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    The Glow Down: Blog Future, My Favorite Unhealthy Meal & Nontoxic Beauty

    Feb 7, 2017 • The Glow Down

    The Glow Down

    Per your request on this gloomy Tuesday, we have a brand new “Glow Down” post!

    “The Glow Down” is the lowdown on everything and anything you guys have been asking me lately. Consider it a fun little series where I answer questions, share tips, offer my thoughts/advice, etc. Really though, it’s super casual and can be about anything from the plant based vegan lifestyle to my 5-Day Cleanse or Vegan Starter Guide to beauty/girly stuff to vegan cooking tips to favorite products, home things, blogging things, even what shirt or sweater I was wearing on Snapchat…

    So grab a cup of coffee, tea, a smoothie (or wine?!) and find a cozy spot for this mini chit chat series. 

    ? 

    1. What is your favorite ?unhealthy? meal?

    Hmm… that’s a good one. I love a good homemade veggie burger with all the toppings (lettuce, tomato, ketchup, maybe avocado?!) with sweet potato fries, duh. Also, sweets. If you offer me a vegan cupcake or chocolate (basically any kind of vegan dessert, really) I will love you forever. I have the biggest sweet tooth.

    2. What blender do you use and why?

    Blendtec all the way! Investing in a high-speed blender was life-changing, as I talked about in this post and opens the door to so many healthy recipes. Achieving the right texture is the main difference between a high-speed blender vs. a cheap blender. Plus, there are times when a food processor doesn’t cut it, and you need more power to blend something up to get the right consistency. The smoothest smoothies (no chunks, ever), the creamiest nice cream, hot soup in 90 seconds, the creamiest sauces (like my mac & cheese sauce), blender pancakes & muffins, grinding grains into flour. Not to mention how long a high-speed blender will last you, in comparison to a cheap blender that may need replacing year after year.

    Some people are partial to the Vitamix and I’ve only tried it once, but it works just the same, only its set up a bit differently. I think the Vitamix costs a similar amount when compared to the Blendtec but I liked the “look” of a Blendtec more (comes in white), plus the Vitamix sits super tall on the counter, or at least they used to.

    I know not everyone can invest in a Blendtec or Vitamix, but you should know when I bought my own Blendtec a while back, it was a refurbished model… and works like a charm. No problems or issues. 

    Checkout my Creamy Kale Coconut Smoothie made in the Blendtec!

    The Glow Down

    3. Alcohol: How do you know if its vegan?

    Who knew that alcohol could have animal ingredients in it? Many white wines have fish guts or scales.. you’d be surprised. I always check brands on Barnivore! They almost always have the brand I want to look up with ingredients listed and if the product is vegan or not. Or I use the Is It Vegan app but Barnivore seems to be more reliable. Sometimes if I can’t find the ingredients anywhere I’ll look to the company’s website but it can get tricky to find any kind of information at all!

    I feel like a lot of plant based/vegan bloggers keep quiet about this topic or don’t drink at all but honestly, I’m not perfect! Although I try my best, I’ve had accidents with drinking wine that isn’t vegan and not always checking when out at restaurants or events but all I can do is try my best and support vegan-friendly brands whenever possible! I find that red wine is usually a safe route if you want wine – but you never know for sure until you check!

    I’ll remember to start writing down my favorites for you guys when I buy them but I do have one brand that I never got around to posting about called Backpack Wine. They have a Cheeky Ros? and a Snappy White Table Wine – all vegan & gluten free – and super fun!

    The Glow Down

    4. Beauty: How do you know if a product/brand is cruelty free and vegan friendly? How do you know if its toxic or safe? 

    Thankfully, the whole process of finding ingredients and figuring out whether your beauty products are vegan or not has gotten a lot easier the past few years. Most brands want to make consumers aware when a product is vegan and/or cruelty free so they print it on the packaging which is helpful! The little Leaping Bunny symbol lets you know its cruelty-free or they will have “Not tested on animals” printed on the packaging somewhere. Logical Harmony is a great resource to figure out if a product is cruelty-free, vegan and if they are owned by a parent company that is not cruelty-free. I highly recommend checking out this list!

    The tricky part is deciding whether or not you’re okay with supporting brands that are cruelty free when their parent company is not… take Tarte for instance, an eco-friendly, cruelty-free brand who was bought out by Kos? in 2014. Many Tarte fans were disappointed as they choose not to support brands bought out by larger companies who perform animal testing, which happens a lot. I LOVE the Tarte products (see this makeup post) and I know the only reason they were bought out was so they could get their products out to more people all over the world – nothing else about the company changed. For me, its important to support any brand, big or small, that makes vegan products available to us. My money is still going to them, but I understand when some people are against that.

    As far as deciding if a beauty product is non toxic or not, it takes a bit more research. Obviously, if a product is vegan, it tends to be on the more natural side, but it’s still smart to check if you’re unsure about certain ingredients. My go-to resource for this is the Think Dirty app. You either enter in a product or scan the barcode and they give it a toxicity-level rating with easy-to-understand info on the product, the ingredients and cleaner options.

    Check all the products you use!  

    5. Where do you see your blog in 3-5 years, because the blogging world is changing so often?

    Love this question! I often dream about where the blog will be in 3-5 years… so much can happen in that timeframe. TGF has followed me throughout every stage in my life and will continue to do so! I still picture myself blogging and sharing plant based recipes for years to come! Since I just turned 28, I dream about having a baby or two in the next 5 or so years, which would mean getting married as well?!!

    Yes the blogging world is changing often but that doesn’t scare me because the blog is evolving in it’s own way as well. For food and lifestyle bloggers, more and more brands are starting to recognize the unique opportunity in working with influencers, which is amazing for everyone! Not only bloggers with large followings either, but those with a dedicated readership/page views and significant conversion rates, although I do see it becoming more competitive!

    Coming out with my very own product line is a goal and would be a dream come true but for right now, I’m thankful for all opportunities that come my way and am embracing them all while continuing to improve the blog however possible. Still working on the meal plan as well which keeps getting put off… but I do see more ebooks in the future, maybe an actual book as well?!

    We shall see!

    ? 

    Leave a comment below with thoughts and questions for the next “Glow Down” post! You can message me on facebook, instagram, snapchat (glowingfridge) or twitter too… you name it, anything goes! I’m trying to build up the community we already have here on TGF so it remains a helpful resource for you guys! It would mean a lot if you sent in questions or thoughts 🙂

    Plus, I love reading these on other blogs because they normally answer questions I never even knew I had!

     

     

    You Might Like These too:

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    • Boozy Berry Wine Pops and… My Thoughts on AlcoholBoozy Berry Wine Pops and… My Thoughts on Alcohol
    • Eco-Friendly Shampoo BarsEco-Friendly Shampoo Bars
    • Why You Should Switch to Non-Toxic Pots and PansWhy You Should Switch to Non-Toxic Pots and Pans
    • What I’ve Been Eating LatelyWhat I’ve Been Eating Lately
    • My Favorite Organic Vegan Sunless TannerMy Favorite Organic Vegan Sunless Tanner
    « Blog Makeover and Puerto Vallerta Vacay
    What I Ate Wednesday »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michelle Ventura

      April 22, 2020 at 10:14 am

      You are the sweetest. Just started reading your blog! Hope you are doing well.. maybe married and a couple of kids if not know that your blogs are still helping others start a healthy life style!! God Bless & Be safe!

      Reply
    2. Lauren

      February 24, 2017 at 10:29 pm

      Thank you for your blog! It has been a great help, since I made the decision to go vegan! Have so many questions, but one of the main ones would be suggestions for substitutions for nuts. I have a tree nut allergy in addition to a gluten allergy, so that was one of the reasons I put off making the decision to go vegan, because I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to get enough nutrients or to adjust recipes to fit my allergies. Any help with adjusting to this new life, would be great!! Thanks again for everything that you’ve posted!

      Reply
    3. Lexi

      February 08, 2017 at 12:54 pm

      I love this, especially the last question! As a new blogger, sometimes I get discouraged, in my progress. But, after seeing how far I’ve come in just 6 months, it all seems possible! You are such a positive inspiration for me Shannon!! Thank you for everything you do!! <3

      Reply
      • Shannon Leparski

        February 08, 2017 at 1:39 pm

        Yay happy you love it Lexi! I know how you feel with getting discouraged and its so hard to not compare yourself to other bloggers (I do this um… everyday?!) but you are doing amazing! Keep it up!

        Reply

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    SHANNON Leparski

    SHANNON Leparski

    Hi! I'm Shannon, a Certified Hormone Specialist and plant based blogger living in Chicago. I help women heal their bodies bodies from the inside out and balance their hormones naturally through a plant based diet and lifestyle. Let me guide you through it, so you can glow from within and feel the best you've ever felt!

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    SHANNON // Beauty / Motherhood / Wellness
    & my hair needed SERIOUS HELP. It was super oily & my hair needed SERIOUS HELP.

It was super oily and greasy with buildup from past products. I was washing daily… and just unhappy with the dullness and lack of volume. That has since changed!

Aside from getting transformed hair, this opportunity allows motivated women to have another income source. It allows mamas to have the best of both worlds - their own income while raising their babies (if you’re in that phase of life). It provides social media training, so much guidance and support (you’re never doing it alone), earned confidence and most importantly, community. Some of my best friends are here now because we talk daily and know everything about each other’s lives! Surrounding yourself with like-minded successful women can turn your life around. I’m not kidding. You are who you surround yourself with. It’s more than just shampoo. 

All it takes is deciding YES and stepping out of your comfort zone.  Don’t let life pass you by. Stop wondering and start taking action! 🥂 

If you’re ready, DM me BIZ and let’s chat 💞

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    the answer is no. but will I try again tomorrow? the answer is no. 

but will I try again tomorrow? probably, yes.

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    How I make my Dandy Blend Latte. Why I stopped dri How I make my Dandy Blend Latte. Why I stopped drinking King Coffee. More about my gallbladder flush coming up on the new moon 🌑
    20 THINGS I’VE LEARNED: 1. You can do hard thin 20 THINGS I’VE LEARNED:

1. You can do hard things. 
2. Stay consistent. 
3. Don’t give up.
4. Stay consistent. Again.
5. People will quit, don’t take it personally.
6. TV is a time suck (I haven’t watched TV since I started 🙃)
7. This business isn’t for everyone (only the hustlers).
8. Girls are desperate for community and support.
9. Moms especially need support like this.
10. Making your own money is security.
11. Making your own money is powerful.
12. The trips are life changing.
13. You can multitask.
14. Your friends probably won’t support you. That’s okay.
15. You have to be a little bit delusional with your vision and belief. 
16. Go for it. Dream big.
17. Stay consistent.
18. Ask for help from your mentor.
19. Do the uncomfortable things. Keep doing them.
20. Remember why you started 🙏🏼

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    Can you even?!! When I saw these my heart skipped Can you even?!! When I saw these my heart skipped a beat. How grateful I am to have beautiful photos with my little shadow. My little bestie.

This is your sign to do the mother-daughter photoshoot 🥰🥰🥰🥰 thank you to @sarahiltonphotography for capturing such sweet moments that I will cherish forever. Sara did the photos for my book as well, The Happy Hormone Guide!!! She does branding and headshots in the northwest suburbs of Chicago - she’s the best!!

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    what healing looks like 🌼🩷 I starts out my what healing looks like 🌼🩷

I starts out my morning with a bunch of supplements to eliminate parasites and bacteria and repair my gut while supporting my liver and gallbladder. Next I make a protein smoothie with vanilla whey protein powder and a custom supplement to support my deficiencies. And lastly my creamy dandy blend latte because I’m not drinking coffee right now.

This is what works for me right now! I also have gf toast usually from @awgbakery. I’ve had to eliminate so many things but it’s all for good reason, to reduce all the inflammation. I’m working with @lifelabwellnessco if you would like your own custom plan and testing 🙏🏼 should I share more videos like this?

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    Shannon is a health enthusiast and plant based nutrition advocate, living in Chicago. She studied Health and Fitness at Purdue University and loves everything about the plant based vegan lifestyle, especially creating colorful, nourishing, happy hormone recipes in her kitchen. Read More…

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    MENSTRUAL PHASE RECIPES

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