Girl looks bangin’ but it’s disappointing that Megan Fox has reportedly given up being vegan because she had “lost too much weight.”

As far as I know, Megan has never said that her being vegan had anything to do with a love for animals, but why is it that people think eating vegan means you need to be skinny? You can be vegan and gain weight. And if you don’t believe me, I’ve got an empty pint of coconut milk chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and some too-tight jeans that say you’re wrong.

*photo via usmagazine.com

That’s why I was glad to see that Eco-Vegan Gal recently wrote a post for Organic Authority explaining why it’s best to avoid microwaving food and suggesting some alternatives. I really only use the microwave to re-heat leftovers, never to cook. Next time I’ve got some leftovers, I’ll try one of EVG’s re-heating methods.

Read Whitney a.k.a. Eco-Vegan Gal’s Alternatives to Microwaving here.

In the end, I really liked them! They painted on smooth, I like the colors (they have a good selection, I want to get more), and the packaging is gorgeous. The polish lasted near-perfect about 3-4 days which, for me, is normal. (If I didn’t wash and scrub dishes, accidentally brush a nail against a pumice stone, and try to pick the plastic wrapping off of kombucha bottles, it would have lasted longer.)

Glad I’ve found a safe, pretty nail polish I actually like!

The polishes I tried are pictured above: Neat (pink), Highland Mist (white) and On The Rocks (base/top coat). In the background is my nail brush, my new favorite tool to clean under my nails.

This salad is almost unbelievably good. I couldn’t stop eating it! It’s also easy to make, with no actual “cooking” required.

Kale Slaw with Peanut Dressing

2 large bunches kale

2 bell peppers

1 large carrot, peeled

3/4 cup roasted, salted peanuts

1/3 cup vegetable oil

3 Tbsp cider vinegar

1 Tbsp light brown sugar or coconut sugar

1/2 tsp salt

Pinch red pepper  flakes (optional)

Tear the kale into small, bite-size pieces. Make sure to use only the leaves, not the thick stems. Toss the kale with the sliced bell peppers. Slice the carrot very thin or create curls with a peeler. Toss with the kale, pepper, and 1/2 cup of the peanuts.

In a chopper or small food processor, puree the remaining 1/4 peanuts, oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and red pepper flakes. Pulse it just a few times so that there are still peanut chunks in the dressing.

Toss the dressing with the slaw and let it sit for at least a few minutes before serving. Really try to massage the dressing into the kale — the more you do, the better the kale will be flavored. If you eat  this salad the next, the flavor have had a chance to soak in even more, so it gets better with age.

**recipe from the kitchn.

Here are a few things I recently made from Appetite for Reduction that Sam and I really enjoyed:

Hottie Black Eyed Peas & Greens from Appetite for Reduction

Isa’s Hottie Black Eyed Peas and Greens

1 tsp olive oil
1 small onion, diced small
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch kale or collard greens, big stems removed, shredded (I tore them up by hand)
1/4 cup water
1/4 tsp salt
2 15 oz. cans black eyed peas, drained and rinsed
1 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1 Tbsp hot sauce
1/4 tsp liquid smoke

Preheat a 4-quart pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion in the oil until translucent, about 5 min. Use nonstick cooking spray if needed (I used Trader Joe’s canola oil spray). Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute more. Add the greens, 1/4 cup water, and salt. Cover the pot and cook down the greens for about 10 min., stirring occasionally. Add the black-eyed peas, tomato sauce, and broth and mix together thoroughly. Cover the pot and cook for about 5 min., stirring occasionally.

Add the hot sauce and liquid smoke, then use a potato masher (or fork) to mash some of the beans (about a quarter of them) to thicken the sauce. Cook for about 5 more minutes, uncovered. Taste for salt and seasoning. You may want to add more hot sauce.

Tortilla Soup from Appetite for Reduction

Isa’s Tortilla Soup

1 tsp olive oil
1 small onion sliced thinly
2 jalapenos, seeded and sliced thinly
1 poblano or green bell peeper, seeded and chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
4 cloves garlic
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp salt
24 oz. whole tomatoes (I used canned diced)
24 oz. vegetable broth
4 oz. baked tortilla chips (about 2 cups)
1 Tbsp ground
1 15 oz. can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
juice from 1 lime

Preheat a 4-quart pot over medium-high heat. Sautè the onions, jalapenos, and poblano pepper in the oil until the onion are translucent, about 5 minutes. Use a little nonstick cooking spray or broth if needed. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes and salt and sauté for another minute.

Break up the tomatoes with your fingers and add them to the pot, including the juice. Fill the tomato can with the vegetable broth and add that to the pot. Mix in the cumin. Crush 2 oz. of the chips into crumbs and add to the pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat to a simmer, add the beans, corn and cilantro and let simmer for 5 more minutes.

Add the lime juice and taste for salt and seasoning. Ladle the coup into bowls, crumble the remaining tortilla chip over the top, garnish with cilantro, and serve.

I wanted to take a hot sec to tell you all about this post on The Kitchn that has a recipe for vegan whipped cream made from coconut milk. It sounds so simple! There are only three ingredients and it looks delicious on top of strawberries. Methinks it’s time for dessert, stat.

Make whipped cream from coconut milk, sugar, and vanilla, courtesy of The Kitchn.

**image via The Kitchn

Here is a video of Free People staff talking about why they created and love their new vegan leather line:

Vegan Leather at Free People from FreePeople on Vimeo.

And here are some of my favorite Free People vegan leather pieces (click images for links):

Vegan Leather Pleated Skirt

Vegan Leather Seamed Pant

*Images via Free People

Anyway, given my love of nails and my love of art, it’s not surprising that my eyes lit up when I saw this video on how to paint Van Gogh’s Starry Night on your nails. My two loves. Together at last. Here is the video, along with some eco, less-chemicals nail polishes that I’ve rounded up to use (just click on the images to get the links):

For the Ligh Blue: Priti Sky Waltz Delphineum

For the Dark Blue: Zoya Polish in Tart

For the White: Zoya in Purity

For the Yellow: Butter London in Cheeky Chops

For the Black: Priti NYC in Black Eyed Susan

And for the Start and Finish: Sparitual Base and Top Coat In One

Until then, I scour the interwebs for clothes, shoes, etc. and try to stay in the ethical/organic realm (and always, of course, vegan). It makes me feel like a good person! (But not that good, because I’m still not buying vintage). In my experience, jeans are one of the hardest items of clothing to find that fit these conditions, but I’ve found a brand that does and looks really cute. Basic. No rhinestones or crazy fraying or anything. Just good basics of organic denim made from independent farmers in India taught sustainable practices. And for every pair of jeans sold they give a quarter of the profits to someone in need. My friends, these saintly jeans are called: Good Society.

These jeans are officially on my wish list.

Women's Boot, $109

Women's Skinny, $109