California Trans-Fat Ban Goes Into Effect January 1st

I’m not sure if that’s a good thing since that’s the day I’m going to be crawling to Canter’s for a greasy breakfast to cure my hangover.

On Friday, California will become the first state to ban restaurants from cooking with trans-fats which is the substance linked to clogged arteries, strokes and coronary heart disease..   The  ban on oils, margarines, and shortenings containing more than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving will be monitored by restaurant inspections already conducted by local health departments. Violators can be fined up to $1,000.

NACS

CNN Heroes Of 2009

Last night in an attempt to pull myself away from my own drunken pity party of downloading picture hell, I turned on the boob tube and stopped dead in my remote tracks once I caught glimpse of the hot piece above.  It was CNN Heroes of 2009 and I got a quick reality check of people with real issues and the ones that are doing something to help.

Bartender Doc Hendley is providing clean water to communities worldwide. Through creative fundraising, his nonprofit Wine To Water has brought sustainable water systems to 25,000 people in five countries.

Jordan Thomas, 20, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, lost both of his legs in a boating accident in 2005. Since then, his Jordan Thomas Foundation has raised more than $400,000 to provide prosthetics for children in need.

Efren Peñaflorida gives Filipino youth an alternative to gang membership through education. His Dynamic Teen Company’s 10,000 members have taught basic reading and writing to 1,500 kids living in the slums.

Thowin’ in this clip of Maxwell performing just because..um..it’s Maxwell!  Swoon.

Check out the rest of the heroes and their inspiring stories here.

Tofurky And Gravy Drink By Jones Soda???

WTF? Grody to the max!! This is the description on the Jones website. Drink at your own risk.

Some people are crazy for turkey around the holidays… others not so much. For those of you with veggie leanings, Jones teamed up with the good folks at Tofurky® to bring you a meatless option.

We created this special soda for all you veg-heads out there. Best served with mashed potatoes and a couple of laughs, we hope you enjoy drinking it as much as we enjoyed making it.

Happy We-Stole-Your-Land-and-Killed-Your-People Day! Oops, did I just type that?

Off to SF for gluttonous activities for the next 4 days. xx

Alicia Silverstone Is The Kind Celebrity In Coco Eco Magazine

Each issue we work on gets more exciting than the last and this one was no exception. Sarah Griffin and I co-styled Alicia Silverstone who was an absolute sweetheart to work with.

She gave us health tips from her book The Kind Diet, dished out some of her beauty secrets and even shared some delicious vegan truffles with us. I didn’t know such a thing existed.

Go to Coco Eco to read her interview and check out the rest of the holiday issue while you’re at it.

Hella-ween In S.F. Happy Birthday Randall!

Alicia Silverstone: The Kind Diet

Last night I stepped out with Anna Griffin (www.cocoecomag.com) to Alicia’s book signing at the Stella McCartney store. (♥-♥-♥)

If you want to pick up her book, The Kind Diet, she’ll be doing two more book signings this week.

Thursday, October 15
7:00pm
BOOK SOUP
8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069

Saturday, October 17
1:00pm
BARNES & NOBLE (SANTA MONICA)
3rd St. Promenade, 1201 3rd St, Santa Monica, CA

Visit her site for more info: The Kind Life

The Godfather Goes O.G.anic

There ain’t nothing organic about The Godfather but apparently the licensing alcoholic Sicilian gods thinks so.

Paramount Pictures and Iconic Brands this week announced their upcoming launch of The Godfather Italian Organic Vodka. Branded after the classic film The Godfather, the imported Italian vodka will make its debut in April 2010. Sounds like my kind of party. Can’t wait.

Source Ecorazzi

Posted by thuy

Terracycle Wants Your Wrappers

Todays theme in my posts: junk food. Bad for us, but we still eat them.

I check in with Terracycle from time to time to see what new recycled wrapper products they’ve come up with.

I loved flying kites when I was a kid. And I also loved Oreo cookies dipped in milk. Now, not so much. But this kite made from recycled wrappers for the low price of $5.99 is pretty slick.

The holidays are less than 100 days away and although my Candy Spelling manic wrapping days are over, sometimes a bow on a plain box or bag adds just the right touch.

Go to Terracycle to find out which retail locations carry their products or join their online brigades to raise money from your wrappers to donate to a charity or your favorite school.

Posted by thuy

Hello Kitty Recycled

My Hello Kitty days ended a long time ago and I probably wouldn’t want to advertise my guilty pleasure of the occasional Diet Coke around my neck but I have to admit these necklaces upcycled from trashed sodie pop cans are cute.

All under $5 at the Funky Recycling Etsy shop.

Source The Lipstick Diaries

Posted by thuy

Lunch Encounters Of The Third Kind

Lunch Encounters of the Third Kind from Parent Earth on Vimeo.

“Lunch Encounters” launched the One Tray campaign depicting the cafeteria tray as the conduit for a reformed school food system that supports healthy children, local farms, and smart schools. “Lunch Encounters,” a spoof of Close Encounters of the Third Kind was made to raise awareness for the upcoming reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.

The videos are clear: if you want a healthier America, take action at onetray.org. Every child deserves the opportunity to eat food in school that ensures their health and well-being and Farm to School programs are one solution to incorporating healthier foods into school meals.

Source The Vibe.Social Vibe

Just for health food fun, check out the map below showing the distance from the nearest McDonalds in the lower 48 states. Who’s lovin’ it?

Source Serious Eats Created by Stephen Von Worley

Posted by thuy