What's the big deal???

Everyone is going on and on about Britney shaving her head and getting new tattoes... so what....

I've shaved my head before, just because I felt like it, I've wanted to it again many times since. Shaving your head is liberating, and you get rid of all the negative energy that has placed itself there. Britney did it... so what....

And lots of people get tattoes, all the time... it's art people and it's personal, so what ...

those of you going on about it, shouldn't you be more concerned about Karla Homolka having a baby, or the fact that there are still women that Robert Picton killed, still missing, or that there are peophiles on our streets and that women are being abuse all the time...

who cares if Britney shaved her head!

New zines!!!

Go to right now to Shebytches.com and buy our new zines!!!!

Bytch'n in the kitchen is all about kitchen stories and recipes. All bytchy and yummy goodness.

Killer Vegan Waffles is a cooking zine from yours truly all about my obsession. Waffles!!!! There are recipes for breakfast waffles, savoury waffle, sauces and chutneys, not to mention killer tips and idea's. Buy one, make waffles. Yummy!

you suck!

you suck! I doubt you will read this, you probably don't read blogs, you don't seem the type. when I get an opportunity I will tell you to your face. i don't think you realize you suck, you are too selfish and caught up in your own world to know.

you aren't the only one who sucks. there are many more and I feel they need to know too

to the woman on the subway this morning, who could not control her two year old, letting him flail around like a maniac kicking and hitting any one who was near. you suck.

to the people who couldn't be bothered to shovel the snow from the front of their sidewalks. you suck

to the person who decided to start their snowblower up at 4 am this morning. you suck

to the woman who keeps making the catty comments about my weightloss. get over yourself. you suck

to every man who didn't treat their partner extra special yesterday. you all suck!!!

some points I would like to make...

This last week has been frustrating to me. I seem to be repeating the same things over and over again to people or... the SAME people, so i am doing a little card with this blog address and when I hear the same questions again next week I will direct them here.... yes, there is anger and frustration in my tone... sigh

I am not sick! I'm doing this on purpose. I have been working hard to lose weight since August. This weight didn't fall off over night!!! I'm also NOT starving myself. There is nothing wrong with having a lunch that consists of a large bowl of veggies and hummus!

I will never be a size 6!!!! EVER!!!! Women aren't suppose to have perfectly flat stomachs, a hard ass or arms like a man. We are suppose to have curves and I adore mine!

I am vegan. No I do not eat cheese and yes YOGURT IS DAIRY. No I do not eat cheese and yes YOGURT IS DAIRY. No I do not eat cheese and yes YOGURT IS DAIRY. I thought if I said it three times and clicked my heels together it would finally sink in to the brain of the person that has asked me 4 times this week if I wanted some cheese or yogurt.

Excuse me, I'm trying to get by. The voice in my head is really saying, 'MOVE OUT OF THE WAY YOU FUCKING RETARD!!! Are all teenagers deaf and must they carry hiking packs everywhere they go and NOT remove them on crowded buses!!!!!!

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

an inconvenient truth

I just watched a movie called an inconvenient truth. RENT this documentary now!!! It was eye opening. Everyone needs to watch it, then make your children watch it, insist that schools show this movie to their students, tell everyone you know to watch it. We need to snowball Al Gores message and get it out there. I try my hardest to help the envroment, I recycle, don't litter, us enviromentally friendly products, packaging etc. I use public transit or walk where ever I can. But after watching this, I realized I am not doing enough and that will change as of this second.

Earth is our home and if we don't stop the way we are treating it right now, it will evict us!

Just look around you. Look at all the polution, the extreme weather, the vanishing forests, lakes and species. Over population, drought and famine. You think that is all happening on it's own. Think again, we are causing all of these problems and we are the only solution to stop it from getting worse!

Mother Earth is angry and she is fighting back and trust me, she will win.

today...

saddened about the death of anna nicole smith, when her son died the media should have left her alone

angry by the news that karla homolka is married and just gave birth to a baby boy

confused why a woman would feed her 1 year old cheetos' to shut him up

flattered by all the compliments I got today about my weight loss

intrigued by a book called 'Green for Life'

in love with these vegan blogs, I check them every day

megan the vegan
vegan lunch cast (ken's my new hero)
sarah kramer

Canadian Food Guide

It's a sad, sad world we live in when it take a countries government 15 years to publish a revised Food Guide. That's right the Canadian Food Guide hasn't been updated in 15 years. The new version came out yesterday. Did you also know it took 4 years for them to do the updating?

4 YEARS? No wonder Canadians are becoming obese at an alarming rate. Heart disease and cancer are at all time highs.... Children are being raised on junkfood instead of fruits and vegetables. It's no wonder our farmers are giving up and closing down.

Trust me there is a more indepth rant coming for this weeks issue of Shebytches.com

In the meantime here is a link to the updated Food Guide.

We created a new holiday!

And there are new issues live at shebytches.com and lipstikindie.com and new pictures and recipes at voluptuousvegans.wordpress.com.

we've been busy!

Brains... Brains....

Last night I subjected myself to what was probably the worst zombie movie every. Wait, yes, it was the worst. It was corny, one of the female stars was naked for the entire movie, the special effects for 1985 where much more advanced than this. The FX people should be ashamed of themselves... Right the title. Return of the Living Dead.... bleech. So, that inspired me to put together a list for you...

Best Zombie Movie - In my books that is 28 Days later. Not surprisingly a british made master piece that makes me proud.

Worst Zombie Movie - As mentioned above Return of the Living Dead

Funniest Zombie Movie - Shaun of the Dead. I had to watch this movie three times because, the first time I had to keep explaining British Speak to the people watching with me (annoying), the second was peeing myself while laughing, the third time to actually see what was really going on. And the zombie parts were good too!

First Zombie Movie - The first known Zombie movie was released August 4, 1932 and was called White Zombie. I have it on video and the quality isn't so great, apparently the DVD version has been remastered and is much easier to watch. Me thinks I need a trip to the DVD store.

Biggest Franchise - Living Dead... though I don't think George Romero is making a huge profit from all of them....

Best Trend to come out of Zombie movies - Zombie Walks, I so want to do it next year!!!

Sexy Vegetables

Ok, this made me hot and hungry


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Happy Robbie Burns Day

Vegan Haggis… but I still refuse to eat it! I got this from Veg World

This recipe can be prepared in advance, ready to bake before serving. The quantities are for four people, but don't worry if the servings look small - the dish is very filling.
• ½ cup (3 oz, 75 g) fine oatmeal (the pinhead variety works best)
• 2/3 cup (4 oz, 110g) of brown or green lentils
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 large carrots, finely grated
• 4 to 6 mushrooms, sliced
• 1 tsp. ground spices (your choice of cumin, turmeric, paprika or nutmeg, in any combination)
• 1 tbsp. soy sauce
• One 14-oz (400 g) can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Knob of dairy-free margarine
Oven: Pre-heat to 375F (190C)
Put the oatmeal in a bowl and cover with water. Let it stand for at least an hour. Drain thoroughly.
Place the lentils in a pan of water and boil rapidly for 20 - 30 minutes or until soft (the time will vary according to the type of lentils). When the lentils are ready, drain and rinse them in a sieve.
Sautée the onion in the oil until it is soft. Add the carrots and mushrooms, and cook for a little longer. Then add the spices, soy sauce, cooked lentils and about a quarter of the kidney beans.
Using a food processor or blender, purée the remainder of the beans to form a thick paste (add a little water if necessary to prevent it getting too stiff). Add this to the lentil and vegetable mixture.
Finally, add the drained oatmeal, salt and pepper, and the garlic. If the mixture looks too dry, add the margarine. Mix well.
Transfer to an oven-proof dish and bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

Hello Grade 9

Why is it that all the people around me, seem like they are still living in grade nine??? I've taken a hard, long look at them and most are in their 30's, good jobs, dress like adults, yet, act like grade niners.

~They gossip

~They ignore you when you ask a question

~They talk about things that I would think kids in grade nine would talk about, such as video games, or TV shows meant for teenagers.

~They judge you by what you are wearing

~They have meaningless conversations... blah blah blah

I would like to escape from this never ending grade nine nightmare. I expecting to start running down a highschool hallway, past the lockers, naked and never able to get to the door at the end. You know that dream, the one where everyone is pointing and laughing. I'm sure it will happen, these people are all around me!

Where did the weekend go?

It was a busy one. New issue is live a shebytches.com, I entered a 24 hour short story contest. Fingers crossed I win! I also did alot of cooking! I cooked:

slow cooker chana masala
magical meatloaf.. recipe is a few entries below
mash potatoes and mushroom gravy
faux beef stew
coffee cake
brownies

all vegan, all yummy... I would take pictures but my camera is shit. I need to buy a new one!!!!!

needless to say I have tonnes of food for the week. of course tomorrow I'm fasting and every monday going forward.

Zine Makers and Beguiling Toronto

Zine Makers
Lipstik Reviews (lipstikindie.com) is about to produces it's next slew of podcasts and reviews. We are putting a call out to zine makers. If you want to be reviewed for the website and podcast emails me now. indiereviews@shebytches.com

Beguiling Toronto
Are you a cool, hip, independent, beguiling business, restaurant or hot spot in Toronto? If you are we want to review you for and upcoming podcast!

email us at indiereviews@shebytches.com

cheers!

New Recipes posted at V V

We have new recipes posted at Voluptuous Vegans.

A day too long...

Today is the first official day off the fast. It's the day of orange juice! I am however wondering if I went a day too long. By mid afternoon yesterday the lemonade was upsetting my stomach, but the time I drank the last glass it was worse. My body was definetly telling me I was done.

I am so looking forward to tomorrow when I get to eat fruit and soup!!!

I'm done!

Today is going to be the last day of my fast. My body is telling me it's done, so, I'm done! Tomorrow is orange juice all day. Then the next two days are lemonade in the am, seeds and fruit for lunch, veggie soup for dinner. After that I will follow a similar diet but will not eat soup every night, will have a nice healthy meal.

Day 14 What is that I'm seeing.

Is it the light at the end of the tunnel?

Tomorrow will officially be the last day of the fast. I could probably stop today, but said 15 days so will do one more. My body has told me it's done, so it's done. My tongue is pink again, and I haven't lost any more weight for two days, so those are the signs I am doneskys!!!

I will be glad to taste something other than lemonade and tea. I am massively craving spicey foods and am obsessing about food!!!

New issue of shebytches.com

It's live and ready for you to read!!!

Magical Meatloaf

Ok, I haven’t actually tried this yet. I made the recipe using the Magical Meatloaf generator at the Vegan Lunchbox Blog. Jennifer is brilliant by the way :)

Once I am done the fast, this is the first thing I am cooking. Please go ahead and try it in the meantime and let me know what happens.

Magical Meatloaf

Ingredients:
1/2 cup walnuts
2 TB canola oil
One onion, diced
One large garlic clove, minced
Two celery ribs, diced
One cup mushrooms, cleaned and chopped
2 cups vegetarian burger or sausage crumbles
1 cup dry whole wheat bread crumbs
1/4 to 1/2 cup vegetable broth, as needed
1/2 cup uncooked polenta
1 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. dried rosemary
1 tsp. ground cumin
Several dashes vegetarian Worcestershire Sauce
2 TB soy sauce
1 can tomato sauce

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350º. Spray a loaf pan or 8x8 square baking pan with nonstick spray and set aside (an 8x8 pan makes a crisper loaf).

Grind the walnuts into a coarse meal using a food processor or spice/coffee grinder. Place in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Sauté any vegetables you've chosen in the vegetable oil until soft. Add to the large mixing bowl along with all the remaining ingredients. Mix and mash together well, adding only as much liquid as needed to create a soft, moist loaf that holds together and is not runny (you may not need to add any liquid if the grains and protein are very moist). Add more binder/carbohydrate as needed if the loaf seems too wet.
Press mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until cooked through. Add the tomato sauce to the top of the loaf during the last 10 minutes.

Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then turn out onto a plate or platter and slice. Serve with potatoes, vegetables, and vegetarian gravy, if desired.
Cold leftover slices of make a great sandwich filling.

Lucky #13

13 has always been a lucky number for me. Why people think it is unlucky I will never understand. Today is day 13. Once I get through today, 2 more days of fasting and three to come off. I am soooo looking forward to Wednesday morning when I can finally sip orange juice!

I am keeping myself preoccupied with getting my work caught up. Yesterday I finished designing all the new 1" buttons for Shebytches.com and finished off zines. I just need to print them, take one final look and off to the printer they go. Then I have the next one to put together. Today I am writing all day. Being at home and near the fridge makes it hard. Every time I open the fridge to get water or my lemonade I am faced with all the food that staring back at me begging to eaten. I usually tell it to 'Fuck Off' and then shut the door.

Some how I have gotten it in my head that the first thing I am going to cook when I can finally eat regular food again is Vegan Meatless Loaf. There is a yummy looking recipe in La Dolce Vegan by Sarah Kramer, so, me thinks that is the one I will be making! The God's know I have worn out all three of her cookbooks in the last week, fantasying about what recipes I will make when the fast is over!

Day 12 Slow but sure...

It's day 12 and I am officially at the point of is it day 15 yet? I was ok up until about late yesterday afternoon. I LOVE the lemonade, but am getting bored with it. Really bored. I have been reading through my cookbooks and stating 'when I'm done the fast... I'm going to make that and that and that...' so that's not helping. I am just hoping the white coating is gone on my tongue by day 15. It's still there, though it does seem a bit less today.

I've also just discovered that you can download a pdf of the master cleanse book. In a way I wish I had know that from the first cleanse, but am a book whore and would have bought it anyway, but for those of you wanting to do the cleanse and having a hard time getting the book, print off the pdf.

I'm also back on the Senna tea for the weekend. Man does that stuff work...

~Tips to succeed at a fast/cleanse (my tips anyway):
~Prepare yourself mentally ahead of time. For a week or more before pump yourself up.
~Prepare your fridge. Make sure you eat up all the food that will go bad and don't have anything in your fridge that will tempt you to eat. Though condiments do look mighty tasty when you are hungry.
~Have your ingredients ready the day before. Make sure you always have enough for a few days at a time. This saves less trips to the grocery store. You need, lemons, grade 3 organic maple syrup, cayenne pepper, water, senna tea and peppermint tea (to aid upset tummy)
~Only do it if you know you can do it for 10 days straight. If you have a dinner or wedding or function to attend half way through, don't do the cleanse.
~Follow the three days of coming off instructions. Don't go nuts and start gorging yourself on food right away. Your stomach will revolt!

If I think of any more I will add them :)

Whoo hoo Day 11

I'm officially past the 10 day mark. If I do only end up doing 15 days that means 4 and half more to do. I feel great. My skin is glowing. I'm losing inches. I feel light and healthy! The only complaint is the constant gross film that is on my teeth. No matter how much I brush I can't seem to get rid of it!

I'm also afraid I will have to start drinking the Senna again over the weekend. No BM's since Wednesday. I'm assuming because there just isn't anything in there but... the book says you should still have movements ever day. Which I don't get but...

Check out this thread at the theppk.com. It's about the cleanse http://www.postpunkkitchen.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=16356&p=1. You should should check out theppk.com anyway and buy their cookbooks!

Too cool for words......

Apple is taking over the world it seems and I am glad. The new iPhone is their latest gadget and it is uber cool! I want one!

This is also out of the world. Google Earth has released a new version. Check it out!

Day 10 This Lemonade's becoming famous.

The lemonade recipe is becoming very popular it seems. Not as a cleanse/fast but as a drink. I've now read, in several magazines, it's health benefits (huge kick of Vit C for starters). Especially for this time of year. Again I saw a blurb about it this morning, this time in Eye magazine.

I can understand it's poplularity. It's tasty, the ingredients are very basic and it's easy to make. As a matter of fact I'm going to share the recipe with you now:

2 TBSPs fresh squeezed lemon juice (organic preferred but not necessary)
2 TBSPs Pure Maple Syrup (Grade #3, you can buy it at Big Carrot and most heath food markets)
pinch of cayenne

You can serve it cold, room temp or hot. Hot is nice is you need something soothing.

Drink up!

In other news....

Starbucks is now supporting vegans.... in a small way. They are introducing Vegan brownies!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 9 Here I come

I'm more than half way! 9 down, 6? to go (plus 3 days to come off). Though once in a while I get a urge to eat food, seeing and smelling it actually repulses me. So does many peoples body order. The longer into the fast I go the more sensitive to smell I become. Having to take the subway every single day isn't helping!

I've also been doing alot of reading on juice fasting. Most of the authors fast. I'm not surprised. They do regular lengthy fasts a few times a year, plus they do a one day fast every single week. They have food for 6 days, juice fast for one. The reason they do this is to not lose the benefits of the longer fasts. Fasting once a week helps the body to continue detoxing. Once the fast is done, I am also going to start practicing this. I think I might do it on Monday's. It's a great way to start the week off.

Day 8 Half way?

It's day 8, if I choose to do only 15 days, this means I am half way there. Well... of the fast part anyway. I will still have three days to come off the fast after that. Overall I am feeling really good. Am tired this morning, but that is because I had another night of fitful sleep and bizarre dreams.

The dreams get weirder to. I had one where I was tasting food and then spitting it out, because I wasn't allowed to eat anything, but desperately wanted to taste food. Crazy, Crazy, but am not surprised.

The last few nights I have also been going through all my vegan cookbooks marking all the new stuff I am going to be trying out. I promised myself last fast that I will try new things all the time and not eat the same things over and over again. Life is too short!

Day 7 Sweet Lemonade!

I'm now at the point in the fast where I start to enjoy it. Last night I had a better sleep and woke up energized, which is a bit odd for a Monday morning. I am also starting to see a physical difference. I've lost 1.5 inches so far, my skin is starting to glow and over all am feeling good.

I know I still have a long ways to go, but am no longer counting down to the end. I know there isn't a specific end, whether it be 15 or 20 days, I will just know when the time is right.

Day 6 Hello, Hello, Hello, is there anybody out there, out there, out there

It's day six and my stomach feels hollow. It surprises me that there is still anything in there, but apparently there is. I've decided to lay off the Senna, I can't chance an upset stomach tomorrow, being Monday and I have to take the subway... with my luck there will be a delay or something.

Otherwise, feel strong and in over all great mood. My cough is GONE. I again thank the super doses of Vit C from the lemons.

I just wish I could stop dreaming about food and craving it. Last night I dreamt I cooked a huge feast. Then the cravings (yes these are all vegan):

Poutine
Club Sandwich
Pizza
Salt and Vinegar Chips
tacos

That is making me nuts. As well each time I open the fridge to get my lemonade I am tortured by all the food that is in there!

Tomorrow is day 7... almost half way!

1930's movie obsession

I'm obsessed with the 1930's. You can see just how much by reading this.

Lately I've been watching tonnes of movies from the 1930's on TMC. The most amazing I've seen in the last few days were Jezebelle, 42nd St and White Banners. I so love that era!

New issue @ Shebytches.com

The new issue is LIVE!!! Live I tell you. Also check out our new 1" buttons.

New Bank at www.lipstikindie.com



New Buttons at shebytches.com

Day 5 Senna cleaner upper

It's day 5 and I am now 1/3 of the way through. I feel pretty good, other than the gurgling tummy. That is part there is nothing in there and part the Senna Tea I am using. I used it last time as well and I will tell you. It works almost too well! It's from Celebration Herbals. I've also had their peppermint tea and so far it is the yummiest. I have a picture on the left. It isn't of the Senna Tea but it will give you an idea of what the box looks like incase you are looking for a good Laxative tea. I will warn you though, if you need to go somewhere and won't be near a washroom for a long period of time. Don't drink it. It starts working after 2-4 hours. At least it does for me.

I haven't tried the lemonade hot yet, but will this evening. Viki say's it's super yummy!

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If you are interested in submitting to us message us here or email us at indiereviews@shebytches.com or go to lipstikindie.com and click on the submit link!

Day 4 Gurgle Gurgle

My stomach won't stop gurgling and it now has that familar hollow feeling. This is the same as the last time. Day four all the weird noises start. Day 4 the weight or shall I say fat starts to melt away as well. When I measured myself this morning I lost an inch off my waist and belly.

I am finding with this round that I have less energy. The factor to that is I was ill with the flu right before starting the fast. Hopefully that will change soon! I am also going to start yoga again tonight. I've been too exhausted to do it the last few days.

I also read last night that having nightmare in the first part of a fast is normal. That would explain all the bizarre dreams!!!!!!

It's all downhill on skiis from here :)

Day 3 Over the hump day

It's day 3 today. It seemed last time that once I got past day three things were peachy. I am guessing it takes at least that long for your body to get use to the liquid diet and to stop being hungry. I also noticed last time that it was after day 3 that I also started to lose weight. Seems to be the same right now. I have measured myself each morning and no change yet.

As with last time I am very sensitive to smell. The man beside me on the subway reeked of garlic. The car was packed and I couldn't move.... yuck!

My cough seems to be going away as well. I am sure it is from the mega dose of Vit C I am getting from the lemons.

Again last night with the bizarre dreams... not sure if it's the fast or the full moon.

I am also craving tonnes of things:

salt and vinegar chips
toast and jam
baked beans
club house sandwich??? though now I am going to create a recipe for a vegan one.

Day 2 Stop Annoying me!

Grrrrrrrrrrr am very cranky this morning. I didn't sleep well at all last night due to getting up several times to pee and bizarre dreams. I had bizarre dreams last fast but for some reason thought they were later on.

To top it all of people are really annoying me this morning. Between bumping into me and torturing me with their coffee smells and bad body odour! Take a bloody shower or use some deodorant!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least I didn't wake up hungry. Just cranky!

Day 1 Phase 2 of the Cleanse

It's been three months since the first Cleanse. It's a new year and a second cleanse. Today is day 1. Oddly I woke up craving toast and jam and right this very second am very hungry. That's not normal for me. I have to say it is psycological!!! and nothing else. Once I get past day 3 it is smooth sailing... and at this point day 3 seems light years away!

Viki and Janis started yesterday, so they are already on Day 2. As with the last cleanse I will keep you updated.

12:41 the smell of other peoples lunches is making me crazy!!!!!!!!!!!

At least I'm not having caffiene withdrawal this time.... That was the worst of it last time.

Time for another peppermint tea

2:33 pm am on my third glass of lemonade.. trying to kill the hunger pangs. I intend on doing this fast till my tongue is pink... last time I did the fast I stopped at 10 days and probably should have kept going. I am in for the long haul whether it's 10 days, 15 or 20 days. If I'm not going to do it right, there is no point in doing it.

Other than the hunger I feel fine. No headaches.. yeah, but am quite thirsty.

I am also going to work out everyday with the fast, last time I only worked out a few days a week.

2007 is finally here!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Wishing everyone all the best in 2007!!!!

xo c

Death of Cool Scarves

Check out my girl Monica's uber cool scarves!!!!!! You can find them here!

Lipstik Indie is LIVE!

We have officially launched! What is LipStik Indie Reviews all about? LipStik Indie Reviews is all about Indie Artists. If you are a singer, band, spoken word artist, comic book creator, writer (from zines to novels), have an ezine or online DIY store, you should be reviewed by us. We’ve all been in your shoes and know it is important for the world to know about you. Check out our submissions guidelines @ www.lipstikindie.com, if you want us to review you.

Count down to fast part deux

on january 2, 2007 viki and I will be commencing on our second fast. janis will be joining us a few days later.

it's funny, i wasn't looking forward to xmas (acually hate it) but am very excited about fasting again. unless you try it you have no idea how good it makes you feel. hopefully it will also purge me of this cough!!!!!

The Rayna Podcast

The Rayna Podcast is LIVE! And you can find it here!

This girl is one hot commodity and will be singing at a venue near you. Check out her websites here.

Rayna.ca
Rayna's Myspace

Sponsors:
Lizzie Violet
2-Mile

The week that officially sucked!

Ok, this has been a crap week!!! Around noon on Monday I started to get a tickle in my throat... by the time I got home from work my throat was on fire, I was coughing and I had a slight temperature... Tuesday I woke up feeling like hell, but had to go to work... it was the week before vacation... coughing, slight fever, headache... When I got home it had gotten worse... Wednesday... same thing but with a 103 fever... still went to work... may as well infect everyone... misery loves company... Thursday.. I prayed I would be better. It is Solstice and I needed to go the Festival of Lights. Not happening.. still have a 103 fever, haven't slept in two days due to the coughing and have lost my voice. Like the fool I am still went to work...

Today it's friday. I am working at home, and need to get caught up... I still feel like poo

I guess that is my early Xmas present from the Flu Gods... Geez thx!

At least 2006 is almost over!!!!

New Podcast is live

And you will find it HERE!!!!!

I get it already

Ok Lady, I get it, I'm hearing your message LOUD AND CLEAR! I'm getting off the fence!

On a not so separate note.

Anna you are a true sister and my sister, because we do get to choose our family and I LOVE YOU!!!!!

a quote we should all live by...

“One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.” Joan of Arc

A must

Go check out Sarah Kramer's blog right now! She has the best song posted there. Ok, I just sounded like someone in grade nine!

New issue and NEW PODCAST

There is a new issue up at shebytches.com with Guest Bytch interview with Sarah Kramer!

That's right, our Guest Bytch for this issue is Sarah Kramer. Check out our interview with her.

You can see that and all the weekly articles at

www.shebytches.com

go check it out now!

We also have a new podcast live. Vegan Bytches That Rule the World. As well it includes part 2 of the Sean Ward Interview. Download it from here!

how fast can you be???

since I am feeling all happy happy

the first 10 people to email me.... get a button pack of the latest greatest 1" shebytches buttons... (these babies aren't even on the website yet)

The sad, sad story of my iBook

Last Wednesday night I came home ready to write. Bleed out the words that were filling up the space in my head. Desperate to share. I as per usual went down to my office, flipped open the lid of my trusty iBook.. and nothing. At first I thought I had turned it off the evening before, rather than put it to sleep. I checked and the little button that flashes when your computer is sleeping was... flashing. So I tried again. Nothing.

I hard shut it down, pray to the computer gods to let it work. Again nothing, but I could faintly see the desktop image in the back ground. I tried adjusting the brightness, nothing. I sat with head in hands trying to remember what I did the night before. It seems I did nothing out of the ordinary, nothing unusual. What the hell is going on.

Flash: I'm the girl who buys the shelf, that's missing the screw to hold it up. If one out of a million iBooks had a faulty screen, I would be the one who bought it. If I try to set up an appointment with someone, the time they are free I'm not. If I need a size 8.5, it's the only one sold out. That's just how the cookie crumbles with me and yes I usually end up with the bag of cookies that are crumbled.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, it's just how is goes.

When I dropped off my computer, I begged and pleaded to have it back by Monday, I also begged and pleaded that they try not to lose my files as it had been over three months since I backed them up. Again... me.. cookie...

Can't have your computer till next Wed/Thurs
Don't worry about your files, it's just the monitor
Is it still under warranty???

I can handle point one, I needed the break
Point two, whew
Point three... eeeeeeeeeeee

My chest tightened up... before I could speak I asked when I bought it, I said Feb. The guy said you should be ok, and checked in my computer. But, but... the guy I bought it from told me 3 month warranty

Well, either I wasn't listening or the 18 year old who sold it to me was stoned. It's 1 year parts and labour, 3 months software. I was so relieved I did the happy dance.

Until I called today to see when I could get my iBook back. 'Um.... they are still testing it... not for a few more days.'

I almost cried. I can't take two more days, I am so far behind on my writing, zines and website... two more days.

An hour later I got another call. Your iBook is ready for pick up. Part two of the happy dance and guess who is buying the extended two year warranty! That's right me! Not to mention I will NEVER go three months again without backing up my files.

So... back to it tonight... and guess who won't be leaving her office for the entire weekend... again if you guessed me, you win!

xo c

Open letter to those who are making me crazy...

Below is an open letter to those who are making me crazy. Either it is because I can no longer tolerate you or have become frustrated by your actions. Please read!

--

Dear (insert your name here),

I'm normally a very tolerant person. Or at least I try to be. Lately though my patience has grown thin and my tolerance of many is growing weary. I ask only a simple list of things from all of you. The things on this list are pretty standard and easy to follow. Out of respect for my sanity I ask that you read the list, memorize it and fulfill it.

List:
~If you want to talk to me, talk to me and don't stare waiting for me to take the lead on a conversation. I don't bite. Ok, I do but have been asked to stop.
~Look at me when I talk to you.
~When I email you respond to me... same day. No one is really that busy.
~Don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you.
~Don't mumble when you talk
~Don't nag at me
~Don't ask me a question I can't answer and then after I say I can't answer it ask me again.
~Don't make me repeat myself, 50 times
~Don't ask me the same question over and over again
~Don't talk down to me
~DON'T make any kind of chauvinistic remarks around me... I do bite (see above)

As you can see these are really easy rules to follow. Do yourself a favour and start following them. If not, I won't tolerate you any longer. And trust me that list is getting pretty long.

Yours Truly
The bytchy one

Why???

Why do people continue to disappointment me? I give them the benefit of the doubt, then... crash and burn.

Just once I would like for someone to actually live up to MY expectations.

I wonder when that might happen???

I'm not holding my breath

I'm afraid if I did I would just pass out.

Yes, maybe I ask too much, set my standards too high. But I am a lioness and only the best will do.

read the ingredients twice

so.. in the last two days I discovered two products that I was advised were Vegan safe that are not... I'm furious with both these companies and am going to be sending complaints shortly.

The first one is a product sold in Kensington Market and produced by a company out of Brampton (King Foods? Of course the package with the name is not near me but I will update this when I get my hands on it). The package contained faux vegetarian chicken strips. This package was clearly marked, Suitable for Vegans. I purchase this product at the Vegetarian Food Fair in September (after being told by the lady handing out samples it was Vegan safe). For some reason I came home threw it in ther freezer and didn't think about it again... till last night.

I pulled the package out the freezer and something told me to read the ingredients again.. there were the words Whey Protien. WHEY PROTIEN is an animal by-product. HOW!!!!! can these people say 'Suitable for Vegans' when there is animal in their product. I was furious.

Then today, while at the Big Carrot, I thought I would treat myself to a Tetra Pack of the Tazo Chai syrup (the one that Starbuck uses). Again a little voice said read the ingredients carefully. I did, all them versions contained HONEY. These are the same boxes I see them using when they have been making up my Grande Soy Tazo Chai lattes. The same Latte's that the guy behind the counter assured me were safe for Vegans.

WHAT THE HELL ARE WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE!!!!!!!! I think I am going to make up a card and carry it around with me. It will list all the things Vegan's CANNOT eat. Each time I go to a coffee shop, grocer or restaurant and when I ask if it is 'VEGAN SAFE' I will make the person helping me read the card TWICE!

google me?

google carolina smart just for fun!

then google your own name and send me links to freaky stuff you find associated with your name....

apparently...

when you take a leap of faith... apparently your suppose to be patient about the end results. it's not an add water and stir type thing. silly me... i would have thought that results would have been instantaneous. like litmus paper. but.. not so...

tuesday's leap, did get one minor positive result and then painful silence since. here is where the problem is.. being Leo i need instant gratification, praise, answers, actions... silence makes me CRAZY...

but I will remain patient... good things come to those who are patient, isn't that what they say?

whew!

leap of faith taken... let's see where it leads me...

A shot of life.

I just got a shot of life today. A dear friend of mine has breast cancer. The prognosis is good, they caught it early. The irony of this all is she, at 47, finally figured out her life. She moved away to finish University and knew what she wants to do with the rest of her life. Then breast cancer hits. She is tough and brave and stubborn, so she will be a survivor! Send all your positive vibes out. She needs them right now.

This of course, was just another reminder that life is too short and we need to live for the moment. I know I haven't been and I am going to start.

I LOVE YOU J!

dark and beautiful...

this was one of the most beautiful things I have seen... dark and beautiful... it almost made me cry... it really got to me on alot of emotional levels. and it takes alot to do that...

A secret message to you

| More Videos

So let it be!!!

I'm putting it out there... I wish the Fates would stop working against me. I'm asking nicely... please stop. Please! Give this girl a bit of a break... I've worked hard and I deserve it!

and...

I'm putting the positive vibe out there...

if it's in my blog then it must be.

So let it be!!!
xo c

each time I see this I laugh so hard I think I'm going to pee myself...

Not Eggnog

I LOVE Eggnog and with the holiday season approaching something as a vegan I thought I would miss out on would be Eggnog. Not so. There is soy Eggnog. Guess what I'm drinking right now... that's right Eggnog that isn't Eggnog.

There are sooo many brands out that that make it. Vitasoy, Soy Good, Silk to name a few. I have tried the Vitasoy and the Soy Good and they are yummy. I will have to say that that Soy One is the closest to the real Eggnog taste.

My friend Nats and I went to Noahs and stocked up on the Vitasoy Nog and Chocolate Peppermint soy milk. Between the two of us we cleared the self. The stock boy had this 'crap' I have to cart more out look on his face. Get with the program guy... it's EGGNOG Season!

Oh the things I want to make... eggnog cookies, eggnog cupcakes.. rum and eggnog.. wait.. that's not baking.. but after a few of those I will be baked.

Now back to my Eggnog

new issue is live

a brand spankin new issue is live @ shebytches.com

our guest bytches are two girls and a podcast

and the fabulous natalie gray is back and funnier than ever!

a whole new level of disgusted

Today I have been brought to a whole new level of disgusted.

Men who are 30 + years should not be watching Laguna Beach because of the 'girls'

I unfortunately overheard a conversation between two grown men... talking about how hot the 'girls' where on above mentioned show.

I threw up a little... I wonder if they heard me??? These are two educated and who I thought, how wrong I was, mature men (both 30 plus) talking about it.

That is just wrong!

I am beyond grossed out.

Are you compatible with me???

Small Press Fair!

Come see us!!!!!!! We are there Sunday!

Toronto Small Press Fair
Victory Café, 581 Markham St
Saturday, November 11th and Sunday November 12th from
11am-5pm

Hail Seitan

I'm exhausted... 4 hours of sleep a night just isn't enough these days...

... and the non-vegan who lives in my house keeps bugging me for Seitan... I keep saying I will make some more soon... but the begging continues... what have I done, I've created a monster... be forewarned if you introduce non-vegans to Seitan, this will happen to you too.

I blame Sarah Kramer... at least she knows how to make her own Seitan :)

xo c

Shebytches latest Podcast is LIVE

Hi there, sorry for taking so long for our next podcast. Going forward we hope to have a new one up every 2 to 3 weeks!

This podcast is chalk full of goodies! Some indie reviews (which will be posted in their entirety at lipstikindie.com when it launches) and an interview with Mr. Sean Ward. Check Sean out at www.seanward.net. Here is a link to the podcast or you can download it. You can also subscribe to our podcasts via the link on the right.

The Sean Ward Interview will be in three parts. Part 2 and 3 coming soon! Here is a link to a written interview we did.

We said this song was at the end of the podcast, unfortunately due to time contraints it didn't make it but here it is now! The group is called Cat's and Jammers and the song is called Mannequin take a listen.

Sponsors

2-Mile Jewellry

Lizzie Violet


Reviews

Violated - This can be pu chased at www.thesplit.ca
Carnival - Part one of an 8 part graphic novel by stef lenk. It can be found here www.steflenk.com
JB Artistic - check out her website at www.JBArtistic.com

Real Food

Today I had my first real meal. Viki, Janis and I ate at Cafe 668 on Dundas West... Oh my good gawd it was good!!!!!!!!!!! I even have left overs. I'm still full and even after running around am not hungry. If I do get hungry, I have made a jug up of the lemonade (to drink each morning) and will take a few mouthfuls. Otherwise really not hungry at all!

And I looked good in jeans today! That hasn't happened in years!

Day 12 - I get to eat FRUIT

It's been a crazy morning! I haven't even had a chance to do my update!!!

Well I made it! 10 days of fasting on the lemonade drink, one day of nothing else but orange juice. I am so looking forward to fruit at lunch!!!!!!!! YUMMY!!!!!!!!!

I noticed my tongue is still half white, especially at the back. I hope that goes away soon!

I am so proud of Viki, Janis and myself. I wouldn't have been able to do it with out them!!! They are my sisters, even if not by blood and I am so glad we did this together!!!

Next time! 15 days! I am already pumping myself up for it!

Day 11 - Orange Juice is YUMMY!

What a delight it was to sip Orange Juice this morning... I don't think anything ever tasted this good!!!!!!!!!!

My tongue is still not fully pink like the book says, apparently you are suppose to stay on the fast till it is. I just can't take another day of the lemonade. My mind was pumped up for ten days and I couldn't convince it to go any longer. Next time I will do 15 plus days. Each time increasing the length of time.

It feels good to know that I have made the effort to becoming as healthy as I possibly can. This is only one step, but I know I'm on the right path!

11:07 am - the orange juice is upsetting my stomach in gross and disgusting ways.... I've alreadly polished off half the jug, that could also be why... am getting hungry. looks like I will have to try and not drink it for a few hours.

1:49 pm - orange juice just ain't cutting it. my upset tummy is gone. I'm guessing it was the initial reaction that I wasn't drinking the lemonade. I kinda miss the lemonade. It made me feel full!

Am also a little worried about what's going to happen when solid food hits my stomach again. I really hope I don't gain too much of the weight back, but I am determined to keep it off and take off 20 more pounds!

8:59 pm - I will have to admit, I really didn't enjoy the day of orange juice at all. It was a bit hard on the tummy, as well gave me the runs, fortunately I didn't end up with heart burn.

The veggies and herbs for the soup are ready to go. It's all sitting in my wonderful crockpot and will be turned on tomorrow morning before I go to work and ready for me when I get home!!!!!! YUMMY!!!!!

Day 10 - the final day of the lemons!

The last day of the actual lemon fast, but it ain't over just yet. I have 2 days of orange juice, then a day of light eating then Sunday I can have a real meal!

There is a debate though over the orange juice part. The book says fresh squeezed. I did a rough calculation and it will take me approx 15 large oranges to fill a jug. that's alot of squeezing. Should I stick with the fresh squeezed or cave and go to Big Carrot and buy the jug of all natural 100% orange juice. And it is, no water added, it's just juice. What to do.. What to do...

Otherwise I feel good. I was getting worn down in the evening the last couple days, but of course I always try to do way to much all the time! No migraines, no sinus headaches and considering yesterdays awful weather I should have had a sinus headache from hell. And the eczema on my feet is gone. Though I didn't lose as much weight as I had hoped, physically I feel better. The one thing that concerns me though is the book says your tongue will be white while the toxins are coming out and turn back to it's normal pink colour when they are done. It's only half pink, half white right now.

2:45 pm - I thought the last few hours were going to be rough.. but they weren't. We had to go to a team lunch at a sushi place, the kind that cooks in front of you. I was concerned that when people realized I wasn't eating they would interrogate me, that and the smell of the food. It seems I'm tougher than I thought. I brushed off the comments and seeing food... didn't care. Maybe I've programmed myself not to care.

7:40 pm - Day 10 is almost over. Tomorrow is a full day of orange juice. Viki and I figured out that on day two we can eat raw fruit and nuts and then soup for dinner... than the gods! I will do this both Friday and Saturday. I have my orange juice and I have my veggies for the soup! Three more days till the fast is offially over!!!!!!

Day 9 - are we there yet!

I could really use a bowl of soup right now as well!!!! Otherwise feeling good. Am mentally ready to start coming off this fast. I've honestly had enough of the lemonade. More than enough. I will still drink it each morning as recommended. Of course we are doing this again in January and for longer, so I need to start psyching myself up now!

3:00 pm - I hate the rain. I love gloomy but hate rain or snow or anything were I could possibly get wet and uncomfortable! About to drink glass 3 and am only really getting hungry right now. I had a moment where I smelled food and almost lost it, but took a sip of my peppermint tea instead.

tonight I am off to get my orange juice for thursday, I pray they have it, I don't want to squeeze that many oranges... but what is a girl to do and I need to double check the menu for Saturday again to see what groceries I need, plus am making my Friday soup Thursday night!!! I am sooooooooo looking forward to that soup!

6:45 pm - I'm finding as I get near the end of this, by the time I get home from work my energy has gone down quite a bit, so I am going to drink my final glass for the day, then some tea and chill.

Tomorrow is the final day of the lemonade, followed by two days of orange juice and on friday night SOUP!

Day 8... breezing along now!!!

Well, I haven't really been hungry yesterday or this morning. Still not hungry now. I continue on my stomach must be shrinking. Next time we do this fast I want to do it longer than the 10 days!

Put on a pair of pants I haven't worn in a few weeks and they are loose, and needed a belt (they don't normally) and I had to take my belt in a knotch! WHOO HOO!

Also had an argument with a guy here at work about the fast and the fact I am vegan. He apparently thinks I am depriving myself of all the nutrients my body needs. This guy lives on meat and carbs and it shows. I was growing tired of explaining myself so decided to end it with a 'Well, at least my arteries aren't going to slam shut.' He shut up and walked away!

12:00 pm - have only had 2 glasses... still not hungry

1:10 pm - someone who knows I'm vegan just sent me a coupon for steak... at a steakhouse. what's wrong with people!

3:48 pm - you know when you take a really long walk, and you are almost to the place you wanted to go. that is the kind of anticipation I am feeling right now.

I've had 3 glasses so far... the sense of hunger has left my body. maybe it's tired of the lemonade. I have to admit I am. am also not also not looking forward to squeezing 5000 oranges to make sure I have enough fresh squeezed orange juice for thursday and friday so am going to go to The Big Carrot tomorrow to see if they sell it in large bottles. otherwise it's off to Chinatown to buy 5000 oranges.

8:41 pm - one of the things you can't take on the fast is anything for headaches or cramps. today I have been dealing with both, neither because of the fast rather than that monthly joy (not) of being female. this all means I'm done for the night. am going to get my lemonade ready for Day 9 and have tea, then go lay down!

Day 7 - the countdown begins!

when I first started this fast 10 days seemed so far away, but here I am at day 7 and 3 more fast days to go and 3 coming off the fast after that. I feel really good over all, same level of energy if not more. Nasty bowel movements though. And realized I haven't talked this much about poo in my entire life! The one thing I am having a hard time is trying to NOT think about food! Am obsessed with it. I guess I may always have been.

So glass 1 down, tea on it's way and another .5 of my waist and tummy. stay tuned!

2:26 pm - only now getting hungry, so glass #2 is on it's way to my tummy. Have also started getting wicked cramps from my monthly visitor and obviously can't take anything for them. grrrrrrrrr. viki, janis and I are also going to go to a vegetarian restaurant on sunday for our first official real meal. I will be glad to finally eat something that doesn't taste like lemons!!!

6:33 pm - so far I have only had 3 glasses and not hungry at all. though the cramps from my monthly curse... yes, I have moved to the word curse are making me cranky! but I can't take anything, so I will suffer, but not in silence. Remember those people in my house who keep cooking and eat.. PAYBACK!

Am about to take glass #4 and then go work out.. then chill. I have been working all day and actually got a lot of progress made on a bunch of things. If I can I will put one last update for the night.

Day 6 - it's all downhill from here...

.. and I'm on ski's!

this morning I woke up with an upset tummy... laxative tea at work. I figured it's day 5 what could be left in there, but apparently there is still a little bit... not much.. but there is

otherwise I feel really good, wasn't hungry at all when I woke up, tummy still gurgling though. am also going to resume working out today, i stopped when the fast started because I honestly didn't know how i was going to feel or if I would have the energy, but I do and I will start again. Once the fast is over I plan on stepping it up a notch to get the rest of this weight off!

i measured myself and seemed to have lost another .5 inches on my waist and tummy, NOTHING on hip and thighs and that is where I need to lose it most. Am disappointed that the fat is not melting from there. Janis made a good point we lose weight first on the last place we gained it. The fat sitting on the back of my thighs has been there for years and needs major time and effort put into it to get it off!

12:45 pm - still not hungry, but tummy is still making weird gurgling noises. today I only drank one glass first thing rather then the 1.5 I did since wednesday before going to work. I did however still have a peppermint tea. That seems to be helping in ways I can't describe. Shortly I have to go to a grocery store, sadly the people in my house still have to eat and I need to get a few things.. may the God's be with me!

I also figured out why the lemonade is so tart, with the first batch 3 lemons equaled 12 tablespoons. That was the amount I needed for 6 glasses, this morning I squeezed only 4 lemons to see how much there was and, well there was 12 tablespoons. It seems these lemons are much larger... I've also just realized I have only been putting in half of the maple syrup... DUH. this morning I put in six and went.... wait.. it's two per glass not one... oye... and here I was worried I was overdoing it with the delicious brown stuff... I need to lose weight and to do so it does say to use less maple syrup, which I will, I won't bother adding the rest that was required but I do need to add a couple more to make it less tart.

4:46 pm - and I am only getting hungry now, I am about to go get my next glass... seem to be having a bit of diarrhea
though... am guessing the senna tea... wouldn't think there was anything there! I am trying to write a short story for a submission but all I can think about is FOOD!

8:40 pm - have only drunk 5 glasses so far... and am off to make tea, not the laxative one... the yummy peppermint, which I am now addicted to.

back tomorrow for day 7

Woo Hoo... DAY 5!!!!

This morning my tummy is really gurgling... not hunger, just gurgle. Also couldn't sleep again, and was up several times peeing.... Mind you, between the glasses of lemonade, the tea and the (I counted yesterday) 20 glasses of water I have been drinking!

Oh and I am losing weight (contrary to my whining in an earlier post!). Put on my test pants today (the ones I wear to determine if I'm losing weight... and looser, not hugely loose, but loose, these pants were snug a week and a half ago and I have lost on my calves because I put on a pair of knee high boots that I normally struggle to zip up... the zipper went up with ease!

Am also sticking to 6 glasses today. I also seem to have bought the worlds most sour lemons. Yesterday and today's batches are VERY tart. But I don't want to add extra maple syrup.

The Why

Ok someone asked me to explain a bit about the fast and why I'm doing it.

The fast is from a book by Stanley Burroughs titled The Master Cleanser. It's not a fad thing, this guy has done his research and Buddist Monks have been fasting for centuries. Many religions fast as well as part of a holiday or leading up to one. It is a 10 day cleanse that you should do 3 to 4 times a year. The next time I will be doing it is in January.

There are many benefits from the fast:
A healthier you.
Detox
Weight Loss
Healing (there are testimonials in the book and all over the web of people who did the cleanse and got rid of illness)
Breaking habits (such as drinking/smoking/caffiene)

I'm doing it to detox (have become vegan and want to purge my body of the bad crap, so I continue on with a clear system) and for the weight loss aspect. I am over weight and have always struggled with my weight and this will help kick start my metabolism so I can continue to loose weight.

I hope I covered it all.

1:00 pm - just got back from lunch and power walked everywhere, not on purpose either, it's windy and cold out! I figured I would be tired afterward... I'm not! Need to go to Carrot tonight to buy more maple syrup and peppermint tea. I have quite a bit left but would rather have extra, just in case, plus, it's yummy and I will use it afterward!

Also, not hungry. Thirsty, but not hungry at all.

forgot to mention, I have been measuring myself. Have lost an inch on my waist and tummy and about half an inch on my hips

also check out these blogs... they are janis and viki. they are also doing the fast.

3:15 pm - hmmm.. tis after 3 and am only getting hungry now. The book said eventually the hunger will subside, so for me it seems to be happening on Day 5.

7:55 pm - ok... I seem to only be getting hungry now. So am drinking glass 5.5. I have tonnes of work to do this weekend so lots to distract me, tomorrow is day 6. I need to go make some peppermint tea. My tummy had this odd heavy feeling, there is nothing there, yet it is heavy! I also need to drink the laxative tea later and I only had a very small bowel movement this morning and nothing all day. In these last 5 days I have talked more about poo than in my entire life!!!!!!!!

I am also craving miso soup. Way to go Viki! And prior to that stood in The Big Carrot salivating, but put the blinders on and got what I needed. Oh and they must have just baked something... I thought I was going to lose it!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is day 6... we are coasting now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DAY 4 Maple syrup makes you fat

Ok then, so I keep looking to see if I've lost weight, actually measured myself last night and will do so every evening. Am disappointed that I don't seem to have lost or at least I don't think I have. Then Viki told me about the maple syrup we are using. It is mega high in calories, so I either have to cut back on how many glasses I drink. or, cut back on the syrup.

Day 1 = 6 glasses
Day 2 = 10 glasses
Day 3 = 11 glasses

One of the reasons, aside from the detox, that I am doing this is to lose some of my extra weight to help me kick start my metabolism. If I do the full 10 days and don't lose the weight I will be VERY upset!

12:32 pm - ok so far I have only had 3 glasses, two when I woke up and one when I got to work and I wasn't getting hungry. Am a bit now but want to try and hold off till around 1:30 to have the next. Janis suggested I drink one every three hours and that should result in weight loss. I think I got a bit carried away yesterday. Being at work I am surrounded by people who eat ALL DAY LONG and it was getting to me. I wasn't hungry at all, just trying to stop hunger. So...

2:15 pm - still not hungry. haven't had glass 4 yet. will hold off till I actually feel hungry. am sipping on tea instead. Overall am feeling ok. I did notice that around 6 pm yesterday I crashed a bit. I did a bunch of running around afterwork and probably shouldn't have kept my normal breakneck pace! Another think I am learning is I need to slow down!

4:00 pm - odd but true, I am craving foods right now that I use to eat before, I became vegetarian.... what's that all about??? I also had to cancel lunch with someone today because I couldn't handle the thought of watching someone eat!!!

There are benefits to this fast as well. It saves a tonne of time when I go home. I don't have to prepare dinner :)

4:50 pm - not hungry at all!!!! and I just saw SNOW!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOO

7:40 pm - am only drinking glass #5 now. Not hungry at all today! Am tired, but that is due to not sleeping well. And I swear I forgot the maples syrup in this batch as it gets more and more sour with each glass! Also on my way home I had to dash to the bathroom before I got to the subway. My stomach was suddenly upset and I needed to 'clear it out'. Who knew that after 4 days there could still be stuff in there! I know EW!

I probably should have done this before going Vegan, but am glad I am doing it now and will do it 3 or 4 times a year. It's not that hard at all, you just have to get through the first two days and voila. Of course after this, only decaf coffee and herbal tea. I'm not going through withdrawal again!!!

Am going to finish this glass, make tea and chill. Normally I would be working my ass off till all hours but have been trying to chill and go to bed early. I think that is also helping.

Day three... the hump day???

well... here we are at day 3. According to the book once we get past day 3 it should be much easier... get over the hump and I coast.

I didn't sleep very well last night, tossed and turned and woke up grumpier than usual, but, no hunger pangs, and I don't feel week at all. I made sure to drink two glasses first thing when I woke up to ensure I wouldn't feel hungry on the subway ride to work and thank the gods I did! I had the worlds longest subway ride this morning! What normally takes 15 minutes to 50!!! GRRRRRRRRR.

At least I have 50 thousand emails to get caught up on to keep me distracted...

I did notice this morning a few pockets of fat are starting to disappear!!! I don't own scales so I have no clue how much weight I have lost and am kicking myself for not measuring myself. I will do that tonight!

12:10 pm - not hungry, am trying to keep up on it with the lemonade before the hunger strikes. However I have noticed that I feel like I'm getting a cold, which is surprising considering how much vitamin C is going into my body. Of course I have sinus problems so it could be that the crap in my sinuses is coming out. And a fun fact, I noticed my nose was bright red last night, still is today!

7:03 pm - so I couldn't update as my work computers email died! The technician spent part of the afternoon trying to fix it and when I left he was still working away on it. So far I have drank 7 glasses. Had pretty good energy most of the day but around 5:30 pm started to crash a bit. Am also getting a bit hungry... probably just habit, but over all feeling pretty good!

The other think I noticed today, Food! Everywhere I went, the free paper in the morning had food on the cover, a lady in front of me on the subway was reading the Toronto Star food section, hot dog vendors, pizza in the subway, a woman sitting in front of me on the subway ride home was shoving a chocolate bar down her throat, as well was a 300 lb man (no I am not exaggerating) gorging on a huge slice of pizza. I say food on the ground, and it seems that every bloody commercial on TV is about FOOD!!!!!

So tonight am going to write, make my lemonade and have tea. Thank goodness I took enough for 12 glasses, the container that held six wouldn't have been enough!

Day Two - Senna Tea does really work

Well, here we are at day two! Am feeling a bit weak, but over all good energy, if that makes sense. Am drinking the lemonade right away rather than waiting till I am hungry like yesterday and may drink two glasses in a row to start. I drank 6.5 yesterday and we are allowed up to 12.

The Senna Tea worked today... oh boy did it work.... if there is anything left in my bowls I would be surprised! Headache is almost gone. I am pretty damn sure it is caffeine withdrawal.

Will be doing all I can to distract myself today by writing... and what ever else needs to get done. Only problem is I am craving waffles...

11:00 am - am on my third glass, not feeling weak any more and am starting to be a lot less hungry, headache is almost gone as well... now if I could get my brain to stop thinking about food. I think the trick here as well is to keep the belly full, I continually drink water. and the warmth of tea helps. As soon as I am done this glass I will be having a peppermint tea. And note to self... do not drink the lemonade right after brushing your teeth... gross!

12:12 pm - well the hunger pains are fading and are being replaced with a hollow feeling in my tummy... am sipping warm tea and that makes it feel all better! Checked a site I regularly go to and send it to Viki completely forgetting it was about food... woops! I just wish the people in my house would stop eating and cooking... I am planning their demise as I write this...

this is also my PMS week and oddly am doing ok... but of course can't tell if my food cravings are due to the fast or because I'm PMSing... hmmmm....

1:30 pm - am being completely distracted by how cold it is in my house.... were is the bloody furnace guy!!!! Getting a bit of a headache again...

2:44 pm - hmmm head ache isn't getting worse... am about to have class #5.... drinking as much water as possible to keep my tummy filled... Furnace guy, still not here

3:57 pm - still no furnace guy and the hunger pangs are back!

4:46 pm - still no furnace guy, apparently the part was delivered but it sure wasn't left on my front porch!!! Drank the final glass of the batch I made and had to make 4 more to make sure I make it till bedtime. I will have to make 12 glasses for tomorrow and buy more lemons. If I don't I will be famished by 3 pm.

5:12 pm - oh look furnace guy showed up... what ever shall I distract myself with... have noticed that the drink does kill the hunger for a bit... am continuing to drink as much water as I can and soon will need to have another cup of tea. Probably won't do the laxative tea tonight, only because I can't chance being on the toilet and late for work

5:57 pm - fucking hell.. they are cooking again!!!!! so I have a dilemma on Oct 18th (the final day of the fast), there is a farewell bash for one of the guys at work. I was worried about what the hell i am going to do. viki had a brilliant idea. tell them you can't eat because you have to go for a cholesterol test after work. have i mentioned she is brilliant!

Day one - the official start

Ok, so tea did nothing, I probably bought the wrong one... figures.

Made a full jug of the concoction... hopefully will last me all day... am hungry right now but will see what happens when I finish a glass...

10 more days to being healthy and thinner! You can also check out Viki's updates here.

12:20 - so in less than an hour I have to drink a second glass, I am really hungry!!!

Some of my concerns, being able to do this while at work. It's an office job, it's not like I will be doing any manual labour, but... I need to just make sure I have enough of the lemonade with me, lots of peppermint tea and water! My other concerns is I am Hypoglycemic and get wicked migraines when I don't eat, so let's see if I can make it past that.

1:43 - am on glass #3 and am still hungry... not to mention the smell of food cooking is MAKING ME CRAZY!!!!!!!!!! Everyone in my house needs to eat out over the next 10 days! I am also imagining everyone will be asking me out to lunch/dinner the next 10 days as well... just watch!

5:36 - oh my good gawd, I'm hungry... but I am not caving... I just have to tough it out... but all I can think about if food!!!!!! How did Ghandi do it! I had a peppermint tea earlier and it helped... but I don't want to over do it.. will have another one later.. the other thing I noticed is the cayene pepper is getting hotter... and that some of the skin on the inside of my mouth is coming off.. but that is normal when you drink alot of citrus anyway.. and I have a fucking caffiene withdrawal headache!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can do! I can Do it! I CAN DO IT!!!!!!

So I have decided that we are going to do two things once I make it to the end of this fast. 1. We are all going out to dinner to treat ourselves. 2. I am going to buy the $60 Waffle maker and make us all kick ass Vegan Waffles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now to find something else to distract myself with...

6:35 - head is killing me, you can't tell me coffee isn't an addiction... am pretty sure it's a caffiene headache

11:00 - going to bed, am a bit more tired than normal :)

the fast day 1 the night before

So my little peeps, Viki, Janis, Anna and myself are about to start a 10 day fast. The only substance we will have is a lemonade concaution, water, peppermint tea if we need it, a saline wash and ewwwww laxative tea with Senna leaf... am a little worried about the laxative tea. I have to take it tonight.. am still debating that one, i think I might hold off unless I started getting bunged up...

So tonight it begins.. can I make it through the entire 10 days... not to mention, I have a lot of lemons to squeeze!!!

I'm going to scream

If I see one more 16 year old with a baby and a trailer trash boyfriend ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If I see one more 14 year old girl child with their thong showing ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
There is now a Starbucks in Chinatown ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If I go to Chinatown one more time and a man horks in from of me ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If I have to tell one more man to give up his seat on the subway/streetcar or bus to a disabled, elderly or pregnant person ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If one more person bumps me, rather than take the time to walk around me ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If I get one more piece of junk mail ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If one more person singles me out of a crowd and asks me directions ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If I get one more person calling my house for the Ontario Science Centre ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
If I get one more call at 3 am that is a fax ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!
Clearly ~ I'M GOING TO SCREAM!

sarah kramer

Even if you aren't Vegan you should check out Sarah. She is amazing and needs her own cooking show.

In the meantime, go to her website:

www.govegan.net

or to a bookstore and buy her three books! They are amazing as well!

and she's Canadian!

why is there a baby in our picture

Yes there is a mystery baby in our photo. Is she trying to steal our thunder! Go away baby!!!











Here is me and Patsy Cline... ok not the real Patsy, that would be quite a feat and I'm sure she wouldn't be pleased if I summonded her from the dead. Rather this is my good friend Victoria Pearce, she is a Patsy Cline tribute artist and phenomenal!!!

Waffles

Recently I purchase Vegan with a Vengeance. It has some yummy waffle recipes. I decided I needed to make those waffles.. I bought a $15 waffle iron. It was a piece of CRAP. More to follow with this weeks article!

c

The Battle of Wills

I am having a 'Battle of Wills' with my internet service provider. Since I started using them I have had issues. They are one of the big two so you would think they would know what they are doing... but they don't. Here are some of the standard problems...

I am a mac girl.
They don't have any mac experts so cannot support those of us using macs.

I am back and forth on whether or not to switch to the competitor but all my other mac girlfriends say they aren't any better.

Today I had yet another run in with them.

As I do every morning I check my email before anything else... yes I am an email whore. This morning there wasn't any email in my inbox, nada, nothing, zilch, zip, ZERO. Which is odd, I always have at least spam.

So I did some tests, I could send, not receive and email was showing up in my gmail (which then downloads to my laptop). So I called them. Here was the conversation:

Idiots "Good Morning, Losers are Us technical help, how can I help you this morning?"
Me "Morning, by chance are the incoming mail servers down?"
Idiots "Not this morning, no, everything is fine. Is there a problem?"
Me "Ya, I can send and not recieve.
Idiots "How do you know this?"
Me Pause... biting tongue, "I tested it."
Idiots "Ok, can I have your user information.. blah blah blah"
Idiots "Ok, well, I have checked and everything looks ok, are you sure your Outlook Express Settings are ok?"
Me "Pause, deep breath... I'm on a Mac and use MacMail."
Idiots "Oh. Um, hold on."

Put on hold.

Idiots "Sorry for making you wait. Ok, have pulled up my virtual mac."
Me "Do you have version X up and Mac Mail 2.1?"
Idiots "No, we don't have that MacMail version so I will have to wing it."
Me Long Pause, deep breath.

We go through the settings, all is correct... Of course it is.. I do know what the fuck I am doing...

Conversation continues...

Idiots "Well, I can't see what the problem is, and we don't really support mac's. What I can suggest is we delete your profile on your computer and start from scratch"
Me DeJa Fucking Vu! "My profile, uh, won't that delete everything?"

Idiots "Yes, but unfortunately that is the only way we can fix it."
Me "No, it's not. I've been through this with you guys dozens of times. The last time you did this on my old computer you screwed it up."

Idiots "Excuse me."
Me "Yes, exactly what I said."

Idiots "Well, madame, we don't really support mac's and this is an apple problem."
Me "No it's not, it's a Losers are Us problem. It has been the last 5 times I have called. You need to learn how to support mac's"

Click... yes, i hung up on him.

It took me another 30 minutes but after going through THEIR settings one by one I found the problem, changed the settings and now I get email again. IDIOTS!

Let's change it up...

I've been a vegetarian for over 10 years and recently changed to Vegan. There are many reason why I changed but I won't bore you with those details, rather let me share some of the really neat things I am finding.

I have been on a information quest since I switched up. I am a research junkie so this is beyond fun for me. One of my concerns with switching is I LOVE to bake and I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to make my yummy treats. So in my quest to find animal free recipes I came across a couple amazing sites.

The Post Punk Kitchen - This is not only a Vegan cooking show, but one of the coolest websites I have found in ages! These girls rock. The site is full of recipes and helpful hints, videos, merchandise (I want a tee) and is just plain fun!

I want this woman to start making my lunches... I'm serious. This kid not only has the coolest lunch box, but the worlds best lunches. I bet his class mates gather around each lunch to see what is inside the blue box!

So yesterday. (Sunday).. I wasn't inspired to write, instead spent a good chunk of time searching vegan stuff... and cooking...

and

now that i am making all my food from scratch...

made a soup in my slow cooker

baked...

~vegan banana bread
~vegan chocolate nut muffins

Everything was yummy.. what is that old saying, if it tastes good, it can't be good for you... that's a load of crap!

Today at lunch am going to see if I can get my hands on Vegan with a Vengence as well as a couple other Vegan cookbooks!!! Am also on the look out for the cookbook by Toronto's own Wanda's Pie In the Sky...

Revelations

Sometimes I need a swift kick in the ass. This week I got a few... here is a bit of a list, a more detailed one will be in an upcoming issue of Shebytches.com.

~Clarity has been given to me about someone's reactions towards me. Thank you V for clearing that up
~A palm reader gave me the kick in the ass I needed. It's funny how strangers do that for me.
~I am no longer hiding who I am to those I work with. I am a writer and I run an amazing website, who cares if they know. What the hell was my problem all this time! I have no problems telling strangers.. so why not a bunch of accountants...
~I finally met Liana K and she is as cool as I thought she would be and Sean Ward is much taller than I remember and yes he DOES rock the Casba!. Fyi he will be the next interview for our podcast!
~Shaun Downey is quite possibly the one of this cities most talented painters!
~I own an uber cool phone but the MP3 function is useless to me unless I buy a card for it. Ok, I can download songs from the web but have to pay for them. I want to download the stuff on my Mac
~Beware of girls with monkeys!!! October, you know who you are!
~Being a vegetarian or a vegan does not make you a freak, it just means I am going to live longer than your neurotic carnivores!
~I'm no longer invisible.... it was fun while it lasted.
~I am a Dark Knight and I belong to a Secret Society. How cool am I???

bleech and stuff...

Well, that was by far the WORST long weekend ever.. the weather was beyond disgusting!!! I like gloomy, but only if there is a thunderstorm attached to it... all this weather do was make me even more depressed!

At least I was able to get the new issue up in record time... it's up and sara l. beck is our guest bytch! yes you need to check it out!!!

c

the pink baby was laid to rest

I had to cave an buy a new phone today... my other.. is toast.. well the battery is... I have to charge it daily and if I talk longer than 20 minutes, the battery is finito... so... I had to go to my service provider and pick out a new one. I decided it was also time to stop buying little girl phones, so no more pink ones... This one is sleek, black and silver and has all the bells and whistles... camera, video and MP3 player. Of course the bastards get you every chance they can and I can't use the MP3 player unless I buy a special card... which I am not going to do.. what's the point.. one day, I will some day own an iPod... I will, really, it's not just in my dreams... ok back to reality. Check out this sexy mama. Of course in light of the fact that I have a cool new phone I decided to change my voicemail and make it less boring and serious...

After going to get to the phone, I confirmed I still hate the mall... thank the gods I didn't go on a Saturday!!!!!

it's Monday August 28th... so there must be a new issue at Shebytches.com

and there is... yes.. go to shebytches.com for all the goodness....

c

Ami McKay is this weeks Guest Bytch!

That's right people! The new issue is up, go check it out! Our guest bytch this week is hot Canadian author Ami McKay (The Birth House)

go now!

www.shebytches.com!

First Official Podcast!!!

Hey all, our first podcast is now ready for your ears. You can listen to it here http://shebytchespodcasts.blogspot.com/ or on the right hand side is a couple of links. You can download it to iTunes and you can also subscribe to our mailing list so you can be updated when new ones come out!

The first podcast is part of the Shebytches Indie Reviews and an interview with Girls MissGuided. The interview was done live at a restaurant so there will be background noise, we apologize up front for that!

Enjoy!!!

Liana K is our guest bytch!

NEW THIS WEEK

Guest Bytch Superman by Liana K Superman is one of my favorite comic book characters. That seems passé to many people, and this is the topic of my guest bytch.


"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye." Miss Piggy.

Anna's Bytch Neighbors from Hell Once again I come to you slightly confused, oddly entertained and certainly irritated. I have often asked myself what it is that I am projecting that attracts every single crackpot within a fifty mile radius, but so far I have been unsuccessful in pinning it down.

Carolina's Bytch The Invisible Woman The running joke between V and I is that we are invisible. I use to think it was just that, a joke, but these last two weeks have me thinking otherwise. Let’s do a little review shall we:

Pixie Says Underneath the Glitter, I’m Still a Jew Before I was a pixie, before I was a feminist, almost before I was me, I had two identities: female and Jewish. I was born into them and, not having acquired the power of speech, I couldn’t argue my way out of them. For a while.

Viki Ackland Going Backwards I have always been in a state of disbelief over the affairs of the world. Where most people can go through life in their own square world where happiness is defined merely by their content existence, I have found myself feeling troubled and filled with despair for as long as I can recall. So I carry on, write poetry, stay well informed, live in fear.

EVENTS

check www.myspace.com/shebytches for up todate listings.

Shebytches Upcoming Dates

Sept 24 The Word on the Street, Queen's Park

To Blog or Not to Blog

hey All, one of the articles I am writing for the website is, Blog or not to Blog. Basically what it will be is a compilation of well... basically, why do we blog. What I would like to add is peoples reason's why. So, if you are blogger, message me with the reason you blog!

thx Carolina

ps/ this may even be a podcast...

check out the puddle...

the puddle

there is a puddle on the floor
that puddle use to me
what started as a wet forehead, upper lip, back, and neck
soon dripped away

drip
drip
drip
splat

it started out small
meager
unnoticed
then the spot started to grow

as time went on
that spot grew
larger, wetter
the drip turned to a steady stream

no working air conditioner I cursed
blasted the box that wouldn't produce
cold, refreshing
air

like a broken tap
the running sweat continued
to form a large puddle
at my feet

drip
drip
drip
till there is no more

there is a puddle on the floor
that puddle use to me
my panting dogs, thirsty
have lapped me up

``
I just couldn't help myself. All day I dreaded leaving my semi-air conditioned office building. All day I dreaded coming home to a 90 year old house that is also a working oven. Since Friday I have had a mild migraine, for three days I haven't been able to sleep. Since this heat wave started I have been cursing the fact that the house I bought, the house with the added bonus of central air is so stifling hot. I cursed that the metal box couldn't be turned on due to the fear that it would burn out it's motor and ruin my furnace.

I'm stubborn, ask anyone who knows me, cranky and sweaty and nauseous I decided to give the AC a try. I turned it on and it made the same wretched noise it did the one and only time I turned it on last year. It vibrated, screeched and shut itself off.... I cursed... turned it off and went about my business... the business of sweating that is. Then I said 'Fuck it! Let me play with the breakers and try it again. Guess what... it worked and now it is purring like a kitten!!! and the house is slowly cooling down. I have all the fans on in the bedrooms in hopes of cooling them down enough that I can turn the AC off when we go to bed.

Tomorrow is another day!

c