Including a review of Bradford Tonic
Eco-Vegan Gal Videos
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
EcoStiletto One-Year Anniversary Party: video summary
Carolyn (Healthy Voyager), Ioana (Luscious Organic Desserts), & Me
Me with Ioana
What a night! Had a great time at the party - check out the video and the links below to learn about all the wonderful people and products.
Strange Invisible (perfume & body wash)
Love Snax (raw chocolates)
Urban Fox (lingerie)
Annatarian (jewelry)
360 Vodka (eco-friendly, organic)
Vert (eco-friendly boutique, eyebrow threading by Marco)
Monday, July 27, 2009
Tour of Laguna Green: eco kitchen & bath gallery
Over the weekend I went to Laguna Green and got a tour by owner Pam Sterling. Check out the video for a peek at all her amazing products, including: shower, sinks, flooring, counter tops, toilet, plants, candles, and bamboo towels!
**MAKE SURE TO VIEW IT IN HD FOR BEST QUALITY**
I had to post this quote I found in regards to this video. Made me laugh.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The 4 Year Old Vegan
I met the precocious and adorable Makala at The Stand in Laguna Beach while I was doing a review. Her entire family is vegan!
Eco-Vegan options at Yummy Cupcakes in Santa Monica
Yummy Cupcakes is very eco-vegan: they have eco-friendly packaging and vegan options. Check out their vegan menu to see all FORTY THREE options and ordering info.
Today I had the Brown Sugar Cinnamon cupcake and it was delicious!Friday, July 24, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Product Spotlight: hazelnut flavored Agave Nectar
I found organic hazelnut flavored Agave Nectar by Madhava at the CoOp and had to try it. I tried it in tea and I didn't love it, but it's great in coffee. I'm not a big coffee drinker, but everyonce in a while it's a nice treat and I love hazelnut flavor. You can also use it on ice cream, pancakes, italian soda, or whatever you want hazelnut on. It has the perfect amount of flavor and just the right amount of sweet.
And if hazelnut is not your favorite flavor, they have other options including vanilla and amaretto.
Only downside - I usually don't buy from Madhava because they're a honey company, which I feel a little weird supporting...
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Product Spotlight: PROBAR
While waiting for my food from the Green Truck today I spotted PROBARs. Before I knew they were vegan I was drawn to the flavor Cherry Pretzel, and upon discovering they were in fact vegan I had to try one. I'm usually pretty unsatisfied with food bars, so I wasn't expecting much, but this one blew me away! It is so delicious - full of great flavors, crunchy but still soft, and not too sugary. PROBARs are advertised as meal replacements and I believe they are that filling (especially for breakfast).
Bellissimo: Organic market in Venice, CA
Bellissimo is a small, organic, market/convenience store with a European feel right off of Venice Beach. It's located on Venice & Pacific, across the street from Canal Club and next to James Beach. During the summer they are staying open until 9 or 10pm.
I've stopped by Bellissimo twice in the past week and discovered new items each visit.
On Sunday I went by to grab a snack and noticed their new menu, which included breakfast items with vegan meats - they don't have vegan breakfast yet, but it is vegetarian. However, there are several vegan meals, including a few sandwiches (such as a TLT with tempeh) and deli items (such as a potato salad).
I went by this evening looking for some dessert. I wanted ice cream, specifically Coconut Bliss, but right now they just have Ciao Bella sorbet. I ended up buying some chocolate chip cookies from a company called Lucy (also gluten & peanut free), and they were delicious. There are all sorts of dessert options there, mostly cookies, including Uncle Eddies and Late July. Bellissimo has some great gourmet teas that smell amazing, and you can order coffees with either soy, coconut, or hemp milk.
Bellissimo's vegan options are growing, but they have a lot already, so check it out next time you're in the Venice area and you're looking for a healthy snack!
Bellissimo
68 N Venice Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
310.305.2430
Vegan veggie salads: curry carrots & sesame cucumbers:
Product Spotlight: Vegetarian Factory Dolma
Bought these Dolmas from Whole Foods and loved them - fresh and full of flavor.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Sweet Corn soup at Seed Kitchen
amazing! Highly recommend you go get some.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Daiya vegan cheese review!
Daiya cheese is INCREDIBLE! Check out the video to witness my first taste, and to see my Quesadilla recipe.
**UPDATE: Whole Foods mislabeled the containers. The white cheese is Italian and the yellow cheese is Cheddar. So it wasn't my imagination that they taste different!
You can find Daiya in Los Angeles at Whole Foods in El Segundo and Locali (Hollywood). You can also order it on your pizza at Purgatory Pizza (Downtown) and Cruzer Pizza (Loz Feliz).
Please comment if you've found it anywhere else!
If you're outside of L.A. and you can't find Daiya, you can order it on Pangea.
You can contact Daiya and ask them to let you know when it's available in your area, but I also suggest that you bug your local natural grocery store for it!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Whole Foods Santa Monica (Wilshire & 22nd)
Just got back from my second trip to Whole Foods Santa Monica (Wilshire & 22nd) this week.
Got a great lunch today:
- Kale salad (savory & sweet)
- Orange cranberry couscous (sweet)
- Forbidden Rice salad (savory)
- Vegetable Tamale (savory, moist)
- Fabe's mini Coconut Chip cookies (unbelievably good!)
You must try all of those salads - they are all very delicious. The tamale was excellent too.
** ECO TIP: Ask the deli person to put all of your items in one box **
Also got Totally Organica sparkling water infused with Mint, which was only ok.
I went on Wednesday hoping they'd have Daiya, but they didn't. I asked the customer service desk if they could look into ordering, and they said they would.
Here are some of the cool vegan products I spotted there.
- Majestic Garlic Paste
- Food For Life burgers, "chicken" patties & nuggets
- The store has a great vegan buffet too
- Spotted new flavors of Coconut Bliss there on Wednesday but were gone today!
Monday, July 13, 2009
ZenBunni
I've been meaning to stop into ZenBunni (Santa Monica) for a while and I finally did last week. I've seen their chocolates at RAWvolution and wanted to try them and check out their store. They gave me a free sample and it was so good I immediately bought 2 bars. However, afterwards I found out they use a tiny bit of honey in their chocolates. = ( I thought it was vegan. But at least they get their wild honey from the best farmers...
I asked them if they would consider making a vegan bar and they said they would. Looking forward to it - their chocolate is really tasty, and healthy because it's completely raw.
New dessert at Seed Kitchen: Venice, CA
I went to Seed for the first time in weeks (traveling and the Master Cleanse have kept me away). I got my favorites: Southwest burger and Pomme Frites. I also tried Eric's new Tiramisu and it was fabulous. Not only is it vegan, but it's gluten-free as well. It reminded me of the cupcakes there, but less dense and with equal parts of frosting. It's a perfect size too, especially since all the meals there are very filling.
And don't forget they have vegan soft serve too!
Locali finds
Going to Locali is a big treat for me, as it is across the city from where I live (Venice to Hollywood is quite a trip!). But anytime I'm in the Hollywood area I have to go there, and each time I do I discover something new and exciting. I do have a video review that I've yet to edit, but here are some photos of cool eco-vegan products.
Masala House - Corona, CA
If you're ever on the way to or from Vegas, or simply out near Riverside and looking for a good Indian meal, check out Masala House. It's a small Indian grocery with hot food. I'm not entirely sure what I got (a samosa, chana masala....), but it was great! Only downside is that they use Styrofoam - next time I'll bring my own container.
Masala House
6993 Hamner Ave
Corona, CA 92880-3811
(951) 735-8457
Ann Arbor trip - eco taxi & vegan options at airport
During my recent trip to Ann Arbor I flew Northwest from LAX to Detroit and back.
I took Green Taxi there and that was a great experience. I had a great driver, who picked me up (on time) in a Prius. There were even free bottles of water for passengers (not so eco-friendly though)
On my departure date I arrived at LAX early and was very disappointed at the vegan options in the NWA terminal (Terminal #2). I circled around the restaurants many times, almost like being at home and checking the fridge and cabinets multiple times before realizing nothing new appeared since the first time you checked.
- Starbucks, Burger King, and La Brea Bakery didn't have any good options. Starbucks had bagels but couldn't toast them.
- L.A. Roadhouse-Route 66 had a lot of food but they refused to make any substitutions
- I finally settled on Wolfgang Puck Express and bought a Naked Juice and a toasted bagel with jam. They also had fruit cups.
Detroit McNamara Terminal had a lot more options. I left around dinner time so I went to Online Cafe (Gate A36) and found a great hummus & tabouli wrap, chips, peanut butter crackers, and even a chocolate Silk soy milk.
Coconut Bliss - new flavors at Coopportunity!
I was thrilled to see 2 of the new Coconut Bliss flavors - Chocolate Peanut Butter & Naked Almond Fudge - at Cooportunity in Santa Monica. I bought the Chocolate Peanut Butter - needless to say it's delicious.
Stay tuned for the video review!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Pizza Fusion, Santa Monica: video review
Finally great, authentic vegan pizza on the WestSide! Loved this place and can't wait to go back!
They also have an impressive wine & beer list, and a great vegan dessert. Heaven!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Page-A-Day: March 13 - 31
It's been a WHILE since I've added tips from Page-A-Day. Needless to say I've been very lazy.
But I have been keeping all my favorite tip pages to share with you! = )
March 13: if you're having a special event for which you will receive gifts, sign up at www.alternativegiftregistry.org for green goods.
March 14: Instead of killing pests in your home with toxic sprays, "find the places where they enter and block them up"
March 15: Check out www.energysavers.gov for tips for a more energy-efficient living
March 17: "No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strength" - Jack Kerouac
March 19: check out www.newdream.org. Helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice
March 24: "The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful" - E.E. Cummings
March 26: buy a rechargeable solar flashlight instead of one that uses batteries. If you buy from www.sunnightsolar.com (they're really nice looking), "the company will match your order, for people who need them desperately."
March 27: "buy a windup watch and/or clock" next time you need a new one.
March 30: if you continue receiving mail for employees who no longer work with you, add their names to the Ecological Mail Coalition to remove them from the address.
March 31: "We seem to have lost the wisdom of the indigenous people, which dictated that in any major decision, the first consideration was 'How will this decision we're making today affect our people in the future?' These days, decisions are made based on the bottom line." Jane Goodall
"How to Live With A Vegan Without Killing Them"
Any guy I've dated can probably relate to this movie! Except for the psycho bitch part. ; )
"How to Live With A Vegan Without Killing Them"
Raw foods: video journal & review, part 2
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Vegan options at Dodger Stadium
Thanks to QuarryGirl.com for announcing that there are vegan "hot dogs" at Dodger Stadium.
I go to the stadium a few times a year because my boss has season tickets in the Dugout Club. That might seem like a blast, and it is, but the vegan options are awful! The Dugout Club has a free buffet for members and although it looks beautiful and diverse, it's not a great place for a vegan. They have a decent amount of vegetarian options, but most of them have dairy. I'll have to ask them if they can carry the LightLife Smart Dogs too.
- A veggie burger that I've been told is vegan, but I'm not convinced.
- They used to have edamame, but I think it's off the menu now
- Grilled vegetables (but they're in the grilled meat section, ew)
- They have various vegetarian stir fry and pasta, but haven't confirmed if it's vegan
- You can ask for nachos without cheese/chili/sour cream, but they're very bland and I'm not positive that the guacamole is vegan
- Not sure if their couscous salad is vegan
- Various fruit (boring! come on, this is baseball!)
- Potato chips
- French fries
- Cracker Jack
However, the staff in the Dugout Club is incredibly friendly and are happy to accommodate and answer any questions. And the buffet is all you can eat, so at least you can load up on a few vegan options!
You can always bring your own food, and there are a ton of vegan restaurants within a couple miles from the stadium (including Flore!) According to Dodger policy: Food is permitted from outside the stadium provided it is not in bottles, cans, coolers or thermoses. Unbroken, factory sealed plastic bottles of water and other non-alcoholic beverages of 1 liter or less are permitted.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Eco-friendly iPhone and iPod cases
The Apple Store carries some great eco-friendly cases.
For the iPhone there are 2 great cases:
- The Agent 18 EcoShield is made out of recycled plastic bottles. Not only is it eco-friendly, but it has a great look and feel, and it comes with a free screen protecting sheet. Agent 18 even has a eco tip section on their website.
- The Bamboo Slider from incase looks really neat but I've never seen it outside the packaging. But green-wise, bamboo does make more sense then recycled plastic bottles.
For the new iPod Shuffle, here's a neat case:
- The CoreCases Color Jackets are made from recycled materials, but I've never seen them outside the packaging.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Video journal & review of Raw foods
After the cleanse I decided to eat more raw foods, so here is a video journal of some of my favorites and some new items from the Santa Monica CoOp.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Master Cleanse: Days 12 & 13
The evening of Day 11 I decided to make the raw cucumber watercress soup, and to drink a little. It tasted delicious, however it really upset my stomach (I think it was the garlic).
On Day 12 I made fresh juice: beets, carrots, kale, celery, apples, and ginger. I drank 3 glasses of that over the course of the day and it was wonderful. I had some more of the soup and it made me feel a little nauseous - I looked up garlic and it is said to have that effect, so I figured my stomach wasn't ready for it yet (I love garlic though).
Today is Day 13, which means I get to eat solid food! So happy about that. I woke up not feeling very hungry and with a slightly upset stomach, but I wanted to try to eat anyways. I went to Euphoria Loves RAWvolution, as planned, and had their fantastic Cafe Salad and a cup of ginger Yogi tea. The salad usually comes with a garlic sauce, which I knew was a bad idea, so I got a yummy lemon dressing. The ginger tea was a great choice - it really calmed my stomach. I also had a taste of a raw apple almost cookie - very tasty.
Right now I'm snacking on some carrots - my appetite is slowly coming back. I'm craving avocado and tomato, even though I had them in the salad earlier. I'm looking forward to eating more veggies today.
Tomorrow my cleanse will be complete and it will be July 4th. I'm going to eat slowly and small portions, and as much fruits and veggies as possible. However, I may have a veggie burger. Otherwise, I plan to eat as raw as I can from now on. Being at RAWvolution really inspired me.
The Master Cleanse was a wonderful experience. I feel amazing - light and full of energy, and I've received a lot of compliments about my body and skin. I'm also very proud of making it 13 days - no one can believe it! I can't imagine eating too much processed foods, or eating too much period. I hope I can keep that mind set.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Go Green on the 4th
There are tons of eco-friendly resources for July 4th. Here are a few tips.
- I highly recommend Bambu Veneerware instead of plastic, paper, or styrofoam plates and utensils
- Set out a recycling bin if you're throwing the party, or ask where one is located if you're a guest
- Even if you're not vegan/vegetarian, have options for guests that are. Even non-veg's like good veggie burgers, grilled and fresh veggies. And don't forget to cook them separately from any meat, and to use separate utensils.
- Fireworks are made up of a lot of bad chemicals - bad for you and the environment. Consider this before buying your own. Maybe just stick to watching the big, public shows.
Other resources:
Master Cleanse: Day 11 - Orange Juice
I'm about to drink my first cup of fresh squeezed OJ! Here goes...well, it takes like I remember. Haha. I could feel it run down my throat, and it is so nice to have a different taste and texture in my mouth. I'm going to drink it really slowly.
Last night I juiced a whole bag of Valencia oranges from the Venice Farmer's Market. It cost $8 for the whole bag and I made at least 1/2 a gallon, leaving 4 oranges that I was too lazy to juice (it's a long process!). I stored the juice in a water container and brought it to work.
I drank the laxative tea last night and it went into effect at 2:30am because I was still awake then (editing my movie). My stomach was slightly upset this morning and I went to the bathroom a little. I need to find out if I'm supposed to continue doing the salt water today...
I checked themastercleanse.org and found out that I need to drink 3 litters of OJ with 6 tablespoons of maple syrup in it. I think I made just under 3, so I'll have to take it slow and perhaps make more tonight when I get home. The last thing I want is to add maple syrup - that sounds disgusting! I am so sick of syrup too. Ug...
My stomach was really upset until early afternoon and I had to use the bathroom several times. Funny how this is just happening now that I'm off the lemonade. The OJ is pretty filling, since my body isn't used to having very much.
I bought a ton of supplies for tomorrow that I'm really excited about.
- Ginger and (purple) garlic
- Vegetables: beets, carrots, celery, kale, watercress, cucumbers
- Fruit: apples, lemons
I'm going to juice all of that and make a few different drinks. I'll also make a cucumber watercress soup, using one of my favorite recipes from the RAWvolution book.
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