April 1, 2010
Knock-knock jokes not your thing? That’s okay. I have a far more important orange-oriented update to throw your way. April is the ASPCA’s ”Go Orange for Animals” Month. So… GO! Get started with some of these apricot-colored accessories and tangerine-tinted tees. It’s so super trendy these days to support such a sensational cause for critters, that I think I’m going to take the liberty to officially unofficially announce it: orange is the new black.
[comic strip compliments of Barbara from codeshewrote.com]
September 27, 2009
List of things to do before I die. Just kidding… dye.
Of course, I would definitely recommend seeing a professional stylist over a home hair dye job, but I get it – times are tough. Ok, so let’s try this again.
List Of Things To Do Before I Dye
- The Obvious Tip: Pick a color that compliments your skin tone.
- The Most Overlooked Tip: Choose a tone that will also match your wardrobe. If you mainly stick to neutrals, then you’re on the fairly safe side. But if you incorporate a lot of bright yellows, blaring oranges, and super warm tones, you probably don’t want to go with a fire engine red do. It’s just a bit much.
- When doing box comparison, don’t just compare price tags. Look at the ingredients, the label, and the name behind it to choose a reputable vegan brand. You can go ahead and Google to your hairs’ content, or just trust my quick picks. Naturtint Permanent is exceptional for looking perfectly natural. Or you can indulge your wild side with Manic Panic N.Y.C. Both are 100% vegan.
- Don’t forget the importance of aftercare. Invest in a top-grade color-stay vegan conditioner like ABBA Pure Color Protect.
- After you’ve dyed and dried, brush out gently with synthetic bristles. This a fairly simple one, since vegan hair brushes are the most commonly manufactured kind. Just be sure to stay away from “natural bristle” brushes – because “natural” is really just a naughty euphemism for animal hair.
Naturtint Permanent
August 19, 2009
Take a stand against inhumane and unethical practices like horse racing and dog fighting. I mean now! All Creatures shows you how. They’ll tell you what you can do to discourage betting and help shut down these atrocious events. And once you’re done fighting for the furry ones, take a gamble on something decent instead – like a brand new hairstyle. I recently re-invented myself with a new two-toned palette and bangs `a la Bettie Paige. Not only do I love the look, but I’m eager to find new ways to express myself through it – like showing off the back blonde streak in a stripe type way. Channeling my inner Ed Hardy Geisha graphic, I threw it all up in a messy ball of elastics and locks, managing to turn eek! into eccentric with pearl white Horseshoe Dice Hairsticks by Luck 11. So much sleeker than Chinese takeout chopsticks, they’re also a bit Asian-inspired and edgy – but most importantly easy. Always a safe bet.
[$16.25 at howcool.com]
*Special thanks to Jack & Andrea of Panico Salon & Spa. Way to nail it!
July 27, 2009
After typing away endlessly about fashion and fluffies, I thought it was time to make it a threesome and throw my other lover into the mix: red wine - particularly Shiraz. Besides, nothing says style and sophistication like classily sipping shiraz from your stemless black CB2 glass, while discussing the state of the economy – or Lily Allen’s latest outfit. Yellow Tail has always been a safe fall-back for me. But just like in fashion, sometimes it pays to take risks.
This weekend, I decided to branch out and put some bottles to the test with a Shiraz “Battle of the Bottle Animals” wine tasting. After selecting four fierce contenders, I set to work, sipping away. They were judged based on several criteria, such as price, alcohol content, taste, smoothness, and drinkability. It was also imperative that the name not only contain an animal, but that there was also an actual depiction of one on the 750mL bottle. After much note-taking and debate, the results ranked as followed (by brand, year, animal, alcohol content, and price according to Bottle King):
- 1st Place: the Little Penguin / 2008 / penguin / 13.5% / $7.99
- 2nd Place: Yellow Tail / 2008 / kangaroo / 13.5% / $6.99
- 3rd Place: Yellow Bird / 2006 / cockatiel-looking bird / 14% / $5.98
- 4th Place: Pigs in the Sky / 2005 / flying pigs / 14% / $6.98
My placements also took into consideration the extra ‘bottle bonus points’ awarded: Pigs in the Sky has a twist off top, so no corkscrew necessary. I don’t know about you, but I usually spend longer trying to open most bottles than I do enjoying them. Also, Yellow Tail and the Little Penguin scored on the cute count by having roos and penquin feet printed onto their corks.
But the overall winner, the Little Penguin, did more than warm my stomach – it also touched my heart. Their name comes from the smallest of the penguins found along the South Eastern coast of Australia. Their label as well as their company mission honors The Penguin Foundation, which was established to proudly protect and preserve these little creatures and their natural habitat. the Little Penguin offers a helping hand (and wing) by donating proceeds from wine sales to the foundation, plus their website urges fans to show support by adopting a penguin or making a donation. I bet you can guess what’s next on my long-distance pet list!
July 20, 2009
In desperate need of a friend? I have just the right plump little porker to call your new BFF. Yup, designer Christy Robinson has done it again. It amazes me how her shiny show stoppers both steal my heart and also stir my activist spirit. My latest lust is the Flocked “Friend Not Food” Pig Necklace, crafted from recycled aluminum. Soft to the touch, the flocking flaunts synthetic fuzz, as opposed to actual animal fibers.
[$45 at christyrobinsondesigns.com]
July 17, 2009
When does cute outweigh conscious? And vice versa.
If you’re an animal advocate like myself, you’re probably rolling your eyes at this ridiculously obvious question. But guess what - it’s their environment too. So what’s a potentially-green girl to do? It’s a decision made every time you consider purchasing natural beeswax vs a chemical laden vegan lip balm. And while PVC is not recyclable, it’s the most commonly used alternative to leather. What about a (quite cheeky) alpaca wool-spun beret? And yes, I do own one. The animals are never harmed during the shearing process. In fact, it’s an important part of their hygenic maintenance. The animal vs eco debate is a question that will inevitably come to haunt every do-gooder diva.
It’s a situation surrounded by controversy – with no end in sight – well, as far as my aviators can see.
