Bad-ass t-shirt design for The Vegan Police, and proceeds go to the Ruby Ranch Pig Sanctuary.

Be sure to check them all out.  Anyone who begins their FAQ with, “Is honey vegan?” and follows it with, “No.” – is a real vegan.

Obsessed on the web:

Vegan Good Things – A site for food, lifestyle, and all things good & vegan is my latest blog obsession.  You know how sometimes the pictures on a website aren’t the greatest?  And how sometimes, when that happens, the things in the pictures look bad- even if they weren’t in real life?  Right, what I’m saying is that lovely pictures are a must for a good website.  And Leinana, author of Vegan Good Things, uses pictures that are gorgeous.  I like that, a lot.  I also love her cocker spaniel, Bella- and I’m not a cocker spaniel lover.  I will say that, hands down, Bella is the cutest cocker spaniel I’ve ever seen.  Who could resist a puppy with a whole birfday treat in their mouf?  Not me!  I love the food porn, the recipes, the reviews, and the goodness that is Leinana’s vegan site.  You should go and check it out, once you’re done drooling over the luscious pictures- you can come back and thank me.

Obsessed on the street:

Puma Kola: The Kola that isn't vegan

I live close to Chrissie Hynde’s restaurant, The Vegiterranean.  This is an establishment right up my alley, it’s all vegan.  Well, that’s what the website says anyway.  I’ve been to Vegiterranean many times, in the past, and delighted in the fact that I could order anything- anything and it would be vegan.  And I did.  I’ve eaten pizzas, pastas, and salads- soups, burgers, and sandwiches- cakes, cookies, and have drunk all manners of beverages.  And because it’s a vegan restaurant, I can be adventurous and try anything- the freedom of choice on the menu is one of Vegiterranean’s most intoxicating attributes.  It lures you in and your comforted by the warm fuzzy feeling you get by reading the word vegan over and over again on the menu.  The siren’s song of vegan is so loud that you never think to even check the ingredient list on the menu to ensure that it is indeed vegan.  But apparently I should have, apparently I needed to.  On my last visit to the Vegiterranean I ordered a Puma Kola (I uh, often order beverages simply for the name.  Puma Kola, come on- you’d order it too.)  The funny thing about Puma Kola, it’s not vegan.  It says right there on the bottle (and on their website), under ingredients, “honey.”  Honey, darlings, isn’t vegan.  No, no- I’m not gonna argue- bees are insects.  Therefore, honey = not vegan.  Makes me wonder what other non vegan ingredients are in their food.

Obsessed in the store:

Uncle Eddie brings his cookie to the playground - and wins mucho friends.

Birthdays are the best!  For me it means cake, candles, family, fun, and cake.  Did I mention cake?  I love cake.  But, since I’m vegan, it’s not always as easy to find a vegan cake for me to have (unless I make it myself), unless I go out to eat.  This year I spent my birthday in a very low-key kind of way and it couldn’t have been more relaxing.  Instead of birthday cake, a bag of Uncle Eddies Vegan Cookies was offered up.  I have seen this cookies before at my local health food store, so I was thrilled to test them out.  And OH EM GEE, they are GOOD!  First, Uncle Eddie makes his cookies an appropriate serving size- you know, a normal size cookie.  I love that.  I am tired of these companies (you know who you are out there, I won’t mention any names) making these GIANT cookies and saying that they are actually two servings per cookie.  No one, I repeat, no one will break a cookie in half and only eat one half.  Inevitably, the whole cookie is eaten and double the fat, calories, carbs, and sugars get consumed.  Not Uncle Eddie though, his cookies are the perfect size.  And they are the perfect sweetness- not too much, not too little.  I love them so much in fact, these are my newest favorite vegan cookie.  I had two of his cookies for my birthday and my sweet tooth was completely happy- as was my rump since these bad boys are only 130 calories per cookie.  Low calorie, high taste- yes, I will definitely be buying these again!  Uncle Eddie, you make me swoon!

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Are you obsessed with something vegan?  I would like to know all about it.  Send tips, hints, product suggestions, compliments or complaints to me and see if it becomes my newest vegan obsession.  Go ahead, it’ll be fun and you can do it real easy by clicking here!

Soak Away Your Day…Naturally
Silky Cosmetics Introduces Serenity and Refresh Bath Salts

In this day and age our “normal” daily demands can become a bit overwhelming. When things start moving too fast and you need a naturally soothing remedy to help you unwind and release daily tension; look no further than Silky Cosmetics. Silky Cosmetics is excited to announce the launch of their new 2010 line of stress reducing, spa quality bath salts. Silky’s master blenders have created two wonderfully organic spa-tacular experiences appropriately named Serenity and Refresh.

Serenity is an enchanting mix of lavender and peppermint that provides pain relief and cell regeneration while soothing and detoxifying.  Refresh boasts a soothing mix of grapefruit and bergamot to soak away muscle fatigue, mental exhaustion and general tension.  Silky Cosmetics exquisite bath salts are infused with coconut milk. Pure coconut milk is a natural antiseptic that gently and thoroughly cleanses your skin without devouring moisture.

Every Silky ingredient is carefully selected and artfully blended with your body and health in mind. Silky Cosmetics new spa bath salts are certified 100% vegan and 100% natural. Silky Cosmetics products contain zero parabens, synthetic preservatives, Sodium Lauryl sulfates, petroleum or mineral oils. Silky products are earth friendly. Indulge in the soothing effect of these environmentally conscious bath salts with a clear conscience. Silky products are created without damaging the environment or harming living animals.

Serenity and Refresh Bath Salts
16oz ea. $18.00

Silky Cosmetics offers a complete line of “naturally focused” bath and body products. Do you need a “Healthy Chic” makeover? Check out the complete line of Silky Cosmetic products at www.silkycos.com or call toll free at: 877.438.2126

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About us: Silky Cosmetics is a family owned and operated business in Missouri City, TX. The Eddington family has been dedicated in keeping these products “naturally focused” while remaining sophisticated and fun. The term, “Youthful Sophistication,” is the embodiment of Silky Cosmetics. These innovative products are not only natural and healthy but, their stylish packing, youthful colors, and undeniable sophistication make Silky Cosmetics alluring to all age groups.

You’re never too old to be young and never too young to be sophisticated.

press release via biznews.biz

There’s a brand spankin’ new iPhone App that scans ingredient lists for animal products so you can avoid any hidden yucky stuff.  Sweet!  All you do is take a picture of the ingredient list and it’s checked against a database of animal products.  You’re warned when an animal product is found.

I’m so excited I’m gonna pee my pants, I’m not even joking.  I have been saying that I wanted something like this for forever now, I’m super stoked that it came to my iPhone.  I can’t wait to use it.  Oh, right.  I can’t use it.  And neither can you unless you have an iPhone 3GS.  Which sigh, is something I do not have.  I have a 3G.  Ah, but there is a bit of good news- you can search the database even if you don’t have a iPhone 3GS.  So there’s that anyway.  I’m still excited to get the App and test it out.

Have you noticed it’s getting easier and easier to know what you are consuming?  The general public is learning to read labels and question ingredients.  More and more people are doing research before they purchase a product.  And, more and more people are choosing animal and cruelty-free products.  I’ll bet it scares the shit out of the ones who profit from killing animals.  There is a lot of power in education- we should use it whenever we can.

Learn about the real price animals pay for our goods at Commercial Street, once you’ve been you won’t be the same.  Then, join the vegan evolution.  Send your friends to Commercial Street, put a spiffy button on your page- anything that helps spread the word that we choose vegan.

UPDATE: Ha ha, I’m brainless today.  The name of the App is Vegetarian Scanner.  You can get more info about it at iTunes Preview.

You know that animal rights issues are becoming more well-known when you read folks asking advice columnists about ethical problems related to buying down comforters.  Diggity!

The problem with products that come from animals is that they can be generally deceiving.  The general perception is that “the animal wasn’t killed for it’s feathers/eggs/milk/honey etc.,” but that couldn’t be further from the truth.  These products are still intertwined with the factory farming industries, it just isn’t as apparent.  Such is the case with duck and goose down.

Goose and ducks used for down production are plucked alive – four to five times in their short lives.  The birds legs are tied over their backs, or held between the legs of the “Ripper,” the person who removes the feathers.  The birds are scared, struggle and sometimes strain their muscles and/or break limbs trying to get away.  One large producer of down, Hungary, estimates that 50% of the down it exports contains 40% – 45% live-plucked feathers.  That’s a lot of cruelty.

Did you know that geese normally live in small family units?  They also mate for life- something even many humans have a hard time doing.  The average life span of a goose is 20 years, although “commercially produced” geese will live just 4 – 5 years.

But back to the question at hand- rather the answer at hand.  The columnist Umbra offered up some advice for our questioning compassionate by saying:

“It would be nice to think there’s just a flock of quiet farmers who wait patiently for the down to fall out on its own. However, here’s the real deal, according to the USDA: When the birds are slaughtered, they are first stunned electrically. After their throats are cut and the birds are bled, they are scalded to facilitate removal of large feathers. To remove fine pinfeathers, the birds are dipped in paraffin wax. Down and feathers are then sorted. Gosh, that doesn’t sound comfy at all.”

Nope, she’s right.  Sure as hell doesn’t, does it?

(PS. Umbra – there is no such thing as “humanely harvested wool.”  Treating an animal better before taking away their life is not humane.  And with so many great alternatives (such as- doubling up on blankets), there’s no need to use animals any further.)

via grist.org
additional information via USDA

Want to learn more about the animal ingredients in the products YOU buy?  Visit YDV’s Commercial Street and learn the real costs to life for the products we buy.