VegFest!

VegFest is one of my favorite days of the whole year! No, and not just because I get to eat my weight in vegan donuts (I only spent $17 on them this year). It’s because there’s literally thousands of people who come together to learn about, promote, and discuss the ethical, health, and environmental benefits of plant-based eating.

This year, I helped table for Attorneys for Animals.

Two of AFA's awesome board members.

And I also MCed one of the presentation rooms. I was inspired by all of the speakers I saw, but I was particularly struck by one of the documentaries that was shown. Allison Argo’s “The Last Pig” is truly a stunning film (and we were also treated to a Q and A all about her process of making the film). Not only was it visually really beautiful, but it was so moving without being preachy. I was just blown away it. And I had tears in my eyes nearly throughout the whole thing.

I also got to see several friends there, which was a treat.

Representing MSU Law!

And of course...the food!

These nachos and coney dog are from the Old Shillelagh in Detroit, which now has a vegan menu!

From attending my first VegFest 15 years ago, when it was hosted at a school and there were maybe 500 people there, to seeing it hosted at a with thousands of attendees is so mind-blowing! Knowing the number of people who have embraced a more compassionate diet makes me so hopeful, and I just love every second of the festival!

Easter

To those who celebrate, happy Easter!

We had a lovely spring day, and bonus that my kid didn’t even notice when I snuck into her room like “gimme all the vegan chocolate.” And thanks to the Easter Bunny for this delicious treat (and for the blue sweater, which was in my basket).

Back to my roots

Welp, for the first time in a decade, my hair now officially matches my eyebrows.

Still getting used to it, but I’ve been told it makes me look like a different person. Rest assured, the new, brunette Kate still lives for the New Kids, vegan chocolate, and ridiculously corny jokes.

Whirlwind of a week

What a whirlwind of a week! It started on Wednesday with a drive down to Indiana to perform at Goodfella’s. I always have a great time performing there, and this time was no exception. I got to work with the hilarious Rodney Lumpkins and Zach Boog.

And it was so much fun that I almost forgot about the fact that I had a four hour drive ahead of me that wouldn’t put me back home until 4 am.

Then, on Thursday, I performed at my home club, the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. This remains my favorite club to work, and it was a bonus that I got to share the stage with all women. Connie Ettinger, Nicole Majdali, and Brandi Alexander had me cracking up, and it was such a treat to share the stage and catch up with them.

Plus, several of my friends came out to the show, so it was a blast to see them! I was so appreciative of their support.

I can nostril-flare with the best of them!

On Friday, I did a fundraiser show for a sober-living support group at a church. Man, nothing will make you realize how many drinking jokes you have until you get asked to be church clean in front of a recovery group. I’m pretty sure I had about three minutes of material left. I kid, I kid. But, I was a bit nervous performing at a church. When I got there, I realized I had nothing to be nervous about because they were absolutely wonderful! They were unbelievably kind and a fun crowd, too. Plus, they gave me a goodie bag to take home with me, which was so sweet. Sadly, I didn’t get any pictures.

On Saturday, I went to a brunch, which was to die for! I have to post pictures because it was just way too beautiful not to.

And then, at night, it was back to Indiana. This time, the Fort Wayne Comedy Club. I really love that place! Michael Moses, who runs it, does a really great job, and the audiences are pretty fantastic. I shared the stage with Austin Hall and Nathan Orton (both of whom were so funny, and also really nice). Despite blending into the stage, that really is me.

On Sunday, I was honored to present about animal agriculture and the law at Western Michigan University. Since this is only the second time I’ve worn a suit in two years, I figured it needed documenting.

 And now...I sleep.

Casinos, friends, and makeshift beer coolers

This past weekend I got to fly to California and perform at Pechanga Casino. After suffering through a brutal winter, just the promise of the temperature being above 50 was like music to my ears. Plus, I was beyond excited to see my friend, Brent, who was going to come down for the weekend from LA.

Pechanga is absolutely beautiful and has some of the nicest accommodations of all of the places I work.

Not too bad for the views, eh?

Love me some bathrobes and towel animals!

Before Brent arrived, converting the sink into a makeshift cooler was a must.

Oh, and so was hitting the buffet!

I opened for Skip Clarke, which was really fun. He and I first got to be friends on a run in Wichita, Kansas years back, so seeing him again was great.

During the day, Brent and I busied ourselves with losing money gambling and checking out Old Town Temecula.

Pretending to hit it big.

We listened to Blues and had some Mexican food and margaritas. Sadly, it was raining, so we didn’t get a chance to walk around as much as we’d hoped, but it was still a lot of fun.

Getting home was an adventure to say the least. I had the brilliant idea to fly home after the show on Sunday evening in order to make it home first thing Monday morning. After my set, I practically ran off stage, grabbed my car from valet, raced the 1 1/2 hour drive to San Diego, got gas, returned the car, ran to the terminal, only to be met with a long security line. I was sweating bullets, but, thankfully, my flight was slightly delayed, so....I ACTUALLY MADE IT!

I snoozed nearly the entire way back to Detroit. Thank the universe for direct flights, window seats, and considerate row-mates who don't hog the armrests.

I then boarded a shuttle to get my car, quickly got into that, and drove another 1 1/2 hours home!

I am happy to report I made it in my front door by 7:15 a.m. (the exact time I needed to be home by).

Despite the trip home being a bit of a beast, the whole weekend was just a blast! Seeing Brent was an unbelievable treat! And getting filled up with good food, cheap beer, and laughs was pretty awesome, too. Monday was pretty rough for my sleep-deprived self, but so worth it.

Merry Christmas!

To those who celebrate it, Merry Christmas!

I had a really nice holiday season, and I hope you did, too. I got to spend time with family, I ate way too many Christmas cookies (although, is there ever really such thing as too many?), and I watched more cheesey holidays films than I care to admit. I absolutely love Christmas movies, but even I couldn't stomach the bad acting and corny story lines in some of them (for example, kittens having to steal Santa's sleigh in order to save Christmas when Santa comes down with a spontaneous cat allergies).

I took my daughter to see Santa not one, not two, but four times. She hated it every single time. So, as a result, I ended up getting my picture with Mr. and Mrs. Claus instead. I'm still waiting to see if my parents will be hanging these photos on their fridge and sending them out along with their next Christmas newsletter.

I guess you're never too old to sit on some random stranger's lap?

I also checked out Christmas at the Corunna Historical Village for the first time. I had seen the buildings (all of which are from the 1800's, I believe) during the summer, but for the holiday season, they are open to the public. It was really interesting to look inside and imagine what life must have been like.

Some of the buildings:



We spent Christmas with both Dan's and my sides of the family, which was nice. Santa was quite good to me. At the top of my list of favorite presents: a vegan gummy bear kit and THIS:


Debbie Gibson is my childhood idol (and first concert), and I was seriously dying when I opened this video!

I didn't take any pictures of our tree this year, but I did get a shot of us attempting to pose in front of it.

Self-timer problems.

Different tree + selfie mode = that's more like it. 

After Christmas, I headed up to the Upper Peninsula for a show. Thankfully, it wasn't like two years ago in that there were no car accidents involved. Although, what would performing up north in the winter be without driving in ice? So there certainly was some of that.

Christmas decorations at my gig. My kind of tree!

Football, but more importantly, sugar!

I went to my first NFL game yesterday. I can't say I really understood what was going on for several reasons: 1. I just learned what a down is in 2015. 2. Our seats were so high up, I could barely see the ball. 3. I prefer people-watching and would much rather watch the drunken, screaming fans next to me, and I also wanted to make sure they didn't throw up on me.

But, I had fun! It was wonderful that I remained vomit-free, and I also really enjoyed getting to see Ford Field for the first time.




After the game, we, unfortunately found out that Chili Mustard Onions (Detroit's all-vegan coney island, i.e., diner for all you non-Michiganders) was closed that day. Sad face. But, we did, fortunately, find our way to For the Love of Sugar, which is one of my favorite bakeries of all time! The cake we got was heavenly! We also tried the vegan pizza at Blaze Pizza, and it did not disappoint.



To be honest, I don't even remember who won the game. But, I sure as all get out remember that frosting! Priorities, you know.