It’s sometimes difficult to balance this blog, which is my passion, with other aspects of my life – namely earning income. It goes without saying that my family comes first, and mothering/partnering will be my number one priority. If only this blog could always be number two!

In the past I’ve been open about my ambition to monetize BA. It’s not my driving purpose here (of course), but I sure wouldn’t shy away from it. Every dollar required to live my life is time taken away from this space. If BA could do a bit to earn its keep, that would change a lot. And becoming a mommy has made my time more precious than ever. Sometimes I find myself asking a very difficult question: is blogging like this really sustainable for me?

I firmly believe in NPR (National Public Radio), PBS (the Public Broadcasting Service), and CSAs (community supported agrigulture), which is why I’ve been operating under a model I call USB – User Supported Blogging. That means that I’ve eschewed advertising dollars and instead relied on contributions from my readers (via my wishlist and the tip jar → ). I am so incredibly grateful for every gift I’ve received, but the undeniable truth is that donations won’t really bridge that financial gap.

Right now I work for my $crilla and I blog for love, and those two investments become competing factions in the ”War On Sayward’s Time”. And since family always come first, and since the sad truth is I do *need* to make money, in the end it’s the blog that suffers.

My ultimate dream is to someday marry my income obligations to that which brings me true joy. In other words, I’d love Bonzai Aphrodite to become lucrative, so that I could channel all of my extra energy right here. I have such Big Dreams and Grand Plans (yes capitals!) for this project, if only I could devote the time!

I’m not trying to get rich. I don’t make much money right now and I don’t need that much to maintain my lifestyle. But, well, a girl’s gotta eat. (And this girl’s gotta eat organic!) Life costs money, and I do need some.

So here’s where I would love some input. I’m decidedly disinterested in hosting advertisements, but I have been considering ‘sponsorship’. Essentially, featuring a company whose product and ethics I can completely get behind.

Do you see a distinction between advertisers and sponsors? Do you think allowing sponsorship would compromise the integrity of the site? (Or conversely, would you appreciate being exposed to responsible, green businesses?)

I’ve also considered other avenues of income via BA, such as selling quality merchandise like tees and totes. (Which, personally, I think could be so fun!) How would you feel if I offered BA-inspired garments and goodies? Would you be interested in buying them, or do you feel like our relationship would change if I were “selling something”?

My integrity is more important to me than anything. I always want you to trust that I’m operating above board and in honor of the principles I advocate. So I put it to you, my readers, my community, my ‘shareholders’ – what do you think?

This meeting is now called to order . . .

This morning Waits and I joined a huge group of women in The Big Latch On, an attempt to break the world record for simultaneous nursing. It was so friggin wonderful! Yay for positive and empowered public breastfeeding!

So hello there! Welcome to the weekend! Firstly and with much gratitude I want to say THANK YOU to Kristen, who was so sweet to drop a little something in my tip jar this week. Thanks lady – the support really means so much to me. =)

And now, it’s time for comments, critiques, thoughts, support, and suggestions. So what’s up guys? What’s on your minds? Tell me tell me everything!

As usual, the Feedback Forum will remain here at the top of the page all weekend, so if you’ve got an idea or a question or you just want to introduce yourself and say ‘Oi!’, you can stop back by any time. This is your community, so get involved and have your say!

As an aside: Over the past few months I’ve recieved a number of Facebook friends requests to my personal page. But my deal with Facebook is ‘real life only’. I figure I’m public in enough places all over the whole damn internets (like hello? that’s my ta ta hanging out up there ^^), so Facebook is my one place to stay in touch with face-to-face friends. And yes, I do see the ultimate irony in making Facebook my one private place, haha. Anyway, if I didn’t accept your friends request PLEASE DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY! I love you guys! Come join the Bonzai Facebook page! Okay, hope y’all understand.

Now have a fantabulous weekend!

Some outtakes from shooting for this article.

Well oi there! Hello! We’ve had a scorching couple of days here in p-town and now we’re all set for a lovely, mild weekend. And you know what the weekend means – it’s time for this week’s comments, critiques, thoughts, support, and suggestions.

How is your summer going so far? And what have you got planned for the rest of the season? Are there any sun/summer related posts that you’d like to see from me in the coming weeks? (sunscreen! I know, I’m working on it, ack!) Tell me watchya watchya want?!!

As usual, the Feedback Forum will remain here at the top of the page all weekend, so if you’ve got an idea or a question or you just want to introduce yourself and say ‘Oi!’, you can stop back by any time. This is your community, so get involved and have your say!

Oh, and check out this awesome video of Waits cracking himself up in the bathroom mirror. <3

Hope you have an energizing weekend! (not *too* hot)

And now, Oi! Most Epic FFF Ever:

1) Firstly, I have to give a delighted and Heartfelt THANK YOU to Ann, who was so sweet to send Waits an awesome gift off of our registry – an organic cotton ‘fruit basket’. Ohmygod so cute! Thank you so much, he loves to shove them in his mouth (along with everything else these days), haha. The grapes are the best. =)


2) Second, I want to apologize for the light posting schedule this week. Work’s been kicking my ass. Obviously Waits and my family are my first priority, but oh how I wish the blog could be second in line! Usually it is. Sometimes though, I gotta go for the $crilla.

Maybe someday this blog and the $crilla will be one-and-the-same . . . a girl can dream, no?


3) Let Live was AWESOME! That pic up there ^ is from the conference. I’d planned to write up a post about it this week but time just didn’t allow it (see #2). So here’s the super quick re-cap:

Tabling in the main ballroom, tons of literature and resources.

- Babies and lectures are oil and water. I tried to see a few panels but the little dude just tried to talk along with the big kids and I had to duck out. No worries! We had tons of fun hanging out in the ballroom.

- This was as much a social event as it was an informative one. That’s one of the things I love about activist communities. The ‘big players’ and movement leaders all mingle easily with everyone else, allowing for awesome dialogue and a real sense of empowerment. No pretense. Just positivity and optimism.

- So many babies! I think there were five little ones under 6 months, which was so cool and inspiring. It was great chatting with all the vegan Mamas – including (unbeknownst to me) Kim McCoy of Sea Shepherd/Whale Wars (I thought she looked familiar!) Her son is just 10 weeks old, and damn cute I must say. Yay for vegan babies!

- For a more in-depth overview of the conference, check out this writeup from Epicurvegan, or here at Liberation BC Blog. And at the Let Live facebook page they’re posting videos of the talks!

Waits chillin’ with Brian of Scapegoat Tattoo (he did mine)

4) Um, this is so effing hysterical to me I just had to share. Hit’s a *little* close to home . . .

Soooooo, after all that yakking, it’s also time for comments, critiques, thoughts, support, and suggestions. What’s on your minds???

As usual, the Feedback Forum will remain here at the top of the page all weekend, so if you’ve got an idea or a question or you just want to introduce yourself and say ‘Oi!’, you can stop back by any time. This is your community, so get involved and have your say!

Happy 4th of July to all you Americans! Have a fireblast-tastic weekend!

. . . and drop drool bombs!

Oi! Oi! It’s the weekend again! (hallelujah amen, amiright?!) Time to kick off your shoes, relax for a spell, and have a fantabulous time. You deserve it! Also and always, here on Bonzai it’s time for comments, critiques, thoughts, support, and suggestions.

So what’s new in the world of You? What are you especially grateful for these days? (me = green plantfoods and raw nuts, sunny days, great girlfriends, Waits’ eyelashes which are the longest and loveliest I’ve ever seen, and forever and always my husband) What do you want to see here on Bonzai Aphrodite? More food, more fashion, more farm? More . . . furthermore (???)

As usual, the Feedback Forum will remain here at the top of the page all weekend, so if you’ve got an idea or a question or you just want to introduce yourself and say ‘Oi!’, you can stop back by any time. This is your community, so get involved and have your say!

Have a great one my dears. Be good to You!

And now – Oi! It’s the weekend! Time for comments, critiques, thoughts, support, and suggestions. So tell me what’s on your mind, and tell me what you want to see here.

As usual, the Feedback Forum will remain here at the top of the page all weekend, so if you’ve got an idea or a question or you just want to introduce yourself and say ‘Oi!’, you can stop back by any time. This is your community, so get involved and have your say!

Hope the Saturday wraps up well for you, and your Sunday is long and lovely!

So what’s on your mind this week? What’s got you fired up and excited for life? What do you want to learn about? And what do you want from Bonzai Aphrodite? More food? More fashion? More farm?

As usual, the Feedback Forum will remain here at the top of the page all weekend, so if you’ve got an idea or a question or you just want to introduce yourself and say ‘Oi!’, you can stop back by any time. This is your community, so get involved and have your say!

I hope the weekend leaves you inspired and refreshed!

So what have you been up to for the past few months? Any awesome projects you’ve got cooking? And what have you missed most here on Bonzai Aphrodite? Something from the food? The fashion? The farm?

As usual, the Feedback Forum will remain here at the top of the page all weekend, so if you’ve got an idea or a question or you just want to introduce yourself and say ‘Oi!’, you can stop back by any time. This is your community, so get involved and have your say!

Have a splendid spring weekend, full of fresh blooms!!

So let me have it! How was your week? Have you been saving your change? Or starting to prep your garden? What have YOU been doing?!

As usual, the Feedback Forum will remain here at the top of the page all weekend, so if you’ve got an idea or a question or you just want to introduce yourself and say ‘Oi!’, you can stop back by any time. This is your community, so get involved and have your say!





And if you feel so inclined, perhaps you could hop on over to the rikrak studio, and vote for Bonzai in the “thrifty-forward, sustainably-minded” category. Thanks guys, it’s much appreciated!

And have an amazing weekend, enjoying those last bits of winter!

So, it’s finally the weekend (Happy Weekend!), and thank goodness for that. The next few days I’m all about massive productivity! Isn’t it incredible how the ‘little things’ of life (emails, phone calls, bills) become much bigger directly proportional to how long they *don’t get done*. Ha!

So what’s on your agenda for the weekend? What’s on your mind right now? And what do you want to see more of in the next year of Bonzai Aphrodite?!

Oh and FYI, for those of you who participated in the recent vegan bake sales for Haiti, I’m so happy to announce that nationwide earnings topped $25,000. That’s a ton of money guys! So thank you everyone who participated, whether through baking or buying. It really made a significant impact!

As usual, the Feedback Forum will remain here at the top of the page all weekend, so if you’ve got an idea or a question or you just want to introduce yourself and say ‘Oi!’, you can stop back by any time. This is your community, so get involved and have your say!

Have a peaceful (or productive!) weekend!