I stopped in my local grocery store to pick up “just” an avocado, with big plans on making a raw soup today.  Never have I been able to stick to that one thing I had in mind.  The basil looked beautiful and had me thinking of pesto.  Cucumbers and apples disappear quickly in my house, so I bought a bunch of each.  And those Asian pears, yum.  I picked up two.  A fresh, baked loaf of French bread always brings on a big hug from my tween, so I couldn’t resist.  Before getting to the checkout counter, I had to hoist my overfull shopping basket on my hip so I wouldn’t dislocate a shoulder.  I was physically conscious of my tendency to over shop.

At the same time, just outside the entrance, a small drama was quickly escalating.  A woman stopped for shoplifting was trying desperately to get away.  In an instant at least ten, large men were on her, blocking her escape.  The cashier greeted me with excessive cheer, “how are you today?  Did you find everything all right?”  Blip, blip, blip, “Ma’am, do you know if these are collards or kale?” As she rang up my items, I saw the shoplifter being ushered into an office.  The employees dispersed exclaiming loudly about how much food she managed to stuff in her backpack.  I swiped my debit card, punched in my code to complete my sale.  “Thanks for shopping {here}.  You have a nice day.”  I dashed out with my heavy bags, stuffed with food.

I got home and the contents of my shopping experience spilled out onto my kitchen counter.  I usually look at a counter full of fresh fruits and vegetables with delight, imagining all the possible things to make and eat.  Marveling at the abundance of all that good food.  Not today.  My chest was heavy and my throat tight with emotion.

Shoplifting is a crime, no question.  Some people steal for the thrill, for power, or out of addiction.  Some people steal out of sheer desperation.  I don’t know that woman I saw today, and can’t tell her story.  Yet I know there are a lot of desperate people out there – not out there in that abstract, someplace, somebody whom I may never see, but out there as in our own communities.  I’ve known many friends and family who have lost much during the last several years, it makes me think often, if I lost everything, how would I feed my kids.  If desperate, would I steal?  Would I justify breaking the law?

I am grateful for the abundance I enjoy.  Grateful I don’t have to compromise my ethics out of desperation.  Today, however, that gratitude seems bittersweet.

Is stealing ever okay?

Hello.  Boy, have I struggled learning a new blogging platform – talk about “teaching an old dog!” So I begin with the most simple template and few bells or whistles. I’ve been having a bit of an identity crises and felt that my blogger blog name, Mixed Threads, didn’t really reflect what I like to write most about these days, raw foods. So I went out and got a shiny, new name, Raw Vibe, to call my little corner of the Internet.

Raw, as in raw foods. I really love this way of eating. I’m not exclusively a raw vegan, but I enjoy adding more and more of it into my daily diet. Raw, also as in open, honest, and sometimes unedited.

Vibe, as in vibrant. When I eat this way, I feel vibrant, more energetic, and younger. Vibe, also as in good vibrations (that Beach Boys’ song just launched in my head). I like to read positive, loving, life-affirming stuff from other people and hope to pass along these good vibrations in my writing and images.

Best Walking Partner

For any of you already familiar with Mixed Threads, perhaps I need little introduction. It’s still me, Dominique. Thank you for following me here. For the rest of you all, welcome.

In a nutshell, I am a wife and a mother of two beautiful children, 12yo and 4yo, living in downtown Chicago. I love raising my kids in a big city, although I often dream of having a postage stamp of a backyard. For now, it is a privilege having Chicago’s amazing parks as my big backyard and lake Michigan just out my front door.

I write mostly about my discovery and experiences with raw foods and share some mouth watering recipes along the way. I am like many people who have discovered this healthful way of eating, enthusiastic. If you met me a few years ago I would describe myself as aging fast. Over forty, over weight, sad, lethargic and having chronic pain. Yet, on the other hand, I was celebrating the birth of my second child. Welcoming this little man into my home was a good kick in the pants to stop letting my health slide. Kids are a lot to keep up with, and I was tired of lagging behind.

Since then, many people have crossed my path who have introduced me to raw foods and have inspired me to eat better. I was a cynic when I first heard that people eat this way. Crazy. So extreme. Where’s the research? You’ve got to be kidding me! However, little by little I opened up to hear more. Frankly, how bad could it be to include more fresh fruits and veggies into my diet?

Changing my diet is a process. While I love making and eating raw foods, I fall into old eating habits easily. As a family, we’ve been eating takeout, convenience foods, processed foods, total junk food for so long, it’s been a challenge to clean up our diets. Sometimes it’s such a synch to whip up good food for myself, but oftentimes my husband and kids won’t have anything to do with my garden veggie pate, collard wraps, or green smoothies. While I’d love for my family to share in all I make, I’ve got some fussy eaters to contend with. My goal is to cook more wholesome meals for them to enjoy that will work seamlessly with the raw vegan meals I make for myself. When I accomplish that, I think I’ll have a good story to tell. In the interim, I enjoy the process and I’d like to share it with you.

Oh!  Hello there.  Still under construction here.  Check back again soon for some great raw inspiration.  In the meantime, enjoy the ducks.