Written by Shannen Doherty

Nope, don’t really know what this means either. My recent stag trip to Amsterdam is making it hard for me to understand the post title I jotted down while I was there! If anyone knows what IP mean by “the season of festivals” I would be happy to know!

Cost saving I can give you some advice on. Hang on – maybe I was thinking about how you could go to a festival as a stag party! That would be pretty cool, wouldn’t it? Pack yourself of to Glasters with a bunch of old buds and more cider than it would take to sink a ship, and you’ve got yourself a ready made mudbath of a stag weekend…

OK, so let’s run with that. If you want to do the festival season on the cheap you are going to have to wait until next summer – unless of course you want to head up to Tromso in Norway to join the light-starved insanity that makes most of the winter months one long festival… Though you know, that wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Just keep the noise down a bit when you do, I’m, going there on my honeymoon in February ; )

There are some pretty useful articles here and there about how to save money at festivals: a good place to start if you are thinking of going all hippy for your stag do. SO here’s some advice that should work for everyone, whatever festival they choose to make into a stag event:

1: Book your travel as early as you can, unless you want to end up paying a million quid for a train ticket. If you want to be really clever, get down to the area the day before everyone else, and walk up to the venue nice and early on opening day morning. Then you can set your tents up and get drinking while the rest of the world is still in a traffic jam.

2: Pillows = lame. A festival is about staying awake for three days and eventually passing out in a hedge. If you really have to have a pillow, take a pillowcase and fill it with dirty clothes when you need to sleep.

3: Get a decent tent. Thinking of saving money by getting a cheap tent is false economy. It will break and then you’ll have to buy another one., Or sleep in a puddle.

4: Leave all your good shoes and sneakers at home. The only footwear you need at a decent festival is one pair of willies and one pair of flip flops. Socks are optional (don’t bother). All footwear will end up ruined so make it cheap and waterproof.

5: Take all the cash you think you will need before you get there. Keep it safe with a money belt. Your only other option is to queue for three hours to pay for the privilege of getting your own money out at on site cash machines. Hardly rock n roll, is it.

6: Take cheap clothes only. Festivals are not about looking glam, they’re about rolling around in a mudbath listening to extremely loud music. But a few cheap pairs of shorts and a load of cheap t shirts from your local discount store. You’ll never regret it!

A festival is actually a pretty awesome way to have a stag do. And remember, as it’s your stag, you get to pick which bands you see and when. Make the most of it.

For more information on stag weekends, please contact us!

It’s the new year and you want to make some healthier changes in your life. Some may find it hard to kick the processed or junk food habit so I thought I’d share this video with you on how some of your favorite flavors are actually made in a lab, just the same as out household cleaning products! Yuck!

2011, the first full year of new decade, the decade of many achievements for the green as well as vegan movements. Well into the double digit teen years, we have quite a bit to reflect on from the past 365 days. Before I write up my “Best of 2011″ in the coming weeks, I thought I’d share some of the highlights that may inspire even more greatness in 2012!!

• Forks Over Knives finally makes it to the big screen!
• Ellen announces that she and Portia will be opening a vegan restaurant in Los Angeles
• More celebs like Katy Perry and her hubby, Russell Brand, adopt and advocate a vegan diet
• Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the role of veganism in heart disease prevention
• Vegan food truck, Sea Birds, is featured on the popular Food Network show, The Great Food Truck Race
• The Milk Documentary makes it onto DVD
• More and more vegan experts were featured on national broadcasted shows and print/online media
• The US Postal service launches the Famous Vegetarians stamp series by PETA
• Gardein products are offered nationwide at all Yard House restaurants
• The Veggie Grill and Native Foods open their first stores outside of California
• Texas holds it’s first Veggie State Fair
• The 1st all vegan bloggers conference, Vegan Vida Con, was held this year in Portland
• Starbucks launches vegan food options
• Chili’s launches veggie menu item, vegetarian tacos
• And The Healthy Voyager’s Global Kitchen Cookbook finally hit shelves!

2011 was a great year for the green as well as the plant based and special diet groups. We can only go up from here! 3 cheers for the new year, 2012!!

For those who know me well, they know that the holidays, from Halloween on, are my favorite time of year, with Christmas being my absolute favorite. I LOVE decorating, all the festivities, the food, fun and entertainment. Growing up, I lived to hear the first holiday song played on the radio and announcements for tv specials and movies. In fact, nothing has changed! The week of Thanksgiving I start to get antsy, pulling out all of my favorite Christmas movies and books and changing my radio dial to the holiday station until January 1st.

For many, holiday traditions are what we love most so I’ve compiled a list of my hands down, all time favorite holiday specials, movies, songs and stories to share with all of you! tradition and creating new memories with friends and family are the essence of the holiday season and maybe you’ll find a little bit of nostalgia in my list that you may want to bring back this year! I would LOVE to hear about your favorite holiday memories and traditions too so feel free to comment away!!

Movies

1. A Christmas Story – I hang with Ralphie every single year, no exceptions. It is my #1, all time favorite Christmas film ever! (and iteven makes my top 10 of regular films of all time too!)
2. The Santa Clause – I love Tim Allen and I think this film is super cute, clever and Tim offers up some pretty good laugh out loud moments that play to adults
3. Christmas Vacation – A hilarious classic. I still laugh in all the same places every year!
4. Elf – Come on, Will Farrel rules. One of the best holiday movies to have come out and years!
5. It’s a Wonderful life – Yep, I cry every time
6. Nightmare Before Christmas – Tim Burton take the holidays to a whole new level
7. Edward Scissorhands – Uh, Johny Depp, duh!
8. Miracle on 34th Street (the original one) – Little Natalie Wood steals the show
9. White Christmas – I love old timey musical Christmas
10. Die Hard – Action and Christmas go hand in hand!

TV Specials

1. All Rankin & Bass Holiday Specials – It’s not Christmas until I see the heat miser dance!
2. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Dr. Seuss cartoon) – Ah yes, this one makes me cry too!! Love Boris Karloff!
3. The Snowman – It’s a British cartoon, silent film like but to beautiful orchestrated music. It’s magical, whimsical and I adore it!
4. Peanuts Christmas – All of their holiday specials bring me back to being a kid
5. Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas – It’s an old Muppets HBO special from the 80′s. I was so stoked when I found it on dvd!
6. Donnie & Marie Christmas Special – I still have it on VHS from when I taped it off the TV in the late 70′s. It rocks!

Stories

1. The Night before Christmas
2. A Christmas Carol (the original Dickens version)
3. The Snowman

Songs

1. Bing Crosby – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
2. Stevie Wonder – What Christmas Means To Me
3. George Michel – Last Christmas
4. Power 96 – Mi Burrito Sabanero
5. BandAid – Do they Know It’s Christmas
6. Wings (Paul McCartney) – Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time
7. New Edition – Christmas All Over The World
8. Mariah Carey – All I want for Christmas is You
9. Bon Jovi – Baby Please Come Home
10. New Kids on The Block – Funky, funky Christmas
11. John Lennon – Happy Christmas
12. The Carpenters – I’ll Be Home For Christmas
13. Elton John – Step into Christmas
14. Any Christmas by Harry Connick Jr
15. Any Christmas by Michael Buble
16. The Chipmunks Christmas Song
17. Bruce Springsteen – Santa Claus is Coming to Town
18. Winter Wonderland – Jason Mraz
19. Adam Sandler – The Hanukkah Song
20. Run DMC – Christmas in Hollis

Stuff

1. Christmas music
2. Decorations (the brighter and Christmas-ier, the better)
3. Christmas parties
4. Holiday events, tree lightings, etc
5. Christmas tree smell
6. Santa
7. Collectible Christmas villages
8. Jingle bells
9. Carollers
10. Strolling through the neighborhood looking at lights
11. Wrapped gifts
12. Bubble tree lights
13. Cinnamon brooms
14. Pies and cookies baking
15. Snow

The Healthy Voyager’s Global Kitchen hits shelves December 2011 & coming to a city near you!

Be sure to pre-order your copy today so that you are all set to join The Healthy Voyager
at 1 or a bunch of her national book signing events in late 2011/early 2012!

Keep checking back for an updated tour schedule
and feel free to contact us if you’d like to book The Healthy Voyager
for a signing and/or demo event near you!

Tour Cities, Dates and Events

December 2011

Book Launch Party – Los Angeles, CA – December 7th, 8pm-10pm

Book Signing – Miami, FL – Books & Books, Lincoln Road – December 19th, 7pm

2012

• Book Signing – Memphis, TN – The Booksellers at Laurelwood -  January 3rd, 6pm
• San Francisco, CA  – January
• Hawaii – February
• San Antonio, TX – March
• Austin,TX – March
• Dallas, TX – March
• Las Vegas
• Portland
• Seattle
• NYC
• Boston
• Chicago
• Minneapolis
• Denver
• Nashville

The newly vegan Russell Brand is showing his charitable side by getting his fans involved. In return, folks who give a little this holiday season (2 hours to one of his designated non-profits) get to go and see him and Sarah Silverman on December 11th in Los Angeles.

The lucky Branded organizations who reap the sweet benefits of fans are Habitat for Humanity, Rootstrikers, Friendly House, The Art of Elysium, Los Angeles Food Bank and Los Angeles Animal Alliance. Calling it a “love exchange”, You give one of these organizations some love and he’ll reward you with some laughs.

Watch Russell Brand explain it all below, then sign up on his Facebook page for your chance to win, both karmic-ally as well as physically!

THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT “MASTER CHEF” BEGINS WITH OPEN CASTING CALLS
STARTING SATURDAY, OCT. 29 IN LOS ANGELES
Casting Calls Continue in Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Austin,
Savannah, Chicago, Seattle, New York and San Francisco
FOX has ordered a third season of the hit culinary competition series MASTERCHEF, it was
announced today by Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting
Company.
Chef Gordon Ramsay will once again give talented amateur cooks the chance to prove to him, and to
fellow judges, restaurateur Joe Bastianich (Del Posto, Eataly) and Chef Graham Elliot (Graham Elliot,
Grahamwich), that they have what it takes to make their mark on the culinary world. In the series,
Ramsay, Bastianich and Elliot coach and critique the amateur cooks in a series of challenges
designed to test their palates, knowledge and determination to follow their dreams of making a mark
in the culinary world.
MASTERCHEF will travel to more cities than ever before to uncover the country’s very best amateur
cooks. Open casting calls begin Saturday, Oct. 29 in the following cities:
Cities Dates Venues/Times
Los Angeles Saturday, Oct. 29 Le Cordon Bleu
6370 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Boston Saturday, Nov. 5 TBA
Miami Saturday, Nov. 5 TBA
Atlanta Saturday, Nov. 12 TBA
Washington, D.C. Saturday, Nov. 12 TBA
Austin Saturday, Nov. 19 TBA
Savannah, GA Saturday, Nov. 19 TBA
Chicago Saturday, Dec. 3 TBA
Seattle Saturday, Dec. 3 TBA
New York Saturday, Dec. 10 TBA
San Francisco Saturday, Dec. 10 TBA
Additional venues will be announced soon.
Over the past two seasons, the $250,000 grand prize and Master Chef Title have gone to Jennifer
Behm, a realtor from Wilmington, DE; and Whitney Miller, a student from Poplarville, MS. Since
winning the show, Whitney Miller released her first cookbook, while Jennifer Behm is currently writing
a cookbook and already has established a successful private catering company.

Additional casting information, including forms and eligibility requirements, are available online at
www.masterchefcasting.com.
MASTERCHEF is produced by Reveille and One Potato Two Potato and is based on a format created
by Franc Roddam and Shine. Shine International handles distribution for the MASTERCHEF format.
Elisabeth Murdoch, Robin Ashbrook, Gordon Ramsay, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Pat Llewellyn and
Ben Adler serve as executive producers. Become a fan of the series on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/masterchef and follow the series on Twitter @masterchefonfox.
For episodic photos and more information on MASTERCHEF, please visit
http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z2z2z308

It was that time of year again where The Humane Society puts on a fabulous star studded evening for the animals.  Delicious dinner, well deserved awards and lots of fun all highlighting the wonderful people who are doing their part to help the voiceless. Held on Saturday March 19th, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, this year’s event was absolutely fantastic!

The 25th annual Genesis Awards began with a crowded red carpet full of animal loving celebrities such as Sex & The City’s Kristin Davis, Six Feet Under & Babe’s James Cromwell, Emily Deschanel of Bones, classic tv actor Ed Asner, the cast of Hot in Cleveland – Betty White, Wendy Malick, Valerie Bertinelli and Jane Leeds. Also in attendance Renee Russo, Ryan O’Neil, Danny Trejo (better known as Machete), singer Leona Lewis, sexy host Olivia Munn, True Blood’s Lindsay Pulsipher and Carrie Preston, Captain Paul Watson of Whale Wars, The Big Bang Theory’s Simon Helberg, Michale Vartan, Chuck’s Yvonne Strahovski, Tippi Hedren, Modern Family’s Rico Rodriguez & The Middle’s Atticus Shaffer.

Over 900 guests poured into the awards ceremony, beginning the evening with a beautiful, gourmet vegan meal created by none other then Chef Tal Ronnen. Guests dined on the following:

Salad – baby arugula and faro salad with anjou pear, candied walnuts & aged sherry vinaigrette
Entrée - chanterelle dusted gardein™ chick’n with chanterelle mushroom ravioli and broccolini in a vegan beurre blanc
Dessert – vegan tiramisu withFrangelico laced coffee & house made ladyfinger spong or maple vegan “cheesecake” with graham cracker crust & sugared berries

After the scrumptious meal, the awards began. Celebrity presenters, famous recipients as well as notable up and comers in the world of animal activism, here is a list of the evening’s winners:

• Outstanding Feature Film – How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
• Outstanding Feature Documentary – The Elephant In The Living Room – NightFly Entertainment
  
• Sid Caesar Comedy Award – The Colbert Report  bullfighting – Comedy Central
• Outstanding Dramatic Series – True Blood Hitting the Ground, Beautifully Broken – HBO
• Outstanding TV Newsmagazine – Nightline Got Milk? – ABC
• Outstanding News Feature – KTLA News At 10 (Los Angeles) Puppy Mills Exclusive Investigation, Dogfighting Investigation, Hatchery Hell – Investigative Report
• Outstanding News Series – WOIO TV 19 Action News (Cleveland) Ohio Dairy Farm Animal Abuse
• Outstanding Morning News Show – The Early Show Shark Victims – CBS
• Outstanding Talk Show – The Oprah Winfrey Show Oprah’s Earth Day Mom Swap – An Eye-Opening Intervention; Ultimate Amazing Animals
• Outstanding TV Documentary – My Child Is A Monkey – National Geographic Channel
• Outstanding Reality Series – Last Chance Highway The Great Escape – Animal Planet
• Brigitte Bardot International – 60 Minutes Australia Natural Born Killers – Nine Network Australia
• Outstanding Written Word – Magazine – National Geographic Magazine The Kingpin by Bryan Christy
• Outstanding Written Word – Series Of Newspaper Articles – Isthmus (Wisconsin) multiple articles by Bill Lueders
• Columnist – Los Angeles Times Where Captives Put on a Show by Steve Lopez
• Brigitte Bardot International Print – Daily Mail (UK) multiple articles by Dr. Danny Penman
• William Wilberforce Award – Christianity Today   A Feast Fit for the King: Returning the Growing Fields and Kitchen Table to God by Leslie Leyland Fields
• The Wyler Award – Kristin Davis

And the fun didn’t stop there! Guests headed over to a reception filled with more vegan goodies as well as cupcakes by Stephanie Sparkles. Dancing and drinking the night away, as folks headed home, they received one last treat. A gift bag filled with goodies from:

• Alaska’s Bakery Dog Treats – Peanut Butter and Oatmeal 100% Organic Gourmet Dog Treats
• All Animals Magazine
• BK Atelier – Designer Faux Leather Etoile Collar, Leash, and Poopy Bag Holder Set
• Animal Wellness Centers – Certificate for one complimentary pet wellness exam at their veterinary hospital in Marina Del Rey and bottle of Dr. Annie’s Aloe & oatmeal pet shampoos.
• Eco-Tools – Earth-friendly Beauty Brush Set – Cruelty free bristles in a natural and recycled materials hemp travel case.
• Found Animals – Found Animals Post-It Notes
• Fred Meyer Jewelers – Paw Fashion Pendant with Diamond Accent in Sterling Silver from the Pawsitively Yours Diamond Jewelry Collection
• Galligan Living – Animal Artwork inspired Mug or Water Bottle
• Go Max Go Foods – Vegan Chocolate Candy Bar
• Robert B. Haas – Copy of National Geographic’s “I Dreamed Of Flying Like A Bird” – My Adventures Photographing Wild Animals From A Helicopter
• Healthforce Nutritionals – Bottles of Vitamineral Green and Fruits of the Earth – Both of these are whole food, vegan nutritional supplements)
• JANE Cosmetics – The 25^th Anniversary Genesis Awards Commemorative Vegan Lipstick – Color:  Not So Innocent Pink
• John Paul Pet – John Paul Pet Pet Care 3-Pack including Oatmeal Shampoo, Oatmeal Conditioning Spray, and Ear & Eye Pet Wipes
• Larabar – One Larabar Sampler Bar
• Moderndog Magazine
• Nicobella – Assortment of Vegan Dark Chocolate Truffles – Flavors include: blueberry almond, ginger green tea, pumpkin chai, pure cocoa bliss, walnut flaxseed crunch, and sunflower banana butter
• ONE Beverages – Coconut Water
• Our Pet’s Company – Cosmic Catnip and Play N Squeak Cat Toys
• Petplan – Fetch! A Petplan Magazine and a Gift Card for 30 Days Free Pet Insurance
• Plant Based Foods – Jar of Cavi art (vegan caviar)
• Popchips – Bag of Salt & Pepper Popchips (vegan flavor)
• Prai Gift Set – Some Like It HOT! Fragrance/Parfum, Prai Champagne Truffle Caviar with Polypeptide Technology, and Scent of a Woman SEXY Lipgloss
• Pureology Gift Set – Shampoo, Hair Conditioner, Thermal Antifade Complex Relaxing Serum, and Smoothing Cream – All Organic Botanicals, &100% Vegan
• SeaSnax – $100 SeaSnax Gift Card, SeaSnax Classic Single, and SeaSnax Toasty Onion Single
• Sequel Naturals – Vega Shake & Go Smoothie Mix
• Sjaak’s Organic Chocolates – Vegan Peanut Butter Bite
• Sun Flour Baking Company – Vegan Cinnamon Cookies
• Sun Power Natural – Raw Cinnamon Cookies
• Urban Decay – Gift Set including Santa Tanita Tinted Sunless Tanner, Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss, Urban Decay Stardust Eye Shadow and Cream Shadow
• Vaute Couture – Gift Card redeemable for one Vaute Couture Coat valued between $350-$500 – Coat styles to choose from include: Pink Airs, The Vaute, The Oru, Men’s Pea, and The Whitman
• The Veggie Grill – Gift Card for a complimentary order of Veggie Grill’s sweetheart fries
• World’s Best Cat Litter – Gift Coupon for World’s Best Cat Litter

I had so much fun, as always and am already looking to the 26th annual awards!  Be sure to catch the 25^th Anniversary Genesis Awards on Animal Planet on Saturday, April 30, at 7.00 p.m., with an encore presentation on Sunday, May 1, at 9.00 a.m.

Ok so maybe that’s an overstatement but I’m excited that art is beginning to mimic life. Or that a subject that is growing in popularity is beginning to find more, entertaining ways of spreading the message. Entertainment in the form of film or music is an incredibly powerful platform in which to permeate our culture.  Animation is one that in the last 20 years has gone from kiddie to adult, offering silly satirical commentary with a cuteness ; ) I happen to love Family Guy and grew up on the Simpsons, both of which have found ways to comment on pop culture while being able to get away with things that live action never could.

In comes the Veg-animation domination! With 2 animated web series that are cute and funny (one for adults and one geared more towards families) I really feel that this is a fantastic way to illustrate the importance of green living as well as the vegan lifestyle in a lighthearted and entertaining fashion.

VegToons has a terrific style of animation along with clever wit.  With nutty characters made to showcase veganism to adults, it’s sure to tickle your funny bone!

Next is an adorable animated series about green living called Lady Bug Jane. It’s sweet, cute and smart, a sure hit for families as well as the classroom!

Be sure to check out their sites and support their efforts as the types of projects will help propel a message of healthy and green living like no other approach can!

If you haven’t already heard, President Bill Clinton has announced that he has adopted a plant based diet.  While he still has the occasional piece of fish, Clinton has not only transitioned into a plant based diet, he is singing its praises. Talking about it on Wolf Blitzer a few weeks back, it sent shock waves through the vegan community and surprised the rest of the nation.

Sure, we all noticed his dramatic weight drop for daughter Chelsea’s wedding but who was to know that her nudging would help him and his doctor’s take action.  After having read The China Study and with his doctor’s behind him, Bill made the switch. I’m guessing he finally saw that he needed to get serious about his health after his heart attack close calls, quadruple bypass surgeries and emergency hospital visits. I guess it’s better late then never!

But my question is, why, of all the celebrities who have come out as vegans, did this one get so much attention? Is it because he’s not a flash in the pan, pretty faced starlett? Rather someone who is taken seriously? Or that he was once (and still very much is in many ways) the leader of the free world? What it is is a message that someone in his position, who can touch so many lives and set big things in motion, has just made the single most important decision of his life. He finally stopped hitting the snooze button on his wake up call and took his health into his own hands.

This is a huge step for Americans as one of their own, one of their most important politicians, one who is still very much involved in world affairs, has turned the health world on its head. After numerous health scares, Clinton realized that modern medicine and his current “All-American” diet was what was killing him slowly. For Bill, he heard the message loud and clear and chose to not only make the change, but to shout it from the rooftops so others could take an active role in their healing.

So while it’s wonderful to hear celebrities touting the glory of a plant based diet for health, animal and eco reasons, it takes someone with a strong voice on the world stage to really get folks to listen. Here’s hopin’ that more big wigs get on board and Bill actions cause a fabulous ripple effect on this great nation and beyond!