Snack Attack

This is a poost to serve as an update, on this glorious Batman Day, I'm proud to announce that I am still rocking out the Vegan lifestyle. About 5 months now, woho.

It does get progressively easier, maily because you start recognizing the Vegan friendly products and restaurants.  The adventure continues, and I'm learning more each day.

Companies like "Nature Box" & "Vegan Cuts" do help in the snack department,  by sending delicious goodness to your door step, which is brilliant.
I know there is a company out there that sends you produce to your door step as well, but I can't think of their name at the moment.

One thing I need to remember, is to ALWAYS KEEP SNACKS. I'm finding this to be very important,  everyone of course suggests almonds,  which are great. But for a sweet tooth like my self, they can get boring real quick.
My solution? Gala Apples & Pitted Dates.

Why those specifically?
Gala Apples, to me, are the perfect apples. They are nicely sized, has a beautiful tart to it, and are nice and crunchy. My teeth don't "slide" on the skin like other apples *cough* macintosh *cough*

Pitted Dates, are just quicker to enjoy, you don't have to try and work the pit out in the mouth. You just pop it in and enjoy.

Both these snacks are avilable at Giant, you can grab both, a bag of Gala Apples & a small container of Pitted Dates for less than $10.

Hope this was helpful
I'll blog you later.
-Mosno

The New Posts!!

I've created a centralized blog which I call "The mosBLOG" where I will write about my various interests.
So all new updates for this blog will be at The mosBLOG.
Come for a visit, it'll be fun :)

Hope to see you there.
Much Love
Mosno Al-Moseeki

Vegan + Bootcamp = Raw Strength : Journal

Mosno here,
 Yesterday I experienced my 1st day of Boot Camp, exercise Boot Camp that is, courtesy of The Boot Camp Girl Stephanie Dignan :), who ALSO happens to be a fellow Vegan.

It was quite an experience, and I loved it.
The community of people there are very kind and supportive of each other. They were giving me tips, and hints to help me through out the work out. You are never competing with others, you are only competing with YOUR self, to get better, and stronger. 

I've lost a lot of weight since being Vegan, and that has allowed me to have MORE energy, which makes sense. Since the food that I'm eating is healthy, and doesn't contain chemicals and animal products, my body is able to process it faster, and with less energy, which then leaves you with all the energy you get from the food it just processed, hence the extra energy.

One cool think I enjoyed about my 1st day at Boot Camp, is that we exercised OUTSIDE! You read you read that right. The weather was nice, so we as a team decided to take advantage of this and do the workout out side. I got to run my 1st mile, EVER. it took me about 13+ minutes. It was tough, because I'm not a runner, but I'm determined shave that number down, and Boot Camp will help.

Stephanie actually sat down with me and we spoke about what it is that I am looking to accomplish, that way she can help me cater to those needs. Another cool thing about this Boot Camp, is that they have these workouts at different locations, and with different instructors..this means you can go to any of them (or all of them) 7 days a week, and with each instructor you will get a different work out. So no boring routine, which is brilliant. :)

I wanted to thank the Vegan Living Program, for bringing Stephani to talk to us, and I wanted to thank Stephani for the raffle which I WON for a free 2 week boot camp with The Boot Camp Girl. You can actually win a FREE MONTH, so visit their site www.TheBootCampGirl.com and enter to win

I'm a little sore, but I will be going to a 6am workout TOMORROW, after I rock out a gig TONIGHT.
Is it crazy, maybe, but I won't get MY results drinking soda and watching TV.
Lets DO this! :D

I'll blog you later.
Much Love
Mosno :)

Potato Dish. Mosno Style :)

Hey everyone, Mosno here,
 I have to say, I'm really enjoying this vegan culinary experience I'm having, this past weekend I put together a little potato dish, and I have to say I'm pretty happy with it. The dish is made up of 3 different layers, so here we go.

LAYER 1: The Potatos
-Put potatos in a pot of water
-I let mine boil for about an hour to get them nice and soft.

LAYER 2: The Sauce
-One large tea spoon of Peanut Butter in a bowl
-Add water (bit by bit) and stir, until the peanut butter has a more liquid/sauce texture
-Add your spices to it (I put lemon juice, soy sauce, salt, & garlic powder)
-Stir some more

LAYER 2: The Crunch
-One large or medium Mediterranean / Pita bread
-Cut up dates and place on the bread
-Put that in to a toaster over, and toast until the bread hardens (and the dates become roasted)
-Leave it in the toaster over to cool, this will help harden the dates a little bit

Now the assembly
-Cut up the cooked potatoes and place in a large bowl
-After every few potatoes add the peanut sauce and stir
Do this until all the potatoes are cut up and all the peanut sauce is used up
-Stir generously
-Take out the toasted bread with dates
-Put the dates into the bowl with the potatoes and stir
-Break up the harden bread and use on the side like chips
-Make a cup of tea and enjoy your meal

I've had this dish hot and cold, tasted Delicious either way.
Let me know if you have any improvements on it :)

I'll blog you later.
Much Love

Mosno

Second Nature : Journal

Mosno here,
It has been at least a couple of Weeks since I gradutaed from the Vegan Living Program, and I'm still going strong with regrets.

I'm proud to say that I have become accustom to finding vegan options in places, even thinking on the spot how to veganize certain dishes on any restaurant's menu with ease.

It has become second nature to me to go to Giant to grab lunch instead of a Burger place. I'm fond of snacking on Peanut Butter topped Rice Cakes with a side of fruit or a feeshly made smoothie. It doesn't feel like a "chore", it actually feels good, it feels...right.

Many of my friends know that I'm a vegan now, and they respect my choice, and I love them for that.

I was talking to a friend of mine at an open mic the other night, and when I told him that I'm now vegan, he asked me how difficult it was. I proudly shared the knowledge I've learned, and went the extra step of picking up the menu of where we are and showed him all the vegan options under his nose.
I have to say, I was a bit impressed with my self hahaha.

I'm sure my adventures have only begun, I can't wait.
Much love.
I'll blog you later

Mosno Al-Moseeki

Breakfast Conversation : Journal

Hey everyone, Mosno here,
 Last weekend I visited my family, and informed them that I am now a Vegan. It was hilarious, and I got asked a LOT of questions. But one question my Mom asked me was "What do you have for breakfast?", many things were suggested, including Oatmeal, Peanut Butter sandwiches, and cereal.
I never really thought much about it, because I'm not a "breakfast" kind of person. Of course I was brought up with the "knowledge" that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but I was also taught that Milk does a body good. I'm learning that NOT everything I've been told has been quite true.

Today however, I woke up, and was a bit hungry, so I wanted "breakfast". In the morning, I'm a very light eater, so I needed to find something light & delicious to go with my morning tea. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at my quick vegan breakfast options at the Giant food store.

I found crunchy granola & seed bars with chocolate chip chia from "Kashi", which are totally Vegan. I read the ingredient AND used the "Is It Vegan" app, and it said "DEFINITELY Vegan". Brilliant.
I know they have other products that contain milk & honey, but I was very happy to find a sweet vegan option. Woho. I'm now having that with my spiced chai tea, with a little bit of vanilla coconut milk.

This is one aspect of Veganism no one told me about, the sheer joy when you unexpectedly find Vegan options for what ever it is you want! it really does brighten your day :)

Have a lovely rest of your day.
I'll blog you later.

Much Love
Mosno

Graduation : Journal

I am SO excited and feel SO empowered right now. Yesterday (April/19/2014), I officially completed my 6 week pledge of being a Vegan. It was a lovely afternoon, my fellow Pledgers & I got to walk the stage as we were handed out certificates & our coaches cheered for us, it really was a lovely ceremony.

Many of us talked with each other, and spoke of our life transforming experience, and many asked "What now?" which is a very legitimate question.
Lucikly, Brenda has a monthly Meet-Up called the Veganism Support Group, in which each month she would organize a Pot-Lock event, in which Vegans & The Vegan Curious could get together, network, and discuss which ever topic is chosen for that meet up.
I do believe being connected to the community directly is important. My awesome coach Ben, and his lovely wife have extended their support to me, and we are thinking of having a little Vegan Game Night in the near future, sweet.

As for me, I have decided to STAY Vegan. I feel healthier, more energetic, and all the other Vegans I have met have been nothing but amazing, and kind people. In fact, I have already decided that next year, I WILL be a coach with VLP. I'm also going to continue writing the Vegan Musez blog, to document my experience, at least for the 1st year. I'm sure I will eventually find a more direct way to connect my Veganism to Music, and once that happens, watch out world :)

Today I'm going to be visiting my family, who are of course Middle-Eastern, I will be dropping the Vegan Bomb on them. I'm not sure how they will take it, I'm pretty sure I will be getting the "side eye" from everyone, I wouldn't be surprised if I become the central topic of many jokes, but I take comfort in that. I never did do things "normally", my moto for life has always been "Be a prototype, Not a stereotype". If they want to live in their little comfort bubble, that is their choice, but just like they make their own choices, I also make my OWN.

I feel like my experience hasn't ended, from this point on, it will only extend because now my Vegan choices aren't to simply honor the program, but it is to honor my self, and my fellow Earthlings.
From this point on, I am conscious, present, and Vegan.

I can not thank Erin, Brenda, & Alli enough for this life changing experience, you gals & the lovely VLP coaches are truly angels, and be warned, you have created a Vegan Monster!
Thank you Vegan Living Program Team :)

Much Love to you all, and my experience will continue on the Vegan Musez Blog
Mosno Al-Moseeki :)