My husband is a big football fan, so Super Bowl Sunday calls for some special man-food. Last year, he wanted burgers, beans, and potato salad.

Here’s what we made:

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For the burger, we used Boca brand patties. In general, I prefer handmade veg burgers to the prepackaged, frozen kind, but these are convenient when you need them quickly or want to bring them to a BBQ. If you're looking for something to bring to a party, the Cheesy Oozy Guacamole Bean Dip from The Kind Diet also makes excellent game fare.

What are your favorite brands of veg burgers? Do you have a favorite frozen kind? Share in the comments below, and don’t forget to tell me what you plan to eat for Super Bowl Sunday!

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When I need makeup for work, for a fun night out, or for a business meeting, I want the stuff that will make me look my best! There are soooo many makeup options out there in the world… it’s almost enough to drive a woman crazy.


The good news is that by having specific requirements for what kind of makeup (or any of your beauty products) you will use really narrows down the playing field, and can make finding the perfect makeup less overwhelming.

I feel that I have really done my research, living this way for so many years, and having so many make-up artist friends help me sort through the endless companies out there to find the ones that perform the best. I’ve been lucky enough to have Robert Steinken, a fabulous hair and make-up artist, and Kara Yoshimoto, another great make-up artist, help me out on my search.



Just beware, cause some natural companies have some seriously not cute, and sometimes downright scary looking metallic colored products. Some companies that I mention in my lists as my favorites might make other products that aren’t that great.  Just because I love a certain brand’s concealer doesn’t mean that their eye shadows won’t be really scary and metallic…  So just be careful! The best thing to do is go test out products at green stores or Whole Foods, to find the best ones for you.



Now remember, with great diet, most of the time I don’t wear any makeup, and still feel pretty and fresh… And you should feel that way too!  But I know it’s fun to get all done up sometimes, so, here we go with my list.  These are my favorites in makeup… What are yours?  I’d love to hear about what you guys use and love.


Foundation

I usually just use Zuzu Luxe Concealer instead of foundation, and just do spot treatments, instead of covering my whole face.  When I’m working I usually need the heavier stuff for the camera.  But I haven’t found a foundation that I swear by, so I need your recommendations!  I like Kiss My Face Tinted Moisturizer a lot, but when I read the ingredients it seems kind of unnatural to me, so I wonder why not just use the icky regular stuff? I think it’s better than the regular stuff, but not sure how much.
 
These foundations seem like good options, and please let me know what you use!



• Suki Tinted Active Moisture
• Bare Minerals SPF 15 Foundation

Mascara

I love all of these, but remember, we are looking for better choices.  I don’t think that any of these are perfect... But I do know that they are way better than Maybelline, and all of those other regular brands out there on the market.  But just a warning… some of these mascaras contain beeswax, and some have parabens.  It sucks, but it’s true.  So you have a couple of options: You can opt to wear no mascara at all, or you can use one of these ones below and be thrilled that these companies are at least doing a better job than all of the other icky companies out there!  That said, all of these work great!! And I love that they are, to my knowledge, the most natural ones out there.

-La Bella Donna Mineral Mascara

Ingredients: Silk, Ceramide 2 and mineral pigments.
Yes, this is made with silk, it’s true.  But I’m grateful that it appears to be a less nasty option than most mascaras on the market.

-Gabriel Cosmetics Mascara 

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Carnuba Wax, Stearic Acid, Panthenol, Tocopherol Acetate, Iron Oxides, Ultramarines, Cellulose Gum, Grapeseed Extract.

-Zuzu Luxe Mascara

Ingredients: Aqua (infusion of aloe barbadensis leaf juice), cellulose gum, sorbitol, stearic acid, cetearyl alcohol, lecithin, panthenol, sea fennel extract, tocopheryl acetate, eyebright extract, xanthan gum, iron oxides, hectorite, titanium dioxide, potassium sorbate
A note about cetearyl alcohol:  watch out, because sometimes it can be made from animal ingredients.  In this mascara, its made from vegetable sources, but if you can, try and check with the company to make sure it comes from a plant.

-Ecco Bella FlowerColor Natural Mascara

Ingredients: Purified water, carnauba wax, palmitic acid (from palm oil), clay, methylparaben, propylparaben, iron oxides.
They use parabens, which is a bummer.

-Josie Maran Mascara 
Ingredients: White Beeswax, Carnauba Wax, Polyisobutene, Isododecane, Propylene Carbonate, Quaternium-18, Hecorite, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Isoeicosane, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Simmondsia Chinenesis (Jojoba) Oil*, Linseed Oil*, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol. May Contain: Iron Oxides, Black Iron Oxides, Mica
This one contains beeswax, and other not-so-natural stuff
.

-Aveda Mascara Plus Rose 
Ingredients:
 Carnauba wax , Natural beeswax , Rose Carnauba, Copernicia cerifera

These are the ingredients that are most commonly found in non-vegan makeup products, so look out for these, and try and avoid them if you can:

• Carmine or cochineal - coloring made from ground insect
• Lanolin – sheep fat
• Beeswax/pollen/bee products
• Lard  -  pig fat
• Tallow -  beef fat
• Parabens
• Lactose/ lactalbumin
• Milk/Whey products
• Propolis - a mixture that bees use to seal their beehives
• Elastin (from cows)
• Hyaluronic acid  - animal connective tissue

Concealer

-Ecco Bella FlowerColor Coverup: I use this under my eyes
Ingredients: Castor Oil
, Isopropyl Palmitate (from palm oil)
, Candellia Wax
, Beeswax , Organic Calendula Oil
, Organic Chamomile Oil
, Organic Jojoba oil
, !00 IU Vitamin E
, Titanium Dioxide, Flower wax, iron oxides
This one has beeswax in it, which is a bummer, but true.  However, this product is way better than the regular concealers out there and it works great. 



-Zuzu Luxe Concealer: I use this one as spot treatment on my face, instead of foundation. 

Ingredients: Deionized water
, Squalane
, Cetyl Alcohol
, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
, Kaolin
, Glyceryl Stearate
, Stearic Acid
, Cetyl Esters
, Lecithin
, Polysorbate 20
, Xanthan Gum
, Simenthicone
, Grapeseed Extract



Powder

I love both of these



-La Bella Donna Loose Mineral Foundation
Ingredients: Micronized Titanium Dioxide SPF 20 (non chemical sunblock)
, Bismuth Oxychloride (has anti inflammatory properties)
, Zinc Oxide (has anti inflammatory properties)
, Iron Oxides (the source of color)

-Bare Minerals Mineral Veil Finishing Powder
Ingredients: Corn Starch
, Zinc Stearate
, Magnesium Stearate
, Iron Oxides


Blush

I love these, they are all very pretty.

-La Bella Donna Compressed Mineral Blush: I’m loving this one right now!!!

Ingredients: Micronized Titanium Dioxide SPF 20 (non chemical sunblock)
, Bismuth Oxychloride (has anti inflammatory properties)
, Zinc Oxide (has anti inflammatory properties)
, Iron Oxides (the source of color)



 -Bare Minerals Blush 
Ingredients: Mica, Bismuth Oxychloride
, Titanium Dioxide
, Iron Oxides
, Carmine

-Gabriel Cosmetics Blush
Ingredients: Mica, Cetyl Palmitate
, Silica
, Kaolin
, Zinc Stearate
, Jojoba Seed Oil
Caprylic/Capril Triglyceride
, Lecithin
, Sea Fennel Extract
, Tocopherol
, Iron Oxides
, Titanium Dioxide

-Dr. Hauschka Rouge Powders: I have used this blush for years, but now I am in love with my  La Bella Donna blush, and I think that this is the least natural of the bunch
Ingredients: Talc, Kaolin (a white clay) , Diatomaceous Earth/Solum Diatomeae, 
Magnesium Stearate,  
Anthyllis Vulneraria Extract, 
Rosa Gallica (Rose) Flower Extract, 
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, 
Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, 
Silk/Serica Powder, 
Mica, 
Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, 
Camellia Sinensis (Black Tea) Leaf Extract
, Fragrance/Parfum (Essential Oil), 
Citronellol, 
Geraniol, 
Linalool (a chemical found in flowers and plants), 
Citral, 
Eugenol, 
Silica, 
Tocopherol (Vitamin E), 
Ascorbyl Dipalmitate
, Carmine/CI 75470,
Tin Oxide, 
Iron Oxides, 
Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, 
Ultramarines/CI 77007

Lip Liner

If anyone has an amazing lip liner, please let me know!  I need one for work.  Seeking vegan, natural, great looking lipliner. These ones on my list are great though, but if you have suggestions I’d love to hear.

-Ecco Bella Lip Liner Pencils
Ingredients: Hydrogenated palm kernel glycerides, 
hydrogenated palm glycerides, 
hydrogenated coconut oil, 
microcrystalline wax, 
carmine, 
japan wax, carnauba wax, 
hydrogenated castor oil, 
titanium dioxide, 
sorbitan palmitate, 
stearalkonium hectorite, 
iron oxide


-Hemp Organics Lip Liner in Spice
Ingredients: Organic coconut oil, 
organic sunflower oil, 
organic hemp seed oil, 
organic jojoba oil, 
carnauba wax, 
japan wax, 
natural vitamin E, 
vegetable stearic acid, 
iron oxide, 
titanium dioxide 


Lip Gloss

-La Bella Donna Lip Sheer 
Ingredients: Micronized titanium Dioxide (non-chemical sun block (SPF 20)), 
Iron Oxides (the source of color), 
Bismuth Oxychloride (anti-inflammatory properties), 
Zinc Oxide (anti-inflammatory properties (soothing to the skin)

)

-Jane Iredale PureGloss for Lips
Ingredients: Bis-Diglyceryl Polyaclydipate-2
, Grape Seed Extract
, Jojoba Esters
, Green Tea Leaf Extract
, Ginger Root Oil
, Pomegranite Extract
, Coconut Oil
, Palm Oil
, Soybean Oil
, Flavor
, Tocopherol
, Ascorbyl Palmitate
, Bisabolol

-Perfect Organics Vegan Lip and Cheek Shimmer in Sydney
Ingredients: Organic Argan Oil
, Organic Shea Butter
, Organic Macadamia Nut Oil
, Organic Aloe Vera


-Boscia Jujube Salve Stick
Ingredients: Jujube Fruit, Macadamia Nut Oil
, Willoherb
, Licorice
, Jojoba Oil, Botanical Squalane
, Jojoba leaf


-Gabriel Cosmetics Lip Gloss
Ingredients: Castor Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate
, Bisabolol
, Candelillia Wax
, Glycine
, Shea Butter
, Jojoba Oil
, Wheat Gern Glycerides
, Aloe Vera Extract
, Chamomile Extract
, Jojoba Esters
, Grapeseed Extract
, Bixane Herb
, Iron Oxides
, Mica
, Titanium Dioxide
, St. John’s Wort Extract
 
   


Lip Balm

I used to love Desert Essence Lip Rescue in Shea Butter, but I found out that it has beeswax in it! So my new favorite is Lisa Ann Skin Care Lip Therapy: Vegan.  If your order some, just make sure to ask for the vegan one, because she has some lip balms that contain beeswax.

I also like Kiss My Face Strawberry Lip Balm but that one has beeswax in it too, which is a bummer…but Lisa Ann’s is amazing, so that wins for me.  No more Kiss My Face or Desert Essence Lip Balm for me. 
 


Eyeshadow

-Zuzu Luxe Eye Shadow: Beware, cause some of their colors are scary… but some are great
Ingredients: Mica, Zinc, Stearate
, Jojoba Oil
, Zinc Oxide, 
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
, Titanium Dioxide
, Iron Oxides
, Ultra Marines
, Grapeseed Extract

-Dr. Hauschka Eye Shadow 
Ingredients: Talc (a mineral)
, Magnesium Stearate (magnesium salt)
, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Extract,
Silk/Serica Powder
, Diatomaceous Earth/Solum Diatomeae, Silica, Anthyllis Vulneraria Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Black Tea) Leaf Extract
, Fragrance/Parfum (Essential Oil), Citronellol, Geraniol, 
Linalool (a chemical found in flowers and plants), Citral, 
Eugenol, 
Tocopherol (Vitamin E), 
Ascorbyl Dipalmitate, Mica, 
Ferric Ferrocyanide (the inorganic of salt)
, Carmine/CI 75470 (red coloring)
, Iron Oxides, 
Titanium Dioxide (naturally occurring oxide of titanium)
, Ultramarines (pigments composed of sodium)

-Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Platonic: This is great for all-over-the-eye shimmer, and a cool vegan dude created this company 
Ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, 
Iron Oxides, 
Ferric Ferrocyanide, 
D&C, Red #7
D&C, Yellow #5
FD&C, Blue #1
I’m not excited about the red, yellow, and blue ingredients… that’s scary.

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I found this great video on Girlie Girl Army and wanted to share! It provides a really nice summary of how cosmetics companies are continuing to put cancer-linked chemicals in everything from shampoo to lipstick. This video is really cool if you have never learned about why products are not safe – if you are a natural cosmetic “flirt,” if you will!

If you are still buying mainstream cosmetics, you should know that there are great alternatives to be found. You can find my recommendations for natural makeup here, and you can also find some of my favorite beauty products in my OpenSky store. One of the best ways you can fight for laws that would regulate cosmetics is to boycott the bad stuff, and use your dollar to vote for what is natural and good. I think you can make a huge difference that way!

Anywho, if you’re not using healthy, eco-friendly cosmetics already, definitely watch this!

What are some of your favorite cosmetics brands?

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This March, my friend Michael, whom you know from my blogs about his wife Lalanya and their baby daughter Geneva, is running the LA Marathon! He’s motivated himself to train by pledging to raise $2,000 for the organization Courage Campaign Institute, which fights against discrimination toward LGBT youth. He has to raise the money by the day of the marathon, which is on March 18 this year. Contributions of any size can help him reach his goal. All donations are completely tax deductible, if you feel compelled and are able to make a donation, you can do so here!
 
Have you ever run a marathon? Share your experience in the comments below.

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Last month’s kind book club selection was Shantaram. It’s a book I love, so I was so happy to see how much you all enjoyed it too! Here are some of the comments you left about the book:

I love it!! This book opened doors to another world for me.  I especially liked the diversity of characters he met. They gave me a glimpse of another life. - Jill

One year ago I spent three weeks in India staying in Mumbai/Bombay before heading north to Panchgani.  The very beginning of the book, with the author’s vivid descriptions, takes me there again. His descriptions of the smells of Bombay have returned me to a place full of hope and spiritual living… - Yogini

I am not quite finished this book yet, but I wanted to get in on the discussion before it closed. At first this book was a bit difficult to get into for me, not sure why because now I can't get enough. I am practally falling asleep before I can put it down, I want to find out more but my eyes won't let me. So far an awesome read, and I can't wait to finish and find out what happens. Since I love this book so much I am going to go out and get all the book club books and read them all. Thank you Alicia for sharing your books with us kind lifers. - Amanda

Thanks to everyone who shared their comments about Shantaram! What books would you like to read next? Share your ideas in the comments below. 

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So, after my last trip to an acupuncture doctor turned into the nightmare I described in my last post, I checked in with my friend, mentor, and all-around rock star, Christina Pirello, to share my frustration and get the lowdown on just what does and doesn’t work about acupuncture.  

As usual, she brought some serious knowledge to the subject. Here’s what she said…

“Acupuncture is not massage. It’s not recreational and it’s not designed to relax you or serve in the same capacity as massage. It’s a brilliant form of natural, non-invasive medicine that can relieve acute symptoms of illness, injury or disease. Chinese medicine’s approach to illness differs greatly from our western view, hinging on the concept of energy balance, and the life force called chi or ki. In much the same way as western doctors look at blood vessels, the medicine of acupuncture looks at energy pathways that run through the body, called meridians.

The thinking behind acupuncture is that disease is caused by a blockage or a stagnation somewhere along a meridian. The concept of acupuncture holds that inserting fine needles into certain points along meridians will stimulate the flow of energy, unblocking the stagnation that is at the root of the problem. 

Acupuncture is used generally for serious chronic or acute symptoms that are causing physical discomfort and, in my view, acupuncture is not to be used lightly. It is strong and while not invasive, quite powerful.   What’s great about acupuncture is that it can change a condition quickly if it’s the right treatment for the right condition. The thing is that the body likes habits, even when those habits are not good for us.  So, many times, an acupuncturist has to do several treatments to get the body’s energy to stay shifted, so to speak, and prevent it from heading on back into the same imbalance that got you in trouble in the first place.

Acupuncture is great for people who eat animal food because they are more prone to energy blockage and stagnation than people who eat a plant-based diet. Our energy tends to move more freely within the body, although we can see weakened and depleted energy from sugar…and then acupuncture can be helpful in strengthening that weak energy.

Often, acupuncture is used for pregnant women whose nausea is taking over their lives. It can really help with that in a few treatments. It is helpful with any kind of acute or chronic body pain in muscles or joints. It can relieve stress and tension, but usually is used in the time of disease. Moving energy can relieve pain, kick start organs to do their jobs and promote vitality. It can’t stop muscle aches from working out, cure anemia, or cure cancer (and in fact can be too strong for some cancers).  It’s strong medicine.

Some people, for various reasons, need supplements, vitamins and things like acupuncture to move their energy and support health. But in most cases, food will do the heavy lifting for creating health. With the exception of B-12 and D, I am of the mind that we get what we need by eating well. 

Many pregnant women are slightly anemic.  That’s no biggie – after all there are 2 lives working here.  Just eat more greens and other iron rich foods. As a vegan, you will always be what doctors call anemic because their standards are based on a meat eating population. And your blood work is perfect, so that speaks for itself.

In the end, acupuncture is to be used as medicine to treat acute or chronic symptoms. If people just want to feel relaxed and more vibrant, then shiatsu is the way to go. It’s a deep enough massage-like technique that will move energy along meridians but will not be as strong and aggressive as acupuncture. 

In the end, it’s all about how we fuel our bodies. The food we choose creates the health we enjoy…or don’t.”

Thank you Christina! How do all you kind lifers feel about acupuncture?

Photo Credit: Innerlight-Wellness

The health section is proudly sponsored by Kaeng Raeng natural detox. Make sure to check out their 3 or 6 day vegan detox programs here:

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Congratulations to Emmy! She is the winner of the Kaeng Raeng cleanse. 

Thanks to everyone who entered. And I want to give a very special thank you to Kaeng Raeng for sponsoring The Kind Life. 

Don’t forget, Kind Life readers can score 15% off a Kaeng Raeng cleanse with coupon code KINDLIFE15. But hurry, the offer only goes through February 1!  

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by

You already know I'm not a fan of factory-farming McDonald's – well it turns out, I'm not alone. 

The fast food mega-chain recently asked customers to tweet their favorite McDonald's stories using the hashtag #McDStories and the campaign backfired in a big way.  there were no happy memories in sight- instead, people tweeted their worst horror stories! Here are some examples:

After about an hour, McDonald's pulled the plug on the Twitter campaign, because their feed was flooded with negative hype.

This is kind of amazing – so many people eat there and seem to accept this establishment as normal, so to have this happen is a huge win!

What do you think this means? How can so many people eat there daily if there is so much negative feedback – do you think times are a-changin?

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I am so grateful for the support Kaeng Raeng has given The Kind Life. Without them we would have a very hard time running this site and sharing with all of you Kind Lifers out there.

- Alicia

Hey Kind Life Readers!  Your response has been so overwhelming this month for Kaeng Raeng that I’m giving away another free 3-Day Beginner program this month.  Tried Kaeng Raeng before?  Enter to win one free!  Just share what you loved most about your detox experience.  Haven’t tried it yet?  You can’t miss this healthy and delicious way to jumpstart your healthier year. 

In case you haven’t heard, Kaeng Raeng is an all natural meal replacement detox program designed to rid your body of harmful toxins, jumpstart weight loss, improve digestion, bolster immunity, and give you that natural vegan glow.  It’s super simple:  just drink one meal replacement pouch 3 times per day for 3 -6 days in addition to raw fruits and vegetables. KR contains no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives, and no harsh chemicals. 

Want to know more about this vegan product and company?  Hear from founder and CEO Lindsay Reinsmith on the creating of Kaeng Raeng:

When we were finishing the formula for Kaeng Raeng, we wanted to maintain the principles of a raw vegan diet, but in a form that was convenient and easy for everyone.  We had some serious criteria for Kaeng Raeng, and we think you’ll love the finished product.

We needed it to be FILLING.  So many detox programs are fasts that can leave you starving and cranky.  That’s why we include 13g of fiber, 15g of non-gmo protein, and 100% daily vitamin needs per serving – so you can have the fullness and energy you need to live your normal daily life. 

We needed it to be SUSTAINABLE.  It was a no-brainer that Kaeng Raeng would be vegan and have a low carbon footprint.  We use local ingredients, buy our fruit directly from farmers in Northern California, and we vet each of our suppliers for eco-friendly practices. 

We needed it to be ACCESSIBLE.  That means it’s suitable for most people’s dietary restrictions AND affordable.  Kaeng Raeng contains no gluten, no nuts, and no dairy or lactose.  It’s also in your price range; other luxury cleanses can cost $100/day. Kaeng Raeng starts at just under $15/day!

We needed it to be GENTLE.  With no stimulants or laxatives, you can go about your normal daily life without interruption.

Don’t miss it!
 
Kind Life readers can score 15% off Kaeng Raeng with coupon code KINDLIFE15 (expires 11:59 PST on Feb 1).

And remember, if you want to win one, just comment on what you loved best about Kaeng Raeng!

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by