The Best Breakfast

Lately, I have been totally addicted to low-fat cottage cheese and berries for breakfast. This is so light, so filling, and so nutritious! You have to try it. I recommend fresh blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries all mixed together. Don't OD it on the berries, just use a medium size handful per 1/2 cup cottage cheese (one serving).

Some Words of Wisdom from Nick Kristof

From his latest Editorial A Scare, a Scar, a Silver Lining Nicholas Kristof shares his close call with cancer and some really good advice everyone should follow

"Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. Slather on sunscreen and avoid tanning salons. Avoid charred meats. Check yourself over for lumps, changes or irregularities, whether in breasts or testicles or skin, and consult a doctor if you have doubts. Try to microwave food in glass or ceramic containers rather than plastic. Toss out plastic food containers that are marked 3, 6 or 7 at the bottom (unless they say “BPA-free”). Buy a radon detector to check radon levels around your house."

Beckhams Enjoying Whole Foods

This time the whole fam. got in on the shopping action. Wishing we could join in the fun.

Sputtering Back in Time

Woke up this morning to find my block lined with Ford Model Ts. They are filming Boardwalk Empire the new HBO series with Steve Buscemi, but unfortunately I didn't get to see him. Crazy how much these cars leak oil, it was flowing down the block and they were sputtering and bumping around, the brakes didn't seem to work all that well either, but still pretty good for 90 years old.

Sleigh Bells drops debut album TREATS

Sleigh Bells played last night in Bushwick Brooklyn and the show was so insanely good even if MIA didn't show up like we thought they would. The band from Brooklyn is Alexis Krauss (vocals) and Derek Miller (guitars/production). Their album TREATS is out today on itunes. Look out for Ring Ring my favorite song!

http://www.myspace.com/sleighbellsmusic

Big Bambú @ the Met

Took a tour of Big Bambu yesterday on the roof of the met. This work by Doug+Mike Starn is so completely organic--a rooftop bamboo jungle gym made only out of bamboo and held together by special rock-climbing string. Walking up in the sky on these narrow wave-like pathways felt so free and ethereal and so ancient-day yet forward thinking. This installation is really really fun and the experience is a must. I plan to revisit it a couple more times this summer as it expands further across the roof of the met and up to 40ft into the air.

Afterward hit up the cafeteria for the AMAZING salad bar and some beers.

RUBBLEBUCKET AT HIGHLINE BALLROOM

Really cool band, they played a great show last night. Check out their MySpace

http://www.myspace.com/rubblebucket

Victoria Beckham Loves Whole Foods

Look who was snapped shopping at Whole Foods in Manhattan today! She probably didn't buy very much. Wonder where David was.

Latest Disappointments

I recently bought both of these products and was not at all impressed. I tried the bunny fruit snacks because I love a lot of the other Annie's products. The cheese crackers, chocolate crackers, and mac and cheese are all amazing. The fruit snacks on the other hand, not so much. They are way too sweet and a totally weird texture. There is nothing gummy about them, they are just kind of limp and mushy fruity sugar blobs.

The Late July mini cookies looked really good but the taste is just totally unremarkable. They are not bad, but not really good either. They just taste overwhelmingly like chocolate liquor. The icing is really sweet and not creamy or delicious and the cookie just leaves you wanting to munch on something better. The Whole Foods Brand sandwich cookies on the other hand are really amazing cookies and you should go for these instead.

Avoid these products, they are not worth the calories.

Check it. Medicinal only, of course.

Yak Edibles.

The Greenie looks enticing :)

Made with organic sativa and indica extracts and natural ingredients.

I predict branding of edibles is going to be the new gold rush not to mention goldmine!

http://www.yakedibles.org/

Best Burgers EVER

Here's the Beef...

Use organic local ground beef (I like 80% sirloin 20% fat).

Or, for an even healthier option use ground bison (very low in fat, and lower in cholesterol and calories yet higher in iron and protein than beef. Buffalo has less cholesterol than chicken with the skin removed and even most fish!)

Mix with Stonewall Kitchen Maple Chipotle Grille Sauce and a little salt and pepper to taste.

Don't manhandle the patties too much, the more air in them the better so handle as little as possible. Put a thumbprint in the middle to make more room for toppings and to make sure your patties don't turn into a ball (they get rounder as they cook).

Cook to medium with melted pepperjack (for a kick) or cheddar cheese and serve on a whole-wheat pita with avocado, sprouts, tomato slices, and fresh baby mesclun leaves for the best burger quite possibly ever tasted.

P.S. Maple Chipotle sauce is NOT organic but there isn't anything to iffy in it so don't be scared :)

Sauce is about $6 at Whole Foods

or buy at http://www.stonewallkitchen.com/default.aspx

Shopping Excursion

Pics of Me and my cart



Checking out some smoked salmon at Whole Foods. Really delicious on sourdough crisps on top of a dollop of creme fraiche, with a bit of cavier and a sprig of watercress on top. Yummm :)

Lollipop Lollipop

YummyEarth Organic Lollipops are quite the yummy treat, and at 22 calories a pop and only 5.5 grams of sugar you can afford to pucker up.

Pops come in unique yummy flavors like Strawberry Smash (the best), Sour Apple Tart, and Wet-Face Watermelon. They are made from 100% natural flavors and include real fruit extract. The pops have no artificial colors and instead use organic beet juice and organic pumpkin. They also have no corn syrup and are vegan approved.

These are the pops reality star mommy Kate Gosselin feeds her kiddies on TLC's Jon and Kate Plus 8. And, if your not a kiddie you will still look pretty hot (or cool for my guy readers) sucking on one :)

Available at Whole Foods of course!
And Amazon.com

About $4 a pack

http://www.yummyearth.com/

Smell Like an Island Paradise

Pacifica Solid Perfume is my new addiction. These tiny solid perfumes are made from a organic soy and coconut wax base with essential and natural oil scents. The perfumes have no parabens, are not tested on animals, have no animal ingredients or artificial colors, and are 100% vegan.

The flavors, like, such as, Lotus Garden, Tunisian Jasmine, and Bali Lime Papaya, have the most intoxicating, seductive scents which leave you absolutely craving another whiff. Solid perfumes come in tiny, beautifully designed tins perfect for on-the-go touch-ups.

My absolute favorite is the Lotus Garden solid perfume which leaves a perfectly subtle yet delicious hint of exotic garden paradise. I also have the Tahitian Gardenia scent which I have to say I am not so crazy about because the smell is just a bit too complex.

Definitely try before you buy to see which scent compliments you the best.

I am also drooling over the company's new line of body washes and lotions, as well as their soaps and soy candles which smell AMAZING.

http://www.pacificaperfume.com/

http://www.sephora.com/browse/brand_hierarchy.jhtml?brandId=5937&searchString=pacifica

Also available at Whole Foods

Perfumes are only $9 so buy a bunch guilt free!
Body wash $18
Soy Candles $22

DIET SODA AIN'T SO SWEET

Sweet, bubbly, delicious, guilt free...Not!

Surprisingly, diet soda can make you gain wait. Here's how it works: the fake sugar used to sweeten diet sodas is much much sweeter than real sugar. This artificial sweetness prepares our bodies for incoming calories and energy like that we get from real sugary food. Once our bodies realize that we are not really getting any calories or energy, we get hungry which leads to cravings and a desire to eat more. Soo, in fact, drinking diet sodas may actually lead us to ingest more calories that we would drinking real soda.

You heard it, diet sodas lead to increased appetite and therefore cause us to gain weight.

If you do need that sweet fix, I suggest San Pellegrino's Aranciata. This fizzy, crisp orange soda is delicious! Not too sweet, extra fizzy, it makes you feel oh so sophisticated and Euro chic. You can even add a shot of Grey Goose for a lazy afternoon buzz.

SUSHI REMIX

My new favorite thing is Whole Foods Sushi + Salad Bar toppings. For a healthy dinner I take the brown rice tuna rolls and then load them up with salad bar toppings--cucumbers, shredded carrots, and edamame.

You can also add shredded raw beets, arugula, and seaweed salad for an extra crunch. Now, I am sure sushi purists everywhere are going to think I'm destroying the perfectly simple sushi roll, but honestly sushi + toppings leads to a much more filling meal and gives you way more nutrients and flavor in a different way then just saturating your sushi with soy sauce.

Try it once and I promise, I will turn you into a convert. Also simply delicioso with shrimp, salmon, and yellow tail rolls. Mmmm I think I might have to go get my fix right now :)

About $10 with salad bar toppings

Free Starbucks Coffee Today In Your Travel Mug

Today only--bring a travel mug to Starbucks and get a free brewed coffee.

Starbucks is hoping to switch everyone over from paper cups to reusable travel mugs and is using today as an example. While you drink your free coffee think about saving the trees, the forests, and our planet!

NYT Renewable Dorm Slideshow

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/09/27/magazine/20090927-ecodorm-slideshow_index.html

Death by Chocolate

Green & Black's Organic

http://www.greenandblacks.com/us/home.html

About $3-4

Hands down the best chocolate you will ever taste. After eying these grown-up looking chocolate bars at Whole Foods for a long time I finally caved in and bought a couple. I regretted it the next week when I spotted them for over a dollar less at Target. Let me just say Oh. My. God. Chocolate. The peanut bar is by far the best. With creamy milk chocolate, crisply caramelized organic peanuts, and a surprising hint of sea salt, "every layer is more indulgent than the next." It was so good in fact I didn't share any of it nor did I save any of it for later.

As for the other flavors, all amazing but none as good as peanut. Espresso is very strong really full bodied and rich, Cherry is totally surprising and sour with actual chunks of dried cherries, Toffee is a delicious buttery crunchy milk chocolate bar, definitely the second best. I am intrigued by Mayan Gold and will probably buy that next, oh and Almond is nutty and oh so yummy.

Indulge and splurge on a couple of these bad boys. you won't regret it.

Love Those Cherry Lips

MyChelle Love Your Lips Organic Lipbalm












http://www.mychelle.com/Love-Your-Lips-Cherry-Raspberry

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/?brand=MyChelle%20Dermaceuticals&ref_=bl_sr_hpc&node=3760931

About $12

Its not cheap but I have to say its worth it. MyChelle Love Your Lips Cherry Raspberry Pineapple lip balm is the best chapstick I have ever owned. When I apply it in public people look at me with envy like they too wish they owned my giant chapstick. My boyfriend loves it "mmm cherries" he says every time I put it on, and I put it on a lot.

Its a bit dry but that doesn't bother me, and not at all shiny so you can use it if you are a guy or girl. It's packed with powerful antioxidants and nourishing shea and kokum butters soothe chapped lips and protect lips from dehydration. It also has organic Melissa and L-lysine to help and prevent cold sores.

I have to say that the Black Currant Pomegranate looks pretty delicious too but I have not tried it. Beware the Pistachio Coconut flavor though, it was reviewed on Amazon as "tasting like burnt coconut"

Amys Kitchen Organic Food

If it wasn't for Amy's Organic Food I probably would have starved to death a few years ago. My favorites are the Spinach Pizza Pockets, Kids Meals (they come with a mini chocolate cake or apple pie poppers!), the Burrito Especial, and the Indian Mattar Paneer meal. My boyfriend swears by the Broccoli Pot Pie however he was a bit shocked by the 10 g of saturated fat (50% of your daily value) in the nutritional info. This food is great because it tastes healthy, it is healthy for the most part, and the ingredients are fresh with tons of veggies. Its like comfort food straight from the freezer and it takes no time at all to prepare.

http://www.amys.com/
prices are usually around $3-5

Let's Talk Water Bottles

OK so plastic bottles are bad. Very bad. Got that? When you use them you are slowly killing our planet with plastic waste. Buying water is not only wasteful but also expensive and no better for you than buying a Brita filter for the sink or a Brita pitcher for the fridge.

If you want to help out the earth you will buy a water bottle to carry around with you. The cooler the bottle, the more likely you will be to use it all the time and flash it around to anyone who will look, not like hiding in the corner with your non-eco-friendly plastic Poland Spring bottles.

Here are two of my favorites

SIGG

http://mysigg.com/index.asp

prices are around $20

the original with a "EcoCare liner made from BPA-free and phthalite-free ingredients" BPA and phthalites are very bad and used in plastic bottles like Poland Spring and even reusable Nalgene bottles even though they have recently developed some BPA-free choices.

Soo... I think Sigg rocks. I have the Sport Bottle with an active top which makes it really easy to drink lying down or upside down or whatever. The top can get a little gross and you will want to clean it a lot but it is pretty great. The traditional screw top is great too, but is also easy to lose. Advantages are you can drink right from the cool metal bottle instead of from plastic.

Siggs do dent easily though so not really sure if this is the bottle you would want to play rough with. Mine has a large dent and it makes me very sad.

KOR ONE Hydration Vessel

http://www.korwater.com/

prices are around $30-35

The coolest new bottle around. My boyfriend just got one and I am terribly jealous. Yes that now means I can take over his Sigg and wash mine less often but still, I want the KOR. It is made from BPA-free Tritan and easier to clean than the Sigg. Also has an awesome rubberized bottom so much less likely to clank on the bedside table or your desk at work. It is however much heavier than the Sigg so not really ideal for hauling around town in your purse/sidebag/whatever. They also have awesome little "KOR stones" which you slip into the cap to motivate you to be better--"Find Balance" "Never Settle" you pick your words of wisdom and are reminded of them every time you take a drink of H2O.

oh and btw not everything on this site will be organic, i.e. these water bottles, but they will help you to have a healthier, more organic lifestyle.

Whole Foods

Let's start with the store that started it all -- Whole Foods Market. A lot of the stuff I write about on this blog probably came from Whole Foods since the store of my dreams opened right near my Upper West Side apartment on 97th and Columbus complete with a fantastic wine store to support my over-indulgence of organic wines. Check out the store's website at

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/upperwestside/

My First Blog Post

So I had this great idea last night...

I love to shop organic. Organic everything-- products, food, bedding, everything. Some of this stuff is great and some needs improvement so I should just start a blog and write about it :) what a fun idea!

Here you can read my opinions, reviews, and thoughts about the organic stuff I have bought, wish I had, thought about buying, and maybe even decided was just a terrible idea or possibly just wayyyy too overpriced to reasonably enjoy.

Enjoy :)