Vegan Birthday Cupcakes, food journey update and the holidays

It was my birthday two days ago and in the midst of taking care of all things post car accident, we stopped by a cupcake store near our old stomping grounds in Fairfax and picked up some vegan cupcakes. Originally, I thought I'd make vegan donuts and we'd give those a try for my birthday. While that idea didn't pan out I still want to try it at a later time. 

We didn't do a lot of birthday "things" -- we started our day off early going to Enterprise to rent a car, then to the chiropractor's office to make sure Yangkyu was ok (he also plans on seeing someone who specializes accidents), then grabbing a bite to eat, picking up Lady's food at Kriser's, then these cupcakes and then heading over to the collision center to pick up our personal items from our car. Then it was back home where we napped, then had these delicious cupcakes, skipped dinner and then caught a night showing of Star Wars in 3D. We had bought these tickets a while back and had the most rockin' seats in the theatre. I already knew what my birthday/Christmas present was but Yangkyu wrapped it anyway and so I'll open it on Christmas morning along with everyone else. 

Yangkyu felt so bad that my birthday was spent taking care of things but Yangkyu is really the one person who I never tire of being with. And so getting to spend the entire day with him was a present in itself. 

As for my food journey, I thought I'd do a little recap since the last time I checked in (which was on December 8th).

Still meatless. Yay. I am 100% sure I didn't consume meat or meat-based broths. Dairy though I have consumed - some consciously others not. 

There is a time of the month, once a month, where I crave really bad junk food. It's always been Burger King. I have it for about two nights and then I'm done. This month oddly I didn't have the overpowering cravings like I normally have but did have it slightly and so I settled on pizza. It wasn't that I craved cheese. I don't crave cheese at all but it was just a choice of junk of out there that was meatless. Hopefully next month I can be better about it. 

I also realized two days ago that I ordered a chai latte and didn't specify that I wanted it with almond milk (I corrected that last night when I ordered a mocha frappe with almond milk). I also picked up something at the Korean grocery market - pan fried fish filets. I still eat fish (I can't seem to find alternatives to fish so for now I am consuming them - fish oil is a big part of a lot of Korean dishes I make and so I'm going to figure out how to get around this one). Anyway, I picked up those fish filets because, well, it isn't meat. I was half way through eating them when I realized that it's actually dipped in eggs before being pan fried. It was just such a secondary thing that it completely slipped my mind. I mean the egg covering is there. It's so visible. But I think I am still getting used to being more conscious about what goes in to what. I'm not beating myself over these mistakes. I'm sure I'll get it right as time goes on. 

In the meantime, I have found that meatless food from the brand Gardein is awfully good. With meatless food that tastes this good, it's hard to go back to actual meat. I have also found the bibimbap patties from Dr. Praeger's is amazing as well. 

When I first committed to doing this, I said I wouldn't really read labels to make sure certain things didn't have dairy products in them. I was just going to make those visible changes first, like switching out my milk, cheese, etc. But I am finding myself reading labels more and more. One time I found that heavy whipping cream has an ingredient that I don't even feed my dog. Wow. (It's carrageenan if you were wondering). 

Yangkyu still consumes meat but when he is with me he eats what I make. When we go out to eat, he gets what he wants and I get something that isn't meat, and non-dairy based or if the restaurant has a vegan/vegetarian menu, I'll get something from there. It's been good although going out to eat or going out on a whim still feels daunting with the feeling that I am very limited with my choices. Still, I don't feel groggy, I don't feel tortured, I don't feel like I'm missing out. It's actually have been a pleasant experience, especially because I finding new ways to cook and new foods to prepare has been an enjoyable one. So yays all around so far. 

It's almost Christmas! I can't believe it. I have been waiting since Halloween. 

Happy weekend and Happy Holidays from me, Yangkyu and Lady. 

Despereaux

A couple of nights ago, Yangkyu was in a three-car accident at an intersection. Most likely our car will be considered a total loss. We went to the collision center yesterday to get our belongings out while we wait for the insurance company to make the decision. 

We bought our Toyota Matrix in May of 2009. It was three months before our wedding. A good friend of Yangkyu's who is a car enthusiasist helped Yangkyu test drive cars so that he can choose one that is right for him. For us. Yangkyu sometimes isn't the greatest at making decisions, especially on big ticket items, and so he asked me to come with him the day he was to buy the car. He said it is going to be our car.

"What did you decide on?" I asked him, to which he replied, "Probably the Honda Civic." He had driven the Civic before. It was familiar. 

We both don't really have interest in cars, and so I just replied, "I see..." when I saw a cute little hatchback parked near our apartment. 

"Hey Yangkyu? What's that car over there?"

"That? That's the Toyota Matrix."

"It's cute."

"Do you like it? Should we buy that one?"

"Yeah."

"Ok! Let's' test drive it today and buy it!"

And that's how we decided on our first car together.

His colleagues at the time saw his new car and called it a rat color (because it was grey and while it sounds a little odd in English, when said in Korean it doesn't sound all that weird). When he told me this story, I suggested to Yangkyu that we name our Matrix Despereaux. I think the movie The Tale of Despereaux was playing in the theaters in and around this time.

When I recall back to our memory as a family, like Piri and Bartles, this car is always a part of it. It helped us move from New York to Maryland to our condo in Virginia and then our first home. 

It was a small car but it was mighty. We used every little crevice to pack it up with Piri's carriage and our bags and went on so many road trips. It helped us get to the hospital for Piri's surgeries and treatments and silently drove in the darkness with a lifeless Piri in the front seat. His last ride. A heartbroken Yangkyu and me, it seemed as though Despereaux stayed strong to help us get through this difficult ride.

When Bartles came back to us in the form of ashes, I held him tightly and our Matrix, once again, like it has always done, safely got us back home. It welcomed Lady for the first time after we met her at an adoption event and brought her to her forever home. 

When Yangkyu and I had trouble conceiving, our car was there, bringing us to and from clinics for tests and infertility treatments. When those didn't work, we gave up but somehow miraculously got pregnant, which was, unfortunately, short-lived. And in the middle of the night, just hours before we were to move to our home, I miscarried while sleeping. Yangkyu held my hand, a broken me crying and in pain, and our car got us safely to the emergency room. And afterwards while I was holding back my tears, this car of ours took in my wails as soon as I got in and locked the doors. It blocked all sounds and acted as a protective shield for what seemed like hours while I wailed and wailed and wailed. 

At the end of the day, it is just a car. But to me it's a car full of memories.

At the collision center, those memories came back to me. And I cried at each passing memory.

To be honest, I have been bringing up the idea of getting a new car. Yangkyu said the Matrix is still good. And since Virginia has a car tax, it seemed like a waste of money for us to keep two cars (although in the end, that is what we said we would do so that I can start to drive a bit more). But we agreed to wait a bit longer until we bought a new car.

I thought that till the end, our little hatchback kept us safe, kept Yangkyu safe in the accident.

Yangkyu said, "Piri, Bartles and the rest of the gang of misfits said they needed to use the car over across the rainbow bridge. So they decided to take it.."

Yangkyu always makes up stories like this. And they always seem real. 

Happy 1st Gotcha Day, Mr. Bartles!

A year ago today, Mr. Bartles came home to us and we became each other's forever family. He's no longer with us but we wanted to send over a smile and our love across the rainbow bridge to wish him a very happy first Gotcha Day. 

Thank you for making us feel like the most special people on earth, Mr. B. 

Miss you. Love you always. 

The most wonderful holiday cards by Katrina Sophia

For some of our long time friends, you may recall that we always have two sets of cards -- a photo card of Piri for all our dog loving friends and then a non-photo card for everyone else.

This year, we were looking forward to having a photo card of Bartles but he left us before we could celebrate the holidays with him. 

I couldn't bear the thought of getting through Christmas this year without having something of Bartles and so I reached out to Katrina Sophia to see if she would be willing to paint an original piece of art to use for our holiday cards that featured Bartles and Piri and Lady all together.

When Piri crossed the rainbow bridge, Katrina surprised me with a piece of mailing that touched my heart. It was a water color of Piri with an expression on his face that I can spot as uniquely his from a mile away. I knew I always wanted to go to her for some sort of art work and the holidays was a perfect time to do just that. 

I absolutely love the finished piece. I can't tell you enough how well she captured their face expression. It's them. It's Piri, Lady and Bartles. And these cards are by far my favorite.

I only ordered 20 to send to our closest dog friends and people who have been in Piri and Bartles' corner. When I ran out, I deeply regretted not ordering more. But we had also ordered a batch of photo cards of Lady since it is her first Christmas with us and picked up a box of non-photo cards as well. 

All the cards are gone - except one each of the ones that Katrina made for us and the phone cards of Lady. I usually save a card as a keepsake.

Thank you Katrina for making this Christmas extra special for us. 

You can see more of Katrina Sophia's work at her shop and also on her blog and Instagram. 

Holiday gift guide for Cocker Spaniel lovers

We haven't done these in a while. I almost passed on doing them again but then thought what the heck. Let's round up some of the cutest cocker spaniel things and see if it may be something you can give to the cocker spaniel lover in your life. Some of the items (starred) are gifts that give back  so be sure to check them out. (Please note some Etsy shops are not based in the US and some items may only ship within the US)

Happy holidays!

01 // English Cocker Spaniel sweatshirt from Raw Fig

02* // 2018 OBG "Sweetest Things" Calendar (proceeds go to OBG Cocker Spaniel Rescue)

03* // Kettle corn to benefit Camp Cocker Rescue 

04* // Enamel pins featuring rescued dogs by Camp Cocker Rescue

05 // Cocker Spaniel cufflinks from Albalaser

06 // English Cocker Spaniel print from VelvetPrint

07 // Cocker Spaniel cookie cutter from HappyCutterStore

08 // Cocker Spaniel mug from Goodfully

09 // Cocker Spaniel mama shirt from ThisismyYearGear