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Going Vegan in Austin TX

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Karie Brouillette said #1 Oct 22, 2009 at 9:56am

Ok, I am going vegan. I have been "flirting" since 1994, but ready to make the plunge. I know Austin is full of vegetarian freindly restaurants.....anyone out there want to share their favorites.

On a side note, I have recently gone shampoo-free. I use baking soda and water to clean my hair and apple cider vinegar to condition it. It's been over a month and my hair looks and feels great. I also threw out my face soap and switched to using castor oil and EVOO. works like a champ....so long clinic!!!

I am so excited about The Kind Life website.....thanks Alicia!!!!

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french_momma said #2 Oct 25, 2009 at 12:58pm

Hi, Karie!!! i am in Houston, and so far you are the closest person to post. It does seem that Austin and Houston are catching up a little bit better with the need for veg restaurants.
Your hair washing idea sounds interesting. I may have to try something like that, so far all of the veg s/c i have found contain corn based ingredients like citric acid, which i am allergic to. some more than others. one i really liked made my scalp itch and my hair fall out...not fun. I have just started a new one, we will see what we see. but i am a big fan of homemade beauty products too.
Nice to meet you!

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Lizzy White said #3 Oct 25, 2009 at 7:57pm

OHHHH i'm in Arkansas!!! More southern people! YAY! Arkansas is not very friendly to vegans...in the since that there are not many places to buy the products...I have to drive like 45 minutes to a whole foods store. I'm so glad to see that there are people in the south that are on board with Alicia! ...I was starting to think that nobody else in the south was vegan or at least something along the lines...I have a happier outlook now!

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Karie Brouillette said #4 Oct 26, 2009 at 7:29am

yea!!!! People ine the South!!!! Ok, I have lived both in Houston and Arkansas. So I feel for both of you in your quest to be Vegetarian in "anti-veg" places. We will have to stick together...smile!!!!

As far as the "poo-free"...I absolutely love it. here is the website I got the idea from...... www.simplemom.net look under "Poo-Free". Alot of people have chimmed in to talk about how it has helped their itchy scalp.....check it out.

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Erika Spadafora said #5 Oct 26, 2009 at 10:35am

HEY!

Well I am probably the closest person to you to post now but still a world away. I'm in San Antonio Texas and the only place I know there to eat is Green. Its great but its one resturant. I know Austin is a bit better but still going veg in Texas is like walking around in alaska naked. I feel you pain.

I need to try your shampoo idea!

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Brianna Light said #6 Oct 28, 2009 at 12:57pm

hey! I'm from austin as well and flirting with the idea of going veg. Now with the new Sprouts stores popping up north and south, Newflower down south, Whole Foods, Central Market and I know of one actual Farmer's Market down in Sunset Valley (if you know of any others, please let me know! That one has some cool stuff but it's kind of expensive.) Anyways, I'm glad someone else from Austin is going after this as I think I'm going to have a hard time with it myself. What recipe are you going to try first?

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Karie Brouillette said #7 Oct 28, 2009 at 1:15pm

I have already tried the Rustic Pasta and LOVED it!! It sounds kinda weird with the cabbage, pasta, soy sauce and marinara....but it all works. Cabbage gives it great texture and crunch.

I have also tried the peanut butter cups.....which are also very good.

I live down south about a mile away from the south Central Market and Newflower, Sprouts and SunHarvest, So right now I am vry happy to have all the choices. I go to the Sunset Valley Farmers Market every Saturday.....it can get pricey at times, but I love the quality and people. Here is a link to the Austin Farmers market....you can click on Other Markets and it will list all the markets in Central Texas. http://www.austinfarmersmarket.org/#myGallery1-picture(5)

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Evie said #8 Oct 29, 2009 at 11:25am

Yay! I've done the "poo-free" method and cleansed my face with castor oil as well...It's awesome. I'm going to go back to that as soon as my Aubrey Organics shampoo runs out...I bought it because I missed the luscious floral scent that shampoo leaves in my hair, so I figured I'd treat myself to a bottle of all-natural stuff. But yeah, to clarify for those who may not know about using baking soda and apple cider vinegar instead of shampoo, here's roughly what you do: Make a paste of baking soda and water and massage it into your scalp (hair can be wet or dry). Massage it in really well and then rinse it out. For the ends of your hair, you'll want to pour or spray on water-diluted apple cider vinegar. This acts as the conditioner and makes your hair surprisingly soft. Rinse out thoroughly. Your hair takes a bit to get used to this and may go through an oily phase, but it gets better, and hair looks great! There are many variations and the no-poo method isn't for everyone, but it is pretty cool!

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