Focus on the positive swing...a list~

eye will focus~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     The upswing is drastically more enjoyable and motivating then any fall. When I scrape my knees and bleed, I (now am) trying to ignore and avoid the obvious disappointments. The hindering physical blows that cause me to falter. But, with enough chosen ignorance, disassociation from the negative, it explodes, or needles it's way through a smaller and lesser means of acceptance. It's as if a town will flood from the tear drop hole in a dam.
     I've been on a positive hike for a while, today some blows came at my face, but it's been building throughout this week. I haven't been preparing myself. My mornings have started to grow harder, my self worth growing more bruised with each passing minute. Yes this is an emotional vent of sorts, but...so is life. I'm putting in the ardent effort to focus and concentrate on the positive silverlinings in my life, as it is currently. I think maybe I've been milking the great stuff and not attending to the things that do trouble/burden me. This shushing has rumbled and it's hungry for attention. I've slipped a bit and need to re grip my shoes.
     I may have slipped, things may be pointing towards a "bad day" but these are the silverlinings I will direct my attention to, acknowledge the shit, but don't sit staring at it....flush it down.

1. art is back
2. I'm in Korea, in a foreign country full of opportunity
3. I am alive and breathing
4. I have two lovely animals as companions, friends, and snugglers
5. I have a roof over my head
6. I have enough money to provide for myself and the kids
7. I am employed
8. I can do yoga, run, stretch, be active
9. I can write and read
10. I have access to internet, a computer, luxuries in my life
11. I have a lot of beautiful Souls and friends around me
12. I am surrounded by inspiration and supportive people
13. I smile, and it's not forced
14. I have a beautiful family
15. I have a visa
16. I will have more time to devote to my passions
17. I am a survivor and strong womyn
18. my vocabulary is always growing
19. I am learning something new everyday
20. I have the luxuries and ability to choose vegan as a lifestyle
21. I have clean clothes
22. I have a shower
23. I have heat
24. I have air conditioning
25. I am not sick with a life-threatening disease
26. I get to teach the youth and be inspired by their child-like joy
27. I have a wonderful partner who is inspiring
28. I have a younger brother full of life and is also very inspiring
29. I am going to DJ fest this weekend
30. My friends are talented musicians and entrepreneurs 
31. I have a lot of music I love
32. My father has showed me so much in life
33. My mother has showed me so much in life
34. I have family in Korea
35. My family all has big supportive hearts
36. My cousin is having a boy
37. My other cousin just got married and is so happy
38. My friend's restaurant is doing so well, and he is chasing  his dream...he is inspiring
39. nearly 7 years ago, yoga was introduced to me
40. I get to do taebo
41. I can run and walk
42. I have an awesome camera
43. I am learning photography
44. I have been in love before
45. I have some girlfriends that are my sisters
46. My bestest and oldest friend is getting married later this year
47. I will be in America in December to celebrate with her
48. I have a big heart
49. I get to have a full day
50. I have this blog
51. I have access to endless opportunity
52. I will discover and learn more today,tomorrow, next week, etc. 
53. I have people that believe in me
54. My friends are all over the place
55. I get to hear stories all the time
56. I keep meeting new and inventive individuals
57. I am 25 years old
58. The weather is lovely
59. The sun is shining
60. I have a big ol'bed that I get to snuggle into later
61. I will get to travel around Seoul today
62. I will share time with learners today
63. I get to ride the greatest subway system around today
64. I have an iphone
65. I can easily call any of my friends or family today
66. I have many relationships that mean the world to me
67. I have a lot of paper
68. I have a lot of pencils and pens
69. I get to draw today, and sketch, and design
70. I have a creative mind
71. I am living
72. I am a contributing part of society
73. I can connect and communicate
74. I can speak some Korean
75. I am learning Korean
76. I am studying French
77. I have read over two-hundred or three-hundred books
78. I love
79. I care
80. I empathize
81. I have become a stronger and more assertive womyn
82. I am a survivor and fighter
83. I know my way around a kitchen
84. I am skilled with baking
85. I understand food elements
86. I have drank delicious wine
87. I have traveled to several countries
88. I have lived in several countries and plan on doing that more often
89. I have a vacation coming up
90. I will be able to rest
91. I am not colorblind
92. I was raised in a loving (and challenging) household
93. I am independent
94. I have a wall full of completed artwork
95. I am going to surprise someone I love with hopeful inspiration
96. I love to dance
97. I like my hair-color, though fake, I love it 
98. I have High Fidelity AND Detroit Rock City on my computer
99. I have the freedom to watch them later
100. I have seen so many wonderful musicians live

the list can go on...ahhh

Random Vegan Eats spamming...(and a guestimate recipe!)

     Not the spam that you sweep up after you mold up those hot dogs...it's been a while and this blog has been all about music, talent, photography, and kicking it...there's still some vegan nomming that happens! And there def some kitchen playing...Here's some stuff from the past week, two weeks, month?!? eiighhhh

carrot and zuke noodles~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     My genuine dislike for pasta has been solved...zucchini noodles are where it's at! Gluten free, versatile, high in fiber, high in deliciousness! I made zuke and carrot noodles and plated it up with a semi-raw cherry tomato, wine, garlic, black pepper, and balsamic redux~

     I met with a friend and slurped a morning hangover away with a wine sorbet...make sense, meh, tasty~ yes!

wine sorbet~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     One day I got all sorts of ideas in my head and wanted to make a spicy, highly flavorful, but stripped of any fat possible, tofu-based dish. I wanted crunch, heat, and variety...result~ this plate of "stir-fried" tofu, zukes, mushrooms, onion, and kale in a soy garlic and gochujang redux! 

in it's reduced glory~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I wish I had a recipe to provide...it was a kitchen craze of octopus style hand-ingredient throwing!

Here's a guess:

What you need:

1. tofu, slice it any way you want, and drain!
2. 1/2 an onion sliced...I'm all about half moons!
3. 1 small zuke, slice it the way you want!
4. enoke mushrooms...go with what you're wanting!
5. shitake mushrooms...see above!
6. 3-4 cloves of garlic, crushed. 
7. as much kale as your heart desires. 
8. low-sodium soy sauce
9. 1 T gochujang

What to do:

1. maybe 1 tsp of oil heated in a pan, throw int he tofu when it's hot
2. throw in the onions and zukes when the tofu is browned
3. throw in everything but the kale, garlic, soy sauce, and gochujang after maybe 6 minutes.
4. add the kale, soy sauce, and garlic...mix
5. add the gochujang sauce....if too thick, add splashes of water...
6. cook down til it's as thick/thin as you want!
7. plate, sprinkle sesame seeds, eat, smile!

Grand apologies for not being able to provide more directed details!!

Ahhh and another picture to throw in your face!

     Man joked about breakfast that past weekend, and I threw together everything in my fridge and made a heaping amount of 전, what was in all of this?

전party~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Beansprouts, kimchi, scallions, zukes, kale, spinach, mushrooms, and loads of love! I made a bit too much...but hey, parties can't be too much right....right?

Anyways...promises on more food posts~ 

Veg-on!    

    

Pass me that Pen~

     Inspiration to get things done and fulfill my insecure-ridden talents has been on the forefront. I've been meeting these amazingly talented, driven, supportive, and open-minded people that are chasing their dreams, fulfilling them, and exerting energy into their passions. Seeing this drive has got me grabbing pens and camera and whipping them together. I have been doing sketches now and again and it feels so...comforting. I used to create all the time, my mind constantly working and winding out something intricate, complex, and complete. After challenges and too many obstacles to keep me feeling whole, I neglected creating, I put a lot of it to the side. My creative juices and sources of inspiration dwindled. I still had my wonderful crew, friends, and loved ones...but anything more than that would have left me far more broken than functional.
     I started this new job(s) where I'm now cruising the subway system for at least three hours a day...leaving me with ample time to read, listen to music, waste time on games, etc. I finished three books, grew bored of my games and one day started sketching. This all paralleled a very positive upswing that's been contributing to my life...a lot of different things are correlating and all this joy is brimming over. Art is entering my life again, and it feels like an old friend. There are no debates, awkward exchanges, or forced reconnections...we both missed one another...
     Here are some quick subway sketches~

gnome~ (sketch done by VeganBeats)

chuckle~ (sketch done by VeganBeats)

whai~ (sketch done by VeganBeats)

knows~ (sketch done by VeganBeats)

lion~ (sketch done by VeganBeats)

yawn~ (sketch done by VeganBeats)

J dilla~ (sketch done by VeganBeats)

beta~ (sketch done by VeganBeats)

quick grump~ (sketch done by VeganBeats)

apples~ (sketch done by VeganBeats)

melon~ (sketch done by VeganBeats)

      And I'm not releasing anything definite (though fingers are tied swirly super-crossed) there are some brilliant potential projects on the way!~

Conversin' around~ Weekend of laughter and brilliance

     Where have I been? This past weekend has been another very positive roundup (if you can't see it, feel the smile on my face) My dropbox is getting a bit sassy and stubborn so I can't throw any pictorial evidence or support of the weekends adventures. )O:
     Friday started with a full day of work, oven dancing, and then actual dancing ^^* ..

conversin' (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Black Ilumin and Jkea Pains were preforming over at Phantom in Sinsa and I was fortunate enough to be extended an invitation! Both Jake (Jkea) and Black Ilumin are very talented artists, check them out! I've had both these artists on my radar for a while and getting to see and swivel to their music literally screamed at me....why have I not kicked it to their shows earlier?! They also have worked together and are named "Wisecrue" check their collaborations out too! 

     Saturday was Cinco de Mayo, and Vatos was hosting a fundraiser event for Children's day and the orphanage! I swung by around one and the place was PACKED! I'm still so overwhelmingly happy that they are doing so well! I baked a cake for them and it was rich! When dropbox figures it's issues out...I'll throw on a eye teaser and recipe!! From what I saw, a lot of donations were provided from several generous people! Diapers, baby wipes, formula~ hell yea community! 

     Around 7, my crew and I were lucky enough to get a table and spoil our tummies, taste buds, and livers with loads of fresh and delicious noms, gauntlets of drinks, and a slice of my cake!! A line was in constant existence outside Vatos' door and as always, Kenny, John, and Jeena were amazing! Eye teasers will also come around later!!

     Post Vatos, a skating after party was hit up! More dancing, more drinking, more smiling, loving, and laughing...then it was Sunday! Once again, the crew united at a friend's house where we were spoiled rotten with vegan chili, salsa, quesadillas, guacamole, mango vodka, etc...Vatos was still on the minds eh?! It was a perfect Sunday, the sun beat down on all of us while we shared stories, played boggle, and relaxed on a rooftop! The sun set and we parted ways...but today...another wonderful day!

     I spent the morning in nothing but great smiling spirits...then I taught my cutie of a student for two hours, came home, wrapped up lesson plans...and now...resting time. My dropbox hasn't uploaded anything for the past two hours...but I promise pictures. 

     Oh and random unrelated picture, a few weeks ago Melissa and I got together for a lazy porch Sunday and we got to some hair playing, well, she played and my locks became beauty~

photo taken by Melissa! 

The facts:

Jkea Pains Facebook page

Jkea Pains Soundcloud 

Black Ilumin Facebook page

Black Ilumin Soundcloud (listen to Liquis Poison...ughhhhhh)

Wisecrue Facebook page

Vatos website

Vatos Facebook page

AND while you're checking out all this GREAT stuff, check out my boy's beats~ (I'll write more about him later) but this is talent right here~~ 

More Love for Vatos~ AND FUNDRAISER!

     It seems like I've been riding such a high and positive wave for a while now, and I'm LOVING it~ Parts of me are cautious, waiting for things to crash, but I'm living this and soaking it all up. Every weekend has been filled with beautiful Seouls, great music, dancing jams, positive energy, great food, delicious drinks, lots of laughter, and loads of adventure. Other than the weekends, the weeks have been filled with productivity, socializing, and exploring emotions and feelings that I genuinely thought have passed. Open your heart, open your eyes, live your life~
     Maybe it's all of these bursting flowers adding to my colorful and smiley style, I won't complain...not in the slightest.

photo taken by VeganBeats~

     This past weekend has been nothing short of brilliant, so many reasons, so many Seouls, so many real moments...am I woman loving life? Am I gloating a bit...I'm celebrating ^^*~
     The weekend commenced with a gathering at Vatos Urban Tacos! If you've been following, my genuine love and enthusiasm for this resturarant is unavoidable and undeniable! Everytime I spend time at Vatos, I have a great time. And every time my friends are introduced to Vatos, they leave with happy stomachs, giant grins, and a similar attitude to mine..."I LOVE Vatos~"
     I tend to go on a "Vatos soapbox" whenever someone slips the "I really want Mexican good" or "does anyone know of a good restuarant?"
     This Sunday night I introduced Vatos to a buddy and other friends joined us...we started with a Mexican martini (for him) and a Vegan Bloody Mary (no worchestire sauce) for me and jeezum~ This was spicy, strong, and sassy. My vegan parts were tickling with silly excitement, cellery ughhh~...ahh the veggies of the states...I miss you so~

Vegan Vatos Bloody Mary (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I ordered a "Surprise me" taco salad and Kenny served up something on the wim that was more than satisfying, it was perfect! The taco salad had the cabbage slaw, beans, kimchi, sauteed veggies, salsa, and two corn tortillas! There was a great balance of texture, warm kimchi and veggies with crunchy zesty cabbage! Vegans~ Do Vatos...do it...!

Vegan Vatos Taco Salas~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     My buddy is South African and has been talking about this cider that I "HAD TO TRY!" Vatos carries it, Hunter's dry and sweet! The alcoholic cider I recall and know is Woodchuck from Vermont...I'm sorry VT, but it doesn't compare. Hunter's is bubbly, great with lemon, and really delicious. I ended up downing three of these...granted my groggy woozy head should've told me to chill but my taste-buds were craving!!

one of my many bottles~ (photo taen by VeganBeats)

     Every time, every single time someone comes here here, they leave wanting to come back, and with a new level of expectation for food in terms of what Korean provides. In what Mexican cuisine is available in this teeny peninsula. The food, the drinks, the entire restaurant provides a great experience. It's nearly (I think completely) impossible to not have a great time! Do yourself a favor, your friends a favor and check out Vatos!

Also~ This Saturday, Vatos is hosting it's First Cinco De Mayo and Children's Day Fundraiser! 
Here is the information:
May 5, 2012 11:30 am to 11:30 pm~

"Come join us as we hold our 1st Annual Cinco de Mayo / Children's Day Fundraiser at Vatos Urban Tacos!

We will be offering:
-Vatos NUTELLA NACHOS
-Homemade TRES LECHES CAKE
-Homemade APPLE CINNAMON CRUMBLE (YES, back for ONE day only!!!)

***100% of our dessert proceeds will be donated to an Infant Orphanage. We will use the proceeds to BUY infant items and personally take it to them.

The orphanage believes every child should have the opportunity to learn and grow in a loving home. Currently it has about 50 infants waiting to be adopted; most are younger than 3 months old. The majority of the mothers are young and unmarried who wish to provide better prospects for their child. Let's be that helping hand!

***In addition, we will be accepting any donations consisting of infant formula, infant diapers and other infant items leading up to Cinco de Mayo starting TODAY!!!!

*** Open donations will be greatly appreciated as well

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~~~"
Facebook Event Page~

Hope to see y'all there!!