Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Vegan Luxe by Raven Kauffman

Hello Loves!

I am back from hibernation!  I have spent the last two months working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art while the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition was going on.  It was a fantastic opportunity for me, and I feel so lucky that I got the chance to participate in such a major exhibition, but unfortunately it did not leave me with much free time.  But I am back now, and in the mood for some fall shopping...

When I decided to become a vegan, I figured I would not have to worry about saving up for a statement bag anymore... Boy, was I wrong!  I discovered Raven by Raven Kauffman through mentions in both Elle and Lucky Magazines.  When I went to the website, I was in love.  The craftsmanship is so impeccable it is difficult to believe they are made from rubber, not animal skins (warning: not all of Raven's products are vegan... but there is plenty of cruelty-free eye candy to ogle).  The product styling has truly stolen my heart.  Each piece is presented in a classic vignette with just a hint of edge that I find completely intoxicating.

Maxine "Crocodile" Patchwork Tote, Raven by Raven Kauffman

This image immediately transports me to Saturday morning, my first taste of weekend freedom spent exploring and running errands.  I am going to begin saving so I can splurge on this $650 (eek!) bag, and then mimic exactly the rest of this completely-casual-yet-perfectly-pulled-together look. 

Billie Envelope Clutch, Raven by Raven Kauffman
This is my ideal evening clutch.  I love the color, the closure, the clever origami detailing... essentially pure perfection.  Now I just need to find the right shoes to wear with it...

It is probably a good thing that the online store at Raven Kauffman is available yet, but the Maxine bag is for sale at Saks Fifth Avenue's website. 

So good to be back! 

xoxo

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Good News!

Hello Loves!

I cannot believe I have been away for so long, but I have been busy.  I finally, unbelievably, thankfully...

GOT A JOB!

I am so excited I do not think I have stop smiling since my interview.  And the best part is, the gig is at a completely vegan company we have here in NYC called Organic Avenue.  Organic Avenue produces fresh raw juices and foods for cleanse programs and regular consumption, and their products are crazy delicious!  I just celebrated my one week anniversary with them, and I completely and totally love it. 

Organic Avenue is also 100% raw and gluten free, so I am totally excited to learn more about these movements my own veganism has no exposed me to yet.  Stay tuned, it is going to be an incredible ride!

Although it is nearly impossible to choose a favorite product, here are the two drinks I find myself going back to over and over again:

Image via Organic Avenue






Yes I know this is a picture of a beet...hehe.  That is because beets are the delicious main ingredient in Veggie Vibrance, a delicious veggie juice with carrots, cucumber, celery, chard, spinach, ginger, parsley, and lemon... YUM!

Image via Organic Avenue
This bad boy is a Cacao Smoothie... need I say more?  It is so decadent and delicious and perfect.  and p.s., how adorable are the bottles?  Organic Avenue reuses them as well, which I love. 

If you are ever on the Upper East Side and feel like some raw vegan goodness, stop in and say hello! 

xoxo

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Random Vegan Love

Hello Loves!

Those of you who know me know that I can be a little... all over the place, to put it nicely.  So today I am going to embrace my inner scatterbrain and share all of the insanely random things that I am LOVING all over the web... all vegan of course.  Please forgive me for the excessive abuse of caps and exclamation points that are surely to follow.  Hope you enjoy loves :)

MATT & NAT ON PURE CITIZEN!!!!

The prices are insane and a percentage of your purchase goes to PETA.  I have blogged about my affection for Matt & Nat before, but I keep finding more and more styles that I love.  Here are some of my faves from the current sale:

Sedaris Vegan Leather Handbag in Blue, image via Pure Citizen


As if the blue color was not enough to win me over, the shape is vaguely reminiscent of the Dior bags I have been coveting since I was about 12... but way more awesome because this bad boy is completely cruelty-free.

Muse Vegan Leather Handbag in Rust, image via Pure Citizen

A true classic... for only $66!  I love the flap, the slouchy shape, and the short strap.  This bag is my definition of perfection... swoon.  The ideal investment piece, and it is not even really an investment!

VEGAN HOT CHOCOLATE!!!!

I have a confession.  I LOVE hot chocolate.  In all its non-vegan creamy deliciousness.  So this winter, which has been uber-cold in these parts, I have missed hot chocolate like CRAZY.  I have resisted, making gallons of coffee and tea to ease my craving.  This has not worked so well.

When I was poking around Elizabeth's Kind Cafe Blog, an awesome new-to-me blog, I came across something that has completely changed my life (OK, I am being dramatic, but it made me REALLY really happy) - an amazing delicious creamy sweet yummy warm VEGAN hot chocolate recipe!!!!!!  (Even the excessive use of exclamation points does not capture how great my joy was)  And it is so incredibly easy to make, I feel foolish that I ever mourned the loss of delicious hot chocolate in my vegan life.  I can be very silly.  Here is a link to Elizabeth's recipe, which I changed ever so slightly.  My recipe is:

  • 3 cups soy, rice, or almond milk (I have had great success with Earth Balance Soy Milk, my favorite thing on earth after my husband/family/kittens.  Yes it is that good.)
  • 1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips
  • A generous squirt of agave nectar (I know the chips have sugar in them, but I try not to over do it with the processed sugars, especially since I will probably consume this about 3 times a day until spring gets here...which could be August at the rate we are going.)

Put milk in a saucepan over high heat.  Heat through, then add chips and agave, stirring constantly until the chips melt completely into pure hot chocolate decadence.  Pour into your favorite mug, wrap yourself in a blanket, put your feet up, and enjoy your pants off!

Note:  When Elizabeth came up with this stellar recipe, she was looking to feed her two children.  So this makes enough hot chocolate for two.  So hypothetically you could half this recipe if your just want one cup... but why the heck would you?


ALICIA SILVERSTONE ROUNDS UP VEGAN BLOGGERS!!!!

The Kind Life is truly one of the greatest vegan websites there is, with awesome recipes, product recommendations, and advice for being a healthy, happy vegan.  This week Alicia asked for Kind Bloggers to alert her so she could share more vegan blogs on her website.  The response has been incredible, and now I have a Google Reader full of awesome vegan blogs.  You can see them all if you check out the comments on this post.  Here are some of the ones I cannot get enough of:


animal friendly.me

I instantly, unequivocally trust any one who introduces me to this beauty.  image via animalfriendly.me


This fellow vegan fashion site is written by the completely fabulous Ciara Peter, and I love it because she succeeds brilliantly at what all vegan fashionistas strive for - living cruelty-free without sacrificing an ounce of style.  She also covers everything from cosmetics to lingerie, so you are sure to find excellent guidance for any question that you may have. 


Oh Vaute Couture... how I love thee!  image via Chic Vegan

Chic Vegan

I promise I do not simply like this blog because of its clever name (sound familiar? :)  The site has a collection of bloggers, so they cover all sorts of awesome topics, from how to improve your complexion to excellent monthly roundups of vegan and ethical fashion

VEGAN CHILI THAT SOME OF THE MEAT EATERS IN YOUR LIFE WILL LOVE!!!!

image via the kitchn


I am going to be honest.  For my husband and I, the biggest challenge in our marriage so far has been finding, something, anything, that both of us will eat.  So far corn chips, salsa, and guacamole are really our only points of overlap.  Delicious?  Yes.  Enough to sustain ourselves with?  No (Although some days we try).  So when I came across this chili recipe on the kitchn, I had high hopes.  Victor loves chili, and this recipe claims to taste meaty.  So I decided to give it a try on Super Bowl Sunday, chili's biggest day of the year.  I bought Daiya cheese and Tofutti Sour Cream.  It was a vegan spectacular.

...and Victor hated it. 



However, the other non-vegans in my life, my parents, who are far less fussy, LOVED the chili.  And so did I.  It had a heartiness that is perfect for this frigid winter weather.  I simply made it vegan by using agave nectar instead of the honey.  And I mixed things up a little by using black beans, red kidney beans, and cannelloni beans.  It was like a bean fiesta!  I hope you like it more than Victor did :)

And finally...

A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF VEGAN SHOE AND BAG BRANDS ON GIRLIE GIRL ARMY!!!!

Look no further, all of your vegan accessory dreams have been met!  Chloe Jo did an excellent job of rounding up the most coveted cruelty-free brands so being vegan never means having to sacrifice.  Enjoy!

Loves, I think that is all the randomness I have in me for today.  I hope you enjoyed this crazy long post.  Also, I would LOVE to hear if you have any favorite vegan blogs/brands/recipes that you cannot live without!  I am always on the lookout. 

xoxo

PS - If you buy a Matt & Nat bag, send me pictures!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

heart

Hello Loves!

Hurry on over to Pure Citizen, where they are having a sale on Vaute Couture.  They have gorgeous coats that are magically not wool but incredibly stunning.  But I must admit, I am totally drawn to this bad boy...

image via Pure Citizen

Every girl needs a cape, right?  And the proceeds go to PETA.  Looks and feels fantastic :)

image via Pure Citizen

I am so tempted to get this adorable shirt too... I think it would make me giggle every time I put it on.

Happy shopping loves!

xoxo


Vegan Uggs?!?!?

Hello Loves!

I must admit, I loved Uggs.  They are by no means sexy, but they are too warm for me to reject outright.  So, I knew when I became vegan that I would definitely need a cruelty-free replacement.  Luckily, my Uggs are still in good shape, which has bought me some time to find the right substitute without settling or freezing my toes off :)

image via Girlie Girl Army

So I was very excited to come across this post on Girlie Girl Army about Neuaura, the animal friendly footwear company that is behind these cozy, warm Ugg alternatives.  I must admit, I love the buckles.   And if I have learned anything from all my winters in snowy New York and Chicago, it is that staying warm is the most important thing... hypothermia is just not sexy :)

xoxo

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

I'm Back!

Hello Loves!

I missed you!  I am finally back, after a fantastic honeymoon and some time to get my life at home in order.  I am working on a post to recap the trip to Mexico that should be ready today or tomorrow, but in the meantime...
 
image via Oprah


OPRAH IS GOING VEGAN! 

Well, just for a week, but she is taking all of her staffers with her, so hopefully it sticks for some of them.  I am so thrilled to hear this, I LOVE Oprah!  And as we know, when she says something, people tend to listen.  Hopefully she will inspire people who have never even considered it to pursue a cruelty-free lifestyle.  I am going to tune in today to get all the details :)

On a related note, a little research uncovered that Oprah did a 21-day vegan cleanse awhile back... have any of you ever tried any sort of cleanse?  I am an admitted cleanse virgin, but after the holidays and the honeymoon I am ready to get my healthy eating back on track, and a cleanse might be just the way to do it :)  Thoughts?

Glad to be back!

xoxo

Saturday, January 15, 2011

We're Off!

Hi Loves!

We are going here!  YAY!  image via Maroma

Victor and I are off to Mexico in 7 hours (EEK!  Thank goodness I am packed!), and I just wanted to say goodbye!  Back to blogging like crazy when I come back January 24. Until then, have a wonderful week and eat lots of delicious veggie creations... I know I will!

xoxo!