Bootie call

I went to a Nordstrom fashion show last night and one

thing was clear...booties are hot this season.  

These new faux suede booties by Michael Antonio 

would have fit right in on the runway.

They would look great with leggings, skinny jeans or a flirty dress.

They're sleek and chic and perfect for fall!

New Free People vegan collection

Free People created a new collection of vegan leather items.  

From a flirty, feminine skirt, to a rockin' leather jacket and 

faux leather and suede pants,

you can flaunt your fashion gene 
without harming any animals. 

Love it, Free People!...

...here's to free animals too.

Boots with 'tude

Need more sass in your frass?

More rock with your roll?

These boots are guaranteed to 

kick up the attitude in any outfit.

Pair them with skinny jeans and a faux leather

jacket to rock the biker chick look.

Or mix them up with pearls and a white tee 

to show you can wear what you want

(as long as it's cruelty-free).

Mochi treats

Mochi is a sweet starchy high-protein brown rice used in Japanese cuisine. It's known to increase energy and stamina and nourish the pancreas, spleen and stomach. I think it makes a yummy treat when you crave something a little sweet and savory - and want to feel good after you eat it!


Here's my recipe:

 Mochi comes in a flat slab. Just cut off as many pieces as you want.

 Place them in a skillet with some olive oil or grapeseed oil.

Cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes 

on each side or until the morsels

start softening and oozing into different shapes.

Drizzle with some brown rice syrup

 And add a few drops of shoyu (soy sauce) if you want a savory flavor.

Enjoy while they're warm!  

They are quick to make and super satisfying!

Announcing Chickpea!

Three cheers for Chickpea...a brand-spankin' new online vegan magazine.

The name is super sweet and once inside you won't be disappointed.

There are recipes, product reviews, interesting articles

and lots of great pictures.
It's beautiful and inspiring and I know
you'll enjoy taking a peak!

Sunday Meditation

Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man.

Just as one wants happiness and fears pain,

 just as one wants to live and not die, 

so do other creatures.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Photo by Sharon Montrose

The Toni

This clever handbag by Navoh can be worn 

as a clutch or a shoulder bag.

Perfectly simple and elegant.

Made of vegan leather 
and comes in a variety of 
gorgeous fall colors.

Inspiration: Peaceful princess

TopShop black blouse, $40
Black skinny jeans, $80
Satya golden earring, $225
Satya garnet necklace, $190
Madden Girl Sanguine, $70
Aegean Cotton Fiddler Cap, $26

Peace is always chic!

Vegan sundaes!

Yuuuummmm. 

I just ran across this video on making vegan sundaes.

Starring Haylie Duff, of all people. I wish I had an extra

couple hours to hang around with a girlfriend

whipping up yummy little treats in the kitchen. But, 

alas, I'm still digging out from my move

and haven't even gone to the grocery store yet, 

so I'll have to live vicariously 

through these two fun ladies

for now.

Recipes are included so grab a pencil!

Stella!

Stella McCartney never uses leather in her designs. 

This season her new handbags once again prove 

how chic it is to be kind.

Time for turtlenecks!

I think a lightweight turtleneck is a chic fall staple.
This slim-fitting organic jersey option from John Patrick Organic
is sporty and classic and can be dressed up or down.

So, stick your neck out this fall...in easy-breezy style!

Chimpanzees freed after 30 years

I just ran across a beautiful video  on Wayne Pacelle's Humane Society blog. It's only two minutes and worth your time. It shows a group of chimpanzees stepping out into the sunlight for the first time at an Austrian sanctuary after 30 years of  living in cages about the size of a kitchen table and being subjected to invasive research procedures. You'll hear German narration over the footage but the images clearly show that these animals were experiencing joy, curiosity and happiness as they felt daylight and fresh air for the first time in their lives. I love the little hug the first one turns and gives one of his friends!  

As Wayne notes in his blog, "although chimps are so similar to us genetically, many experiments conducted on them such as HIV studies have been unproductive in yielding any medical advance for people. Yet the United States continues to warehouse hundreds of these animals in laboratories at an enormous financial cost to taxpayers and a moral cost to our entire society."   The United States is the last country to still perform testing on chimps. And The Humane Society is working to extend full protection to these animals under the Endangered Species Act.  Hopefully times are changing and we can soon eliminate this unproductive and heartbreaking form of research.

Sunday Meditation

"Nothing will benefit human health 

and increase the chances for survival 
of life on Earth as much as 

the evolution to a 

vegetarian diet."

- Albert Einstein

Still unpacking

I'm still knee-deep in boxes.

But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
My place is tiny so I have to edit well.
Only things that I love
make the cut.
The problem is I love different things
on different days...

Moving day!

I'm moving from my temporary
apartment back into my little house.
Whew! This is a lot of work.

I'm looking forward to being settled again...

Tiny Tammy

This cute little purse - the Tammy - from Navoh 

proves that good things do indeed come in small 

packages (made from chic vegan leather).

Perfect for carrying your ladylike essentials,

while leaving your hands free to bust a move

on the dance floor...or pet a puppy.

Equestrian boots

You don't have to ride horses to appreciate the simple

elegance of these equestrian style boots from Noah.
They're perfect for jumping in fall leaves too.

Made in Italy of Micronappa, these boots prove

just how chic it is to be kind!

Smart talk

I just read about this gadget called the YUBZ Retro Handset 

in Elle Decor magazine. 

Retro indeed! And super smart. Who wants radiation on the brain?

Apparently it's one of Gwyneth Paltrow's favorite things.

It's been certified to reduce mobile phone radiation 

by a minimum of 96%.

I don't have a home phone anymore - I only use my cell phone.

So this seems like a smart way to use 

all those unlimited weekend minutes.

It comes in eight happy colors 

so you can find one to match your decor

...or your personality!

Orange you fabulous!

I think this burnt  orange Melie Bianco handbag is the perfect bag for fall.

The beautiful vegan leather gives a pop of color to any outfit.

And the proportions are simple and classic. 
Plus, those tassels give a nod to the 70s
fashion moment we're seeing.
Dig it.

Sunday Meditation

"In separateness lies the world's great misery, 

in compassion lies the world's true strength."

-Buddha

Inspiration: Zen neutrals

I think a neutral, monochromatic palette is chic and sophisticated.

 Even more chic is 

not harming animals to make a fashion statement!

TopShop asymmetrical top, $76
Jeans, $80
Alexis Bittar yellow gold jewelry, $240
Zoe Morgan geometric jewelry, $160
Kangol hat, $48
Gold sunglasses, $32
Bamboo Hunter 51 Blush Pink Patent Ballet Flats - $18.00, $18

Olive you

There is something about shoes in a non-traditional color.

Don't get me wrong...

I love my basic black shoes

as much as the next girl.

But these luscious, olive flats in a 

soft vegan suede just look so luxe.

And lucky for you, the price is anything but!

Giddyup

Well, I'll be jiggered.
I'm loving these cowboy boots . 
The western style stitching detail adds some spunk.

They'd be perfect with jeans or a sassy little dress.
And because they are leather-free, you can be a kind cowgirl.

Seeing red

Brighten up your wardrobe with an unexpected pop of red!

Red can carry all the notes of fall...

but still hum a sunny summer tune.

The perfect combo for your

transitional wardrobe.

And of course, all the items here

are cruelty-free.

Color Pop by princessandthepeace featuring red sunglasses

Chain Gang

These shoes have a winning combination.

The peep toe is a little demure.

The chain detailing is a little rock 'n roll.

And the lack of leather is...kind.

Choosing to be informed

Hopefully you've been enjoying a relaxing and restorative day off this Labor Day holiday. I know I often get so wrapped up in plans for the day that I forget to spend time reflecting on what the original purpose of the holiday actually was! 

So, I thought I'd take a moment to share a few thoughts here... 

A lot has changed in this country since Labor Day was created 1882. Sweatshops and child labor are no longer acceptable here. Sadly, that is not the case around the globe as discount retailers compete on price for your dollars. I've been guilty of  squealing gleefully when I find a cute top at a ridiculously low price. And something in the back of my mind always wonders, "how do they make this so cheaply?". The next time you find yourself wondering that, remember that the answer is likely that people (often women and children) in a developing country are being exploited so we can have our fashion fix.

So, what to do? Well, we can all try to be better informed. Ask questions, look online. Think about the purchases you are making.  Labour Behind the Label is a U.K.-based initiative to raise awareness about brands that are taking steps in the right direction, and those that aren't. As an example, Gap is making strides, Levi Strauss not at all. Knowing this I am much more likely to shop at Gap in the future. Remember, your pocketbook votes count a LOT!

Let's also take a moment to think about the poor workers who find themselves in the awful situation of having no alternative but to work in a slaughterhouse.  These workers are extremely poor and uneducated and without other economic options. Turnover in slaughterhouses is 100% per year.  One hundred percent. Everyone. No one can stand doing this type of cruel and violent work - even though they desperately need the money. And it should be no surprise that spousal and child abuse rates are much higher in the homes of these workers.  It's not just the animals who suffer in our meat-obsessed culture...people do as well. Another reason to cut back or eliminate the meat in your diet!

So, if you've read this far - thank you! I know it's not fun to think about these issues. It can be overwhelming and really depressing. Just remember, that each of us is voting every time we make a purchase - whether it be clothing or food or anything!  I don't think we should worry as much about being perfect (that's a high bar!) as trying to do better, every day. 

Sunday Meditation

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. 

If you want to be happy, practice compassion. 

-Dalai Lama

Common Good

Common Good is a soap company dedicated to 
using less plastic and harmful chemicals.

They use low toxic ingredients that are 100% readily biodegradable 

and they never test on animals.

I think their packaging is minimal, beautiful perfection.
They're available many places in NYC, where they even have
refill stations - how handy is that?
 But for those of us outside the big apple,
they are a little harder to find.  
You can buy the dish soap online here.