Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 39

Oxfam & Heifer International Aren’t Christmas Present Worthy

When your favorite celebrity asks you to “adopt” a goat from Heifer international as a Christmas gift for your loved ones, you are bound to think.. how sweet, right?   Think again.

Heifer International, MercyCorps, Oxfam and other nonprofits have programs that ship animals overseas to poor families in underdeveloped countries to use for meat and dairy products. This is a nearsighted attempt to solve a far more complex problem (world hunger) and poses several risks for the animals, the environment, and the people whom these programs purport to help.

Taking animals away from their mothers, shipping them thousands of miles to far off lands, and then subjugating them for dairy products and ultimately slaughtering them for food, flies in the face of my personal mission to lead by compassion. All animals raised for food are exploited in a variety of ways, whether they are on factory farms or used for personal sustenance. Cruel procedures such as dehorning and castration without painkillers, restrictive conditions, and extended suffering due to illness and injury are commonplace. If a family is struggling to provide for themselves, how can they ensure adequate conditions, nutrition and veterinary care for their animals? Providing another mouth to feed and care for seems to be the last thing one should be doing to fight world hunger.

Farm animals drink a lot of water and graze a lot of land — particularly cows, pigs and goats. These animals contribute to desertification, particularly when living in environments that are not natural for them, and environments at risk for desertification. Many of these recipient families already live in desert climates and have a hard enough time getting water and resources for themselves, much less their animals.

Residents in Asia and Africa, two of the continents targeted by Heifer and other organizations of its ilk, have the highest levels of lactose intolerance in the world — upwards of 90% of these populations are unable to properly digest milk. Sending dairy cows to areas with a mostly lactose intolerant population defeats the purpose of these organizations’ missions.

I find it particularly disturbing that many of these programs show images of happy children hugging and holding these creatures to lure people into making a sympathetic donation. These images fail to reflect the hard, cold reality that these animals are doomed for slaughter.

The following organizations are working to reduce human suffering through programs that are sustainable and animal friendly:

Sustainable Harvest International
Food for Life
Trees for Life
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation
Women’s Bean Project
Farm Sanctuary

Originally published here

Photo by Ondřej Matouš on Unsplash

Christmas and Chanukah Eco Style

There are so many easy and festive ways to have an eco-friendly Holiday Season!

Check out our simple and fun alternatives to cutting down a live tree.

In addition to those options, there is an awesome company called The Living Tree that operates in California that brings live trees to your home for the holidays. Then after the holidays, they pick it back up and replant it. How cool and kind is that? Bear and I have done this many times in the past!

San Francisco, California offers a similar tree ‘rental’ service, in which you pick out a tree, pick it up, and then either return it or arrange to have it picked up for a $25 fee. After your tree is picked up, it gets planted along San Francisco’s city streets.

Denver, Colorado, Tagawa Gardens sells potted trees that you can keep inside for up to seven days, then plant in your own yard. If you go this route, be sure to dig the hole you plan to plant the tree in before the ground freezes – that means early December according to their website, so if you want to plant a tree in your yard, dig that hole soon!

Somers, Connecticut, Pell Farms is another company that sells both cut and potted Christmas trees. The potted trees are available from 2ft to 6ft high ranging in price from $20 – $90. They also have a location offering the same in Grafton, Massachusetts.   In Springwater, New York – All Western Trees sells potted trees.

An Even More Eco Option:

Instead of buying a tree, decorate one in your yard using decorations you already have, along with energy-efficient Christmas lights, if you like.  Then not only do you get to enjoy the decor, but your neighbors do too! You can also hang these DIY pine-cone bird feeders on your outdoor Christmas tree to celebrate the season with your feathered neighbors. Be creative!

If you’re gonna have a tree, it might seem like an artificial tree is the more eco way to go, since they are reused, but really, it’s not. Surprising, right? People usually only use them 4 times or so and them toss them out where they will sit in a landfill forever. They also use lots of energy to produce, package, and ship them….not to mention that they are made with toxic materials.

If you are going to get a cut-tree, search for an eco-friendly tree farmer near you.  Organic Christmas tree farms including low-spray and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Christmas trees exist!  If you decide to go this route, your most green option is to find a sustainable grower from a certified organic farm. You will also be supporting your local farmers. If you go this route, be sure to recycle your tree after Christmas by chipping it into mulch or composting it. You can also visit this article to find tree recycling and other Christmas item recycling options.

I’m always so sad when I walk the streets of New York after the holidays with all the trees dead and discarded on the street. It feels so wasteful and sad. Luckily, there are lots of alternatives- let’s not be the people who leave our resource-guzzling, discarded Christmas trees out on the curb!

Tree Ornaments & Decorating

I like to use things I’ve found or made to decorate. This will also save you $$$ instead of buying them all-new from the store. You can use a baby shoe or an old children’s toy as an ornament and add a little one’s name and date. Hang cookie cutters from a ribbon. Make ornaments from nature!! Pinecones and twigs. Go crazy….buttons, silverware, things in your sewing kit….glue photos onto wood scraps or lids.  Use Pinterest for crafting ideas, that’s a treasure trove of upcycling ideas!

If you do buy ornaments, try to find groovy used ones on eBay, Craigslist, or from your local thrift store. If buying new ones, choose the most eco ones you can get your hands on. This usually means lead-free, Fair Trade, or ethically sourced options.

Stockings!

They don’t have to be something super fancy, in fact, the more you use them, generally, the more you start to love them and enjoy pulling it out each year. You can look for used stockings and big socks, or even big oven-mitts from your local thrift shops, garage sales, Craigslist, or eBay. If you buy a new stocking for the holidays, look for ones made from recycled or organic animal-friendly materials (that means no wool, too).

Holiday Cards

I save the fronts of holiday cards and reuse them. I keep them in a little box and pull them out when I need them. Try to reuse old cards, or make them out of stuff you have at home…magazines, old wrapping paper, etc.

But if you will be purchasing new ones, definitely try to go for 100% recycled cards….made from 100% post-consumer waste, or seed paper that can be planted. And if they are printed with soy-based ink, that’s even better! GreenFieldPaper.com sells recycled cards and hemp cards too!

Gifts & Gift Wrapping

You can peruse my 2020 Holiday Gift Guide Here.  For wrapping paper use old newspaper or thrift store fabrics and ribbons. You can also re-use brown paper bags (although hopefully you don’t have a ton of these, because you are using your reusable canvas bags), or get creative with magazines and even junk mail (hopefully you have stopped your junk mail. If you haven’t, go here to learn how).

Holiday Meals & Parties

Choose a holiday recipe from The Kind Life website which is full of kind, warming, beautiful meal options that would all be great for your holiday gatherings!

Try to make your party a little or no-waste event.

In conclusion – here’s a cheat sheet to green up your grand fete!

Do not use disposables. You and your family members can trade dish washing. That includes tablecloths and napkins! Investing in vintage or new cloth napkins and tablecloths is a beautiful tradition!  Go for your own plates, cloth napkins, glasses, and silverware, but if you will be buying disposable, try for recycled or compostable/biodegradable dishware and utensils.
Bring tupperware, or send the family home with doggy bags that are freezable.
Drop your leftovers off at a local homeless shelter, or feed them to the doggies (as long as there is no chocolate or onions involved, of course!)
Compost food leftovers, or drop your leftovers to your local farmers market or coop who always have composts.
Don’t overbuy – buy exactly what you know your guests will eat. I personally hope that’s not tortured, dead birds! If you need tips on a vegan Christmas meal or Latkes – use the search engine!
Use your own cloth or reusable bags when shopping.
Use acorns, small pumpkins, pinecones, rosemary, wild flowers, and gourds to decorate your tablescape – and when you’re done with them – leave them out for wildlife outside to nosh!

Happy Holidays!

Love,

Alicia

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Sweet Potato Latkes With Almond Crème Fraîche

Who doesn’t love latkes? Although we always serve them for Chanukah, we also make them year-round, as party appetizers and a side dish. Candle Cafe’s recipe for crispy pancakes are made with a mix of russets, sweet potatoes, and fresh chives, and we top them with a dollop of creamy almond crème fraîche. To ensure that your latkes are crisp, be sure to squeeze out as much water as possible from the shredded potatoes before you add them to the other ingredients. Note that the almonds are soaked overnight.

Exclusively from Candle 79’s cookbook, Vegan Holiday Cooking from Candle Cafe, the book is a feast for the senses as it carries the home cook through a year’s worth of holiday recipes.

SWEET POTATO LATKES with ALMOND CRÈME FRAÎCHE

serves 8 to 10; makes about 24 pancakes

almond crème fraîche

2 cups sliced almonds
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt

latkes

1 pound russet potatoes, peeled and rinsed
1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 white onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 cup dried bread crumbs
1/4 cup Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread or extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed

To make the crème fraîche, put the almonds in a large bowl and cover with at least 2 inches of water. Let soak overnight. Rinse and drain the almonds.

Transfer the almonds to a food processor. Add the lemon juice, canola oil, water, and salt. Blend until smooth, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour. The crème fraîche will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Using a box grater or a food processor, grate the potatoes and put them in a large bowl. Add the salt and pepper and mix together. With a clean kitchen towel, squeeze the excess liquid from the potatoes and return them to the bowl.

Heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until softened, 5 to 8 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of the chives and the bread crumbs to the potatoes and mix together. With your hands, form the mixture into patties that are about 3 inches wide and ½ inch thick and place on parchment paper.

Heat the buttery spread in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the latkes until lightly browned and crisp, about 4 minutes per side. Add more buttery spread, if needed. Remove latkes from the pan with a spatula and let drain on paper towels. Note: If you prefer to bake the latkes, bake them in a 350°F oven on an oiled baking sheet for 20 minutes, 10 minutes per side.

Serve the latkes with crème fraîche and garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon of chive.

5 Ways To Elongate The Life Of Your Kids Clothes

As the Mother of 3 boys, but also as a nature lover, you can imagine that the amount of waste my kids create may drive me a little nuts. When my 5 year old starts doodling on one piece of paper that ends up being 30 pieces with one tiny ninja drawn on each page.. in come my lectures about the “poor trees!” and “The Lorax” is read for that nights bedtime story.

But does it always work? Nope.

So what can I fix? What I’m charge of.  I can control what I feed them, how I dress them, and what I buy them… for the most part.. or at least til they’re petulant teenagers.

I’ve been lucky enough that each of my kids are about 2 years apart, so once an outfit no longer fits – it automatically goes down the pipeline to the next child. But what about stained tee shirts, pilled sweaters, and holey kneed pants?

For us Mamas who care about the earth and/ or who are on a budget – these tips should help!

Groovy Baby!

When I find myself with an item with stains (which is always) – I first try to stain remove, but if that’s a major fail, I opt for my “tie dye bin” – a stack of stained pieces in my closet that I save for a bi-Monthly tie-dying where all my kiddos old pieces gain new life and coveted status with fun tie dyed colors and styles that totally obliterate even the meanest oil stains.  People sometimes ask me where I bought the cool tie dyed clothes my kids wear.. little do they know the outfits are pieces most people would consider garbage! To get great tie dye tips, hit up Pinterest.  You can even tie-dye using natural materials you have at home like coffee and tea or berries, but the colors aren’t as vibrant as their chemical-based friends. I often even include my kids in this activity, so it’s both craft and function!

Holy Moly!

Pants with holey knees either get cut into shorts (with the remaining leg fabric going into my textile recycling bin) OR I patch up the hole/s with scraps from my textile recycling bin as knee patches! Nothing looks cuter than a little pattern popping out from the knee of a child’s denim pants. This always looks like a stylistic choice, and not a quick fix.

Upcycling is a Mama’s BFF!  

Nary a cloth goes to waste in my crafty coven! Long sleeves with chewed on or stretched out sleeves become rock n roll tee shirts or tank tops, sweatshirts with destroyed elastic wrists become moto vests, old denim jackets get covered in thrifted patches or pins, there is always a way to make something old cool again!

Stretchy Pants For The Win!

There is a way one child can wear the same item for more than a year. Simply buy adjustable clothes – long dresses that can turn into minidresses as they grow, pants with elastic waistbands,  leggings that can scrunched at the ankle til they fit peg legged, or just order a size up – cool baggy hoodies can turn into fun shrunken hoodies as they become less hip-hop and more punk. C’mon, we all had that stage… hopefully they’ll skip over the safety pin in the nose.

I’m gonna wash that waste right outta my hair!

Wash your kids clothes in cold water, and line dry when/ if you can. The less heat that hits your clothing, the longer they will last. You know all those balls of lint that come out of your dryer? That’s fabric and thread (and in my household, maybe cracker crumbs and cat hair too) pilling off your clothes. Try to avoid that wear and tear by cycling outfits so each item doesn’t get over used.. and ruined. The likelihood that they’ll destroy those sweatpants if they were them twice a week instead of thrice goes down exponentially when other pants can come into play! Also, as Alicia taught me in this article; ” Since wastewater can flow to the ocean, it’s important to use a Guppy Bag for your synthetic-fiber based clothing items. Guppy Bag prevents microfiber pollution. It basically acts as a filter; otherwise tiny plastic fibers will make its way to the waterways and harm our precious marine life.”

The is the end.. my lovely friend.. the end..

Pieces that cannot be saved with minimum sewing skills  – like your neighbors ginormously tall child’s pleated polo pants from the 80s – may need to sashay away.  But remember that there’s not a single thing that cannot be sold or donated! Any item in your household can be sent to GiveBack Box, dropped off at a Goodwill-type store, or given to a friend or neighbor with younger/ older kids who need the item you cannot use. (See 20 Ways To Ethically Purge Your Old Stuff)

Chloé Jo Davis is the Director of Digital Content at The Kind Life, a Mom of 3 human little boys, and 4 rescued pets in Connecticut.

Photo by Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash

The 2020 Kind Life Holiday Guide

During such wild times, we cling even more to the sweet, dreamy moments of holiday goodness. A cozy blanket, a person we love to snuggle, and some twinkly lights does a soul good!  My gift guide offers a solid mix of indie woman-made, eco high-end, and affordable cruelty-free fare that’ll inspire your buying choices.  Many of these gifts give back, as you’ll note when you click the image for more information, and many of our gifts are practical items that are bought even when it’s not the holidays!  That being said, you do not need to buy one single thing to show someone  you love them. The holidays should not need to be about gifts and waste, which only creates stress and pressure – they should be about spending beautiful moments together, and creating traditions.  For those of you who can’t bare to not give a gift to someone special, below you will find all sort of awesome, thoughtful, and lovely items to support conscious businesses and give those you love a big smile.

Happy Holiday Gifting!

Love, Alicia

Meaningful Gifting Ideas:

Bake assorted desserts (from my book or any other vegan recipe) and gift them in boxes. Be sure to include the recipes (printed on recycled paper of course), so your friends could recreate their kind treats.
Pay the donation fee to an animal shelter or rescue group for them to adopt an animal of their choice, when they are ready to adopt.
A subscription to an audiobook app or spotify
A package of online or irl yoga classes to her/his favorite studio
A package of life altering health supplements from mykind, for beginners or health pros
Hand make caramels and package them in vintage jars
A Gift Certificate to The RealReal for stunning, eco-friendly gently used high end fashion
A membership to a non profit you think they’d love.

Nonprofits I suggest:

Contribute to ending animal cruelty and a kinder planet  – Animal Equality
Sponsor a rescued farm animal – Farm Sanctuary
Fund solar energy in your community – RE-volv 
Help refugee children receive the resources they deserve – MercyCorps
Educate high school and middle school students on ethical food choices – Ethical Choices Program
80% of the orangutan population has been lost in the past 75 years mainly as a result of mass deforestation. Help orangutans and their habitat – Orangutan Foundation International
Help conserve and protect our oceans wildlife – Sea Shepherd
Give the gift of clean and safe drinking water – Charity: Water






A custom dreamcatcher in their favorite colors, with their favorite crystals would be a beautifully thoughtful gift!












Spokewoven Custom Vegan Dreamcatcher

$100-450 @spokewoven.com

And speaking of good energy.. we could all use a palm full of pretty crystals.












Zodiac Crystal Kit

$25 @SpiritDaughter.com

Inspire the fledgling or pro gardener with these beautiful lemon plants.







Moms Meyer Lemon Tree/ Large Citrus Lemon Tree Bundle, 38″-44″

$105 @seedsoflife.com

Shroom it up on your own kitchen counter! Shrooms on a log! Say that 3 times fast!







Shiitake Mushroom Log Kit

$30 @uncommongoods.com

This delightful countertop compost won’t take up much space at all, and does the job wonderfully.







Bamboo small Composting Bin

$45 @PotteryBarn.com

Each piece is hand carved by a group of fifteen seasoned woodworkers in the Nakawa region, made exclusively in a fair trade environment. In the spirit of sustainability, the cooperative replants trees to replenish this precious resource for future generations.







Adia Planter

$185 @the-citizenry.com

A perfect non-toxic set of pans would be so well-used by your gift recipient! I have these and love them.







Non-toxic pan set

$395 @carawayhome.com

This line of home goods is by vegan activist Dylan Kendall who has made it her life’s work to help homeless kids and keep harmful plastics away from our kids.







Dylan Kendall Home Footed Mugs

$10 each @dylandkendall.com

The holy grail of blenders, if they don’t have one of these yet, they’ll be psyched to add it to their kitchen gadget repertoire!







Vitamix

$299+ @holiday.vitamix.com

These cotton bags are perfect to avoid plastic at the grocery store. Simply stuff these in your reusable shopping bags on the way to the store, and do your part to avoid plastic usage.







Lotus Produce Bags

$24.99 @lotus-sustainables.com

Customize these amazingly useful grocery store shoppers.







Vegan Market Tote

$58 @apolisglobal.com

These minimalist, truly safe home cleaning products have space on my shelf at home. This stuff just really works, while keeping us all safe.







Non-Toxic Cleaning Starter Kit

$69 @branchbasics.com

These reusable ziplock-type bags are the most useful things to have in a kitchen! This would be a perfect stocking stuffer for the foodie in your life.







Reusable silicone bag starter kit

$65.24 @stasherbag.com

Toss these jerky’s in a reusable gift bag with a good bottle of biodynamic tequila, and you’ve got yourself a party!







Urban Cowboy Vegan Jerky

$8 @urbancowboy.com

Pan’s Mushroom Jerky

$7.20 @mushroomjerky.com

Smoky and warming, this bottle is always a welcome holiday gift for anyone who can appreciate a good whisky! This is my personal favorite whiskey - it’s so yummy!







Knob Creek Smoked Maple Whiskey

$34.99 @wine.com

What could be better than a gorgeous chocolate collection? Okay, maybe if they’re all ethically sourced, organic, and vegan.







Hu Kitchen Holiday set

$25 @hukitchen.com

You can never have enough gifted tahini! This one is in my cupboard at all times. It's completely delicious.







Soom Organic Tahini 2 pack

$25 @soomfoods.com

Divine ceremonial matcha set for newbies or experts alike.







52 Palais des Thés Matcha Tea Set

$59 @food52.com

A beautiful and healthy tea set is never regifted!







Mushroom Elixir

$30 @foursigmatic.com

20% of profits from this tea go towards mental health initiatives. Loose tea + eco friendly packaging!







PhilanthroTEA

$14.99 @philanthrotea.com

These elegant steel straws come in rose gold, black, and copper.







Simply Straws Stainless steel reusable straw

$10 @simplystraws.com

Dreamy to have for warming macro winter recipes, and a before-bed ginger team, this darling ginger grater looks lovely on the kitchen counter. I love this and use it all the time!







Ceramic Ginger Grater

$15 @surlatable.com

A perfect apron with great front pockets, a gastronomically easy gift







Linen Apron

$55 @carawayhome.com

A universally beloved gift, these sweet cups keep items hot or cold for hours, and are ergonomically very comfortable to hold. These are the ones Bear and I use every day.







Travel Mug

$34 @mybyta.com

Byta bottle

$31 @mybyta.com

Soma x Everybody and Everyone Ceramic hot mug

$30 @ everybodyeveryone.com

A little health inspo from yours truly!







The Kind Diet

$14.86 @Amazon

This natural eyeshadow palette has the best colors, and it lasts all day long!







The Necessary Eyeshadow Palette

$38 @iliabeauty.com

Welcome to the glowiest, lightest weight luminizer. Wear it alone. Or under (or mixed with) foundation or tinted SPF as a primer. OR over any look for a super glowy finish. Feels like nothing. Looks like everything.







Super Glowy Gel

$25 Saie Beauty @aiehello.com

Why not put together a sweet clean beauty basket together for your favorite hard working woman? I love this hair mask for deep conditioning, and I use it all the time.







Hemp Hydrating Hair Mask

$10 @giovannicosmetics.com

The best oil that you can use for anything – face, hair, body, baby – you name it! It’s an all-in-one that looks lovely on a bathroom countertop. This is my favorite product to use on my face.







The Everything Oil

$128 @carterandjane.com

These puffs are so luxurious and soft to use at night to take off make up, they’d be a sweet addition to a self-care holiday box! Plus, there's no waste since they're not disposable, and yes - they feel great. I use these to take off my make up on the days I work.







Eco Enchantress Makeup Remover Puffs

$11 @ediblebeautyaustralia.com

Smells gorgeous, works wonderfully, this cleanser would be a lovely gift for someone who deserves a little luxury in their beauty routine!







Melon Foaming Cleanser

$28 @ TheBodyDeli.com

Perhaps add this yum scrub to that same package! I love this scrub and use it all the time.







Blueberry Fusion Face Scrub

$36 @thebodydeli.com

What’s a stocking without a few pairs of great socks stuffed at the bottom? These are my favorite shorty socks.







Active Sports Socks

$10.95 @boodywear.com

This faux croc is so Jackie O chic, and adds a nice pop of color! This bag surprisingly goes with so many outfits.







Mini (faux!) croc, bright blue, AI Vegan Bags

$150 @aitorontoseoul.ca

This on-the-go lunchbag not only looks chic, it’s tremendously useful and inspires healthy eating choices.







Washable paper Lunch Tote

$42 @us.soyoung.ca

Made from nylon recycled from fishing nets, this easy, eco-chic backpack works for any gender or age! This is my current backpack.







Orlando Backpack

$143 @miomojo.com

Perfect for a sexy holiday night, this skirt is made from vegan silk and tencel.







Diana Skirt in Black

$130 @whimsyandrow.com

Consider this lovely organic jumpsuit as great gift to your favorite fashionista...or yourself!







Anisa striped Jumpsuit

$141 @peopletree.co.uk

Giving us cute vintage vibes, this chubby lil’ cube of tofu never did cause a pandemic!







Tofu never caused a pandemic tee

$27.99 @shop.peta.org

Made using NO waste or water, this turtleneck is cozy and a perfectly easy gift that anyone would love.







Water-less Mock Neck Sweater In 100% Organic Cotton

$128 @outerknown.com

A perfect thermal – basics are always so appreciated. This one is a mainstay in my wardrobe.







Organic Thermal Boxy Crop Tee

$98 @MatetheLabel.com

These "melty" jewels are handmade, zero waste jewelry, by a woman owned company - made in NYC, from 100% recycled metals!







Two Tone Melty Earrings

$240 @Balentria.com

Melty Ring

$145 @Balentria.com

A funky retro pair of eco-friendly sunnies are always appreciated.







YSSA II – Rosita

$189 @apercueyewear.com

A super sweet line of Mama-handmade charms to add and collect to make the ultimate jangly gold necklace.







Sun Charm, Elisa Solomon Jewelry

$376 @elisasolomon.com

Help support their body’s natural resistance to the stress-related effects of electropollution (EMR) exposure, as well as reinforce their body’s resilience to energetic disruptors with these easy-to-use little guards.







Gia Cell Guard EMR reduction for cell phones

$98, @giawellness.com

The OG natural deodorant, and Alicia’s favorite, this would be a great addition to a made-at-home eco beauty gift bag!







Crystal Deodorant

$11, @thecrystal.com

Eco-friendly toothbrushes are a cute addition to your family stockings, or they are just great to have in the house if/ when you have guests. This toothbrush is fancy, and looks lovely on counter. These are the brushes i use.







Biodegradable Toothbrushes

$10, @BogoBrush.com

These babies look great, and are made from corn, cork, natural rubber, organic cotton, recycled rubber, and recycled plastic. How cool is that?!







Yebo Vegan Sneaker

$149 @soludos.com

There’s nothing better than a soft waffle robe after a hot bath.







Unisex Organic Waffle Robe

$78 @coyuchi.com

Is there any better gift than the gift of enlightenment?







Cowspiracy DVD

$19.95 @cowspiracy.com

I just bought these for Bear. They're super soft, organic cotton, and he loves them!







Kids Organic Pajama Set

$37 @NewJammies.com

What better way to promote forever imaginative play than in their very own tent made from all sustainable fabrics and materials! This tent would be darling in a bedroom, playroom or outdoors.







Organic Cotton Tent in Natural

$99 @sproutsanfrancisco.com

My Mykind vitamin C spray supports their immune systems, and promotes tissue and skin health - all while tasting like the yummiest sour candy ever! Everyone should have this spray on their desks or in their car so they don't forget a few spritzes a day!



MyKind Organics Vitamin C Spray, Cherry-Tangerine

$9.79 @vitacost.com

This charming picture book introduces children to every beast, from sweet and furry to grizzly and hairy! What's great about this book is that children can really grow with it - start with just all the whimsical illustrations when they're very little, and move up to the descriptions and characteristics of each animal as they get older.



The Big Book of Beasts

$17 @amazon or your local bookseller

Flatter Me is a sweet compliment battle game, designed as a game for two players, or to be given away individually as tokens of care and friendship. You Think You Know Me is a conversational card game for 2-10 players that playfully tests how well you know your friends, family, partners, or coworkers — a set of 500 cards helping you learn more about what they love and who they are. These card games are from Portland, Oregon-based, vegan game designer Ami Baio.



Flatter Me: A Compliment Battle Card Game

$19.99 (made by a vegan-woman owned business!) @pinktigergames.com

You Think You Know Me Game

$30 @UnCommonGoods.com

This is Bear’s favorite water bottle, and you can see why! The design reminds us that Australia’s magnificent green turtle plays an important role in maintaining the growth of lush seagrass within Green Island’s delicate ecosystem.







BBC Turtle Water Bottle, S’well

$35 @swell.com

These are the comfiest, conscious kids joggers. We love them for kiddo holiday extras (like – not the main gift, cuz they’d be way disappointed, but for maybe one of the 8 Chanukah gifts!) Bear lives in these.







Going Places Kids Jogger

$23 @wearpact.com

A great, eco-friendly toy that really grows with your kiddo – you can build it any configuration and it never loses it’s appeal.







Hape Quadrilla Wooden Marble Run Construction

$104 @amazon.com

Kitty’s deserve a bit of modern design too. You can buy as many of these wooden honeycomb shelves as you like to create a design or keep it simple.







MYZOO Busycat (Pine): Wall Mounted Cat Furniture

$110 @amazon.com

Dog DNA tests are the best, most unforgettable and thoughtful gift (as are human ones) but now they really delve into the health of your dog in addition to their exact ancestry!







Embark Dog DNA Test

$129-$199 @embarkvet.com

What a kind gift to a homeless mutt.







Sponsor a dog house for a poor or homeless dog in honor of a friend or family member.

$265 @peta.org

Your adoption of a farm animal from Farm Sanctuary comes with a free digital certificate (and an optional printed certificate) featuring your new adopted animal friend. Your donation also includes Farm Sanctuary membership, a subscription to Sanctuary magazine, and access to periodic updates about your adoptee. Any little would be so excited to learn about the animal whose life they saved!







Adopt an Animal Program

$15-100 @FarmSanctuary.org

Adorable pet portraits by vegan Ruby Roth!







Custom Pet Portraits by Ruby Roth

$130 @ shop.drawordie.com

This leash is made from eco friendly recycled materials. All Mountain Dog Leashes come with an unconditional lifetime warranty that even covers chewing!







Recycled Climbing Rope Dog Leash

$37.50 @mountaindogproducts.com

All products featured on TKL are independently selected by Alicia. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

guift guide redo

During such wild times, we cling even more to the sweet, dreamy moments of holiday goodness. A cozy blanket, a person we love to snuggle, and some twinkly lights does a soul good!  Our gift guide offers a solid mix of indie woman-made, eco high-end, and affordable cruelty-free fare that’ll inspire your buying choices.  Many of these gifts give back, as you’ll note when you click the image for more information, and many of our gifts are practical items that are bought even when it’s not the holidays!  That being said, you do not need to buy one single thing to show someone  you love them.   The holidays should not need to be about gifts and waste, which only creates stress and pressure – they should be about spending beautiful moments together, and creating traditions.  For those of us who can’t bare to not give a gift to someone special in our lives, below you will find all sort of awesome, thoughtful, and lovely items to support conscious businesses and give those you love a big smile.

Happy Holiday Gifting!

Meaningful Gifting Ideas, Beyond The Typical Presents:

Bake assorted desserts from my book and gifted them in boxes decorated with pieces of ribbon or wrapping paper I’d been given in the past. I also included the recipes (printed on recycled paper of course), so my friends could recreate their kind treats.
Pay the donation fee to an animal shelter or rescue group for them to adopt an animal of their choice, when they are ready to adopt.
A subscription to an audiobook app or spotify
A package of online or irl yoga classes to her/his favorite studio
A package of life altering health supplements from mykind, for beginners or health pros
Hand make caramels and package them in vintage jars
A Gift Certificate to The RealReal for stunning, eco-friendly gently used high end fashion
A membership to a non profit you think they’d love.

I suggest:

– Contribute to ending animal cruelty and a kinder planet  –  Animal Equality
– Sponsor a rescued farm animal –  Farm Sanctuary
– Fund solar energy in your community –  RE-volv 
– Help refugee children receive the resources they deserve –  MercyCorps
– Educate high school and middle school students on ethical food choices –  Ethical Choices Program
– 80% of the orangutan population has been lost in the past 75 years mainly as a result of mass deforestation. Help orangutans and their habitat –  Orangutan Foundation International
– Help conserve and protect our oceans wildlife –  Sea Shepherd
– Give the gift of clean and safe drinking water –  Charity: Water

All products featured on TKL are independently selected by Alicia and our Kind Life Team. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.








Mamazons and Papa Smurfs, Ladies and Germs

A custom dreamcatcher in their favorite colors, with their favorite crystals would be a beautifully thoughtful gift!

Spokewoven Custom Vegan Dreamcatcher

$100-450 @spokewoven.com

And speaking of good energy.. we could all use a palm full of pretty crystals.












Zodiac Crystal Kit

$25 @SpiritDaughter.com

Inspire the fledgling or pro gardener with these beautiful lemon plants.







Moms Meyer Lemon Tree/ Large Citrus Lemon Tree Bundle, 38″-44″

$105 @seedsoflife.com

Shroom it up on your own kitchen counter! Shrooms on a log! Say that 3 times fast!







Shiitake Mushroom Log Kit

$30 @uncommongoods.com

This precious countertop compost won’t take up much space at all, and does the job wonderfully.







Bamboo small Composting Bin

$45 @PotteryBarn.com

Each piece is hand carved by a group of fifteen seasoned woodworkers in the Nakawa region, made exclusively in a fair trade environment. In the spirit of sustainability, the cooperative replants trees to replenish this precious resource for future generations.







Adia Planter

$185 @the-citizenry.com

A perfect non-toxic set of pans would be so well-used by your gift recipient!







Non-toxic pan set

$395 @carawayhome.com

We love this line of home goods by vegan activist Dylan Kendall who has made it her life’s work to help homeless kids and keep harmful plastics away from our kids.







Dylan Kendall Home Footed Mugs

$10 each @dylandkendall.com

The holy grail of blenders, if they don’t have one of these yet, they’ll be psyched to add it to their kitchen gadget repertoire!







Vitamix

$299+ @holiday.vitamix.com

These cotton bags are perfect to avoid plastic at the grocery store. Simply stuff these in your reusable shopping bags on the way to the store, and do your part to avoid plastic usage.







Lotus Produce Bags

$24.99 @lotus-sustainables.com

Customize these amazingly useful grocery store shoppers.







Vegan Market Tote

$58 @apolisglobal.com

Customize these amazingly useful grocery store shoppers.







Non-Toxic Cleaning Starter Kit

$69 @branchbasics.com

These reusable ziplock-type bags are the most useful things to have in a kitchen! This would be a perfect stocking stuffer for the foodie in your life.







Reusable silicone bag starter kit

$65.24 @stasherbag.com

Toss these jerky’s in a reusable gift bag with a good bottle of biodynamic tequila, and you’ve got yourself a party!







Urban Cowboy Vegan Jerky

$8 @urbancowboy.com

Pan’s Mushroom Jerky

$7.20 @mushroomjerky.com

Smoky and warming, this bottle is always a welcome holiday gift for anyone who can appreciate a good whisky!







Knob Creek Smoked Maple Whiskey

$34.99 @wine.com

What could be better than a gorgeous chocolate collection? Okay, maybe if they’re all ethically sourced, organic, vegan, and actually pretty good for you!







Hu Kitchen Holiday set

$25 @hukitchen.com

Throw this perfect seasoning in a big basket with fresh organic veggies and a beautiful olive oil, and that is a perfect holiday hostess gift!







Furikake Seasoning

$7.99 @hop.goldminenaturalfoods.com

You can never have enough gifted tahini!







Soom Organic Tahini 2 pack

$25 @soomfoods.com

Divine ceremonial matcha set for newbies or experts alike.







52 Palais des Thés Matcha Tea Set

$59 @food52.com

A beautiful and healthy tea set is never regifted!







Mushroom Elixir

$30 @foursigmatic.com

20% of profits from this tea go towards mental health initiatives. Loose tea + eco friendly packaging!







PhilanthroTEA

$14.99 @philanthrotea.com

These elegant steel straws come in rose gold, black, and copper.







Simply Straws Stainless steel reusable straw

$10 @simplystraws.com

Dreamy to have for warming macro winter recipes, and a before-bed ginger team, this darling ginger grater looks lovely on the kitchen counter.







Ceramic Ginger Grater

$15 @surlatable.com

A perfect apron with great front pockets, a gastronomically easy gift







Linen Apron

$55 @carawayhome.com

A universally beloved gift, these sweet cups keep items hot or cold for hours, and are ergonomically very comfortable to hold.







Travel Mug

$34 @mybyta.com

Byta bottle

$31 @mybyta.com

Soma x Everybody and Everyone Ceramic hot mug

$30 @ everybodyeveryone.com

A little health inspo from yours truly!







The Kind Diet

$14.86 @Amazon

This natural eyeshadow palette has the best colors, and it lasts all day long!







The necessary eyeshadow palette

$38 @iliabeauty.com

It’s Easy to Raise Kids on Plant-Based Foods. I’ve Done It.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty and challenges for parents, and in many respects what to feed our children may be the least of our concerns at the present time. But supporting our children in their enthusiasm for eating nourishing, immune-boosting, plant-based foods is always a smart investment in their health and their future, and it’s simply a good thing to do. In fact, it’s more important now than ever!

One thing that every parent quickly learns is that the spread of germs and illness is rife wherever children come together — from daycare and pre-school through the college years. We need to do our best to ensure that their immune systems are as healthy as they can be. Eating a well-rounded plant-based diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been shown to promote immunity, and the vitamins and minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants in plants are essential for our health — starting at a very young age.

Not long ago, Karla Dumas, a licensed dietician and a colleague of mine at the Humane Society of the United States, made me aware of the fact that most Americans are not getting enough potassium, fiber and vitamin E, all found abundantly in plant-based foods. This really suggests that the conventional American diet based on high percentages of meat and animal products puts our children on precisely the wrong path to proper nutrition and lifelong health.

We also should consider the unsustainable, inhumane and risky nature of intensive animal agriculture. This is not the easiest subject, and while many parents know how to talk about tough issues with their children, there are also many great organizations working in humane education that can help with some tips on age-appropriate strategies. In general, and through my own experience as a mother, I am confident that kids today are interested in their own health and the health of our planet, and that they are able to engage in these kinds of conversations.

A recent survey conducted by OnePoll suggests that over half of Americans are currently trying to incorporate more plant-based meals into their daily lives. In addition to the familiar fruits, veggies, beans and nuts, however, there are also a lot of protein-packed, plant-based meat alternatives on the market. These products, which can be found at virtually every grocery store, have the taste and texture of animal-based meat but without the downside implications of the traditional meat-based diet. Sales of these plant-based proteins have been skyrocketing, too! A Nielsen report found that during the first several months of the COVID-19 pandemic, plant-based meat sales rose by 264%.

Plant-based meats are perfect for lunch or dinner on busy days and nights because they’re so easy to prepare. And high school and college students — like my daughter — can easily whip these products up for their own meals without much help from their parents.

At the HSUS, we do our best to make family cooking at home easy by offering nutritious, kid-friendly recipes available for free at humanesociety.org/recipes. The HSUS is also working hard to ensure that kids have more access to appetizing plant-based meals in their school cafeterias. In support of that goal, we provide plant-based culinary trainings to major food service companies and other parties involved in the planning and preparation of school cafeteria menus.

My daughter is away at her first year of college now, and so I no longer have the same degree of involvement in what she is eating as I did only a few months ago. But I still feel responsible for her well-being and always will. I empathize with other families trying to make the healthiest and environmentally friendly choices that they can, and I’m encouraged by the evidence that more Americans are doing so.

Kitty Block is the president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States

Photo by Elisabeth Wales on Unsplash

Nourish Your Garden (and the Planet) with Shower Water Run Off, AKA Greywater

Southern California survives on imported water. For a long time, waste of this precious resource was a way of life here, the green lawn a symbol of the American Dream. But the rivers that once seemed bottomless are drying up under the strain of climate change. Adjusting our attitudes towards water isn’t just important, it’s a matter of life and death.

Greywater Corps has been installing greywater systems in and around Los Angeles since 2009. Back then, it was illegal. Now, many cities promote them, and some are even footing the bill for residents to get their own.

So, what is Greywater?

Greywater is used water from showers, bathtubs, laundry machines and sinks. It has long been considered waste, but the truth is it’s great for irrigation, no treatment required.

Alicia had been dreaming about it for over a decade when she approached us to install a greywater system at her house. She warned us it would be a tricky site to build on, and that this had held her back in the past. She was right, but we were up for the challenge. Ever since then, every time someone takes a bath or shower in her house, the used water goes out to the garden to irrigate and fertilize her fruit trees.

If everyone in the city of LA put all their greywater back into the land instead of into the ocean, it would be the equivalent of 5″ of rain falling on the city!  This would just about make up for some of the drought years we had recently, where we got around 6″ instead of the normal 12″.

This map shows most of the systems we’ve built to date. Our goal is to cover the entire city.

Our greywater systems are biodynamic systems that use natural processes to make a valuable resource of something that was once considered waste. They can be broken up into 3 categories based on how they move greywater: those that use gravity (branched drain), those that use a washing machine’s internal pump (laundry-to-landscape), and those that use a dedicated pump (pumped system).

Alicia has a pumped system that looks something like this.

Greywater systems have many benefits. First and foremost, they save water. You can reuse up to 80% of indoor water for irrigation. With a bit of thoughtful landscaping, greywater can easily cover 100% of your irrigation needs.

And what are the benefits of saving water with a greywater system?

Here is a by no means comprehensive list:

It will lower your water bill.

It will provide free food if you irrigate fruit trees, and cooler temps if you irrigate shade trees.

Cooler temps mean less AC. Less AC means lower power bills and less carbon emissions.

Carbon emissions are also impacted by reducing the need for water imports from NorCal and the Colorado River (Moving and treating water accounts for 19% of electrical power used in CA).

Reducing those water imports is a lifeline to thousands of ecosystems such as California’s legendary salmon runs.

Greywater contains organic nutrients that will naturally fertilize your plants.

A greywater system turns waste into a valuable asset, completing a holistic cycle that feeds from and into our daily lives, benefiting us directly, as well as the environment around us and at large. As the world continues to heat up due to climate change, greywater will help us build resilience, nourishing our families and the plants we depend on for generations to come.

Josep Ferrer is Communications Manager for Greywater Corps. He has been working with them to spread awareness of greywater and rainwater systems since 2016. When he’s not posting on their Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook accounts, you can probably find him in the bay or in the mountains enjoying water in one of its various forms.

Photo by Park Street on Unsplash

Thanksgiving Foragers Pie: Wild Mushrooms, Herb Gravy, and Sweet Potato Mash In A Flaky Spelt Crust

Thanksgiving Foragers Pie: Wild Mushrooms, Herb Gravy, and Sweet Potato Mash In A Flaky Spelt Crust

Spelt Crust

1.5 cups Spelt Flour

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

3 teaspoon baking powder

2 Tablespoon olive oil

1/3 cup Filtered boiling water

METHOD: Place the flour, sea salt and baking powder into a large bowl and mix. Use your fingers to rub the oil into the flour, until the mixture resembles something like fine bread crumbs.

Roll out Dough until ¼” thick Line pie pan with dough. Trim off excess dough.

Mushroom Filling

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 medium carrots, peeled and chopped

1 garlic cloves

1 1/4 cups vegetable stock

1/2 cup red wine

2 tablespoons flour

8 springs of thyme

1/8 teaspoon chili flakes

16 ounces mixed mushrooms, sliced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

METHOD: Heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion, and carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the carrots are starting to soften, Stir in the garlic, and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the flour and cook for one minute. Add the broth, red wine, thyme sprigs, and chili flakes and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, Add the mushrooms and let simmer gently until softened. Remove the sprigs of thyme, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Sweet Potato Mash

2 Pounds sweet potatoes peeled and chopped

2 tbsp olive oil

Sea salt, to taste

METHOD: Put the sweet potato into a medium pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil over high heat. As soon as it starts boiling, reduce heat to medium and simmer minutes. The potatoes are done when they can be easily pierced with a fork. Drain the water, and put potatoes back into the dry pot (no heat). Add olive oil and salt. Mash the potatoes with a masher, and stir everything together thoroughly Cover pot with a lid and set aside.

Mushroom Gravy

1/2 large onion, chopped

8 ounces white button mushrooms, sliced

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons spelt flour

1 cup red wine

2 cups vegetable broth

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

METHOD: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, saute onions and mushrooms in oil until tender and mushrooms release their moisture, about 5 minutes. Add flour and stir to evenly coat. Slowly whisk in wine and then the broth. Simmer until thickened and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Scoop the mushroom mixture into the pie dish with crust so that it covers the whole bottom. Layer and spread the sweet potatoes evenly on top of the mushrooms, Bake at 375 degrees F for 35 minutes, remove from oven, and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Mashed Potatoes with Black Truffle, Cider Braised Brussels Sprouts and Pumpkin pie are just a few of the dishes that sound delicious from Matthew Kenney’s Plant food and wine Thanksgiving Feast in Venice, Ca.  Instead – Plant food and wine’s Chef Scott Winegard shared his recipe for Forager’s pie – full of mushrooms, sweet potato, and flaky crust!

10 Fascinating Facts About Turkeys

Perhaps you’ve seen the new video I’ve released for Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt-A-Turkey campaign.  I’d love for you to read this list inspired by intel from Farm Sanctuary, who spend all their time caring for and advocating for these unique creatures.

Like cats and dogs, turkeys are intelligent and sensitive animals who form strong social bonds and show great affection to others. Petting a turkey can be one of the most life-changing moments for a carnivore. Try it sometime.

Did you know that turkeys communicate their emotions by way of color changes in the skin on their necks, faces and snoods (the flap of skin that hangs over the turkey’s beak)? And that a turkey’s snood turns bright red when he is upset or during courtship? Touching it can be rather shocking – it’s super soft and bumpy! Sensory fascination!
Turkeys recognize each other by their unique voices.
On factory farms, turkeys frequently have the ends of their beaks and toes cut off without anesthesia — practices known as debeaking and detoeing — to prevent them from injuring one another as they are crowded by the thousands into dark, filthy warehouses. No creature – big or small – should know that sort of pain.
Between 1965 and today, the weight of the average turkey raised commercially in the U.S. increased by 57 percent, from an average of 18 pounds to an average of 28.2 pounds, causing commercially-bred turkeys to suffer from crippling foot and leg problems.
Completely unlike their wild ancestors not only in terms of physique but also in hue, most commercial turkeys are totally white — the natural bronze color selectively bred out of them to eliminate uneven pigment colorations — because of consumer preference for even flesh tones. I mean.. ew. Think about that for a second. Eugenic city!
Also catering to consumer preferences for “white meat,” the industry has selectively bred turkeys to have abnormally large breasts. This anatomical manipulation makes it difficult for male turkeys to mount the females, eliminating these birds’ ability to reproduce naturally. As a result, artificial insemination is now the sole means of reproduction on factory farms, where breeder birds are confined for months on end. So – it’s IVF only in the turkey world – yet another thing to point out to folks who say that eating meat is soooo natural.
Turkeys, along with other poultry, are not protected by the federal Humane Slaughter Act, and are frequently killed without first being stunned.
Every year, more than 46 million turkeys are killed for Thanksgiving holiday dinners, but it doesn’t have to be this way. If you think these birds are as incredible as we do, you can start a new tradition this year by adopting a turkey instead of eating. Visit  adoptaturkey.org  for details or call the Turkey Adoption Hotline at 1-888-SPONSOR

Photo by Suzy Brooks on Unsplash