Hi <<First Name>>!

Can you believe it's mid-December? I hope you're enjoying the last few weeks of 2019, the weather isn't too bad, and you have some nice plans for the holidays. The weather has been comfortable in LA (it feels more like fall than winter) and I love seeing seasonal decorations around town. I don't have any more travel plans this year, but that might change!

Below I'm sharing an exciting YouTube announcement, information about microplastics, my favorite vegan cookbooks, a few conscious gift ideas and a secret I've been keeping!

your pal, 
Whitney Lauritsen

1.
YouTube Stories

Did you know that Youtube now has Stories? In case you don't know, Stories are a collection of short videos that allow you to connect with people like me more casually on-the-go within the mobile app. They're similar to Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat Stories except YouTube Stories are available for 7 days instead of 24 hours!

I just started posting Stories on the Eco-Vegan Gal YouTube channel. For the time being, I will be posting most of my stories on YouTube and less on Instagram. You can view these on the Stories tab of my channel page and within your video feed. When I share a story that you haven't watched, you'll see a colorful ring around my profile picture. Just tap my profile picture to watch my story!

You can also publicly comment on a story and view other comments. To make a comment, tap the comment entry box. I hope you'll check out these new stories and comment as I’d love to hear from you!

2.
Microplastics 

Have you seen this yet? It breaks my heart. A study on the ecological impact of microplastics examined more than 100 sea turtles of all seven species across the globe. They found that every single one of them had microplastics in their gut. Microplastics are teeny tiny particles of plastic, and this study is a great reminder why we need to reduce and eliminate our usage of them. Thankfully, countries and states around the world have already taken steps to ban some of the harmful substances that contain microplastics such as glitter and exfoliating scrubs. You can read more about the study here.

3.
Best Vegan Cookbooks
 

I'm so excited to have my list of favorite vegan cookbooks included in The Reading Lists' new article! In 2017, demand for meat-free food increased by 987%, thus demonstrating that more and more people are exploring alternatives. Luckily, due to the huge surge in people adopting this way of life, there are more and more meat and dairy alternatives. However, it can still be a challenge, which is why Phil from The Reading Lists compiled this list from a panel of experts. All of my favorites are also available on Amazon which you can view here. 

4.
Gift Ideas from Danielle LaPorte
 

We are officially inside the holiday season! As I'm sure you know, I believe in gifts that are conscious, cool, and not headed for landfills come February. Luckily, Danielle LaPorte has so many amazing options that fit this bill like a Desire Maps 2019 Planner, #truthbomb decks, soy candles, meditations, and an audiobook that are unique gifts for anyone on your list. You can view her store here. In addition to being a fan of Danielle's incredible work, I'm also a proud affiliate. If you use the store link I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

5.
I Have a Secret!
 

I've been keeping a little secret from you since this summer and I'm finally revealing what it is! Find out all about it in my newest YouTube video.

I'd Love to Hear From You!

Have you started thinking about or setting intentions for the New Year? Reply to this email and tell me about them! 

You can also ask questions and connect with me at @ecovegangal on social media. I love hearing from you!

Until next week,