Sometimes it is not enough to get yourself looking gorgeous, your surroundings have to set the mood. As a self-professed candle junkie I can tell you that not any old candle fits the bill. Sure, they have to be clean burning and non-toxic, but let’s be real – the scent is what it’s all about. It is such a let down to get a candle that smells great in the jar, then produces nothing but the smell of…well, burning candle… once lit.
The perfect little candle recently made its way across my desk (and on to my vanity) and is the lovely and luxurious scent of fresh island plumeria. And who is the creator of such a deliciously scented room enhancer? None other than (straight from the tropics) Malie Organics. Made from clean-burning soy and kukui oils, it is petroleum-free and burns by way of cotton wick for a nice long 60 hours. Comes in a simple glass container with nothing but the tasteful, gold Malie symbol on the front. Chic and elegant.
Summer is starting to wind down, and it’s time to say goodbye to weeks of eating far, far too much delicious ice cream. Thanks for all of the great comments and suggestions. You guys really helped take this challenge to the next level!
After six weeks of grueling, scientific research, here is my favorite flavor and the runner-up:
It’s been hovering in the upper 90s here in Atlanta, and weather like this makes me crave ice cream like no other. This year, I’m on the hunt for my favorite vegan ice cream! The plan is to try new pints each week and share my findings right here. I know, it’s a tough life I’ve got.
This is going to be the last week for this challenge. Next week, I’ll do a wrap up and pick a favorite!
While staring at the frozen foods, I realized that despite reviewing vegan ice creams for weeks and weeks, I’d somehow managed to not pick a soy-based brand the entire time! Let’s be honest here: part of that was intentional. I’m not a fan of that soy aftertaste, especially in desserts. Still, in the name of science, it felt like the right thing to do, so I grabbed a pint of Soy Delicious green tea ice cream. This is a soy-based brand made by Turtle Mountain: the same folks who produce the Purely Decadent coconut-based ice creams. It’s gluten free and the label touts that it’s “fruit sweetened.” Here’s how it stacked up:
Here’s another entry into the eco-friendly yarn field, again from Sirdar. I’ve already covered Sirdar’s Eco Wool, but this yarn is plant based. Just Soya is a lovely little yarn made from 100% soybean fibers.
Generally softer than cotton, Just Soya is another great summer yarn. It is silky, smooth and comes in DK weight. Perhaps a summer shawl or tank would be perfect to whip up in this yarn.
In news that may make supermarket label readers and organic consumers even more wary, a recent report raised serious questions about many brands of soy products.
The investigation by The Cornucopia Institute included a survey, in person visits to farm and processing facilities, and a review of import data from over 60 soy product companies. The report included a scorecard of each company as well as a comprehensive 54 page report outlining their findings of the overall industry.
There are always sooooooo many events going on during the week of Earth Day, which is technically on Wednesday, Aprill 22nd, it’s hard to know which to choose. But at least there’s a searchable database that contains what appears to be a complete listing – there are 49 events within 25 miles of my 90401 zip code.
A few look particularly interesting, like the Soyjoy-sponsored Battle of the Chefs: Eco-cuisine. Each chef is charged with creating three different soy-based dishes on site, with the winner scooping up a $15,000 prize package (wanna bet there’s a lot of soy products in it?) There’s even a celebrity judge (Julianna Moore) – it is LA after all – to taste the well-known chefs’ concoctions. The best news is that you can to, if you go to the event on the 22nd.
Malie Mango Nectar Luxe Cream Soap instantly transports you to that first step off of the tarmac once you hit Hawaii. This luxury cleansing bar (isn’t there just something about a bar?) is creamy, dreamy, smooth and leaves you and your shower smelling of sweet mango-y goodness. Skin is left soft and lightly scented.
Enriched with the hydrating properties of Kukui Nut, Macadama Nut and Coconut Oils, this easy to grip bar moisturizes and nourishes skin. Malie fruit and flower hydrosols add exquisite, pure scent and aromatherapeutic power to this luscious hand and body cleanser. Also comes in koke’e (a crisp, green scent), coconut vanilla, plumeria, and pikake (Hawaiian Jasmine).
Kids who eat bacon and other meats containing nitrites more than once a week have a 74 percent increased risk of leukemia than children who did not eat these foods.
Conversely, children whose ate veggies and soy regularly have more protection against cancer.
I suppose it all started with tofu, some three thousand years ago. Logically, soymilk, with its nine essential amino acids quickly followed. Many of us, as infants, were fed soy formula instead of milk. Now you can walk in to just about any major chain restaurant and find a veggie burger, made from soy. But the soy revolution has only really just begun. Soybeans are used to make paints, insulation, adhesives, inks, foam for seat cushions, and biodiesel, of course.
Is there anything that soy cannot do? Perhaps not. Scientists at Agricultural Research Service (ARS), a scientific research agency of the USDA, are experimenting with the use of defatted soy flour, to take the place of traditional petroleum based fillers that increase tensile strength and wear in tires.
I have to admit, I was a little hesitant to post this video. Is it greenwashing? It feels a lot like propaganda, but why do I think that only geeks in garages can invent cool things for the environment? Why do I distrust major companies, especially the American automobile industry to truly go green?
This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of ProformaGreen, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy. John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry.
All you North American eco hotels, yoga studios, cafes, craft shops and spas, rejoice. There is finally a US company making soy candles in the US from US materials that can do large scale runs.
Decarte Products pronounced “Da Kart” specializes in creating a premium fragrance 100% soy candle, and they were at the Promotional Products Association International event in Fort Worth showing off their new line.
The best thing about this company - aside from the US manufacturing - is that they specialize in candles only, unlike most other manufactures that carry candles, if at all, as an after thought.
Sometimes it is not enough to get yourself looking gorgeous, your surroundings have to set the mood. As a self-professed candle junkie I can tell you that not any old candle fits the bill. Sure, they have to be clean burning and non-toxic, but let’s be real – the scent is what it’s all about. It is such a let down to get a candle that smells great in the jar, then produces nothing but the smell of…well, burning candle… once lit. 
Malie Mango Nectar Luxe Cream Soap
