How to Become Vegetarian or Vegan..the easy way!

I am frequently asked if it was difficult to become Vegan. Many people find it difficult to wrap their minds around why someone would choose to eliminate meat, dairy, eggs, and every other single animal ingredient from their diet. My reasons for becoming Vegan were quite typical, I wanted no part in the suffering of animals, I wanted to reduce the burden I was placing on the environment, and I wanted to eat a more healthy diet, becoming kinder to my body and spirit. Was it easy?...absolutely not, but that is probably because I did it cold turkey. I remember the day like it was yesterday, I was in Chapters (bookstore) skimming through the pages of The Skinny Bitch when I happened upon a excerpt describing how piglets were treated in a slaughterhouse...by the end of the page I was sobbing, yes, right in the middle of the bookstore, lovely. I did not purchase the book, instead I put the book back on the shelf and walked out of the store a Vegetarian. That was 4 years ago and I have never looked back. When I got home I did a lot of on-line research, found a few great vegetarian recipes, went to the grocery store and purchased a line of prepared Vegan meat substitutes, Yves....this line is still my favourite. They have Vegan "bacon", Vegan ground round, Vegan "sausage" and many other great items. Now, I am not saying they are the most healthful option, but when you are in a crunch and need to prepare a meal they work, and they are still far healthier than eating red meat and pork. My good friend Keri recently asked if I would blog about how someone would go about becoming a vegetarian or at least reducing the amount of meat one eats. I was going to blog about this myself until I found this fabulous resource that, in a nut shell, explains what most people need to know about doing away with meat, or reducing their consumption. I will however blog again very soon about my favourite Vegetarian and Vegan dishes,  recipes, and links making the transition for folks who would like to delve into this world a little easier. So give this article a read if you have ever thought about making the transition to a plant based diet! Good luck!!!

http://zenhabits.net/how-to-become-a-vegetarian-the-easy-way

Drink your way to great skin and your ideal weight!

If you are anything like me, drinking water is about as desirable as having a root canal, believe me I have had one. I could not find drinking water a more boring task, at least that was until I started practising yoga, in particular Prana Vinyasa...ah yes, a type of hot yoga. As I delve deeper into practice, I am becoming more and more consious of my breathing and my desire to "be kind" to my body. I have never been a fan of drinking water or any other fluids for that matter, I would often go hours without drinking, I have made it through many meals without a single sip. I have now realized that much of my overeating was due to the fact that I was actually thirsty and not hungry! Now that I am drinking half my body weight in ounces per day, I feel energized, less hungry, and my skin is plumping up!! Gotta love it! So, I know, most of you have heard that drinking water is good for the skin and it is necessary to drink enough to ward off dehydration, but did you know that there is a strong correlation between obesity, specifically belly fat, and consumption of water, and that the work that you are asking of your liver and kidneys have a great deal to do with this relationship! I found this great article that does a beautiful job of explaining this phenomenon, so raise a glass of water and enjoy the read!

http://www.inch-aweigh.com/water.html

Lousy Labels!!

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2011/lousylabels


Have you ever wondered where the phrase 'truth in advertising" came from? I think it is such a catch phrase because of just how little there is out there! It's a sad state when cosmetic and toiletry companies can just slap whatever the hell they want on a bottle, package of diapers, or tube of toothpaste, charge 2 to 6 times AS MUCH for the product, all the while the ingredients in that product are no different than the generic ones in their less natural, organic, pure, products. It's deceitful, underhanded, and in poor taste. Now, I know, this CBC Marketplace clip may not expose the greater issues surrounding Organic/Natural v.s. generic run of the mill products, nor, does it educate the consumer on what their next step should be to fight back against these companies that are literally STEALING money from their pockets, besides "read your labels people", but at the least it brings to light a very important issue. The Canadian government is doing NOTHING to stop this from happening. We the people, must stand up and demand that the regulatory body that oversees the 7 BILLION dollar a year cosmetics and toiletries industry gets tougher on truth in advertising and institutes a law that harmful, possible, carcinogenic, endocrine disruptor type ingredients be CLEARLY indicated on all ingredient lists, and that they come up with a similar system that certifies that the product is indeed ORGANIC and NATURAL....not just because the packaging is green or that some crook decided to dye their diapers a light shade of brown to make them look more "natural". Who's with me????

Peace out.

~Jada~

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/dirty-dozen-cosmetic-chemicals/

Have you ever wondered, while brushing your teeth, applying makeup, showering with your favourite shower gel, how much of that product you are absorbing through your skin? If you are using the generic products from the shelves of your local grocery store or big box conglomerates, these are some of the chemicals you may be coming in contact with. Dr. David Suzuki has named them, "The Dirty Dozen" found in almost every home across North America and much of the rest of the world for that matter, except for the forward thinking countries that have banned the use of these ingredients/chemicals already. Much research has been done in Canada on the effects of these products used in isolation and in the range of what is considered "normal" daily usage. The U.S. government has taken their studies of these chemical ingredients one step further, taking into consideration the cumulative effect on people who may be using many of these products within the course of a day. It is a fascinating article written by an extremely talented, brilliant, man with the social conscience the size of the sun. I encourage you all to take a read and then run to your medicine cabinets, makeup bags, and bathroom cupboards in a search and destroy mission of these little nasties! Buy local, buy natural, stay healthy.

~ Jada ~

There's Lead in your lipstick!!!!

I can't wait to receive my copy of Gillian Deacon's newest edition to the literary world, There's Lead in Your Lipstick. I thank you Gillian for putting into print what many of us preach to our clients every day. My hope for this book is that it will educate and enlighten the average consumer in such a way that they change their purchasing habits. Isn't it about time that the multi-billion dollar cosmetics industry comes clean about how they have been deceiving and potentially jeopardizing the health of so many customers for so many years?? If you care about your health and the health of your family please pick up a copy of this book and educate yourself on how to avoid toxins and harmful chemicals in your everyday life and how to make informed, educated, decisions on choosing natural alternatives to chemically laden products. I will leave you with a sneak peak on what you will find inside "There's Lead in Your Lipstick" written by the author herself!

Have a happy, healthy day!!!

~ Jada ~

THERE'S LEAD IN YOUR LIPSTICK

TOXINS IN OUR EVERYDAY BODY CARE AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

Gillian Deacon

By the time she heads out the front door, the modern woman has spritzed, sudsed, and slathered herself in more than 127 different chemicals, many of them more toxic than beautifying.
So how can you look and feel great while safeguarding your health? Get smart and go green from head to toe with the help of eco-expert Gillian Deacon. In The Green Body Guide, you'll learn how to read the ingredients to identify and understand the preservatives that are bad for your body and damaging to the earth, including formaldehyde in deodorant, nail polish, soap, shampoo, and shaving cream; coal tar in hair dyes; lead in lipstick; and many more. This is an indispensable handbook of personal-care choices that are sustainable, both for your health and for the earth.

http://www.penguin.ca/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780143172505,00.html

Jada Lombard Makeup Artistry

Here come the brides!

Wedding season is fast approaching and my schedule is getting booked up, yay! I so adore a good wedding and nothing is better than getting to glamify the bride to be!! How did I get so lucky? Well, if you missed reading today's edition of The Kingston Whig Standard, you missed a fantastic article by writer extraordinaire Jasmine Almeida on moi!  Here is the link so you can check it out! I still have a few dates available this summer, so if you or someone you know is getting married within Kingston or surrounding area think of me!!!



Jada Lombard Makeup Artist



http://virtual.thewhig.com/doc/Kingston-Whig-Standard/kingston-brides/2011021701/#6

OPRAH AND 378 STAFFERS GO VEGAN: THE ONE-WEEK CHALLENGE

Wow, if you missed the Oprah show last week you missed a doozy of a show! I was so excited when I heard that Oprah was airing a show that would chronicle a radical challenge given to her staff. Oprah's challenge? The Vegan Challenge! She challenged her entire Harpo staff to go Vegan for one whole week... no meat, no fish, no milk, no eggs—nothing that comes from an animal—for seven full days. 378 staffers signed up for the challenge. Now, even though the staff were up for the challenge, many staffers were still reluctant to change their food habits. There was one staff member that was shocked to learn that she was addicted to fast food. Some staffers even involved their families in the challenge, much to the chagrin of a few small children, and maybe a few husbands as well. 300 staffers successfully completed the Vegan challenge, with many believing that this was a life altering experience for them. All in all, staff lost 444 pounds and gained 84.....those junk food Vegans ;) Some staffers say they will continue on for a few more weeks to see what future benefits the Vegan lifestyle will bring. One staffer, Rich the video editor who lost 11 pounds during the challenge, says he plans on continuing with his Vegan diet. Most of the participants have returned to their meat eating ways, but many noted that they will forever think differently about the way they choose their foods. Long live the plant based diet. Peace.

TheStar Sweet smell of soapy success

TheStar Sweet smell of soapy success

Famous, friendly, and Vegan!

Have you ever wondered how many Vegetarians and Vegan people there are out there in the world? It is something I have often wondered. It is very difficult to find accurate information regarding the actual or even approximate number, given that we don't have "membership cards" that are tracked by any governing body, thank goodness! So, I thought instead of writing a long boring post about current research on Vegetarianism and Veganism and hap hazzard thoughts about the current research available, I thought I would keep this post light and fun and list some of the wonderful and talented famous folks we have seen time and time again on the tube that are in fact Vegans.....so here we go!!! Some may surprise you!

Fiona Apple (singer), Erykah Badu (R&B singer), Adam Yauch (Beastie Boys), Joaquin Phoenix (actor), Georges Laraque (ex-NHL player), Jenny McCarthy (actress/model), Joan Jett (singer), Daniel Negreanu (pro poker player), Alanis Morissette (singer), Alicia Silverstone (actress), Daryl Hannah (actress), Portia de Rossi (actress), Ellen Degeneres (tv personality), Alyssa Milano (actress), Emily Deschanel (actress), Andre 3000 Benjamin (Outkast), Eric Roberts (actor), Tobey Maguire (actor), Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Woody Harrelson (actor), Barry White (musician), K.D. Lang (singer), Bif Naked (singer), Kevin Nealon (comedian), Steve-O (Jackass), Liv Tyler (actress), Weird Al Yankovic (comedian), Bryan Adams (singer/songwriter), Carrie Anne Moss (actress), Olivia Wilde (actress), Casey Affleck (actor), and Chrissie Hynde (singer).

Did any of these surprise you? It just goes to show you that you cannot judge a book by it's cover, and not all Vegans have the same reasons for being Vegan, it's a lifestyle choice, and in my opinion, and wonderful one. Go Vegan!!

Product review!!! Shiva's Delight Tangerine Dream Body Butter

Casey Boyse of Shiva's Delight was not messing around when she concocted this little piece of heaven in a jar! This body butter is nothing short of fabulous! It has an amazing tangerine scent, a divine texture, and comes in the cutest little mason jar, it is truly in a league of it's own. Not only does it look and smell great, it does wonders for your skin! If you are anything like me, my skin takes a beating during the winter months, especially my hands, feet, and elbows. This body butter is just what I needed to return my skin to it's supple pre winter self! With a healthy dose of shea butter, coconut oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil, coca seed butter, and apricot oil, it is sure to please the most discriminating taste. So if you are looking for an all natural, vegetarian (not vegan as it contains beeswax), dreamy product that is literally a skin saver then consider trying this dream cream yourself! 

Note about Shiva's Delight: Casey Boyse, owner of Shiva's Delight, proudly crafts her soaps, body butters, bath bombs, essential oils, lip butters, in Kingston, ontario. You can check out the rest of her amazing delights at www.shivasdelight.com

First post!

Well hello there!

Thank you for dropping in to see what's going on in my world! Let's see, what have I been up to.....Well, firstly, and most exciting, I just finished working on the set of a short film that was filming here in Kingston, Ontario. It is called "The Origin of Teddy Bears", a short Canadian production about an alternate universe where giant 7 foot teddy bears deliver bad news to people then hug them to help them forget their pain, it is quite a different and fascinating premise, I can't wait to see it next month! I have been very busy with my new business venture, retailing a mineral makeup line called Pure Anada (from Manitoba) and three lines of lotions and soaps, Cake Beauty, Ella's Botanicals, and Shiva's Delight. After having worked in the beauty industry for years it's nice to be finally working for myself. I have a number of makeup jobs coming up, so I should be able to stay out of trouble for a bit! I plan to post my first product review tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled for that! Until tomorrow.....