Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 158

kind classics: eco bathrooms

Here's another one from the archives...enjoy!

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A lot of you have been wondering about ways to make your homes and bathrooms more eco friendly.  An easy way to start is by getting all natural and green cleaning products such as Method Seventh Generation Simple Green and some of the ones I wrote about in my earlier posting.

Making your bathroom green is fun and easy!  And the best part...it keeps more green in your wallet!  And who doesn't want that?  Sean Miller the Director of Eduction at the Earth Day Network said that "If the average American household installed low-flow toilets and low-flow showerheads in their bathrooms they could save up to 60 annually on their water and energy bills combined." Ok so I know that's not a HUGE amount of money but it still counts!  Unfortunately it doesn't save that much money because water is inexpensive...I hope that one day water gets its proper value and costs a lot more. I found a great list of low-flow toilets compiled by TreeHugger.com.

No matter what kind of toilet you have I have a great tip for you that will save you money and save water!  All you have to do is save a 20 oz. water bottle remove any plastic or paper from the outside of it and then fill it partially with sand dirt pebbles or gravel if you can't find any of those materials around your house just fill the bottle partially with water!.  Make sure to seal the bottle tightly before placing it in your toilet tank.  Then carefully lower the bottle into the tank and put the lid of the toilet back on.  Pretty easy right?  HERE is a New York Times article about reducing water in your home.  According to this article "A sealed half-gallon water container installed in the tank will save a half gallon of water per flush...a family of five that flushes five times a day each -- the national average -- will save 350 gallons of water each month."  That's a lot of water!

It doesn't stop there though because there are many ways to make your bathroom green.  You can buy towels and washcloths made of organic cotton or bamboo get recycled toilet paper and if you really want to get crafty you can make your own cleaning products from common household items like baking soda lemon juice and diluted vinegar.

If you have a favorite homemade concoction that makes cleaning supplies that you swear by please share!!

Also those icky sprays for the bathroom are just gross and toxic.  Let's face it... When you start eating better you won't need to spray the bathroom after you go.  After a while your poop just doesn't stink! Ok just not nearly as bad!  If you do want a spray to use in the bathroom try to find a nice natural one... Or you can make your own with an old spray bottle!  Just take water and add your favorite essential oil and there you have it!

Baby wipes are also not a bad thing to have in your bathroom!  Just find the good non toxic kind that are all natural biodegradable and made with recycled materials. Be careful not to get the kind that contain Bronopol a preservative ingredient.  It is in most baby wipes and has been given the highest hazard score by the FDA! Seventh Generation makes some good ones or you can find another eco generic brand.  These are good for the planet AND good for your bottom!

And of course my favorite tip for an eco friendly bathroom.... Don't flush!!!! Unless you have to of course!

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And I've posted some photos of these cute toilet seat covers from Toiluxe.  You can get them on Etsy if you want to decorate your bathroom!  They aren't eco but are just some fun things for decoration depending on your style.

What are your tips for making a more eco-friendly bathroom?

bill clinton: kinder and healthier than ever!

A while ago I blogged about Bill Clinton's revelation that he was following a vegan diet – so I was thrilled to see this recent interview about the success he's experienced. He has been vegan for over a year and has lost over twenty pounds. His new diet is reversing his heart disease and has literally saved his life! He says that he loves the taste of fruits and veggies now… this is the guy who used to live for hamburgers and donuts. I'm so happy for him!
 
Clinton is now spreading his message to kids through a partnership between The Clinton Foundation and The American Heart Association. What do you think his next step should be?
 
Watch the video above then read the full interview at CNN.com and tell me what you think in the comments below!

vegan bodybuilders!

Kind Lifer Gretchen recently shared this blog by vegan bodybuilder Giacomo Marchese and I thought you'd all find it interesting and inspiring for the more macho meat eaters in your lives!

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In his blog Giacomo talks about the false hype about protein where he gets his plant-based protein and his forthcoming documentary Vegan Brothers in Iron.

Here's a little excerpt from Giacomo's blog:

"Whether you are a Vegan or a Raw Foodist…you will get your fill of protein. If you're a bodybuilder and you indulge in the theory of excessively high protein intake and caloric deficit you can do it. It's actually far more efficient and healthier as vegan foods have zero cholesterol for you to use vegan protein powders because many of these vegan sources are micronutrient powerhouses. Spirulina and Chlorella for example are superfoods. One serving of either equates to 35 servings of vegetables in regards to vitamin and mineral content. Even small amounts will benefit you immensely!"

If your friends or family are skeptical of your choice to eat a kind diet share Giacomo's blog and remind them that there are all kinds of vegans.

Who else inspires you?

success story: debi beats menopause and stomach pain!

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Kind Lifer Debi recently shared how she overcame years of stomach pain. Check out her story:

"For years I had horrible stomach aches. I even had an endoscopy where they couldn't find anything except an inflamed tummy. Not even thinking of my stomach problems I went vegan for the beautiful animals that are being abused. Well the best side effect of all was no more stomach aches! What a blessing! And another benefit was that I lost the ten pounds of menopause weight I had gained. Since going vegan menopause has been not that bad. In fact since I have really stuck to my vegan guns I can't remember a hot flash or night sweats! Hallelujah!!"

Hooray Debi! If any of you have a success story you'd like to share private message me or post a note to your profile and "like" it. I may feature you on the homepage of The Kind Life!

sponsored post: step into fabulous vegan style at lovingeco.com up to 70 off

This fall step out in style and do it the ethical way! LovingEco the hottest flash sales site for eco fashion accessories and natural beauty is gearing up for fall and you can get exclusive access!

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Actress and animal activist Shannon Elizabeth is LovingEco's guest celebrity tastemaker this week selecting her favorite stylish brands including sexy vegan shoes and purses from Cri de Coeur natural beauty products from MyChelle and eco-fashion from Jonano and Vaute Couture.

Want a chance to win a gorgeous fall outfit worth over 660? Sign on as a member today at LovingEco and this fall you could be stepping out in Jonano's organic cotton "Bloom Double Sash Shirtdress" valued at 125 in slate gray and Cri de Coeur's stunning vegan "Charlie Foldover Messenger Bag" in raven valued at 495.

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Who wouldn't love a fabulously chic outfit that's so versatile it transitions from Sunday brunch to Tuesday at the office in a snap? Pair it with your favorite tights and a light jacket for a chilly night out – practically ethically perfect!

To enter simply follow these steps:

Go to lovingeco.com and become a member it's free
Leave a comment on this post with your favorite product from the site

A winner will be selected at random from the comments on this post and you must be a LovingEco member to win. The contest ends at midnight on Sunday September 4.

LovingEco's Style for Change campaign is your chance to feel beautiful and give back by bringing about positive change. Purchase an organic t-shirt and 100 of the profits go to charity. Learn more about our Style for Change campaign here.

LovingEco's sales this week support Farm Sanctuary an organization based in New York that aims to protect farm animals from cruelty inspire change in the way society acts toward farm animals and promote a kind vegan lifestyle.

ebays easy electronics resale program!

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Let's face it recycling electronics is not as easy as it should be! Finding a recycling center near you that takes old cell phones computers televisions and other used electronics is a bit of a research project. Then you have to get in your car and drop off your stuff…it can take a full day to keep your electronics out of a landfill!

So I was excited to find via Girlie Girl Army that eBay has a great program that makes it super easy to resell your electronics. All you have to do is search for the product you're getting rid of and fill out a quick online form with information about its condition. eBay will then generate a resale price for you. After that you ship it for free to a buyer. The buyer will evaluate your product to make sure your assessment of it is accurate then they'll pay you for it via PayPal. If the buyer thinks your item is worth something different than your price they'll email you a new offer. If you accept it they'll pay you the agreed upon amount; if you reject it they'll ship the item back to you free of charge. Everyone wins!

If you're not interested in selling your old electronics Earth 911 is great resource for finding corporate recycling programs for computer parts and cell phones. They also have a database where you can find an e-waste recycling center close to you.

Do you know of any similar services for recycling electronics online or near you?

the best on set food ever!

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Craft service : food and snacks for cast & crew between meals

We've been working long hours on the set of Gods Behaving Badly so we get snacky between meals! Luckily the craft service on this film is amazing. It's the best I've ever had! Peter the chef is my hero - he kinda blows my mind. He owns his own craft service company
Peter has kindly offered to share his delicious chayote ceviche recipe with us here on The Kind Life. I haven't tried these measurements so I don't know if they turn out perfectly. Peter is used to cooking for large groups and he does everything by feel and taste so you may have to experiment with the measurements given here. That said this recipe is sooo worth the try!

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Chayote Ceviche

Note from Peter: Last winter my girlfriend and I went to the Dominican Republic for some sun and relaxation. It rained the minute we landed and continued to do so for five days. We made reservations for Cabo flew home and the next day found ourselves in Baja with much needed mojitos and lots of sun. The trip wasn't a total loss; we ate! Some upscale places some dives. What they all had in common was chayote. Served cooked most of the time I decided to check this vegetable out. This is one of the recipes I came up with – it's very simple and you can increase or decrease the amounts easily.
 
Ingredients

5 chayotes diced into 1/4 inch cubes to prep chayotes for dicing slice lengthwise in half rub the chayote together meat to meat until starch is released rinse then remove pit and peel
1 large jicama peeled and diced into cubes same size as chayote cubes
3 mangos peeled and diced to 1/2 inch cubes
4 medium golden beets roasted and cooled can be done a day in advance and refrigerated diced into 1/4 inch cubes
2 cups grape tomatoes washed and halved 
1 large red onion small dice 
3 large jalapeno peppers small dice 
10 limes zest of 2 limes 
1/4 cup agave syrup 
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 
1 large bunch fresh mint leaves roughly chopped 
1 loose cup fresh cilantro roughly chopped 
1/4 cup fresh chives chopped small 
Sea salt to taste 
Black pepper to taste

Instructions

In a bowl mix chayote jicama mango golden beets grape tomatoes red onion jalapenos
Toss gently and evenly 
Add zest of 2 limes juice of all the limes 12 agave nectar and olive oil 
Toss and make sure lime juice coats all the ingredients 
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours tossing the salad every so often 
Add the mint cilantro and chives 
Put back in the refrigerator for another hour 
Add salt and pepper to taste

I loved this recipe so much so I asked Peter to share it with everyone….sooo good! Thank you Peter! If any of you try making this let me know how it turns out!

superhero classes: warren kramer is back in LA!

Warren Kramer is a wonderful teacher and macro chef. You know him from my previous blogs about his classes as well as my series about his lovely wife Fatim and her superhero pregnancy.
 
Anywho Warren is back in LA this fall and if you would like to learn more about superhero cooking or just need a refresher I recommend checking out his classes! He also does one-on-one consultations so if you've been wanting to see a macrobiotic counselor Warren is great. If you don't live in LA you can still see Warren. He teaches all over the place and you can view his schedule here.

Here's a schedule of the classes Warren will be teaching in LA:

Vegan / Macrobiotic Classes in Los Angeles
Sep 21-25 2011

Wednesday Sept 21 7-8:30 pm
Lecture with Dessert & Tea:
The Power & Essence of The Great Life Diet

Warren explains the key points of Denny Waxman's book. This is an inspiring class to jumpstart your practice or refine your understanding of macrobiotics.

25.00 paid by 9/14 35 thereafter

Thursday Sept 22 6-9 pm
Cooking Class:
Delicious Gluten-free Macrobiotic cooking!

In this class Warren will demonstrate dishes that are delicious and gluten-free. A full meal will be served and recipes provided.

60.00 paid by 9/14; 75 thereafter

Friday Sept 23 6.30-9:00 pm
Dinner/Lecture:
Cancer a Disease of Modern Times

Our modern diet lifestyle and eating habits are contributing to much of the cancer trouble we see today. Warren will give a clear picture of cancer development and how to change this direction.

50.00 paid by 9/14; 65 thereafter

Saturday Sept 24 10am-3pm
Cooking Class with Lunch:
Fabulous Nori Rolls & Unique Condiments

Nori rolls are delicious easy to make travel well and can be made so many different ways. Warren will show you how to make awesome nori rolls and prepare a few special condiments.

Lecture: The Art of Visual Diagnosis participatory class

The face hands feet posture voice pulse… are all means to see our health. Most importantly visual diagnosis enables the individual to see the direction one's health is going in before a major health problem develops.

100.00 paid by 9/14; 125 thereafter

To register for any of Warren's classes contact Karen:
Email: yogarvaol.com
Tel: 310-204-4867

Saturday's classes & consultations are held in West LA. All other classes are held in Culver City. If you'd like to sign up for all of the above classes you can for a special discount of 210.00 prepaid by September 14.

Have you ever taken a cooking class? How did it impact your habits & skills in the kitchen?

action alert: end experimentation on chimps

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PCRM is working hard to end scientific experimentation on chimpanzees by supporting the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act H.R. 1513/S. 810.  
 
Chimps are captured from the wild at an early age only to spend decades in cages no bigger than a kitchen table while being subjected to cruel invasive procedures. This would be an awful way to treat any animal but chimps are human beings' closest cousins in the animal kingdom! How can treating them this way be legal?

Aside from the obvious ethical objections to these research practices PCRM argues that chimps are poor models for researching human health. In fact leading researchers don't even use chimps for experimentation instead they use human cells. Huge pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline and Genentech don't even experiment on chimps! And the European Union has already banned experimentation on great apes. Meanwhile in the U.S. the federal government has spent 200 million on chimpanzee experiments in the last decade. It's wasteful but most of all it's cruel and it needs to end!
 
Help PCRM protect chimps further ethical and scientifically sound research strategies and save your tax dollars by . Please personalize your letter so you can let your representatives know just how passionate you feel about this issue! Remember politicians do read mail from their constituents so make your letter stand out.

I feel very strongly about this issue. Let's do everything we can to help and make it our personal mission to end this. If we all come together on this maybe we can see some change!

sponsored post: behind the scenes - someone's in the kitchen with daiya

Two things that everyone on staff at Daiya Foods has in common – cooking and eating! Whatever time of day it is there's always someone in the kitchen whipping up creative and delicious recipes. Lucky for us our supply of Daiya products is always fully stocked what can we say? it pays to be connected.

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Where do we get our inspiration? From the bloggers Facebook fans and Twitter followers who love our products. They continually wow us with pictures and recipes that demonstrate just how honed their culinary skills are AND how big a part of their lives Daiya products are.

In spite of what you think having a seemingly endless supply of Daiya has not caused an overdose. On the contrary how can you ever tire of those melty gooey stretchy unbelievably versatile shreds? Our biggest problem seems to be which to choose – Mozzarella Cheddar or Pepperjack – not a bad problem to have we say!

The range of backgrounds ethnicities ages and dietary requirements makes our staff an eclectic bunch indeed. That's why you never know what you're going to find in the oven or on the stove in our kitchen – from paninis to pizza…even quesadillas! In spite of all this diversity Daiya Style Shreds are the one ingredient unifying all our recipes.

And to demonstrate just how proud we are of our team's favourite creations we've created our own little culinary brag book – just take a look:

[image error]Bagel: Flax bagel Daiya Mozzarella raspberry jam
Pasta: Alfredo sauce with Daiya Mozzarella garlic and almond milk whole wheat pasta fresh basil
Panini: Daiya Mozzarella sliced apple oat bread 
Quesadilla: Daiya Pepperjack brown rice tortilla salsa and avocado

Now it's your turn – show us how Daiya is part of your day. Enter our Healthy Cookout Contest and show off your culinary creativity! You could win 500 towards any sport or activity of your choice. And don't worry about us – we'll be patiently waiting in the Daiya staff kitchen to test drive all your inspired recipes!