Cinnamon Snail.

Cinnamon Snail was a food struck staple in NYC and New Jersey for years, and I don't get tot hem as much since they have moved to Pennsy (a food court above Penn Station). However, they are churning out the same decadent offerings.

For those who aren't familiar with the brand, the term "Cinnamon Snail" refers to their signature cinnamon bun (the snail is the spiral). However, they reached their peak of fame with their bourbon creme brule doughnut, which won "best doughnut" at the Vendy awards one year. Not best vegan doughnut, mind you, juust best doughnut. As someone who has inhaled this particular pastry many times, it was well deserved. I can find no fault. It is sweetness perfected.

Their sandwiches are their bread and butter, of course their menu skews toward the spicy, with international flavors fused into most offerings. They always have one or two mild offerings, though, which are usually my picks. This week I passed up my favorite thanksgiving sandoo (not easily) for the maple mustard tempeh. To make it a themed meal, I topped it off with a maple bacon doughnut.

It was balanced and tasty, not too sweet or too salty. The garlic aioli did leave a greasy feel in my mouth, which has been the case from the first sandwich I ever sampled at their trucks. It was messy as all getout, and I ended up with a big ole mess on a Pennsy table. Which I cleaned up, of course. There was a bit of confusion when I ordered - if you order a drink be sure to grab it yourself, as they don't always tell you to do so.

The doughnut was no boubon creme brulee (they were out), but it was well made and delicious. I should mention that my food outing started at Grand Central Station. I originally descended to their foo court, where my usual routine was to grab a V is for Vegan slice at Two Boots. Turns out that they no longer have a location there, so I opted to walk across town and down from 42-34th to Penn. There were other nearby options (such as Two Tablespoons) but the area isn't really full of them. That would be a bit of a hike for a non-urbanite, especially in this weather (I wouldn't have chanced it without my new Hoodlamb coat).

My verdict? More than worth the hike.

Blossom To Go

Blossom To Go doesn't offer much in the way of seating - most of its locations are strictly takeout. But it's 9th Ave location offers some much needed vegan options to midtown and the theatre district, and it has some phenomenal vegan junk food style options and well as some healthy food choices. I've been less than impressed with their wraps. A lot (all?) of them are pre-made; you just grab them out of the fridge and eat them cold. I've never been a wrap person for this reason; I tend to like my sandwiches hot, and for some reasons find wraps to be rather vinegary to boot. owever, their hot sandwhiches are deligious. Last night I feasted yet again on their philly cheese steak option. The ingredients are well balanced, it is not too greasy, and it is relatively non-messy considering. It is probably not low-calorie, but it is absolutely delicious.

I also had the chocolate chip cookie, which was great at home with a glass of Silk unsweetened soy milk. I've been burned by gluten free vegan baked goods in the past, so I tend to steer clear of them. All hail gluten! Erm, unless you're celiac, that is.

e.l.f. eyebrow kit.

About 7 years ago, I decided to buy less and focus on the cosmetics I already owned. I did a little too well. Now a lot of my makeup is about 5-7 years old, and I'm tossing a lot of it. So, my fancy Anastasia eyebrow kit is on its way out. A few days ago I puchased e..f.'s $3 eyebrow kit in medium. I found that the brunete kit I had used was starting to look way too dark on my fair skin and next to my red/auburn hair (even though my brows are very dark). The kit comes with powder on one side, and gel on the other. oth apply very easily. I was nervous about the gel, because I've had some bad experiences with waxes in the past, but it looked very natural, and helped to set the powder quite nicely. Honestly, I can't see a reason to spend more when this gets the job done so well. Unless you want to feel fancy. I know there are some one-step gel products out there that might be faster than this, but if you have about three minutes to spare, this is absolutely worth it. I'm including some photos: keep in mind I'm on a tweezing hatus while I change my brow shape.

Hoodlamb

After purchasing my first coat from Hoodlamb, I was hooked. I'll be adding reviews, and hopefully video reviews, of other apparel I have purchased from them as soon as possible. Let me know if there is something specific you want reviewed. Hoodlamb is a vegan clothing company located in the Netherlands. They have a US online store that ships from a warehouse in California. Although they have an alternative address, I have returned things to them, and the warehouse is in Compton. Bill Clinton bragged about starting his office in Harlem, so I'm not sure why they're shying away from sharing that information. I'm a lifelong New Yorker, and I dress like it. I'm the one showing up in a little black dress when everyone else in in jeans, and this has always been reflected in my outerwear. I have a small collection of faux-fur and felt formal coats, but always find myself chilly and spending as little time as possible outdoors. Well, I'm getting way too old and smart for that. I decided that it was finally time to buy myself a solidly warm winter coat, the kind that people wear in Alaska and Antarctica. My first stop was the traditional outerwear companies, many of which now stock down alternatives like Primaloft. However, when I stumbled upon a review for Hoodlamb, I was hooked. They make the coats for the Sea Shephard activists, who have to stay warm on boats in the frigid Antarctic waters. Their coats are very heavy - hey are made of hemp and recycled materials, not primaloft. If you are looking for something light and fluffy, this isn't it. But there are good reasons to opt for Hoodlamb if this is not an issue for you. First of all, they are ridiculously comfortable. They are lined with faux fur, and this is not cheap acrylic stuff. If is isanely soft. I've beeen known to snuggle up with it even when warm at home. Secondly, they have a lot of pockets: a sunglass pocket lined with the right cloth, hidden pockets inside, extra ones on the breast, and satifur lined hand-warmer pockets. Third of all, they have thumbholes, which means drafts don't go up the sleeeves, and your wrists stay toasty. Lastly, they're just damn warm. Which model to get? Well, that's compliated. I'll review that very soon. Keep in mind they're European, so there is no American ego sizing. I can fit into a size 10 and even a Medium in some American brands, but I am firmly an XL in most (not all) Hoodlamb products. Their size charts are key, but do keep in mind they are measured on the *outside* of the garment, so if it is thick, you need to add some inches.

�WOMEN FAUX LEATHER GLOVES � - UNIQLO

�WOMEN FAUX LEATHER GLOVES � - UNIQLO

It can be hard to find warm vegan gloves that aren't bulky, so I was pretty excited to see these.

Technorati Tag: childfree

�WOMEN FAUX LEATHER GLOVES � - UNIQLO

�WOMEN FAUX LEATHER GLOVES � - UNIQLO

It can be hard to find warm vegan gloves that aren't bulky, so I was pretty excited to see these.

Technorati Tag: childfree

Vegan Cuts

I have to admit, I was a little bit addicted to beauty boxes when the idea first came out. I had finally conquered my beauty addiction a year ago, and started focusing on using the products I already have instead of just what's next and new. I found that I was able to get a lot of good use out of the things I owned, and enjoyment, too. I started piling up empties like never before. By the 18 way mark, I had my collection fairly edited and organized. Then the beauty box idea came out. I think I love the surprise of it, and the little box in the mail fulfilled my inner shopaholic that looks forward all day to checking my mailbox. But I knew that I didn't need a whole lot in the way of beauty products, so I subscribed for one month each to a few. You end up with things you don't need, of course, but I figure as long as one of the items is worth $10-$15 to me, the rest of it is almost an extra. So when Vegan Cuts came out, I was ready to commit. I bought myself a 12 month subscription, a lot of commitment for a service I never tried. I've gotten two months so far. The stand out pick of the May box was Ocidate. You e-mailed them your address after getting the box, and they send you personalized products. At first I was a little leery of the "fresh for you, all natural" approach. I think a lot of people who have adopted that mindset unnecessarily shun anything they think of as 'unnatural' or 'chemical' even when that ingredient is effective, safe, and eco-friendly. They warned me off of hydroquinone as if I were drinking uranium. Yes, I know the ingredient may be hazardous. The tests have been anything but conclusive, and different countries have different laws on the matter. If your philosophy is 'avoid it to be safe' I can see that, but to act like the science is clear is a bit misleading. Anyway, that's a rant for another time. The fact is, these products are awesome. The cleanser and exfoliator work just great, although I am usually easily pleased in this category since I like my products simple. The day moisturizer doesn't have spf so I have no idea what makes it different from night moisturizer. But it is incredible. I am just now really dabbling in the world of moisturizers. I have very oily skin, so I just used whatever was in my tinted lotions and free products I got on earth day or pride or whatever. But now I see the difference. I wake up and my skin is dewy. The parts normally dried out by Retin-A are soft and no longer flaking. It often feels like I still have the stuff on my skin. Maybe I do. But it can do all this and not make me break out, so wonderful. It even has a moisture mask I can use when I've been bad and let myself flake. The toner is fine, too, though I have yet to really know what I want in a toner, ingredient-wise. So far, so good. :)

Paul Rudnick: “WonderPlanet”

The New Yorker

A parody of Park Slope mommyhood.  As is usual with the New Yorker, some of it goes over my head.  It's . .  amusing nonetheless. 

Petit Vour New cruelty-free beauty subcription service

I've already signed up for Ipsy and Beauty Box 5, but those are in the past. Now there's an all-vegan service that is launching soon. They just got the 100 e-mail subscribers needed to launch the service, so they're now arranging the first few months products with their brand partners. For those of you unfamiliar with these services, you spend $10-$25 per month to get a box with a handful of deluxe samples. Usually (hopefully) this isn't the little foil packets you get when shopping online or at the mall, but rather a smaller sized version of the full product. If you're anything like me, it's enough. I almost never actually use a whole product. If I do, it means I've discovered something great. I also love when the makeup is sample sized, so I can include it in my on the go and travel kits. Yes, I do my makeup on the subway (hides head in shame). A lot of them also have one full sized product each month - I have definitely gotten full sized body scrubs, eye pencils, lip pencils, hairbrush/mirror compacts and vegan makeup brush from EcoTools from these companies. I'm in a stage of trying to buy much, much less (hence the shift in focus from shoes on this blog, and relative quiet) but this is a great way to still get that little excitement of a package in the mail and new things without spending a fortune on full-sized products. I have certainly gotten my money's worth in the past. I think consumers benefit from the cross-promotional pricing. Well, now you can participate without the worry that a non-vegan product will sneak in! I'll be blogging here as I get my packages. Find them at www.petitvour.com and www.facebook.com/PetitVour.

The Top 10 LA and NYC Spots for Vegan Food, Unveiled

The Top 10 LA and NYC Spots for Vegan Food, Unveiled

Best Vegan Foods: Products, Companies, and Brands - Shape Magazine

Best Vegan Foods: Products, Companies, and Brands - Shape Magazine

Puma Chairman Zeitz Sees End of Leather Use in Shoes, FT Reports - Bloomberg

Puma Chairman Zeitz Sees End of Leather Use in Shoes, FT Reports - Bloomberg: Europe’s second-largest sporting-goods maker, will one day stop using leather in its sports shoes and soccer boots because of the damage it causes to the environment, the Financial Times reported, citing Jochen Zeitz, the company’s supervisory board chairman.

“I think eventually we’ll have to look at alternative materials, there’s no question about it,” Zeitz, 49, said in an interview at the Rio 20 summit, according to the London-based newspaper

Technorati Tag: childfree

Foul Bachelor Vegan

Somehow, over the course of our marriage, my husband became the primary cook. In the beginning, I cooked. I was better at it, and I enjoyed it more, mostly because he had never really done it. It was one of those "we're conforming to gender roles but just because the wife happens to cook" things, but probably resulted from him growing up in a traditional Italian household where teaching the son to cook didn't even occur to them.

Anyway, when I was in law school, I had zero time, so he took over. Gradually, with practice, he became damn good. Also, it allowed him to cover everything in hot peppers, which he loves. So when he became the insanely busy student, the planned switch back never happened. I became addicted to his pasta with rosemary from the cooking water still sticking to the noodles (with jarred sauce and Daiya shreds). I crave his boxed cous-cous with tofu crumble. Even when I come up with the concept for our simple dinners, he is usually the one to execute, partly because I have a bad back, and partly because that lets him cover his half in peppers.

So when he spent four days staying on his out-of-state campus for a research project, my laziness lead me to new depths. I think I had cereal for the first four meals. Then I cleaned the freezer out of frozen dinners.

 Nothing left, I realized I would have to spend more than 20 seconds preparing something. Out came the can of vegan re-fried beans. Day one I put them in a tortilla with Daiya pepperjack. Day two was sour cream and salsa. Then he got home, bearing fresh avocados. You can guess what happened next.

 The sight of that mound of bean mush in the tupperware, bearing the shape of the can like Thanksgiving cranberry sauce, was a little sad. It reminded me of the Sims before you taught your Sim to cook, when she would eat the beans from the can then leave the can on the floor like some Alphabet City heroin addict.

But you know what? Tasted good. Has some nutritional value. Not terribly fattening. So all hail the mighty bean burrito, savior of lazy vegans everywhere.

Grilled Cheese

By now many of you have already come across this winning recipe for the "The Aurora Borealis" which took third place in a mainstream grilled cheese contest. I drooled over the picture and description for a bit, and had the urge to recreate the sandwich. And while grilled cheese is usually a simple affair, the need to hunt down rustic sourdough bread and make a "berry reduction sauce" wasn't in the cards.

But when I went to make a simple sandwich today, the memory of the aurora borealis nonetheless inspired my own lazy ass to perk up the process. I had a bunch of Daiya cheese on hand, including the cheddar and mozzarella shreds and the cheddar and jack wedges. Since the wedges and shreds use a different recipe, I ended up including both cheddars as well as the others, because whynot. This would easily have worked with just two, or with cheddar and vegan cream cheese (that's tomorrow's plan).

I melted the cheese by putting the two halves in the microwave before dabbing a little blueberry jam in the center. Of course, I then melted a generous amount of Earth Balance in a small skillet and crisped the bread. Yum. I'm sure it isn't as good as the fancy original, but it certainly upgraded the simple grilled cheese. Jam. Who would have thought?

Blog Rebranding

When I left the world of corporate law (hello recession!) I cut back my shopping, and the blog stagnated. However, I'm still a New Yorker and I still have an aesthetic that is far more corporate than your average vegan offering. In order to keep generating new content in a life that involves far more re-imagining than spending, I'm going to integrate more than just shoes & fashion.

For example, there are countless vegan cooking and recipe blogs, but not too many about NYC's vegan restaurants, assembling quick meals from grocery finds, and hunting down gems in ethnic takeout joints. I'll integrate these with makeup and beauty products and all the other travails of living an urban lifestyle as a vegan. Enjoy.

neuaura shoes - Current Sales

neuaura shoes - Current Sales

Technorati Tag: childfree

Matt & Nat Sale

50% off when purchased at Pure Citizen (Groupon for eco-conscious folks).

Cri De Coeur Sale - 50% off. Sale ends 1/20

I know most of my readers probably already lust after this brand, so I've been stalking Pure Citizen for deals on vegan products like this. The site is touted as Groupon for the eco set, although it appears to announce multi-day sales more than it makes you pre-purchase more limited ones. I'll keep watching for more vegan friendly deals like this one.

Aldo Shoes

I've owned a pair of simple ballet flats from Aldo for a while. There happens to be a store in my neighborhood, and I found them while bored and browsing one day. I wear them a lot - they're simple and comfortable. They don't hold up on the days when I walk 2 miles or more (a lot of them!) but work just fine for when I use the subway or stay nearby.

Since I heard VegWeb and Alicia Silverstone's Kind Life blog mention them, I realized they do carry a larger than average number of vegan shoes, like these. A great option for those who like buying shoes in-person and don't live near Moo Shoes or similar!

Another tip - if your workplace is casual enough for boots, I have found that a lot of mid-end boots are vegan. Maybe the larger size makes leather too costly? Oddly enough, a lot of discount chains use leather - perhaps they think they need the perception of quality? Worth looking into if you haven't taken a peek in the boots aisle in your basic Nine West or DSW lately.

Susan Nichole

Well, I don't have one yet, but they're on my short list since I have heard so many nice things. Anyway, they have a giveaway on their blog, twitter, and Facebook every Thursday night at 9. I like the communal aspect of the live countdown to the give-away. A way for us vegan fashionistas to commune! Worth missing Vegan Drinks for? Maybe not, but this does save me a very long subway ride...