vindication & vegetables.

Graffiti based on George Orwell's Animal Farm (1946). 

Although I have only recently converted to vegetarianism, I've already had to justify myself on a few occasions. There are several reasons I've decided to completely change my lifestyle. It's rare I find myself so passionate about something, but this is one of those topics for me. So as simply as possible--and in order from least to most important--here they are.

[[THE FLAVOR]]

    Plain and simple: I don’t like the taste of meat—beef, in particular. I must’ve gotten this from my mother. Unless it’s doused in a rub of various herbs, sauces, and spices, I just don’t care for it. Because of this, I consumed a ton of fish and chicken. And I got really tired of it. So, basically, cutting it out hasn’t been as impossible as you may think. 

 [[PERSONAL HEALTH]]

Cancer and Heart Disease

     Eating meat on an everyday basis is NOT healthy—in fact, it may even shorten your lifespan. Red meat contains a surplus of saturated fat and cholesterol. It is devoid of fiber and other essential nutrients. When consumed in excess (as many Americans do, especially with the convenience of fast food restaurants), your risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease (the NUMBER ONE killer in America) increases substantially. Carcinogenic compounds may also be formed during the cooking of meat. For example, heterocyclic amines (HCA, formed when meat is cooked at high temperatures) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH, formed during the burning of organic substances) have been linked to an increase in cancer risk. The longer and hotter the meat cooks, the greater the number of compounds that form. And it’s not only red meat. Grilled chicken has been found to have more of these compounds than any other meat. Also, processed meats such as bacon, sausage, pepperoni, ham, and hotdogs are loaded with salt and nitrates, which may not only contribute to cancer but high blood pressure as well—which, in turn, may lead to cardiovascular disease or heart attacks.

Obesity

    Sure, eating meat in proper portion sizes, in moderation, and in a well-balanced manner probably won’t kill you. However, our portion sizes have nearly quadrupled those of the 1950s. An astounding 96% of entrees at restaurants exceed the dietary guidelines for sodium, fat, and saturated fat. In turn, the average adult is now 26 pounds heavier than 60 years ago. All of these factors combined have contributed to the obesity epidemic, and it’s not okay. 

Here's an infographic to put it into perspective for you visual learners:

 For more information, watch the documentary Supersize Me. It can be viewed here.

Contamination

     A huge percentage of all the flesh from the chickens, turkeys, cows, fish, and pigs butchered every year in the U.S. is contaminated with E. coli, campylobacter, listeria, or other dangerous bacteria that live in the intestinal tracts, flesh, and feces of animals. Consuming these kinds of infectious bacteria can cause food poisoning with symptoms ranging anywhere from stomach cramping to diarrhea and vomiting to organ failure and death. There are over 75 million reported cases of food poisonings each year in America. Five-thousand of cases are fatal, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that 70% of food poisoning is caused by consumption of animal flesh. Not only that, but a recent study showed that there is a substance in both meat and milk that causes humans to be more prone to infection by dangerous E. Coli bacteria. Therefore, meat is a double-edged sword. Not only is it loaded with these bacteria, but it also makes you more prone to infection by ingesting them! Meat is also commonly treated with antibiotics, some of which contain significant amounts of arsenic, and hormones, many of which are prohibited for over-the-counter use by humans. Yet it's acceptable for it to be lurking in our milk and hamburgers? And should you ever come down with food poisoning, the antibiotics you're prescribed may be completely useless, as repeated ingestion of the antibiotics in meat will cause your body to build up a tolerance.

  For more information, visit www.PETA.org.

[[ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH]]

Sustainability

     Sustainability, or how biological systems remain diverse and productive, is essential for the environment and ecosystem--and, subsequently--the survival of humans and other organisms (read Thomas L. Friedman's Hot, Flat, and Crowded for more information). Factory farming, a kind of intensive farming involving the industrialized production of livestock including cattle, poultry, and fish, is a huge threat to the sustainability of our earth. Despite the seriousness of this threat, it is an extremely widespread, typical way of industrial farming in industrialized societies. According to the Worldwatch Institute, as of 2006, 74% of the world's poultry, 43% of beef, and 68% of eggs were produced this way. As of 2000, four companies (Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and Smithfield) produced 81% of cows, 73% of sheep, 60% of pigs, and 50% of chickens. Eighty million out of 95 million pigs slaughtered each year are also reared in industrial settings. 

Pollution

    These factory farms cram an inconceivable amount of animals into one crowded space, which creates an unmanageable amount of waste. To illustrate, a single hog excretes up to 17.5 pounds of manure and urine each day. On a factory farm containing 35,000 hogs, over four million pounds of waste are produced each week. That's over 200 million pounds each year. And where does it end up? Much of it is used for fertilization. On a sustainable farm, this can be a great tool. On factory farms, it's a major pollutant. The surplus often runs off into surface water and consequently into our major water systems. 

    Factory farms also emit harmful gases and particles like methane and hydrogen sulfide, which can contribute to global warming and harm the health of those living or working nearby. Air pollution results from the overuse of machinery, the mismanagement of manure, and the irresponsible feeding practices that characterize industrial farming. 

Click here for more information on factory farms and the environment.

Feed Crops

    Factory farms also harm farmland through their consumption of massive quantities of feed crops. The average cow eats roughly 30 pounds of food each day. The beef industry raises more than 30 million cows each year. The vast majority of these cows are raised in feedlots, where they eat corn and soybeans. This requires an extraordinary amount of grain. In response to this demand, conventional crop producers have adopted intensive growing practices. In 2005, American farmers used more than 22 million tons of chemical fertilizer, which has led to loss of soil fertility and erosion. 

Visit the Sustainable Table for more information. 

 

[[ANIMAL WELFARE]]

    Although initially written as an allegorical reference to Communism and the events leading up to the Russian Revolution, several lines of George Orwell's Animal Farm also coincide with animal rights. In my opinion, the most note-worthy are as follows:  

"Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals (p. 8)… Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest, that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others. It is all lies. Man serves the interests of no creature except himself (p. 10)."

     I am--and always have been--a huge animal-lover. Even as far back as middle school, I had heard of some of the conditions that animals are put through on their way to slaughterhouses. But I've always had the same mindset: "I don't want to know what happens. I don't want to watch those videos or hear about it. It'll spoil my appetite." When I was forced to watch Food, Inc. in a health class my first year of college, I was enlightened with the truth. After learning more through various classes and my own research (including watching another documentary by the name of Earthlings), I don't think I'll ever turn back.

In factory farms, animals:

• Are contained in closed confinement systems (cages, crates) or indoor sheds for life
• Experience discomfort and injuries caused by inappropriate flooring and housing
• Are restricted and denied normal exercise and most of natural behavior
• Are restricted of natural maternal nesting behavior
• Rarely see daylight or fresh air, and there is poor air quality in animal sheds
• Experience social stress and injuries caused by overcrowding
• Contract health problems caused by extreme selective breeding and management for fast growth and high productivity
• Have a reduced lifespan (breeding animals like dairy cows, breeding sows)
• Contract fast-spreading infections encouraged by crowding and stress in intensive conditions
• Are debeaked (beak trimming or shortening, while FULLY CONSCIOUS) in the poultry and egg industry to avoid pecking in overcrowded quarters
• Forced and over fed (by inserting tubes into the throats of ducks)

Not to mention how they're treated in the actual slaughtering process. But I'll leave you to your own devices with that one. This is a real, serious issue. 

So hopefully all of these reasons are justification enough. After all, knowledge is power. Educate yourselves and make the best decision for you and your body!

24 things i've learned by my 24th year.

My most recent photograph, after cutting nearly 8 inches of hair off.

As my 24th birthday is two weeks away, I decided to update a list of lessons I've learned that I originally published shortly before my 21st birthday. Some were hard, some came easy. But I value each and every one of them.

1. People are judging you. Right now, at this very moment. For some of them, no amount of ass-kissing or coercion is going to change that. There is just no pleasing some people. And if that’s the case, why waste your time trying to change that?
 2. Take risks. Step outside of your comfort zone. Do things you'd normally consider embarrassing. Life is short. You might be surprised at what you’re capable of. After all, nobody wants to look back and wish they’d taken advantage of an opportunity when they had the chance.
 3. The truth always prevails. No matter how many times you may have lied about something, the guilt you may feel or maintaining the consistency of a lie has more drawbacks than just coming out with it. In the end, it will always come back to bite you. So let the facts flow.
 4. Do whatever you want, as long as you're not hurting someone else in the process. It's better to spend time doing things that you're interested in than letting another person control you. If you've got an impulse, let it out.
5. Focus less on the destination and more on the journey. Go with the flow. Live in the moment. Don't attempt to control everything. Sloooooow down. It’s good to have goals, but set a realistic time frame.
6. Your instincts are smarter than you are. If you've got a bad feeling about someone or something, trust it. Take a minute to hone in on what your gut is telling you. Chances are, you're right.
7. Don't settle for mediocrity. Don't settle for empty friendships, a job you can't stand, or loveless relationships. You deserve better than that.
8. It's better to be forgiving than to hold resentment. Whether present in your everyday thoughts or not, holding a grudge only harbors negativity. It can also be physically and mentally draining. Forgiveness doesn’t necessarily mean things will go back to the way they were or forgetting what happened. It simply means letting go and moving on with your life.
9. Be open about how you feel. Getting that weight off your chest is the first step toward feeling good again. If you hold everything in, it’s bound to come out eventually. Don’t let it build up until you’re on the brink of a breakdown. It’s unhealthy. Communication is a powerful thing (if done correctly).
10. Don't sweat the small stuff. Really. Take whatever comes at you with a clear and focused mind. You might be stronger-willed than you think. No one wants to be a worry-wart.
11. Be your own best advocate. Although it can be good to gain an outside opinion, ultimately you are the only one who can make the best decision for you. Don't let someone else hold the reins to your life.
12. Don't live with regret. Obviously, it was what you wanted at the time. Learn from it and move on. You can’t change the past, but you have the ability to change your future.
13. Credentials on the wall don't make someone a decent human being. Enough said.
14. Maturity has a lot more to do with your life experiences, what you've learned, and how you've handled rough situations than your age.
15. Laughing, crying, joy, anger... every emotion is vital. Expressing them doesn't make you weak, it makes you human.
16. Stop caring about what you can't control. Your energy is better spent somewhere else.
17. Focus on the things you can change.  Focus on the things you can fix rather than investing all your time and energy in something that is simply out of your control.
 18. Identify and value the lesson. Life is one big learning experience. Everyone you ever encounter and every choice you make is all a part of it. If something doesn't work out, learn from it and don’t make the same mistake again. There is something better waiting ahead.
19. Eliminate the non-essential. Figure out what's important to you and slough off the rest. After all, it really is the little things that matter the most. Simplifying your life is a very liberating feeling.
20. Create a routine. Having this kind of structure in your day can truly change your life. Even if it means setting an alarm to wake up early on your day off.
21. Notice the beauty of small moments. Sometimes it's easy to forget to stop and take a look around once in awhile. Noticing simple pleasures like the smell of the air in winter, the sound of rain on a rooftop, or holding hands with someone you care about will improve your quality of life tenfold.
22. People change. And that’s okay. Sometimes it’s for the better, sometimes for the worse. Letting go of negative influences can be tough, especially when it’s someone you’ve had a close friendship with. But you’re better off in the long run, trust me.
23. Cherish time with your loved ones while they’re still here. Hug your parents and answer the phone when they call you. They won’t be around forever.
24. Discipline yourself. Self-discipline is one of the most important skills a person should possess, although few do anything to strengthen it. It means sticking to your guns and following through without changing your mind, which is very important when trying to achieve your goals. You will be rewarded with a newfound sense of self-esteem, and consequently, satisfaction.  

summer beauty essentials.

Hi, friends!

Once again, I apologize for the long gap between updates! 

So far my summer has been crammed full of adventures and activities, but I've gotta admit-- I'm pretty bad at remembering to photograph most of them. 

Anyway, this month I thought I'd do something a little different--recommend all of my favorite products for five important facets of your body: face/skin, hands/nails, legs, lips, and hair.

Face/Skin

 

 This section is first and has the most amount of products because skincare is very important--especially during summertime. From left to right, they are:

• Lorac's Tantalizer® Body Bronzing Spray: If you're like me and aren't into tanning beds or frying in the sun, this is the best self-tanning option for you. It's simple to apply (just spray some onto the buff puff included) and won't leave you with that fakey orange look. It's also loaded with vitamins A&E and smells exactly like a Cinnabon cinnamon roll. So awesome.
• Coconut Oil: I've seen many uses for coconut oil--everything from pet care to cooking and first aid. However, I've found that it's also excellent for skincare. I've had tinea versicolor, a chronic skin disease that leaves unsightly rashes and skin discoloration, since I was a child. After several trips to the dermatologist and experimenting with everything from selenium sulfide concoctions to Selsun Blue, nothing seemed to work. After a little research, I learned that coconut oil can be used as a natural treatment and let me tell you, nothing has worked better than this. Within two topical applications, the rash began to disappear. I highly recommend it as both a treatment and moisturizer.
•  Equate® Night-Time Soothing Makeup Remover Towelettes: the first step to healthy, clear skin is removing your makeup at night. I've tried several different brands, but Equate does the job at a much lower price than its competitors.
• Olay® Complete All Day Moisturizer With Sunscreen: Moisturizing is a very important step in skincare--especially after a shower or before applying foundation. This particular kind is intended for sensitive skin and contains SPF 15, which is also a crucial factor when choosing an everyday moisturizer.
• Urban Decay's All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray: If you want your foundation to remain flawless throughout the day (which is extremely difficult if you live in a place with heat and humidity), this should be a staple in your makeup routine. The bottle I have is only an ounce and can be found in the Grab 'n Go bin near the front of Ulta. (Hint: it's much cheaper than buying the bigger bottle!)
• Lorac POREfection® Foundation: I have long been a drugstore makeup junkie. However, you really do get what you pay for. Although this brand is a bit more spendy, it's worth every penny. It lasts all day, provides medium to full coverage (if layered), is light, and has an SPF of 20. And it won't make your skin feel tight and cake-y.
  
  

 Hands/Nails

Hand and nail care are also integral parts of my beauty regimen. I work with money and people a lot, so I'm constantly washing my hands. Although this is a bigger problem in winter, I sometimes find my hands becoming dry and cracked--even in the summer. My nails have also been a huge issue, as I work with my hands a fair bit as well. They seem to constantly be breaking, and it seems I always have hangnails. These products have helped to curb some of these issues:

• Neutrogena® Norwegian Formula Hand Cream: I was introduced to this lotion by someone I work with a few years ago and I haven't used anything else since. Maybe it's because I'm fond of anything and everything Norwegian or its sheer silky texture, but I can't get enough of it. And as the bottle states, just a dab--really, I'm talking the size of a pea--does the job.
• Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails™ Nail Strengthener: This one's an oldie but a goodie. The number one easiest way to damage your nails is by applying nail polish. This topcoat helps strengthen your nails and prevent breakage. This is the only thing I ever paint my nails with.
• Biotin: For added nail and hair strength, I take both a multivitamin containing 500 mcg as well as a 1000 mcg caplet daily. If your nails are in rough shape, it'll probably take awhile to notice the difference once you start taking a biotin supplement. You've just gotta let all the damage grow itself out. Once it kicks in, you can really tell a difference.
• Julep™ Mighty Nail and Cuticle Serum: A healthy nail begins with a healthy cuticule, and this serum does the trick. You just twist the end of the container once or twice and brush a very small amount on your cuticles twice a day, as if you are painting your nails. You really don't need much, as it's some pretty powerful stuff. Gets rid of those pesky hangnail-type deals pretty quickly.

Legs

If you're anything like me, you dread summer for one reason: shaving. These products are tried and true methods to keeping your legs baby soft:

• Gilette Fusion Razor: I have tried just about every Venus razor head in stores. The three-blade razors never seem to shave close enough and the five-blade ones don't keep the hair at bay long enough! As cliché as it sounds, men really have mastered the perfect razor. Never again will I buy one intended for women. The heads are just as expensive as many of the Venus heads, but you'll definitely get more uses out of the Gilette Fusions than you would with any women's razor.
• Bath & Body Works' Almond & Honey Body Scrub: Another secret to silky smooth legs is exfoliation. Bath & Body Works carry a wide variety of scrubs, but this one is my favorite. Typically, if I have time, I'll shave twice--once after conditioning my leg hair and again after exfoliating. The second shave captures any dead skin cells that may have sloughed off from the scrub. The only problem is, sugar scrubs aren't available in every scent at B&BW, and there is sometimes a huge gap between shipments. I've learned to just keep a stockpile under my sink.
• Johnson's® Baby Oil Gel: Baby oil is a perfect way to condition your leg hair pre-shave, but it can get messy and leave your shower dangerously slick. To combat this, I've found that the gel form works just as well without the mess. There are a few different kinds, but my favorite is the aloe and vitamin E formula.
• Pure Romance's Coochy® Conditioning Shave Cream: Although this product is really intended primarily for the bikini zone, it also works great as a shaving cream or conditioner! It comes in four fragrances: Original, Pink Cupcake (which I have), Exotic Escape, and Sweet Fantasie. It helps to prevent razorburn and leaves your skin smelling and feeling wonderful. It's only available through  the Pure Romance company via their website or a party.

Lips

I don't know if it's the climate I live in or the fact that they were severely burned once when I was a toddler, but my lips have been another area I've long struggled with. I've tried just about every medicated/moisturizing balm under the sun, and it's taken me years to finally find something I'm happy with. My favorites are:

• eos™ (evolution of smooth) Smooth Spheres Lip Balm: I'm all about all-natural products, especially when there is a huge variety to choose from. These balms are cute (despite looking kind of funny in your pocket) and come in seven flavors: Strawberry Sorbet, Pomegranate Raspberry, Summer Fruit, Sweet Mint, Blueberry Açaí (pictured above), Medicated Tangerine, and Lemon Drop.
• C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries' Lip Glosses & Treatments: This line, available through Bath & Body Works, has more flavors and colors than you could imagine. In fact, I only have a few of them. Clockwise from the red tube in the upper-right, they are: No. 1190 Mentha Lip Shine in Cinnamint, No. 1139 Mentha Lip Shine in Spearmint, No. 1180 Mentha Lip Shine in Vanilla Mint, Mentha Lip Tint in Tint No. 1139, Liplicious in Whipped Vanilla, No. 502 Mentha Lip Shine in Peppermint, No. 1193 Mentha Lip Shine in Bubblemint, No. 1070 Mentha Lip Buffer, and No. 303 My Favorite Lip Balm. Use the buffer to scrape off any dead skin before applying your favorite!
• Maybelline® Baby Lips: If you're planning on being outside, you should probably skip the gloss and go straight to this stuff. It leaves your lips as soft as it sounds and also has an SPF of 20 as an added bonus.

Hair

 

I'm very particular about my hair products. I have medium-length, naturally wavy hair that is fine, but I have a ton of it. I like to wear it both straight and wavy, so I have a counter full of products. These are a few of my most-used:

• Rusk® Thermal Flat Iron Spray: If you're going to subject your hair to damaging heat, a thermal spray is a must. You simply spray it on prior to flat ironing your hair. It leaves the hair soft and shiny as it protects.
• Rusk® Str8: This product was introduced to me by my hair stylist three or four years ago, when I asked what she recommended to counter frizz and flyaways, which is a constant battle in the Georgia humidity. You only need a small drop finger-combed through your hair for the entire day. It smells great and really lasts.
• Johnson's® Baby Shampoo: Not only does this shampoo leave your hair insanely soft (duh, it's made for BABIES), but I've recently discovered another use: hair color removal. I had no idea such a gentle shampoo would be able to strip dye so well, but I can honestly say it works better than any clarifying shampoo you'll find. After only three washes, the dark red I've been trying to wash out of my hair has been removed by about 40%. I'm sure I'll need a follow-up in a salon, but this stuff's incredible and does an impressive amount of work for something intended for an infant's scalp.
• Organix® Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum: I LOVE Organix products. All of their concoctions smell incredible and seem to do whatever the package states it will. This serum acts like a sort of band-aid for your split ends. Not to mention, it's the perfect summer scent.
• Organix® Nourishing Coconut Milk Weightless Mousse: I've been experimenting with different gels/mousses to hold my unkempt waves since middle school, and this is by far the cream of the crop and pairs perfectly with the serum mentioned above. It's as weightless as it claims to be and doesn't leave your hair feeling crunchy. 

And that's it for my list of summer beauty essentials.
Hopefully you can find your new favorite based on my suggestions!

Peace and love,
Alison