Merry Christmas!

My adorable 5 month old nephew!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

A Few of my Fave Snacks

I love to snack in between meals. I'm one of those people who are ALWAYS hungry. Anyway, here are a few of my favorite things to snack on:

Goraw's Pizza Flax Snax

SOOOO yummy!

Mary's Gone Crackers

I especially love the Black Pepper ones!

Larabars

I love that they have as few as two ingredients in some of these bars!

Dr. Oz Energy Balls

Easy to make and yummy!

The Banana Hammock

This idea comes from Chocolate Covered Katie!

I use almond butter, vegan chocolate chips, and cinnamon.

I also love raisins, craisins, cashews, and walnuts. What are your favorite snacks?

An Exciting Giveaway from Pure2Raw!

I just wanted to share this exciting giveaways with you all!

The twins over at Pure2Raw are hosting an amazing Holiday Giveaway with a TON of treats from their bakery:

•Raw brownie bites

•Raw rosemary cracker

•Raw pumpkin kale cracker

•Raw collard green fiesta flatbread

•Raw spinach flatbread

•Chocolate chips cookies

•Cranberry orange scone

•Lemon blueberry scone

•Pumpkin chocolate chip muffin
•And their holiday raw gingerbread macaroon

My stomach is growling just thinking about it! Wish me luck!

The Girl Effect

I just saw this very inspiring video on Oprah and wanted to share it with you.



Learn more at http://www.girleffect.org/

Giving Thanks!

For Thanksgiving I thought it would be nice to share with you some things that I am thankful for:

• My husband. He's my best friend and a really, really great husband.
• My nephew. He's only 4 months old and he has stolen my heart!
• My dog, Brady. He is the best cuddle buddy in the world.
• My family. They exemplify unconditional love.
• My friends. Always supportive and just plain fun to be around.
• The internet. Does anyone remember what we did without it?
• Random Acts of Kindness. I have been a happy recipient and an even happier giver.
• Twitter. I'm totally addicted.
• Guacamole. Yum.
• Netflix. Worth every dollar.
• Blogs. I follow over 150 blogs in google reader.
• The tv show The Office. So funny!
• The natural food store near my house. So convenient.
• My health and my family's health. The most important thing in the world.

What are you thankful for? Please let me know in the comments section below!
Oh yeah, and also....

My Christmas List!

Here are a few things on my Christmas list this year! If you have any pull with Santa please pass this list along. Thanks!

Set of two Gaiam Natural Cork Yoga Blocks - I use blocks when I practice yoga at the studio and I would like to have some at home, too. The cork is a greener alternative to traditional yoga blocks because it is a sustainably harvested resource.

Glass Dharma Set of 6 Decorative Dots drinking straws w/brush - I'm a straw addict, especially when drinking smooties. I need an eco alternative to the traditional plastic straw. These are so beautiful I know I would cherish them!

Sake Set by wagnerpottery on Etsy -  I love sake, especially hot sake on a cold winter day. I need a nice sake set so I can stop looking like a college student drinking from old shot glasses.

What are you asking for on your Christmas list? Let me know in the comments section below!

Fave Links of the Week!

I spend way too much a lot of time online. Here are some of my favorite links I've found in the last week:

• Scientists claim junk food is as addictive as heroin
• World Vegan Day - Eat Your Way Around The Planet!
• Milk and Prostate Cancer: The Evidence Mounts
• Why This Vet Went Vegetarian
• 6 Terrifying Crimes of Eco-Fashion That Will Make You Scream
• Skin Brushing
• Prevent Breast Cancer with Vitamin D and a Vegan Diet
• How To Go Green On The Cheap
• Check out the sak’s new Vegan Line 
• 10 Tips for Using Apple Cider Vinegar

Enjoy!

BostonEco Tweetup!

This Wednesday October 28th will be the second BostonEco Tweetup! This is a free event so invite all of your friends, just make sure you register so they know how many people to expect. I will definitely be there! I went to the first one and it was great. I met a lot of interesting, like minded people.

WHAT

BostonEco Tweetup is a free social networking event for anyone who is passionate about eco-living. It is a meeting of the minds, and an opportunity to connect with other Bostonians who live and work in the green world. Come learn what’s happening in the Boston and global green scene.

WHY

It is time to celebrate the season and get into the spirit of Halloween with hauntingly good organic drinks and seasonal foods. And you may win a spooktacular giveaway prize including a $50 OM Restaurant gift certificate, a copy of "Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style" book, or other treats.

WHO

This is an open event so please feel free to bring your eco-minded friends and colleagues. We're all here to meet new people. (No Twitter experience is required, seriously.)

WHEN

Wednesday, October 28th 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

WHERE

OM Restaurant

92 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Located at the Harvard Square stop on the Red Line

Tel. 617.576.2800

http://www.omrestaurant.com/

Hope to see you all there! (If you go, please find me there. I'll be the redhead!)

More Green Giveaways!

I LOVE contests. I have won so many cool prizes from entering blog contest including cookbooks, olive oil, Amazing Grass, tea, etc. Here are some cool green contests that I thought you might like!

Eberjey Review and Giveaway at Prissy Green! You can win an organic Natural Woman Cami and Tap Pant Set! So pretty!!!

Ecostore USA $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway at Leslie Loves Veggies! I would love to try their vanilla soap with this gift certificate!

Andira Rain Tees Giveaway at Sweeps4Bloggers! Andrira Rain makes 100% organic apparel that gives back to the Amazon. So cute!

Earthlust stainless steel bottle from Natural Mommie! These bottles are so beautiful! I would love to show one of these bottles off at work!

Bottoms Up Baby Wipes Kit Review and Giveaway from Happy Green Babies! These are cloth wipes that are stored in a solution of water and essential oils. Great baby shower gift for any green mommy to be!

Good luck! Please let me know in the comments section if you know of any other great green giveaways!

Cool stuff I found on Etsy

I am totally addicted to Etsy. I could "pounce" all day long. Here are some cool things that I have found on the site:

Eco friendly dryer balls - from recycled wool by: romeo2juliet

Use these in place of dryer sheets!

$6.75

Necklush - inkdrop by: necklush

Made with organic cotton. Such a great and versatile accessory!

$42

6 pack reusable produce bags with brown dots storage bag by: amkdesigns

Don't use the plastic produce bags any more!

$12

Wake Up and Live Tea (16 tea bags) by: good4you

Ingredients: Green tea leaves, hibiscus flowers, schisandra berries, jasmine flowers, ashwaganda root (Withania somnifera) & gingko leaves

$5.95

Organic cotton blend ruffle neck long sleeve with petals by: sandmaiden

So gorgeous and available in a bunch of different colors!

$84

Do you have any cool Etsy finds to share? Please let me know!

How I'm trying to be Green

Like many other people nowadays I am trying to be more green. I am FAR from perfect, but I am getting better every single day. Here are some of the things that I am currently doing:

• I have switched to a vegetarian lifestyle (working towards becoming vegan) and my husband is now a pescatarian.
• We only use all natural cleaning products (Just Natural Products).
• We buy fruits and vegetables from my local farm stand instead of the grocery store.
• We choose organic foods over tradional foods when the option is available.
• We recycle everything we can.
• We avoid using plastic products whenever possible.
• We bring reusable bags when I go shopping.
• We only buy recycled paper goods.
• We trade books on Paperback Swap instead of buying new books.
• We use soy candles instead of tradional candles.
• We do not buy disposible dishes or utensils for parties, we use our regular dishes.
• I am trying to buy either used clothing or organic cotton clothing.
• We order tap water instead of bottled water at restaurants.
• We unplug everything when it is not in use.
• We do our laundry in cold water.
• We have discontinued subscribing to magazines and newspapers.
• I continue to learn by reading green articles online and share them with others on Twitter.

That's all I can think of right now! What are you doing to be more green? Please let me know in the comment section below. Also, if you have any suggetions for things I should do that would be great too. Thanks!

Great Green Giveaways!!!

There are always lots of great giveaways going on in blog world. Here are some green ones that you should check out!!!

Over at Prissy Green you can enter to win some green cosmetics from Korres. You can win the following items:

Primer

Wild Rose 24 Hour Moisturizing Cream

Wild Rose Concealer WC2

Wild Rose Foundation WRF3

Mascara 01, Blush 18

PomegranateLip Butter

Eyeliner Pencil S9

Cherry Full Color Gloss

Eye Shadow 11M

Eye Shadow 46S                                              

                         

Gotta Love it!

Then head over to Leslie Loves Veggies for a chance to win a Brittanie's Thyme Organic Facial Care Gift Pack!

This pack includes:

4 oz Almond Oatmeal Scrub

1 oz French Green Clay
4 oz Organic Facial Cleanser         

                                       

This would be a great way to unwind after a long day!

In case you haven't heard, I have a a brand new nephew who is about 6 weeks old now! I already love to spoil him, so I'm gonna check out Piece of ME for the chance to win an adorable organic baby outfit from Speesees! They are so cute!!!

One lucky person will win a speesees gift set (you can choose between the blossom gift set and the hum gift set) in their choice of size!

 

I will also visit icefairy's Treasure Chest to try to win some eco toys for my nephew from EcoTimeToys.com! 

 

The founders of ecoTimeToys have generously offered to giveaway a $50 Gift Certificate to their online store! That means a lot of green toys! Woohoo! 
 
Please let me know in the comments section if you know of any other great green giveaways!
 
Good luck!

Tonight: WaterFire Providence!

Tonight I'm going to WaterFire in Providence, RI. I have been meaning to go for sometime and I will finally have a chance to check it out! WaterFire Providence is an award-winning sculpture by Barnaby Evans installed on the three rivers of downtown Providence. The event is free but a $5 donation is suggested as they are an independent non-profit arts organization. There are only three lightings left this summer including tonight, so if you are interested check out the schedule. Tonight there will even be a Jazz band playing!

Providence is really a great city with lots to do. It's only an hour away from where I live and has some amazing restaurant options. So, tonight before WaterFire I'm going to head over to Julian's Providence for dinner. Julian's has some really great vegan options including Fried nori wrapped tofu and a Vegan 'steak & cheese' wrap! My husband is excited because they have 16 beers on draft! (In case you didn't know, my husband runs Lostinthebeeraisle.com) So, I'm looking forward to a fun and romantic night tonight in RI. If you're interested I will let you know how it was on Twitter so make sure you are following me!

Also, if you have any recommendations on things to do or great restaurants in and around Providence please let me know in the comments section. Thanks!

My List of the BEST Veg People on Twitter

My green list was so popular that I decided to create a list of my fave Vegetarian/Vegan/Raw people on twitter! Again here are my rules:

1. In my opinion Twitter is best when it is a two way conversation. This can only happen when both people follow each other. I don't follow people who don't care about what I have to say.
2. In order for me to recommend someone they need to have at least 100 tweets. I've seen people on lists with less than 20 tweets and I just don't get it. Were those 14 tweets really so amazing that they deserve to be a top tweeter to follow?
3. I don't care what your twitter name is. Just because your twitter name has "veg" in it does not mean that you post good tweets.

Ok. So here is my list:
@chic_vegan
@CrystalCanaday
@elephantjournal
@erixxxvegan
@FollowTheVegan
@gloomyvegan
@gymgirl7593
@HelloVeggie
@iMarfrani
@joyfulveganmama
@literaryhall
@lunchboxbunch
@__lupe
@m38967
@managerlady
@mary_martin
@michaelshearer
@MissAnthropy15
@mgonyeo
@officialpeta
@PatrickVeg
@peta2
@PJBL
@plant_eater
@queencityvegan
@QuirkyVegan
@RawFoodLover
@rawpomona
@RawSkinny
@reecy_Kup
@rgendron
@savvyveg
@SrslyVegan
@stephanie206
@sue_sd
@TheVeganKitchen
@tofu666
@UnbiasedSkeptic
@VanceTune
@veganboy
@vegandelight
@veganhope
@veganguide
@VeganMafia
@Veganmainstream
@VeganMamas
@veganmarthastew
@vegan_nation
@veganorbit
@VeganOutreach
@VeganTreats
@VeganWoman
@veganwrites
@veganyogini
@VegaTeam
@vegetariandeals
@vegetarianstar
@VeggieREELtor
@vegtablewiki
@windyhill
@YourDailyVegan
Please let me know who I've forgotten in the comments below. Thanks!

My List of the BEST Green People on Twitter

I know there are already a million lists of top green people to follow on twitter. The problem is that I often disagree with those lists as to who are the best people to follow. This is why:

1. In my opinion Twitter is best when it is a two way conversation. This can only happen when both people follow each other. I don't follow people who don't care about what I have to say.
2. In order for me to recommend someone they need to have at least 100 tweets. I've seen people on lists with less than 20 tweets and I just don't get it. Were those 14 tweets really so amazing that they deserve to be a top tweeter to follow?
3. I don't care what your twitter name is. Just because your twitter name has the word "green" or "eco" in it does not mean that you post good tweets.

Ok. So here is my list:
@1txsage1957
@AbsoluteNatural
@amytropolis
@balmeras
@biofriendlyblog
@bluelivingideas
@CanarsieBK
@care2
@clothingmatters
@CrystalCanaday
@Cuddlendance
@current_green
@DerekMarkham
@deliciousnature
@EarthToPhilly
@easyecotogo
@ecoactions
@Ecoboom
@EcoChic
@ecofashionista
@EcoInteractive
@ecosalon
@Ecosaveology
@EcoTechDaily
@ecotrotters
@elaczi
@elephantjournal
@ellie88
@EMMAGRADY
@EnergyGeekCa
@enviroknow
@EthicalStyle
@EtsyEarth
@etsyorganic
@figandsage
@focusorganic
@FreshUnlimited
@frugalgirl
@globalgreenusa
@gogreenbeth
@GoodFibers
@granolajoe
@green_connect
@greenenergyblog
@GreenGirlsG
@Green_Info
@Greenlashes
@GreenMaven
@greenmob
@GreenSmith
@greentweet
@Green_Wow
@icount4myearth
@Interwibble
@InvasiveNotes
@JanetMP
@JaymiHeimbuch
@jerryjamesstone
@kaskadia
@keetsa
@LaMamaNaturale
@lisaborden
@LisaJohnson
@lotuspad
@m38967
@Magnifeco
@maxgladwell
@mgonyeo
@mongabay
@MotM_EcoFashion
@myEARTH360
@MyGreenSide
@NaomiChappell
@nature_org
@Neergorganic
@NNUS
@OakleighVermont
@ooffoo
@OrganicLife
@prissygreen
@raganella7
@RayBeckerman
@RealClimate
@reenymal
@Rideshare_Co
@rshreeves
@SageMcGreen
@ShawnaCoronado
@stacykinney
@stephhicks
@TheBestOfNature
@TheEcoist
@thegreeneconomy
@thesoftlanding
@TreeBanker
@TreeHugger
@TreesforaChange
@TwilightEarth
@vegetariandeals
@Verdessence
@Ways2GoGreen
@Windbaron
@windyhill
@WWF_Climate
@ZEROGreenhouse

Please let me know if I have missed anybody by leaving a comment!

Some of my fave blogs

I love blogs! I read them every single day. Here are some of the ones I enjoy the most.

http://www.prissygreen.com/

Lots of contests for really great products!

http://girliegirlarmy.com/

I feel like this blog was written especially for me!

http://greenlashesandfashion.blogspot.com/

Great fashion and recipes.

http://superecolog.blogspot.com/

Great articles written by a great person.

http://greenearthjourney.blogspot.com/

Fun contests and a green message.

http://greenlagirl.com/

Green news from LA.

http://healingwithjuices.com/

Live vicariously through her raw adventures!

http://feelgoodstyle.com/

Eco-fashion news.

Please comment to let me know your favorites!

Great Cookbooks for Vegetarians

I don't cook. Neither does my husband. We go out to eat way more often than we should. It's expensive and not as healthy as I would like. Someday when I win the lottery I will hire a personal chef. Until then I will try to teach myself to cook by buying every veg cookbook I can find. Here are a few of the best ones I have found:

Skinny Bitch in the Kitch

Not the healthiest cookbook, but the food is yummy and easy to make. Also, great recipes for party apps that non-vegetarians will love!

Vegan Planet

This book has 400 recipes! Everything you could possibly want to make is in this book! It is an amazing resource.

Vegan Soul Kitchen

This is not the easiest cookbook, but it has some of the most exciting, mouth watering veg recipes I have ever seen. I want to try every single thing in this book!

Please let me know which veg cookbooks you enjoy so I can add them to my bookshelf!

Adopt a Pet!

Are you thinking about adding a new dog or cat to your family? Please seriously consider adopting a shelter pet instead of buying from a pet store or breeder. My dog Brady (shown here) was rescued from a kill shelter in Tennessee. He is the most handome and well behaved dog in the whole world and he came already house trained! Each year 7 million adoptable dogs and cats are killed due mainly to overpopulation. Do you have your heart set on a specific breed? You are in luck! Up to 25-30% of dogs for adoption in animal shelters are purebred. No matter what you are looking for in a new friend you can find in a shelter animal. The easiest way to find a great pet is to search on http://www.petfinder.com/.