Everything We Served at Our Vegan Home Café For My Sister’s Birthday

Going out for coffee/matcha? Not in this economy!

DIY cafe drinks will save you money & if you’re looking for a way to use some of your savings for good/feel a little less hopeless about the world, you can donate to critical aid for refugees in DRC, Gaza, Sudan & Ukraine. There are countless organizations doing impactful work, and the IRC is one of the ones I have always admired, for their dedication & transparency. These days, I hope you are holding your loved ones close & cherishing quality time with them, because it is such a privilege to be able to.

This year, my sister opted to slow down for her birthday and put together an intimate home cafe for a handful of her closest friends. My boyfriend and I drove up to DFW (with some ATX treats) for a chill weekend. We treated ourselves to fun drinks & bites, and did some crafting. It was refreshing and comforting, especially during these turbulent times. Check out my reel recap of the vibes & read more about the menu below!

I miss yapping with y’all about food I have been enjoying/making, so expect more to come—and please feel free to ask any questions about the spread!

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‘Blackfish’ Documentary | My Personal Thoughts + UTA Students Weigh In

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If you haven’t seen Blackfish yet, you need to check it out. The documentary about SeaWorld has been making waves, and not just among animal activist groups. I got to interview some UT Arlington students about the film for work.

An excerpt from my article, originally published on The Shorthorn, UT Arlington’s student news website, on October 23, 2013:

A killer whale named Tilikum killed Dawn Brancheau, one of the most experienced trainers at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 24, 2010. This was the third time the whale was involved in an incident resulting in a human death.

“Why is SeaWorld surprised that a wild animal did this?” university studies senior Tania Rodriguez said. “You isolate them from their natural environment and put them in a tub, and then you wonder why this happened?”

Rodriguez, who is a member of the Mavs Marine Biology club, says she recently viewed an online trailer for the documentary Blackfish. It spiked her interest, because she recalled Brancheau’s incident from 2010.

The film made its premiere at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival in January and has been well received by critics, receiving a 98 percent “Certified Fresh” rating from Rotten Tomatoes. It has also made an impact on pop culture — after seeing the documentary, the directors of Finding Dory made the decision to modify their animated movie’s depiction of a marine animal park. CNN will broadcast Blackfish 8 p.m. Thursday.

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