Living Without Meat

With newspapers and other print media dying off due to people’s desire and ability to get information paperless, it’s hard to believe that now would be the time for a new publication. But that’s exactly what COCO Eco Magazine is.

Feel Good Style and Organic Beauty View blogger Emma Pezzack, who is also President & CEO of green makeup company Futurenatural, made a recent announcement about the magazine’s upcoming arrival. She did so proudly, as she has been named beauty editor of COCO Eco.

Ecorazzi also proudly announced the publication’s October 18 release, including the naming of Anna Griffin, who has done correspondence for the environmentally friendly blog, as editor-in-chief.

Additionally, the magazine’s staff line up features carbon footprint-reducing experts, savvy fashionistas, artistic photographers, experienced writers, and many stylish, green thinkers.

The magazine officially launches the evening of Saturday October 18 with an L.A. launch party held in conjunction with D&A’s (Designers & Artists) new Green Market event showcasing sustainable fashion .

Tomorrow, October 1, is the annual World Vegetarian Day, which was founded in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society. The celebratory day kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month.

Visit the Web site for World Veg Head Day by clicking on the banner here. There you will find activities, recipes, and general comraderie as vegetarians across the globe join together to celebrate and share our lifestyle.

To the non-vegetarians: I challenge you to be conscious of what you eat. Look at every bite before you put it in your mouth. Remember where - and who - it came from. Think while you chew. Be aware of how your body feels afterward. Then, eat vegetarian (better yet, vegan) for a meal, a day, a week, or even an entire month, thinking these same thoughts.

I think you will find that fresh spinach looks more appetizing than bloody steak. Remembering the plant that is giving you nourishment won’t wrench your heart. Your body will feel satisfied, yet light, after a vegetarian meal. I think you will find that your conscience is cleaner after a healthy meat- and cruelty-free meal.

If nothing else, take a moment to ask a vegetarian what their favorite recipe is … then go home and make it for you and your family!

To vegetarians and vegans: I thank you, on behalf of the animals, and on behalf of your heart. You are living a life against the norm because you are a caring, compassionate, smart individual, and this (well, tomorrow) is your day.

Make yourself a wonderful meal; try something new even. Splurge at a vegan restaurant or on an expensive ingredient. Pat yourself on the back. But most importantly, remember what a difference you are making with each food choice that you make … then go out and spend the rest of the month telling your friends, family, and even strangers on the bus about living a vegetarian life.

Looking for something positive to read regarding animals and their rights? A must read for everyone is Farm Sanctuary’s Rescue & Adoption story about one 7-year-old girl and her mother saving two baby chicks, who were the only survivors of the girl’s school hatching project, from being sent to a poultry farm.

And since you’re already headed to the Farm’s Web site, be sure to check out these other exciting news bits, events, and more:

* The Farm is hosting a celebrity-filled auction online at Charity Buzz. There are lots of awesome things to check out including lunch dates with celebrity vegetarians, gift packages, artwork, and vacations. I tell you this, however, with trust that you will not bid on lunch with Kristen Bell (and a Heroes‘ gift package) unless you are bidding on my behalf since Kristen is my girl crush.

* Amidst the 27 animals rescued from Red Barn, a cruel “free-range” meat farm in Canaan, New York, were 14 pregnant ewes … and now they have given birth to 16 healthy baby lambs! Meet the lambs and read their mothers’ stories.

* The annual Walk for Farm Animals is coming up, with walks all around the country. Find one near you to participate in.

* A benefit for the Midwest flood survivors will take place in Washington, D.C. on October 18Party for the Pigs will be hosted by Persia White and Nellie McKay.

* Next weekend, September 20 and 21, the Farm is holding its annual Farm Animal Care Conference for people interested in starting their own rescue efforts and shelters. There are still spaces available if you are interested in attending!

For the past few months I have been spending every free moment knitting, sewing, and crafting in preparation for renting an exhibitor’s table at GreenFest Philly… and today was the event!

Two blocks in the city were closed to traffic for the day while environtmentally friendly businesses, organizations, and people set up tables to educate the citizens of Philly. There were companies that would help you “green” you house. There was good vegan food. There were displays on global warming, solar power, and vegetarianism. There were artists like me, and unfortunately, there were a few major businesses giving out tote bags for free when I had a dozen I was trying to sell.

I didn’t make money, but I didn’t lose any either. I would say the day was a great success, though. I met lots of fascinating people, each with their own unique twist on how to reach the public. Plus, I had a blast and got to spend the day with my mom and a good friend who came to help out.

In front of my table, I had a sign with “Living Without Meat” and a clear fact about meat consumption’s impact: “1 lb. of wheat requires 25 gallons of water; 1 lb. of beef requires 5,214 gallons of water.” On the table were bags, hats, jewely, toys, and the bestseller of the day - glass bead magnets.

With the momentum from this event, and the items that didn’t sell, I am finally going to open up an Etsy page to sell my creations! Here are a few previews of items I’ll be selling soon:

Appliqued Canvas Tote Bags

Shopper Bags
I designed these based on a plastic bag - they have double reinforced bottoms, lightweight fabric so they can fold up super small, and the actual shape of a plastic bag, too.

Quilted Bouncy Purses
Everytime I am working on one of these, I begin humming Tigger’s theme song, hence the name.

Lightweight Baby Blanket

Stay tuned for my new Etsy page filled with affordable, handmade goods!

I’m not sure why organizations insist on hosting live chats with specialists during work hours, but if you are lucky enough to have circumstances that allow you to listen and participate in an online chat here’s a great opportunity.

Today, Friday September 5, the ASPCA is holding a live, online chat session with one of their vice presidents - Dr. Randall Lockwood, Sr. VP, Anti-Cruelty Field Services - from 12 noon until 2 p.m. EST. Dr. Lockwood, who has worked for 25 years with humane societies and law enforcement agencies, will be discussing “how we can fight animal cruelty by better understanding what drives humans toward it.”

Check it out before it starts, as it is part of the ASPCA’s online community, for which you need to register (create a free username and password).

Even if you are unable to join the discussion while it is happening live, you can still peek in and read the chat.

Check out the chat with Dr. Lockwood at ASPCA’s online community.

“Emily Deschanel just came up to me and started talking about cheese!!!!” said a very excited friend to me while we were volunteering at the Farm Sanctuary Gala in May.

Apparently, Emily has a brand of vegan cheese that she highly recommends: Dr. Cow.

Dr. Cow makes natural, vegan, living products. The company sells two superbly yummy-sounding granolas online, as well as a sprouted nut blend, and an instant oatmeal-like product that has no oats! Instead, the Que!Meal is filled with quinoa, sprouted nuts and seeds, raisins, and more.

But the product that Emily was raving about - a completely raw, vegan, tree nut cheese - is only available in certain stores, none of which I’ve heard of, and all of which seem to be in NYC. However, they will do large shipments to other states, so request it at your local coop or other vegan food haven.

For now, I am thinking I may have to try both the Que!Meal and the two kinds of granola - cocoa bean and regular.

Stores that carry Dr. Cow’s Tree Nut Cheese are: Pure Juice & Take Awa, Westerly, Organic Avenue, Live Live, High Vibes in Manhattan, Marlow & Son’s, Park Slope Food Coop, and Pumpkin’s Organic Market in Brooklyn.

She’s perhaps one of PETA’s most outspoken celebrity supporters. Spending her time serving food to those in need, speaking up when the media assumed that the hot dog she was eating was made of meat, and starting a petition to help the harp seals.

Who is the wondrously outspoken, animal-rights activist? Why, it’s Pam Anderson, of course! And now she’s found yet another way to act on her beliefs.

Not long after holding a fund-raising, private estate sale at her home, Pam will be auctioning off her beloved 2000 Dodge Viper (shown here) to collect more money for PETA. Anderson’s Viper will be auctioned off during the “Julien’s Auctions’ Summer Entertainment Sale of Hollywood Memorabilia” event on June 21 and 22 at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

“I’ve been working with PETA for 15 years. They’re kind of my ethical advisers. With them, I see actual results,” she told reporters with the AP.

What have you done for the animals lately? Remember, it doesn’t have to be a huge gesture: every small detail makes a difference. As Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see.”

This silver grocery tote is the bag that was filled with samples and given out to guests - and volunteers! - after the Farm Sanctuary Gala this past weekend. It’s a Matt & Nat! M&N are very well known within the vegan realm as quality, vegan designers of bags, purses, and wallets.

They are not the cheapest buys, but they are so worth it. And now, I have one that I got for free! You can get this great bag (sort of) for free, too.

While supplies last, Matt & Nat are giving away this Enviro Tote with every order totaling at least $250. Plus, shipping is free once you spend a minimum of $150.

Yours won’t be filled with vegan: chocolates, cookies, lotions, hair care items, meal bars, dog foods, magazines, and more; but, it will still be a fabulously fashionable, environmentally-friendly, vegan grocery bag.

It’s World Vegetarian Week this week … and I have no clue what that means, who deemed it that, or whatnot. But, hey, Happy World Vegetarian Week!

To celebrate: eat vegetarian.

Other options include making other people eat vegetarian, wearing a sign that says “I’m a vegetarian,” singing “She’s a vegetarian … oh oh and she don’t eat meat” all day everyday, or signing other people up to receive free vegetarian starter kits in the mail (because I know that you already have all of them, right?).

Appreciate the vegetarians in your life and thank them on behalf of the animals!

UPDATE: Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM) says this about the history:

“World Vegetarian Week was launched in 1992 by the Vegetarian Society as National Vegetarian Week in the UK. It has since caught on worldwide…”

And now you know.

After a weekend in New York City volunteering at the Farm Sanctuary Gala, I have lots to share.

Friday evening I got a chance to meet and eat with several Farm Sanctuary staff members. I had an amazing dinner out with the communications team at Caravan of Dreams, a phenomenal vegan, kosher, and raw food restaurant in the city.

Saturday night was the gala itself. Here’s what stick out in my mind about the event:

1. Zora Andrich, who is known for her appearance on the reality series Joe Millionaire and has since become a spokesperson for Slim-Fast, worked as a volunteer. With the number of people whispering about her presence, she easily could have made a red carpet appearance but chose to volunteer instead.

2. Bones star Emily Deschanel has a deeper voice in person, and is super mellow and friendly. She was one of the few top names in attendance that perused the silent auction section (where I was stationed). She bid on several fashion items including purses and clothing, winning a set of organic shirts. She also bid $3,000 at the live auction for an autographed, box set of Skinny Bitch and Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, including a lunch with co-author Rory Freedman.

3. Speaking of author Rory Freedman … her outfit. Wow. Shown here, is Rory wearing an ’80s homecoming dress: silver metallic fabric, off the shoulders with a ruffle around the neckline, and gathered just below the buttocks.

4. Comedic actor Kevin Nealon bumped into me, as did Russell Simmons who was by far my favorite speaker of the evening. As he was introducing award-winning yogis, he brought up the Biblical subject of man having “dominion over animals.” I was in awe of his smooth voice, and eloquently delivered message that God asked us to take care of and look out for his creatures - not to torture, abuse, and control them.

5. Emcee Melissa Rivers and hostess Heather Mills pleasantly surprised me with their speaking skills, stage presence, and likability.

6. The Piraros made quiet a showing. Bizarro comic artist Dan donated two auction pieces, one was a hilarious restaurant scene: a hippie mom saying “Do you have to do that in public?” to a woman feeding her baby chicken breast meat. Dan also bid on several objects, including a statue title “Pig-Headed” which was a blind-folded person form the waist up, a pig on his head, and situated on a grill. Dan will swear to you that he has no idea who attempted to close this silent auction early, right after his bid. His wife Ashley Lou - who was one of the PETA members who showered in Times Square - showed up with pink hair. Love it!

7. House’s Lisa Edelstein was announced as Linda. Last year her last name was said wrong.

8. Susie Essman of Curb Your Enthusiasm looked nervous before going on stage to host the live auction. So I, not knowing who she was at the moment, chatted her up.

9. Hal Sparks was hard to recognize because he now has girl hair: long, luxurious locks.

10. True Whitaker, shown here arriving with her mom Keisha Whitaker, was dressed adorably. Yes it’s over the top, but chances are she felt like a princess.

11. One of the most popular silent auction items was an autographed, complete set of The Golden Girls, including a signed photo of Rue “Blanche” McClanahan. The many gorgeous paintings of farm animals were popular, too, as well as all the vegan handbags, wallets, and purses.

12. The ice sculpture was dropped. It shattered.

13. I spied one guest with a leather Louis Vuitton bag, and another one wearing Christian Louboutin leather shoes. Don’t think I didn’t notice.

And the most important … Kristen Bell couldn’t make it. I cried.

Stay tuned and find out about the goody bag contents, auction items, and donations (including one for $1 million!).

I’m heading out for the weekend to volunteer at the Farm Sanctuary Gala in New York City!

Anyone going?

Tomorrow, May 15, is a special day for Dunkin’ Donuts. It is the day when the company is going to realize that soy milk is in high demand with their customers.

Animal- and vegan-devotees over at Compassion Over Killing (COK) have been successful in getting two local (to them, in Washington, D.C.) Dunkin’ Donuts to start carrying soy milk. There is also one New York City branch that carries the healthier, vegan option to creamer and cow’s milk.

But now COK wants DD to know that people all over want soy milk. So they have deemed May 15 as “Ask for Soy Milk Day” at Dunkin’ Donuts.

Head on over tomorrow - or any and every day - to your local DD and ask: “Do you have soy milk?” This will let them start to see that there is market for soy milk at coffee shops.

Visit COK’s site for more on how to convince your branch to carry vegan options. Click on the picture to read Super Vegan’s announcement of the D.C. soy milk gain.

This is a photograph of the last moments of the life of Kentucy Derby second-place winner Eight Belles.

The young filly finished the race, despite being repeatedly, mercilessly whipped by her 20-year-old jockey Gabriel Saez. At the end, she appeared fine. Then, Saez galloped her out (a sort of cool down and celebration) for a quarter of mile.

She collapsed, having broken both front ankles.

Fighting, no doubt, to calm concern in the crowd, vets and officials rushed to Eight Belles’ side. And immediately euthanized her.

Saez won $400,000; Eight Belles was murdered in front of all the Kentucky Derby attendees - but, I guess if you are one to attend and bet on any animal sport, you are not one to be bothered by a needless killing of the animal. I mean, if you bet on her to win, she still finished and got you a decent return, right?

Of course every animal rights group is quickly throwing punches at the event, but PETA’s voice is strongest, making CNN headlines today for lobbying the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority for further investigation (i.e. Did Saez know the horse was injured?).

What if you couldn’t afford to feed your family? What if your parents were out of work and couldn’t provide you with a hot dinner every night? What if you still wanted to eat good, vegetarian food?

This Saturday, May 10, is the 16th annual largest single-day food drive in America. It’s time for Campbell Soup Company and the National Association of Letter Carriers to team up once again in their efforts to Stamp Out Hunger!

All that you have to do is put non-perishables such as boxed and canned goods in a sturdy bag, and set it next to your mailbox before your mailman arrives this Saturday.

Food drives like this are a tremendous help, but they collect a lot of chicken broth, meat-flavored rice mixes, Spam (canned ham), and meaty soups. What if we provide vegetarian goodness for those who need help filling their plate? Just because someone is in need, does not mean that they can’t be smart enough to choose a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. Let’s help them!

This weekend, put out some or all of these items:

*Canned vegetables, beans, fruits, and potatoes (2 for $1 at the Dollar Tree)

* Box of tofu and soy milk that don’t need refrigeration until open

* Peanut butter

* Sealed container of nuts and trail mix

* Vegetarian soup … better yet, try to find some vegan ones

* Rice and bean box mix

* Healthy grains such as granola cereal, whole wheat/veggie/semolina pasta, crackers, and brown rice

* Tea bags, in a box

* Dried beans, lentils, and other legumes

* Ener-G egg replacer, TVP, and other vegan staples

* Jars of pickles, asparagus, beans, beets, fruit salad, salad dressing, jelly, baby foods, and more

With tomorrow being my birthday (26!), I am headed home for the weekend to celebrate with my family. It was a tradition growing up that you got to choose the meal on your birthday, so that’s what I did this year.

As a child, I chose one of the same two dishes every year: scalloped potatoes topped with ham, or shish kebabs featuring peppers, onions, pineapple … and some meat.

So this year things are not to be quite the same as childhood birthdays; it will be better!

I am one of the lucky vegetarians whose family not only supports my diet, but goes to lengths to make sure that I have something to eat - be it with a home-cooked dinner or out at the restaurant.

For lunch on Saturday, my sister and her crew (niece and nephew time!) are bringing up a vegan cake. For our meal, Dad is fixing up some vegan kebabs - complete with the peppers, onions, and pineapple of my youth, but now also including tofu, potatoes, squash, and more.

Remember that I’m lucky … because Dad is also cooking up a yummy vegan dinner consisting of spaghetti, fresh veggies, and a sauce (to be determined based on what Dad sees that looks good, because my family doesn’t do recipes … except my sister, but she’s weird like that). I’m also psyched about having vegan crab cake appetizers from Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, the follow-up recipe-filled book to my current commute read Skinny Bitch.

Going home also means stocking up at my mom’s local co-op: Newark Natural Foods, a.k.a. the Newark Co-op.

It will be a good birthday weekend!