, I’ve learned a ton about myself. I’ve grown. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve vowed to do better only to mess up the same way the very next day. I’ve forgiven myself. I’ve been both easy and hard on myself. Some insecurities have been squashed and others have deepened. I’ve traveled, cried, laughed, and danced. A few relationships have been tested but, thankfully, they have passed the trails. Overall, I think this year has been more of an evolution than anything else…

Towards the end of the year, I started to feel more “nestled” into myself. I started to recognize a lot of things that make me who I am. Some of these things I love. Others need a bit of rewiring and tweaking before I am happy.

For example, I’ve learned that I have a hard time saying “no.” I have a tendency to shy away from transparency. Even if I know I don’t want to do something, it’s not my first inclination to say so. For whatever reason, I feel like I owe an explanation for not wanting to partake. This is frustrating for both me and people I make plans with because as soon as I commit to something I don’t actually want to do, I feel anxiety about it (not good for me) and then, inevitably, end up canceling or flaking (not good for my people).

In 2017 I want to be more true to myself. It will take a lot of reminding, but I know that it is reason enough to say “thanks but no thanks!” simply because it’s not what I feel like doing. Life is just too freakin’ short to dole out time because of “duty” and obligation. (This is all within reason, of course. Birthdays, special life events, etc. still require showing up!)

This year, I also want to concentrate on and – most importantly, enjoy – the journey! Far too often, I’m more occupied with the destination. The end goal. The timeline and the lists and the mental clutter that consume my mind. For example, Mike’s family is still in town and yesterday we came home from a weekend away in Santa Rosa. As with all vacations, the bags, laundry, and general To Dos were piled up when we arrived back at our house. In typical fashion, I was unpacking and frazzled the second we walked in the door.

While I was organizing my refrigerator, everyone in the family decided to go for a walk. At first I declined to join, thinking of all of the things that still had to be done! As Mike kissed me goodbye, he told me to call him if I changed my mind. And what do you know? midway through cleaning the bathroom counters (because yes, I get distracted with other chores as I’m putting stuff away), I was like, what am I doing? All of these To Dos will still be here after a family walk. So, I called Mike and met everyone midway through their walk.

Merging into another family is hard work (especially if you have a mind like mine) but that’s the journey. It’s what is happening right now and it’s important to me to be present for it. One day Mike and I will be married and we could label it as “the detestation” but it won’t be. Not really. We have these marks on our life maps – like marriage and babies and new jobs – but they are just that; markers on the path. They do signify important events on the journey but they are as much as the destination as the next one.

My point is, I’m learning that the momentum – the daily push and thrust forward in time getting us to the next moment – is as important as the milestone itself.

So this year, I want to focus on the now. The momentum. The little things we sprinkle our lives with in-between the big moments. Like having a cup of coffee or really savoring those first few sips of wine. Or splurging for the expense chocolate and having a bit each day. Taking the long way. Walking.

Fully submerging myself in whatever the weather currently is and being really happy about it. Raining cats and dogs? I want to cozy up with a good book and my softest blanket. Hot as hell? I’ll be grabbing a glass of bubbly water with lime and sitting outside in the shade of a tree.

I want to be present. Cook often. Stretch everyday. Bring brightness to the world.

And love. Love, love, love, love, love.

** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe **

White Christmas

Published on December 29, 2016April 10, 2021 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

What a wonderful time of year!! Mike’s family is in town for the holidays and we spent the past week in Tahoe. On Monday we all drove up to South Lake Tahoe and opted to stay in Airbnbs since we’re a big group of 6 adults and 1 toddler. Having access to an entire house and all of the comforts of home can’t be beat on a family vacation.

Our first Airbnb was nice and spacious! After we unpacked, a few of us went to the store to stock up on supplies. What a money saver to have a kitchen to prepare meals in when traveling! After a day of traveling, we decided on an easy dinner of spinach and cheese ravioli with green beans.

We spent 3 days in South Lake before heading North Lake, despite what I always say: South Lake is for friends, North Lake is for family!

During our wild stay in South Lake, we ate at MacDuff’s (the same pub we went to in February when we went to Tahoe with friends). I love this place, particularly in the winter because it is so cozy. And what’s more comforting than a huge portion of corned beef and cabbage (my go-to order) in cold weather?

img_20161220_191258 — Baby Ella ready to leave MacDuff’s!

On one of the full days we were there, we walked down to the beach to get some steps in. While we were beach front, we stumbled upon a restaurant called Jimmy’s. Here we warmed up with spiked minty cocoa and hot toddies. It was snowing a little bit but not enough to stop us from sitting outside around the fire pit. Talk about a movie moment; snow, a fire pit, and boozy winter beverages. I’ll take it!

img_20161221_122501 — Drying socks fireside

On our last night in South Lake we went to see an improv show at Harvey’s. Felicia Michaels and Gene Pompa were performing. They were both funny but I remember the show being better a few years ago when Mike and I went with different comedians performing.

On our way up to North Lake, we stopped at Free Bird Cafe to fuel up on coffee. I just happened to come across this place when I Google mapped “coffee” and I’m so glad I did. It is a little hole in the wall type place with good coffee and healthy snacks. Definitely recommended!

About half way through our drive, we stopped at Emerald Bay and went on a snowy hike. I was happy to get some exercise in after many glasses of wine and indulgences. I didn’t snap many pictures this vacation but, if you haven’t been, Emerald Bay is worth a visit. It’s gorgeous!

That night we got a severe storm warning and I was like, hold the phone, we need to stock up on water and all of the things. now. Which might have been a little assuming to the group of Canadians I was traveling with, all who are much more familiar with snowy weather than my California bones. Armed with water (and wine) to weather the storm, we spent a lazy night in playing games.

The next day, despite the snowy weather, we headed to mine and Mike’s home away from home, The Resort at Squaw Creek (you can read about our other Squaw adventures here, here, and here) for lunch at Sandy’s Pub.

img_20161223_090738 — Fresh snow in North Lake

While we were there, Mike and his brother-in-law hit the slopes snowboarding and, from what I heard, the conditions were perfect. We all meet them for lunch in the Village at Rocker@Squaw. Nachos ang wings all around!

On Christmas we spent the morning opening stockings and eating breakfast. A few years ago we were in Australia on Christmas (read about it here), which had a similar vibe to this year’s Christmas festivities. The day was casual (it’s hard to lug presents for everyone when traveling to different countries) and cheerful!

After stockings, we packed up and headed to Reno for Christmas dinner with my grandparents, mom and stepdad. It was great having so much family altogether. 🙂

This weekend we are off to Sonoma for New Years. Stay tuned!

** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe.**

Washington… you my jam (part 2)

Published on November 30, 2016April 10, 2021 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

I’m happy to report visiting our friends Morgan and Joe in the Fall seems to becoming an annual tradition.(You can read about our trip in 2015 here.) Earlier this month we took the short flight to Seattle and we will be back up there again next October for their wedding!

After Morgan picked us up from the airport, we went straight to their new house for a tour. It is still weird that my friends own homes. It feels like just yesterday we were all plotting where to party at whoever’s house was parent-free for the weekend…!

After the tour and dropping off our suitcases, we walked across the street to their neighbor’s house for a houuuseee party. When we got there everyone was in the middle of a game called Werewolf and I have to admit I was taken back to my college days… when you walk into a party and think to yourself, shit I only know like 2 people here… quick, gimme a drink.

Of course this party had better food and wine 😉 and I quickly got to know everyone there; the vodka shots Morgan and I took helping ease any social anxiety flashbacks.

Saturday morning was rough and I regretted said vodka shots. I downed a ton of water, a banana, and a coffee with hazelnut milk (yum!) after I finally made it out of bed around 11am (to be fair though, we stayed up until about 2am the night before). Morgan and I also did a detox yoga flow which helped.

img_20161112_142020 — Space Needle sighting

Then it was off to Paseoooooo, our most favorite place to eat in the PNW, for Cuban sammies. After we all inhaled our lunch, we stopped for (more) coffee and then drove about 45 minutes to a cool lookout with pretty waterfalls.

For dinner we went to this awesome place near Morgan and Joe’s house called Anderson School. It is an old school that has been converted into a hotel with a few restaurants and bars on the property as well. We ate at the North Shore Lagoon which was the old gym. It sits above a salt water pool that I really wanted to go swimming in!

We started with a round of drinks and an order of the cajun tarter tots. Mike and I spilt a salad and coconut shrimp for dinner. The atmosphere here was so cool and I love the idea of converting old properties into something new, while keeping the original structures (i.e.: the classrooms where all converted into hotel rooms, the principal’s office is a bar, etc).

img_20161112_184653 — Principal’s Office turned bar

After dinner, Mike and Joe were just tipsy enough to endure watching Beyonce’s Lemonade when Morgan and I put it on back at their house. It was actually pretty funny hearing their commentary on the visual album. We stayed up late again, not getting to sleep until around 1AM. I swear, whenever I’m in Seattle, I’m somehow able to party like I’m still 21…

The next morning we went for brunch at Purple Cafe. I loved this place when we went last year and it didn’t disappoint again. Mike and I spilt avocado toast (all time favorite!) and the eggs Benedict. After brunch, we trekked through the rain for a last beer in Washington. You can’t get more Seattle than drinking craft brews on a rainy day, amirite?

The weekend was a lot of fun exploring the PNW with some of our closet friends and we can’t wait to be back next October for the wedding!

** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe.**

I See You Morro Bay

Published on November 11, 2016April 10, 2021 by ashley@vegvibes1 Comment

Mike’s hobby is triathlons (cue the jokes about not running even if you were paid, let alone swimming and biking before…!) and through the sport he met Gary & April. After training together – the 3 of them scouting out different local trails and swimming pools – I finally got to meet them at a bar for drinks one night shortly after.

This was about four years ago. Since then, Gary and April have moved down to Southern California (waaaahhh!) but we still see each other as often as possible. We love to plan trips around triathlons (I spectate, they swim/bike/run) and either camp, share an airbnb, or – if we’re feeling really cheap – a hotel room with 2 beds and hopefully a hot tub. We’ve been all around California as a goofy foursome, hitting up different tris in Napa, SLO, and Tahoe.

This past weekend, along with Mike and Gary participating in a tri, we also celebrated my birthday in Morro Bay, exactly 3 hours in between us in the central coast. Morro Bay is your quintessential little beach town, with it’s salty air and ocean sound effects adding ambiance to the creaky, semi-worn down restaurants and shops lining the roads.

Upon arriving on Friday night, we went to the store to stock up on beer and breakfast noms for the next morning. I’m a big fan of IPAs and found a tangerine one that was nomnom. It was a perfect combination of citrus and hoppy; and a solid 6% – beer under 5% is a waste of time and calories! After a few beers and catching up a little bit, we all went to bed.

The next morning we drank coffee (tea for Mike!) and made a decadent breakfast. I’ve mentioned on the blog a few times that a splash of 1/2&1/2 in my morning coffee would be one of the hardest things to give up if I were ever to be a vegan. I’m surprised that this theory has been actually debunked… I now prefer almond milk in my coffee over cow’s milk. Now, if only cheese wasn’t ~~part of the reason I live~~ so delicious…

Morning view of the Morro Bay Rock from our airbnb

For breakfast we have waffles, eggs, bacon, and strawberries. Fuel for a fun day is downtown San Luis Obispo. There was a Dia De Los Muertos estival in that we explored before eating at Luna Red. A few years ago we went to the same place for breakfast after a camping trip nearby and all four of us still remembered how good it was. We had to go back! Like last time, it didn’t disappoint. We left filled up on cocktails and tacos.

I’ve got ~~almond milk~~ clouds in my coffee…

When we got back to our airbnb, Gary and April took a nap. Trying to resist napping myself, Mike and I started an episode of The West Wing but the allure of sleep beat out Aaron Sorkin’s witty banter and I quickly fell asleep.

For dinner we went Rose’s Bar and Grill and sat out by the water. Morro Bay is famous for this massive rock and we had a great view! April and I each ordered a glass of white wine, a house salad, and the lobster mac n’ cheese. Hooray for girlfriends to spilt dinners with! (Even though, to be fair, Mike does spilt things with me most of the time.)

As we were walking out, we spotted a small arcade room with air hockey. We stopped for a few rounds before heading back to the house where we finished the night off with a game of Love Letters, a house favorite.

img_20161105_193717 — Mike holding my purse (thanks Life in Leggings for the recommendation!) while I played air hockey

The next morning, Gary and Mike woke up early to set up for the triathlon they were participating in! April and I spelt in and took our time getting down to the start. Added bonus: it was daylight savings (daylight saving?) and no one was complaining about the extra hour off sleep.

After we watched both Mike and Gary make it back from the swim, April and I headed to The Coffee Pot for some much needed BLACK MAGIC and breakfast. Here we spilt (again, I know) a breakfast croissant and home fries. Then it was back to the finish line to see our men come in from the run.

img_20161106_084105 — Mike peeling off his wetsuit after the swim (the only picture I got, ek)

img_20161106_114322 — “Now a silly one….”

Sweaty and tired, we went back to the house for the guys to shower and then packed up the cars, cleaned up the house, and were right back downtown ready to eat again!

Then it was time to head home and say goodbye 😦 but not without seeing a little otter family in the bay first!

Until next time, Morro Bay!

** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe.**

birthday feels

Published on November 7, 2016April 8, 2021 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

If my parents weren’t my parents, I would hope to be their friend. Though, I’m certain that they are inherently cooler than I am, so it probably would take some coaxing on my end. 😉

It’s funny getting older and seeing your parents as both your parents and as people.

I have a different and distinct relationship with my mom and my dad but the foundation of both is their fierce love for me (and, of course, my love right back).

While neither of them necessarily wear their hearts of their sleeves, they were paired with a baby who is super sensitive, cries at the drop of a dime, and feels deep.

I’m not huge into celebrating my birthday, mostly because the pressure of the day being *perfect* just stresses me out. However, I do honor birthdays; I honor my day and everyone else’s as a day to be filled with a lot of love and (at least in my case) reflection. Like the fact that I am literally a creation – a combination – of both of my parents. And I couldn’t be prouder of it.

I hope I’m as funny as my dad and that I’ve inherited his non judgemental ways. He knows how to light up a room, tell the best stories, and connects with all walks of life. Through the years, he’s been my rock. He’s trustworthy and solid. More often than not, it’s him that I call when I need life advice or a good laugh.

I hope to be as generous as my mom. Her laugh is infectious and she too, can play life of the party with ease. I talk to her everyday. I admire her love and perseverance. She’s kind and she shows up. There are times when literally only she can make it better and she does, every single time.

I am happy they are both my parents and my friends. I’m proud to be theirs’ and grateful to call them mine. They aren’t together anymore but they’ve raised be beautifully without a relationship of their own.

Get-Better Broccoli Soup

Published on October 27, 2016April 10, 2021 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

I worked from home today because of a major toothache that caused a sore throat and ear pain. I usually eat breakfast and lunch at work so I really didn’t have much food in the house, especially because it is nearing the end of the week!

I honestly wasn’t feeling breakfast at all (so much pain) and stuck to tea after tea all morning. Around noon I was starting to get hungry though. I had canned soup that I could have easily heated up but I’ve been reading about how bad BPA is for us, especially for women and our fertility (call me crazy or paranoid ~~except not really because it’s fact)~~ so I decided to get creative in the kitchen instead of busting out the can opener.

I whipped up a broccoli soup that was so yummy, I’ll be making a bigger batch to freeze in the near future. I used ingredients I happened to have on hand and this recipe as my muse.

The cumin and lime give this soup such a nice flavor with just the right amount of kick. Plus, all of the vitamins and antioxidants in the broccoli really did have me feeling better; not to mention the garlic, carrots, and nutrient power-house lentils that were also in there.

I now present you with my Get-Better Broccoli Soup (which is both vegan and gluten free #hey)

The random ingredients I had to work with… (frozen homemade veggie broth FTW)

Add cumin, lime juice, and frozen broccoli; boil, simmer, blend!

Get Better Broccoli Soup

Prep time: 10 minutes – Cook time: 20 minutes – Serves 4 *freezes well*

Ingredients

Olive oil
4 cloves garlic – chopped
1 c carrot – chopped
1/2 c red lentils
4 c veg broth
1 c broccoli
1 Tbs cumin
1 Tbs lime juice

Directions

Sauté garlic until translucent
Add carrot and continue heating for ~1 minute
Add lentils, veg broth, and broccoli
Bring to a boil
Stir in cumin and lime juice
Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes
Blend together (I used an immersion blender but a regular blender would work too)
Serve, sip, and get better!

** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe.**

Rainy weekend recap

Published on October 19, 2016April 10, 2021 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

My grandparents were in town this weekend and we spent a cozy, rainy weekend catching up. I am very much a family girl so I love when my grandma and grandpa come down to visit! They drove down from Reno on Friday and met me at work for lunch.

unnamed-1 — Me and G-Dub with the Ice Cream sandwich Android

After work we went to my friend’s house to watch their cutie toddler. It wasn’t your typical night but I think my grandparents enjoyed spending time with a little one, especially because he is at such a fun age! Plus, he seemed to really like my grandpa and sat contently on his lap for half hour watching a movie with us.

Saturday morning was lazy and rainy. A favorite combo of mine! I made bacon (rare in my house!), scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese, toast, and coffee and tea. There really is something about cooking for your loved ones and sharing a meal together. 🙂

After breakfast we went up to my mom’s so Mike and my grandpa could help put together a new shelf she just got. In typical fashion, the girls hung around while the boys assembled the shelf. Then it was time for lunch at a local favorite, Franklin Street Cafe. My mom and I spilt a salad and I ordered a cup of the chicken tortilla soup.

On our way back to our house, we saw an Open House in the neighborhood. Checking out houses/condos is a fun, quick thing to do; especially with how outrageous prices are in the Bay Area! Every time, it’s like wait, how much!?

Then it was back to our house to learn a new game called Phase 10. About half way through the game we decided to Door Dash Sam’s BBQ, a South Bay gem! We all ordered the Carolina pulled pork platter with various sides. For me, the day’s eats included a lot of meat (bacon, chicken, pulled pork….) but that’s how it goes sometimes.

After we finished dinner and our game (Mike won, #standard), we watched a documentary on Netflix and called it a night. The next morning we went to Willow Glenn for breakfast at Crepevine, where my grandma and I spilt the French toast. Lots of splities in this family.

My grandparents left shortly after breakfast and Mike and I promptly crawled right back in bed. He napped on and off while I watched Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason …Mike’s commentary included at no additional charge;)

I’ve seen the first Bridget Jones but not the second… The sequel wasn’t as good (in my opinion) but I still love how ridiculous Bridget Jones is. I’m looking forward to seeing the third movie soon!

It was still raining outside after the movie but Mike and I decided to go hot tubbing anyway. And to our pleasant surprise, our pool was still heated! We spent the afternoon swimming and hot tubbing in the rain and it was sooo much fun and a great Sunday activity.

After our dip, we grabbed quick slices of pizza and then went for happy hour at our FAVORITE restaurant OCK. A few hours later we made vegan Thai veggie wraps for dinner with peanut sauce. We’ve made these in the past but this time, we piled all of the vegetables on a plate and wrapped them as we went. I didn’t know if the wraps would be enough for dinner but it turned out that they were perfect! I think taking the time to make each wrap and then eat it, slowed down dinner which meant our brains had time to tell us we were full before over-eating. At least that’s what I read happens… hehe

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Tune in next week for another weekend recap. I know you can hardly wait 😉

** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe.**

Recent reads

Published on October 13, 2016April 10, 2021 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

I love reading – and buying! – books written by women. I like to spend my money on these books because I want to support them. Some people splurge on new clothes; I spend my money on shiny new books with glossy covers. Recently I’ve read Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny by Holly Madison and Live Fast Die Hot by Jenny Mollen.

Both books are a collections of anecdotes; though the subjects are pretty different. Overall, I enjoyed Live Fast Die Hot more because I thought it was really funny. Jenny is neurotic and self-absorbed but in all of the best ways. For me, it wasn’t a great read before bed, but as soon as I started reading it during the day/on my commute, I devoured it.

Down the Rabbit Hole was a decent read. It was very telling of Holly’s opinion on Hugh Hefner and I’m sure he wasn’t too happy with the book. I occasionally watched The Girls Next Door when it was still on TV and, reading the behind the scenes from Holly’s perspective, just goes to show you how fake “reality” TV is. Overall, I don’t think I would recommend this book (this is me being nit picky but I hate cliches in writing and this book is filled with them!) unless you’re looking for some dirt on the Playboy Mansion. That being said, I do like Holly Madison and respect her for writing about her experiences!

Next on my list is I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual. I am really looking forward to this read – especially given important movements like Black Lives Matter – and will write my thoughts on it as soon as I finish!

** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe.**

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