Conscious Living

Photo by Maria Oswalt on Unsplash

Black Lives Matter (and are needed in the Publishing Industry)

By Kristy Draper / June 8, 2020 /

I am writing today with a heavy but optimistic heart. The recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Tony McDade, are just a few of the many Black lives that have been taken in the long history of systemic racism, oppression, and killing of Black people in the United States and across…

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Live Consciously While Social Distancing

By Kristy Draper / April 9, 2020 /

Hello friends. How are you all doing? So much has happened in the past month, and part of me isn’t sure where to begin. I’m sure like all you, I’ve had so many thoughts and emotions running through me the past few weeks. My husband and I are safe and well in Vancouver, WA, but…

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A Weekend in Phoenix

By Kristy Draper / February 20, 2020 /

I recently spent a long weekend in the Phoenix area. My husband and I went because he was running the Mesa Marathon on February 8th. I’ve only spent a few hours in Phoenix before this trip. In August 2015, we drove through Phoenix during a road trip from Austin, TX to Seattle, WA, where we…

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Photo by Vegan Liftz on Unsplash

Veganuary and beyond!

By Kristy Draper / January 31, 2020 /

Veganuary 2020 is almost over! Did you participate this year? If so, was it your first time, and what did you think? I will celebrate my sixth vegan anniversary (a.k.a veganniversary) this year, but I still enjoy participating in Veganuary events. I find it stimulating to meet new people who are curious about a vegan…

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The Art of Solutionaries

By Kristy Draper / July 9, 2019 /

A friend I made on a recent Artist Date I recently started reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, and taking myself on artist’s dates. The dates are a way to fill your creative tank and find inspiration for ideas, projects, or to help with a creative block. I’ve only been on a few dates…

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A Friendly Fourth

By Kristy Draper / July 1, 2019 /

Beyond Meat Burger ​The Fourth of July and all of the celebrations are only a few days away! Family gatherings, outings with friends, BBQs (vegan, of course), and splashing in the pool are great ways to celebrate. ​I have spent many Fourth of Julys poolside, next to a BBQ grill, or spending the day at…

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Why Should We Care or Why We Should Care?

By Kristy Draper / June 18, 2019 /

​The simple placement of a word or punctuation mark can completely change the meaning of a sentence, which can change the purpose of a paragraph, an essay, a book, or even the essence of how we live and what we believe. I am working towards adding more positivity to my life through my language, both…

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Cherry City Vegfest!

By Kristy Draper / June 10, 2019 /

​I participated in the inaugural Cherry City Vegfest in Salem, Oregon, this past weekend! And wow, what an incredible turnout by the community! This being the first (of hopefully many!) Vegfest in Salem, no one knew what to expect. The event started at 10:00 AM, and there was a busy and steady flow of folks…

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Vegan Picnics

By Kristy Draper / May 20, 2019 /

Steven and I walking around the floating homes on Fisherman’s Wharf in Victoria, BC. Hi! Sorry for the silence the past few weeks. I have been planning, preparing, and then enjoying my 10th wedding anniversary trip! We celebrated ten years of wedded bliss in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. I am still floating on a…

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Running + Vegan = A How to Guide, By Steven Draper

By Kristy Draper / April 9, 2019 /

Steven running the 2019 ORRC Champoeg 30K. The American Heritage dictionary defines a vegan as a vegetarian who only eats plant-based foods, and avoids using products deriving from animals. In other words, a “vegan lifestyle” is the avoidance of any animal-derived products for food, clothing, entertainment, commodities, transportation, beauty, fashion, or experimentation, whereas a “vegan…

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