Veganizing The Holidays!

Happy holidays retro afro style!

I loved being quite the crafty little persuasive vixen today.

Vegan Gingerbread Cookies!

Each gift (sans one) contains gingerbread cookies and my favorite products.
I hope that they too see that such delicious treasures are meant to be savored.
Along with original art, here are just some insertion examples.

For my bff, Sweet Jels in Australia, she gets an array of Larabars, Clif Bars, Peanut Butter & Company's Dark Chocolate Dreams, Fine & Raw Dark Chocolate Raspberry Bar, Befine samples, a miniature sterling silver cat pin, and mini bottles of Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Wash and Body Butter.

A gift bag for my friend, Gaile, owner of Cachet G contains Daiya cheese & Love Street Living Food's 100% Raw Organic Vegan Dominican Chocolate Coconut Spread (from Peace On Fifth).

 Witchblade Origins trade paperbacks for my younger brother.

Mommy's haul.

My mom loves books. Inside of her recycled Holly Robinson-Peete gift bag contains Whoopi Goldberg's autobiography- Is It Just Me Or Is Nuts Out There?, a short story compilation called This Is Not Chick Lit: Original Stories By America's Best Women Authors, a floral bookmark that says, "you are all the words you speak so make them sweet,"a pair of beautiful earrings (from Cachet G!), and Luna bars.

Actually reusing a holiday bag, I placed my older brother's gifts inside. A mini King Tut bust statue (also another Cachet G treasure), Bolthouse carrot juice (yes, he loves this stuff), Peanut Butter & Company's White Chocolate Wonderful, & Bonne Mason's Cherry Preserves.

We all have a special someone who deserves a uniquely crafted gift that celebrates the meaning they bring into life. So I found this tiny tiger's eye carved roaring lion & thought it embodied this person in every last etch.

Holiday gifts to me & frugal personal splurging.

What's the holidays without a little spoilage? 
My very generous friend gave me a Yankee Candle's Christmas At The Beach, Strathmore sketchbooks, a set of Liquitex Basics Acrylic Paints, and colored pencils. With a recent commission order, I bought turquoise Apt. 1 tights and Mudd earrings from Kohl's ($5.99 steal!), a journal from T.J. Maxx ($4.99), & two books from Half Price Books- African Americans In Art: Selections Form The Art Institute Of Chicago (Actually saw this wonderfully curated show in person & had to buy it at $3!) and Lee Krashner's Paintings ($2!)
But spending time with the family over a vegan meal (somewhat) was the greatest joy of all.

Trader Joe's Turkeyless Pot Roast, Macaroni & Cheese, Couscous, Mashed Potatoes & gravy. I know. I know. Missing vegetables & cranberry sauce for sure.

Yes. Christmas was amazing this year.
I loved every minute of it. <3>