Fashion Friday: Panda Sustainable Bamboo Sunglasses

This week's fashion find is just begging you to treat your self.

Panda Bamboo Sunglasses are handmade from sustainable bamboo in a variety of finishes and frames. The glasses come in black, brown and natural and each are neutral enough to go with almost any outfit.

The glasses will also provide premium eye protection. The TAC polarized lenses block out 100% of UVA and UVB rays. They are also water resistant and will actually float if you just happen to drop them in the pool.

Panda also works with TOMA (Tribal Outreach Medical Assistance) to provide eye care to those who can't afford it. For each pair of sunglasses sold, Panda provides one free eye exam and a free pair of prescription glasses to a child in need.

At $120 each, the price is definitely higher than your run-of-the-mill drugstore sunglasses. When you consider that each pair is handcrafted and that a good portion of the proceeds goes toward charity, the price is very reasonable.

Shop for your own online or just check out some of our favorites below:

All Hail The Newly-Crowned Sexiest Vegetarians

Well, it's official. You don't have to wait in anticipation any longer. PETA has finally announced the winners of the Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door contest for 2012.

That's right, out of the thousands of notable applicants, voters narrowed the competition to ten finalists and now finally to two winners.

Winners Tiana Rae (San Jose) and Zachary (Brooklyn) have won a trip to Hawaii as a reward for their hotness. So that means a break from beauty pageant responsibilities for Tiana though we assume that Zachary can still enjoy his active lifestyle of yoga, rock-climbing and biking in the Aloha state.

You may be asking, why should I care about these hotties winning an amazing vacation? Where does the issue of sexiness fit in with the current global economic hardships, immense animal cruelty issues, an obesity epidemic, and current and impending wars?

Well, just asking questions like that shows you just don't get it. You see, sexiness is the only way PETA knows how to express the urgent issue of animal rights. If PETA could effectively change ideas through discourse, they might encourage the winners to appear at animal rights events over the next year, much like pageant winners. Instead, PETA knows the best way to encourage positive change for animals is to send sexy people to Hawaii because that is what the sexiest of us really deserve.

So we would like to say bravo to PETA for once again getting it right and focusing on the important issues, such as who among us is the sultriest veggie-eater. Now excuse us as we go work on tans for next year's competition. Speedos coming through!

Does Eating Meat Make You More Manly?

Image via AlexLeo.tumblr

Does steak make the man?

If we're talking about general perceptions, it just might.

A new study by the Journal of Consumer Research found that, when participants were asked to rate foods based on masculinity, meats tended to tip the man scale. Basically, participants thought meat eaters were more manly than their male vegetarian counterparts.

Researchers even examined languages that assign gender to words and found that, more times than not, meat words were categorized as masculine.

Does this mean that our veggie-eating brothers are lacking in the man department? Absolutely not. This study focused only on perception and, while perception is important, it doesn't always reflect reality.

For instance, vegetarian men often have greater sexual performance than meat eaters due to the lack of artery-clogging cholesterol in their diets. The documentary, Forks Over Knives, illustrated this by pointing out that erectile dysfunction is often the first sign of heart disease, which is a disease largely linked to meat and animal product consumption.

Aside from the inaccurate perception, we were not at all surprised to hear that food can have this much subtext. Food is not just food for most people. It is part of their identities. Whether it is linked to their heritage or tied into their gender identity, food is more than just sustenance. It is artistic, political, and even sexual.

Even though our feelings about food are complex, it's troubling to think that many men would rather continue putting their health at risk instead of trying a vegetarian, vegan or even limited-meat diet. That said, the need to project or associate with a the perceived-masculine practice of eating meat just might be more important to some than making a choice for improved health.

If anything, this shows that our vegetarian brethren are more daring by risking their machismo in favor of their beliefs and health. For that, we think they deserve more time in the man cave, and maybe some juicy Portabello steaks, but don't tell Ron Swanson.

Food Revolution Day Encourages People to Eat "Real" Food

Image via Flickr.

Tomorrow, May 19th, is Food Revolution Day. What is Food Revolution Day, you ask? Well, it's the brainchild of "Naked Chef" and television personality, Jamie Oliver.

The Food Revolution Day aims to encourage the general public to eat whole and natural foods, moving away from processed and unhealthy foods. To promote this idea, people can host events or dinner parties to prepare and enjoy a healthy meal. Oliver provides resources for event organizers on his website and anyone can volunteer.

The day is a byproduct of Oliver's similarly-named television show. After a career as a well-known chef in Britain, Oliver came to the States in 2010 to launch the show, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC. During the show, Oliver tried to change unhealthy eating habits of residents in West Virginia (Season 1) and Los Angeles (Season 2).

We should also mention that Oliver has had his fair share of controversy in the animal rights department and he is definitely not vegan, nor is he promoting a vegan lifestyle. We do find it admirable though that he is attempting to get people to think more about their food. In fact, Oliver was one of the first whistle-blowers to speak up about pink slime and fillers used in meats.

Oliver is definitely raising awareness and getting people to question what they eat. That is a good start for many Americans who still may be confused by the conflicting health messages in the media. If Oliver can get people started down the path to health, we say more power to him. Want to get involved? Find a Food Revolution event in your area.

Fashion Friday: TOMS Vegan Shoes

We love a comfy slip-on shoe for the Summer and TOMS definitely has us covered with the perfect casual and fashionable canvas shoes. The shoes are available in a variety of vibrant patterns and are made of 100% vegan materials.

Though the shoe's form is simple, their playful prints and colors will definitely add flair to your Summer wardrobe. Basically, if you are looking for ease and comfort without losing style, you are looking for this shoe.

The price isn't bad either, especially when you learn about TOMS charity work. For every pair of shoes they sell, the company donates a pair of shoes to a child who needs them. With that considered $54 for a pair of shoes is pretty reasonable.

Check out some of our favorites below or shop for yourself at TOMS website.

Fashion Friday: Newspaper Nails with Vegan Nail Polish

Image via Flickr.

Nail art is often thought of as gaudy or over-the-top, but new creative ways of decorating your fingertips are putting those misconceptions to rest.

Our favorite new style of nail art by far has to be newspaper nails. Not only are they striking and playful, they are also incredibly easy for the novice to create from home. See the tutorial video below.

There are also plenty of vegan nail polishes that can help you to create this look. Some of our favorites are e.l.f. and O.P.I. due to their availability and wide range of colors. We also love Scotch Naturals for the rich beauty of their shades, though the brand is only available in limited stores. 

Whatever polish you choose, you won't be disappointed with the look of these nails. They only require one shade of polish and some common household products. So grab your polish and become a nail-art convert with us!

340 Pounds of Veggie Football Power: Deuce Lutui Goes Vegan

Image via Wikipedia.

We're going to have to add Seattle Seahawks Guard, Deuce Lutui, to our most unlikely vegan list.

After all, reporters actually refused to believe that Lutui follows a plant-based diet. When his coach, Pete Carroll, broke the news during a press conference earlier this week most reporters assumed he was kidding.

Despite the doubts, Lutui is indeed a vegan, along with his wife and four children. After struggling with his weight, he adopted the diet to try to eat healthier and to help prepare for the grueling football training season and games.

"If you were to go to my house and open up the fridge, you'd see all-vegan, all-natural products. I'm glad I've educated myself about what's going in my mouth. I've educated myself and that's what is causing my fitness and how I've really taken care of myself physically."

Even though Lutui has dropped pounds, he still has to maintain a heavier-than-average weight as a guard in the NFL. At 340 pounds, he's proof that vegans can pack on the pounds just like omnivores. He definitely shatters the common misconception of vegans being scrawny little carrot-munchers.

We love that Lutui is breaking stereotypes and showing that vegans come in many different sizes and shapes. We can't wait to see him demonstrate his veggie power on the field as he starts his first year with the Seattle Seahawks.

Our Favorite Vegan Sunscreens and Sunless Tanners

Image via Flickr.

The heat is rising and the rays are calling.

It's time to bask in the sun again. And whether you're still ghostly white from the Winter months or you just want to protect your skin from sun damage, we've got you covered with our favorite vegan sun skincare products.

Let's start with sunscreens. They have evolved from the oily coconut goop that so many of us used as children. We now can find a variety of sun-blocking products with lovely scents and nourishing organic ingredients that leave skin moisturized instead of slimy.


Our absolute favorite sunscreen is Alba's Botanical Sunblock Pure Lavender. Just imagine laying on the sunswept beach as you inhale the light scent of lavender. Could there be anything more relaxing? We don't think so and that's why we love this sunscreen. It has a wonderful fresh scent and a non-greasy texture that will leave your skin feeling refreshed. Best of all, the ingredients are 100% organic and vegan.

We are also huge fans of Kiss My Face Sun Spray Oil because of it's ease of use and luxurious feel. The spray oil is perfect for those sunbathers who enjoy the intense moisturizing effects of natural oil. We also love that this sunblock comes in a spray bottle, allowing you to spray hard-to-reach areas like your back. This sunblock is also vegan and Kiss My Face never tests on animals.

Finally, if you want to skip the sun but still capture that sun-kissed glow, try Lavera Glow and Go Spray Sunless Tanner. Lavera has created a non-chemical self-tanner that reacts with amino acids in your skin to darken the skin's surface. The spray bottle makes application easy and ingredients like aloe barbadensis leaf extract help to nourish the skin. You can also rest safe knowing the company uses all organic and vegan ingredients and never tests on animals.

Whether you want to drink in the sun or just look like you did, these vegan skincare products can help you get ready for summer. So it's time to grab a floppy hat, your favorite book and get out in the sunshine. Enjoy!

You Call Your Blog What? More PETA Nonsense

PETA did what? Image via Flickr.

We really don't know how we never caught it before.

It's right there, in black and white, staring back at us from the PETA website.

How could we not have noticed the glaringly grotesque name choice for PETA's blog, the PETA Files?

Seriously PETA? Can you not see how naming your blog after one of the most heinous groups of criminals was maybe not the best idea? We realize you are trying to be funny, but we also realize your sense of humor is seriously screwed up.

Why is it that every attempt PETA makes at humor involves some kind of sexual deviance or abuse?

Earlier this year, PETA also failed to be funny when trying to make light of domestic violence in a television ad campaign. In the ad, a vegan boyfriend was so powerful in bed, he bashed his girlfriend's head through a wall and gave her a concussion. She loved it though, because women always love physical abuse with sex, right?

Screen shot from PETA's blog, The PETA Files.

Is PETA honestly this tone deaf?

We just can't seem to figure out how PETA continues to make these kinds of gaffs without losing huge amounts of supporters. Sure, we realize that PETA can do a lot of good too, but that doesn't mean that they get a pass on all the dumb moves they make.

Really, at this point, we're just curious as to how they will top themselves with the next poor decision. From what we've seen already, we can't even imagine what horrible concept they'll come up with next. Needless to say, we will be planting faces in palms when we see it.

Now Follow Veggie Scene on Bloglovin!

If you haven't discovered BlogLovin.com, you are definitely missing out. Bloglovin is like Pinterest for blogs. It provides a user-friendly feed of posts from your favorite blogs. It's like compiling a virtual news stand of the latest blog posts.

We're happy to announce that you can now follow Veggie Scene on bloglovin.com. Simply click here to get started. Of course, you can always also follow us through other feed readers or on Facebook and Twitter as well. Any way you get Veggie Scene, we greatly appreciate you taking the time to read it!

Four Reasons We Will Miss Adam Yauch, MCA

R.I.P. Adam Yauch. Image via Flickr.

Adam Yauch (MCA) passed away yesterday at age 47, after a long battle with cancer, though his cause of death is still undetermined.

We were so shocked and saddened by his passing. Yauch was an accomplished artist and a compassionate man who left a huge impact on the world, and not just in the music industry.

He left us far too soon and his absence will be felt on a number of levels. More specifically, we've compiled some main reasons we will sadly miss MCA.

1. He was an amazing artist
As a contributing member of the Beastie Boys, Yauch helped tear down boundaries in the music industry. He brought hip hop to a broader audience and tested the definitions of the genre. The Beastie Boys' music also progressed and evolved over time as the group encountered different influences, from Buddhist chants to electronica. No matter how the music changed though, Beastie Boys still kept an irreverent style and wry sense to their lyrics.

2. He helped define a generation
As mentioned above, Yauch helped to bring hip hop music to a whole new generation of kids who may have otherwise never listened to the genre. As the group matured, The Beastie Boys' subject matter also slightly changed to incorporate ethical issues such as social justice. They helped draw attention to injustices and made kids think about larger political issues. They managed to do this without ever losing the playful nature of their music. The band communicated that you can love life, have a good time and actually care about the world at the same time.

3. He practiced a compassionate lifestyle
Yauch was a Buddhist and largely active in the Free Tibet movement. He helped to organize many fundraisers for the cause and he also helped raise awareness about the struggles in Tibet. He also became a vegan later in life, largely due to recommendations from his Buddhist doctors. He was actively involved in making the world a better place, even as he was battling his own cancer. Russel Simmons, a fellow Buddhist and close friend, said that Yauch "was incredibly sweet and the most sensitive artist".

4. He had so much left to contribute
At 47, Yauch should have had half of his life still in front of him. We selfishly wish we could have had him around longer to see what he could have created with the time he had left. Of course, no one should have to die from cancer, especially at such a young age. The passing of Adam Yauch will leave a huge hole in our hearts and we will miss all that he still could have contributed to the world, both musically and personally. His passing is a massive loss, especially to the generation who grew up with the Beastie Boys. We will miss you MCA. Rest in peace.

Don't Bother With Vegan Cheese This Cinco De Mayo

Image via Flickr.

This Saturday is Cinco De Mayo.

Many of you will be celebrating with cerveza and some tasty Mexican snacks, namely nachos. If that is indeed your plan, we have one tiny suggestion: nix the vegan cheese.

We're not saying you should eat regular cheese but we just don't think vegan cheese is at the point where it can really substitute for the yellow gooeyness that is nacho cheese. We're not the only ones either.

In the NPR story, Cracking the Code, Making Vegan Cheese Taste Cheesier, author Rachel Estebrook tries to figure out why vegan cheese just doesn't compete with the original.

The story highlights the difficulty of producing cheese-like products from veggie sources. The problem mostly lies in trying to replicate the natural casein found in cheese. Food scientist John Gordon explained why casein is so important.

"(Casein is) a truly remarkable protein like nothing else on the planet, and it allows real cheese to melt and stretch."

It's that melting and stretching that vegan cheese makers struggle to duplicate. They run the risk of making cheese that's too gummy, dry or oily. They can't perfectly replicate the way that cheese reacts to heat and, in many cases, can't control its consistency. This makes for runny, chewy or watery cheese.

So since vegan cheese isn't perfected yet, just don't go there. Instead, focus on all of the wonderful naturally-vegan ingredients that can enhance your Mexican feast. Try making fresh salsa or black bean dip. Instead of gooey cheese, make some creamy guacamole. Mmmm.

Whatever your plans are, we hope you have a muy bueno Cinco de Mayo, with queso or without!

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At the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Politics Goes to the Dogs

Uggie from "The Actor" Walks the Red Carpet.

What was the topic on everyone's minds at this weekend's White House Correspondents' Dinner? Well, dogs ofcourse.

Dogs were mentioned in speeches, were featured in video segments and even hobnobbed with celebrities at the event. In all fairness though, only one dog graced the red carpet and he is a movie star (Uggie from "The Artist"). Still, when was the last time you saw a dog at a Correspondent's Dinner?

We think most of this canine attention boils down to the fact that each presidential candidate has a rather shocking dog story in his past. For Romney, it's strapping his dog in a small kennel on top of his car for a 12-hour family road trip. For Obama, it's eating dog meat when he was a young boy in Indonesia.

Both of these stories have been repeatedly circulated through the media and have become a part of presidential lore. They are brought up every time someone wants to prove that one candidate or the other is wrong on animal rights, at least when it comes to dogs. As it has become such a trending issue on the campaign, the president made sure to address this in his speech.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Correspondents' Dinner, the president always gives a humorous speech. It's a tradition and one of the rare moments that a president may push the boundaries of what is normally acceptable. For Obama, we think he might have pushed a little too far though.

He set up a joke that was supposed to play off of his experience eating dog as a child, but it fell rather flat. After referencing Sarah Palin, he said:

"What is the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? A pit bull is delicious."

The joke met uncomfortable laughter and many groans and audible gasps. Even Michelle Obama looked a little nervous and shocked. We know Obama was trying to poke fun at the media frenzy that this story created, but the joke didn't seem like it was in good taste (no pun intended).

Obama didn't stop with that joke though, thankfully. He went on to some much funnier material including a fake political ad from the "Woof Pac" which we think is comedic gold. You can check it out below.

No matter what your take on politics, it's clear that dogs are getting more attention this year than ever before. We just hope that attention will translate into animal-friendly policies and not just campaign stories and jokes. How about it politicians?