Whitney & Mary's Vegan Tour of Los Angeles: Hugo's Tacos

Whitney & Mary's Vegan Tour of Los Angeles: Flore

Whitney & Mary's Vegan Tour of Los Angeles: Madeleine Bistro

I finally finished one of the videos - hope you like it! (Click on HQ for the best quality)

Kombucha update

I have been growing my own Kombucha "scoby" for a few days now, and so far so good!

• I started with a bottle of Original High Country that had a lot of scoby threads/left-overs in it. 
• I emptied about half the bottle into a wine glass (because I didn't have any other glass container) and left it for 2 days. 
• Today, day 3, I bought a half-gallon glass container (99 cents at the 99 Cents Only Store!) and moved the Kombucha into that. 
• My scoby is already growing into a clear, jellyfish-like shape (pictures soon to come!). 
• I keep it on a kitchen table, covered with a thin towel. Apparently the ideal temp is about 75 degrees, which is perfect for L.A. weather!
  
• I'm going to watch it until it has expanded to all sides of the container, and has grown thick in width. According to some web sources, this can take up to 3 weeks.

This is a fun experiment!

Websites to check out

Herbivore Clothing - "Cruelty Free Culture for the discriminating plant eater"

1996 McDonalds Hamburger - an article on Best of Mother Earth

Lucky You Resale - website of store in L.A. that buys and sells used clothing

Organic Beer review on AskMen.com

And another from Mainstreet.com

One World Everybody Eats - pay-what-you-like organic restaurant in Salt Lake City

101 Reasons to go Vegetarian

How Much Water Do You Use?

www.Good.is posted this great chart (click to enlarge it)

Shojin anniversary party - this Sunday (Los Angeles)

Shojin in Downtown L.A. is having a anniversary party with an all-you-can-eat vegan sushi buffet for $20 (cash only). I hope to go - their food and staff are awesome! When I was there earlier this month they took a picture of me and my sister, and mentioned my blog!

Junk Mail update

I have been really good about contacting companies and being removed from their mailing lists, and I encourage you to do the same. I found a really easy and fast method.

1. Everyday, when you get junk mail (physical, not email), Google the company website.
2. When you get on the website look for a button that says "Contact Us" - this is usually at the top or bottom banner. Sometimes it is under "About Us" or "Customer Service"
3. Look for a general contact email address. Many of them are info@(companyname).com.
4. Send the company an email with the header: "Please remove from mailing list". In the body of the email type that again, followed by your name and address (exactly how it appears on the mail).

This method works very well - junk mail and at work has been reduced drastically.

There are of course services like Tonic (used to be Green Dimes) that will reduce your junk mail for a few (or sometimes free), but they are guaranteed for all mail. If you keep on top of your junk mail on a daily, or even weekly basis, companies will literally get the message.

Here's a good article about junk mail myths

Making my own Almond Butter

I tried to make my own almond butter with my Omega juicer but all that came out was almond powder! I've read that it's possible with my juicer, but I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I tried mixing the powder with water and it was too pasty. Then I tried it was almond oil, which was better but a little too sweet.

Any advice?

Vegan meal at Malibu Seventh-Day Adventist Church

I'm not religious, but the Malibu Seventh-day Adventist Church flyer caught my eye because they offer a free vegan meal the first Saturday of every month after their worship at 9:30am.

Recess Nail Spa (Los Angeles)

Today I treated myself to a mani/pedi at Recess Nail Spa in West Hollywood. It was my first time there, so I got both for $50 (normally it's $60). 

I was really excited to go because it's a very eco-friendly place. Not only are the polishes and body products non-toxic and organic, but the space is entirely green. "Recess builders used only wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), guaranteeing that it came from well-managed forests, defined by far-reaching standards governing everything from worker's rights to environmental impact. In the loft-style salon, low-emitting paint coats the natural tone walls and skylights let in plenty of natural light. The furniture is made of recycled materials or those made from renewable or sustainable sources." And, "most of the salon's equipment is Energy Star rated"

I was very warmly greeted by Jessie at the front desk - he was incredibly helpful and kind. I was the only client there (it was a dreary day, plus the economy), so I got all the attention. 

It was a challenge choosing from all the pretty polishes by Zoya, but I decided on a pastel pink for my fingers and pastel blue for my toes (I kinda look like an Easter egg! But hey, it's the first day of spring). I didn't look at the names, but based on the website: the pink was either Maria or Piper; and the blue was probably Yummy but maybe Tart. 

After you pick your polish, you get to pick the scent for the lotions and oils the technicians use on you. There are a bunch to choose from. I almost picked Rose but Jamie convinced me to go with his favorite: Sugar Cookie. It wasn't a strong smell - I didn't leave smelling like a cookie - it was just a subtle, sweet, non-chemical scent.

I was a little disappointed that they don't have massaging chairs, but realized that they probably consume a lot of energy. Besides, I got great simultaneous lower leg and arm massages from the the technicians (Yayo did my manicure and Naima did the pedicure). Before applying the polish they wrapped my hands in warm bamboo towels - ahhhh. It was so nice not to smell chemicals! And there was a big screen TV in the middle of the room for my entertainment. 

I really enjoyed my time at Recess. It's a bit of a drive from Venice and I'm not that into getting my nails done, but next time I feel the desire I will definitely consider going back. $60 is three times the price of a mani/pedi on Main Street, but it's worth it for the all-natural and eco-friendliness. The only other drawback to Recess is that they only have 2 parking spaces - if they're full you either have to park on the street or risk being towed from the restaurant's lot next door (I did the latter and I was fine). 

Recess is located on Beverly near La Cienga (east of the Beverly Center). Parking is in the back or on the street.

Eco-Vegan Birthday

My birthday is this Saturday (first day of Spring) and I'm living it up eco-vegan style!

Today we're having a staff lunch to celebrate. I bought a beautiful Mixed Berry Cake from A Votre Sante.

The cooks at my job made a special plate of vegan nachos with refried beans, homemade guacamole, and Teese cheese - YUM!

On my actual birthday I'm going to Recess Spa to have my first eco-friendly manicure and pedicure. Can't wait! And then maybe a good meal at one of my favorite vegan spots.

Making my own Kombucha

I go through periods when I can't stop drinking kombucha, and I'm going through one now. I've been interested in making my own for a while, but never took the initiative. However, I am determined to do it now...well, not right now, but hopefully this week. = )

I want to try to make my own "scoby" from a purchased bottle, so I'm going to go to the CoOp and look for an unflavored bottle with a lot of "scoby" strands at the bottom.

Anyone got any words of wisdom?

Page-a-Day: ReAir Refillable Duster - Discontinued!

This morning I read a great Page-a-Day about a product called the ReAir Refillable Duster, which is a eco-friendly alternative to the typical chemical can-of-air. I thought this would be a great addition to my office so I Googled it right away...only to find that it was disconnected last year and is not available anywhere! What a bummer!

And it also makes me wonder when the last time Page-A-Day updated their tips was...

Vegan goat cheese

While eating Sheese Gouda Style vegan cheese, I wondered if vegan goat cheese exists. I Googled it and while it doesn't look like it is sold, there are a few recipes out there. This one from Post Punk Kitchen sounds good and I plan to try it. 

• 3/4 cup strained soy yogurt (requires about 1 1/2 cups soy yogurt before straining. Instructions follow.)
  
• 1 tsp Chinese white (not red!!!!!) preserved tofu. You should find a jar without chilis or other spices, which isn't hard at most Asian markets. It should ideally contain only tofu, seseme oil, salt, wine, any other neutral flavors that might be in it, and probably MSG because they all have it 
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
  
• 2 tbsp Vegenaise
  
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh herbs and dried herbs. I used 5 or 6 basil leaves, 2 tsp or so fresh rosemary, 1/2 tsp each dried thyme, oregano, and parsley. The more fresh the more better. Go crazy with the herbs.
  
• 1 SMALL clove pressed garlic. Only one. You don't want to go crazy with the garlic. A small amount adds savoriness, but you don't want to taste the garlic for itself. 
  
• 1/2 tsp fresh black pepper

1. To strain the yogurt, take 1 1/2 to 2 cups (or an entire tub, and have leftovers) of plain, unsweetened soy yogurt. I used Wildwood for this. Line a sieve with an unbleached paper towel or a piece of cloth, prop it up over a bowl, and pour the yogurt into the lined sieve. Cover with plastic wrap to keep it from getting funky tasting in the fridge. Let the liquid strain out for 24-48 hours, refrigerated. After it strains you'll have a paste with about the consistency of thinnish cream cheese. 
2. When the yogurt is strained, combine it with all the other ingredients in a bowl, blend well. 

Häagen-Dazs Soy Ice Cream?

A woman who works at a small market told me today that Häagen-Dazs is coming out with a soy ice cream, which would be great! I'm not a huge fan of most soy ice creams - I much prefer Coconut Bliss. However, I'm sure Häagen-Dazs would do a great job, so I hope this information is true.

EcoFlow shower head

On a rare trip to Target I found a really great low-flow shower head by WaterPik called EcoFlow. It has a nice looking design and there are 3 models to choose from (I bought the EcoFlow 3). It has 2 modes - "full body coverage" and "pulsating massage" - although I wouldn't consider the latter a massage at all. The heads reduce your water flow by 28%. It is a noticeable difference - my shower pressure has dropped - but it's worth it. My favorite feature is the "water pause" button, which stops most of the water temporarily - this is great for when you're shampooing, or shaving and you don't need much water.

Earth friendly diapers

I discovered some really near earth friendly baby diapers called G Diapers. They are reusable cotton covers with flush-able/compost-able inserts.

Apparently cloth diapers take more energy to wash and dry than it takes to produce disposable diapers, so the G Diapers might be the best option.

Page-A-Day: February 20 - March 8

February 20 - www.notsobighouse.com

February 21 - Switch to loose tea in a reusable tea ball, or buy a pot with a strainer

February 22 - www.organicgardening.com

February 23 - Plants that are good in the office and suck up pollutants/humidify the air/improve your mood: Pothos, Aglaonema, Dracaena "Janet Craig/"Lisa", ZZ plant, parlor palm.

February 25 - Turn off the tap when you're brushing your teeth

February 27 - www.conservationfund.org/gozero; www.carbonfootprint.com/carbonoffset.html

March 3 - "In the end, we conserve what we love. We love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught." (Senegalese poet Baba Dioum)

March 5 - Don't pour antifreeze or oil (or any other household chemicals) on the ground, into storm sewers, or down the drain. Recycle them instead.

March 7 - Opt for organic fabrics for clothing, and look for items that are non-dyed, "colorgrown", or tinted with nontoxic vegetable dyes. www.thegreenguide.com; www.sustainablecotton.org

March 8 - When making your own coffee: buy organic and shade-grown, brew it with filter tap water, use a reusable filter, and compost the grounds.

EcoVegan Websites

LIME’s Guide to Recycling

Whole Life Dining: Where to Find a Healthy Meal

Best Buy: electronic recycling program

Sunset Magazine: "Favorite eco-friendly small towns"

Whitney's Vegan Tour of Los Angeles

I'm wrapping up my Vegan Tour of Los Angeles (and Orange County), which I have enjoyed with my sister Mary. We spent the last 4 days trying out all the best vegan restaurants in the county, having 3 meals a day...sometimes 4 if you count dessert! Needless to say I feel a little pig-ish, but I'm having a great time.

The best part is that we are documenting every meal and creating a "Vlog" (video blog) for your enjoyment!

And thanks to Quarry Girl - without her I wouldn't have known about many of these great places!

Reduced packaging: Rice Cakes

My latest favorite snack at work is rice cakes with peanut butter. However when I went to buy some more cakes, I realized how much packaging they have. Luckily, the CoOp is smart and carries Suzie's Puffed Cakes with reduced packaging! And they have kamut and spelt cakes, as an alternative to rice. They are very delicate, but still satisfying.