Becca Love's Blog

VOTING DAY!!!!

2011-05-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

Voting is really hard guys. I have to like, cross the street & stuff and that's like soooo much work.

In case you are undecided, check out CBC's Voting Compass.

You can also have a look at WSPA's Vote For Animals.

Happy Voting!
No complaining about politics or issues if you don't!

Cruelty-Free Summer Tan in progress

2011-03-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to share my 100% vegan & cruelty-free tanning options with you, and even more excited to have found these options! After all my research today I feel a glimmer of hope for my pale vegan legs.

Nature's Gate Sunless Tanner $8.99 & Glow Lotion $12
Nature's Gate is 100% Vegan and the glow lotion has props from Allure Magazine. The sunless tanner looks like a nice natural & gradual tan based on this review by Budget Babe.

Alba Botanica Sunless Tanning Lotions $9.95 & $14.95 Bronzing Lotion

I love Alba products and have been using them for years. I'm excited to try this very affordable option, and hope my results are as great as this raving review for the lotion with SPF 15. From this review it seems like the SPF lotion has a more natural glow to it and I like that you can be a little tanned while you tan!

The SPF formula for $5.95 is sold out & I can't seem to find it elsewhere online. I am now convinced to try the other lotion based on Budget Babe's review & photos.

Bath & Body Works - True Blue Spa:
$15 and right now the online store has a Buy 2 Get 1 Free deal.

Because the label on their product say "Final product not tested on animals" (which means the ingredients may be tested) I always avoided this shop. However I just spent some time on the phone with their delightful customer service gals and found out they are 100% Cruelty-Free! Bath & Body Works products have no animal ingredients, no testing on the ingredients or final products on animals at any point, and the label is such because it is required to sell their products in the UK - and they do not make different labels for US & CAN. I'm so happy about this! They are also PETA-approved.

Based on these Makeup Alley reviews I decided not to buy today. I am extremely pale but I do want more than a tiny gradual hint of colour. It seems like the scent is great and if I see one on sale I will definitely pick it up from the Eatons Centre.

Marcelle I-Bronze Self-Tanning Cloths$16.95
Marcelle does not test on animals. They are the same company as Annabelle. There is a list here where they list all the products that have animal ingredients in them. Be careful when buying makeup!

Supre Bronzology Tan Maximizer $26
Best price and availability are on Amazon. Listed as 100% Vegan, I like that!

Lavera Self Tanner, Sunless Tanning Lotion $26
A company I am not familiar with. They have over 100 products which were deemed vegan and unlike many companies they give you full disclosure to which products have animal ingredients and what's in them.

Arbonne - Made in the Shade, SPF tanner 15 $28
*Comment here to reach a rep who is a friend of mine for 20%+ off!
I love that this company is completely organic, sustainable and vegan. I don't love the price, but the quality is excellent. This products has really great reviews stating it makes you look dark like a real tan vs. orange, and lasts longer than the usual lotions.

Urban Decay - Santa Tanita $28
I love Urban Decay. This product has really mixed reviews on the Sephora site. Seems like it would be best used when you want to go out with super shimmery legs.

Beautisol - Summer Glow & All Season Glow $39+
Also PETA-approved! This product was created by the woman behind the Self Tanning Queen site. I like the bonus tips from My Beauty Bunny's review.

Adonia Bronzing Glow Self Tanner $39
I don't know anything about this company but they list their ingredients as all natural and vegan. This lotion has superstar endorsement from Dancing with the Stars. They look pretty nice but I'm not fully sold.

Hempz Ultra Dark Tan Maximizer http://store.globalhemp.com/hempz-naturals-ultra-dark-tan-maximizer-10-1-oz-p/hempz-ultra-dark-bronzer-10.htm
Vegan & not tested. I am not familiar with this company.

MEH SECTION:

Rexall Glow Assist Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Rexall does not test on animals. I used this lotion and I liked how soft it made my skin. I have yet to try it with a tanning lotion though. It gives you an extremely subtle glow and is okay as a $4.00 lotion from Pharma Plus.

True Natural Cosmetics - Self Tanner Face and Body with Anti-Aging
I love that they list it is natural and vegan. But I can't find where to buy this and the online shop is very confusing. Get your own headache here.

Clarins Self Tanner Gel $33
Does not test on animals and claim to use all plant based products, but I could not confirm if they are vegan-friendly. The DHA in the tanner is made from beets. They do not list all of their ingredients so I am skeptical. Waiting to hear back from them.

FAIL SECTION:

Avon - SKIN SO SOFT Satin Glow Absolute Glow Gel
Although Avon does not test on animals at all, this product contains urea. Which is exactly what is sounds like, mammal PEE PEE! Meaning it could be human, too. So to start my own beauty product all I need to do is.... Moving along... after spending some time on the phone with Avon, they confirmed it is in fact an animal ingredient. EW + NOTHANKYOU.

Kiss My Face - Instant Sunless Tanner SPF8 4 oz.
Appears to be discontinued as is not listed on the Kiss My Face website.

Clinique
"We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law." Sounds like a company I won't be trusting! They have animal ingredients in many products.

Neutrogena
Is by Johnson & Johnson, which is Proctor & Gamble which means EXTREME CRUELTY! P&G is a large corporation with many umbrella companies and will not back down from animal testing. Do not support any company they own from beauty to food, etc. This includes Herbal Essences & Aussie shampoo which are still cruelty-free on the label (P&G bought both companies years back), but your money goes to a testing lab.

Coppertone Endless Summer
Company tests on animals.

L'Oreal
Tests on animals, P&G. They own Kiehl’s as well as Ombrelle, Dermablend and Vichy Laboratories. I read a rumor that L'Oreal will stop animal testing in 2013, but that doesn't mean much if it is still owned by P&G.

Banana Boat
Tested on animals.

Hawaiian Tropic
Not tested on animals BUT until 2007 Hawaiian Tropic was a private company owned by Ron Rice. It is now owned by Banana Boat, therefor your money goes to the wrong place.

Aveda - Sun Source
Discontinued.

Dove
Tested on animals.

Jergens Natural Glow
Not tested on animals. However I decided against this lotion after seeing the ingredients have Petrolatum & Mineral Oil - I will NOT use any products with this disgusting chemical wax. According to Arbonne, all "mineral" products in commercial creams are this nasty oil and while it appears to moisturize, it's all on the surface. Go for something natural that absorbs. This product also contains parabens.

Bain de Soleil
Tests on animals.

.
OTHER MENTIONS:
Bronzers are not included in the list but one by Bonne Belle came up on my search.

Tarte Glam Legs $30 is in the vegan section of the site, but the self-tanner & cellulite cream is not.

Mobile Glow Tanning in the US has a vegan & cruelty-free spray tan.

Street Style

2011-03-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

This weekend I answered some questions about my style for a journalism student. It won't be published anywhere, but I thought I'd share my answers here.

I'm wearing: a fully synthetic sweater from the Urban Planet warehouse store
Fake swede boots from Spring
Fake leather bag from the Aldo outlet in Montreal
An antique broken locket from St.Lawrence Market
Floral tights from Garage
Manic Panic veg-based hair dye
Glasses from Wizard of Iz Optical on Eglinton (love them, super nice shop owner)

Who influenced your style?
I guess it started with Shirley Manson, Courtney Love and Gwen Stefani.

Who is your favourite designer? Why?
Stela McCartney. She brings ethics to high fashion which is mostly unheard of.

I adore this ad campaign for Stela!

What store do you most frequent?
I'm not a big shopper. Most of my clothing is thrifted, sewn by me or traded with friends at clothing swaps.

Is there a store that you make sure to avoid? Why?
I will avoid any store that retails fur. I avoid Get Outside on Queen because they sell rabbit fur mukluks, kangaroo skin Uggs, Vans and Converse which are all owned by Nike.

What are your favourite colours to wear?
Grey, black, pink and neon green.

Do you follow trends?
I wish I could say no but I love the 90's throwback that's going on right now. I'm all over the floral prints, grunge boots and bleached denim. I love the 90's!

What is the one item that you cannot live without?
My camera. I love happy memories and making art.

Do you have a favourite article of clothing that you received as a gift?
I love my t-shirt with a graphic illustration by artist Cam Davis from Berlin Tattoo.

What item do you own that you would never wear outside of the house?
I've walked my dog in a pink fuzzy bathrobe. I have no shame.

What is your oldest clothing item that you could never get rid of?
My bat mitzvah dress, it's hilarious! I might take it apart one day to use the amazing peach & turquoise lace my aunt glued rhinestones to.

Are you an avid reader of any fashion blogs or magazines?
I like Gala Darling, Haute Macabre and Girly Girl Army. I find a lot of great photos on Tumblr so I find all the good stuff from magazines online.

What lures you out of your fashion budget?
Sales on great non-leather shoes & blinged-out earrings from Body Art Forms.

What do you consider your essential pieces when you travel?
Leggings - you can layer them if it's cold and they take up very little space. Hoodies, I hate being cold. A great purse to dress up a plain outfit for going out. One pair of practical but stylish shoes for a tipsy night on cobblestone.

Would you consider designing your own line of clothes full-time?
Yes I plan to return to working on my line Healing Heart Designs when I get back from travelling.

How do you envision the future of clothing?
I imagine that people will tire of cheap disposable fabrics and technologically enhanced fabrics will prove to be best.

International Day of Action Against Seal Hunting

2011-03-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

Photo by Dar Hidgen 2009

Another season of blood on the ice begins once more. Let's stand together and support the Harb Seal Bill!

"(The sealers) have been used by the government. They've been used by the special interest in government in order to advance a cause that is losing, that has no basis for success". - Senator Mac Harb

Sustainability?
The Inuit hunt is for sustenance - every part of the animal is used. The commercial seal hunt is wasteful, often leaving many pelts behind on the ice.
Are Seals destroying the cod population? Check out this chart:http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=108208441504&set=a.114893601504.89659.512446504&theater

Jobs?
The government continues to tell Canadians that sealers revenues represent 35% of their incomes. If that is true, that means these Canadians are only making $3,500 a year! On average each sealer will make only $1,000 - $2,000 per hunting season.

On this day in 2009 I had the pleasure of meeting Mr.Harb at his lecture in Toronto. You can view clips of his important speech on my YouTube channel, taken with my awesome old camera.

I made cupcakes for the event using the gluten-free recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World.

END NEEDLESS CRUELTY:
www.sealmyvote.ca
www.stopthesealhunt.ca
www.ifaw.org

Vegan Reviews - Niagara Falls

2011-03-10T21:48:00.000-08:00

I spent Valentines Day weekend in Niagara Falls and tried out a couple places I read about on Happy Cow. I was very pleased with the results!

We arrived on Sunday and found that very few places were open. The Bad Vuggum sounded like a great vegan cafe. It was the first stop we tried, and the cafe had closed. Next we tried 4Triple5 Wine Bar and Eatery which was described as an artist hangout with vegetarian options. When we got there there were no tables and the staff were setting up for an event. After seeing a big flashing Taco N Tequila sign, I had a serious craving for guacamole.

I was so disappointed by the guacamole, that I did not even take a photo. Maybe they had run out of avocados, because it was a bland mix of tomatoes that dominated the guacamole. The corn chips however were freshly fried and satisfying. I was very disappointed that a Mexican place which was this highly decorative did not really deliver authentic flavour. Nothing beats the guacamole at Mariachis in Toronto.

There was a Valentines Special on Fajitas for two, and as you can see the vegetarian version is pretty much just peppers. The flavor was great, but if you go there I recommended asking for beans and rice to fill up on. What saved my utter disappointment was slathering these in their homemade beer based hot sauce which was amazing. My partner is a huge fan of peppers and had no complaints. I have about 8+ years of being vegetarian on him though so my displeasure had bias. I will say however that the service was good and I liked the atmosphere.

For lunch on Monday we tried New York Chinese Food near the main strip, and could not be more happy with our experience!

Look how many options you have on the menu! The owner served us and was very nice, as well as knowledgeable about vegetarianism which is always a major bonus.

After reading great reviews about the Sweet & Sour Pork I came in dying to try it, and I was not disappointed!

Here you can see some of the chewy texture inside. Some parts were crunchy, some soft, some alarmingly hard. It was one of those mock meats that kind of scares you in texture and may slightly take away from the eating experience. However the flavour was so good and I loved the soft stringy parts.

The "Beef" dish was also delicious. I've had this kind of tvp/seitan before but NY Chinese got the texture to be much softer. The sauce was light and perfectly salty which complemented the greens very well. We ordered a side of rice which was nice and fluffy, and enough for two.

I was very happy after our experience at New York Chinese and recommend checking it out.

On Valentines Day we caught a late dinner at The Guru Fine Indian Cuisine. The atmosphere is cozy and romantic. In the photo you can see my vegan & gluten-free poppadoms (lentil crackers). Absolutely fresh and delicious.

Albeit small, I was pleased to see a vegan section on the menu. The restaurant owner is a longtime vegetarian with a vegan daughter. It was refreshing to order from someone who knew the vegan options inside & out, and made great suggestions. I absolutely adored the woman and talking with her started off our experience with big smiles.

I had the Aloo Gobi. It was incredibly flavorful with the best blend of spices I have ever experienced at an Indian restaurant. It was slightly over my spice threshold, yet manageable and none of the flavour was covered by the hotness.

Our naan - vegan wholewheat on the left, garlic butter naan on the right. In the background you can see a raita dish which was also greatly enjoyed.

Although portions look small, together with the naan and spice combination, you definitely leave feeling full. We were both delighted with our experience at The Guru and even took home a tiny leftover bag, and we're both huge eaters! If you love Indian food, I can't recommend this place enough. GO THERE!

On our drive back to Toronto we stopped at Vita Health foods. I stocked up on Earth Balance for $3.60 and we got some organic juice on clearance. They have frozen Tofurkey sausages and most of their tofu items are frozen which may not work well for a short hotel visit to Niagara. They had a great selection on gluten-free items such as my favorite and only delicious frozen bread, and an excellent selection of fresh gluten-free sweets. I found Vegenaise which is a staple in my kitchen, but no soy cheese. Although their prices on natural cosmetics & toiletries were high, they had the best prices I have seen on Cliff Bars and other energy bars. I would stop in for snacks and desserts to keep in your hotel room.

I was pleased to see this in the entrance of the Urban Planet store! Excellent.
On our way home we stopped by the supposed outlet mall which had high prices and many designer labels we had no interest in. The Adidas and Reebok store did have a lot of vegan shoe options and I am still kicking myself because I didn't get the new Reebok Zig Fuel shoes for $30 less.

PMS Party - Food

2011-03-08T10:12:00.000-08:00

Painful lady times are something I've had to accept as part of my life. Generally this means I am fully out of commission for 1-2 weeks, and my friends know that if I'm M.I.A not to bother. It's not fun, but I would like to share with you any info I try out - what works and what doesn't.

Around 10 years ago I went vegetarian to avoid cruelty to animals. I had never considered going vegan until I met a girl in college with endometriosis. Her regular doctor told her the only way to cure her daily stomach pain was to either have a child, or have a hysterectomy. Before taking a drastic measure, she went to see a Chinese herbalist who recommended she go vegan immediately and take up yoga. She saw immediate results.

From that day it took me 2 years to break my cheese addiction. The final straw for me was working at a new cafe and having to dump 17 cartons of rotten, lumpy milk out in the basement sink. DONE. I had been skeptical about going vegan, but at the time my family doctor told me to avoid dairy before and during my period. So I had to be vegan half the month anyways, might as well. It's a decision I'm glad I made. My cramps lessened and the skin on my red dry cheeks cleared.

But cutting out dairy wasn't enough. An amazing iridologist I saw at the Vegetarian Food Fair 2 years ago saw that I had a gluten intolerance. This was around the time I noticed I was getting stomach pain similar to menstrual cramps quite often, and began to fear it was something serious. When I began to cut back I noticed I felt much more like myself and less groggy, crampy, tired and depressed. Who knew food could have such a strong effect on your mental state?

Other things I have noticed are to avoid sugar - which for me tends to worsen cramps. I know it's hard when all you want is some chocolate! But it immediately makes me feel worse. Eating more raw food seems to help lessen the pain as well.

But what can you eat during your period?
If you can relate, I would LOVE to hear from you or hear any tips you have. It seems that I almost can't eat anything during my period because anything in my stomach turns to an acidic bubbling mess that can also lead to nausea. I usually stick to soups and cannot have anything raw or cold.

According to Leslie Kenton in Passage to Power, foods to avoid are:
Coffee, tea, alcohol, sugar (and anything containing sugar) artificial flavourings and colourings, convenience foods, wheat and wheat products, meat, fish, game, cigarettes, drugs, chocolate, colas and milk and milk products... so it's basically all the refined and junk foods. In the pre menstrual phase its best to eat lots of fresh fruit and veg, soy products and healthy stuff that allows your body to detox.

Last month I tried:
Drinking hot tea with cayenne pepper. I noticed I had less cramping.

This month I tried:
Taking a spoon of maca powder in my morning smoothie every day. My mood, back pain and what I call pre-period "ghost cramps" were reduced by about 80%. Definitely going to keep taking this natural stress & hormone regulator.

I also have been going to the gym 3x a week which is supposed to help. I think I may have ruined things by having coffee and gluten a few days before this cycle. Let's see what happens when I try taking magnesium today. I'll be back with more tips every month, hooray ovaries!

Vegan Reviews - Le Commensal

2011-02-18T13:28:00.000-08:00

Last month a friend recommended I try Le Commensal vegetarian buffet. I had heard mixed reviews but because there was a great deal through Groupon, I decided to try it out.

From top left to right, I had:
Ginger Tofu - Nice texture and taste.
(underneath)Curried Lentils - Delicious
Shepperd's Pie - AMAZING! It had a surprising blend of spices that were slightly sweet, but savory and completely delicious. I would come back just for this.
Sushi - Okay, but I have been spoiled by eating fresh sushi at Loving Hut so I just can't eat the cold stuff anymore.
Tempeh Salad - Bland. Completely flavorless except for the taste of Vegenaise.
BBQ Seitan - SO DELICIOUS!!!!! Totally worth the brutal gluten-hangover I woke up to the next day.
Curried Tofu & Veg - Delicious. I really enjoyed all the stews/curry dishes.

My partner's plate:
Veg Wraps - I liked the flavour of the tofu in it but it was pretty bland.
Raw Salads - Were all good. I tried the Waldorf Salad before seeing it was lacto-ovo and it was devastatingly delicious.
Potato Salad - Good.
My pal enjoyed the sushi but it was too cold to taste good to me.

My dessert:

Vegan Tapioca - Be still my beating heart... I love this stuff!

I was very happy to find it available at The Big Carrot after drooling over it for years. Never thing veganizing something is impossible or you miss out for years!

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake - Good frosting, good consistency. Nothing special, but all gf cakes don't have an amazing texture. That is unless you microwave the ready cakes from Sweets from the Earth.

Pineapple Creme - OMG, I don't know what they made this with but it was INCREDIBLE!!! So tasty and amazing.

Even though I prefer buffets that leave you with your waistband busting, I would recommend trying it out. Le Commensal prices food by weight so this meal ended up being $50 for what you see here. I'm not sure if I would go there again at full price. It's too bad there is no all-you-can-eat vegan buffet!

A vote every day keeps the doctor away, I'm sure.

2010-06-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

Let's win stuff! Vote every day to get more draw entries for Air Canada prizes!

HELP MY CAMPAIGN TO END BORING BLOGGING!
http://besttraveljobever.com/BeccaLove

In the Workroom Today

2010-05-25T15:45:00.000-07:00

A super sweet freelance writer for Sharythym magazine came in to interview me today. I'll be posting up the article soon:)

Here are some snaps of me making the magics:

California Dreamin'

2010-05-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

Flight Centre has re-opened video voting for a Cali-bound bonus assignment!

Please vote for my video so I can blog from the sunshine state! Oooh I love sun:)
Every comment increases my chance to win the draw, help a sista out?

http://besttraveljobever.com/BeccaLove

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

What I Wore Today #1

2010-05-11T11:50:00.001-07:00

The subject of vanity has always been a tricky one for me. I've never seen a point in putting a lot of effort into my appearance and have only done so out of random creativity. I think dressing up is lots of fun on the weekend or a couple times a week, but spending more than 10-15 mins a day on makeup is just a waste of time! Mind you, if someone has a great personal look with creative gothic makeup of the sort I can respect that in other people. These days I do my 5 min routine on the bus.

Now that I work from home a lot I wear a heck of a lot of sweatpants. Comfort is mega important to me. But after a 2 week stint of uninspired & makeup-less floating about I changed my mind. My lonely clothing collection was just going to sit there and rot if I didn't use it! Not to mention my slack appearance was making me feel lazy and I missed the excitement of wearing something cute and colourful that put a little pep in my step.

So alas, I am jumping on the WIWT bandwagon! For a clothing designer I have a very small wardrobe to work with. I prefer to thrift shop and make clothing, but time is never on my side. I don't like malls or mass-produced fashion, so my ethics only step aside a couple times a year when I indulge in cheap clothing sales or my awesome mom feels like I need something new, hah! WIWT is encouraging me to get on it and make that huge pile of secondhand clothing in my closet into something awesome. You will notice I have a useless story for many clothing items. So without further ado, here is my first WIWT!

Today's Look: Glam Biz
Worn to: Wedding shower

Jacket - $56 Le Chateau sample sale circa 2005. Purchased for my bridal showroom interview, one of many ridiculous first fashion jobs.
Dress Shirt - Bubbie's closet!
Black Tee - $10 mall grab when I had nothing to wear to my own bday party. NOTHING!
Black Tights - Made by me for last year's Montreal World Vegan Day runway show.
Heels - $6 thrift shoes, un-cow, and in mint condition! SCORE.
Bag - $15 Aldo outlet Montreal. Amazing for non-leather bags.

Hello, can I sell your house?

This look took a turn for the worst when my sister tried to direct my awkward self in a close-up shot. We burst into fits of laughter after uploading my new real estate agent promo shot. RE/MAX lady!

Vegan Summer Shoes

2010-05-08T22:36:00.000-07:00

My fave summer picks from Lulu's vegan shoe section.
Click to go to their website!

It's raining all week and I am beyond done with socks and pants. Mother Nature, bring it. I need a nap in the grass and sun sun sunnnn!

Best Travel Job EVER!!!

2010-04-29T06:59:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy I learned how to edit videos:)

Check out my video entry for Flight Centre's Best Travel Job ever!

<3 VOTE HERE <3

Preview on Youtube:

PMS Party - New Eco-friendly Product

2010-04-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought about your vajayjay's eco-crotchprint?
That's right, I'm going there!

Lunapads have created a new line of Lunapanties, and I could not be more excited to order some! The 20% off sale ends tomorrow so get yours now.

Lunapanties are a wonderful hybrid of underwear and Lunapads that have a fleece gusset panel permanently sewn in, making them an all-in-one replacement for disposable Pads and Pantyliners.

Way back in the Riot Grrl Toronto craftshow days, there was a small company promoting re-usable menstrual products. Believe me ladies - our initial reactions are all the same. If you haven't already, GET OVER IT! Every 28 days, every single woman on the planet menstruates. It's normal, it's natural. But think about how much waste this creates. Not to mention how absurd I find it to suffocate your lady bits with bleached plastic for 5 days.

The first thing I can tell you about reusable pads is they are SO comfortable! It doesn't feel like you are wearing a pad, but rather sitting on a comfy little pillow. At home this is totally manageable, so if you want to use disposable pads when you're out you can at least cut down 50% of your lifelong menstrual eco-footprint.

You can find fabric pads at Grassroots and most women's health shops. You can try making your own, or purchase them from various sellers on Etsy who use fun fabrics. Another option you can find at Wholefoods and Grassroots are organic cotton tampons and pads. It is SO important to avoid commercial chlorine-bleached tampons! This area on your body is super absorbent and takes in toxins every minute you use tampons.

Since research has shown that using tampons with a higher absorbency can increase the risk of TSS, tampon manufacturers have also changed the absorbency levels in their tampons.

However, the connection between tampons and toxic shock syndrome has yet to be fully understood. It is assumed, though, that the Staphylococcus bacteria thrives and proliferates in warm, moist areas thereby making a high absorbency tampon the ideal breeding ground for the bacteria. The bacteria may enter your blood stream if the tampon causes a laceration in your vaginal lining. In the case of super absorbency tampons, the tampon may expand to such an extent that it sticks to the vaginal wall. Upon removal, the tampon pulls at your skin causing some of the lining to come off and the bacteria to get in. Read more.

Do yourself a favor - make yourself more comfortable during lady time.
Join the Girly Girl Army mailing list to get great promos like today's 10% off Lunapanties!

Time for a classic:

DIY Sunglass Bling

2010-04-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

A how to glamerize plain shades tutorial!

My sister gave me a pair of sunglasses from H&M. I love the faux studded sides, but they were too plain in the front. I couldn't find a sweet blinged-out pair that suited my face shape, and decided to make my own using cellphone rhinestone gems my bestie brought me from Hong Kong.

What you will need:
Rhinestone Sheets - Any place with cute cellphone charms may have these. Check out your neighbourhood China Town or Claire's. They are much easier to work with than gluing individual stones.

Sunglasses - Make sure the frame width matches the size of your bling.

Nail Scissors - This is very important! These small scissors have rounded edges that let you cut around the rhinestones. If you use a regular pair or large pair the edges of the stones get chipped.

Instructions:
1. Measure out the strips of stones you need.
2. Carefully cut the paper.
3. Peel the left side of the rhinestone strip and place it onto the glasses.
4. Pull away the paper backing slowly as you place down the strip and make sure it's straight.

And that's it! Fun DIY sunglasses in ten minutes.

Inspiring Humans

2010-04-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I helped my pal Vegan Chef Doug serve his creations at David Wolfe's Spring Cleansing and Renewal event. It was fun reppin' Raw Aura, and I could not stop snacking on Doug's sour cream & onion kale chips - they are AMAZING! In the few years I've known him Doug has come a long way, and his energy and determination is truly inspiring. Check out Doug's interview on Toronto Vegetarian to learn more about him & visit his site for recipes!

The event started off with live music from motivational speaker & songwriter Sara Westbrook. Sara created the term UPower - our own personal power to choose. She radiates sunshine and positivity and I'm so glad the world has someone like her to help young girls believe in themselves! Sara has inspired me to create UPower boards with some of her words of wisdom I wrote down during our chat:

Let life happen.

You don't have to fix this.

Stop trying to figure it all out.

*EXHALE!*. Ahh, delicious. What a wonderful world we live in where you can make your dreams into your career! Now I feel like Parker from the Friends re-run I watched earlier, haha. I wouldn't mind being more like Parker, honestly.

I'd like to start using David Wolfe's Best Day Ever way of thinking and make everything just keep elevating to the top levels of amazing:)

Yom HaShoah - April 12

2010-04-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

Yom HaShoah is the international Holocaust Remembrance Day. It has been over 60 years since the Holocaust which is important for me to keep in mind when I'm flabbergasted by present day antisemitism. As a young girl I was almost obsessed with this historic tragedy after reading The Diary of Anne Frank. I read books about young people during the Holocaust and one shook me to the core. It was Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, a book about a 10 year old blond girl in Denmark who hides in her neighbors home to save herself from being taken away by nazis (I will not capitalize that word). She takes off her Star of David necklace and keeps it hidden in her sock as it is the only part of her physical identity that appears Jewish.

This book made me afraid to be Jewish. I wondered what people thought of when they looked at my features and if they would judge me by the necklaces I wore around my neck. Growing up I faced a couple incidents that attributed to this. In grade 1 a classmate asked me about my background, I told her Russian and Jewish. The next day she approached me and I winced waiting for her words. To my surprise, she told me "My mother said Russians are bad people, I can't be your friend anymore". Never spoke to me again. Grade 1-3 in public school was 3 years of having challah bread and hearing "Ewww you're eating pee-pee bread!". In retrospect it's pretty funny. There were other small things that escaped my memory.

In grade 4 I switched to a private school with about 50 students and two classes per grade. I was one of the only Jews in a predominantly Christian school. Choir was mandatory and I had to get written permission to sing songs like 'Air Jordan' and perform in choir competitions held in churches. When I didn't feel like standing, I would pretend to be offended so I could sit down to sing. Most of the kids had never heard of any holidays and there was often a lot of explaining to do. I bonded over this with the other 1.5 Jewish students.

The next year I would go back to Hebrew school to prepare for my Bat Mitzvah. I can sum up that experience by saying I was far behind everyone and they didn't help me catch up. But I did enjoy crayon fights between my best friend and I vs. the boys, and Kosher animal crackers and cola at snack time. There was one comment by my teacher that would once again scar me for life. We were walking to a park in partners to play sports. We were told to stay in line because "People don't like Jews, and if they see us misbehaving it will give them another reason to hate us". I was shocked and could not believe that people still didn't like Jews, years after learning about history. I once again became afraid. I hid my necklaces and only wore them on holidays around family.

In high school I started dating a boy I thought was funny and confident. After about a year I realized he was just cocky and obnoxious. He would make jokes about Jewish people and I pointed out that dating a Jewish girl doesn't create an exception for this. He laughed it off and said he's not racist, it's just joking. This argument drives me insane! "Hey I'm not racist, I just tell racist jokes all the time and find it funny. Because I'm in denial!". I couldn't handle it, along with the new phrase people were saying at my best friend's private school. "That's so Jew" somehow became an insult amongst privileged white kids from northern Ontario. They said this often around my bestie who is half Chinese and Jewish, someone they didn't suspect to be a Jew. Slowly after many corrections by my friend, she got them to realize the error of their ways.

During high school I was all about punk rock and going to shows. I was often weary of people's clothing choices. I can't remember exactly, but there was something about wearing one red shoe lace to show you were against white supremacy, and the skinheads wore two red laces or red suspenders. I was a kid trying to look cool, taking secondhand clothes and trying to portray the punk image and make sense of the trends. I never came across anyone I recognized as a skinhead and embraced Punks Against Racism, wearing all their patches I got at shows. My mother would not let me wear my patch with a big foot stomping out a swastika on our vacation in Atlantic city, where she claimed there were lots of anti-semites. I began to question things and decided I don't like the use of the swastika at all, even on shirts or patches where it's crossed out. I just don't think the nazi version of the symbol needs to be used anymore.

A couple years back I was walking through Parkdale and saw a man with a shaved head and tribal tattoos with a swastika in the middle. Panic washed over me. My first reminder of antisemitism in what seemed like ages. The first thought I had was to hide. Thoughts swirled in my head such as "What if he looks at me, at my nose, my face and sees I am Jewish? What if he crosses the street to kick my ass?". I couldn't handle the fear and walked in another direction. I don't think its fair for any human to feel this way because of who they are. Why do people have to live in fear because of their appearance, culture or sexual orientation? I ran home shaking, once again reminded that skin heads still exist.

From my visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Israel.
The entire layout is spectacular - one an art student could write millions of metaphoric essays about. The center photos are from the children's memorial section at the end, and the last photo is a sculpture about fertility. Nazis experimented on pregnant women and tortured them under the guise of research. Needless research, useless cruelty. Much like 99% of animal testing.

The way the gas chambers were set up for mass execution made me think of factory farming. In 2004 PETA launched their Holocaust On Your Plate campaign which I was initially offended by, and also having been through high school law class I was tired of every argument being compared to the Holocaust. But seeing the small models at Yad Vashem the connection was spot on. I was so upset by these displays, knowing I was one of the only people at the museum who was making this connection.

One of the last rooms was a large hall of glass and mirrors with lit candles in the dark to represent all the children who's lives were lost.
The photos of starving children in the ghetto brought me to tears. Women and children were restricted to having a maximum of 400 calories a day. In North America, there are young girls and women who choose to do this to themselves. It pains me when people fail to recognize how privileged they are. Members of my family died in camps, and at times in Russia had nothing to eat. Food is amazing, food gives you life, (vegan) food is the best!

The last hall in Yad Vashem, the most well designed memorial anyone could have thought of. You can see photos of victims all around the top and shelves of books around this full of names, with a large section left empty for those names who could not be recorded. If you look down there is a deep well with water which reflects the faces above. It's incredibly powerful.

Nowadays I see a new type of nazi sympathizer - the kind that hides under the guise of a fetishist. My personal opinion is that if you are into uniforms or discipline, that's nice. But once you go as far as wearing the swastika with your get up, you're just an insensitive creep. There is no argument I will accept because when any Jew, myself included, see this symbol it hurts. It brings back painful memories, reminds of you family you lost, and makes you sick to your stomach. If I want to go to a Halloween party I shouldn't have to see this kind of BS. Plain and simple, evolve. Once in a while I get requests from models on Model Mayhem wanting to work with me. Then I find nazi-themed photos in their portfolios. Working on my clothing line and photo shoots is another completely inappropriate time for me to have to deal with this! When I point out how these photos affect Jewish people and say I am a Jewish designer who will NEVER work with them, the girls often get the point fast. Many of them are apologetic and take down these photos. Others use the excuse that it was the photographer's idea, and they just went with it. Hmmm... so it goes something like "Turn left a little, yes great great! Now open up a button. No that's not working, take off your clothes and spread 'em. Great great! Now just put on this military cap and stand in front of my swastika poster" and the girl says "Okay! I'll do anything to get free photos for my online portfolio, who needs morals?". *grumble*

When I returned home from my Israel trip this winter I had dinner with some family friends. I told them about my thoughts, and how I am still too scared to openly be Jewish and wear the necklaces I bought in Jerusalem. One of the men said "Screw it, just wear it. The skinheads these days are in University writing essays against Jews, they're not out in the open. Who cares about them?". He had a good point but I was not convinced. I can't tell you what lead me to change my mind, but here I am two months later.

These are the necklaces I wear today.
A hamsa, my favourite symbol. I also like it because of the hand in other cultures symbolizing peace, or surrender in Buddhism. The bottom necklace is a Chai meaning Life, also a symbol for good luck.

Both of these symbols are common in Judaism, but not ones I believe to be religious. Perhaps one day I will find a Star of David that suits me.

Hoops For Israel

2010-04-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

H4I hosts their 4th annual charity basketball tournament this Saturday! The tournament raises funds to improve the lives of at-risk youth in Israel's most vulnerable Ethiopian communities.

On the last day of our Birthright trip we visited a school in Bat Yam and had fun with the kids. Imagine being completely tired from 10 non-stop days of sight seeing, late nights and early mornings and never wanting to go home. Then on the last day in Israel, maybe you're a little hungover from dancing the night away in Tel Aviv. Maybe you can't handle another group program and long bus ride, and for the first time you are thinking it would be okay to go home. You read "Hoops for Israel" on the itinerary and have no idea what to make of it. Then the group gets off the bus, put on BRI shirts and get to play with kids while feeling completely blessed! It was the best pick-me-up and an amazing experience to have on the last day.

I've always wanted to be part of a large mural, so this was double awesome.

The finished mural of Toronto!

My friend Vanessa wrote a great blog post about her experience in Bat Yam. Read her words here & become a fan of Hoops 4 Israel on Facebook!

<3

A Vegan Passover

2010-03-24T22:44:00.000-07:00

Vegan Seder Plate Alternatives
Egg:
Tofu cut into an egg shape - If not including kitiniyot this works for me!
Deviled Tofu Eggs
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau suggests "replace the egg, a symbol of fertility and new creation, with a flower or roasted nuts. Some even use a miniature white egg-sized eggplant, whose stem has been removed."

Z'roa/Shankbone:
A ripe beet - the colour can relate to blood & sacrifice
A soya & bamboo veggie drumstick
Ribz from Sol Cuisine
While I'm at it, why not use any wheat-free mock meat?

From Haggadah for the Vegetarian Family - "As vegetarians, in place of the shankbone, we place olives, grapes, and grains of unfermented barley, which symbolize the commandments of compassion for the oppressed, to be found in the Bible". I love that they say compassion is the greatest mitzvah!

In order to remain spiritually inclined on Passover we refrain from eating Chametz - Chametz is a product that is made from one of five types of grains, and has been combined with water and left to stand for longer than eighteen minutes without being baked. The Talmud identifies these grains as wheat, barley, spelt, rye, oats. Since I'm gluten intolerant this is just another day for me!

What about Quinoa and tofu?
Ashkenazi Jews also refrain from kitniyot which translates as "small things", meaning other grains and legumes. Kitniyot varies but generally includes rice, corn, lentils, and beans, sometimes peanuts. Most Sephardi Jews do not observe this. I will be double checking with my family before making some rice flour desserts & possibly this vegan and gluten-free Passover brownie recipe.

*edit* - The fam says no to rice, so I will be using quinoa flour to make some desserts. My aunt directed me to Ask Moses which is just awesome, and you should add yourself as a fan on the Facebook!

Because I'm already gluten-free and know that kitniyot can be made into chametz, I feel a little bit like I'm cheating! This article says quinoa was never indluded in kitniyot because it is technically a grass. However Wiki says it is "a grain-like crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal, or grain, as it is not a grass" and I have always known it to be an ancient grain. I found that this article put it this info simply.

Here are some new recipes I plan on trying:
Leek and Matzo Burgers - Substitute 1 egg for 1 Tbs flax seeds plus 3 Tbs water.

Stuffed Keishke and Veg Nut Loaf

Sweet Potato Kugel

Vegan Matzo Balls

Russian Potato and Mushroom Croquettes - I feel obligated as a Russian, hah! Plus check out the Chopped Liver recipe. My aunt made this once and I found it came super close to the traditional livers I ate as a kid. Yum... Though I must warn you: the longer you leave it in the fridge, the more "meaty" it tastes. If you're nauseous and pms'n, do not take a whiff as you may be compelled to run screaming! True story.

Matzo Brie Pancakes- all these new recipes are going to give me a gluten-ache! Must try though.

Classic Charoset

My veganized version of a Passover Mac n' Cheese recipe:

* 3 cups matzah farfel
* 1/2 lb (8 oz) cheddar cheese - I recommend Sheese or Teese for this.
* 6 Tbsp. melted Earth Balance in place of butter.
* 3 eggs, beaten - 1 Tablespoon flax seeds plus 3 Tablespoons water replaces one egg.
* 1/4 tsp. salt
* 1/4 tsp. pepper
* 2 cups soy or almond milk.

Mix and bake for 45 mins at 350.

Good link source for recipes & an article about Passover & vegetarianism

Check out Jewcy's tips for having eco-friendly or interfaith seders, amongst other great seder ideas & stay tuned to see how my Vegan Passover attempts turn out next week! <3

World Water Week

2010-03-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

"(water) although it is vital to life, it costs almost nothing, whereas diamonds, which are useless for survival, cost a fortune." - Adam Smith

I often dream about water when faced with a big decision. The dream leads me to an ocean, pond or sometimes a pool where the water is either calm and clear blue or dark and murky. Based on intuition I must choose to jump or turn back in fear. I'm my conscious reality I am somewhat afraid of water, almost too aware of the power it holds. When I see violent waves I shiver thinking about how the water can swallow you whole, or how much life lives under the surface that we never see. Or maybe it's not that poetic, and I simply feel this way due to getting stuck under a current on a family vacation circa 1998...

Either way, water means a lot to me and even more after traveling to Israel this January. People in Israel conserve water without thinking twice, it's instilled in them. It's impossible not to when water is a mitzvah in the desert. When staying at the Bedouin tents I saw a young girl scold someone on my trip for leaving the tap running while getting paper towel. She said "there is no water in Israel you know!". It made me happy to see someone feel they couldn't stay silent to make a difference and be passionate enough to speak up. In Canada we have the choice to stand behind a cause that may or may not directly affect our lives. This leads to a disconnect between people and what's happening in the world around us, where ignorance is impossible.

Windy Day
Originally uploaded by sugarock

Windy Day, a photo by photographer Elena Kalis.
Her work is so inspiring to me because she has created an extremely esthetically pleasing world based on her vision. Her photos are brilliant and full of colours that please me beyond belief!

What are you doing for World Water Week?
You can support Unicef's Tap Project or fund raise for Charity Water to bring clean drinking water to people in need.

I may or may not finish reading Water: The Fate of Our Most Precious Resource by Marq de Villiers. You know me, always at least 5 books on the go. Since coming home from Israel I'm even more conscious about keeping the tap on as short as possible. There's no need to keep it on while brushing your teeth or wasting water when washing dishes. One easy thing you can do is put a 1l bottle full of water in your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water used for each flush.

I have not been able to drink water out of a bottle at all since learning how plastic contains Bisphenol A (BPA) which mimics estrogen. For years I noticed if I drank from a water bottle, especially in the morning, my throat would feel sore. I've always had an aversion to bottled water since I could never ignore the taste of plastic, and some bottles even gave me strange headaches. As someone with a hormonal imbalance where estrogen is more prominent, I finally found out why. I swear by my Kleen Kanteen from Panacea Eco Shop, check them out!

2010-03-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

"Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you higher."
~ Oprah Winfrey

Spring be Sprungin'

2010-03-10T21:48:00.001-08:00

A delicious taste of Spring on March 7th!

Buggy, our friends and I headed to the beach to enjoy some sun.
I loved all the paw prints in the off-leash area.

It's safe to say I'm head over heels for this one!

Yesterday I went for a nice bike ride with a pal, our first for 2010. I'm glad we got to enjoy the little heat wave because today the temperature started to creep back down. Spring, I'm so ready for you!

Photo Contest - I need your help!

2010-03-03T09:02:00.000-08:00

Please help me out by RVSP'ing to this Facebook event!

Then to VOTE click 'Like' on my photos, #16 and #17 so I can win a trip back to Israel to work with Chai's feral cat program!

♥ ♥ ♥ Thank You! ♥ ♥ ♥

My pics:

Skipping stones on a flood in the desert - a phenomenon that happens every 20 years!

A Bedouin trek in the desert.

Voting ends Friday March 5th!

Awesome stuff!

2009-05-26T18:40:00.000-07:00

Makeup tutorial with Mosh, from our shoot. Limecrime makeup is awesome! The photo is edited, but in person the colour was super bright and had high pigment. I mistook it for Kryolan wet shadows. Go team Russia!

Fashion Shows!!

2007-07-12T16:37:00.000-07:00

Wild @ Heart