When I first announced that I was going to have a vegan pregnancy, and raise a vegan baby, I was met with some negativity. People would say that children "need animal protein and dairy" for protein and calcium. Having a vegan baby would "make the baby weak" and not allow him to have all of the nutrients that he needs to be healthy. Honestly, I felt hesitant about the whole thing. I said things like, I will be vegan unless I NEED something to keep the baby healthy, which is of

The week I found out I was pregnant, I began researching ways to prevent stretch marks. Some oils reach below the surface of the skin and promise to be more effective. Some celebrities swear by this lotion or that. I spent almost $25 on a small bottle of oil from CVS and began applying it daily. The bottle recommended that I begin applying the oil after the first trimester, but I didn't want to wait. After about a week, I realized that I wasn't growing as rapidly as I expecte

Why are we so quick to judge other expectant Moms? My pregnancy may look very different than yours, but that does not make either of them better or worse. I promise that whatever you are doing, it is the right way. You and I are different people, with different babies, on different paths, all leading to the same result. It doesn't matter how you get there. Do not beat yourself up trying to fit into someone else's idea of a perfect pregnancy. There are a million super fit, glo

We’re wrapping up the first trimester and I am sincerely looking forward to having some energy back. Still, I count my blessings because I’ve had no morning sickness. Up until this point, I have been in a pretty great mood. No fighting with my husband. Zero crying. Yes, I feel lightheaded a lot, and tired, but overall, positive. The pregnancy still doesn't feel real. I thought that it would after seeing the baby on the ultrasound, but it still doesn't. The baby is in the "gum

Instead of knocking other people down for their choices, let's try to celebrate our differences. I have some controversial opinions that I have formed since becoming pregnant. They are just my opinions. You probably won't agree with them... And that's okay! 1. I don't want to have a vaginal birth. There! I said it. I know that I CAN have a vaginal birth, but the more research I do, the less interested I am. I know what you're thinking. "A vaginal birth is better for the baby!

It's only the first trimester of my very vegan pregnancy and while some scents are off-putting, pretty much all (vegan) food is on the table. Thankfully, I don't have any morning sickness at all, but if I even think about eating asian noodles or soup, I gag. This is mostly strange because before we went to Asia about a month ago, I was eating spicy Asian soup for breakfast every day. I, much like a cow, graze all day. Every 2-3 hours I eat something. Sometimes it's hummus, o

On April 1st, yes, April Fool's Day, my husband and I decided to take a pregnancy test. I had been feeling extremely emotional, crampy, fatigued...Pretty much all normal PMS symptoms, but I had been feeling that way for over two weeks. As soon as the test was even started, there was a plus sign in the window. Still, I waited 3 minutes and checked again. Still positive. I read that morning tests are the most accurate and decided to test again the following day... Still pregnan

I had every intention to write a positive piece on traveling to China, and I will, if I ever get in… I guess I should start at the beginning. I found this insanely cheap flight through Next Vacay from Nashville to Beijing for $394 roundtrip. This is not a joke. The flight was Air Canada, from Nashville to Toronto with a 5 hour layover and then direct to Beijing. Ridiculous steal , right?! I had to book it. The universe was telling me to go. After booking the flights, I read t

It is easy to become consumed in the addiction of travel. I LIVE for that fresh stamp smell in my passport, but that isn't the point in traveling, is it? If you don't have the time to go off the beaten path, hang where the locals hang, absorb the soul of a country, then why travel at all? This is especially relevant in today's Insta-famous world. We all want that perfect, iconic shot of us being fucking fabulous in a new place, but once you put the camera away (and you actual

I'll be honest with you, I had no interest in visiting Spain. I wasn't against Spain per se, but it was one of the last countries in the Europe for me to visit and I wanted to check it off my list, but I wasn't THAT excited to see it. Ian and I booked a ridiculously cheap flight to Amsterdam ( about $450 through NextVacay.com) and I found another flight from Amsterdam to Spain for less than $80 round trip (through RyanAir.com). So, we could vacation in Amsterdam for three day

Mmmm Maybe I should say, the devil you want inside of you... This is my coveted, top secret, best selling recipe for "Devils on Horseback" (Vegan recipe also included). If you are not familiar with Devils, they are more of a flavor concept than a recipe. It can be a date, or a fig, or something kind of sticky and sweet, stuffed with blue cheese, or goat cheese, or any stank cheese, wrapped in meat like bacon, prosciutto, or whatever. There aren't really rules, but the product

I'm not perfect. No, that's an understatement. I am in no way, shape, or form, even remotely close to being perfect. I am flawed beyond reason. I think that most of us are. But when the new year rolls around, we are all coerced to follow the time-old "tradition" of making resolutions. We are encouraged to knit-pick ourselves and then make public promises, that we will follow them. "Next year, I'll be better." When I turned 30, I was terrified. I was worried that I hadn't acco

Every time I tell an American that I'm going to Amsterdam, I get the same reaction. You can see on their face that they are trying to figure out why a nice girl like me would go to a naughty place like Amsterdam. Hahaha And I understand this because when Covergirl initially asked me to go to Amsterdam, I too, felt confused. I had to make an appearance on the following season of America's Next Top Model and they happened to be shooting there. All I knew about the city was that

We flew into Malaga from Amsterdam. It was a short flight that I booked on Ryan Air for less than 100 euros! If you're anything like me, you're currently thinking, "Where the hell is Malaga?"Shocker. It's in Spain. It's actually in the Costa del Sol region, (which translates to Coast of the Sun) and it sits on the south of Spain against the aquamarine Mediterranean with an average of 320 days of sunshine annually. It's freaking beautiful. But we weren't stopping at the beach.

1. Air Fryer $49.99 Give the gift of flavor this year without sacrificing anyone's health! Air fryers are changing the face of what we consider "junk food." Instead of submerging food into a vat of hot grease, it uses little to no oil to achieve the crispiness and texture of a traditional fryer. There are many models available on the market with different sizes, pre-sets, colors, etc. I picked this model because it's a good medium size, has great reviews, and it's cost-effect

Twenty bucks says that you think that's a typo and I forgot to write "loss" between weight and journey. Well, you would be wrong, my friend! Our bodies are constantly changing and evolving. Sometimes we gain weight, sometimes we lose it. That's life, kid. We are taught that once we reach our "peak" bodies (usually around high school or college) that's how they are always supposed to look. And that's why I want to share my journey with you. 100 I hit 100 pounds in 5th grade. A

My adopted brother, James Delisco lives in New York City. He is an icon and probably one of the most talented people on the planet. Seriously. He is also currently in Kinky Boots on Broadway if you happen to be in the city. James used to be vegan, way before I was. Now, he isn't fully vegan but he does still eat mostly plant based. I am telling you this because he suggested that we have a late lunch at Blossoms du Jour and I completely trust his opinion! I was honestly expect

I flew into New York City this morning and felt that familiar clutch in my chest. This city has a hold on me, even when it's cold and rainy. It's like a long lost lover whom I try to forget but time and time again, I feel that pang in my heart and I know that it still has a hold on me. It's fashion week in NYC and that always holds a special place in my memories. I went straight from the airport to the Maree Pour Toi pop-up shop downtown! My uber tinkered down slick, brick st

Today marks my 4 year anniversary of owning a restaurant in Springfield, Tennessee. Holy Moly. I was only 26 years old when I decided that I was tired of modeling and wanted a change. My husband (fiance at the time) and I moved to a small town outside of Nashville (where my family had recently moved) and decided to open a farm-to-table fine-dining restaurant. We knew next to nothing about the town or the people, but he went to culinary school and is an incredible chef, I lov

A vegan diet means that I do not consume any animal products. I do not eat any dairy, eggs, or meat. Not even fish! No cheese, no ice cream, no milk. Lol There's a lot of confusion about what veganism is, so hopefully this description helps everyone understand what I do not eat. Though, the fun part is what I DO eat! **Oreos are vegan. In July of 2017, I went vegan. Gasp. I know. I don't do diets. Me going vegan had nothing to do with me wanting to lose weight, because I was