My Favorite Things

I was just watching Oprah's Favorite Things show, and I decided to do my own. Unfortunately, I can't give these things out to my audience.

Ecco Bella Vanilla Lotion

This is the best lotion ever. It is preservative free, water-free, vegan, 70% organic ingredients. But the reason I love it so much is the amazing scent. And the scent lasts longer than any lotion I've ever used.

Lovers Tarot

These cards came into my life when I was around 14 and I've been a devotee ever since. The cards are gorgeous. And they guide book is beautifully written and deadly accurate. 

Aura Cacia Patchouli/Sweet Orange Aromatherapy Mist

Every time I'm in Whole Foods I head to the essential oils section and spray some on. I love the combination of earthy patchouli and refreshing orange.

Tish and Snooky's Manic Panic Hair Dye

I've been using this stuff for over 10 years now. The colors are so pretty and it's really easy to use. My hair has literally been ever color of the rainbow. It's also cruelty free.

Source Naturals Coenzymate B Complex Orange Flavored Sublingual Tablets

It's a good idea for vegans to supplement B12. You can feel a huge energy boost from these vitamins immediately. They taste horrendous, but it's worth it.
   

Baldur's Gate

I've spent way too many hours playing this game. It's easy to get immersed in the lands you're exploring. I love customizing the characters looks and personalities. The characters you meet on your journey will stay with you for years. 

Purely Decadent Coconut Milk Ice Cream Mint Chip

This is the best mint chocolate chip ice cream I've ever had, and it has less than half the fat of dairy ice cream, contains only 65% of the calories, cholesterol free, no trans fats, certified vegan, and certified made with organic ingredients.

True Hallucinations by Terence McKenna

Seventh Generation  Lemongrass & Thyme Disinfecting Wipes
These wipes kill over 99.99% of household germs, specifically: Influenza A, Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on hard, nonporous surfaces. I would prefer the scent of orange or lemon, but the thyme isn't bad when you get used to it. I like using them on my keyboard and phone.

Llewellyn Witches Calendar

POM Wonderful Pomegranate Peach Passion White Tea

This tea is the perfect blend of juice and tea. I wish I could make this at home and it would taste as good. At almost $5.00 a bottle, it's rare that I get to enjoy this tea.

Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette

Bad Actors. Terrible script. But that doesn't even matter because the set and wardrobe are so stunning. Filmed at Versailles and shoes by Manolo Blahnik, can it get more fabulous than that? 

Earwigs

When I moved into my apartment I had some earwigs living with me. They look creepy but I grew quite fond of them. 

Here are some interesting facts about earwigs.

Many earwig species display maternal care, which is uncommon among insects. Female earwigs are known to take care of their eggs, and even after they have hatched as nymphs.

Earwig fossils have been found dating back 208 million years.

The name may be related to the old wives' tale that earwigs burrowed into the brains of humans through the ear and laid their eggs there.

Earwigs rarely fly, even though they are capable of flight.

Earwigs are harmless to people.

The eggs and nymphs are also cannibalized by other earwigs.

The male and female will live in a chamber in debris, crevices, or soil. After mating, the sperm may remain in the female for months before the eggs are fertilized. From midwinter to early spring, the male will leave, or be driven out by the female.

If the mother dies before the nymphs are ready to leave, the nymphs may eat her.

Pure Integrity Candles

These candles are such a fabulous find. I found them by googling "strongest smelling candles." Supposedly, the scent of these candles are so strong that it will fill a large space in your home. They are soy candles which are vegan and apparently not harmful to ones health like petroleum based candles. The scents are incredible, but that's not the only reason I love these candles. They are are categorized by a system which rates the strength of the aroma. Light, Moderate, Strong, Very Strong, and Wow. Love that! Pure Integrity is a family business based in Buffalo and all candles are hand made.

I ordered the Vanilla Almond and Victorian Christmas for myself and a Lilac for my Mom. They candles arrived incredibly fast. The package included a personal note and two sample tealight candles in the scent of Hot Mulled Cider, in a pretty white organza bag. The jars are beautiful frosted glass with a wooden top. The scents are very true to life. I must say I thought they fell a little short of the claim of filling a large space which was disappointing. But aside from that I was very pleased with the candles and will buy again. I definitely recommend these, with over 70 unique scents to chose from they would make a perfect gift for anyone.

Click here to check out the website.

Sage

If burning sage cleanses your home of negative energies, does eating sage cleanse your body of negative energies?

Sea Monkeys

Sea Monkeys are a variant of brine shrimp, a species which enters cryptobiosis, a natural state of suspended animation, allowing their cysts (dormant saclike embryos) to be distributed and sold as a dry powder. When the "powder" is poured into saltwater, the Sea-Monkeys start to come out of their cysts. They can stay in the state of suspended animation for up to 50 years.

I find this so fascinating!

What if...

trees had feathers and birds had leaves?

Bay Leaves

I am so fond of using bay leaves in my rice and soups, it makes such a difference. 

The laurel tree that the bay leaf comes from was very important both symbolically and literally in both Greece and Rome. Bay leaves can also be scattered in a pantry to repel meal moths, flies and roaches. The Romanies would place a dried Bay Leaf underneath their pillow on St. Valentine's Day. It was believed that the leaf would cause the user to dream of his or her future marriage partner. In the Middle Ages, bay leaves were believed to induce abortions and to have many magical qualities.

My Favorite Baby Names

Boys

Clay

Dusk

Dwight

Ebenezer

Eros

Indigo

Leaf

Lionel

Marcel

Mordred

Prism

Puck

Girls

Antoinette

Bijou 

Cleopatra

Gardenia

Imoen

Jasmine

Jewel

Lilac

Luxie

Prismina

Raven

Valentina

My favorite baby names websites are BabyNameGenie.com and Nymbler.com.

Portabella and Walnut Pasta

I made a really delicious vegan pasta the other day, even my meat lover friend and her young daughter loved it so I thought I would share.

1 box of your favorite pasta

2 big portabella caps

1 cup of walnuts

4 cloves of garlic

half a cup of fresh oregano or basil or both

olive oil

salt

Boil and drain pasta, toss with olive oil and salt, set aside.

Slice and sautee portabellas in olive oil. Add to pasta.

Chop walnuts. Bake them on a cookie sheet, in a single layer, at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes, checking frequently.  Add to the pasta.

Mince garlic and herbs then mix the into the pasta.

Thats it!

True Colors

I would love to find a line of cosmetics that are true to real life colors. Like a lipgloss that is the exact color of blood, an eyeshadow that is true sky blue, or a flamingo pink blush.

Natural Beauty Products

I wish there were some truly natural beauty products made from the purest of ingredients. Why can't we make foundation out of mud and coconut?