Giving Thanks Vegan Style: The Complete Guide to an Animal Friendly Holiday
Posted by Mandi | Filed under Cooking, Food, Lifestyle
This Thanksgiving, give thanks for all sentient life by choosing to have a meat free celebration! It is very possible to have a fun, delicious and eventful holiday without the morbid dead bird tradition. I promise! To help you plan this upcoming holiday I’ve compiled a somewhat comprehensive guide to an animal friendly Thanksgiving. Lets get crackin’.
The Bird Substitute
This all depends if you are a fake meat kind of person or not. You don’t have to go with mock turkey as your main course, although some like to go that route to keep their meal somewhat traditional.
Tofurkey: The most popular turkey substitute I can think of. This is fairly easy to prepare and comes with gravy, dumplings, and amazing wild rice stuffing that is already inside! Just by choosing a tofurkey, half of your meal is complete.
Celebration Roast: A gourmet version of the tofurkey. This is an artisan-made vegan grain meat with a sausage-style stuffing made from butternut squash, apples, and mushrooms.
You can also make your own from scratch!
*For tips on how to prepare your faux roast go here.
Seitan Stuffed Squash - An interesting alternative to the main course.
Nut Roast - A delightful concoction of various nuts, spices, and bread in loaf form. There are tons of different recipes, although this one sounds pretty good.
If you want to go all out, try some veg stuffing.
The Sides
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Ruche -Cheap Vintage-Inspired Fashion
Posted by Mandi | Filed under Bags, Fashion, Jewelry, On Sale, Shoes
Ruche is a fun little online boutique I found via Carly J. Cais’ post on ChicSteals. Ruche is chock full of feminine and flirty dresses, and quirky jewelry. The also have a nice selection of vegan handbags and shoes, and pieces made from organic materials. Ruche is also hella cheap with not one item being under 50%, and shipping is a flat rate of $7. And to add to the cheapness, right now you can get 10% off your order by entering the coupon code CHICSTEALS at checkout.
Green Vintage Purse - This adorable bag is made from a soft faux leather. I like the fact that it looks like a mini duffle bag, and has tons of pockets! (more…)
20% Off Boots at Endless.com!
Posted by Mandi | Filed under Fashion, On Sale, Shoes
Over at Endless right now they are offering 20% off 2 pairs of boots AND free shipping! The offer is only for select styles, but those selections are pretty awesome, so I suggest you check it out. Endless has a huge inventory of vegan shoes, in their own clearly labeled category. Why doesn’t every site do this??
The Cougar Women’s Strapper boot (left) looks like something a superhero would wear. Therefore, I love them. How much fun could you have wearing these? Still think you can’t wear white after labor day? Don’t be silly. Have fun girls!
This Madden Girl Women’s Singerr Mid Shaft Boot (middle) is totally kick ass -so kick ass I have actually posted about it before! Avaialbe in brown, black and this fantastic shimmery grey color. These boots make me drool.
The Nine West Women’s Genisis Boot (right) is unbelievably sexy and feminine. I think a women wearing these boots can get anything she wants.. ANYTHING. And she doesn’t even have to say please.
I have no idea when this sale ends, so try to jump on it real quick if you see anything that strikes your fancy. Enjoy!
Big Cozy Sweaters <3
Posted by Mandi | Filed under Fashion
Starting in October and ending in May my body temperature drops to a freezing level and I can only be saved by scorching hot showers and big cozy sweaters. I’m talking big-clunky-wraparound-throw-over-anything-made-by-eskimos sweaters. Unfortunately these sweaters are typically made of wool and I have had an awful time finding such sweaters in the past few years since I have made the choice to go vegan. But alas, I have found a big warm sweater made from cotton, and not just any cotton, organic cotton! Its warm and its soft and it makes my soul smile.
Check out The Graduate Sweater made by ID Organics. Each sweater is made fairly, by hand, and aparently just for me. 
Happy Friday! - Link Roundup
Posted by Mandi | Filed under Happy Friday -Link Roundup
Pumpkin, Millet, and Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins -Cute and delish!
Non-toxic nail polish and remover -It feels good to have some options to paint my nails again.
Another reason to buy local and organic -Surprise! Your conventional fruit is now more toxic than ever!
I want this cake for my birthday - I don’t care what you have to do to get it.
Nimli.com -Just in case you haven’t discovered this yet. Probably the greatest eco-chic and mostly vegan online boutique ever!
Zipper jewelry - That is correct, jewelry made from zippers!
Enter to win a Tofurkey -Just in time for Tofurkey Day!
Find something to eat anywhere -An extensive list of vegan items available at almost every chain restaraunt you can think of.
Doesn’t it feel good?
Posted by Mandi | Filed under Fashion, Shoes
Payless is always a good place to find cheap, fashionable shoes minus the flesh. Saving money and looking hot always feels good, but what doesn’t is the less than-earth friendly materials used to make most of the shoes typically sold there. But fret not! Jill of all eco-trades Summer Rayne Oakes is teaming up with Payless to create sustainable footwear that will still remain cheap. The line is supposed to be made of organic and recycled cotton, hemp, and linen. They are also supposed to be made locally to conserve transport emissions. All of that for under 30 bucks a pair -how exciting!!
Look for this currently unnamed line at your local Payless Shoesource in April 2009!
Feel Good Evening Wear
Posted by Mandi | Filed under Fashion
Say hello to Dalia, a collection of evening gowns that are beautifully designed and handcrafted using innovative methods and technology. Most of Dalia’s dresses are vegan (look for the “V” underneath each dress), and all are absolute head-turners. What a way to look gorgeous at a holiday party and not compromise your ethics.
For every gown sold, a portion of the proceeds is donated to Women for Women International and they also plant a tree in the Tahoe National Forest in your name. Can you say that about your Dior gown? I think not.
Now all I need is a formal event!
Happy World Vegan Day!
Posted by Mandi | Filed under Awareness, Cosmetics
Today is World Vegan Day, the celebration of the creation of The Vegan Society and the kick off to World Vegan Month. This month is dedicated to spreading the awareness of veganism and the benefits of a vegan lifestyle. Check out the list of events on the WVD website.
LUSH is also celebrating WVD by offering a free vegan bath bomb or soap on orders over $55. Only untill November 3rd with the promo code: VEGAN08DAY. Employees of LUSH have also vowed to go vegan today for at least 24 hours. Shop assistants will be dressed like vegetables and giving out vegan treats, so if you live near a LUSH store please feel free to stop in and see the spectacle. Just in case you are not aware, LUSH always sells all veg friendly and cruelty free products with 76% of their items clearly marked as vegan.
Trick or Treats
Posted by Mandi | Filed under Food, Lifestyle
Halloween is just around the corner, and what are you going to do to avoid being the weird lady that gives out apples? Are you the house most likely to be skipped? Here are some yummy vegan-friendly treats to help you (and everyone else) enjoy this haunted holiday a little more.
*These are of course, for the sugar loving herbivores.
For the Trick-or-treaters (and you later):
Candy
Airheads taffy
Atkins peanut butter bars
Blow Pops
Brach’s Cinnamon Hard Candy
Charms lollipops
Chick-o-Sticks
Cracker Jack
Cry Babies (more…)
Fun and Funky Boots
Posted by Mandi | Filed under Fashion, Shoes
Its that time of the year again -boot time! Late fall means its time to cover up your footsies.. and why not do it in style? Check out these fun cruelty-free finds:
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