Reasons to Smile.

So, as most original followers of the blog know, I love to make these lists. They are my reasons to continue on with the beautiful journey of a vegan lifestyle. There are more experiences than I can count on a blog, but these can definitely be summed up as my "greatest hits" this week.

So, here are this week's reasons to smile...

1. Knowing that the money raised for the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary and Farm Sanctuary from my benefit, Rock It Out, is on its way to each sanctuary.

(By the way, in case you didn't read the post about the benefit, each sanctuary will be receiving $1300!)

2. Speaking of Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, their next benefit on April 1st has me pretty stoked:

Woodstock's Farm Animal Sanctuary's

Comedy for Karma III
April 1st at 8pm
Gotham Comedy Club in NYC

208 w 23rd b/t 7th & 8th Aves.

Please join us for this unique annual fundraiser -- arguably the most fun you'll ever have while still helping animals! It's nearly sold out every year so book 'em now!

Check out this amazing lineup:

	Louis was the star of HBO's series "Lucky Louie" and numerous HBO and Comedy Central specials. None were rated "G." His new series "Louie" is in production and starts on FX in June. > visit his site
	Dave's series "Insomniac" ran for more than 4 seasons on Comedy Central, and he has graced just about every network and comedy club on the planet. >visit his site
	His third time at C4K, Gary appeared on NBC's "Last Comic Standing" (and that might be because he's so darn tall) and his own Comedy Central Special, "Boyish Man." >visit his site
	You might know Wyatt best from his work as a fake news correspondent on The Daily Show but his long career as an Emmy award- winning comedy writer and standup is far from fake. >visit his site
	Before co-creating The Daily Show in the late 90's Lizz was and still is an accomplished standup. For the past few years she's starred in the off-broadway sketch comedy hit Shoot the Messenger.
	Dan is a syndicated cartoonist, a board member of the farm, and will emcee the e vening, possibly doing naked handstands. >heck, he has a website too

Advance tickets recommended!
$50 for advance general admission seats

or if you want extra-special Karma and to doubly
help farm animals, consider buying $100 Reserved Seat VIP tickets!

>>Click here for TICKETS and details<<

Many thanks to
Gotham Comedy Club
for donating the space!

3. Discovering the cool line of vegan shoes that eco-friendly company Simple has been working on. I just attended an event of theirs on Tuesday, and boy, do they have adorable sneaks!

4. The fact that my brother's girlfriend has taken a 30-Day Vegetarian Pledge, that since the benefit, my step-mom has refrained from eating meat and my mom and her boyfriend haven't had a single animal product, and that my mother-in-law was so affected from reading Jonathan Safran Foer's stirring book, Eating Animals, that she is no longer eating land animals. Bravo family!

Interested in taking a Veg Pledge yourself? Click here for more info.

5. After already getting the chance to hear from Colleen Patrick-Goudreau and David Benzaquen, knowing the lineup of extraordinary vegan mentors yet to come for my Interview Series, which include:

Isa Chandra Moskowitz (Co-founder of the Post Punk Kitchen website and best-selling cookbook author - Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, Veganomicon, Vegan with a Vengeance, Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar, and Vegan Brunch)

Jasmin Singer (Co-founder of Our Hen House, 2007-2010 Campaigns Manager for Farm Sanctuary)

Jenny Brown (Co-founder of the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary),

Susan Voisin (founder of the Fat Free Vegan Kitchen blog), and many more!

6. Meeting the supremely kind Alicia Silverstone.

7. Finishing my second round of 29 Days of Giving. Have you given yet?

8. Experiencing the joy that is 4-Course Vegan in Williamsburg, Brooklyn this past Saturday. Four gourmet dishes. All vegan. Deeeelicious!

9. Getting the chance to volunteer for New York's next Veggie Conquest on April 25th. I'll be serving up a yummy second course dish after chef's compete with their original first course! (Joshua Katcher of The Discerning Brute, will be the emcee - awesome!!)

10. My mom attending a Meat-Out event last Saturday at Hobos Restaurant (Rehoboth Beach, DE) and having an absolute ball! More on this to come...

and finally,

11. This quote:

"We must help the defenseless animal who is the victim of cruelty, and we must also extend our compassion to help liberate the human being who is the victim of his or her own blindness, which is the result of years of conditioning. Only through compassion can real and lasting change take place."

- Sharon Gannon, Yoga and Vegetarianism