Something so small can make a huge difference

To the life and welfare of the creatures around us that we take no notice of. Random acts of kindness.

North American Hemp Co.

I was looking for a new lotion to soothe my suddenly extremely dry  winter skin. Having moved from a damp climate to a dry one my skin suddenly went haywire and became very dry and flaky. My requirements where natural ingredients, paraben free,animal ingredient and cruelty free. I came upon the North American Hemp co. at the drug store and decided that since my skin was so dry it could probably use the wonderful properties of hemp. I purchased Hemp Holy Grail unscented body lotion at $9.99 for 342ml.
The body lotion is nice and thick with a pleasant slightly nutty aroma. I use it everywhere- on my body and my face and have noticed that since I have used it my dry scaly skin is no more, yet there is no greasy residue afterwards.

In case you are unfamiliar with hemp's wonderful properties it contains loads of Omega 3,6 & 9 oils which makes it wonderful for skin dryness and elasticity. A little goes a long way so this lotion will last you forever- ok maybe not that long but a few months for sure. I use it everyday right out of the shower from tip to toes.

The North American Hemp co. is based out of Ontario, Canada which also fits my criteria of trying to purchase Canadian made products. They make a whole range of hair and skin care products from body lotion, face cream, hair serum and styling products. Each contains certified organic hemp seed oil.  For whatever your needs there is a product out there for you.  You can also visit their web site and find some fun facts about hemp's history and skin benefits.

http://www.northamericanhempco.com/home.html

Organic Hair Colour and Care

I recently relocated to a very small town in Alberta- pop.3000. Needless to say that can sometime make it quite difficult to find products that are vegan so imagine my immense pleasure when a local salon opened that is all organic and vegan! I mean everything- all hair dyes and styling products are vegetable based with no chemicals and completely cruelty free. Their bottles are also made of an organic biodegradable plastic that contains tree seeds so that when disposed of creates a fertilizer for tree
growth. How cool is that?

The hair care line the owner uses is simply called Organic Systems. They make hair colours, perms, straighteners and hair care products. They are ammonia free, certified organic and PETA certified
 vegan and cruelty free.http://www.organicsalonsystems.com/

Vegan Etsy!

If anyone out there hasn't discovered this hand made market place they should hop on over right now for some very unique hand made goods and killer finds. http://www.etsy.com/?ref=si_home

As I have mentioned before in previous posts you can find all sorts of up and coming indie designers on a budget. It is a great place to find clothing and accessories made in eco friendly materials like bamboo, hemp, soy, organic cotton and upcycled reclaimed clothing..

Here are some of my pics for items that are good for the earth yet don't make you look like one of those "crunchy granola types" as I know some women do not want to look like what a "vegan" or eco friendly person stereotypically looks like..

The Love Root tshirt by Thelotusroot. Hand screened water based ink on an organic cotton and bamboo tshirt. $28.00

100%Hemp bag lined with 100% organic cotton with poppies made by Uzura $58.00

The Black & White Paisley Leggings are made with eco friendly modal knit. Made by FineThreadz $26.00

This dress is made from ridiculously soft Organic or Eco jersey fabrics (see colour chart below). Upcycled twill fabric make up the "suspenders" that cross in the back and have upcycled large Buttons in the front! Made by Alterecoclothing $70.00

Rock Star Zipper Ankle Boots w/ gold studs and spikes. Black vegan leather with a 5" wedge heel. Each pair is custom made to order by JennyFallsDown. $115

There's something that really irks me about being vegan.The price tag. It seems that these days clothing designers are really adding a sky high price tag for quality items that are Eco friendly and cruelty free. I think this could be a huge deterrent for someone who simply doesn't have that extra cash flow to spend on such items. I recently saw a really cool veggie leather coat that was $570. Now that is more then what I pay for my part of rent! So having said that there are so many small designers that are up and coming who are promoting a cruelty free lifestyle are affordable and they also donate part of the proceeds to charity! One such designer is on Etsy: Love Peace Vegan clothing. Every item you purchase goes to help support such charities as farm sanctuary and the price range is from $3.99-39.99.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/lamotif01?ref=seller_info
   

Sexy Canadian Vegan Women

I made a post here a few months ago on sexy vegan men, and since I am equal opportunist I thougth it only fair to show off some sexy vegan women.

Bif Naked

K.D Lang

Carrie Anne Moss


Alissa White-Gluz: From the Montreal based band The Agonist.

Alanis Morissette

Live Clean

I am always on the scout for new products that promote a conscious attitude towards sustainability, cruelty free practices, plant based ingredients and are affordable to boot.

While wandering through Pharmasave yesterday looking for a quick fix for my overly staticy hair ( gotta love winter for this), I found the company Live Clean.

They are Canadian and promote all of the above mentioned must haves. I purchased a shine and smoothing cream with agran oil ( the nut Moroccan Oil is made from because it is only found in Morocco hence the name) that can be used as both a fixative on wet hair and a finisher on dry hair. And it was only $6.99

I popped over to their company web site because I like to know what decisions and companies I am supporting every time I fork over my hard earned money and found they have loads of information on earth news and how the world is growing more eco-friendly. They also have lots of coupons you can sign up for and a way to search your area for local green events that you can get involved in.

Here is their mission statement:

mission
Our mission is to provide a line of products that contribute to a greener planet and perform at the highest level. Live Clean is a unique eco-friendly beauty care line that delivers exceptional results using natural, plant based ingredients. Live Clean formulations are made with a minimum of 96% replenishable, renewable and sustainable plant ingredients...as good for the earth as they are for your body. Go Green without compromising performance.

live simple. live beautiful. live clean.

Sexy Vegan Men

Just thought I would add a shout out to some sexy famous vegan men out there. Add some eye candy to this little blog of mine..Also interesting to note that none of these men look sickly or skinny. In fact they all have some pretty hot bods..
Casey Affleck

Bob Harper

Anthony Kiedis

Jared Leto

Tobey Maguire

Jason Mraz

Joaquin Pheonix

Davey Havok

Russel Brand

Ok I'll stop there for now..Pant pant..

Yummy Vegan Men.

To me a man was always the concept of a protector. I found this video about a group of men who are vegan and out to dispel the myth about what a vegan body looks like. All of these men work out -outdoors without the use of a gym and only consume plant protein. Their athleticism is amazing and ohhhh the muscles. definitely worth the 6 minutes to watch the video.  http://youtu.be/hZv0milS6hE

Innocence Mineral Cosmetics

Make-up I am loving right now. Totally bright and every colour you can think of in this mineral make-up line. They have no fillers, dyes or synthetics. But some of them do contain carmine which is an animal product ( ones that are red) so not all of them are vegan. These shadows can go on soft and glimmery or bright and rockin. They are based out of Calgary Ontario. http://www.innocencecosmetics.com/

Wanderlust

Today I stare out my window at the snow covered rooftops around me, the white snow glistening off the trees and covering the lawns and I am struck with a severe case of wanderlust. I don't want to be here right now. I want to be out there in the great wide yonder, wherever that happens to be. My bones are antsy for some movement yet there is nowhere to go. Except to work. On such a day as this- the thought of that is incredibly depressing. I want to be visiting an outdoor market in Prague, or learning to snowboard or hiking a snowy pathway.

Maybe I have watched Eat Pray Love one too many times, but like the antagonist I too have a box full of places I have been and places I wish/ long to see. I have no children, no mortgage nothing heavy to keep me rooted here, unless you count two dogs and a cat which I suppose being a responsible pet owner who actually makes a commitment to caring for these companions counts as something rooting me in one spot. But aside from that I wonder why am I still here? I guess money would be the initial answer to that one. Unlike Elizabeth Gilbert, I am not a writer so therefore will not get a large infusion of cash to fund a year abroad. God life sucks the second you start paying your own way.

I feel as though I need something to shake me awake. A real dose of culture shock. When I was younger I took an international TESOL course, but at the time the idea of going to Asia seemed overly culture shocking to me. I didn't think I could handle the humidity, the constant traffic of people, the poverty. Yet now that I am older I relish the idea of being submerged into something of that nature.

Instead I wait out the hours until I have to go to work.

Just Thought I would Share.

I admit it; I love winter! I find the snow so pristine and cozy looking. I also like that the winter cold drives people to stay inside so the best parks and trails are often empty ( especially at night), making it perfect for me and my dogs to go let loose and play. On my days off I often end up on this trail amongst the trees under the cover of moonlight and the company of two large dogs- frolicking in the snow.

Awesome T.

I grabbed this at Stitches for $10. I couldn't pass it up.

Peace Keepers

I just found out about this company. I keep seeing the same reviews of the same companies being touted for being vegan- which is great, but I want a variety of places to shop and options! So I like to keep digging for new things to get excited about and I am soooo excited about this company:

Peace Keepers
 They have a wide variety of vegan products and not only that but their company principles are based off of the yoga Sutras of  truthfulness and non-stealing. They believe in fair wages, and promoting slavery free work and are 100% cruelty free. Also if that isn't a sell they donate all of their after- tax profits to issues concerning women!  Their products all come with an full ingredient list that can been looked up on their web site and a specific toxicity report on each ingredient. They also have a specific listing as to which products are vegan and which are not.

This is a quote of their mission statement:

"Peacekeeper Cause-Metics is the first cosmetics line to give all of its after-tax, distributable profits to women’s health advocacy and urgent human rights issues. PeaceKeeper builds a bridge between extraordinary women in the land of plenty and extraordinary women who, by chance of birth, don’t have our resources or opportunities.
Here are the ideals that we pledge to uphold in our business practices: 



1) Slavery-free labor
2) Fair wages

PeaceKeeper is building a slave-labor free company, so if we believe there to be any  exploitation in hours, safety, or health-care and retirement benefits, we are out.

We are consulting with www.newstandards.com to monitor this.

PeaceKeeper makes sure that the companies we are working with, here and overseas, pay a fair wage to their employees.

3) Cruelty-free products 

PeaceKeeper does not use any products that have been tested on animals. We also provide 100% vegan products for animal lovers who do not use ingredients such as carmine.

PeaceKeeper strives every day to practice the ideals of truthfulness, non-stealing, and non-violence, as found in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, a text which outlines the ways in which a yogi can find ethical balance throughout their life.

When a yogi practices truthfulness, ultimately anything they say will come true.  If they practice not hoarding or stealing, people will feel so safe around them that they will reveal unimaginable treasures. When we truly practice non-violence, then no negative energy can harm us. Like the Buddhist monks who can safely walk through a battlefield, we can face each day unaffected by the negativity in the world. Now that's powerful!

As a company, PeaceKeeper strives to promote promote greater peace throughout the world by the practice of these traditional concepts. We hope that you can help us achieve success by practicing truthfulness, non-stealing, and non-violence in your own everyday lives! "http://www.iamapeacekeeper.com/products.htm?PriceCat=2&Lang=EN-US&SID=07b9ab82-ca6d-45e7-9449-3727b0c9c036

Mainstream Vegan Beauty Products.

I was doing some research trying to find other companies that are out there and readily available for the gal that likes to get her stuff exclusively from a drug store or maybe a discount department store. So here I have found a list of cruelty and animal free beauty companies that are affordable and readily stocked at most drug stores,Walmarts, Zellers, Zehrs, Giant Tigers and surplus stores. Now that you have a list of alternatives perhaps it will make the trip down the beauty isle not so confusing.

~E.L.F ( eyes, lips, face): I always see gift sets of this make-up line being sold for around the $6 range for a package of 3-6 items, and I never knew it was vegan!
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/

~Freeman Beauty. They are known for their individual travel face mask pouches- you know the ones with the avocado or strawberries on the picture. Their products come in large tubes and are sold in Shopper's Drug Marts and I have even found their shampoos at Dollarama. Now it doesn't get more budget friendly then that for the veganista.

~Hard Candy. Not all of their products are vegan, but if you go to their web site they have a listing of which items are specifically vegan. These products I have mostly found at Walmart.
http://www.hardcandy.com/updates.php?id=4

~Physicians  Formula;  They have a wide range of cosmetics to choose from including eyeshadow pallets consisting of 17 colours specifically designed to highlight the colour of your eyes. They also have refillable compacts made from bamboo. The organic wear line is free of cosmetic chemicals, and nasty parabens and preservatives.
http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-ca/staticpage/organic-wear.html

~Mitchum Deodorant

And for the salon brands opt for these companies:

~Abba- 100% vegan, free of sulfates and synthetic dyes.

~Derm Organic: 100% vegan, free of preservatives ( parabens) and dyes and sulfates

I hope that helps some of you out there make informed decisions without the guess work.

New Year Beginings.

Happy New Year my lovelies!  In with the new and out with the old as the saying goes. This year I plan on making a vow to be more conscientious to what I put into and onto my body, how I may inadvertently pollute my mind and soul and how I can reduce my polluting the earth I call home.

I have been reading a lot about sustainability and  reducing our toxic footprint both on the earth and inside our homes and bodies. For example did you know that 89% of the ingredients used in the majority of cosmetics have never been tested for safety! There is no governing body that forces cosmetic companies to adhere to a basic standard of health and safety.  Pretty scary when you think about it especially when you know that our skin is one big sponge that absorbs 50% of everything it comes in contact with.

I'm not going to get into a big diatribe of what to avoid and all that jazz, but I will point out companies that I use that are both vegan and truly natural and free of harmful chemicals. Trust me it takes a bit of patience and finesse to find both but the long term effect will be so worth it in the end!

For now here is an awesome book on sustainable fashion and beauty; I picked this book up at chapters for $6.99 and it is loaded with colour photos of all sorts of companies. http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Style-Naturally-Savvy-Shopping-Guide-OAKES-SUMMER-RAYNE/9780811865241-item.html?ikwid=oakes+summer+rayne&ikwsec=Books

Easy Peasey Hummus

I found this recipe in Chatelaine magazine. It requires nothing fancier then a potato masher and a fork to prepare. It also doesn't require any fancy measurements ( or any of the sort for that matter), I go by texture. it is meant to be a rougher texture of hummus instead of a smooth spread.

Take  1 can of chick peas drained and rinsed, add olive oil and mash roughly with a potato masher until desired texture is achieved. It is meant to be thick and chunky. I mash it with my masher then to make it smoother I use a fork to break it up further, I then add minced garlic, a splash of lemon juice and a small splash of sesame oil for a nutty undertone flavor. I serve it on oven baked bread - the thicker the better or scooped onto celery.

This recipe is not only easy but it is cheap as well. For slightly more then the price you pay for a store bought pre- made brand you can purchase the majority of the ingredients ( minus the bread) and have enough lemon juice, olive oil, sesame oil and garlic to use in a plethora of other recipes and you skip all of the un-natural preservatives used in processed foods. The only ingredient that is a stretch to the wallet is pure olive oil but it is worth the money. I pay around $7.99 for aprox. 600ml. Olive oil is a good source of Omega oils and it also raises your good cholesterol and lowers the bad.

Earthlings

Has anyone out there watched the documentary Earthlings? I'm sure many vegans out there have. I couldn't make it through the entire thing, it was so heart breaking. I hope everyone watches it- perhaps it'll make us as a society think about our actions.
They just came out with these and I want one. http://www.earthlings.com/0/earthlings-store/test-product.php

Green Beaver

I love this all Canadian and affordable beauty company. All the products are hand made by a husband and wife team and so pure you can eat them! They began their company when they saw that their newborn son would swallow his bath bubbles. Yuck. Not only are they vegan but they also use as many local organic ingredients as possible, and are free of harmful chemicals such as: dyes, preservatives, petro-chemicals, mineral oil, stabilizers and sulfates. It doesn't get much cleaner then this.

Each bottle ranges around $11 for a full size lotion or body wash, right now they have a combo of cranberry wash and lotion for $12. They make body wash, scrubs, lotions, an entire winter and gardening  line and even toothpaste and lip balms. Check em' out they can be found at any health food store that carries beauty products ( at least in Ontario).

Right now I am loving their winter skin face cream. It comes in a glass jar and is so nice and thick and creamy. It took me a little bit to get used to the blend of essential oils such as cinnamon and fennel, but now I love the earthiness of it. I am also using their organic locally farmed cranberry lotion and body wash ( which are sold as a duo combo for the price of $12 for 250 ml I might add).
http://www.greenbeaver.com/

Buyer beware

I just read about this on a web site. L'oreal just bought up Pureology. L'oreal is known for testing on animals so there is no guarantee that this line will remain vegan and cruelty free. I just emailed them to ask them about the animal testing, we shall see if they reply. But again Pureology is known for being a high end line with a hefty price tag. Here it retails for about $30/bottle and with so many other guaranteed vegan lines that are just as good- ex..ABBA ( also a salon vegan line that is half the price), why take the risk.

http://thebeautybrains.com/2007/05/16/another-one-bites-the-dust-loreal-buys-pureology/