Here are the coupons available to print on the Pacific Foods site right now:

$1.00 off Pacific Foods Hummus

$1.00 off Two Pacific Foods Non-Dairy Beverages

$.50 off Pacific Foods Creamy Soup, Broth or Non-Dairy Beverage

$1.00 off Pacific Foods Refried of Baked Beans

$1.00 off Pacific Foods Pasta Meal


Now, I'm pretty sure those pasta meals are not vegan, and I know the creamy soups aren't, but these coupons also include non-dairy milks, broth and hummus, so you can save money whether you follow a vegan, vegetarian or plant-strong diet!

Visit the Pacific Foods Coupon Page to print these before they disappear!

Get more coupons on my Print Coupons page!

Head over to the Earthbound Farm website by August 27 to print this $.75 off coupon for organic greens!

The link will take you to their Organic Bound page, then you just need to scroll to the bottom to find the current vegan, organic coupons they are offering.

Here is the link to the Earthbound Farm coupon.

For more coupons and info about couponing, visit these pages:

Printable Coupons

How to Find Vegan (and Vegetarian and Organic) Coupons

Printable Coupon Search

Susan Nichole is busting out with some new styles of vegan handbags and wallets. Since it is inevitable that something will go wrong on some bags at some point in the manufacturing process, this also means that some new styles have been added to the sample sale!

I'm particularly fond of this Rebecca bag in mint! To use this one as an example of how much you can save when you buy slightly imperfect samples, the Rebecca is regularly priced at $150.00, but the samples are just $48.00!

Visit susannichole.com to shop the sample sale!

The PlanetShoes Labor Day Sale is in full swing, which means up to 70% off on awesome shoes -- and an extra 25% off on all sale items!

The two images above will take you directly to one of the two pages I thought y'all might be most interested in (their vegan shoe shop and the yoga shop) but you can find deals in all of the departments.

No promo code is needed, so head on over to PlanetShoes and start saving!

Whether you simply make handmade purses for your own use, sew handbags to give as gifts or make a wide variety of handcrafted bags and purses to sell online or at craft fairs, it is always helpful when you can save money on the materials you need to sew your unique creations. As anyone who makes DIY purses knows, one of the most expensive components in handmade handbags is a nice set of handles, which is absolutely necessary to finish off the bag and complete the look.

Shopping for purse handles at craft and sewing stores can be cost prohibitive; however, it is easier than you might think to find and buy cheap purse handles that are just as nice as any of the handbag handles you will find in specialty stores.

If you are constantly in search of cheap handles for your DIY projects, try the below tips for finding sturdy, attractive handbag handles that will help you keep your costs down without giving up quality.

Where to Find Cheap Purse Handles

1. Look for used purses wherever you can – particularly damaged ones. By taking apart worn, ripped or otherwise damaged purses and using the handles for your own creations, you are reusing materials that might otherwise end up in a landfill and will help you save money.
2. Look for cheap purses at thrift stores. Thrift stores always have lots of purses for sale, many of which may be stained or ripped, but will have handles that are in great condition. Purses in thrift stores often cost less than a set of handles at a craft store and you can use other pieces as well, such as closures and zippers.
3. Spend a weekend or two hitting up garage sales. Yard sales are a great place to find cheap purse handles that are attached to unwanted purses. As with thrift store finds, you can also reuse other parts of the bag to save even more money.
4. Bid on cheap handbag handles on eBay and other auction sites where you can find exceptional deals on handles and other materials. To save even more, look for used purses with good handles or sets of purse handles sold in lots.
5. Check out Craigslist and other local community listings for used purses or cheap purse handles for sale.
6. Hit up your local dollar store for cheap purses. I have found some pretty cute round handles this way, but be sure to somehow reuse all of the materials so that the rest of the bag doesn’t go to waste.

Get Creative to Save Money on Purse Handles

Get creative about what you use for purse handles. By thinking outside of the box, you can create unique handbags with straps and handles made from interesting objects. For example, thrift store neckties make excellent purse straps and dowels from your local home improvement or hardware store can be cut down to create straight purse handles.

Here are some other ideas for making handles out of somewhat random things:

• Neckties can be used for either a long shoulder strap or a pair of shorter handles.
• Belts make great shoulder straps.
• Extra fabric can be rolled into a long tube to be used as a handle.
• Bandanas can be rolled into handles as well.
• Sturdy chain necklaces can be used as straps for small bags.
• Chain (like from the hardware store) left over from DIY projects can also be used for purse straps.
• Rope can easily be used for straps and handles.
• Old or damaged scarves can be repurposed as purse straps.

Okay, your turn – what is your fave thing to use or reuse to make some cheap purse handles? Let us know in the comments below!

Here are some free ebooks I found related to sewing, organizing your craft room (or area) and making handbags.

Remember -- you don't have to have a Kindle to enjoy these ebooks, you can get the Kindle app for free for your smartphone or tablet and read them on whatever you have.

(Check out the two that show you how to make duct tape purses and other stuff!)

And, finally, here are some links to the cheapest print books I could find on Amazon that have to do with sewing purses. One of them has no-sew and low-sew patterns, so that one might be of particular interest to semi-crafty people who don't love sewing.

PlanetShoes is having a One-Day Earth Shoes Sale with styles starting at just $49! If you own any Earth Shoes, than you know this is quite the deal.

As an added bonus, they are also offering free shipping on orders totaling more than $49.

I know I will be heading over to their website tomorrow to check it out. If you want to get in on tis deal, click the image above to go right to the sale page!

(Remember that only some styles of Earth Shoes are suitable for vegan, so make sure to read the product description when shopping the sale.)

Humanely Stop your Cat from Clawing your Drapes and Scratching your Furniture, Walls or Carpet

Prevent Cat Clawing and Scratching: Why Cats Scratch

Scratching is part of every cat’s natural behavior and provides a number of necessary functions. The function that is likely most apparent to you as a cat caregiver is the visual marking of territory, which may not seem important in your home, but in the wild this provides important information to other animals in the area. Aside from visual marking, your cat’s paws contain scent glands that are used to mark their territory by depositing their scent where they scratch.

Scratching also removes the dead outer sheaths from the claws and is a therapeutic activity providing relaxation and stretching; therefore, aside from marking territory, scratching is necessary for your cat’s health and wellness.

Prevent Cat Clawing and Scratching: Why Declawing is not a Humane Option

Somewhere along the line declawing has become an acceptable means of altering a cat’s natural behavior among some animal caregivers. There are many reasons not to declaw your cat, but the two most relevant and obvious reasons are your cat’s necessary defenses and humane treatment of the animals in our care.

A cat without claws cannot efficiently defend themselves if they happen to get outside, nor can they climb a tree to escape from danger. Declawing your cat will effectively leave them defenseless all in the name of saving the arm of a sofa. I don’t know about you, but I would prefer that my cat shred the hell out of my favorite piece of furniture than to have him injured or killed because I chose my convenience and possessions over his ability to defend his life.  

However, even if you are absolutely certain that your cat will never slip out through a door or find some escape to the outside world, declawing is not okay. Although many people seem to believe this procedure is painless and does not affect function, declawing is the cat equivalent of cutting off your fingertips at the last joint closest to your fingernail. Sure, you could learn to live without your fingertips, but after your long and painful recovery, do you think the function of your hands would ever truly be the same?

Now imagine that your hands are your primary physical defense mechanism and are also integral to your balance, and take a second to think about the fact that all the pain and loss of function did not benefit you at all and was purely to prohibit you from partaking in natural behaviors for the convenience of someone else.

Declawing is an inhumane practice that has been banned in some areas and will hopefully continue to move out of the realm of an acceptable practice and into its rightful place as another form of animal cruelty.

Prevent Cat Clawing and Scratching: Prevention Basics

It is nearly impossible to prevent a cat from clawing and scratching completely. Cats don’t respond well to punishment, so going that route will likely just frustrate you and harm your relationship with your feline friend. Your best bet is to provide appropriate scratching opportunities, take steps to dissuade your cat from scratching where you don’t want her to and to encourage her to scratch her you-approved scratching post or mat.

The first step is to provide appropriate scratching opportunities that your cat will actually use. When selecting an appropriate scratching tool, keep in mind that the post or mat should be stationary and sturdy. If it moves (or falls over) when your cat attempts to scratch on it, it will likely be disregarded and your cat will go right back to scratching your favorite piece of furniture.

Also keep in mind that your cat will choose what she will and won’t scratch and it may take a few tries to find a scratching tool that suits her needs. For example, one of our cats will only scratch on a round mat of corrugated cardboard that fits inside his favorite toy, which is a round track with a ball for him to push around. They are becoming increasingly hard to find, so I purchased a rectangle cardboard mat for him and placed it next to his favorite toy, figuring that, since it was still cardboard, he would transition to it fairly easily. I even rubbed organic catnip on it to entice him, but he has completely ignored it and has only touched it to move it out of his way so he can lay down and lazily push his ball around the track.

When choosing you-approved scratching tools, consider where and what your cat is currently destroying with her clawing and scratching. Then select an item with a similar look and texture and place it near the object they currently love to scratch.

Once you have found a scratching tool that both you and your cat can live with, it’s time to work on discouraging inappropriate scratching and encouraging appropriate scratching. There are several tools available to help dissuade your cat from scratching your favorite furniture, drapes or carpet. Most of them can be purchased online or at your local pet store, or you can make your own. Some of the most popular tools for discouraging your cat from clawing and scratching include double-sided tape, bitter apple or citrus sprays, vinyl caps for their claws, aluminum foil and plastic rug protectors (which are also great for keeping kitty off your counters).

In order to discourage your cat from clawing and scratching in particular areas, you must make that area less appealing for scratching. You can accomplish this by changing the texture to one your cat will find unpleasant (double-sided tape, aluminum foil, the points on the bottom of carpet protectors) and by removing your cat’s scent and adding one that she won’t like. Sprays designed to remove pet odors will remove your cat’s marking scents, which should help make the area less appealing for future scratching. Once you have removed your cat’s scent, add a scent that your cat will not like, such as citrus, which can be purchased at pet stores. Alternatively, you can make your own using orange essential oil or orange zest. You can even just place orange peels in the area and this may work just as well to dissuade your cat from scratching.

You might also consider covering the furniture with a throw blanket that will hide the marks your cat has already made and discourage him from making more, or investing in vinyl caps (available online or at pet stores) that cover his claws to limit damage from scratching. Vinyl caps should only be used on indoor-only cats. They will inhibit your cat’s ability to climb or defend herself if she is in danger, so this is incredibly important to keep in mind.

Other tips to keep in mind include keeping your cat’s claws trimmed to limit damage, making sure your cat has a variety of toys to keep him entertained and maintaining your patience while you and your cat come to terms on exactly how to meet his needs without destroying your furniture, curtains or carpet.

Do you have a cat that scratches furniture, walls or other spots that don’t particularly please you?

The more tips we share, the less likely frustrated caregivers might be to declaw the cats in their care, so please share your tips for encouraging appropriate scratching in the comments below!

Some scratchers are ridiculously expensive, but I'm including some affordable options below to show that you don't have to spend a lot to find a humane solution!

Meatless Soy Chorizo Sausage by El Burrito Mexican Food Products

Soyrizo is a vegan meatless chorizo product made by El Burrito Mexican Food Products, Inc. Made from non-GMO soybeans, Soyrizo has 60% less fat than traditional chorizo and no cholesterol or preservatives. 

This tasty alternative to the traditional Mexican chorizo sausage cooks up easily in a frying pan and is a spicy addition to breakfast, or any meal. As with most off the shelf products, it has a nice spice to it, but not enough for my taste. When I cook Soyrizo I generally add garlic, jalapenos or other spices to liven it up a bit. However, even without my doctoring, it is one of the tastiest meat alternatives out there.

Soyrizo: Nutrition Information

Each serving of Soyrizo has 90 calories, 4 grams of fat (.5g saturated fat), 2 grams of fiber, 450mg sodium, and 6 grams of protein. It also contains 15% of the daily value of vitamin A, 2% of vitamin C, 4% of calcium and 8% of iron. The fat and sodium content are a bit higher than I would like, but if you keep the fat and sodium content for the rest of the meal to a minimum, Soyrizo is a very tasty source of protein and iron.

Soyrizo: Serving Suggestions

I usually mix Soyrizo with scrambled tofu and serve it in the same manner that you would serve chorizo and eggs; however, there are lots of other options for this great tasting meat substitute. It is great served with rice or beans and is also just fine on its own cooked with peppers and onion. It can be used as a spicy alternative to vegan ground burger crumbles in most dishes and is particularly delicious in vegan chili.

Also, the texture and consistency is similar enough to chorizo made from beef or pork that anyone interested in transforming their favorite chorizo dishes to healthier, vegan or vegetarian meals should have no problem doing so.

Soyrizo: Overall Review

I love Soyrizo. It’s a bit higher in fat and sodium than I prefer, so I don’t serve it quite as often as our taste buds would like, but the nutritional value is such that it can certainly be incorporated into meal planning every week if you wish. I like the taste and the texture and appreciate the versatility of the product.

This is a tasty addition to any plant-strong, vegan or vegetarian diet and a great way for flexitarians and meat-eaters to incorporate non-meat protein sources into their meals without losing flavor.

Here is another article I originally wrote for a different site when I was living in Wilmington a few years ago...

Vegan and vegetarian grocery shopping in Wilmington, North Carolina is much easier than one might think.

Coming from a major city in the vegan-friendly Pacific Northwest, I was concerned about the challenges I might face when attempting to find vegan and vegetarian groceries in a smaller Southern town. To my surprise, with just a bit of research I was able to find everything I need right here in Wilmington. From Vegenaise to Smart Dogs to Tofurkey, you can find everything you need without having to drive hours away for our nearest Whole Foods.

Here are a few of the best places in Wilmington to fill up your vegan or vegetarian kitchen with everything you need.

Tidal Creek Food Co-op   www.tidalcreek.coop

5329 Oleander Drive - 910.799.2667

Hours: Daily, 8:00am to 9:00pm

Tidal Creek is perhaps the most popular place in town for organic, all natural, vegan/vegetarian and healthy groceries. Dedicated to providing GMO- and hydrogenated oil-free products and focused on purchasing from small, local growers and ethically-minded companies, this is a great one-stop shop for just about all of your natural foods shopping – with lots of vegetarian and vegan options.

Tidal Creek has a great bulk foods section where you can stock up on beans, rice, flours, candy, nuts, snack foods, peanut butter and more and has a certified organic produce section. They also offer a salad bar, sandwiches and wraps for quick meals on the go with plenty of vegetarian and vegan items to choose from.

An added bonus with Tidal Creek is the opportunity to join the Co-op and support the community, while receiving discounts on special Owner Appreciation Days and an owner’s only savings shopping list. 

Check out their website for a calendar of in-store classes and events and a wellness directory listing local practitioners and resources for everything from holistic healthcare providers to natural living products.

Lovey’s Natural Foods & Café   Loveysmarket.com

1319 Military Cutoff Road, Suite H (Landfall Shopping Center) - 910.509.0331

Hours: Monday through Friday - 9am-7pm

            Saturday – 9am-6pm

            Sunday – 11am-5pm

Aside from having a great market full of vegan and vegetarian grocery options, lots of options for buying pantry goods in bulk, a juice bar and a hot and cold food bar with café seating, Lovey’s website is a wonderful resource for everything from recipes to health information.

In a single visit to their website you can use a number of health calculators, research specific health conditions, learn about herbs and supplements and research alternative therapies.  After determining your ideal weight, your body mass index, estimated calories burned and your target heart rate, you can also take a number of health assessments and get some great recipes with an entire section devoted to vegetarian dishes. There are several vegan options and the vegetarian recipes can be easily adapted to meet the needs of vegans as well.

While you are there, also check out their calendar for in-store events and classes.




The Fresh Market     thefreshmarket.com

1060 International Drive – 910.256.3524

Hours: Monday through Saturday – 9am-9pm

            Sunday – 10am-8pm

The Fresh Market has a great produce section, but also offers many other options for the vegan or vegetarian panty, including specialty items, pastas and sauces, rice, beans, baking mixes, coffee and much more.

They also offer in-store classes and events and have tons of recipes on their website. While most of the recipes are not vegan, there are plenty of vegetarian options that can be customized for vegans as well.

Riverfront Farmer’s Market   http://www.wilmingtonfarmers.com/

North Water Street (on the Wilmington Riverfront)

Hours: Saturday 8am-1:00pm (April through November)

The Riverfront Farmer’s Market is a great place to find in-season vegetables and fruits, eggs and cheese (for the non-vegans), nuts, herbs, berries, jams and jellies and a number of other locally harvested items. Convenient parking is available (follow the signs) and this is a great way to spend a Saturday morning!



Now that natural living and vegan and/or vegetarian diets have become increasingly more popular, most larger chain stores are also stocking their shelves with more options. The following stores now carry many of the more common items that are vegan or vegetarian, with the added bonus of also carrying organics. Some of the items that can be found at these grocers include products by Lightlife, Boca burger, Smart Life and Morningstar.

Check out their websites for locations and hours of operation for the store nearest you.

Lowes Foods   www.lowesfoods.com

Harris Teeter  www.harristeeter.com

Food lion   www.foodlion.com

For those items that you just can’t find at our local stores, online resources for vegans and vegetarians are plentiful and convenient. There are lots of options online and a simple search will provide pages of resources, but here are a few of the online stores I patronize to get you started:

Cosmo’s Vegan Shoppe  http://www.cosmosveganshoppe.com

Vegan Essentials  veganessentials.com

The Vegetarian Site   thevegetariansite.com

Food Fight!   foodfightgrocery.com

I loved living in Wilmington, NC. Yes, it was a little challenging to maintain a plant-based diet when I wasn't cooking at home, but where there is a will, there is a way, and these are some of the options I found while living there.

I wrote this article a few years ago (before moving to Seattle), but it looks like this is still a pretty accurate list of what is available around Wilmington.

Side Note: Tidal Creek Food Co-Op and Mellow Mushroom were my fave spots for vegan goodness while I lived there.

Okay, here you go:


To my knowledge (and believe me, I’ve looked!), there are no vegan or vegetarian restaurants anywhere near Wilmington, North Carolina. However, this doesn’t mean that all of us living in this beautiful part of the Cape Fear region are destined to dine at home and forego the fun and convenience of dining out with our friends and family.

Before I moved to Wilmington, I did a number of Internet searches for vegan restaurants and natural foods stores, and - while I did find a few helpful resources online – I immediately recognized that being vegan in Wilmington could be a challenge.

Of course, eating at home isn’t a problem – generally speaking, vegans and vegetarians can find most of the groceries they need for a healthy, varied diet even when living in a small, not-so-vegan-friendly town.  Grocery shopping for foods that are natural, vegan, organic, gluten-free and the like is also much easier now that knowledge of, and partaking in, healthier living has become much more popular.

However, finding a quick, prepared meal on the go or a dine-in restaurant for an evening out can be considerably more difficult.

After living in Wilmington for a year, I have been fortunate to find that there actually are many more options than one would assume from the lack of local comprehensive vegan and/or vegetarian resources online. I hope this article will assist vegans and vegetarians living in the Wilmington area to find and enjoy some of the many yummy options available to us.

Here is a partial listing of restaurants and delis that offer vegan and vegetarian options, or that have menu items that can be made vegan and/or vegetarian.

 

Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn   (www.flamingamysburritobarn.com)

402 Oleander Drive - 910.799.2919

Menu available online

Dine in, take out and catering available

Vegetarian and vegan options

Tidal Creek Food Co-op   (www.tidalcreek.coop)

5329 Oleander Drive - 910.799.2667

Salad bar, sandwiches and wraps at in-store café or for take out

Vegetarian and vegan options

Lovey’s Natural Foods & Café   (Loveysmarket.com)

1319 Military Cutoff Road, Suite H (Landfall Shopping Center) - 910.509.0331

Food bar with hot and cold options, juice bar, café seating or take out

Vegetarian and vegan options

India Mahal    (http://indiamahalrestaurant.com/)

4610 Maple Avenue - 910.799.2089

Menu available online

Vegetarian and vegan options

Nikki’s Fresh Gourmet  (www.menupix.com/wilmington/restaurants.php?id=650214#)

16 S. Front Street – 910.772.9151

Menu available online  

Vegetarian and vegan options

Organic Art Cuisine

4606 Maple Avenue - 910.799.1700  (no website yet)

Organic take out and catering is their specialty, but they also have a small dining area for lunch and dinner.

Yosake Downtown Sushi Lounge   (Yosake.com)

33 S. Front Street - 910.763.3172

Menu available online

Vegetarian and vegan options

Underground Food & Spirits   (www.undergroundwilmington.com)

103 Market Street – 910.763.9686

Menu available online

Live music

Build your own burritos and a vegetarian sandwich that can be made vegan.

Double Happiness   (www.dinewilmingtononline.com/menus/double_happiness.php)

4403 Wrightsville Avenue – 910.763.9686

Menu available online  

Vegetarian and vegan options

Dine in and take out

(They make their own tofu!)

Hell’s Kitchen (www.hellskitchenbar.com)

118 Princess Street - 910.763.4133

Menu available online

Banyan Asian Café

5001-A Market Street (at the Ramada Inn) - (910) 790-8597

 

Indochine   (http://www.indochinewilmington.com/)

7 Wayne Drive - 910.251.9229

Menu available online

Vegetarian and vegan options

 

Big Thai

1001 N. 4th Street - 910.763.3035

Vegetarian and vegan options

Mellow Mushroom  (www.mellowmushroom.com)

4311 Oleander Drive – 910. 452.3773

Menu available online

Vegetarian options on menu that can be made vegan

(They have tempeh!)

Hiro Japanese Steak and Seafood House  (Hirojapanesesteakhouse.com)

222 Old Eastwood Road (University Landing Shopping Center) - 910.794.1570

Menu available online  

Menu has vegetarian section

 

Tango du Chat (Tangoduchat.com)

123 Princess Street – 910.762.8723

Menu available online

Vegetarian and vegan options

Pita Delite  (pitadelite.com)

317 S. College Road – 910.392.0028

Menu available online

Vegetarian options on menu that can be made vegan

Sumo Express Japanese Cuisine  (Sumoexpress.com)

125 S. Kerr Avenue, Suite 4 – 910.392.9444

Menu available online

Vegetarian options on menu

The George on the Riverwalk  (thegeorgeontheriverwalk.com)

128 S. Water Street - 910.763.2052

Menu available online

Vegetarian options that can be made vegan

(They offer dock and dine!)

Ruby Tuesday

Menu online at www.rubytuesday.com

Various locations – visit site for addresses and phone numbers

Salad bar and vegetarian burger

Dine in and take out