Danielle Janay

Given the recent change in weather, I have been looking to snuggle up with a warm cup of hot cocoa. But, the problem is, every hot cocoa mix I can find has milk products in it! I searched long and hard for a delicious vegan hot cocoa recipe, and after trying a few and altering them, I came up with this delectable and healthful concoction: Here are the measurements for the ingredients pictured above: Makes 2 Servings of Vegan Superfood Hot Cocoa 4 TBSP coconut sugar* 4 TSP raw cacao powder** 1 TSP coconut oil a dash of pumpkin pie spice *you can also use organic cane or raw sugar, I just prefer coconut due to its health benefits and low glycemic index  **cocoa powder will also work, but using cacao provides more antioxidants and less fat The ingredients in this hot cocoa are not only ethical, but amazing for you! The cacao has a number of beneficial antioxidants and vitamins from the natural cacao bean, and the coconut sugar and oil give it a b...

To be completely honest, I was really nervous about going full vegan because I thought that there weren't going to be any cheese options as close to actual dairy products. Being a vegetarian for the past 8 years, cheese was never really a thought in my mind in terms of ethics. I became a vegetarian when I was 12 or 13, and back then all I knew was that I didn't want to eat meat because of how awful animals were treated. Fast forward to now, when I am 20 and more aware of the horrors of this industry! If you haven't watched Vegucated on Netflix, you should. This is ultimately what helped me decide to go full veg. I never really thought about dairy in terms of health either, but lately more and more people are attributing their acne or stomach discomfort to dairy and it made me think. So plain and simple, I am a vegan. Hi, nice to meet you. Now you may be wondering how my life is without cheese and ice cream, and I have to say that it was hard at first but that was from m...

My favorite part of spring is all the new vegetation! I get so excited every time I see a tiny flower sprouting along the side of a trail. One of my favorite ways to celebrate this season is to get out and garden.  I personally am always running around busy, but I made some time early this year to get out and garden. I took a gardening course at my college where we learned about native California plants, and that really sparked my interest. I planted a few natives around the garden and propagated some house plants for myself as a token!  Here is some of the Rainbow Chard I planted:  One of my favorite ways to get grounded is being in nature. When you're living amongst the plants it makes you feel more at home and serene, something you can't find in the streets of the city.  Being in California is such a blessing because we have so many beautiful plants and recreational areas that celebrate the natural beauty of this state.  If you want to get more involved with ...

One of my favorite skincare products is my facial oil. Now you may wonder what I mean by facial oil as there are varying types of these products. Personally, I am referring to both facial oil cleansers and facial oil moisturizers. If you're anything like me, your skin gets a little dry around the winter/spring months, and no amount of moisturizer will keep my skin hydrated. This past winter I tried out the  Nuance Marigold Cleansing Facial Oil , and fell in love. It retails for about $20 at CVS or on Amazon.com, but it has lasted me a few months so I say it is worth every dollar. So here's how it works: you pump 1-2 pumps of the facial oil onto your palm and smooth across your face. (If your skin is extra dry, let it soak in for a few mins before you wash it off so that the oil can really penetrate your skin). Wash off and pat dry with towel, do not scrub! I follow that cleanser with either the  Miracle Oil  facial oil or the  Rosehip Collagen Facial Oil . Bo...