More garden shots to come :)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Organic Gardening
A few weeks back my mom and I started our gardening for the summer. We planted several tomato plants from heirloom seeds that my aunt gave us. We got our first little tomato yesterday! I think it's pretty adorable!
More garden shots to come :)
More garden shots to come :)
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake
I decided, as one of my many efforts to live green, that I would do a little shopping at a local thrift store. I was looking for a bundt pan since I don't have one and I've been dying to make coffee cake! I'm always so tempted by the coffee cake at Starbucks®, but it's a total, un-organic rip-off. Home-made coffee cake always tastes better and it has the added benefit of leaving your house with an amazing cinnamon-y smell while it bakes. Yum!
Anywho, as I was perusing the aisles I got really excited. Shopping at thrift stores is like going on a treasure hunt; you never know what might turn up! It definitely makes up that metal detector that I always wanted, from TV infomercials, as a kid that my mom would never buy for me!
While shopping, I managed to find a really cute, PINK, aluminum bundt pan for only $1.49! Whatta' steal! I had to grab it. I could not have been happier with my new pan (well, new to ME!) and the used copy of To Kill A Mockinbird that I got for only a quarter. Being green has definitely been an adventure that has ultimately kept my wallet fat.
Finally, a post about cookin' it up!! Tonight, I made coffee cake as good as Starbucks®, if not better! It was cheaper, that's for sure. Take that, STARBUCKS®!! Here is the recipe in case you want to give it a try :) Make it at home and make it as organic as you can! Your tummy and your heart will feel better afterwards!
Cinnamon-Swirl Bundt Coffee Cake
Ingredients:
1 1/8 c. sour cream
3/4 c. butter
1 ½ c. sugar
2 ½ c. organic flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs
1 tb. cinnamon
1/4 c. brown sugar
chopped organic pecans or walnuts (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Combine the cinnamon and brown sugar in a bowl. Lightly grease the bunt pan (preferably with butter, since PAM® sprays are bad for the environment…) and dust the pan with the a small amount of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl. Add the eggs, one at time, while mixing and then add vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl.
3. Add the sour cream and the flour mixture alternately to the butter/sugar mixture. You should begin with the flour mixture and alternate, ending with the flour mixture.
4. Pour half of the batter into your greased bundt pan. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture generously on top of the batter. Add more cinnamon-sugar if necessary. Cover the cinnamon-sugar layer with the remaining cake batter.
5. Bake at 350° for 40-50 minutes. For a moist cake, be sure not to over-bake your cake. Check it often using a toothpick.
6. Add pecans or walnuts to the top of the cake once it is finished if desired. You may also add nuts to the inner cinnamon-sugar mixture if you like. Bon Appetit!
Ta-da! All done and still warm
Anywho, as I was perusing the aisles I got really excited. Shopping at thrift stores is like going on a treasure hunt; you never know what might turn up! It definitely makes up that metal detector that I always wanted, from TV infomercials, as a kid that my mom would never buy for me!
While shopping, I managed to find a really cute, PINK, aluminum bundt pan for only $1.49! Whatta' steal! I had to grab it. I could not have been happier with my new pan (well, new to ME!) and the used copy of To Kill A Mockinbird that I got for only a quarter. Being green has definitely been an adventure that has ultimately kept my wallet fat.
Finally, a post about cookin' it up!! Tonight, I made coffee cake as good as Starbucks®, if not better! It was cheaper, that's for sure. Take that, STARBUCKS®!! Here is the recipe in case you want to give it a try :) Make it at home and make it as organic as you can! Your tummy and your heart will feel better afterwards!
Cinnamon-Swirl Bundt Coffee Cake
Ingredients:
1 1/8 c. sour cream
3/4 c. butter
1 ½ c. sugar
2 ½ c. organic flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs
1 tb. cinnamon
1/4 c. brown sugar
chopped organic pecans or walnuts (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Combine the cinnamon and brown sugar in a bowl. Lightly grease the bunt pan (preferably with butter, since PAM® sprays are bad for the environment…) and dust the pan with the a small amount of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl. Add the eggs, one at time, while mixing and then add vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl.
3. Add the sour cream and the flour mixture alternately to the butter/sugar mixture. You should begin with the flour mixture and alternate, ending with the flour mixture.
4. Pour half of the batter into your greased bundt pan. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture generously on top of the batter. Add more cinnamon-sugar if necessary. Cover the cinnamon-sugar layer with the remaining cake batter.
5. Bake at 350° for 40-50 minutes. For a moist cake, be sure not to over-bake your cake. Check it often using a toothpick.
6. Add pecans or walnuts to the top of the cake once it is finished if desired. You may also add nuts to the inner cinnamon-sugar mixture if you like. Bon Appetit!
Ta-da! All done and still warm
Lemonade: Cafe Review
Today, after getting a pedicure with my friend, Michele, at Bellacures in Los Angeles, we decided to investigate what good food was in the area. We ended up stopping at a little cafe called Lemonade and I have to say, I was really impressed.
When you walk in, you feel like you've walked into a summer scrapbook; the room is filled with flowers, colorful lights, and picnic-esque chairs. You get in a line, which may be long considering the popularity of this little place, and grab a colorful cafeteria tray. Behind the counter are about a dozen different kinds of very eclectic sounding salads. The salads are bright, colorful, and fresh looking, which was right up my alley since I couldn't get any of their tasty sounding sandwiches or any chicken tortilla soup :( Oh well. You, then, get to order a "portion" of salad and in that portion you can mix salads! They also have about six different kinds of lemonade on hand and they're really nice about letting you sample them. I got to try cucumber-mint lemonade and watermelon rosemary, which were definitely a new experience. Their dessert options are also really, really tempting!
I ended up ordering a orecchiette shell pasta salad that included asparagus and mozzarella tossed in a really mild but flavorful vinaigrette and an Israeli couscous salad with mushrooms and parmesan cheese. To complete my lunch I ordered a blood orange-lemonade and a carrot cupcake. It was a staggering amount of food and it only cost 9 bucks! Michele ordered a mushroom soup, which included a bread stick, as well as a sweet potato-pistachio salad and a Thai noodle style salad. We shared a little bit of everything and really got a taste of what this humble, little place had to offer. With good food and good prices, I would definitely describe our trip as "Good Times"!
Overall, I really enjoyed Lemonade. The orecchiette salad was delicious which made up for the fact that the couscous salad wasn't what I expected. It had a really strong truffle oil and stinky cheese taste that didn't leave me wanting more. Even the disappointing couscous couldn't ruin the experience though because the lemonade was refreshing, the customer service was on point, and the decor of Lemonade makes you feel so relaxed and youthful that it's hard to have a bad experience there. I don't give the couscous my recommendation but Lemonade in general is definitely worth a visit to. They have more than one locations! I know that I definitely want to go back and try all the salads that I missed out on today. Lemonade definitely has a repeat customer now. I think Michele had a good time too ☺
RATING: ★★★★★
When you walk in, you feel like you've walked into a summer scrapbook; the room is filled with flowers, colorful lights, and picnic-esque chairs. You get in a line, which may be long considering the popularity of this little place, and grab a colorful cafeteria tray. Behind the counter are about a dozen different kinds of very eclectic sounding salads. The salads are bright, colorful, and fresh looking, which was right up my alley since I couldn't get any of their tasty sounding sandwiches or any chicken tortilla soup :( Oh well. You, then, get to order a "portion" of salad and in that portion you can mix salads! They also have about six different kinds of lemonade on hand and they're really nice about letting you sample them. I got to try cucumber-mint lemonade and watermelon rosemary, which were definitely a new experience. Their dessert options are also really, really tempting!
I ended up ordering a orecchiette shell pasta salad that included asparagus and mozzarella tossed in a really mild but flavorful vinaigrette and an Israeli couscous salad with mushrooms and parmesan cheese. To complete my lunch I ordered a blood orange-lemonade and a carrot cupcake. It was a staggering amount of food and it only cost 9 bucks! Michele ordered a mushroom soup, which included a bread stick, as well as a sweet potato-pistachio salad and a Thai noodle style salad. We shared a little bit of everything and really got a taste of what this humble, little place had to offer. With good food and good prices, I would definitely describe our trip as "Good Times"!
Overall, I really enjoyed Lemonade. The orecchiette salad was delicious which made up for the fact that the couscous salad wasn't what I expected. It had a really strong truffle oil and stinky cheese taste that didn't leave me wanting more. Even the disappointing couscous couldn't ruin the experience though because the lemonade was refreshing, the customer service was on point, and the decor of Lemonade makes you feel so relaxed and youthful that it's hard to have a bad experience there. I don't give the couscous my recommendation but Lemonade in general is definitely worth a visit to. They have more than one locations! I know that I definitely want to go back and try all the salads that I missed out on today. Lemonade definitely has a repeat customer now. I think Michele had a good time too ☺
RATING: ★★★★★
Saturday, May 28, 2011
An Afternoon of Culture
Yesterday, I was lucky enough to finally get a chance to see my aunt's art show. It opened at the Christopher Grimes Gallery in Santa Monica a few weeks ago, but I hadn't gotten a chance to go before yesterday afternoon. The work up at this show is part of her soup collection and was really beautiful, as always. I went with my friend, Aure, and we both enjoyed the art we saw. My aunt's work is there along with work by Ingrid Calame and Scott Short and will be up until July, in case you are in the neighborhood and want to check it out. It's always nice to take some time, relax, and lose yourself momentarily in something beautiful created with someone's two hands. I highly recommend going to anyone and everyone. If you do stop by, let me know how you like it!
Wall featuring (from left to right) De Nada, Untitled (yellow), and Red, Purple, Brown by my aunt, Ginny Bishton
(from top to bottom) Untitled (red) by Scott Short,
Aure standing next to Untitled (white) by Scott Short
For a larger photo of De Nada, click click click here :)
Wall featuring (from left to right) De Nada, Untitled (yellow), and Red, Purple, Brown by my aunt, Ginny Bishton
(from top to bottom) Untitled (red) by Scott Short,
Aure standing next to Untitled (white) by Scott Short
For a larger photo of De Nada, click click click here :)
Film Review: The Idiot Cycle
Thursday, Santa Monica College presented the documentary The Idiot Cycle. I went to see it with my Zimride buddy and it was a really amazing and thought provoking film. To make a very long and frustrating story short, the movie is about GMOs and how, ultimately, our government hasn't got our backs when it comes to the chemicals in our food, body products, air, and water. The movie, because of insurance reasons, isn't really allowed to be screened but the website lists all the viewings of the film that are happening world wide. Try to find a screening of it near you because if you get any chance to see it, you should. It will definitely make you want to take some action against our government and change the way you eat, think, and live.
Regardless of whether or not you get a chance to see this life changing film, I really hope that everyone will start to become informed about the food they're ingesting and will consider switching their body products. Start looking at your shampoo, deodorant, cosmetics, and shave gels! Use EWG to check the chemical content of the products you're already using and then make the switch to products that are organic, aluminum free, vegan, and all-natural! Do it for your health, for the environment, and to stop putting your money into Big Corporation's pocket. We have all the power as consumers so we need to make choices that are better for our lives, for our families lives, and for our nation as a whole. It takes all of us to change how the world works.
-Bruce Barton
RATING: ★★★★★
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Day Two
Day two of my Vegetarian lifestyle went fabulously. I successfully avoided all meats and I did not once feel like I was missing out on anything worthwhile. It's hard to miss meat when you understand all the chemicals that go into producing it. Not to mention all the water that it takes just to produce one pound of meat. I continually feel good about my choice. I also think that I am starting to have an affect on my mom. I would love to turn her into a vegetarian while I'm at it! I hope you all are having a lovely week and that you are feeling continually motivated to live as green as you can, while still enjoying your lives to the fullest!
Although I will not be partaking in any Oscar Meyers®, it was still fun to see the Wiener-Mobile as I was leaving my bank yesterday! Oh, the simple pleasures of spotting the Wiener-Mobile...
Although I will not be partaking in any Oscar Meyers®, it was still fun to see the Wiener-Mobile as I was leaving my bank yesterday! Oh, the simple pleasures of spotting the Wiener-Mobile...
It Ain't Easy Bein' Cheesy
Recently, I've been trying to switch all my products (as I finish them, of course) to ones that are better for me and the environment. Using EWG, I learned about how many scary toxins and chemicals are in the products I use everyday. It's safe to say that I wasn't thrilled. Anyway, I've been switching my products as they run out and the first one I ended up having to switch was my deodorant. I was not very happy about this, mostly because I really, really loved the Secret Truth or Pear® deodorant I had been using. It smelled wonderful all day long so I never had to worry about stinking. Unfortunately, it had a high chemical count when I looked online so switching was necessary. I switched to Tom's of Maine Apricot® deodorant and sadly, I do not love it. At all. I got apricot scent, against my better judgement, because after using Truth or Pear® for so long, I thought that scented deodorants could be trusted, but sadly I was mistaken. I used to always use unscented before and I guess that has to be my policy once again. The Tom's of Maine Apricot® deodorant just does not last 24 hours like the label says. I have to reapply more than once a day and the apricot starts to get a weird cheesy smell throughout the day. It's super unpleasant.
Altogether, this is really discouraging because Tom's of Maine® has failed me and the other aluminum free deodorant that I tried a few years back, Crystal®, didn't work so well either. I'm not sure where to go from here. I will probably try Alba® deodorant next but if that doesn't work out I will have to keep searching. All I know for sure is that I would rather smell a little cheesy, and therefore have to give people less hugs, if that is what it takes to take the best care of my body. I'm done supporting the company's that are willing to put dangerous chemicals in my body. Cheese-smell is better than adding to my risk of cancer. I will keep you posted on this and let me know if you have any good, low chemical deodorant suggestions! They would be very much appreciated. Smelling like cheese is no fun...
On a much lighter note, I have found a green change that I love! I used to use Burt's Bees® chapstick as my go-to but I have decided to switch to a vegan chapstick instead. I've been using Booda Butter® and I love it!! It's certified vegan, as well as soy, gluten, and BEE FREE! Also, I am obsessed with the shape of the tube. It's not circular, it's more oval, which is more similar to the shape of your lips so it goes on much easier than a regular chapstick. That sounds weird, but trust me, you gotta try it! It feels great on your lips and has a scent that will definitely surprise you, in a good way! Check it out and let me know what you think!!
Altogether, this is really discouraging because Tom's of Maine® has failed me and the other aluminum free deodorant that I tried a few years back, Crystal®, didn't work so well either. I'm not sure where to go from here. I will probably try Alba® deodorant next but if that doesn't work out I will have to keep searching. All I know for sure is that I would rather smell a little cheesy, and therefore have to give people less hugs, if that is what it takes to take the best care of my body. I'm done supporting the company's that are willing to put dangerous chemicals in my body. Cheese-smell is better than adding to my risk of cancer. I will keep you posted on this and let me know if you have any good, low chemical deodorant suggestions! They would be very much appreciated. Smelling like cheese is no fun...
On a much lighter note, I have found a green change that I love! I used to use Burt's Bees® chapstick as my go-to but I have decided to switch to a vegan chapstick instead. I've been using Booda Butter® and I love it!! It's certified vegan, as well as soy, gluten, and BEE FREE! Also, I am obsessed with the shape of the tube. It's not circular, it's more oval, which is more similar to the shape of your lips so it goes on much easier than a regular chapstick. That sounds weird, but trust me, you gotta try it! It feels great on your lips and has a scent that will definitely surprise you, in a good way! Check it out and let me know what you think!!
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