VEGGYWOOD

VEGGYWOOD HAS MOVED!

2009-10-19T11:37:00.001-07:00

Please point your browser towards Veggywood.com as I have moved from Blogger to give you a better, more dynamic site. Make sure and visit it today!

Cheers, Polly

Help A Vegan Win Project Green Search!

2009-10-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

Help green activist Vanessa Meier win Project Green Search! Vanessa is vegan, lives a green lifestyle, serves on multiple boards to promote environmentalism, and is the pretty girl next door who has a message that needs to be heard across the planet. It's easy, just give her 5 stars and when you read her bio you will be convinced that she is far and away the best choice.

Click HERE to vote for Vanessa! Voting ends TONIGHT at Midnight!

About Project Green Search's Search:
Project Green Search is looking for the next green “it girl”: The woman who wants to take a stand, get noticed, and align her career endeavors with her personal beliefs, to be an advocate for the environment, animal welfare, fair trade, and human rights. She’s a model, spokesperson, host, brand ambassador and all around green model citizen, for progressive, sustainable, ethical companies, from fashion & beauty to cars & computers.

Origins/Kiehl's Recycling: Did You Know?

2009-10-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

If you are like me and love the cruelty-free beauty products from Origins and Kiehl's, maybe you are also like me and unaware (until a few minutes ago), of their recycling programs!

To participate in the Return to Origins Recycling Program, simply bring in all empty cosmetic products, regardless of the manufacturer, and you’ll get a free sample of your choice. (One per visit.)

If you’re a Kiehl’s lover, check out their Recycle and Be Rewarded! program: you return your empty Kiehl’s bottles and tubes to stores and receive a stamp for each container recycled. For three stamps, you’ll receive a free lip balm; five stamps equals a travel collection product; and ten gets you a full-sized product of up to $25 in value.

Nice!

Good News from the Bagdad Rescue!

2009-10-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

As you know, I am a big admirer of Bagdad Animal Rescue (read more about them HERE and HERE) so I was excited to hear today that Louise's latest mission was a success. Three dogs (Sandbag, Dirtbag and Royal) and one cat (Hesco) have been safely transported from Bagdad to the UK and are currently in quarantine.

Louise has posted an update and some pics/videos on her website of the dogs, read it HERE.

And remember this is an organization who runs COMPLETELY on personal donations, so give if you can! Just by going on the site you can see the direct results of Louise's actions, and the lives that were saved.

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

2009-10-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

LA Gem Na ture Mart in Los Feliz has started carrying Go Max Go Twilight, Jokez and Buccaneer candy bars!!

If you don't know what those are, consider the ingredients and see if they remind you of any non-vegan childhood treats...

$10 says you're off to Nature Mart right now...

Vegan Shoe of the Day!

2009-10-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I bought these from Charlotte Russe last week, and I am relieved to say they DO look as cute in person as do online! Up close yea kinda fake, but from a short distance, HAWT!

Belted Peep Toe Booties
$39.99 HERE

Sweater? What's That?

2009-10-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

Here in LA we often forget the need for thick, cable-knit sweaters-- except for days like today when the weather dips to the almost freezing 65 degrees, the clouds hustle over, and it looks like rain (honestly, my favorite days). Ah, winter in Los Angeles.

Anyway, I got a post from a loyal reader in the Bay Area about sweater choices for vegans, so I thought I would devote any entire post to this topic as I imagine there are a few of us hunting around for cruelty free cold-weather choices. I haven't worn wool in 15 years, so yes, I do consider myself a bit of an expert cruelty-free sweater huntress...

First of all, if you want to know why the majority of wool production is unfortunately terribly inhumane and cruel, go to PETA's site SavetheSheep.org that will tell you all about it.

Now, on to the fuzziness!

You may hate the mass commercialism of it, but the first place I stopped in my internet hunt was the Gap. To be honest (really) I rarely shop here in anymore, but with every major clothing line and store slashing prices, they are a cheap place to find easy staples.

And YES, pickings are slim. Most sweaters are angora or wool blends, but I found a few acrylic/cottons. The trick here also is layering if you need to.

I actually kind of love this one, go Gap! It's $39.50 and comes in a variety of cotton/poly blended colors. That thick turtle neck will keep your neck warm too. Check out the other colors HERE.

Gap's also got the quintessential thin turtleneck as well for $34.50 HERE:

Over at Express, they have something a little more trendy if you are looking for that. Try their Cocoon Sweater HERE, it's $49.50 and in one of my favorite colors of the season, royal blue (they say violet). Also check out their sexy Cowl Neck Sweater HERE in black and gray for $59.50.

If you can get past the teen models, check out one of my favorite sites Delias (yes I really have shopped here since I was 16, lol). For $49.50 they've got the Donna Tweed Bomber Cardigan in aqua and purple HERE.

And the Veronica Rainbow Cardigan HERE for $44.50 which kind of nostalgically reminds me of something from Sesame Street.

Charlotte Russe, a site I've been shopping at a lot recently (oh the shoes...) has a few options, my favorite was this scoop neck cable knit for $24.99. Scope it out HERE.

And, you can't get much more cuddly and sunny than this sweet double breasted sweater from Urban Outfitters that comes in yellow, red, dark gray and navy. Hurry up because I am for sure getting this HERE for $58 (online only).

Also, just so you know that your local dept store SHOULD have some options, here are a few I found on Macys.com:

They are all acrylic or cotton blends in the $40 range and can be found HERE.

For my last stop, I headed over to recent obsession Mod Cloth and came upon a cute top called The Izzie Sweater for $37.99 HERE as well as a series of Cable Knit Cardigans for $42.99, 100% acrylic and in brown, purple and gray that you can find HERE.

Well, I hope I've helped to add something warm to your wardrobe... don't be afraid to search for cruelty-free options, they're out there, I promise you.... and rinse/repeat the above for all you guys out there too!! : )

Spork Foods Schedule for Fall!

2009-10-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

Yeah! A new schedule for Spork Foods is here! If you don't know about Spork, it's only the place to get The Best Vegan Cooking Classes in LA!!

To read my interview with Chef Jenny Goldberg of Spork, go HERE.

October 10th and 11th

Moroccan Cuisine Class!

The flavors of Morocco combine sweet and savory like no other cuisine in the world! In this class we will honor the Persian, Turkish, African and European influences that make Moroccan food so darn good! And the best part about eating a vegan Moroccan meal is that you will still be able to belly dance after the meal is over!

This week’s menu!

- Moroccan chickpea tagine
- Spiced carrot salad with marinated olives
- Cinnamon-scented tempeh pastilla with glazed almonds, figs and lemon
- Makrout (Moroccan date cookies)

October 17th and 18th

Hearty Vegan Meat and Potatoes Class!

When fall arrives, we’ll be ready! Everyone needs a comforting, hearty meal once in a while, and in this class we will create the ultimate decadent yet healthy “meat and potatoes” dinner that anyone can enjoy! Move over Ruth’s Chris and Lawrys, there’s a new place in town!

This week’s menu!

- Seitan scallopini
- Coconut-scented mashed potatoes and yams
- Sautéed spinach with agave sage roasted garlic and lemon
- Rich chocolate spice cake with a chocolate ganache

October 24th and 25th

Local and Seasonal Fall Feast!

Come learn how to harness the flavors of fall into one amazing meal! We will use all the fruits and vegetables we can grab from the farmer’s market to create an unforgettable local and seasonal feast.

This week’s menu!

- Spiced beer-soaked figs stuffed with a creamy ricotta
- Warm quinoa salad with smoky tempeh bacon, sage and toasted almonds
- Spicy crispy kale with caramelized shallots and currants
- Chocolate orange mousse

October 31st and November 1st

Fall Tricks and Treats Class!

We will create Halloween sweets to die for! In this class, we will honor the tradition of eating goodies on this amazing holiday by creating our own array of organic homemade treats that will be so good it’s scary. And you’ll leave with your own trick-or-treat bag to share with family and friends!

This week’s menu!

- Caramel corn with candied nuts and chocolate
- Decadent mini peanut butter cups
- Ghost- and ghoul-shaped pumpkin sugar cookies with a cinnamon glaze
- Pumpkin spice cake
- Sweet and smoky toasted pumpkin seeds

November 7th and 8th

Wok on the Wild Side, Chinese Food Class! Back by Popular Demand!!

Who says that you have to order Chinese food from a restaurant? This class will demystify the beautiful and delicious world of vegetarian Chinese food. We will also show you the secrets to shopping at your local Asian grocery store!

This week’s menu!

- Scallion pancakes with a sweet and sour dipping sauce
- Crispy glazed lemon tofu with Chinese vegetables
- Wok tossed green beans with pickled vegetables
- Homemade fortune cookies (and homemade messages inside!)

November 14th and 15th

Get Your Protein!

We know protein is important to your health, but even more important is that making it can be really fun! In this class we will teach you how to make your own seitan, and we will show you how easy it is to get your protein without eating an animal’s anything. Just us, mother nature, and a few tools – we will be raring to go!

This week’s menu!

- Homemade seitan and seitan nuggets with a ranch dipping sauce
- Light lemon quinoa with fresh herbs and glazed pistachios
- Rich pecan lentil pate served in endive
- Peanut butter mousse pie with a cocoa crust

November 21st and 22nd

Thanksgiving Feast Class!

This year, take the reigns of your Thanksgiving feast! Show your family and friends that a turkey-free meal is more satisfying than the traditional alternative. The amazing smells will be out of control, wonderful colors and textures will abound, and we will truly give thanks for what the harvest has to offer.

This week’s menu!

- Rosemary and lemon roasted seitan in a crispy yuba wrapper, slathered in gravy
- Sautéed broccolini in a pecan brown butter sauce
- Tempeh bacon, green apple, and fennel sourdough stuffing
- Pumpkin cheesecake with a gingersnap crust

Meet Dr. Neal Barnard of PCRM Oct 10!

2009-10-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

Neal Barnard MD, President of Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine or PCRM, will be in Los Angeles next week for an "Art of Compassion" pre-gala kick off event.

PCRM's 25th anniversary gala in April is expected to sell out quickly. This pre-gala event is a great opportunity to purchase or reserve gala tickets, find out more information about gala sponsorship, and learn about other exciting news as the organization heads into their 25th year!

There will be special presentations by Dr. Barnard and PCRM senior director of toxicology and research Chad Sandusky, Ph.D. Amazing cuisine from Seed Café in Venice will be served.

The event is free to attend, but it is expected that attendees will be purchasing tickets for the gala on April 10th ($250+). Go HERE for even more info on that event.

Info:

PCRM's 25th Anniversary "Art of Compassion" Pre-Gala Event
Saturday, October 10th, 6 - 9pm
@ Hollywood home of James Costa (Gala chair) -- address provided upon RSVP
RSVP to Debbie Miller at 202-527-7340

Happy World Vegetarian Day!

2009-10-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

Vegan on the Road

2009-10-01T08:27:00.000-07:00

So for the last two weeks, I've been on the road tour managing the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia tour, and learning what it's like to be a vegan on the road.

First stop: Boston, MA

I had virtually no time here, and only took a quick walk outside my hotel to eat dinner at My Thai Cafe (found via Yelp) in China Town. The food was just okay, I ordered a yellow curry that was way too spicy, and a carrot cake that was just right and I finished off for breakfast the next day.

My Thai Cafe
3 Beach Street
(between Knapp St & Washington St)
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 451-2395

Next stop: NYC

I don't even remember what I had for dinner here, but do recall breakfast quite well. There was a Starbucks right across from the Beacon Theatre (our venue for the day) and catty-corner an amazing gourmet market called Fairway that I had never been to or heard of before. It was two floors and had just what I was looking for... Toffuti cream cheese and some great packaged vegan sandwiches that I ate for lunch. Seriously, if you are in the neighborhood check this place out it was amazing.

Fairway Market
2127 Broadway
New York, NY 10023
(212) 595-1888

P.S. Yes I did look into a Babycakes delivery but the charge was $30! Crazy!

Last stop of week one: Philadelphia, PA

All I could think of when I got to Philly was the box of donuts from Vegan Treats that would be arriving Thursday morning to the Tower Theatre. I'd done my research, and was so psyched to find out that company that delivers to the amazing Penny Licks in Brooklyn is actually located in Philly! I ordered $50 worth of assorted donuts (2 dozen!) and was not disappointed. They were insane, especially the cookies and cream ones. I even carried the left overs on the plane with me back to Los Angeles the next day (although truth be told few actually made it home).

Vegan Treats
1444 Linden Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
610-861-7660

1st Stop of 2nd Week: Seattle, WA

Fresh as a daisy from my restful weekend in LA before going back out, I was excited to have almost a full day in Seattle to do exploring. Like any good tourist, I headed over to the Pike Place Market. Determined to find some vegan fare, imagine how excited I was to turn the corner and see the sign before for Cinnamon Works, a curbside bakery with, among other things, vegan cinnamon buns and cookies. They were out of the buns, but I opted for a GIANT vegan snickerdoodle instead and was not disappointed.

Cinnamon Works
1536 Pike Pl
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 583-0085

For dinner, I got our runner to pick me up food from the highly recommended Wild Ginger but was slightly disappointed. Nothing spectacular (sorry Amanda!) but then again I might have just been too tired and busy to enjoy my tofu stir fry and eggplant. Maybe it's better in person? It was very convenient though to both my hotel and the venue (the Moore Theatre) so that was a plus.

Wild Ginger
1401 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
206.623.4450

Second to last stop: SF!

I might not have been back in LA, but I might as well have been home. Being in SF, there was no way I was not going to hit up my all time favorite vegan restaurant Millennium! Or was there? Despite my hotel being cruelly located around the corner, the restaurant was hosting a special fixed menu dinner the one night I was free to eat there! I was despondent until my dear friend Tracey offered to pick up dinner for the following night and bring it to the Nob Hill Masonic Center to eat with me. Talk about life-saving. Black bean torte and chocolate almond midnight in brown take out boxes seemed a bit odd, but enjoyed never the less. Thank you Tracey!

I should also add that I had a lovely dinner on my one night off (after finally accepting that Millennium was not an option) with KR and Tracey at Cha-ya, a unique vegan sushi shop. If you ever hit this place up (and you should, but beware it gets super crowded on weekends), don't miss the delicious Cha-ya roll!

Millennium
580 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel: 415-345-3900

Cha-ya
762 Valencia St
(between 18th St & 19th St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 252-7825

Home! Back to LA....

And I was home. Back to the best vegan city in the U.S.A.! For lunch, I took advantage of The Waffle being across from the Hollywood Palladium and had their yummy vegan cobb salad for lunch. A vegan soy shake would have been the perfect accompaniment, but boo on them for being "out" of soy ice cream. Phooey. For dinner, the cast and crew had a pizza party from overpriced Mozza, but I opted for Los Feliz' own Cruzers, which thankfully delivered a warm margarita daiya cheese pizza right to the front entrance of the Palladium!

The Waffle Hollywood
6255 W. Sunset Blvd
Hollywood, CA
(323) 465-6901

Cruzer Pizza & Pasta
4449 Prospect Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 666-0600

Well, there's my recap. If you are ever in any of these cities, I'd totally recommend checking some of these places out. Thanks to everyone on Twitter and FB who offered up suggestions!!

Vegan Bake-Off TONIGHT!

2009-09-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Omg I JUST found out about TONIGHT'S grand finale to 30 Days of Celebrating Being Vegan: a vegan bake-off to determine who the greatest vegan baker in LA is (well Chef Jenny of Spork Foods of course gets my vote if she's participating!). Amazing!

The details:

Wednesday, September 30th
30 Days of Celebrating Being Vegan Closing Night Party with Vegan Bake-Off
Fundraiser benefiting Compassion Over Killing and Positive Television
7pm-10pm
2 Headed Horse Production/Art Studio
1770 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
$20 Admission Fee gets you samples of the amazing desserts.
RSVP to rsvp@positivetelevision.org

For those interested in entering the competition, they should answer these questions and email prabhat_gautam@hotmail.com back. Each baker should arrive at the venue by 6:30pm.
1. Your Name
2. Name of your vegan dessert
3. Ingredients List (we don't need measurements, but want an ingredients list to help those with allergies).
4. What time you plan on arriving.
5. Do you plan on bring business cards/flyers to promote your baked goods company?

All bakers enter the event for free and should sample everyone else's baked goods. All non-bakers must pay the $20 entrance fee.

Vegan Shoe of the Day / Welcome Back to Me

2009-09-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hello Residents of Veggywood,

I am back and I have survived being a vegan on the road. More about that later, I promise. Posts will be a little spotty as I get over being sick this week, but I wanted to start out with a quadruple-whammy of hot vegan shoes that showed up on Modcloth.com today.

Seriously, I need to start making more money as I want one of everything. Check it:

Muir Woods Booties
$62.99 HERE

Walk on the Wild Side Heels
$49.99 HERE

Vegas Odds Heels
$42.99 HERE

Venti Espresso Heels
$34.99 HERE

I will take one of each, yes please.... although even that may not make up for my crushing disappointment at learning the Christian Siriano for Payless boots that I have been sweating for over a year sold out immediately and I did not secure a pair. I still can't believe it. Well, back to Ebay...

xoxo Polly

p.s. New site still scheduled for Oct 1 drop! Whoo!

REPOST: Vegan 101, Parts 1 & 2

2009-09-25T09:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,
I am out of town for 2 weeks on business. I have decided to repost my favorite veggywood writings for you to enjoy.
See you soon!
Polly

For any of you newbie vegans or on-the-fence-er's, check out my posts:

VEGAN 101, PART 1

VEGAN 101, PART 2

...they might answer some of your questions or concerns. I have been meaning to get to writing part 3, tentatively titled "Living in a Non-Vegan World," but have basically been a lazy bum. Look for it soon though.

REPOST: Is Farmville the First Breakout Vegetarian-Friendly PC Game?

2009-09-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,
I am out of town for 2 weeks on business. I have decided to repost my favorite veggywood writings for you to enjoy.
See you soon!
Polly

Recently I've become absolutely addicted to the Farmville game on Facebook. You install the free application onto your Facebook page and then can play any time you sign on. The premise is simple: plant and harvest crops and grow your farm from a tiny plot to a huge plantation. As you move up levels, there are different seeds, animals, decorations and buildings that you an add to your farm. In order for your farm to be successful, you have to plan out which vegetables and fruit fit into your Facebook schedule (for example, if you know you are not going to be able to sign on for at least a day, don't plant strawberries which grown in 4 hours, as they will wither and die).

Anyway-- that part is fun and all, but the best part in my opinion are the animals you can receive as "gifts" from other players, purchase at the store or "adopt" yourself. Upon harvesting my first chicken, I was so relieved to see that you simple collect the eggs, and let the chicken continue living. Alternately, on competing game Farm Town, you have an option to "eat" your farm animal!

It seems that the game's designers must have put some thought into it being animal friendly. While ducks give you down feathers and bunnies give you angora wool, you simply "collect" the bounty, there are no options to "pluck" etc.

Also there is the ability to "adopt" a lost cow or sheep that has wandered onto one of your friend's farms. Or even to help one that wanders onto yours to get adopted. And recently a new update to the game added a "pet" feature, where you can be even more caring towards your farm animals.

Sure there have been animal-friendly video games before (inc. Whipblash, where rabbits escape from an animal testing facility, and Peta's spoof on the bloody Kitchen Mama game.), but none have yet garnered the cult following of Farmville. The game's "Fan Page" boasts 500K fans, and claims the game has 27 million users a month. Hopefully at least some of these gamers are touched by the games animal-friendly outlook.

To download the free game go HERE
To "become a fan" of Farmville go HERE

REPOST: Wanna Get Involved?

2009-09-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,
I am out of town for 2 weeks on business. I have decided to repost my favorite veggywood writings for you to enjoy.
See you soon!
Polly

Do you want to get involved with animal welfare causes here in LA but don't know how? Or perhaps the idea of standing on a corner with picket signs wearing bloody fur coats just doesn't seem appealing to you?

Well you are not alone. If you are looking for a more...civilized...form of protest, check out Best Friend's efforts to wipe LA free of puppy-mill selling pet stores. The closure of the notorious Pet Love of Beverly Center is largely attributed to their hard work, especially in the area of tabling. This is a peaceful, pre-arranged, form of protest that is as much an educational opportunity as attention getting, perhaps more so, where you hand out Best Friends literature and talk to people who might be tempted to buy a puppy at Best Friend's current target, Barkworks. You'll also be able to meet other like-minded animal lovers and feel good about contributing to the cause!

If you've got a few hours of time, email jkrause@bestfriends.org or tiffanih@bestfriends.org to sign up for shifts. They can give you more information and are currently looking for volunteers for a wide number of Southland locations!

To find out more about the campaign go to www.puppiesarentproducts.com

REPOST: L.A. Gem-- Spork Foods Cooking Classes

2009-09-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,
I am out of town for 2 weeks on business. I have decided to repost my favorite veggywood writings for you to enjoy.
See you soon!
Polly

I like to pretend that I can cook. I tend to just muck around in the kitchen, and throw things together until something edible appears, as if by magic.

When I want to actually learn to cook for real, I go to vegan cooking classes at Spork Foods.

Held twice a day on the weekends in the cozy kitchen of Chef Jenny Goldberg, in the Silverlake apartment she shares with her sister Heather (a co-founder in the vegan empire known as Spork), these classes are the real deal. No bland stir-frys or chalky smoothie recipes here, oh no. We're talking cannoli, scones, pesto pizza, butternut squash and sage lasagna, matzoh ball soup, donuts, sushi, maple mustard glazed tempeh... and don't even get me started on the desserts! Three words: Birds. Nest. Cookies.

As a bonus, Jenny is incredibly knowledgeable about vegan nutrition and can answer any and all of your questions about protein, B-12, and meddling relatives. Plus, she's just a nice person.

If you are looking for a vegan cookies class not connected to a restaurant or grocery store (Real Food Daily and Madeline Bistro both host occasional classes, and Whole Foods is known to on occasion), then look no further than Jenny's front door. Or website.

You owe it to yourself as a vegan, as a person, to get over to Jenny's and take a class.

They will not break your bank, and your stomach will thank you forever.

Spork Foods Website

Spork Foods Myspace

Do it!

REPOST: Spotlight on Vegan Make Up Brushes

2009-09-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,
I am out of town for 2 weeks on business. I have decided to repost my favorite veggywood writings for you to enjoy.
See you soon!
Polly

When I first became vegan, and really started to access my use of animal bi-products in items like beauty tools, the first thing I freaked out about were make up brushes.

It seems like every brand used animal hair-- even the cheap drug store brands! What was a girl to do?

Eventually through a bit of research I tracked down two brands that I use regularly and LOVE. To save you the same panic I went through here they are:

Too Faced Cosmetics has a GREAT line of cruelty-free vegan make up brushes made with what they call "teddy bear hair" that can be found HERE. I own the full set as well as the mini Kabuki brush. They are super soft and really good quality, they've lasted me for years. The complete set comes in a cute pink travel bag as well. Although a bit pricey, they are definitely an investment because you shouldn't need new brushes for a long, long time!

Eco Tools is a brand that I noticed only recently at my local Walgreens. I was intrigued to learn that not only are the synthetic bristles cruelty-free, the entire package is made of natural and recyclable materials. Plus, ecoTOOLS contributes 1% of sales to For The Planet, an alliance of businesses committed to leveraging their resources to create a healthier planet. And an Eco Tools brush won't break your bank either! The full set is available at drugstores for around $10. Check out the whole line of brushes HERE

REPOST: 9 Questions with Leanne Hilgart of Vaute Couture!

2009-09-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,
I am out of town for 2 weeks on business. I have decided to repost my favorite veggywood writings for you to enjoy.
See you soon!
Polly

I lived in London for six months during my last year of college, all through winter. Although not vegan at the time, I had stopped wearing leather, wool or silk in high school. I remember stubbornly wearing my worn out North Face (non-down) puffer coat all through Europe, until basically it was as flat as a pancake. It was about as unfashionable as you could get, but it kept a homesick California girl warm. That jacket was beat to hell when I got back to the States, but I hadn't had any other choice-- let's face it, when you don't wear wool or down, your cold weather options are severely limited.

I'm in sunny Los Angeles now, of course, but once in awhile I dream of traveling to far away, potentially chilly places, and instantly find myself dreading what uncouth coat I will have to take with me...

But that is now a thing of the past, thanks to Vaute Couture, a brand new vegan fashion house headed by model and designer Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart.

Pronounced "Vote" as a nod to the company's submissioin-inspired design process, Vaute Couture's first goal was to create an eco-friendly coat that would stand up to the notorious winters of Chicago, where both Vaute and Leanne are based. A quick glance at VauteCouture.com seems to prove that they overwhelmingly have succeeded. The coats are stunning, but the philosophy behind them even more so. Leanne and Vaute are dedicated to promoting both animal activism and fair labor practices, as well as the general idea of artistic community. Their designs are eco-friendly, 100% vegan and ethically produced... Not to mention super cute and fairly priced.

Leanne, I'm a believer!

Leanne!

Veggywood's 9 Questions With Leanne Hilgart:

1. I’ve read that you got into animal rights really young, like me. I remember my first real understanding of “animal rights” came at 6 years old seeing an activist sticker in the veal section of our supermarket. What do you think opened up that world for you?

I told my 6 year old neighbor that her fur coat was “not nice at all!” and always had a love for animals, but had no trouble eating them either at the time. My mom got stickers from PETA in the mail (“unseen they suffer, unheard they cry…”) and gave them to me for my sticker collection. ☺ It made me realize maybe meat was not just food. I decided to do my 6th grade social studies report on factory farming, vivisection, and the fur industry… I was obsessed with knowing the truth.

2. I also read that you’ve modeled in Asia. They have such a terrible animal rights record. Did you see any light at the end of that tunnel while you were there? Do you think there is hope things will change for the better?

Hmm, I’m not an expert on international AR, but in Asia it seems there is some of the worst treatment and on the other hand, a history of several very beautiful belief systems of compassion for all beings, peace, and nonviolence. (This leads to some of the best veg food I’ve ever had— drooling just thinking about it!) I think as a global community we are collectively becoming more conscientious of others besides our own species… as Martin Luther King Jr. has said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” I really believe that.

3. I’m assuming you have a pet friendly office. Any pets of your own?

Whitman, who had his first modeling job in our Look Book, is our rescue from Chicago Animal Care- the city pound- where my college group volunteered 3x a week. He is sleeping on my lap right now and I cannot be in a bad mood around him!

Whitman!

4. Which coat is your favorite? Mine is the Cobalt Blue Pea although they are all gorgeous. [And now I own one! Yippee!]

Thanks, Polly. ☺ My favorite switches depending on what mood I’m in. Right now, I love the Bomono in blue… it’s so chic and comfy at once.

5. Your design process seems so democratic. What inspired that?

I love collaboration and building communities. I also love knowing that if I’m spending a full year putting my life savings into making something that it’s something people will actually want- it’s like a checks and balances system. I trust the community. ☺

6. The new line of t-shirts is so cool. What made you decide to branch out?

I made a tee for my bio photoshoot, and had some emails, “Um, where can I buy one?” I realized that maybe there was room for a chic line of positive compassion message tees.

Always, I say!

7. I love your coats, but since I’m a born and raised California girl, I gotta ask: any plans for a future line of sundresses or the like?

After creating the couture collection from our remnant fabrics, I strongly considered a spring line of rompers and dresses, but realized that with the limited time and funds I have right now, it’s better spent developing vegan fashion that doesn’t exist yet- the fabric R&D is such a big part of who we are. But I do love me some sundresses… definitely not counting it out. ☺

8. Do you think Los Angeles is a good vegan town? Have you spent much time here?

I will be visiting soon and can’t wait to check out all the lovely food and fashion!

Yeah!

9. What’s next for Vaute Couture?

We are working on the R&D for a men’s outerwear line for FW10, and opening our first flagship boutique in Chicago this fall/winter, in Green Exchange, the world’s first epicenter of eco and socially conscious businesses, it’s LEED Platinum with a vegan restaurant and 9,000 square foot organic garden, and Conscious Living will be my neighbors (they moved in from your home state!) I’m psyched to wake up to all that!

Check out the whole Vaute Couture line HERE

REPOST: Do you know about the Wildlife Direct blogs?

2009-09-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,
I am out of town for 2 weeks on business. I have decided to repost my favorite veggywood writings for you to enjoy.
See you soon!
Polly

I am embarrassed to say this is the first time I have written about Wildlife Direct, a great organization that I have been following for years. In a nutshell, Wildlife Direct puts supporters directly in contact wildlife conservationists in areas such as Kenya, the Congo and Brazil, through online blogs and diaries that enable individual donors to connect with the groups they are funding. There are in total over 80 blogs from around the world, written by an amazingly brave group of people who are literally saving our earth, one habitat at a time.

Blogs on the Wildlife Direct site include diaries by the very park rangers in Africa who are protecting the gorillas from feuding rebel forces; lion "guardians" in Kenya; elephant protectors in Botswana and Ethiopia. chimp conservation in Guinea; and Sun Bear rehabilitation in Malaysia.

The blogs are simply... amazing. The majority are written by the actual warriors in the field, usually natives of the area who show a dedication and courage to the cause of conservation that is inspiring and humbling all at the same time. They post their personal stories, photos and even video-- giving you unprecedented access into their lives and the lives of the animals they protect.

My favorite blog has to be the one written by the team who is protecting the gorillas in Virunga National Park in the Congo. They have since moved their blog to its own website and you can read it HERE. But be prepared, you won't find stories and photos of happy baby gorillas cooing for a camera. The photos and stories are graphic, shots of massacred animals interspersed between ones of success. The rangers work is dangerous and fraught with setbacks, even deaths. There have been hostage situations where rangers have been killed, and appeals for donations for grieving widows and orphaned children.

However, the work you will read out on these blogs will be stuff you never forget. For one, it drives home the point that the passion for environmentalism and conservation connects all cultures, all races. Although certain people would have you believe that environmentalists are mostly white, upper to middle class Americans with nothing to do but have charity lunches and brag about their Prius cars, that is simply not the case.

The blogs of course are set up to solicit donations, as well as of course education the public. However, there is one difference here over most other nonprofit organizations-- ALL the money (net of bank fees) go directly to the organization who's blog you are reading about. I remember one of the times I donated a few dollars to the Virunga National Park rangers (it couldn't have been more than $20) and they thanked me in the blog by name. Your donations go a long way here, $25 will protect a 30 area area for a month at the park! You can even click and choose your own park area HERE and receive personalized photos and links.

Anyway if you haven't before, please take a minute to check out the amazing work of Wildlife Direct. It really will touch your heart.

WildlifeDirect.org

Official Website of Virunga National Park

REPOST: Gotta iPhone?

2009-09-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,
I am out of town for 2 weeks on business. I have decided to repost my favorite veggywood writings for you to enjoy.
See you soon!
Polly

Check out my reviews of iPhone apps useful to vegans HERE, HERE, and HERE!

REPOST: 9 Questions with Sara Sohn of Sweet & Sara!

2009-09-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,
I am out of town for 2 weeks on business. I have decided to repost my favorite veggywood writings for you to enjoy.
See you soon!
Polly

It's here! My first installment of 9 Questions with..., and I couldn't be happier that it's with Sara Sohn, founder and owner of Sweet & Sara-- home to the first vegan marshmallows!

Now, if you're saying to yourself: "Marshmallows? What the heck's wrong with marshmallows? Great, something else I can't eat...", don't fall off the vegan wagon just yet. Far and away, the most shocked reactions I get from people are when they learn what is actually in gelatin, an ingredient used in everything from Jello to vitamin capsules...and marshmallows.

You see, gelatin is actually made from the skin, hooves, and bones of animals. Um, gross! Right? Right. Suddenly that battle scene in Ghost Busters with the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man seem completely serious (Sorry, I'm a child of the 80's).

Well, lucky for us we have Sara, an 18 year vegan, who has laughed in the face of the misconception that being vegan means depriving oneself of childhood favorites or eating things that are, well, fun!

Completely hand made, Sweet & Sara marshmallows are melt-in-your-mouth amazing. They are also great party tricks to break out for your friends and family because no one will get that they're vegan. If you haven't tried them, then do something nice for yourself and order or pick up some today!

You deserve it.

Veggywood's 9 Questions With Sara Sohn:

1. So I'm sure you get this all the time-- but why marshmallows?

One of my favorite things to eat before I became vegan were rice crispy treats and no one was making real vegan marshmallows several years ago so it was a no brainer. Little did I know that the reason vegan marshmallows didn't exist was because it was near impossible to replicate a conventional marshmallow without gelatin. But I was determined to have my favorite childhood treat again... and almost a year later I did. That day was a really happy one for me.

Us too!

2. Have you always had a sweet tooth?

Sugar is my absolute weakness. That and vegan pizza. Oh, and I just have to mention, the coconut based Vanilla "ice cream" by Turtle Island, good lord, have you tried it??

Yes...the cookie dough flavor is to die for. Literally.

3. I read about your childhood bunny, Skipper, on the website. Do you have any pets currently? Any rabbits?

No companion animals at the moment. I do see myself adopting 2 bunnies in the near future. I cant help it. I adore those furry creatures.

4. I'm excited to try the new products, especially the strawberry marshmallows. What was it about these particular flavors that peaked your interest (cinnamon-pecan, strawberry)?

I'm big on texture and flavor contrasts so I was thinking something a little crunchy and something a little salty to offset the sweetness and the softness of our marshmallows. That's how cinnamon pecan was born. Those carmelized pecans are worth selling alone - they are so addicting and so delicious. Strawberry, just happens to be my favorite flavor in general when it comes to sweets and since summer has arrived, it seemed appropriate.

5. What's your favorite flavor? Come on, I know you have one!

This is hard... I love them all! Vanilla is great because you can come up with so many scrumptious creations and biting into one just freshly made - wow - is so unbelievably creamy and melts in your mouth. When I'm craving a little something sweet, I immediately go for some toasted coconut mallows, but it's so hard to eat just one or two or three - I end up eating half a box! Strawberry, as I mentioned, is my favorite flavor when it comes to sweet treats and our strawberry marshmallow is fantastic. Made with real strawberries, they are really light and refreshing and I love these. But as of the moment, I have to say cinnamon pecan is my favorite. The days cinnamon pecan is made, I find myself leaving my office more than usual and end up snacking on them until my stomach hurts. They are just sinfully divine.

6. How long does it take to make a batch of Sweet & Sara marshmallows? I know the recipe is top secret, but I'm curious about the process.

It's a 3 day process to make our marshmallows. No mass production, no industrial machinery, everything is hand made in small batches to ensure great quality every time.

7. Where's the best place to get Sweet & Sara products in Los Angeles? The only place I've been able to find them is Follow Your Heart even though your website says Whole Foods, they never seen to have them in stock.

Yes, Follow Your Heart is always well stocked. As far as Whole Foods, some stores can be out of stock and some don't carry our marshmallows. And that's where you come in! Please request Sweet & Sara at your local Whole Foods! Whole Foods is very responsive so they will get in touch with us if they get enough customers requesting our vegan marshmallows.

8. Since it's a little warm for hot chocolate, what's a fun summer way to use marshmallows?

Smores of course!!! Nothing beats making a chocolate, marshmallowy mess with some good friends. You can also mix our marshmallows in vegan chocolate ice cream to get a rocky road effect. And, if you love our smore cookies, put them in the freezer and you'll get a decadent, cold dessert, that tastes almost like an ice cream bar. One of my customers told me this is her favorite way to eat our smores.

9. Is it always going to be marshmallows or can we look forward to different sweets from your NYC factory?

Actually, I am thinking of expanding our vegan bakery and creating non-marshmallow treats. Vegan sweet treats that no one else makes. Any suggestions?

Anything and everything. : )

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Available at a number of So Cal locations, Sweet & Sara Marshmallows can also be ordered online HERE and shipping anywhere in the United States.

To request the product be stocked at your local Whole Foods, go HERE and send them a note!

Vegan Shoe of the Day!

2009-09-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

I was at a party this weekend where vegans and non-vegans alike were discussing how much they love their Toms shoes, with a reverence usually reserved for favorite movies or bands... not usually shoe brands.

This is due not only because of the classic and unique shoe styles, but also because of the brand's commitment to giving a child in need a pair of shoes for ever pair purchased.

Watch their inspiring video below, and check out the variety of vegan shoes on the website.
Note: Not all shoes are vegan, make sure you check descriptions before ordering.

Vegan Shoe of the Day: Christian Siriano for Payless

2009-09-11T08:42:00.000-07:00

OMG OMG OMG!! It's finally here! The Christian Siriano Collection for Payless! Although not all pieces are vegan, there are a couple of standouts from my favorite all time Project Runway winner including the Slither Boot, $49.99 HERE

Don't be a hot tranny mess! Check out the whole line HERE

Taste of Santa Monica

2009-09-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

If you are stopping by the 8th Annual Taste of Santa Monica don't miss the Real Food Daily booth! They will be dishing out $2 "vegan street tacos." I don't know what those are exactly, but they sound delish...

Taste of Santa Monica
Sunday, September 13th
Santa Monica Pier, 1 - 5 pm
Extended Happy Hour & Music 5 - 7 pm
For more info: http://www.tasteofsantamonica.com/