Limegreen vegan home and body products

I was wandering around Chelsea Market the other day, and found a great new brand in the Artists and Fleas space over on the 10th ave side of the Market!

Limegreen offers "completely natural vegan products" that smell amazing and are made in Brooklyn! You know I'm not into perfumey stuff, but I do enjoy natural fragrances from essential oils and the like, and these are made from "unrefined, certified organic, raw, wild harvested and steam distilled ingredients, such as Coconut, Olive, Castor, Sweet Almond oils, Soy Wax and Alcohol Free Witch Hazel Distillate. We seek the ‘Best’ ingredients and look to support local business."

I also like that a lot of their products are double or triple duty- for example the BAR you can use for washing face and body and hair, which makes traveling so much simpler, as well as the shower ledge. The OIL moisturizes hair and skin, and also removes makeup! The MASSAGE CANDLE smells amazing and as they melt they turn into massage oil! I've really been into candles lately, I think because it's winter and dark and candles make the space seem cozy and also smell nice.  I was thinking this is a great gift on so many levels, don't be surprised if you know me and you get one!

Gifts for your Wannabegan Part 1

I'm not really a believer in Valentine's day.  It seems really contrived, it's hard on single folks, and it's a lot of pressure and expectation for people who are in a relationship.  My husband and I choose to celebrate "not-Valentine's day" which is all the other 364 days of the year, because people should celebrate their loved ones EVERY DAY!  Also, I assure you, it's easier to get a table at a nice restaurant without a reservation on not-Valentine's day.

Anyway, I do love giving (and getting!) gifts, so here's a round up of vegan friendly gifts that I have given recently and you might find great for giving to the people you love!

Urban Decay Vintage Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner - Recently my husband and I stayed at my mother-in-law's home for over two weeks, and she showered us with loving kindness the whole time we were there.  She loves makeup, so as a gift I bought her some of her favorite glitter eyeliners (her favorite colors are being retired, so they are on sale so you can stock up!!)

I bought a little something for myself too, the Urban Decay Shattered Face Case, partially because I am a sucker for anything that is on sale, I have a compulsive need to meet the free-shipping minimums whenever they are available, and also because all my eye makeup is really old and I worry about it irritating my eyes.  I thought these colors looked really nice and neutral plus there is a lip color and eye liner all packed together in there.  All you need is a little foundation and mascara, and you're DONE! PS the order came with a free sample size of face setting spray, I haven't used it yet but generally they offer a little sample of something when you order.  GUESS WHAT!? NOW THERE IS EVEN A PROMO CODE!  FFSPRING14 = 20% off (except on Naked3).  I didn't have the promo code when I bought all this stuff, but at least it was on sale. But now you can get it on sale AND get 20% off!

Harry and David Succulent Wreath - I was obsessed with this wreath ever since the moment I saw it, but the price was straight up crazy, and that's before the taxes and shipping and handling. When it finally went on sale (50% off!) I thought it was still a bit pricy (don't forget about that S&H!) but I was so obsessed that I caved and gave it to my friend who loves plants for her birthday. She was quite pleased! Exact quote: "I GOT THE SUCCULENT WREATH!!!! I LOVE IT!!! It was such a nice surprise this morning!!!!" (That's eleven exclamation marks, for the record.) I was concerned that it wouldn't look quite as nice as in the photo because that often happens with mail-order, but she sent a photo (on the right) and in my opinion it looks even cooler with those tall succulents!  She loved it so much, I ended up ordering one for myself, it just looks so cool I'm still obsessed.

Kusmi "One Moment, One Tea" Gift Set - Last night was the last night of our 8 week meditation course that I totally LOVED, so I got a little gift for our teacher.  I knew I wanted to get her something tea-related, because she mentioned that she loves tea (and the weather has been so cold lately, wouldn't it be nice to give something warming?), so I went to a couple of places looking for something tea-related.  I went to a shop near my office and they had all kind of gorgeous gift boxed teas.  This one was called, "One Moment, One Tea" and meditation is all about being IN THE MOMENT so when I saw this one I immediately knew that this is what I should get for her!  It's loose tea plus a tea infuser spoon.  "Thé du Matin is a strong, black tea morning blend. Thé Vert au Jasmin green tea perks up the afternoon. Spicy Kashmir Tchai is ideal after dinner. Both Traditional and decaffeinated Earl Grey are perfect anytime." Yum!

Actually now that I think about it, the 8 week meditation course would be a really great gift.  My husband found out about it and convinced me to to give it a try, and it really has been one of the best gifts I've ever received, because it really improved my life!  If you give this as a gift, the recipient would really need to be open and ready and willing to give it a chance, and if that's the case there is such an opportunity a better quality of life right there.  I saw an ad for a cellphone that said "Upgrade your life" and before I realized they were trying to sell me a phone, I thought, "Is this an ad for a mediation class?" because that's what I felt like I did, I upgraded my life.  If you're not in NY, then you can start with a mediation book!   

MORE WANNABEGAN GIFTS TO COME!

Chilly? Warm up with hot chili!

Last night (Meatless Monday!) we were attending a concert at the Juilliard school (Focus Festival going all week long, if you are interested in new music), so we needed someplace quick and nearby to eat since we were coming from work and the concert started at 8. 

So we went to the Upper West Side Blossom du Jour! We go to the Hells Kitchen location all time, but we had never been to this location before.  The UWS Blossom is a little smaller and has less seating inside, but the menu is the same so I ordered the Hells Kitchen Chili and the Buffalo Bites and they were perfect food for warming up after enduring this freezing weather! They were served piping hot and the spicyness was warming as well.  (We like spicy food.)  It's really nice to eat at a 100% vegan place once in a while, I feel very free and open to try anything and not worry about the food contributing to sad animals.  

My husband ordered the Midtown Melt sandwich, which is his regular order (sometimes he varies it with an Avocado Giller), and we also shared a Field of Greens juice (we call it "green drink")

We renewed our Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary membership in December, so when we showed our membership card we got 15% off of the whole meal!

Update: The recipe is over here!

Face to Face: YesTo vs First Aid Beauty face moisturizers +PROMO CODES!

   VS

This is a comparison of two cruelty-free moisturizers for the face: Yes to Blueberries Deep Wrinkle Night Cream and First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer.

Yes to Blueberries Pros: I've been using this for a while, and it is indeed deeply moisturizing which is exactly why I got it (my Trader Joe's oil-free moisturizer wasn't enough once winter set in with the super dry air).  First of all, "Yes To does not test on animals and is against animal testing," and "Most of our products are great for vegans!" (They're wannabegan, some of their products contain bee products.)  In terms of ingredients, they are petroleum, SLS, & paraben free. 

First Aid Beauty Pros: I bought this as part of a set (I'll review the whole thing at some point!) because I really like the things that First Aid Beauty doesn't include in their products: "FAB products are free of harsh chemicals and known allergens, including parabens, phthalates, alcohol, fragrances and artificial dyes."  And of course, "FAB has never tested on animals and never will, period," and "The majority of FAB products contain no animal ingredients" (duh, or else I wouldn't be featuring their products on this blog anyway). They have one product that contains beeswax, so they're also wannabegan!

Yes to Blueberries Deep Wrinkle Night Cream Pros: This is indeed deeply hydrating - after applying I feel like there is a protective layer on my skin that I can still feel in the morning.  I do think that did help reduce my wrinkles a little bit- I don't have deep creases on my face, just little crinkles due to dryness, and this helped plump those up a bit.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer Pros: For this product in particular, I really liked how easily it applies on my face - this spreads on super smooth without pulling at the delicate skin around my eyes. I also love that it's fragrance-free because fragrance makes me uncomfortable from a potential health hazard standpoint, and also because when my face smells, I can smell it all the time!

Yes to Blueberries Cons: There is fragrance in this product, which is actually pleasant (and doesn't give me a headache like some other fragrances do) but still, I'd prefer if it was fragrance free. They just started a separate fragrance free line, they must have heard me!   Also, I'm left with a ever-so-slightly sticky feel to my face after application, which is good when I'm using it as intended (at night) but want something I can use all the time.  At night it was fine because it felt like a really moisturizing protective barrier, but for day I'd prefer something lighter.  Also, I occasionally felt like the texture was a bit tacky, so when I applied it it would pull my face around a little bit.

First Aid Beauty Cons:  I haven't found any cons to this, the closest I can get to a con is comparing it the the Blueberries moisturizer, I would say I wish it were a little heavier for night time, but then I would't like it as much for the day.

Winner: Originally I thought this post would declare on product superior over the other, but I'm now realizing as I am reading the manufacturers description of these two moisturizers that even though both are for face and are packaged in almost identical pump bottles, they are for two totally different skin types and needs!  The FAB moisturizer is meant to be light where the YtB moisturizer is thick and heavy.

My Conclusion: use the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer in the morning so you look fresh throughout the day and have a nice surface to layer makeup on (if you're wearing makeup), and then use the Yes to Blueberries Deep Wrinkle Night Cream at night (duh) to lock in moisture and undo wrinkles while you sleep.

I found TWO promo codes for you! "YESTO35" = 35% off at yestocarrots.com and "FABULOUS" = 30% off at firstaidbeauty.com, plus free full size Lip Repair Therapy with $75+ purchase.  Git it!  That fragrance free line from Y2 I mentioned earlier is also on sale, I think I'm going to try Yes to Carrots Fragrance Free Intense Hydration Night Cream as my replacement for the blueberry one.  From FAB, I want to try another kit: their FAB Daily Dose kit. PS I've been using that Lip Repair Therapy (and putting it on my husband too), my lips are in great shape now!

Free Shipping code for Alba Botanica!

So on Black Friday (seems soooo long ago!), I was super nerdy and went looking for deals on all my fave stuff.  I love Alba Botanica and I've been using their products for years!  This sounds so odd, but lately I've been buying products/brands based on what ingredients they DON'T have in them.  Here's what I like about them:

"Our products contain no meat or by-products of animal killing. We also reject all cruelly obtained animal ingredients, even if an animal is not killed. We limit our use of animal products to ingredients that are naturally created by and have no future use to the animal such as beeswax.

Alba Botanica® products are formulated without: parabens, phthalates, artificial colors, propylene glycol, aluminum, mineral oil, petrolatum, oxybenzone, PABA, nano-particles, DEA, MEA or TEA, PEGs and PEG derivatives, ethoxylated ingredients associated with 1,4 dioxane and formaldehyde donors."

So I totally stocked up and got:

• NATURAL VERY EMOLLIENT BODY LOTION Unscented Original - 32 oz - I've been using this for a really long time and I love it in all seasons (love it in both summer and winter) and all over (face, body, hands, feet, etc).  Sometimes I'll even take a dab and run it through my hair as a detangling/smoothing product (sometimes I mix it with a little coconut oil to make it a heavy-duty leave-in conditioner).  I love the pump too, it makes life so much easier, although once you get to the very end the pump stops working even there's a half-inch of lotion left in the bottle and I have to come up with all kinds of creative ways to get out every last drop!
• NATURAL HAWAIIAN FACIAL MASK 
• pore-fecting papaya enzyme
 - This is a clear-ish gel that you leave on your face for just 5 minutes (of course I always leave it on longer) and it dissolves all the gunk in your pores.  I love it!  Masks are so nice for forcing yourself to relax for a few minutes. 
• ACNEDOTE face & body scrub - This is a really invigorating scrub that smells great - kind of a minty orange.  I use it on my face and body to help keep large/clogged pores, flakes, and acne away.  On body use it all over just to feel energized, super clean and tingly!
• VERY EMOLLIENT SUNSCREEN fragrance free mineral broad spectrum spf 30 - I was hoping this would arrive in time for my trip to Jamaica, but it didn't so now I have to wait until summer to use this!  Oh well, I've used it in the past and it's great, the active ingredients are minerals (zinc and titanium dioxide) instead of those horrible hormone disrupting chemicals. Plus it is fragrance free, so even better! 

Between now and January 31st, 2014, you can get free shipping on orders $35+!  See promo code above.

Massive Cruelty-Free Promo Code HAUL!!!

I'm back in NY! I have one more Jamaica-themed post coming up, but I wanted to post this ASAP because it features something I get really excited about - PROMO CODES!

I inherited a strange gene from my mother where I feel uncomfortable paying full retail price for anything - I have to have a coupon, promo code, free shipping, or loyalty card, or it has to be on sale, clearance, buy-one-get-one-something or otherwise discounted, or best of all a combination of as many as possible. I've tried resisting this strange family compulsion for many years, but at this point I just embrace it.

So can you imagine my excitement when I found a whole webpage full of promo codes for cruelty-free products (Leaping Bunny certified!)!!  So many of my favorite brands are listed:

• ALBA BOTANICA: enter BUNNY15 at checkout for a 15% discount on your total order
• AVALON ORGANICS: 15% discount on your total order when you enter BUNNY15 at checkout. 
• DR. BRONNER'S 15% discount on Bar Soaps, Lip Balms, Hand Sanitizers & 2 oz. Liquid Soaps, 10% of proceeds will be donated back to Leaping Bunny
• LATHER: 10% off at www.lather.com when you enter code BUNNY at checkout
• MEYER'S CLEAN DAY: 10% off your order with code BUNNY through 12/31/13.

And now I want to try some of the other brands listed as well, but I just ordered a ton of stuff from Alba and Yes To Carrots on Black Friday (reviews for both hauls coming up!).  I missed Aubrey Organic's deal (they make my fave sunscreen) because I was on vacation and didn't find out about this web page in time. If you want to get on the newsletter where I found out this link, sign up for the American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS)'s newsletter: go to http://www.aavs.org/ and sign up to "Stay Informed).

PS I love the Leaping Bunny program because when I'm at the store, I can just see it and be like, "This one's good to go!" instead of trying to Google the company's position an animal testing on my phone, or doing tons of research online and trying to remember what's what before I go shopping. Yes, I know that there are are cruelty-free apps and pocket guides, but sometimes when you're shopping you just want to pick something off the shelf and have the leaping bunny folks do all the homework in advance so you can just check for a logo then put it in your basket!

Wannabegan in the Sun

Hello from the verandah of my hotel in Jamaica!  The weather here has been so beautiful! I've been swimming in the ocean every day, letting my hair dry naturally in the sun, napping in hammocks and chaise lounges, and generally feeing incredibly grateful for my wonderful life!  

The sun can get intense here, even though it's December.  Being an observant and card-carrying Asian woman, I eschew the sun for fear of inviting wrinkles and sun spots. My favorite sunscreen (and I've tried so many!) is Aubrey Organics SPF 30 Unscented Sensitive Skin Sunscren.  I'm super picky about sunscreen and this is my favorite because it is:

• Cruelty-free (a requirement for me)
• Uses minerals as opposed to hormone disrupting chemicals as active ingredients (a requirement for me)
• Fragrance free
• EWG safety rating of 1
• not sticky
• not pasty-white

IN ADDITION to wearing lots of sunscreen, I supplement with:

• SPF 50 extra-long sleeve hoodie (with thumbholes, so it covers the back of your hands) from Uniqlo
• Wide brimmed hat (gift from my aunt, but I've also gotten nice ones in the summer at Uniqlo)
• Solar Shield over-your-glasses sunglasses (polarized lenses make the sky and water look even more beautiful!)
• SPF 50 mini sun parasol by Totes

PS I tried a sample of Yes To Cucumbers Natural Sunscreen SPF 30, which isn't fragrance-free, but  it is:

• 97% Natural
• SPF 30, Broad Spectrum
• Water resistant (40 minutes)
• Hypoallergenic
• Petroleum, SLS, & Paraben Free
• Cruelty-free

I found it a little stickier feeling than the Aubrey sunscreen, so that's why I didn't list it as my favorite, BUT I have a promo code!  It's "YESTOSUN" and it's good for buy one get one 50% off on their website.  The sample came with a big order of Yes to Carrots products that I will review once I am home and start using them!

Organic Grill Review

Last night my husband and I went to Organic Grill in the E Village for dinner.  They're not quite vegan or even vegetarian (they serve fish) but they have mostly vegatarian/vegan options.  We ordered (menu):

• OG Quesadilla (with daiya vegan cheese, dairy cheese was also available)
• Tofu Masala
• Vegan Perogies 
• Mu 16 tea

I really enjoyed the OG Quesadilla, which was filled with grilled mushrooms, and I really liked the cashew sour cream it was served with.  I would order a side of the cashew sour cream next time and put it on anything I order!  The quesadilla had a nice smoky/grilled flavor (but not burnt, I hate that), and I didn't notice anything noteworthy about the vegan cheese, which I had never (knowingly) had before.  I'm used to just plain cheese quesadillas, and this one had a lot more going on in it beyond cheese, so it wasn't a really a good test of vegan cheese.

The Vegan Perogies were also very good, standard perogies on a plate of steamed kale (note to self, bring dental floss for afterward!).  This one was also served with the cashew sour cream, which really made it delish.  

The Tofu Masala was the weak point for me, I'm a huge fan of Indian food compared to other Indian food this was really, really SWEET, almost the way that in Americanized Chinese food sesame chicken is really sweet.   I expected this to be thick and curry-ish like tikka masala, but it was more liked sauteed tofu and vegatables in a curry broth, served with brown rice.  Oh, I just looked at the menu and it actually says tofu sauteed with curry spices, so maybe it was just my expectations that were off.

I love Mu 16 tea and it's really hard to find in stores for some reason!  I meant to buy some loose Mu 16 here so I could make more at home but I forgot to ask. If you're not familiar with this tea, there are 16 ingredients (hence the name) and it has a naturally sweet and a little spicy flavor.  Organic Grill served this in these nice French-press style pots, and the waiter was really good about hot water refills (I drink a lot of tea!) and the tea continued to make strong tea after several refills. At the end of the meal, I even asked for a to-go cup and drained the remaining tea into it so I could finish it off on my way out (I told you I was thrifty).

And speaking of thrifty, I didn't have a coupon or anything, but I signed up for their Frequent Diner Program, which means you get a free entree on your birthday, and you get a $25 voucher once you've spent $250 (so 10% off).  

Organic Grill

123 First Ave (btwn 7st. & St.Marks Place) 

New York, NY 10003 

So worth it

So one thing you should know about me right off the bat is that I love sales, coupons, promo codes, deals, offers, etc, etc.  Anything that saves me a little $$!

One thing I did earlier this year that has totally paid off big time was getting a Woodstock Animal Farm Sanctuary membership!  There is a vegan fast food restaurant (gotta love living in NY) near my apartment, and regardless of it being vegan or not, I eat there all the time because the food is tasty and super convenient! In addition to food, they also have fresh juices and smoothies etc etc (don't worry, I'll write up a list of all my favorite neighborhood places and dishes in another post).  Anyway, the point is, I eat there all the time and I get a discount when I show my membership card!  Membership gets you a discount at all sorts of other vegany places as well!  From their website:

A basic membership is $30, and a family membership is $50.

Membership benefits include:

• A warm feeling knowing that you are helping out the most abused animals in the world- farm animals.
• Ability to book rooms at The Guesthouse
• Free admission to the sanctuary during visiting hours
• Discounts at most of our events
• 10% discount at our WFAS online store and our Visitor Center merchandise.
• 10% discount at Woodstock’s Garden Cafe*
• 10% discount at Tivoli’s Luna 61*
• 5% discount at New Paltz’s Karma Road Cafe*
• 15% discount at New Paltz’s Lagusta’s Luscious*
• 15% discount at NYC’s Terri*
• 15% discount at NYC’s growing Blossom Restaurant empire, including Blossom Du Jour ,Blossom Bakery (formerly Cocoa V) and V-Note*
• 10% discount at NYC’s 2 Candle Cafe locations & Candle 79*
• 10% discount at NYC’s Moo Shoes (retail store, not online)
  
• 10% discount at Jivamukitea Cafe*
• 10% discount at VeganEssentials.com
• 20% discount at Gunas Vegan Handbags Email us for the member code

You do the math.  I donated way beyond the family membership level and still came out ahead PLUS I get a tax deduction because Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.