Heaven Sent: a new soy-free vegan "ice cream" made from simple ingredients

While at Seattle VegFest I stumbled upon a rainbow colored stand that was passing out samples of a vegan non-dairy dessert. There were smiles on the entire staff's faces and I loved the vivid display, so I was excited to give a try. It turns out Heaven Sent is more than just pretty packaging - it's flavorful, fresh tasting, and creamy (reminds me a little of yogurt). However, the best part is that it's very simple and pure: it consists mainly of water, almonds, rice, and agave nectar. Better yet, it's soy-free and gluten-free, and mostly organic.

Amber, the beautiful founder, saw my pleased reaction and then spotted my camcorder - one thing lead to another and I ended up shooting a bunch of testimonials from other people at the festival who were just as wowed as me. Check out this video I compiled and I'm sure you'll be calling up your local grocery and demanding they carry it.


Heaven Sent is a new and small company, so the availability is limited (click here to see where you can buy it). However, if you demand it your grocer will want to supply it - so start demanding!

Easy & quick gluten-free Fettucine with Olive & Pear dressing

This is a super simple recipe but it really hit the spot for me. This was my first time trying this brand of gluten-free pasta - I really liked it!

Ingredients:

• Pastariso organic Rice Fettucine
• Dave's Korean Pear & Olive dressing *this is a L.A. based company, so replace with your favorite dressing if necessary

Preparation:

1. Boil water and add fettucine. 
2. Cook for 8-10 minutes - check towards the end for desired texture
3. Remove from heat and stir in a good helping of dressing
4. Enjoy!

Tada! So easy, right? Obviously it's not that special of a recipe, but it was so yummy I had to share. : )

TONIGHT: Whitney speaking at Women of the Green Generation Earth Day event

I am thrilled to be part of an upcoming Women of the Green Generation panel in honor of Earth Day. I am joining my good friends Pam Sterling, Heather Lounsbury, and Rachel Avalon and we'll be talking about the food we eat and how it impacts our planet and our health. My pals Rawsheed and Tigre will be providing vegan appetizers. It will be at the beautiful Evo eco condos in Downtown L.A. (check out pictures from the last event here)

I hope you join us - you can buy tickets online or at the event.

Wednesday April 28, 2010
Time: 7- 10 pm

Location: Evo-South 1155 South Grand  Los Angeles, CA 90015 (hosted in the roof top lounge)

Parking is easy and affordable - there are parking lots directly across from Evo on Grand Street - the lots are either free or as little as $5 -there is also street parking at meters which is usually free after 6 pm -But please read all signs for restrictions


View Larger Map

Robert Cheeke interviews Adrian Grenier about his diet

Time for another interview from the Home Tree Earth Day VIP Reception!

Robert and I asked actor & activist Adrian Grenier how his diet was eco-friendly - he didn't have much to say on the topic so it was very brief.  He started off by asserting that he is "certainly not vegan", but said he thinks food tastes better when you're paying attention. In fact, Adrian enjoys "inspecting the tomatoes and feeling the melons". Check out the video to hear about one of his favorite vegetarian dishes.

Though he didn't mention it on camera, Adrian told me about his new site: SHFT, a website with recourses for an eco-conscious lifestyle.

Hurraw! Organic, raw, vegan lip balm: you'll want to eat it!

During my Northwest trip I was on a mission to find fun new vegan products. I was actually pretty disappointed that out of all the vegetarian shops I went to (Food Fight!, Herbivore, Sidecar for Pigs Peace, Rainbow Grocery), there wasn't much that was new to me. However I did find some cool things, and this is one of them:

For some reason I'm obsessed with chapstick/lip balm. I've been meaning to experiment with making my own, but I keep coming across new brands to try (like Eco Lips). Crazy Rumors has been my favorite for a while, but I was delighted to discover Hurraw! at Rainbow Grocery. Hurraw! is not only organic and vegan, but it's raw and fair-trade too. I bought the coconut flavor and every-time I put it on I want to eat it! There's a great description on the website:

What a perfect lip balm! Now if only stores in L.A. carried it...*cough* Co-Opportunity *cough* Locali *cough* Humanitaire *cough* Whole Foods. ; )

Robert Cheeke interviews Michelle Rodriguez about her diet

As a big Lost fan, I was really excited that Robert and I had a chance to interview Michelle Rodriguez at the Home Tree Earth Day VIP Reception. She was quite down-to-earth yet very passionate and feisty. When we asked how her diet was eco-friendly, she cringed and said "you're not going to be happy with my answer", admitting she "needs some work in that area". Since she knew we are vegans, she teased us and countered with: "salads have feelings too!" 


As the interview continued, Michelle suddenly got really worked up about the negative effect that raising beef has on the planet - she had some great points. I could tell she is aware about the downsides of eating meet, and even seemed a little guilty when she said, "I am disgusted every-time I do have a piece of beef". Her reason for not being a vegetarian is that she's Type O and said, "it's hard for me to feel like I'm regaining the sustenance that I need" - perhaps she'll take Robert's advice and visit veganbodybuilding.com to learn how to overcome that challenge. ; )

Robert Cheeke interviews Josh Tickell & Rebecca Harrell Tickell

I was thrilled to see my former bosses Josh Tickell & Rebecca Harrell Tickell at the Home Tree Earth Day VIP Reception, and they had some wonderful things to say on camera. As with all of our interviews, Robert and I asked then how their diet was eco-friendly. Josh said, "veganism is the ultimate expression when we talk about reducing our carbon footprint", even though he's not a vegetarian (he tried but struggled with maintaining his weight and health). However, Josh and Rebecca are passionate about organic and local food - I saw them eat very healthy every day while working in their office.

Josh also spoke about the status of his movie FUEL, Rebecca mentioned Hot, Rich & Green, and they discussed upcoming projects and the importance of being "the one". Rebecca brought up Meatless Mondays as well, which was suggested to James Cameron and the rest of the guests that evening.

No Whey! Vega shakes and bars are real fast food (and yummy too)

After receiving a tub of Vega Health Optimizer (Vanilla Chai) as a gift last month from Robert Cheeke, I'm officially hooked on it. I've since grown to love the Chocolate and Berry flavors, and the Whole Food Vibrancy Bars. I'm not a huge fan of sport drinks though.

I use the Whole Food Health Optimizer as a meal replacement, usually for breakfast. I feel very full and satisfied after drinking it. Sometimes I'll just have it as a snack or a treat, or to curb a sugar craving. Though I can't say they're filling, the Vibrancy Bars are great snacks - I love the buckwheat crunch. The Sports drinks are OK - they remind me of a vitamin drink or Red Bull in taste, but apparently they're great if you need some extra energy (I drink them fast because I don't like the flavor)

Vega is made from whole foods that haven't been overly processed, and the proteins are about one third raw. There is no added sugar - stevia is used instead. My favorite thing about Vega is that it is free of GMOs, pesticides, corn, gluten, and soy. It has a tiny carbon footprint as well - check out the sustainability details here.

I always recommend Vega for men who transitioning to the vegan diet and are looking to stay at a healthy weight. Veganism is often associated with being stick-thin - while it definitely helps maintain a healthy body, being vegan doesn't mean you have to be scrawny (check out this great article: Building Muscle on a plant-based Diet). Vega is used by many athletes as a protein supplement, pre and post workout drink, and energy boost. Bredan Brazier, a vegan triathlete, developed the formula to assist with his training - you can read the full story here.

I've met Brendan a few times through Robert and he's a great guy - really mellow and modest. Both Brendan and Robert have books out right now - Thrive and Vegan Bodybuilding and Fitness.

Robert Cheeke interviews John Salley about being a vegan athlete

One of my favorite interviews from the Home Tree Earth Day VIP Reception was with vegan John Salley. Like Robert Cheeke, Salley (NBA champion, TV Host, Actor, and Wellness Guru) is proof that vegans can be healthy and successful athletes. In this interview, he speaks about becoming a true vegetarian, producing the documentary Simply Raw, loosing wait, and being a conscious capitalist. He also shares one of his recipes at the end. My favorite quote: "I'm not against meat, I'm for vegetables. I'm not against war, I'm for peace."

Robert Cheeke interviews James Cameron about his diet

Robert Cheeke was my correspondent at the Home Tree Earth Day VIP Reception last night and we were thrilled to interview James Cameron. Since Robert and I are each focused on healthy eating, we thought we'd ask Cameron how his diet is eco-friendly. Though he's not a vegan, he had some great things to say about organic, local food, growing gardens, and raising children. In fact, he further inspired me to consider finding a way to grow my own food - which will be tricky in an apartment with no balcony...

Summer is right around the corner - check out these cute eco tops!

While I admit I'm not a fashionista and I don't shop for clothes very often, I love having new outfits. Of course, being eco-friendly is always top priority. I do most of my shopping at second-hand shops because I like reusing clothes someone no longer wants, and it's inexpensive. However, when I buy new I always search for organic materials. Since the seasons are changing, it's time to put away my long sleeves and prepare for warm weather - I recently got two really cute eco shirts that I am excited to share with you.

Humanwear makes really cozy shirts for men, women, and children - they're all "about creating the perfect green tshirt". I say they're hitting the mark - their clothing is really comfortable and flattering. I wore their 100% organic cotton Greenlicious shirt to the James Cameron Earth Day event. I really like the way it fits:

I've been a fan of BTC Elements for a few years. The company is owned by local Los Angeles resident Summer Bowen, whom I've had the pleasure of hanging out with several times. BTC has beautiful, very fashionable clothing for women. I have Trapeze blouse, which is really pretty and extremely comfortable - a great combination! It is 30% Organic cotton, 67% bamboo and made in New York.

Both companies sent their items in eco-friendly wrapping paper. Humanwear used Fish Lips and BTC Elements used a bag made from leftover paper.

Celebrating Earth Day with James Cameron and other eco stars

I had an amazing time at the Home Tree Earth Day VIP Reception - one of the best events I've been to in L.A. It was held at the beautiful LEED certified J.W. Marriot hotel in Downtown, and best of all, there was no meat served! In attendance were James Cameron, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Suzy Amis Cameron, Michelle Rodriquez, Hayden Panettiere, Adrian Grenier, Billy Zane, John Salley, Frances Fisher, Josh Tickell, Rebecca Harrell Tickell, Angela Lindvall, Bai Ling, Brenda Strong (among others). Robert Cheeke was my co-host (and arm candy) and he did a fantastic job with the interviews.

This is the second time I've attended an Avatar event and I've really gained a lot of respect for James Cameron because of my experiences. Though I've always admired him, it was so wonderful to see him speak about the environmental message in the movie. Cameron also took the time to speak to each person that approached him at the events - even me! I got a fantastic on-camera interview with him that I am thrilled to share - hope to have it up later today.

In the meantime, please enjoy this video teaser and slideshow. I wore a great eco tee-shirt by Humanwear.

Purely Elizabeth: gluten-free pancakes

Following the gluten-free diet may seem daunting, but it's easier than you might think and completely worth a shot. You can enjoy many fun foods, like pizza, ice cream, and all sort of baked goods. A great example is Purely Elizabeth, which offers lots of baking mixes. I was really excited to try the Perfect Pancake Mix, but unfortunately I had a hard time with them - they fell apart in the pan and didn't look very pretty. However, they tasted delicious - very hearty and satisfying. The mix is sugar free, so you can add your favorite sweetener (agave is suggested). I'm definitely willing to give them another go - maybe I'll try a different type of oil, egg replacement, pan, or add more liquid.

Check out my video review with guest star Robert Cheeke.


I'm looking forward to trying the Ultimate Cacao Muffin Mix - I'll let you know how that goes.

Earth Day Giveaways and Specials

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

I'm giving away a NeatDesk, which is worth $399.95! Click here to enter.

Also giving away 3 DivaCups for the ladies! Click here to enter.

Barbar is offering a whopping 50% your entire purchase of their hair products - just enter Promo code:  MotherEarth. This is an amazing deal and I highly recommend you consider buying the ECO 8000 Blow Dryer. I've been using that dryer for months and I love it, not to mention the owners of the company are awesome. I have a review of it in my editing queue too.

If you're a fan of Veggie Grill, take a friend who hasn't been there and they're get a free entrée - just tell the cashier they're a "VG Virgin".

Healthy Spot has a lot of great deals for the entire month. Use the code: EARTHDAY for savings on some of your favorite eco-friendly products.

The Green Life in Santa Monica is offering 10% your entire purchase if you say the word EARTHDAY. If you're not in town, sign up for their email list and they'll plant a tree in your honor!

Seed Kitchen in Venice is having an Earth Day event with guest speakers from 6:30 - 8:30pm.

Faerie's Dance is giving 10% off any of their 3 dozen Eco-Friendly Dresses!  Use code EarthDay10 at checkout

Purely Elizabeth is donating 10% of all sales Monday-Friday to Fruit Tree Planting Foundation

Golden Path Alchemy is offering 25% off all products: code: MotherEarth. Good through Monday

Jenneration Fix has some great Earth Day sales today!

Earth Day Giveaway : DivaCup - CLOSED

Winners: Melanie, KrisL, and Vicola!

I am amazed at how many women don't know about menstrual cups, and that those that do know are afraid to use them. Menstrual cups are incredible - comfortable, safe, easy, and eco-friendly. Once you start using one you'll wonder what took you so long! There are a lot of different options, but the one I've used the most is called The DivaCup.

Not convinced? Check out this amazing video by my pal Rachel Sarnoff. I was going to make one myself, but she really says it all and says it well!

Earth Day Giveaway: NeatDesk - CLOSED

Thank you all for your amazing responses! I had a really hard time choosing, but I felt that one person really gave me some great reasons why she deserves it.


And the winner is... CarolEEna!

This is a pretty exciting giveaway for 2 reasons: 1. it's an expensive item ($399.95) and 2. I love this product.

NeatDesk is an incredible machine that allows you to scan in your receipts, documents, and business cards, and then organize them in your computer. It is perfect for accounting (especially during tax season), importing contact info, and storing files. All of this helps you be more eco-friendly because you can recycle your paper after scanning it, instead of storing it for years. It also prevents you from making copies or getting duplicates if you lose it. Please check out the video I made on NeatDesk below.

Outrageous Joy 30-Day Raw Food Adventure: tele-seminar

“If you want a BIG life, the kind of life you dream of, it starts with BIG energy, and I have found no greater tool to infuse my body with ridiculous amounts of energy, than living raw foods."  ~ Pam Sterling

I met Pam Sterling via some friends of mine when she owned Laguna Green, and I instantly connected with her - she is truly an eco-vegan. At the time, Pam had recently started experimenting with the raw foods diet and was really excited about it. Almost a year later, Pam's life has evolved beautifully - she now shares her passion for the healthy diet by teaching classes. I was never able to join her because they were located in the O.C. and conflicted with my schedule. However, I am thrilled to help Pam announce her new tele-seminar class!

Pam's new class is called Outrageous Joy 30-Day Raw Food Adventure, which is a perfect name because her lifestyle has put her on top of the world - she really shines. I love the format of the class - she makes it so accessible and encouraging. It's also unbelievably affordable!

Here's Pam's description of the class:

• Do you want to take your health and your life to the next level? 
• Do you want to have crystal clear mental clarity? 
• Do you want to experience ridiculous amounts of energy? 
• Do you want to live with Outrageous Joy?  

Then I invite you to join me on my Outrageous Joy 30-Day Raw Food Adventure.

We’ll spend 30 days together with a weekly tele-seminar, a one-on-one coaching session with me, plus you’ll get my Raw Food Starter Kit, 30 of my favorite raw food recipes, menu suggestion, Raw How-To videos, and each participant will be paired with another participant as an intention partner for daily support and inspiration.

WHEN: Monday, April 26th for 5 weeks
6PM PST - 8PM; CST - 9PM EST

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER (and for more information)

WARNING: 
This Raw Food Adventure could cause you to:

• Look 5 or 10 years younger than you really are.
• Lose weight without even trying. 
• Jump out of bed before the alarm goes off in the morning. 
• Experience outright giddiness that could be embarrassing in public places.

Join me and Pam when we speak on the Women of the Green Generation panel on Wednesday, April 28th in Downtown L.A.

Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness Northwest Book Tour - video montage

Here's the first video from Robert Cheeke's Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness Northwest book tour - a 4 minute montage of our 10 day whirlwind. I shot almost 4 hours of footage so there's a lot more to come, including many eco-vegan reviews of my own. : ). In this montage you'll catch a glimpse of:

• Food Fight! Grocery
• Herbivore
• Seattle VegFest
• Proper Eats
• Held Vegan Belts
• Grilla Bites
• vegan bodybuilders: Giacomo Marchese and Ed Bauer
• Robert's hometown of Corvallis, OR
• all the book packing and shipping we did

If this inspires you, you can purchase Robert's book here. It's also available at Food Fight!, Herbivore, and Held Vegan Belts.

And online at Vegan Essentials and Vegan Proteins.

Gluten free is the way to be for me (for now)

I AM GRACEFUL (INDIAN BIRYANI BOWL) from Cafe Gratitude

You've probably seen me writing about eating gluten-free (GF) recently, but I'm excited to report that I've been GF for almost 2 weeks and I feel AMAZING! Mainly, I have more energy, my body seems lighter and less bloated, and my skin is clearing up.

I was inspired to reduce the amount of gluten I ate when my best friend Sarah started doing it on our trip to Maui. I'm always looking for ways to eat healthier, and I've felt guilty about eating a lot of bread and pasta for a while. Sarah showed me how easy it was and how many GF options were available, especially in L.A. We made delicious pancakes from The Cravings Place, ate GF pizza at 3 different restaurants (Pizza Fusion, Z Pizza, and Fresh Brothers), found options at Veggie Grill, etc. etc.

My real commitment to going gluten-free started on my tour with vegan bodybuilder Robert Cheeke, who was promoting his new book: Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness (check it out, it's amazing). I brought up the GF idea and he was interested, so we decided to give it a try because we both wanted to feel our best during the intense trip. Within a day we were both feeling a difference and got really excited about it. We also decided to avoid soy as much as possible, which made us feel even better. I think it's a great testimonial that a bodybuilder is living a gluten-free, low-soy, vegan lifestyle! In fact, some of his friends built themselves up on a completely raw diet.

See the slideshow below of the delicious gluten-free food we had in Oregon, Washington, and California. More details and videos soon to come.

I'll keep you posted on my progress. If you're interested in what I've been eating, check out the What Whitney Ate Today section of this site.

You also may be interested in a recent post I wrote about whether the gluten-free diet is a fad, a rare allergy, or a serious issue for everyone. Please share your thoughts with me on how you feel about the matter.

Do Disney movies have an animal rights agenda?

During a recent conversation with a friend we talked about the messages in Disney movies featuring animal characters. Some examples:

• Bambi's mother is shot by a hunter (and is later shot himself during a man-made fire) 
• Dumbo's mother is put into chains in the circus
• Cruella De Vil wants to kill the puppies from One Hundred and One Dalmatians and turn them into fur coats
• Fox hunting in The Fox and The Hound

This really got me thinking - do Disney writers intentionally try to make us question how humans treat animals? Or, were these simply common script formulas written to pull at our heart strings, just like when humans kill/harm other humans in live action movies?

I did a web search and found an interesting article entitled, "Skewed Views About Animal Rights: Blame It On Disney" by Michael Smith (Herald-Journal - Jul 28, 2000). Here are some quotes:

• "They were shown going through the events of their lives with the frustrations, desires and fortitude with which people would have faced such circumstances."
• "Most people realize that there is a difference between people and animals. They can see the obvious, that animals do not think and react as human beings do."
• The author refers to a "ludicrous letter, quoting from it, "I can't imagine how anyone can chew on a drumstick again after watching the animated movie 'Chicken Run' ". And he commented, "real chickens do not 'share our quest for life and liberty as well as most of our feelings of joy, affection, frustration, sadness and pain.' "
• He countered the letter writer's feelings by saying, "did this animal rights advocate event notice that these were not real chickens in this movie? ...real chickens are too stupid to even be trained to mimic the behaviors shown in the movie."
• He quotes PETA's response to Chicken Run: "real chickens would tell us the same thing if they could." And then he comments, "real chickens don't have any idea that they may be made into a pot pie. They do not sit around contemplating their future"
• He wraps up his article stating, "the animal rights movement is based on a fundamentally wrong premise - that animals are basically the same as people - its recommendations and demands should be ignored."

While this article didn't really answer my questions about Disney's agenda, it made me think more about the messages in animation movies featuring animals. Personally, I don't understand how people can watch these cute characters (with whom they identify with) suffer in real-life situations, and then continue to partake in the cruelty. Movies like Finding Nemo and Bee Movie also come to mind - fish tanks and bee hives - and even Wall-E with the environmental message.

I also found a great blog post from vegansaurus about captivity, which spoke about elephants and the movie Dumbo.

What do you think about this? Are animated movies, especially from Disney, made purely for entertainment value, or is there something more to them? What's your response to Michael Smith's article?

Gluten free: is it a fad, a rare allergy, or a critical issue long overlooked?

Since spending time with my best friend, who recently went gluten-free (GF), I've been experimenting with the diet and it seems to be making a difference; I feel lighter (mainly less bloated). I've sought out GF options on my current North West vegan trip, even though I was looking forward to indulging - but it's really been worth it and I've found a lot of tasty options (including at the Seattle VegFest).

Now that I'm paying so much attention to gluten-free foods, I've realized they're everywhere and are highly marketed, which makes me wonder how many people have the allergy/sensitivity or preference. Wikipedia states that only "between 0.5 and 1.0 percent of people in the United States are sensitive to gluten due to Coeliac disease" and The Cellulite Investigation says "1 in 33 people are gluten intolerant". But if the percentage is so low, why are there so many GF options in stores? Is it just a fad, or does it is it a sign that the general public should be avoiding gluten?

I have a lot of research to do on gluten, but tonight I discovered:

• The word "gluten" means "glue" in Latin
• "legend attributes the discovery of gluten to Buddhist monks in 7th-century China who sought meat-like ingredients for use in their vegetarian diet."
• "gluten can be a highly addictive substance, due to the opioids that are formed during the digestion of the protein"
• Gluten sensitivity is also seen as a genetically inheritable problem

Gluten has been linked to:

• asthma
• cellulite
• eczema
• inflammation
• migraines
• various disorders such as autism, neurological disorders, and schizophrenia

Most resources seem to be unsure - everything is in debate and there aren't many strong studies. However, I believe that any product I have a doubt about is guilty until proven innocent, so for now I'm going to assume that my body will be healthier with a lot less gluten. I will make some exceptions, especially for Mighty O and Voodoo Doughnuts this week! ; )

I'll keep you posted on my journey and findings!

How does gluten effect you? Do you notice it? Have you ever tried giving it up?

Portland summary, part 1

I have only been in Portland for a day, but I have already done so much and I'm having a blast! I'm making videos of it all, but it may take me some time to get them up, so here's a summary in the meantime. 

My first stop was Food Fight, an entirely vegan grocery store. It was such a relief not to look at any labels. Though I was familiar with most of their products, there were a few that I was excited about, like some really good vegan gummy candies and rose tea kombucha.

Then I headed next door to Herbivore, whose products I've seen all over the place online and in Los Angeles. I really liked the vibe of the store and saw some cool items, like handbags and books. The owners were also super nice.

My first meal was at Hungry Tiger Too, where I tried their famous vegan corn dogs. Those were quite greasy, but very tasty. I also had their SouthEast Club and BellyRocker sandwich (with Daiya). 

For dinner I went to Blossoming Lotus, which has a lot of raw food. It was beautiful inside and the staff was very attentive (it reminded me of Madeleine Bistro). I enjoyed the food, but it wasn't anything new for me. I had a Ginger-Apple-Lemon juice, Live Nachos, and Green Goddess bowl.

To top the night off, I went to Voodoo Doughnuts, which is a really hip place. Though it's not entirely vegan, they have a separate section for their vegan offerings. I tried 4 different flavors and they were all yummy - reminded me off a cross between Mighty'O and Ronalds.

I stayed in the beautiful LEED certified Avalon Hotel & Spa. This was one of the best hotels I've been to, because it is affordable ($100 for 1 night), comfortable, quiet, clean, and green - and the staff is fantastic. It's right next to a bay, so it felt really natural.

My favorite meal so far was at Papa G's this afternoon - their Coconut Greens were phenomenal. I really didn't expect to love it as much as I did, since it's a really modest looking place, but it hit the spot and I would be happy to go back again tonight for dinner! I also tried Herbucha, a locally made kombucha, and that was really special as well. This restaurant is completely organic, partially gluten-free, and eco-friendly. I also enjoyed their mashed potatoes and gravy, and curry tofu. I met the owner, Grant, at Food Fight and he was really nice. 

I walked around in Mirador, a really cute eco shop, and was excited to find an artichoke steamer! : )

Believe it or not, I have a lot more to see in Portland. This city is uber eco-vegan and I'm loving it here! Though, the weather has been quite chilly...

My tour guide for this trip has been the lovely Robert Cheeke, who has lived in Oregon for many years. His new book just came out and he's been promoting it. I'll be traveling with him to Seattle tonight, back to Portland after the weekend, and then we're driving back to Los Angeles with a stop in San Francisco. 

Stay tuned... ; )

Anna Getty's new book "Easy Green Organic" launches at Rolling Greens

Rachel Sarnoff of EcoStiletto really knows how to throw a great party, and Anna Getty knows how to make beautiful green books, so their event last night at Rolling Greens was really wonderful. In fact, I can honestly say this was one of the best events I've been to in L.A., mainly because of all of the great people who were there. I admit I was so distracted by my conversations that I only caught a glimpse of Anna's new book, Easy Green Organic, but I'll be sure to review it eventually.


Aside from Rachel & Anna, I enjoyed the company of:

• Carolyn Scott
• Don Bodin (my music composer)
• Heather Lounsbury
• Karynne Boese
• Laura Klein
• Marty Stevens-Heebner
• Rachel Avalon
• Rebecca Harrell Tickell & Josh Tickell
• Siel
• Silvie Celiz
• Tracy Hepler

There was also some yummy vegan food, including a delicious strawberry salad, sesame noodles with tofu, Nicobella chocolates, O.N.E. coconut water cocktails with 360 organic vodka, and wine from Frey Vineyards. Rolling Greens nursery is really pretty, and it's definitely worth a trip to check it out.

Seeing green: maximize your tax refund & recycle your receipts with NeatCo

I am really excited to share this video and writing with you, not only because I had a lot of fun with it, but because I truly stand behind the product. I used NeatDesk and NeatWorks to organize all my receipts this tax season and it helped me save thousands of dollars through deductions.

I learned about the company about a year ago at a job that required me to use NeatReceipts - while it was helpful, I always thought it took too long to digitize receipts. Then the company introduced NeatDesk, which can scan up to 10 receipts, 8x10 documents, and business cards with one press of a button! And there's even a new version of NeatWorks, the fabulous software that extracts the data and organizes it on your computer, allowing you to label by tax category, search, and make reports. You wouldn't believe the look on my accountants face when I showed her my methodical Excel spreadsheet - we finished my taxes in an hour and I actually got a refund this year!

Since April 15th is only a week away, if you don't have time to get one of NeatCo's products beforehand I still suggest you invest in one. My tax session could have gone even faster if I had labeled my receipts with a little more detail, so I'm starting that process now for next year. (I also suggest using Mint.com). I really enjoyed seeing how I spent my money and I discovered what expenses I could cut back on.

The downside to Neat is that it does take some time - I spent several hours scanning and sorting. Unfortunately, the analyze feature doesn't work perfectly, so I had to manually enter in a substantial amount. However, I didn't really mind because I needed to go through each receipt to figure out if they went into tax categories. This year I'll try to scan weekly or monthly so it takes less time next April, and hopefully Neat's software will improve.

Aside from taxes, it's really handy to have such a great scanner and software. Though I try to go as paper-free as possible, I still receive some important documents in the mail, and I have a drawer full of old stuff that is quite unorganized - how nice would it be to have all of that on my computer and be able to recycle it?!

Since the amount of paper companies currently use isn't eco-friendly, NeatCo is a perfect example of the direction they need to go in - digital! Check out their thoughts on sustainability here. Eventually most receipts and documents will be available online and via email (and then you can import them into NeatWorks). Start a trend by digitizing all of your current documents and then ask the companies to go paper-less in the future. And don't forget to recycle!




P.S. Check out this cute dark chocolate bar my accountant gave me!

Talking to Ed Begley Jr. about being eco-vegan

My friend Heather Lounsbury has a great radio show on health, and today Ed Begley Jr. was her guest. I called in and asked him: "what is do you think is the key to helping people learn to care about changing the way they eat and treat the planet?"

He suggested reading Mad Cowboy (on my list) and said vegan food is "flavorful, delicious food, you won't miss the meat" and is "the right way to live", comparing cattle farms to the Dachau concentration camp. As for the eco side of it, he mentioned how many resources it takes to raise meat compared to growing broccoli in the backyard like he does. "Less meat is better for you, certainly for the cattle, for the planet.". For meat-eaters, he recommended several of my favorite restaurants in L.A., such as Madeleine Bistro.

Check out the recording below - Ed had a lot of great things to say (he "walks the walk", as Heather pointed out). For instance, I learned that he is selling his famous green home in L.A. - can you imagine buying that?! Overall, he came across as very modest, especially when he talked about his Begley's Best products as if no-one knew about them! Search Amazon.com for Begley's Best

At the end, Heather gave me a great shout-out (she's the best)! Please tune into her show every week - she has fantastic guests that are right up your alley! : )

Q.bel double dark chocolate wafer bars

Q.bel recently came out with a vegan version of their chocolate wafer bars, and it is really tasty. It's about time, because I've been eyeing their products for a while but couldn't try them because they contained dairy!

All of the elements in the bars are very even: just the right amount of crunchy, sweet, and creamy. Though it is dark chocolate, it is not bitter. They are also the perfect size - it will curb your sugar & chocolate craving.

The bars are free of:

• artificial flavors
• colors
• perservatives
• high fructose corn syrup
• hydrogenated oils

However, they do contain soy and wheat and they're not organic.

Q.bel is a really nice, small company - their moto is Be True. Be Honest. Be Good. and they stand behind their all-natural ingredients. A little side note, I think the story behind their name is cute: Q stands for quality and Bel is short for Isabel, the owner's wife. : )

You can find them at most natural markets, like Whole Foods. For a list of retailers, click here.

Millions of Milkshakes to have a vegan option again!

Last summer I was thrilled that Millions of Milkshakes had a sugar-licious vegan milkshake, and then I was super bummed a few months later when they stopped carrying it. However, I found out today that they're creating a new vegan shake!

According to their Twitter account: "Join PETA and Pamela Anderson as she creates the First ALL-VEGAN Shake at Millions of Milkshakes on Friday April 9th at 3pm" 


And Pamela stated on their Facebook account:
"I did want to take a few minutes to prove that one can create a truly delicious treat without having to rely on any animal products in the process. It is going to be a Vegan Vanilla Coconut Pineapple shake! I've always liked to shake things up so I'm thrilled to create the first vegan item on the menu – and at the same time I hope to get to meet some fans and to thank everyone for their support...”


I won't be in town to witness it, but if you are it'd be a fun event to attend. When I return I'll be sure to check out the new milkshake soon and report back.

310-652-1118

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Portland, Seattle, San Francisco...

I'm about to head to Portland and San Francisco for the first time! And also to Seattle for the second time, but it will be my first experience at the VegFest. Afterwards I'm taking a roadtrip back to Los Angeles, stopping in San Francisco and a some other places along the way (like the Azna Gluten Free bakery).

I've already been to the following places in Seattle:

• Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe
• Hillside Sandwich Shop
• Might O' Donuts - must go back!
• Pizza Pi - must go back!
• Sidecar for Pig's Peace
• Sureshot cafe
• Wayward Cafe

I want to go to places with unique menu items (trying to avoid Asian and Indian). I'm also a little over vegan pizza - there's so much in L.A. - though I'll likely make an exception for Pizza Pi because it's so fabulous. ; ). Places that are healthy, organic, and eco-friendly get priority, but I do like the occasional vegan junk food - I hear Portland has some great corn dogs!

I've got Robert Cheeke as my tour guide (who knows Portland like the back of his hand) but what do you recommend I do? What restaurants are a must? If I could only go to one restaurant in each city, what would you suggest?

Here is what people have recommended so far:

Portland:

• Back to Eden Bakery
• Bay Leaf
• Blossoming Lotus
• Bye & Bye
• Hungry Tiger Too
• Portobello Vegan Trattoria
• Proper Eats
• Stumptown Coffee (almond latte)
• Vita Cafe (biscuits and gravy)

Seattle:

• Georgetown Liquor Co was on a Top 5 Veggie Burger list, and I love their tag-line: "STRONG ENOUGH FOR A CARNIVORE, MADE FOR A HERBIVORE!"

San Francisco:

• Greens Restaurant
• Herbivore - The Earthly Grill
• Maggie Mudd (did an interview with them at WorldFest)

Advice for a new vegan

I recently received the following email from a woman who just went vegan. Please read it and let me know what advice you'd like to give to her in the comments below - I'm sure she'd love to have multiple opinions! : )

"I am about a couple weeks in becoming a vegan. I am feeling better by the day. I do find my emotions becoming more sensitive. I am grateful for this, but also a little anxious and down. The sensitivity of becoming vegan is coming on a little strong. I find myself caring more. This is all great, but different. I feel vulnerable. I was just curious to know if you remember symptoms like these and if so, how you dealt with them. Was your detox ever overwhelming at times? Also, I tried watching the documentary Earthlings, and I had to turn it off, I felt disturbed. This disturbing feeling is hard to wane. Should I just ignore the cruelty of animals, due to my inability to cope and know that being vegan is enough, or should I suck it up and continue to be informed. I'm confused. I know this will pass, but I just want to know how the beginning of your journey began and how you made it easier."


Here's how I will respond:

• I don't remember going through a detox. Not sure if that's because it's been so long (almost 7 years) or if I didn't experience it at all. However, I do remember feeling overwhelmed at times, with the amount of new things to learn about the lifestyle - my advice is to take it slow and be patient with yourself; this change will take time.
• You can read about my experience when I first saw Earthlings here. In summary, it was extremely hard to watch but it changed my life in so many ways. Shawn Monson summarized it well in the video interview I did with him, saying that we should take in the negative energy and purify it, and quoted Gretchen Wyler: "We must not refuse with our eyes, what they must endure with their bodies." Since Shawn said that, I have a whole new perspective on those "shock films" and remembered that quote while watching The Cove.
• Check out this article from my pals Maryl & Silvie: "Spring Cleansing Side Effect: Mental Toxicity"

Looking forward to reading your advice for her, and passing it on. : )

iPad

Currently blogging from an iPad. It rocks. That is all. : )

Vegan-Eco Lips

Yes, I know, I wrote "vegan-eco" instead of "eco-vegan" in the title. That's because I'm talking about a vegan lip balm by Eco Lips, so it was appropriate to say it the other way around. ; )

I met Eco Lips at the Natural Products Expo but didn't get to try their products because they were all out of vegan stuff. However, luck would have it that last weekend I had lip care emergency - my lips were dry and uncomfortable and I forgot my Crazy Rumors behind! So I jetted over to Whole Foods in search of relief - can you believe Eco Lips was the only vegan option out of about 10 other brands? (what's up with that Whole Foods? This store didn't even have Merry Hempters!). Most chapsticks contain beeswax, so I was grateful to see the phrase "bee free" on one of Eco Lips sticks. Though I admit, I wasn't thrilled that the only vegan flavor was Lemon-Lime, especially after being spoiled by the fun Crazy Rumors choices.

Turns out, I'm really digging Eco Lips, and the lemon-lime is actually pretty tasty.

• goes on smooth
• 70% organic
• Non GMO
• Petroleum-free

Maybe Eco Lips will consider making more vegan lip balms in different flavors...

Rosti Tuscan Kitchen - simple Italian food with great vegan options

When I was invited to try Rosti's vegan options I was really hesitant because the first thing I saw on their website was chicken. I figured they just had a few boring items on the menu that they could make vegan. However, when I walked in the door I received a great welcome from the owner and immediately felt comfortable in the beautiful restaurant. Most importantly, I was soon stuffed full with over 10 of their fantastic vegan options.

I was really impressed with Rosti and I'm drooling as I write this re-cap. The food was really fresh and flavorful. This isn't the typical vegan experience at an Italian restaurant (i.e.: "can you make this vegan?" "um, sure..."). In fact, most of the options are just a step away from being a vegan - just ask for them sans cheese or meat. When I arrived the owner had a really long list of his vegan offerings (over 30!) and was proud to present them to me, so I felt like he really cared about my dietary restrictions. Not to mention, it was all really delicious and authentic.

I enjoyed:

1. Minestrone Soup
2. Lentil Soup
3. Fagioli Soup
4. Butternut Squash Soup
5. Insalata Rustica 
6. Tuscan Hummus Dip 
7. Spinach, Pine Nuts & Fresh Basil Salad  
8. Penne All'Arrabbiata
9. Whole Wheat Spaghetti   
10. Arugula & Fig Salad 
11. Rigatoni & Peppers 
12. Fire Roasted Artichoke 

To top it all off, most of their ingredients are organic (though not certified) and from local farms. And, they are pretty eco-friendly: their used grease/oil is turned into biodiesel, and they use biodegradable containers in their Santa Monica location.

Taste: 9/10

Unique menu & flavors: not sure about unique, but what they have is hard to find

Organic: mostly

Local: yes

Healthy: pretty healthy in that they use light oil and quality ingredients

Eco-Friendly: semi - grease turned into biodiesel, biodegradable containers

Customer service: excellent

Atmosphere: reminiscent of Italy, bright, relaxing

Location: Encino - close to highways; Santa Monica - on Montana Ave

Parking: Encino - free underground; Santa Monica - street

Price: very affordable

Portion Sizes: medium/large

Rosti has 2 locations: Santa Monica & Encino. They just moved to a new space in Encino, and to celebrate that they're offering:

• 25% off your entire meal on your first visit in the Encino restaurant
• If you're a fan on Facebook or follower on Twitter you get 30% off your entire bill.

16350 Ventura Blvd. Encino, CA 91436

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931 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA

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Aluminum-free deodorant by Crystal

Several years ago I was introduced to Crystal deodorant, and I was really skeptical - how could a stick of salt really keep me smelling fresh? However, my old deodorant wasn't cutting it, and I heard that some of the ingredients could cause breast cancer, so I gave it a try. Lo and behold, Crystal worked wonders and I've been using it ever since! I've since become an all-natural girl and I love that this product is so simple - salt as the only ingredient.

Here's a great explaination from the site:
Odor is caused by bacteria, which form on the body. Most deodorants on the market today merely mask that odor with unnecessary and unwanted chemicals. They “de-odorize” with the help of chemicals. Crystal deodorants, made of 100% all natural mineral salts, prevent odor from happening in the first place by neutralizing the bacteria.

You use the Crystal stick similar to other deodorants, except you have to wet it with water before applying. And it is also important that you are clean, because the salt will absorb scents (sometimes I just wash off with a soapy cloth). The stick will last a really long time - potentially over a year if you don't drop it like I do on occasion - so it saves a lot of money.

At The Natural Products Expo, Crystal gave me their new Essence body sprays to try and I've really enjoyed using it. It's one less step than the stick because you simply spray it on, although I doubt it will last as long (supposedly lasts 3-4 months). It smells good (not an overwhelming scent) and dries fast/isn't sticky. Crystal also makes a roll-on, but I haven't tried that.

My main problem with the sprays and roll-ons is that they're liquid in plastic packaging - after seeing Tapped I've been trying to avoid using things that are exposed to plastic for long periods of time. The spray is in #2 HDPE Plastic, which apparently doesn't leach any chemicals like BPA - so it's actually pretty safe. However, while doing that research I discovered that the plastic that the stick is in is #7, which could potentially leach BPA...good thing it's not liquid! An alternative is to buy the rock or to take the stick out of the plastic container.

Ingredient facts:

• "Crystal essence uses natural scents from plants."
• "Crystal Body Deodorant and Crystal essence products have never been and never will be tested on animals. We are proud members of both Leaping Bunny and PETA."

Daiya cheese crisps - get your fix

Perhaps my obsession with Daiya has gone a little too far...

When I saw the company at the Natural Products Expo one of the staff members put something in front of me and said, "you have to try this." I glanced down and saw what looked like thin crackers - turns out it was pieces of baked Daiya - INCREDIBLE! It actually tasted a lot like cheese sticks.

A few weeks later a container of Daiya was burning a hole in my fridge, but I was out of things to put it on (bread, tortillas, pasta, dough). I was really craving it, so decided to try making the crisps myself.

• heated the over to 350 degrees
• sprinkled the Daiya on a baking sheet
• let it bake for about 8-10 minutes
• took it out and the Daiya crisps came off easily

It turned out perfectly - crispy, oily, creamy; who needs a pizza when you've got this?! OK - I admit, I still love anything with Daiya on it (in fact I also had Amy's Rice Macaroni & Cheeze earlier), but if you're in a bind and really need to satisfy your craving this will do the trick. Maybe I should start selling these...
; ) 

Women of the Green Generation presents Hot, Rich, & Green

Women of the Green Generation is a fantastic networking event for...well, women of the green generation (in other words, female entrepreneurs in the green world). I attended it for the 2nd time last night and it was even better than the 1st, mainly because it featured Rebecca Harrell Tickell and her new book Hot, Rich, & Green. Now, I'm a little biased because I assisted in the production of the book, but Rebecca's talk really blew me away (I really wish I had it on video, but luckily her wonderful husband Josh had that covered - hopefully that will be available to watch soon). Her acting background was evident in her confidence, poise, and accessibility - I was hanging on every word she said, even though I'd heard it all before. I really believe that Rebecca is going to change the world by inspiring women to follow their passions. I highly recommend you pick up a copy the book, and if you're interested in inviting Rebecca to speak at your own event you can contact her through the website.

After Rebecca spoke there was a panel of women featured in the book, including Siel, Anna Getty, Kris Willey, Elif Beall, and Andrea Robinson. Tracy Hepler also spoke. They shared their stories of success and gave advice on running green businesses - this was also very inspirational. 

There were a few vendors there, including Tia's Bakery, Golden Earth, and ChocoVivo. Food was provided by the lovely Large Marge Sustainables - delicious as always.

I was excited to attend the event with my pal Heather Lounsbury, and ran into wonderful women such as Laura Klein, Julie Naylon, Merle Morgan and Elisa Brown (who did an excellent job co-hosting the event). 

This WOTGG event reminded me why I love living in Los Angeles - there is such an incredible community of powerful people doing amazing things. Not to mention, this event was held at a fantastic location - at a penthouse in a LEED certified building downtown called EVO - the view was gorgeous. Though the energy in this city can be a little hectic and negative, if you break through the clutter you can find some sensational individuals and spectacular places.

I highly recommend you check out their next event...if you're a women that is. And if you do go, try to carpool or take public transportation (like the Big Blue Bus)