The Malibu Ingénue Has Moved to Paris!

Follow my adventures here: www.nicolegarton.com/cocoaparis

Celebrate San Gennaro at Little Dom's!

In honor of the feast of San Gennaro, the perennially popular Los Feliz restaurant Little Dom's is offering "special eats" and $5 wine during dinner service this week through Saturday evening. In case you have other dinner plans this week, make up for it with a lazy street-side brunch of their outrageous Bloody Mary's and blueberry & ricotta pancakes. You can now follow Little Dom's on Twitter to keep abreast of future special offerings. @littledoms

Tuesday, September 21-Saturday, September 25

2128 Hillhurst Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90027

323.661.0055

For more Italian festivity, check out Italian Feast of San Genarro Los Angeles this weekend.

Speakeasy Night at The Talking Stick in Venice 9/23

This Thursday lovers of all things vintage are invited to The Talking Stick in Venice to sip cocktails and dance to music of the teens, twenties, and thirties for Mikal Sandoval's Speakeasy Night.

Musical performance by Dutch Newman and The Musical Melodians, featuring vocalists Douglas Rogiers, Cary Farnsworth, and a special surprise guest.

Admission: $10/$5 for students with ID

Thursday, September 23

7:30pm

Come early for vintage/Halloween costume boutique

The Talking Stick

1411 Lincoln Blvd.

Venice, CA 90291

310.450.6052

California Coastal Cleanup Day Is 9/25

From Michael Blum of MSA:

Join the Malibu Surfing Association (MSA) at Surfrider Beach on California Coastal Cleanup Day, the state's largest coordinated beach cleanup.

At Surfrider, MSA will focus our cleanup on the beach areas between Lifeguard Towers 1 (pier) and 3 (Colony fence), along the Adamson House wall, and the Surfrider Beach parking lot.

All are invited and supplies will be provided. For students, this is a great opportunity for community service credit. We hope you'll join us on the 25th.

Saturday, September 25

9:00am-12:00pm

Surfrider Beach

23050 PCH

Malibu, CA

Rooftop Cinema at Palihouse

This Sunday: "Withnail and I" screens at Palihouse as part of its summer Rooftop Cinema series.

RSVP to cinema@palihouse.com.

The Bechdel Test for Women in Movies

WomenArts, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women artists gets the resources they need to do their creative work, shared this eye-opening video.

It is a bit surprising to see that The Princess Bride doesn't pass, nor When Harry Met Sally, as they feature female characters with strong personalities.

The Sex and the City movie was on TV last night, and I got sucked into watching it. Most of the film is these four (named) women talking about the relationships they have with the men in their lives. According to the Bechdel test, I don't think this movie (or the entire catalog of the TV show, for that matter) would pass.

But this makes me stop to think - women often cement their social bonds with other female intimates by talking about their hopes, fears, joys and frustrations with men. I think that talking about men is a pretty universal female trait, just as fantasizing about women is a common male pastime. I think it's fine to have limited-scope female roles in films, but I think that there should be a demand for more films that portray fully-realized adult women. The fact is, many women truly ARE only defined by then men in their lives. Perhaps if movies, which are likely the greatest vehicle of societal influence, showcased an increased number of multidimensional women, more women would embrace mental occupations beyond their boyfriends, husbands or children and expect more from their lives... The greatest single factor in the creation of films is who the directors are, which means, we need more directors to tell women's stories.

This Weekend: Renegade Craft Fair

Starting today at 11am, the Los Angeles leg of the Renegade Craft Fair begins! I am planning to take the Metro and hopefully avoid any parking situations. Can't wait to check it out!

The Story of Stuff Takes on the Cosmetics Industry

If you don't know this stuff already, you really should watch this short film. When I learned about the types of chemicals used to make cosmetics, and the complete lack of government regulation of the industry, I changed my buying habits immediately. That was about three years ago, and since then I have been buying my shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, body wash and makeup from companies who put health & safety first. From what I've learned from The Kind Life website, there are also better options for nail polish, tampons & pads (as well as new groovy alternatives I'd never heard of), and other self care products.

Spotlight on Arthur Ganson

Mr. Ganson is a mechanical sculptor, or as the Wall Street Journal calls him more plainly, "an artist and engineer." I discovered his work while perusing Dead Man's Bones music videos. (Those boys have turned me on to a lot of cool things... like the theremin). Anyway, check out his walking wishbone for the "Dead Hearts" video below. Further down is his TED talk about kinetic sculpture. His sculptures are unlike other kinetic sculptures I know in that they are more sustained in the reactionary motion... Whereas something as simple as a wind chime stills as soon as the wind dies down and gravity brings the pendulum back to center, Ganson's sculptures seem to have a life of their own.

Eerie Summer Playlist

June Gloom is in full gear - nothing quite like the looming cloudcover to remind Angelenos of the mounting troubles of our time... But I'm embracing the eeriness of the summer's dark and cool commencement by indulging in some spooky tunes, new and old, and rather enjoying my brooding commute down the coast - I feel like I'm in a '60s spy film!

In no particular order, here's what I'm listening to right now:

"Come On Let's Go" by Broadcast

"Dance They Way I Feel" by Ou Est Le Swimming Pool

"Song for Dan Treacy" by MGMT

"The Ghost Inside" by Broken Bells

"Silver Soul" by Beach House

"Temecula Sunrise" by Dirty Projectors

"Everlasting Light" by The Black Keys

"Human" by Goldfrapp

"O Morro Nao Tem Vez" by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Stan Getz & others

"Paper Ships (feat.the Silverlake Conservatory of Music Children's Choir)" - by Dead Man's Bones (I think I hear a theremin on this one!!)

"Incense and Peppermints" by Strawberry Alarm Clock

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum

"I Feel Free" by Cream

"Season of the Witch" by Donovan

"You Keep Me Hangin' On" by Vanilla Fudge

"Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine" by Country Joe & the Fish

"The Duck (O Pato)" by Charlie Byrd

"Caroline, No" by Matthew Kaminski

"Tighten Up" by The Black Keys

"The Only One" by The Black Keys

"Mood Indigo" by Nina Simone

"Ooh La La" by Goldfrapp

"Dead Hearts" by Dead Man's Bones (Wow, check out this video!)

"Runaway" by Del Shannon

"In the Room Where You Sleep" by Dead Man's Bones

Right now I'm really into the whole Brothers album, as well as Antonio Carlos Jobim's samba classic Wave, some Dead Man's Bones, Dirty Projectors' Bitte Orca, and anything with heavy fuzz, creepy keyboard & theremin. I've got a groovy 60's Palm Springs cabana/Los Angeles heist/backwater angst/stolen kisses in a graveyard vibe going on...

My New Wednesday Ritual

So a while back I posted about the Los Angeles Conservancy's "Last Remaining Seats" summer film series that they host in historic theaters on Broadway in Downtown L.A. Well..... two weeks ago I attended my first screening, and it have to say, buying the series package was a great idea and I can't recommend attending one of these nights enough! For the next month, I'll be attending these screenings, and probably eating beforehand at my new favorite restaurant!

Two Wednesdays ago I left work in Santa Monica, headed downtown, and on a whim, typed "macrobiotic" into my Yelp application. Up came Shojin which is a vegan, macrobiotic Japanese restaurant on the third floor of the Little Tokyo shopping center on Alameda. Seeing as how it was pretty close to the Los Angeles Theater, where I would be seeing "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" later, I drove over to Alameda and found a parking spot on the street. The meter was broken - bonus! (I later found out there is free parking in the shopping center lot, with validation). Anyway, I entered the mall, where I was decidedly out of place, and smiled all the way up the escalator to the 3rd floor where the huge, cheery flowers of the ceiling art glowed pinkly onto the facade of Shojin - also cheerful with its floral paintings on display. I was immediately greeted by the hostess, who later appeared to be the owner as well, and welcomed warmly. She asked if it was my first time and was very friendly. I was so happy just walking in there - as the walls were adorned with colorful paintings from a local artist and the menu depicted all sorts of yummy dishes I had only recently been introduced to (Thanks, Kind Diet!) and extolled the virtues of vegan, macrobiotic meals. I ended up ordering quite a lot, as I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I got the kukicha tea, a barbecued seitan/avocado sushi roll (half size), a vegetable soup and a really delicious ramen bowl, which ended up being huge! It had veggies and noodles and lots of broth, and I took home the leftovers, which were considerable. My food and tea was served by an adorable waitress who bowed to me whenever she placed a dish in front of me, and to whom I couldn't help but bow back! I wasn't sure which spoon I was suppose to use for what - I used the chop sticks for the seitan rolls, but that was really messy. The soup I had with a regular spoon, but I learned that the white ceramic spoon with the flat bottom is for ramen. It's a little awkward to fit in my mouth, but it worked, and my food was too good to notice. Anyway, I had to get in and out quickly so as not to miss the show, so I didn't get to try any of the delicious looking desserts. I'll report back after tomorrow!

Anyway, if you've never had a chance to visit the Los Angeles Theater on Broadway and 6th, you are missing out. This place is beyond gorgeous - it's so beautiful I would happily get married there. I realized then that that's why the venue opened up an hour before the movie started... just so people can wander around and admire the splendor of the interior. There are several levels of the theater itself, with a balcony and mezzanine. The bowels of the theater are where the bathrooms are (eww, gross, no pun intended) and these bathrooms are truly gems. I felt like a princess walking through the mirrored ante-chamber and could only imagine a bride with all her attendants getting ready for a wedding.

Once I get settled in my seat (which was nearly center - oh, the boons of sitting singly), I realized that the house was packed! Completely sold out. The director of the L.A. Conservancy spoke about the Conservancy's work and upcoming projects, mentioned the evening's sponsors, which included 213, my favorite nightlife company (I even saw Cedd Moses outside the theater when I checked in), and then introduced Matthew Weiner - the creator of Mad Men! What a thrill!

Matthew got up and spoke a bit about Mad Men, working with Robert Morse (Cooper on the show) and about the film and it's run on Broadway. Robert Morse and the film's other star - Michelle Lee - were both on hand that night, and indulged the audience with some stories of Broadway, making the film, and some singing and dancing! They were great.

Once the curtains finally parted and the lights went dim, I really had no idea what to expect. But let me tell you, "How To Succeed in Business..." is spectacular! I really don't care for most musicals, but this was smart, funny, romantic, and had choreography by Bob Fosse! I loved the '60s fashion, the storyline, the music, everything! Robert Morse was amazing - I really want to cue it up on Netflix just so I can watch it again. I really loved this movie. I believe it won a Tony, and I can only imagine seeing the original cast on New York's Broadway. I certainly came close that night on Broadway West.

The Wednesday following I did much of the same - that night the film was Hitchcock's "Strangers On a Train" and the venue was the Million Dollar Theater, at 3rd and Broadway. My dinner at Shojin ran a little long as I left work a little later, but it was amazing for a second time! It took me a while to find parking near the theater as it was later, but I made it just as the film was starting. I didn't get the chance to look around as much, but I'll get the opportunity for another showing later this month. Anyway, surprise, surprise, "Strangers" was fantastic as well! I never cease to be amazed by all the great films that have come before, and I wish I had more time to see them! What a creepy-comic film - great for this June gloomy weather we're having. The film was preceded this time by a cartoon from Warner Brothers about a bull dog who cares for a kitty cat - so funny! I missed the opening remarks, but I'm sure they were interesting, as well.

Anyway, have I sold you yet?? Get your tickets for The Last Remaining Seats already! They are mostly sold out, except for the last two. Here's the link: http://www.laconservancy.org/remaining/index.php4

Week 3: The Importance of Being Prepared

So, although I didn't keep track of week 2's breakfasts with blog posts, I did have a great week of eating interesting and delicious vegan foods. I think I started detoxing and was pretty tired last week, and my mind was really foggy, which is probably the reason why I didn't manage to blog every morning! Anyway, I will be better this week, because I really thinking the blog has helped me to stay on track. All of that aside, I ended up having a bunch of foods yesterday that normally would have been treats to me - hot chocolate (nonvegan), tea sandwiches with cream cheese, maracoons and pizza with cheese and sausage. I felt a little like indulging in what I thought would be yummy stuff (even though I knew they were not "kind" foods), but I ended up feeling so sick by the end of the night... bloated (I never used to feel like this!), heartburn-y, and head-achey. Ugh! So, that sure showed me - after nearly 2 weeks of eating great yummy healthy foods, my body totally rejected this gross stuff I put into it, and I won't soon do that again.

Next time, I think it would be helpful to keep sweets somewhat on hand to indulge without totally giving in to the crap, and also to bring food to parties to share and to make sure I eat how I want to eat. (Yesterday, at a Lost viewing party, I brought Malibu Monkey lemonade and macaroons from Chocolate Box Cafe.... sooo good, but I should have brought something more substantive for myself).

I think I also have to be wary of eating anything with white or cane sugar.... I'm such a sugar addict! I need to try out some of the brown rice syrup recipes so I can have some sweets without totally going on a sugar meltdown.

Yard Sale 5/23/10

I'm having a yard sale tomorrow! Come on over bright & early for some shopping. I'll also have a basket of fresh eggs... while supplies last!

6:00 AM to 12 NOON

Details here: FANTASTIC YARD SALE! May 23, 2010 ... - Malibu, CA 90265

- PennySaverUSA

"Write the Future" Best Nike Ad Ever

Bam!

World Cup starts June 11th. Here's how to watch, from ESPN:

ESPN will air 44 FIFA World Cup matches from South Africa – the most ever for the network in one tournament. ESPN2 will feature 10 matches. ABC will broadcast 10, beginning with the U.S. Men’s National Team’s tournament opener vs. England on Saturday, June 12, at 2 p.m. ET in Rustenburg. The tournament will conclude on ABC with the title match Sunday, July 11, at 1:30 p.m. ET from the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Coverage will begin Friday, June 11, on ESPN, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV, with the tournament’s opening match at 9:30 a.m. from the Soccer City in Johannesburg, host country South Africa versus Mexico.

L’origine du monde

I happened across this "only in Paris" moment captured on a Parisian English-language blog, and had to share. A mural-sized and EDIBLE version of Gustave Courbet's "L’origine du monde", considered "the artistic gold standard of female genetalia portraiture" has been installed in Paris by the artistic duo Zoom. It is a highly pixelated version of the painting composed of dark and white chocolate, cheese and bread. Inspired by the 1866 original hanging nearby in the Musee d'Orsay, the artists wanted to "titillate ALL the senses while experiencing art." It's hard to improve upon such a celebrated piece, especially such a beautiful form, but chocolate always adds a certain thrill...! Check out the video below that accompanies a serendipitous meeting.

"Tighten Up" Official Video

Happy Friday.

Spotlight on Matter of Trust

I heard about this great environmental organization called Matter Of Trust via Alicia Silverstone's blog post on The Kind Life, and I wanted to share their fantastic solution to the oil spill situation in the Gulf Coast. As they explain in the video below, they use hair clippings mailed to them from individuals, hair salons and pet groomers and stuff them into old nylon stockings to create what they call 'hair booms.' These hair booms float in water and, as if by magic, soak up oil completely! They are currently mobilizing volunteers and have storage locations set up to receive hair & nylons.

Here's what they're saying about it on their website:

A huge International Natural Fiber Recycling mobilization is currently taking place to help get hair boom to the Gulf Coast Spill. We have 19 donated warehouses spread along Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida that are receiving hair from donors all over the US, Canada and beyond! There are thousands of volunteers signing up to have Stocking Stuffers and Bar B Q parties where they're making the boom. They're calling them Boom B Qs.

If you or your pet is getting a hair cut soon, definitely ask to keep the clippings so you can mail to Matter of Trust or have a Boom-B-Que with your friends! Also, why not ask your salon to send ALL their clippings, or volunteer to do it for them? In order to send in hair or nylons, or your completed boom, you need to:

1. Sign up with Excess Access via the Matter of Trust website... accessible HERE.
2. Click the Activation link that they email to you.
3. You will then receive an email with a location of where to send stuff. This is important and unique, as they are coordinating space in donated warehouses along the Gulf Coast to make sure distribution is efficient. (This may take a while, as they are sending emails out in waves once daily at 12pm PST.)
4. Once you have been emailed an address, get started with these instructions from MoT:
5. Set aside a designated box and line it with a plastic bag so hair (and fur, fleece & feathers) can't slip out.
6. Put all waste hair & natural fibers in the bag!
7. After you've filled it with hair, tie the top of the bag and tape the box shut.
8. Mark the boxes DEBRIS FREE HAIR (FUR, FLEECE, FEATHERS) or NYLONS.
9. Mail boxes in to the address(es) we provide you by email AFTER you sign up.

Hair specifications:

- ideally shampooed, but it doesn't have to be
- any length is fine
- every type of hair is fine but only HEAD hair, please!

-dread locks are OK to send, although we find they have fungus inside when cut open, so please separate in their own bag and mark "DREADS". They are handled separately.

- we also accept fur and other natural fibers like waste wool, alpaca fleece, horse hair, feathers

-please make sure hair and fibers are mainly free of garbage and other contaminants

- we also accept washed, used (even with runs) nylon stocking donations in a separate bag, please.

You can read more about the Gulf Coast project and Matter of Trust's other programs HERE. Here's a video about how to make your own boom... so easy!

"Cosmic Love" Video

I saw Florence + The Machine live last fall. What a thrilling performance! Her presence is so powerful and engaging; definitely one of the best shows I've been to. This song and "The Dog Days Are Over" are my favorites.

Dior Debuts "Lady Blue Shanghai" Directed by David Lynch

The French fashion house debuted its latest short film, "Lady Blue Shanghai", today, which centers around the mysterious appearance of a Lady Dior handbag in a hotel room. Written and directed by David Lynch, the short stars Marion Cotillard and features the art direction of John Galliano.

Though this is essentially a 16 minute advertisement for a purse, the Lady Dior itself has very little screentime, and in fact, I found my attention drawn more toward Cotillard's tailored skirt-suit, the old-timey tune blaring from the record player, and the gorgeous peek at Shanghai furnishings of a bygone era. I'm not sure that I would call this a "successful" ad, as, other than a potential purchase from iTunes, it didn't spur an acquisitive impulse in me. I am still thinking about it, though, but probably not for the reasons intended.

I initially wanted to post the videos just to share them, but after letting them sink in a while, I realized there is more to say about the film, in terms of what it says about our society. While I can appreciate the foray into film as an effective form of advertising and a beautiful art form at that, I'm wary of art that glorifies an object, especially one as subject to fleeting fashions as a handbag. I can only think of all the energy, talent, and resources that went into the making of this film (not to mention the purse!), and I can't help but think it a tremendous waste: all that to sell a purse? One that will be out of fashion in 6 months? I don't mean to single out the Lady Dior or demonize luxury goods altogether; I just think that for Marion Cotillard, John Galliano and David Lynch to all get together on a project, I expect it to result in something a little more meaningful than a drive for consumerism. (Though I guess they've got to eat, too).

Consumerism in America has often been lauded as a saving grace - helping the country to bounce back after World War II and encouraged by President Bush after the attacks of September 11th. No doubt our current economy is in dire need of a little saving, but so much of what I've been reading recently indicates that what has worked in the past is no longer a viable, sustainable option.

The fashion industry is primarily an economy fueled by consumer purchases, so what happens to the creation of beautiful, awe-inspiring wearable art when people reconsider their purchasing impulses and buy vintage or heaven forbid, keep wearing the same clothes? Perhaps someday in the near future, visionary artists will come up with news ways to showcase the tremendous talents of the fashion industry without feeding into the mania of perceived obsolescence and retail shopping as "therapy". Until then, beneath Parts 1 & 2 of "Lady Blue Shanghai" I've included "The Story of Stuff" which explains exactly why shopping is no longer a solution to our economic problems and how it actually contributes to many of our current crises: health, environmental, financial, and others. You can learn more about The Story of Stuff Project here.

Week 1: Saturday Breakfast

Okay, so I woke up really hungry and craving something sort of indulgent. Unfortunately I didn't really prepare anything in advance, so I cut some corners. I made myself a quick bowl of oatmeal while I attempted to create a modified waffle recipe. We had Bisquik, but I decided I didn't want to mess around with bleached white flour, so I followed the Biskquik baking instructions using organic unrefined flour, some almond milk, some orange marmalade and, mistaking it for olive oil, some white truffle oil! (Ooops). The truffle oil made it pretty savory, but the consistency of the waffles was tough and chewy, and I think I can definitely improve up this. It tasted okay, but it was too sweet of a meal overall, and I should have balanced it with more veggies and maybe some veggie bacon or something along the lines of protein. Anyway, it wasn't terrible, but it did remind me to stay on track while I was eating and drinking at a wedding later that afternoon.

Week 1: Friday Breakfast

Today was a sort of dismal breakfast - in a rush, and all I could grab was some toasted cinnamon raisin bread with orange marmalade. It tasted good, but not very filling or balanced. I also had some baby carrots in the car. Still, I've been on track so far this week; I think writing about my breakfast really helps me stay in tune to my eating habits. I've been eating vegan now for 6 days, and pretty healthy at that! (Not like a gummy bear-only diet).

I made a really excellent ginger tofu dish and a bok choy salad one night this week...check out the photos below. It took a while for the tofu to marinate and for the rice to cook, but overall, it was delicious! Really, I will make this again. I think the key to eating according to "the kind diet" is preparing in advance (so you don't have to wait an hour before your food is ready to eat) and taking the time to cook flavorful, interesting meals. If all I ate was rice and beans every night, I would hate eating! (Even though I love both rice and beans). Eating is supposed to be enjoyable, and I have to say, so far the times I've made one of Alicia Silverstone's recipes, I've been really happy with the results. (Check out her book The Kind Diet for the recipe). I'm ready for the weekend for some more food experimenting!

Week 1: Thursday Breakfast

I missed posting about this yesterday, but I had a nice modified "oatmeal" breakfast. I had a lot of leftover rice, and just added my usual maple syrup, apples, cinnamon, walnuts & flaxseed oil... very good! It was cold, though, so not ideal.

ReVamp Your Wardrobe

I just discovered ReVamp in Downtown Los Angeles, while on a quest to find a vintage card case. I am so excited to spend more time perusing the website, and I am definitely booking a 1930's hair and makeup how-to class for my friend and myself this summer. In the meantime, for all you vintage style lovers out there, feast your peepers on this:

Cotton Candy for Your Eyes & Ears

1963 film by super avant-gardist Jeff Keen, titled "Flik Flak". (via Art Forum)

Acapulco Nights, St. Tropez Mornings After

Cointreau and Chanel are channeling the glamorous festivity and indulgence of by-gone eras in their recent promotional films. One thing is constant - summer dance parties never go out of style.

Check out Cointreau's "Original Margarita Story" below starring Dita von Teese looking glorious as ever in bakelite bangles, and reminding us that the classic drink recipe always includes Cointreau. Karl Lagerfeld's "Remember Now" features Baptiste Giabiconi and Freja Beha in Chanel's 2011 Cruise Collection.

Bobs, Poodle Skirts, Acid Wash Jeans, and Peas

Today for lunch I brought some leftover brown rice and black beans, and a handful of English peas. Growing up, we grew peas on the vine in my backyard. I don't know if they were specifically "English" or not, but I always used to eat them pod and all. When I bit into one of these English pea pods that I brought, it was so tough and not at all chewable! So of course I googled the proper way to eat these. What I found, in addition to learning that the pods are best eaten when steamed, was delightful! Peas have an under-publicized pop history, according to Leah A. Zeldes of Dining Chicago. She writes:

They were mainly used dried until the 17th century, when green peas became all the rage in the French court as Françoise d’Aubigné, marquise de Maintenon, wrote in 1696: “This subject of peas continues to absorb all others, the anxiety to eat them, the pleasure of having eaten them and the desire to eat them again, are the three great matters which have been discussed by our princes for four days past. Some ladies, even after having supped at the Royal table and well supped too, returning to their own homes at the risk of suffering from indigestion, will again eat peas before going to bed. It is both a fashion and a madness.”

When was the last time a vegetable was all the rage! Too funny.

Week 1: Wednesday Breakfast

This morning I got up a little earlier and made the totally delicious oatmeal that I tested out on Sunday. It is SO filling, and SO sweet! I made it the same way I did Sunday, but I'm thinking I can start lessening my use of maple syrup as I don't normally use that anyway. (Are there health benefits to maple syrup?) I accidentally doused my bowl of steaming oats a bit too much with flaxseed oil, but I think I'll live. Flaxseed oil is apparently good to have daily, so since I don't think I had any yesterday or the day before, I should be nicely provided for! Here's what the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine says about flaxseed oil as a good source of omega-3 fatty acids:

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are important in the normal functioning of all tissues of the body. Deficiencies are responsible for a host of symptoms and disorders including abnormalities in the liver and kidney, changes in the blood, reduced growth rates, decreased immune function, depression, and skin changes, including dryness and scaliness. Adequate intake of the essential fatty acids results in numerous health benefits. Prevention of atherosclerosis, reduced incidence of heart disease and stroke, and relief from the symptoms associated with ulcerative colitis, menstrual pain, and joint pain have also been documented.^{2,3, 4}

It is important for vegetarians to include foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids on a daily basis. Alpha-linolenic acid, a common omega-3 fatty acid, is found in many vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and fruits. The best source of alpha-linolenic acid is flaxseeds or flaxseed oil.

While supplements and added oils are not typically necessary in the vegetarian diet, good sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fats should be included daily. It is important to take these two fats in the proper ratio as well. Omega-6 fatty acids compete with omega-3 fatty acids for use in the body, and therefore excessive intake of omega-6 fatty acids can be a problem. The U.S. diet has become heavy in omega-6 fats and low in omega-3 fats, secondary to a reliance on processed foods and oils. It is necessary to balance this by eating a low-fat diet that is low in processed foods and with fat mainly coming from omega-3 fatty acids.

I used Spectrum's Organic Flaxseed Oil, and it added a barely perceptible nutty flavor, which was nice!

Week 1: Tuesday Breakfast

Yikes, I was a little rushed this morning, but I still managed to make a yummy breakfast to keep with my 4 week vegan goal, albeit on the go! I'll have to plan better for tomorrow, because I can't keep eating the same thing in a row! That oatmeal was really yummy on Sunday; now that I've got some brown rice syrup, I'm interested in trying that out as a sweetener.

Spotlight on SurfMonk (and Tiger Lily)

Today, as summer is slowly extending the daylight (if not the warmth!) of the days, I'd like to highlight SurfMonk, a beach apparel line started by a pair of locals. I initially heard about SurfMonk from my mother, who is friends with the owner, Claudia Taylor. It wasn't until I came across the SurfMonk twitter account that I realized it was all eco-friendly and locally manufactured! That certainly got my attention.

Here's the SurfMonk philosophy:

SurfMonk is 100% committed to sustainable and local manufacturing. Made in Los Angeles, all goods are sweatshop-free, organically dyed and made of raw materials developed without the use of chemicals. We believe in the use of natural resources without destroying the ecological balance of our world.

So, not only can I feel good about buying these products, but they are super cute!! Some of my favorites are below, all of which you can order online here.

SurfMonk also features cool accessories from other brands - my favorite of which is Tiger Lily. My neighbor, Heather Gardner, designs all of Tiger Lily's exquisite, nature-inspired pieces, and I love her stuff. Her feather earrings are featured on the SurfMonk website, but you can also see her whole collection here. Heather was on of the boutique vendors at the Tribute to the Human Spirit Awards gala that I produced last week, and she lent me a beautiful gold/blue Swarovski crystal set of necklaces and earrings for the evening!

Week 1: Monday Breakfast

This morning I had a thick slice of bread from Julian Bakery (of San Diego) with a slather of almond butter and some orange marmalade on top. To add some veggies into the mix, I had a side of baby carrots. A little strange, but very satisfying and yummy!! I like to dip carrots in peanut butter usually anyway, so this was an easy stretch.

Guide to Buying Locally Grown, Seasonally Fresh Produce

Do you live in Southern California, and want to know what's on nature's menu for early May?

Here are two great sources, ready to tell you about this month's "specials":

The National Resource Defense Council has a page specifically devoted to helping you eat locally-grown, fresh produce. All you have to do is type in your State and the half-month you are interested in. For early May in Southern California, the NDRC suggests:

• Apricots
• Artichokes
• Asian Pears
• Asparagus
• Avocado
• Basil
• Beets
• Black-eyed Peas
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Cherries
• Collards
• Corn
• Cucumber
• Dates (Medjool)
• Eggplant
• Figs
• Grapefruit
• Green Beans
• Green Onion
• Green Peas
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Kumquats
• Lemons
• Lettuce
• Mushroom
• Mustard
• Navel Orange
• Nectarines
• Okra
• Onions
• Passion Fruit
• Peaches
• Plums
• Potatoes
• Raspberries
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Summer squash
• Tomatoes
• Turnips
• Valencia Oranges

L.A. Weekly's blog Squid Ink features a "What's In Season at Farmers' Markets" column, that gives great insight into particular featured varieties of your favorite local fruits & veggies. Right now there are so many treats available: ramps, morels, spinach, lettuce, stinging nettles, strawberries, English peas, celery, artichokes, fava beans, cherimoyas, onions, lemons... and lilacs and lavender, too! Stay up on the report by visiting the Farmers' Market Report here.

Alicia Silverstone Speaks About the Kind Diet

All I have to say about this is, I'm so excited and happy that there are people like Alicia in the world! I read Skinny Bitch a couple years ago, and finished Alicia's Kind Diet over the weekend, and her approach to veganism is so much more friendly, empowering and easy-going. Whereas Skinny Bitch is somewhat of a rant-expose, luring readers in with the promise of weight loss, and then completely getting in their faces about everything from sugar to beef, Alicia is so radiant with health and love that her lifestyle is naturally attractive, and I can't help but want to share it. So here you go...

For Kicks: Leon Russel "Jumpin' Jack Flash/Young Blood" Medley

I heard this on the radio recently, and fell in love! The talent on the stage for Bangladesh is awesome. Enjoy!

Week 1: Sunday Breakfast

Today I made my first official breakfast on The Kind Diet, "Quick Date-Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal", taken from a recipe off Alicia Silverstone's vegan list. Technically, this was only Quick Apple-Cinnamon oatmeal as I didn't have any dates on hand. Now, I am a long-time lover of oatmeal, but this was particularly delicious and super easy to make. Usually I boil two cups water, add in a cup of oats, turn off the heat and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then I add in some cinnamon, and that's usually it. Since I've been staying away from milk lately, it hasn't had the douse of milk I used to add.

However, today's oatmeal was quicker and tastier, and Alicia-approved! Yay! I boiled some water in a saucepan, and meanwhile combined the following in a stainless steel mixing bowl:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup (more like 1... I was at the bottle of the bottle)
• 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts (I used a handful and broke them into pieces)
• 1/3 crisp apple, cut in cubes
• some ground up sea salt
• 3 shakes ground cinnamon
• a drizzle of flaxseed oil

Once I'd combined those, I got the pot of water, turned off the stove, and poured the water over the mixture so that the oats were just barely covered. I put a lid on the bowl, and let it sit for 2 minutes or so, and it was ready! It was sooo yummy and very filling. I have a nice warm feeling in my belly now, and I feel very relaxed.