Ka ching, scratch scratch, oooooh

Well DH dug up his old collection of coins and while we were ooohing and aahing over them I suddenly remembered THE funnest thing you could possibly do with coins.

Soooo I spent a good half hour on this...



No matter how many times I do this, it still fills me with awe and joy when the image starts appearing on the paper.

Coins, pencil and paper - the awesomest way to relax and feel like a kid again. Followed closely by coloring books and crayons :)



- Susmitha :)

Own The Hour

I discovered Own The Hour yesterday thanks to Nath and I'm already hooked!! Not only have I purchased so many slots there but I also keep visiting the site often to take a look at the listings and have found so many new etsy favorites :)

If you'd like to find out more about the creator of Own The Hour check his interview on this blog.

If you have an etsy store and want a reasonable, cool way to promote or if you're a buyer looking for a variety of things to purchase check it out!



But let me warn you, it can get reeeaaaallllly addictive! :D

Edited to add on 6 Dec 2008:
This hasn't helped me much after that first time. Barely got any views from it, leave alone sales. But that's only my personal experience.


Susmitha :)
Art by Susmitha
Veganosaurus

Vegan Etsy Sampler Pack

I recently received my the VeganEtsy promo pack which I'd purchased a short while ago. And when I opened it, boy was I thrilled with the goodies inside! All that for 10 bucks plus shipping (actual shipping, no 'handling' charges either). It was TOTALLY worth it and more! I'm so grateful to Molly for having started the group and the store. I got so many things I had my eye on and it was so nice to sample these seller's products.

For so long I'd wanted to own a cute vegetable print from myzoetrope and I got this awesome Onion!! Now I know I'll be getting more to go with it as soon as I've accumulated some moolah!! :)

And OMG a little ceramic "Vegan" keychain from VeganDish, I couldn't believe my eyes! She's a celebrity and I'd wanted to own a VeganDish mug from the first time I set eyes on them!! This keychain is a perfect "taster" for those who don't have the ka-ching to buy those mugs or bowls yet. Makes me feel like I'm closer to that dream mug :D


I also found a couple of lovely trinkets from StarrlightJewelry - a pin and a tree ornament. And I have to say, apart from being a talented artist, she also happens to be an awesome person! :)

And then there was this beautiful painting print of The Proud Chicken by monicarichards. It really makes you see the free and proud chicken in all it's glory on and makes you think of the reality of it's sad fate in today's world of poultry farms. A really moving work of art!!

I also got some great coupon deals for doggie treats and recipes from UberDuperCreations and emmask9kitchen along with a cute pin and a Vegan magnet. I can't use the coupons myself but I can think of friends would love them :)

And finally, the best for last. My absolute favorite in the whole bunch is the Vegan Lip Balm from DaisyWares. Oh GAWD it smells simply heavenly!!! That Vanilla fragrance..mmmmm. Makes me hungry just thinking about it!! It left my lips so smooth. And boy did I have a tough time keeping my DH from eating it up right out of the tube! LOL Just looking at those other flavors available is making my mouth water! Whoever thought a Root Beer lip balm would exist? It's ingenious! Needless to say I'm gonna be HOARDING these up soon!!

I can't wait for the next VeganEtsy promo pack to be available at the store! Boy oh boy oh boy! :) :) :)

Help required at Peaceful Prarie Sanctuary

Here's a letter that our Veganetsy Team leader Molly received from the Peaceful Prarie Sanctuary.

They only have until the end of the week to raise the money they need for this, but if everyone pulls together, we can make this happen!! Please help the animals by helping this wonderful sanctuary see this through. To donate, please visit their site or go here.


Dear Friend of Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary,

We have an incredible opportunity to expand the sanctuary by 35 acres and to acquire a 4000 square foot home that will be converted into an Education Center and volunteer / intern housing and B&B for sanctuary visitors.

This kind of capital improvement to the sanctuary is 10 years overdue -- but we now have the opportunity to purchase the property for $100,000.00.

Thanks to one VERY generous benefactor, we've already raised $70,000.00!!!

We need to raise the other $30,000.00 before the end of the week in order to make a cash offer on the property.

Another family has placed an offer and, due to the Agricultural zoning, they will have to use the land to enslave and exploit animals.

Please help us stop it before it starts, while simultaneously expanding the sanctuary and our ability to care for and advocate for countless more victims of the egg, dairy, flesh producers and consumers.

Time is of the essence - if you are able to contribute to this, please let me know right away.

Thank You!
Michele Alley-Grubb
Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary

Hesaru Kaalu Sprouts - The BEST vegan snack ever!!

Mom used to make these often when we were in school and we used to carry dabba fulls to eat during our snack break. Of course long before the 11 am bell rang the little boxes were sneakily opened under the desk and handfuls were passed around. Surreptitiously munching on Hesaru Kaalu (Mung Bean) Sprouts made even the most boring class pleasurable! :)

When there are little kids at home a certain magic exists which makes all kinds of yummy treats appear constantly without anyone having to ask for them. No adult 'child' can make that happen! LOL So naturally after the school years were over, as all other snacks, these also became rare. Mom still made us anything we asked for but the asking in itself reduced. We got busy with our lives - tiffin breaks and special evening snacks receded to the background of our priorities.

The Mung Bean Sprout resurfaced only during certain festivals or wedding feasts in the form of the molike kosumbari - a sprout salad of sorts.

Last week I went into a health food trip because I had just recovered from being sick and figured I needed to replenish my body's nutrient content. In between the raw carrots & cucumbers and the fresh fruits & juices I suddenly remembered the Mung Bean Sprout! I just had to make a batch!!

Contrary to common belief, these sprouts are not difficult to make at all!

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HESARU KAALU MOLIKE
Mung Bean Sprouts

Take a cupful of dry Mung Beans and wash well.
Soak in about thrice the quantity of water for 8 hours or so (overnight is a good idea).
Drain completely and put in a container and close the lid.
Leave in a dark place for a day (not in the fridge).
Open the lid... Voila Sprouts!!
Store in fridge and consume as soon as possible - an effortless task I might add :)

It's as easy as that! :)
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Each mouthful of sprouts is a delicious mix of fresh flavor and mild sweetness. I might be able to stop myself from munching on chips after a single mouthful, but Hesaru Kaalu Sprouts.. IMPOSSIBLE!!

The whole batch I made got polished off in no time. Some of it was eaten plan, some of it was turned into Kosumbari. Either way, it was yummy. And the amount of nutrition it contains makes it a perfect healthy snack!

In the hope that more people will choose this often over the regular junk food, here is the Kosumbari recipe.

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HESARU KAALU MOLIKE KOSUMBARI
Mung Bean Sprout Salad - A South Indian speciality.

Ingredients:
1 C Sprouts
1/2 C Chopped Cucumber
1/2 C Grated Fresh Coconut
1/4 C Grated Carrot
1/2 t Fresh Green Chilly Paste (adjust quantity according to how much spice you can handle)
1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Cilantro
1 pinch Hing (Asafoteida)
Salt (preferably seas salt) to taste
Juice of 1 lime or lemon

Put everything in a bowl and mix together with your hand using a light squeezing motion to get the flavors to blend well.