Dressy

I have, in the past year or so, become a lover of dresses.  I'm not exactly sure why I made the shift from a jeans and skirt wearer (not at the same time - I've never gotten into that layered look) to a wearer of dresses.  Part of the reason, I think, is that I find them fun to wear.  I think my appreciation of dresses came about in response to watching Pushing Daisies; Chuck is such a lovable character, and her dresses make me extremely envious.  Another part is that they are easy and compact, so when I bike in to uni I can just put one thing (and a bra) into my bag instead of worrying about various component parts of outfits requiring both tops and bottoms.  And after I shower, getting dressed is so easy - sure, I save maybe 1 minute by not putting pants on, but that's 7 minutes over the course of a week.  (I'm mainly joking about this.  I'm not so important as to need that extra 7 minutes for anything useful.)

Anyways.  Most of my dresses come from second hand shops, because I have a hard time parting with my money in large quantities.  This will become even more pronounced in the coming weeks, as my job search has thus far been unsuccessful and my current contracts will soon be over.  Boy, do I miss the scholarship gravy train!  I poo-pooed $6.75 an hour for full-time PhD-ing when I was getting it, but I'd definitely take it without complaints right now!  Job woes aside, I do like to go to shops and, more often, websites, and stare wistfully at various dresses.  Every now and then, I part with my highly valued money and buy a new dress.

This discussion of fashion is meant to segue smoothly into my mention of a new website, ecolissa.com.  This website seriously tempts me to fork over some money and get a dress.  This is for a few reasons: (1) the dresses are soso pretty; (2) the owner, Melissa, is vegan, and I like the idea of supporting vegan business-people; (3) the products are made from environmentally friendly materials; and (4) the exchange rate is really very good at the moment, so ordering things from the US is not nearly as big a decision as it sometimes can be.

Looky:

Or this one:

The site sells women's clothing and accessories, all "fashionable, eco-friendly, and vegan".  And, here's the kicker, if you use the coupon code "eco20" when you check out, you'll get 20% off your purchase.  And if you live in the US, shipping is only $5. 

For me, it's a matter of drooling over the pretty-pretties until I get a job offer, at which point I will definitely take advantage of Melissa's generous offer of a discount and get myself something.  As a reward, ya know?

The Gift Post

I've posted about our trip, about some of the gifts we gave, and about the delicious vegan meal we had, so to wrap up the xmas posts, I present you with a photo-essay of the things we got.

Because I'm vegan, and thus do a lot of cooking, I have a bit of a reputation as a foodie amongst Andy's family. Thus, we got a string of food-related gifts. Like the Jamie Oliver Flavour Shaker, sort of like a mortar&pestle but more compact.

We got a veggie peeler too, because I've complained to Andy's mum that I'm defective when it comes to peeling things. I've always blamed it on being a leftie, and most peelers being designed for right-handed users. But this peeler bypasses the problems and is surprisingly awesome.

This was actually an early wedding present, but this beautiful tea set from Andy's younger brother & his partner has already seen its fair share of use.

Andy's grandma gave us two tea towels printed with Australiana, as well as a freaking adorable apron that her mother embroidered in 1975.

More obvious than foodie-gifts, though, are the plain and simple "vegan" gifts. Like a cookbook with the V word sprawled across the front (this is the cookbook where the Black Forest Cake recipe came from, as well as the creamy mushrooms on toast from the cook-up brekky).

Or dairy-free chocolate.

Non-food related, we were gifted with these eco laundry balls which remove the need for detergent and a rinse cycle.

As well as a nerf ball, a gorgeous fabric-covered journal, an organic gardening magazine, some handmade earrings, and a bicycle repair kit.
Of course xmas isn't about the gifts, but I love the thought that went into the gifts we were given!

Plant Essentials

I don't go in for paid advertisements or anything like that on my blog, but I wanted to take a minute to rave about a local shop that I love.

Plant Essentials in Townsville city is a natural beauty store, and they also sell a bit of food, including excellent raw chocolates. They carry lots of vegan and organic product lines, but they also make their own, which is what I really like.

The ingredients are straightforward, mostly organic, and all plant-based.

And they are made locally, which I love.

They even sell their own mineral makeup which is far more affordable than the other aussie brands I was using before.

Last time I was there I grabbed some stainless steel waterbottles for Andy and I, which I've already plastered with my Edgar's Mission sticker.

They have an online shop if you're interested (but seriously, I'm not advertising or getting anything in return for this plug).

I'm also a fan of their spa because they use all vegan products, and it's cheaper than many of the other spas in town. Andy and I dropped in before christmas for a massage -- a great way to relax before the craziness of christmas!

Gifts and other surprises

I’ve been a bit spoiled lately.

Just before I left for Brisbane, I got an email saying I had won last month's contest at aduki and I would be getting a book in the mail. It was waiting for me when I came home.

I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve ever won anything. Needless to say, it was exciting to get my free book and I look forward to a mythical future day when I have the time to read it. Thanks aduki!

Then Andy’s parents came up, and brought with them gifts from some of Andy’s aunties at home. A set of six wine glasses means we have enough to offer if we ever have guests (a big step up from our previous set of two mis-matched glasses). Likewise, a new towel set means that people who stay at our place don't need to use beach towels when they shower. And before they left, Andy’s mum and dad got us a juicer.

We ended up getting the last one on the shelf, which was missing its box and paperwork but had all of its parts—and it was $100 cheaper than it usually is. We downloaded the instructions from the internet and have been juicing all week.

Our first creation involved beetroot, carrot, orange, rockmelon and ginger. It was yummy but I forgot to take photos. Our next batch was similar—orange, beetroot, carrot, sweet potato, mint and ginger (though I don’t think the mint juiced very well).

In order to not waste the pulp from this batch, we decided to make Pulp Nuggets. Before they cooked, I thought they looked a lot like raw mince.

These are basically the recipe for chickpea cutlets, with pulp instead of chickpeas (we picked out most of the clump of orange pulp). Flavoured with korma paste and then formed into nuggets and fried, these were a really yummy way to use the extras from our juice, especially alongside some lime and coriander potato salad, and a mixture of raw corn, tomato and cucumber.

Our latest juice was very different from the others. Half a bunch of celery, a cucumber and two apples made for a very green juice. Andy didn’t love it, but I thought it was pretty good. Another apple probably would have made it a bit sweeter.

And and and, I checked the mail last week to find not one but TWO gift certificates from my family. For my birthday, they’ve treated me to two sessions at Plant Essentials, a vegan and organic spa in town. Wahoo!

Shoo

As I’ve mentioned previously on this blog, I’m not really big on shoes. I go barefoot whenever possible, and my shoe collection reflects my dislike of foot-confinement.

But, I had to suck it up and get some new shoes recently.

I wanted some proper sandals, because my thongs were making me feel a bit under-dressed in certain settings.

And my biking shoes were in a pretty bad way. My heel pushed through and the sole flapped. And a rainy day left them with a terrible stink which no amount of newspaper, baby powder, bicarb soda and sunlight could fix.

I was left with a dilemma—where to get them from? I could get an affordable pair from a shop around town, but I would have to search out a vegan pair of shoes. Plus, affordable usually means not-very-ethical. So, after much hemming and hawing, I decided to pay a bit more to get shoes from Vegan Wares. They are non-leather (duh), and made in Melbourne, rather than in a sweatshop in Southeast Asia. They are handmade, which means they are likely to last a while. And they are comfy.

I got one pair of sandals, which I wear all the time and I love.

And I got one pair of closed-toe shoes, which are also comfy and totally cool.

I’ve gotten tons of compliments on them, and I haven’t gotten any blisters. I am very happy with my decision to spend up, especially considering that I absolutely hate shoe shopping and I don’t want to have to do it any time soon. I highly recommend Vegan Wares.

And, after throwing away my poor old stinky shoes, my collection has grown 20%.

From bottom to top, there’s my two new kick-ass pairs, my thongs, a pair of dressy shoes I got second-hand four years ago, and a pair of pregan Earth Shoes, which I never wear and should realistically donate. Not pictured are a pair of uncomfortable plastic sandals I leave at uni to wear in the shower.

Even with my rocking new footware, I still prefer to go barefoot.

Free Stuff

Regular readers of this blog are probably aware that I don’t like to spend money. Mostly because I don’t make much. But, rather than buy the cheapest junk, usually full of animal ingredients and produced in socially-abhorrent conditions, I’m willing to pay a bit more for good products—I just buy less of them.

Luckily, there are a few great, affordable, vegan companies that sell ‘personal’ and cleaning products in Australia. Unluckily (for me), the store which consistently sells them is a bit out of bike range from where I live. So before he left, Andy and I took the Subaru in that direction to load up on things like sun cream, aloe vera, and tea tree bug spray for him, and hair and skincare products for me.

I came home with more than I expected to—not because I was overwhelmed by choice and bought as much as I could, but because I scored some great free stuff.

In the orange box is the facial cleanser I use, which was packaged with a free bottle of toner and priced cheaper than the cleanser alone. A’kin skincare products, along with Al’chemy haircare products, are produced by The Purist Company which is vegan, organic and Australian. Their mandarin shampoo smells good enough to eat.

I also grabbed a bottle of facial scrub from Sukin (another vegan, organic Aussie company) for less than $8.

When we neared the counter, there was a display advertising a free bottle of hand wash with every purchase of any Purist Company product. There were two flavours available: Tea Tree & Eucalyptus, and Lemon Myrtle. Rather than choosing between the two, Andy and I split up our purchase and each got a free bottle. As I was checking out with my half of the gear, the cashier told me about an unadvertised promotion with Sukin as well—meant to be with any purchase of lotion, but since they had so many they were giving them away with all Sukin products. So I got a free rehydrating spray.

Free, vegan and organic? Hell yeah.

Later in the week I scored some more free stuff. There is a fruit & veggie co-op starting on campus (I signed up this morning) where you order a small or large box of produce and get whatever is in season. It comes from Bowen, which is less than 200 kms south of Townsville (about 120 miles for the metrically impaired). It’s not usually organic, because the idea is to ensure that poor students are eating nutritious food.

Although I hadn’t signed up in time for the first delivery, my friend Chris did. In her box she was given a head of lettuce, and since she’d already bought one earlier in the week, she passed it on to me. Free local lettuce!

A bit beat up from being stuffed in my backpack on the bike ride home, it still made a lovely salad.

I mixed it with carrot, alfalfa sprouts, black eyed peas, avocado, and a dressing of hummus, raw garlic, fresh dill and lemon juice. Yummy!

And I've just spent the past day and a half at a conference, which was ridiculously expensive but which I got into for free! The conference was timed to coincide with Townsville's huge, annual Cultural Festival (which I think is interesting in the ways it promotes 'consumption' of culture rather than real engagement) and was attended by people from around Australia and the world. I heard some very interesting speeches and met amazing people--all for free!

Dilemma

I was torn about publishing a new blog post. I posted yesterday and there has been some interesting discussion going on, and I would like to hear more opinions on the subject. But, I gotta get on with my life. So I'll just request that people read the post below this one and leave lots of comments! But for now, on with this one...


Inika cosmetics are an Australian owned, vegan, mineral make up. You can order online, or through a few stores in Australia, the UK and the US. Be warned: they are expensive! More than I would have ever considered paying for make up. I had to convince myself that it's worth it to support a vegan company, that it is a good product, that I spend money on nothing else so this is my luxury item... I still feel bad about the price, but DAMN I love the product.

I use Mineral Foundation #17, Passion. I also purchased the mineral setting powder, which can go under the foundation on oily complexions, or over for a more 'matte finish'. I also bought their vegan make up brush, which is the softest and most luxurious feeling brush I've found--and it contains no animal hair!

The foundation leaves my face feeling smooth, and it stays put all day. Even after a sweaty bike ride home, my face is still looking good. A little goes a long way, too, so it makes me feel a bit better about paying so much. Plus, the company purchases carbon offsets to neutralise their shipping emissions.

If you're looking for a bit of luxury, or you don't mind spending a bit on quality make up, check out Inika cosmetics.

(And check out the post just below and tell me what you think!)

Veganism is beautiful

I shop for personal products at the Discount Chemist Warehouse. First, because it's cheap. But more importantly, because I have the choice between 3 or 4 different vegan brands. This is in a mainstream store, and they are very clearly labelled, and no more expensive (oftentimes cheaper) than the non-vegan products. It's amazing! In America, I had an easy time finding processed vegan food in stores, but had to order products online. Here in Townsville, it's the other way around.

You can choose from Freeman Botanicals, which specialises in fruity skincare products like this Hot Sugar Body Scrub...
Or products from the Purist Company. Their haircare products are called Al'chemy. All ingredients are organic, and plant-based. There are no sulfates or other yucky things. You can choose from Rice Amino & Wheat Protein Shampoo for dry hair, or Ylang Ylang for colour treated. Conditioners like Avocado and Calendula, or Macademia and Wheat leave your hair feeling silky smooth. Their body and skin line is called A'kin. Jasmine aromatherapy bodywash smells divine, or Rose and Geranium hand lotion moisturizes without that greasy feeling.
Natural instinct is another organic, vegan product. Their packaging is as no-frills as their product. I've used their shampoo and conditioner, and wasn't really happy with it. It did the job, but left my hair feeling a bit dry. The facial scrub is full of gritty stuff and leaves me feeling fresh.

The one thing I don't buy from the Chemist Warehouse is my toothpaste. They have no completely vegan options. But, luckily, Woolworths (a major supermarket chain) does! It's made with parsley seeds, so it tastes a bit funny but I love it.
Speaking of beautiful, there is a big shrub outside my front window which is covered in these purple flowers. In nurseries it is called a 'Geisha Girl'.
We've also got a smaller bush full of gorgeous and aromatic jasmine flowers.
I've just ordered some new vegan makeup, so I'll post a review when it comes in the mail.

Curing a cold, tropical style

Friday I mostly zoned out in the beanbag because I felt pretty awful, so on Saturday morning I decided: enough! I'm going to get over this freakin cold. Ever see the South Park episode where everyone gets SARS, and Stan has to go on a vision quest to find the Middle Class White cure--chicken soup, cough syrup, and ginger ale? Well, I took advantage of the Tropical Australian cure.

First, on Friday night, Andy made a stir-fry for dinner featuring his cure-all combination of chilli, ginger, and garlic. He also threw in some lime juice for vitamin C, and soy sauce for taste. He marinated some chicken-style seitan in this mix, and then cooked it all up in the wok with some carrots, capsicum, and zucchini.

The next morning, we hit up the chemist for some cough syrup, and then went straight to the beach. We spent the first half of the day reading in the sun, swimming, and watching people play with the dogs in the surf.
Make sure you bring a hat, sunglasses, and plenty of water and suncream.
This No-Ad stuff is great, because it's cheap, effective, and vegan. I've got a bunch of it still from the States, and I may be asking my parents to bring some more over when they visit in November.
After the beach, I didn't have much of an appetite, so we had a nutrient-dense lunch. Avocado mashed up with lime juice, coriander, and garlic chives, on 9 grain toast.
The cure must have worked, because by Saturday afternoon I felt so much better that I cooked and baked! For dinner, eggplant parm. Fresh, unfried slices of eggplant, topped with a chunky tomato sauce, and covered in a simple, creamy nutritional yeast sauce.
Andy reckons, "If you didn't know this was vegan, you would wonder what kind of weird cheese is on top".
For dessert, banana bars, similar to Susan V's Banana Coconut Bars. Instead of using soft tofu, I used peanut butter. And rather than coating them in icing sugar (we don't have any), I just sprinkled on some cinnamon before they baked. Yum, yum, yum!
So, maybe it's not the most medically sound cure. I still have a nasty cough, but I really do feel much better. A little vitamin D, some salt water, and lots of healthy vegan food is good for the body and the soul!