Welcome to Uprooted Foodie

Hello! Welcome!

You may have found your way here from 

the Uprooted Foodie Instagram, Facebook, or by random chance... 

But this is the very beginning of the Uprooted Foodie BLOG, 

and I'm so excited to share it with you!

My name is Miranda. 

I'm a 30-year-old, Midwestern native who has gotten quite used to "uprooting" myself. 

(See what I did there?)

Redwood National and State Parks 2018

Every so often, whether it's for work or on a whim, I'll find a new place in the U.S.A. to call home.

Why?

Well... we have to back up a little, for that explanation. 

For starters, ever since I up and moved to Montana to volunteer my services with AmeriCorps in 2011, I've been addicted to traveling. Specifically, I've become drawn into the rambling lifestyle: meeting new people, hearing unique stories, learning about the world and being unable to deny the craving that I must experience it.

Backcountry Trails Training near Helena, MT 2011 (feat. me as a redhead)

I spent ten months in Montana based out of Helena. I then moved to Austin, Texas to help with a fire reconstruction crew in Bastrop State Park for three months before transferring back to Montana for yet another ten months - the second time based out of Billings. Working with Montana Conservation Corps greatly shaped my view on the world and how I interact with people to this day.

After Montana, I went back to the Midwest and worked at my sister's newest vegan restaurant, Trumpet Blossom Cafe. More on that to come – but I frequented trips to Asheville, North Carolina, where my boyfriend at the time was living. (We had met during our AmeriCorps terms, 2012.) In fact, it was in Asheville that I spent my first Christmas away from home. My Dad actually bought the ticket for me as a gift, even though it meant that he wouldn't see me on Christmas day. 
(Thank you for that difficult but oh-so-thoughtful Christmas gift, Dad!)

In NYC with my dad after graduating college 2014

While nature and traveling had sparked something wild and wonderful within me, I still had some unfinished business I wanted to look into. In high school, I was involed in just about every fine arts program offered. I'd attempted to go to school for this a handful of times, but always dropped out, fearing that I wouldn't find work. Once I'd completed AmeriCorps and returned to the Midwest, I wondered about it from time to time... And after waking up from a dream where I was back on stage, I knew I had to go back to school and finish my degree in theatre.

My jazz class in college (far left, red leotard) 2014

(Since we aren't here to delve into that too much, 

I'll just leave my website to that world linked here for you to peruse, if you like.)

New York City changed me, and I loved it for that. It brought heartache with the end to a romantic relationship, a tough, big-city learning curve, but I became confident, better-dressed, and happy. It enabled me to walk the concrete jungle with my head held high and my professional resume proudly in front of me. Thanks to a college friend who saw an advertisement that was right up my alley, 

I booked my first professional gig out of college. 

This gig took me up to New Hampshire, where I happened to have a close friend 
from – you guessed it! - AmeriCorps. 

Foose in blue, my co-leader Chandra in green, me in grey (2012 Montana Trails Training)

I loved New England more than I thought I would. 
Foose (pictured above) is a dear and wacky friend. After my job contract ended, she wanted to take me in and show me the New England way. I was ready for a change, and thought, I can do theatre anywhere! 
It was perfect timing to try a new location.

I was introduced to new friends, and I felt like I'd found a family. 
Nature hikes, beautiful scenic drives, and tasty breweries and coffee shops had me officially packing my bags and saying goodbye to the city for a while. This involved a very bittersweet break-up with a Brooklyn band I was in, and some difficult “See you later” moments with all of my college buddies... 
But New England was pulling me north, and I had to honor that.

I went on a series of self-sought gigs through rigorous networking opportunities 
and I did manage to sustain myself (barely) for the next year... 
and then I fell in love.

Me and Kyle 2015

I fell for him hard. I mean, LOOK at that ginger beard! Who wouldn't?

We worked together for a summer at a theatre on Lake Winnipisaukee, and my crazy ass moved to the D.C. Area to be closer to him. But it worked out! His name is Kyle, and we've been together for three years. He's a large part of Uprooted Foodie, as a model and also behind-the-scenes, so you'll be seeing and hearing from him from time to time.

As this is already a saga, I'll keep the rest brief: 
I moved up and down the east coast for a variety of theatre gigs, and even one National Park Service Internship. I sprawled west every now and then to Illinois, Colorado, and finally, California - Which brings us up to date.
You can probably understand the concept of “Uprooted” now.

Light Globe on display at Street in Portsmouth, NH

But, what about the “Foodie” part?

This goes back a little further than the beginning of my wanderlust movement.

In front of Homegrown Smoker's mural in Portland 2018

While in community college circa 2007, a high school acquaintance who turned into a good friend was in a French class with me. She was vegan for seven years at the time, and she spoke of it often. I was pretty open-minded, so I asked a lot of questions and listened intently. I had NO IDEA what went on in the meat and dairy industries. 

I ate one final steakburger at Steak 'n' Shake, and I went vegan overnight.

There have been some bumps along the way, but I never intentionally ate meat again. The bumps were more like... desperate encounters with cheese pizza and caving in to my grandmother's Christmas cookies. Overall, it's been a dedicated journey for just over eleven years, and one that's become a lifestyle, not a “diet”.

Why?

...We'll get into that.

My favorite kitchen towel from Target (for three bucks!)

On this blog, you can expect photos and regaling from 

a quirky vegan who gets the itch to travel frequently.

I want to share my tips and experiences with you along the way. 
We'll cover travel: moving, travel for work, vegan while traveling. 
We'll cover veganism in general, including recipes, restaurants along the way, 
the how-to's, meal prep, cruelty-free beauty and lifestyle, and more.

Whether you're a seasoned vegan or an omnivore who can barely survive Meatless Mondays, 

you're welcome here.

Whether you're an earthly rambler or you've only traveled five hours north of your hometown, 

you're welcome here. 

And out of curiousity... 

What brings you here? 

What are you interested in regarding travel or vegan food? 

I've got plenty of ideas in store to share with you,

but I invite you to comment with some topics you'd enjoy reading or learning more about.

You can expect to see a new blog post here every week.

Meanwhile, welcome!

I can't wait to take you on my adventures with me, in the kitchen and around the globe.

- Miranda

Standing in front of Kyle's van: The Rainbow Rider