About six months ago, Aaron at Everything Vegan contacted me to see if I would be interested in reviewing one or more of their clothing items to let you all know what I think of them. He sent me a gift card to pick up a couple of product samples to review, but when I went on the site and started looking through all the awesome designs, I ended of buying WAY more than the gift card covered. There was just too much vegan awesomeness, and I couldn’t pass it up.
 
But, this works out great for you, because now I have stuff to give away! (Visit Cheap Vegan Chick on Twitter for the vegan sock giveaway.)
 
So, let’s talk socks.
 
Everything Vegan offers an ever-expanding line of vegan apparel, including hats, t-shirts, tank tops, hoodies, and socks. If you have never been on the website, you really should stop by just to go through the dozens of shirt designs with vegan messages, such as “Not Your Mom, Not Your Milk” and “Powered by Plants.” There are simple designs that just say “Vegan” and those that show your activism, such as “Animals Don’t Have a Voice, So You’ll Never Stop Hearing Mine.”

Then you get to the socks. These vegan crew socks are printed with water-based inks and have designs that range from cute baby chicks to animal rights messages. You can get some cow-print socks that say “Not Your Mom, Not Your Milk,” socks that simply say “Vegan AF,” or cozy crew socks with pics of tofu, broccoli, corn, cows, peppers, watermelon, pigs, kale or avocados.
 
I am wearing a pair of the tofu socks as I write this. It’s been raining here, and now it’s super windy, so I’m loving wearing these cozy socks while I work.
 
Each pair of unisex socks is about eight inches in length, which means they are going to go about mid-calf on most of us. If you have large calves (like me), you will be happy to know that these socks have no problem stretching for a comfortable fit. Now, if you are stretching them over large calves, you will notice that the design stretches, too, which reveals the white parts between the ribs, but this is pretty typical of crew socks with printed designs.
 
You can probably wash these socks like you would any other socks, but I wash mine in cold and hang them to dry. Like all of the vegan clothing items from Everything Vegan, the images on these socks are printed with water-based ink, so I’m pretty sure you will experience less fading over time if you wash on cold and line dry.

At $17.95 (at the time of this writing), these socks are not exactly cheap. However, they are statement pieces that you are not going to easily find anywhere else – and they make unique gifts for the vegans, vegetarians, and other plant-loving folks in your life. Plus, I have been on the website several times when Aaron is offering a buy two, get one free deal, so you might want to keep an eye out for these sales to save some money.
 
Overall, these printed vegan socks are a fun addition to your wardrobe and are great gifts for vegans and vegetarians. Plus, you get to support a small, vegan-owned business – and that is always awesome.
 
To check out these socks, vegan clothing, vegan stickers and more, head over to Everything Vegan. Be sure to sign up for the email newsletter to find out about sales and save a little money on your first order.

Bambu Dru is a small business based in Southern California offering bamboo-blend, organic clothing, towels and fabrics. Some of their offerings include bamboo-blend tank tops, t-shirts, boxers, lounge pants, onesies, and organic dresses for little ones. I had the opportunity to review their ankle socks, which come in two colors (black and natural) and four sizes (small through x-large).
 
In the past, I have had bamboo socks that were super thin and, while they were comfy and soft, they wore out faster than I expected.
 
That is not at all the case with these Bambu Dru bamboo ankle socks. These are much thicker than the typical bamboo socks I see on the market and are more like the thickness you expect from cotton athletic socks. I love this, since it makes them even cozier, more comfortable for long days of walking, and they have held up really well to months of wearing and washing.

Speaking of washing, the bamboo blend (87% bamboo, 17% nylon, 3% spandex) makes these socks machine washable and dryer safe. Of course, it is always better to line dry your clothes, if you can, to make them last even longer and to lower your carbon footprint, but it is also nice to have the option of using a dryer, if needed.
 
The one thing to keep in mind is that they should not be bleached. But, interestingly, they can by dyed. This means that you can buy these bamboo socks in the natural color, and then dye them any color you choose. This is also a good thing to keep in the back of your mind in case you ever get a stain on them, since dyeing them could then extend their useful life.
 
Another thing that I am loving about these socks is that they have maintained their softness throughout several washings. While they are super comfy for all-day wear while working or running errands, the softness makes me really want to wear them around the house. I have found that they are a particular good pairing for curling up in a chair with a cup of tea and a good book.

You can purchase these Bambu Dru socks or any of their other offerings on their website. At the time of this writing, the ankle socks are $6.00 per pair, and the crew socks are $7.25 per pair. You might also get lucky and run into them tabling at local festivals but, if you don’t want to wait, definitely jump on the website to order a few pairs!
 
If you have any questions, you can call Bambu Dru at (714) 990-1210 or email them at bambudru@gmail.com.

I should start this vegan tomato sauce review by noting that I’m not a big fan of jarred tomato sauces. There are plenty of vegan and organic options out there, but they usually have too much sugar, too many additives or just don’t have that homemade taste you want in your pasta or pizza sauce. You know?
 
I’m also not one of those vegans who eats a lot of pasta. So, since I only eat it occasionally, it’s not a problem for me to take the time to make homemade sauces when I do.
 
However, my omnivore wife -- who isn’t all that concerned with eating organic -- is a huge pasta fan and is not the type to cook from scratch, which means we always have jarred tomato sauces in the pantry. Since I am far more concerned with her eating organic (and non-GMO) than she is, I was very quick to say yes when I was approached by the folks at Uncle Steve’s Italian Specialties to review their vegan, organic sauces.  
 
After all, if I can stock the pantry with tasty pasta sauce and pizza sauce options that just happen to be organic and vegan, everyone is happy.
 
So, let’s talk sauce.

Folks who eat plant-based, organic diets are usually more concerned with where their food comes from and who is making it than our conventional-Western-diet counterparts.
 
So, of course, we all want to know who Uncle Steve is.
 
Uncle Steve is Steve Schirripa. You probably know him as Bobby Baccalieri on The Sopranos or Detective Anthony Abetemarco on Blue Bloods. Aside from his numerous acting credits, he is also an author and launched Uncle Steve’s Italian Specialties in 2014 as a tribute to his late mother and using family recipes handed down from her.
 
As a little side note, the first line in his Twitter bio is, “Tomato sauce with a conscience.”

The sauces made by Uncle Steve’s are different than most others on the store shelf for several reasons. First off, they are made in small batches, which is not usually true of sauces you can buy on Amazon or from stores like Walmart. Secondly, they are made with fresh, organic ingredients – and you can recognize and pronounce every word on the ingredient list.
 
As noted on the Uncle Steve’s Organic Sauces website, “Our products are USDA certified organic, gluten free, dairy free, vegan, kosher and contain no added sugar. With no GMOs, no harmful pesticides, and nothing artificial.” His sauces are also certified paleo.
 
Sounds pretty good to me.

We were given three flavors of sauce to review: Organic Marinara, Organic Tomato and Basil, and Organic Arrabiata. I’m noticing that the Organic Tomato and Basil is not currently available on his site and is only available in limited quantities elsewhere. This leads me to believe he may be focusing on just the marinara and arrabiata now, so I, too, am going to focus on those two in this review.

The Organic Marinara sauce is made from organic, imported Italian whole peeled tomatoes, organic fresh onions, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic fresh garlic, sea salt, organic fresh basil and organic black pepper.
 
As mentioned above, it is organic, vegan, paleo, gluten free, non-GMO and kosher.
 
Although my wife is usually only in charge in the kitchen when Mexican or Puerto Rican food is on the menu, she has somehow also become the chief pasta maker. So, I handed her the jar and went back to work in my office. Soon, the house was filled with the aroma of simmering tomato sauce that smelled just as good as the homemade sauces I occasionally make.

Normally, she adds all sorts of stuff to jarred sauces, such as fresh garlic, peppers, onions and hot sauce (I did mention the Mexican/Puerto Rican thing, right?). But I requested that she add nothing this time so that we could get a real feel for how this sauce tasted without the normal doctoring.
 
The first thing I would say about the taste is that it was clean and fresh, which are two things I do not expect from pasta sauce in a jar. It also had a bit of chunkiness to it, which is much more like a homemade sauce than something you grab off of a grocery store shelf.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this sauce and really enjoyed the pasta dish we made using it. We also both really dug dipping our gluten-free garlic bread in it.
 
I can definitely see using this sauce in a variety of dishes and just adding different ingredients to fit the dish.

We decided to use this sauce on homemade pizzas and were not disappointed.
 
The Organic Tomato Basil sauce is made from organic, imported Italian whole peeled tomatoes, organic fresh onions, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic fresh basil, organic fresh garlic, sea salt, and organic black pepper.
 
It tasted fresh and delicious as pizza sauce, and I can see this one being just as delicious on pasta or in other dishes that call for tomato sauce.

Since we like things a little spicier than some folks, we saved the Arrabiata for last and were very much looking forward to giving it a try.
 
Let’s start with the ingredients: organic, imported Italian whole peeled tomatoes, organic fresh onions, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic fresh garlic, sea salt, organic fresh basil, organic crushed red pepper, organic black pepper.

Now, I’ve read some other product reviews for Uncle Steve’s Organic Arrabiata where the reviewers thought it was pretty spicy. I agree that it has a bit more kick than the others, which is great for folks who like a fuller flavor in their tomato sauce. However, we didn’t find it to be particularly spicy…and we did end up adding some hot sauce after trying it without. If you like a little bit of heat, I think you will like this one quite a bit.

The first night, we made spaghetti with some sauteed vegetables and garlic bread, which was pretty darn good. Then, I added some vegan Italian sausage and vegan parm to the leftovers the next day, and it was borderline amazing.
 
Overall, this one also had the fresh, clean taste of a homemade sauce, which was just such a nice surprise from a jarred sauce.

You can buy Uncle Steve’s Organic Sauces (plus pasta and gift sets) on the Uncle Steve’s website, from Walmart or on Amazon. If you purchase them on the Uncle Steve’s website, you get free shipping on orders over $40. If you purchase them from Uncle Steve’s through Amazon, you get free shipping even if your order is less than $40, so that’s a little bonus.
 
If you live in the northeastern US, you can also use this store locator on the Uncle Steve’s website to find a store selling Uncle Steve’s Organic Sauces near you.
 
At the time of this writing, each jar comes out to about $7.97 on the Uncle Steve’s website with free shipping on orders over $40. It is $8.97 per jar on Amazon, but you get free shipping on orders totaling less than $40. So, if you plan on buying one set of three jars, you are better off getting them on Amazon. If you are planning on buying more than one set of three jars, buy them on Uncle Steve’s website.

For our friends at the FTC: I was provided with free product samples in exchange for this product review. The opinions are my own and are never influenced by whether I receive a free product to review or I purchase the product to review.

You may have never heard of Saucy Lips’ line of gourmet sauces, and that is likely because they are not available in stores. So, unless you meet the folks behind the sauce at a farmers market or festival – or happen to come across their website – this may be your first introduction to their vegan, GMO-free sauces for cooking, grilling, sautéing, marinating, dipping and dressing salads.
 
The limited availability is by choice and is a big part of what sets these sauces apart from other options. Saucy Lips is a small, family-owned company that makes their sauces fresh to order in small batches, which immediately makes them kind of awesome. They also get extra points for having the four-legged members of their family in their family photo on their website.

These gourmet cooking sauces outshine other options in that they are gluten free, soy free, GMO free, dairy free, nut free, vegan, all natural and paleo friendly, which means just about anyone can enjoy them. Plus, did you see that calorie count? If you are using this as a salad dressing or marinade, that is definitely an improvement over most of the sauces you are going to find in stores.

They use no preservatives other than apple cider vinegar, so the sauces have a shelf life of about a year and need to be refrigerated once you open them. And, because they want to make sure you receive the freshest ingredients possible, this is another reason they can’t have their sauces sitting around in warehouses or on store shelves.

The tantalizing flavor combinations offered by Saucy Lips include:
 
Ghost Pepper & Tamarind
Habanero & Carrot
Jalapeno & Green Apple
Peppery Strawberry
Pineapple Thai
Tangy Mango
Zesty Cilantro
Pumpkin Mustard

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to try the Zesty Cilantro and the Peppery Strawberry, so let’s see how that went…

I got my first taste of the Zesty Cilantro gourmet sauce by Saucy Lips on some vegan Beyond Chicken served with mashed potatoes and broccoli. The fake chicken started out frozen, so I wasn’t able to marinate it like I had originally planned, but I ended up using the Zesty Cilantro sauce more like a simmering sauce, which made the house smell SO good while it was cooking.
 
In fact, I think this might be the first time my omnivore wife was super interested in the vegan chicken cooking up on the stove.
 
This zesty cilantro vegan chicken was so good that I ate it for dinner that night, ate the leftovers the next day, and then made the exact same meal on the third day and ate those leftovers on the fourth day. That’s how good this stuff is – totally worth eating four days in a row.

Now, of course, a girl can’t live on Beyond Chicken, mashed potatoes and broccoli alone, so my next taste test was a simple snack of a handful of cherry tomatoes from my backyard garden tossed with some Saucy Lips Zesty Cilantro gourmet sauce.
 
Yep, that worked out pretty well too.
 
The Zesty Cilantro has this tang to it that is just awesome and definitely makes the sauce live up to its name.

By now, I didn’t have a whole lot of gourmet sauce left in the bottle, so I used the rest as a dipping sauce for some more backyard tomatoes and warmed bread (that is a gluten-free baguette by Schar in the photo, by the way).
 
I know it is hard to go wrong with bread, but not every sauce is ideal for bread dipping, so you never know. Turns out, Saucy Lips Zesty Cilantro is a perfectly fine – and quite delish – bread dipping sauce, so if you happen to pick some up, I definitely recommend trying it.
 
Overall, Zesty Cilantro was a total winner for me and I would definitely buy it in the future.

Once I had finished off the bottle of Zesty Cilantro, it was time to take on the Peppery Strawberry gourmet sauce. The emphasis here is on peppery and, while I really dug the zesty tang of the Zesty Cilantro, the peppery part of the Peppery Strawberry caught me a little off guard. As in, I actually coughed and had to take a second to recover. This may or may not have also involved the f-word.
 
So, we can start by saying this one has a bold flavor that might kick your ass for a second if you aren’t ready for it.
 
Now, I should note that I had poured some on a spoon and just popped it in my mouth so that I could get the flavor and determine how best to use it. So that is part of the problem: With these handcrafted sauces that use fresh ingredients, you don’t have to use as much to achieve maximum flavor, so…if you toss back a spoonful of something with “peppery” in the name, it is kind of your own fault if that doesn’t go so well for you.
 
I ended up using this Saucy Lips handcrafted sauce as dressing for a cucumber-tomato-beet salad, then as a dipping sauce for some cucumbers and tomatoes, and also as a dipping sauce for bread. After I knew that a little goes a long way in the flavor department with this one, it worked out fine and was a welcome change from typical salad dressings that are not as bold.

If you would like to try some Saucy Lips Handcrafted Gourmet Sauce for yourself, you can pick some up from their booth at farmers markets and festivals (mostly in California, Arizona and Florida), or you can order it directly from their website. When it is not on sale, it will set you back $19.99 per bottle with flat-rate shipping of $5.00 on domestic orders. I have seen it on sale for $14.99 on their website, though, so keep an eye out for sales.
 
Now, you and I both know that this cheap vegan chick would never buy a bottle of $19.99 gourmet sauce that I saw on a shelf at Sprouts or Whole Foods or some other store. So, if I had not met these fine folks at a vegan festival, I may have totally missed out on ever trying it. That would have sucked.
 
I know $19.99 sounds like a lot, but we do have to remember that this is not a mass-produced product – it is handcrafted in small batches as they get orders. Plus, you get to support a small, family-owned business that is truly dedicated to providing healthy, delicious sauces from fresh ingredients for our cooking, grilling and dipping needs.
 
So, for some of us, this might be more of a splurge product, but it is definitely worth it when you are looking for something savory and delish with which to treat yourself and your family.
 
Be sure to subscribe to their newsletter, which automatically enters you into a weekly giveaway where one subscriber wins a bottle of the handcrafted gourmet sauce of their choice. Plus, you will get recipes and a heads up about special deals.
 
If you have tried these or other flavors in the Saucy Lips line, let us know what you thought in the comments below!

For our friends at the FTC: The folks at Saucy Lips provided product samples for me to review. Opinions are my own, and there was no additional compensation.

When my wife and I were planning our six-day Puerto Rico trip in January, we were determined to travel with just carry-on luggage. Now, for those of you who haven’t met us, this is no problem at all for her and a bit of a challenge for me. V doesn’t wear makeup, throws her hair up in a quick bun every day, can do pretty much anything in a single pair of shoes, and has definitely learned to pack well after years in the military. I, on the other hand, need space for my flatiron, makeup bag, hair accessories, a couple of extra outfit options, and vegan snacks for the plane and layover.
 
Since moving back to Southern California, we have mostly been doing road trips, which means that we have been able to pretty much load up anything we think we might need and haul it along with us. So I have gotten a bit spoiled when it comes to how many pairs of shoes I can bring or toting along our blender to make breakfast smoothies.
 
After a couple of years of this, going back to plane travel and deciding to just bring carry-on luggage was a bit of a switch for us. But I was totally up for the challenge, since I love to organize, downsize and find space-saving solutions.

One thing I knew for sure was that I had to find makeup brushes with shorter handles. This was an easy way to save space without losing the product’s function and to be able to take along a smaller makeup bag. I first started my search by specifically looking for travel makeup brushes. There are plenty of options out there, but most of them are not vegan or cruelty free, and many of them are not quality brushes.
 
At first, I thought maybe I didn’t need great brushes, since this was just for short-term use while traveling. But then I started thinking about how we take way more pictures while traveling and that I would be seeing old friends and meeting new people. For some folks, this is not an issue, but for those of us who do wear makeup regularly, it would be nice for it to be just as easy to apply and to look just as flattering when on the road.
 
So my quest for the perfect, vegan, cruelty-free travel makeup brushes continued and, after a bit of trial and error, I totally scored. In fact, I got so lucky in finding the perfect brushes at a great price that I’m not using them just for travel; these have become part of my everyday makeup brushes…because that is how much I love them.
 
That, of course, is why I simply had to share them with you!

Okay, so this vegan product review is for the seven-piece I Love Bamboo Petite Pro Bamboo Brush Set by SHANY Cosmetics. These are not billed as travel makeup brushes, but the longest brush is 5 ½ inches in length and they come with a handy carrying case, so they were the perfect size to fit in my carry-on luggage without taking up any unnecessary room.
 
The handles are bamboo and the brushes are synthetic, which makes them a good choice for folks looking for cruelty-free makeup brushes. Unlike some synthetic brushes that have a plastic or nylon feel, these mini bamboo makeup brushes are incredibly soft and feel and look like high-quality brushes that are far more expensive.
 
Something else I really liked about this set is that is comes with exactly the brushes I need and use every day without any extras or lacking anything.

Here is what you get:
 
1. Powder Brush
2. Buffer Bronzer Brush
3. Rounded Foundation Brush
4. Eyeshadow Brush
5. Contouring Eyeshadow Brush
6. Rounded Concealer Brush
7. Brow Brush
 
Now…those are the official names given in the little information sheet that comes with the set, but I use them just a little differently, which shows their versatility and how this is just an all-around awesome set of brushes. For example, I use the rounded concealer brush for applying gel eyeliner and I use the rounded foundation brush for contouring.
 
I tested the brushes out a few times before our trip so that I could make sure I liked them and that I would be able to do my makeup just with this set (without needing to supplement with other brushes). This is when I realized that I actually liked them better than my everyday brushes – which I love and were more expensive.
 
They fit easily in my carry-on and performed perfectly on our trip. I have now been using them for about four months, and they are holding up great and are easy to clean. Since I travel often, I’m actually considering getting a second set so that I can keep one at home and one in my travel bag.

I seriously love these brushes, and I think that you will too.

I have not seen these in any brick-and-mortar stores, but you can purchase them on the SHANY Cosmetics website or on Amazon, which is where I purchased mine.
 
On amazon, it says that the set comes with a bag for brush storage, but I received the carrying case you see in the pictures that is made from a vegan leather material with a magnetic closure.
 
If you order them on Amazon, there may be more than one product option on the purchase page. Make sure you choose the one that says “SHANY 7 Piece Petite Pro Bamboo Brush Set with Carrying Case, I Love Bamboo” to get the cruelty-free, travel-size brushes that are reviewed here.
 
When I purchased them, they were listed at $12.99 and, since I have an Amazon Prime membership, shipping was free. If you do not have an Amazon Prime membership, you can get a 30-Day Free Trial that includes free, two-day shipping with no minimum order, as well as other perks, like the ability to borrow Kindle books and watch thousands of TV shows and movies. Get your free trial by clicking this link:

If you buy these, please let us know what you think of them in the comments below!
 
If you know of other vegan makeup brushes we should try, please let us know about those too!
 
Side note: Folks who might be on the fence about whether they want synthetic brushes or brushes made from animal hair should consider that synthetic brushes are easier to clean and are less likely to harbor bacteria when compared to animal hair brushes. And, of course, animal hair brushes are not vegan.

This post contains affiliate links for this bamboo travel makeup brush set on Amazon. The price is the same whether you purchase them through the link or go directly to Amazon. If you choose to purchase them through the link, a very small commission helps pay to keep the Cheap Vegan Chick site up and running. 

I met Roxanne of Veg in OC at SoCal VegFest, which is where I picked up her Spiced Pumpkin Body Butter.
 
Now…as you probably already know…I am a huge fan of vegan skin care products, organic ingredients and anything served up in a mason jar, so it was kind of a no-brainer that this one needed to come home with me.
 
Of course, I didn’t make it all the way home before testing it out. After all, I stayed in Orange County for the weekend so that I could go to the festival both days, so I immediately opened it when I got back to the hotel. I mean, come on, it’s pumpkin spice – the scent alone was too enticing to not enjoy right away.
 
Before we get into the body butter itself, here are some of the reasons you might be interested in buying this product:
 

• Reusable packaging
  
• If you live in SoCal, this is an opportunity to buy local
  
• Support a small business
• Support a woman-owned business
• Organic ingredients

 
I particularly love the packaging. I use mason jars for everything from drinking glasses to food storage to holding craft supplies and make up brushes, so I immediately noticed that the packaging is completely reusable once I have used all of the product. That, alone, gets a lot of points in my book, since that means nothing has to go to the landfill or use energy, water and transportation to be recycled.
 
Next up is the ingredient list. I love a short ingredient list – particularly when it includes words like organic and non-GMO.
 
Veg in OC Vegan Body Butter Ingredients:
 
Organic Coconut Oil
Organic Shea Butter
Organic Vitamin E Oil
Non-GMO Arrowroot Powder
Candelilla Wax
Organic Pumpkin Seed Oil
Pumpkin Pie Spice

And now for the vegan skin care product review of this lovely body butter.
 
First off, the consistency is a bit thicker than I expect from a body butter. I would imagine this is from the inclusion of arrowroot powder and, of course, the coconut oil. This is not a negative thing, particularly because it makes it feel more like an all-natural, handmade product – qualities that I appreciate. Basically, it goes on much like coconut oil does, meaning that it is solid when you scoop it out of the jar, but it softens to a liquid quickly as it warms in your hand.
 
Also like coconut oil, it’s a little shiny when you first put it on but absorbs quickly. If you are accustomed to using coconut oil or handmade products, this will not be any different and you know what I’m talking about. If you are just switching to natural, homemade products, you might find this a little oily at first, but don’t let it dissuade you. This is totally common with natural products that don’t have any unnecessary, harsh ingredients.
 
I have now been using the body butter for about two months and am very happy to note that there has been no separation in the jar and that the fragrance is just as strong as it was when I first opened it. By the way, I am loving the pumpkin spice scent! It is such a warm and cozy fragrance; it is the perfect choice as a seasonal scent for fall and winter.
 
My favorite ways to use this vegan body butter are to put it on right after I get out of the shower (after drying off, instead of bath oil) and to put it on my heels with a pair of socks before I go to bed.

I'm also thinking this would make a great addition to a gift basket, so keep it in mind if you have any birthdays or anniversaries coming up!

You will soon be able to purchase this and other vegan skin care products from Roxanne on VegInOC.com. Until then, you can look for her at local festivals or email your order to info@veginoc.com. The price of these body butters is currently $15.00 plus shipping and handling. If you send Roxanne an email, she can send you more information on other products, prices and shipping costs.
 
You should also definitely check out her blog for lots of fun vegan recipes to try!

 
For our friends at the FTC: I received a product sample at no cost so that I could use the product and write this review.

Okay, so most of you know that I got to spend two days at the SoCal VegFest at the end of October. There were so many awesome things about that weekend, but one of the best is that I brought home several vegan products to review.
 
I wanted to be sure to use each of the products for a while before reviewing them, so this is the first of several to come over the next few weeks.

First up is Kelly’s Croutons, which I had not heard of before the festival but that are clearly a well-known item among Orange County and San Diego vegans. So much so, that I had a few people ask me where their booth was when they saw me carrying my bag of crouton goodness around the festival. The folks who asked were clearly excited that Kelly and Eric were there and were seeking them out to stock up.
 
I also saw some people eating the croutons as a snack while browsing booths and met one vendor who had managed to consume an entire bag of these vegan croutons while working his booth that day.

Locals definitely know this brand and, now that we have managed to go through two bags in about three weeks, I can see why. They are absolutely addictive! They have a cheesy, garlicy awesomeness that makes it very difficult to eat a respectable amount, and then put the bag away.
 
I have to say, I am not really a crouton person – or at least I wasn’t. I rarely put croutons on salads, have never eaten them alone as a quick snack and hadn’t even considered the idea of adding croutons to soups. The biggest reason that I have never been a big crouton person is that I never buy them to have at home and the croutons at salad bars are usually not vegan. My wife is a crouton lover and usually has some around, but hers are never vegan, so I have never tried them.
 
But everything changed when I stopped by the Kelly’s Croutons booth and met the proprietors, Kelly and Eric Glover from Capistrano Beach. I tried their Gourmet Cheezy Garlic Croutons and their Gourmet Cheezy Parms (which will have a separate review) and instantly fell in love.

I have since eaten them on salads, in soups and alone (too many times to admit). I eat lots of salads, so it was a bit of a no-brainer to throw some on there and give them a try. They added such a crunchy, savory goodness that I feel like I have been totally missing out all these years!
 
I then remembered that she had mentioned putting them in soup, so – since I make homemade soups all the time – I tried them in one of my vegetable and bean soups. Honestly, I was not expecting to like them in soup, but now I totally want them every time and can’t believe that I had never tried croutons in soup before. These croutons are not shy on flavor, so I would recommend adding them to simple soups (bean, vegetable, etc.) for some super-tasty results.
 
As most of you know, I limit my gluten intake and usually avoid it completely. I do make exceptions on occasion to enjoy small amounts and immediately know when I’ve eaten too much. Since my lovely readers know that I don’t eat much gluten, I just want to point out that these do have gluten. They also have cashews, which is important to know if you have nut allergies. 

Because I limit my gluten intake, foods that have gluten have to be pretty awesome for me to indulge in them. I can tell you that the cheesy-garlicy goodness of these croutons instantly put them at the top of my list of foods that fit that criterion.
 
If you love garlic, sourdough bread and that unique, cheesy deliciousness of nutritional yeast, you are going to love these croutons. Plus, you know how omnivores sometimes are not interested in eating vegan foods? No one is going to notice that these are vegan and, once they have them, they are not going to care. That makes this one of those crossover products that are great for mixed couples or families, since both your omnivores and your herbivores will enjoy them.

Folks who live in or often visit San Diego County or Orange County will have the easiest time keeping these vegan croutons in their pantry. This is because you can find a Kelly’s Croutons booth at local farmers markets every week.
 
As of this writing, you can find them at the Hillcrest Farmers Market in San Diego on Sundays, the Leucadia Farmers Market in Encinitas on Sundays, the Carlsbad Farmers Market in Carlsbad on Wednesdays, the Oceanside Farmers Market in Oceanside on Thursdays, the Dana Point Farmers Market in Dana Point on Saturdays and the Little Italy Mercato Farmers Market in San Diego on Saturdays.
 
You can also find them at special events, street fairs and festivals across Southern California and in Arizona and – thankfully – you can buy them online!
 
Currently, the online prices are $8.00 for a seven-ounce bag of the Gourmet Cheezy Garlic Croutons and $7.00 for the Gourmet Cheezy Parm.
 
If you are in the market for some amazing, vegan croutons, this is also a great chance to support a small, family business and to buy local (if you are in SoCal).

If you are planning on purchasing these vegan croutons online – which I definitely recommend if you don’t live near one of the farmers markets they frequent – be sure to use this promo code to save 10% off your order!
 
Kelly’s Croutons Online Promo code: VEGLIFE
 
Have you tried Kelly’s Croutons? If you are already familiar with this brand or when you try them for the first time, I would love to know what you think! Be sure to leave a comment to add to this vegan product review to help other vegans, vegetarians and plant-based folks find awesome products that make a plant-strong life easier and more enjoyable!

Okay, I have been testing my Mechaly Macie Black Vegan Leather Weekender Handbag for about five weeks now and am ready to post my review!
 
I  have found that it can be difficult to find purses that are vegan, stylish and sturdy. You can usually pick two out of three of these traits, but finding handbags with all three of these qualities sometimes seems next to impossible. There are a few good companies out there providing fashionable, functional bags that are cruelty free, and I am here to tell you that it is now time for us to add Mechaly to that list.
 
Honestly, I hadn't heard of Mechaly before they contacted me with the opportunity to review one of their bags. But I am always excited to learn about a new vegan company, and now I am particularly glad to have had the chance!
 
You don't have to be vegan to appreciate a high-quality, cruelty-free handbag, but far too many ethical shoppers have learned the hard way that cruelty free does not always mean vegan. So you will be happy to hear that Mechaly is not just committed to being cruelty free; they are also certified vegan by Vegan.org and PETA.

As I mentioned in the previous blog post giving you a sneak peek at the vegan handbag review I had in the works, when Mechaly approached me with the opportunity to review one of their bags, I was immediately drawn to the Macie Black Vegan Leather Weekender Handbag.
 
Most of my days are pretty busy and I am often running all over the county, which means I usually have a lot of stuff to pack in the morning that I will need throughout the day. So, while I was pretty tempted by their skull collection, I figured their roomy Weekender was the perfect bag for me to review.
 
In the previous post, I also mentioned that I immediately put the bag to the test on the first day with a bag of 12 oranges, two boxes of granola bars, a sweater, my day planner, a notebook, a pair of flip flops, two water bottles and my travel tea mug. The best part is that I still had room to spare!
 
The next day, I didn't have the granola bars, but I did have another bag of oranges -- plus my insulated lunch bag. Rather than having my purse, a tote bag and my lunch bag all looped over my arm, and then piled in my passenger seat, I was able to fit everything in the Weekender, which was way more convenient and definitely more fashionable.
 
And I think this is where this particular vegan leather handbag really stands out. After all, we can all find some huge, handy tote bag that we can stuff with everything we need for the day, but the Weekender allows you to tote an abundance of necessities in style.

This bag could definitely be used a school bag, work bag or gym bag with no problem. You could pack for a long weekend with room to spare, and experienced packers could probably pack for a week-long vacation.
 
While I have been mostly using this as a work bag -- and it has really worked out nicely for this -- this has become my go-to bag for just about everything. Need to quickly pack for an impromptu road trip? Grab the Weekender. Need to transport four bottles of wine, a water bottle and a sweater for a night out? I did, and I grabbed my Weekender. Need to pack for a day on campus followed by date night? Grab the Weekender and go.
 
Aside from oranges, work stuff and wine, I have used my Weekender to tote birthday gifts, groceries, dog park supplies, light bulbs, archery gear, my laptop, smudging supplies, and various bits of hardware and home goods for clients.
 
Speaking of which, I'm pretty sure I know the burning question that is on your mind at this point. I can hear you saying, "Sure, AJ, it carries produce, school books and work stuff, but will it fit a toilet seat? And not one of those short, round ones...we're talking one of those long, oval ones?"
 
Well, my friends, I too had this question...and the answer is yes. So if your day ever comes to the point where you need to transport a long, oval toilet seat from one client's house to another, and you would prefer to do so discretely so that other clients do not feel compelled to inquire why you have a toilet seat riding shotgun, the Weekender has your back.
 
I even took a picture of it for you...

Now that we have established the roominess of the Weekender, let's talk quality and other features.
 
One of the first things that I noticed about the bag is that it is unbranded. I get that some fashionistas may not like this and prefer to display their favorite designers' logos as they go about their day. For those of you who like branded bags, Mechaly does offer some, including the Lainie Satchel Handbag, the Kaylee Vegan Leather Tote and the Jaime Backpack. Their super-popular Skully line is also very distinctive.
 
I, on the other hand, prefer unbranded bags or bags with subtle branding. So I love that Mechaly has both unbranded and subtly branded options.
 
Next, let's talk vegan leather. You and I both know that all vegan leather is not created equally. Other things that are not created equally include zippers, D rings, hooks and all of those other findings that tend to fall apart on lower-quality vegan purses. The cruelty-free, leather-like material used to make the Weekender looks and feels like a high-quality leather alternative. Plus, I used the Weekender pretty hard for the last five weeks, and all of the mechanics have held up perfectly.
 
There are two handy, zippered exterior pockets that are perfect for car keys, protein bars or pens, and the removable strap that comes with it allows you to go through your day hands free while wearing it as a shoulder bag or cross body. This adds to the versatility of the Weekender, which is definitely one of the reasons that I really love this bag and have been able to find so many uses for it.

Of course, for most vegan folks and others dedicated to ethical shopping practices, the company is just as important as the product. So here is a little bit about the vegan awesomeness of Mechaly...
 
The Mechaly brand was born from the founders' desire to blend their love of fashion with their dedication to social action. To this end, their line of edgy vegan leather purses and accessories are designed for people who are always on the go and always on the hunt for high-quality accessories that are stylish and comfortable, as well as cruelty free and socially responsible.
 
Mechaly is a family-owned company started by French designers in Beverly Hills. Closely connected to their heritage and tradition, the founders named the company after the surname of their maternal lineage and determined the company's founding principles based on those instilled in them by their grandfather in their youth. Among these are respecting all living things, cherishing good health and treasuring each day we are given.
 
At the heart of the Mechaly brand is a focus on nine basics:

• Design
• Fashion
• The Environment
• Social Responsibility
• Excellence
• Inclusiveness
• Integrity
• Authenticity
• Being a Voice for Animals
  

The bottom line is that Mechaly is a brand worth getting to know. From my experience with them, I have found that they are great people making great products that are fashionable, functional and cruelty free.
 
If you want to support this vegan company and also end up with a mighty-fine handbag to add to your collection, don't forget to use the promo code SHOP35.
 
Not only will this get you 35% off your purchase, it also gets you free shipping within the USA!
 
 

For our friends at the FTC -- this is not a sponsored post. Mechaly provided me with a vegan purse from their line for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Now that I am in my 40s, I am definitely paying even more attention to my skin care routine and doing what I can to help my skin age gracefully. While there are lots of anti-aging products available to do just that, the list quickly shortens when you start to look for cruelty-free sun protection or vegan moisturizers.
 
It is pretty common to invest in good facial moisturizers, but lots of folks forget that your hands and décolleté are more than happy to give away your age as well. Because my face is so sensitive that it will turn red or break out if I so much as think of using a product it does not like, for me, this means finding one set of products for my ultra-sensitive facial skin and another for my hands and other areas of my body that are less sensitive and allow me to try out new vegan and cruelty-free wrinkle creams, oils or other products.
 
I do like to try out new lotions, creams and such, and now I have found a cruelty-free skincare routine for my hands that I absolutely love and plan to use for a very long time.
 
If you stop by very often, you probably already know that I buy most of my supplements and personal care products online at Vitacost.com. While I do purchase a few things on Amazon that Vitacost does not sell, I consistently find that Vitacost has the best prices a lot of things on my list, including my three favorite skincare products listed below.

My hand care routine begins in the morning, which is my chance to ward off some of this Southern California sun while I run around during the day. For this, I use Glonaturals Essentials Broad-Spectrum Sunspray Oil SPF 30 made by and sold by Vitacost.
 
This cruelty-free sun protection product sprays on easily, rubs in quickly, is not too oily and has a slightly coconuty scent.
 
I try to stay out of the sun as much as possible, but your hands are exposed to sunlight more than you might think, such as when you are driving or if you work from home and your desk is near a window. Both of these situations apply to me, so I keep my Glonaturals Sunspray Oil right on my vanity to help me remember to apply it daily.
 
At the time of this writing, the price for a six-ounce spray bottle of this sunspray is $11.99 online at Vitacost.

Next in my hand skin care routine is Acure Organics Seriously Firming Facial Serum. I apply this light serum every night as part of my bedtime routine (followed by my other fave vegan skincare product mentioned below).
 
I love everything about this serum. It is certified organic, absorbs quickly and has the most delightful, light scent. This is actually marketed for use as a moisturizer and fine line reducer for the skin on your face, neck and décolleté, but I have been using it on my hands for months and am very happy with it.
 
Acure Organics Seriously Firming Facial Serum can be found online and in some brick-and-mortar stores. The retail is about $19.19, but the price is $17.17 on Vitacost at the time of this writing.
 
If this is a little above your budget, Vitacost also sells Acure Organics Moroccan Argan Oil, which is regularly priced at $10.19 for one ounce on their site and goes for about $12.99 in stores. I have not tried this yet, but I did put it in my Vitacost cart to purchase next time I order my supplements and other products. This one might be worth trying as a lower-cost alternative.

My final step in my daily hand skin care routine is White Egret Hydrating Retinyl Intensive Hydrating Formula Night Creme. This great moisturizer is vegan, cruelty free, gluten free and paraben free. While it is marketed as a night cream for your face, I use this product on my neck, décolleté and hands.
 
I apply it to my hands after I apply Acure Organics Seriously Firming Facial Serum just before I go to bed and have definitely noticed a difference since I started using it several months ago.
 
This one retails most places at about $28.75, but it is just $18.69 at Vitacost (at the time of this writing).

You can purchase Acure products and White Egret products elsewhere, but Glonaturals is a Vitacost brand, so I believe it is only available online at Vitacost. If you are new to Vitacost, you will be pleased to know that their shipping is super fast. I usually get my orders the second day after placing them. Plus, shipping is free on orders of more than $49.
 
There are always sales going on, including buy one get one free and buy one get one 50% off, so while you are there, it is worth checking out the deals page. You should also always remember to check the Promo Pocket page, which is in the upper-right corner. I just placed an order today and found a promo code for a free jar of coconut oil with orders over $10, so if you go to Vitacost soon, that deal might still be available.
 
Lastly, new customers can save $10 on their first order of $30 or more by using a friend's referral code. Then, once you are a customer, you can start giving out your referral code to other friends to help them save money on their first order and to get $10 for you to save on a future order. Pretty cool deal, right?
 
If you are a new customer and want to save $10, use this referral link to sign up.
 
Oh, one more thing...you can save even more by first signing up for Ebates before heading over to Vitacost. When you sign in to Ebates before placing an order at Vitacost, you get cash back!