We, at the GWG office, are obsessed with Alive & Radiant Foods’ Kale Crunch, but at $5.99 for a bitty bag and a hardcore Kale chip habit… it’s become a spendy obsession.  Cut to – we learned how to make them ourselves (fairly easy, btw)!

Our own GWG Kale crunch!

Admittedly, our Kale crunch isn’t quite as “cheesy” (and thusly, tasty) as Alive & Radiants’… but they are damned good!  Here’s the recipe (thanks to Gone Raw)…

Put coating ingredients in Vitamix. Blend until smooth. Using your hands, massage coating onto kale pieces getting it inside of curls. Put on teflex sheets (don’t worry about flattening them, they’re better bunched up) and dehydrate at 105 overnight or until coating is dry. Slide onto mesh screens and dehydrate 12 hours, or until very crispy.

Lately it seems like everyone’s been talking about hair masks – maybe as an end of winter exercise.  And typically, I’m the one who runs out to try whichever great, organic product is recommended… but not this time!  In my research to find which mask to buy, I stumbled upon this oh-so-easy recipe to make.  3 simple ingredients.  I didn’t even have to go shopping… I had it all on hand!
1 ripe avocado
1/2 cup coconut milk
3 tsp olive oil (**I doubled the amounts because I have long, thick hair.**)

How to:
1. Mash the avocado with a large spoon until it’s completely smooth

2. Combine the coconut milk and olive oil, stirring rapidly to make sure it’s mixed in well.

3. Warm up the mask in your microwave, about 20 seconds or until it’s slightly warm (*I don’t have a microwave, so I did old school stove top).  Apply the mask to your hair a palmful at a time from roots to ends, and massage it into your scalp.

4. Leave on for at least thirty minutes or as long as you can (I did 1 hour) and wash your hair.

And presto… shiny, healthy, moisturized hair & scalp!

We at Green With Glamour like to think we do good – and look good while doing it.  It’s kind of the main principle behind this whole enterprise… the idea that living responsibly and living stylishly are easily combined.  However, there’s always room for growth and improvement, so here’s what we have in mind for this coming year!

1. Volunteer.  To pat our own backs, GWG is pretty damn good with charitable donations.  We support Farm Sanctuary, ASPCA, 1% For The Planet, NRDC and a myriad of local (though not always local to us) organizations and schools every year.  And though we fully intend to continue with the financial contributions, 2011 is bringing a serious ramping up of our volunteering efforts.

2. Drink more Organic Wines. We consistently buy organic produce, breads and legumes… so why aren’t we consistently buying organic wines?  There’s no good answer.  This year, rather than grabbing a bottle or 2 of whatever’s handy at the grocery, we’re going to explore more moderately priced organic vinos and stock up (how can that hurt?).  PLEASE SEND ANY SUGGESTIONS OUR WAY!

3. Spend more responsibly. And we don’t mean buying items that are responsibly made – we already do that.  We mean we’re going to be more thrifty!  Buy less.  Spend less.  Who of us doesn’t have just about everything we need?!  I know this sounds kind of crazy coming from a retailer… but our goal is to offer the best & most stylish options, not to support over-indulging.

4. Exercise daily. Easier said than done, right?  But, we’re going to make it happen!  We sit behind our computers ALL DAY (and often into the night).  It’s time for us to get off our collective asses.  Even if it’s a quick 20 minute walk with the dogs or a yoga dvd, we’re going to put time aside every day for a little moving & shaking.  It just feels good.

5. Read more books.  Who doesn’t have a fascinating stack of books building next to their bed or desk – just waiting to be read?!  The best I seem to do is an article or 2 every month from Vanity Fair. No longer!  In this day of laptops and kindle, there’s still something to be said for curling up with an actual book.  1st up… Decoded by Jay-Z (a Christmas gift from my husband).

We would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for this upcoming year… and we wish you health and happiness always.

xo Deana

We don’t typically re-post other people’s writing here, but considering how much we love Rory Freedman (best-selling author of Skinny Bitch) and the healthy-living blog, Crazy Sexy Life… we though we’d be fools to not share this wisdom:

1. Don’t say “yes” when you mean “no.” It’ll make you resentful. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

2. When driving, if someone wants to get in front of you, let him in front of you. And do it with a smile. It’ll make his day better, and it’ll make you feel good. You just changed the world.

3. Try to make a gratitude list each day. Include big things and little things. Invite your friends to make their own lists; you can all email one another each day, sharing your gratitude.

4. Don’t be a problem solver when a friend just wants you to be a listener.

5. Call your parents or grandparents. Sometimes, a five-minute phone call is all they need to feel loved.

6. Be a good neighbor: Be considerate inside and outside your home/apartment so your noise doesn’t bother those around you. That includes opening and closing your front door quietly.

7. Pee in the shower. If we each did this once a day, it would save an enormous amount of water and toilet paper (trees).

8. Write a “fan letter.” Tell someone you know, or someone you’ve never met, why you admire him or her. You’ll make someone’s day.

9. Curb your jealousy. Be happy for others.

10. Be willing to be wrong. If someone has a grievance with you, really try to see her point of view. If called for, apologize. It’s hard to do, but it feels really good and makes life so much easier.

11. If you are in a room with someone you don’t know, introduce yourself right away. It takes away the social discomfort immediately.

12. Pick a cause close to your heart, and get involved. You don’t have to quit your job and dive in headfirst. Just get involved on some level and do what you can when you can. Go slightly beyond your comfort zone but don’t overextend yourself.

13. Be a good friend to your friends. Tell them what’s good about them, that you appreciate them, and make the effort to spend time with them.

14. Go vegetarian. Animals raised and slaughtered for food suffer immeasurably. Visit GoVeg.com for a free vegetarian starter kit.

15. Do your best to think good thoughts. They affect your health, happiness, and the people around you.

16. Do something frivolous for someone you love. (It doesn’t have to be extravagant.) It feels so good to do nice things for other people, it’s almost selfish!

17. Practice accepting compliments. The person complimenting you is giving you a gift. Receive it graciously, even if it is difficult.

18. Be generous with your compliments. Don’t blow smoke up anyone’s ass. Just say nice things when they occur to you.

19. Forgive those who have wronged you. Holding onto anger and resentment poisons your body and your life. There are no benefits in staying mad. Let go. It’s okay.

20. Forgive yourself. It’s okay to be imperfect and to have made mistakes. Try to do better, that’s all.

We don’t typically re-post other people’s writing here, but considering how much we love Rory Freedman (best-selling author of Skinny Bitch) and the healthy-living blog, Crazy Sexy Life… we though we’d be fools to not share this wisdom:

1. Don’t say “yes” when you mean “no.” It’ll make you resentful. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

2. When driving, if someone wants to get in front of you, let him in front of you. And do it with a smile. It’ll make his day better, and it’ll make you feel good. You just changed the world.

3. Try to make a gratitude list each day. Include big things and little things. Invite your friends to make their own lists; you can all email one another each day, sharing your gratitude.

4. Don’t be a problem solver when a friend just wants you to be a listener.

5. Call your parents or grandparents. Sometimes, a five-minute phone call is all they need to feel loved.

6. Be a good neighbor: Be considerate inside and outside your home/apartment so your noise doesn’t bother those around you. That includes opening and closing your front door quietly.

7. Pee in the shower. If we each did this once a day, it would save an enormous amount of water and toilet paper (trees).

8. Write a “fan letter.” Tell someone you know, or someone you’ve never met, why you admire him or her. You’ll make someone’s day.

9. Curb your jealousy. Be happy for others.

10. Be willing to be wrong. If someone has a grievance with you, really try to see her point of view. If called for, apologize. It’s hard to do, but it feels really good and makes life so much easier.

11. If you are in a room with someone you don’t know, introduce yourself right away. It takes away the social discomfort immediately.

12. Pick a cause close to your heart, and get involved. You don’t have to quit your job and dive in headfirst. Just get involved on some level and do what you can when you can. Go slightly beyond your comfort zone but don’t overextend yourself.

13. Be a good friend to your friends. Tell them what’s good about them, that you appreciate them, and make the effort to spend time with them.

14. Go vegetarian. Animals raised and slaughtered for food suffer immeasurably. Visit GoVeg.com for a free vegetarian starter kit.

15. Do your best to think good thoughts. They affect your health, happiness, and the people around you.

16. Do something frivolous for someone you love. (It doesn’t have to be extravagant.) It feels so good to do nice things for other people, it’s almost selfish!

17. Practice accepting compliments. The person complimenting you is giving you a gift. Receive it graciously, even if it is difficult.

18. Be generous with your compliments. Don’t blow smoke up anyone’s ass. Just say nice things when they occur to you.

19. Forgive those who have wronged you. Holding onto anger and resentment poisons your body and your life. There are no benefits in staying mad. Let go. It’s okay.

20. Forgive yourself. It’s okay to be imperfect and to have made mistakes. Try to do better, that’s all.

October 1 is a special day to me… it’s a day to celebrate Vegetarianism!  I’ve been a vegetarian for (gulp) almost 26 years  – Vegan for 2) and finally my grandmother has accepted that it not a “phase”.  It’s my life.  And for the past 2 years, my once steak-savoring husband has joined the ranks.  When he went Veg, I was shocked!  He was someone who truly enjoyed just about every meat around.   But whether it was exposure to my lifestyle, his ever-growing love for animals, whatever… his priorities shifted and here we are.  If he can do it – anyone can!

Do the planet a solid and give up meat for 24hrs… and here are some suggestions if you want to get involved!

Let’s face it, mani/pedi’s aren’t the healthiest or the best for the environment. The polishes are full of toxins, bad for you and bad for the land fill. And let’s not even talk about the harsh chemicals we need to remove the coveted color. It’s sad, but true. So it looks like we’ll all just have to get by with just a buff and a file.

Just kidding! I haven’t had bare toes since 1998. I don’t really want to start now. Thanks to the whole slew of new products popping up with less nasty chemicals and improved pigmentation, I don’t have to and neither do you.

I decided to conduct a little experiment, a Pepsi Challenge, if you will, and put a polish sans toxins up against a very popular brand of traditional polish, who shall remain nameless. The traditional polish’s contender is Butter London, a brand from Seattle (and recently featured in Vogue, In Style, People, Lucky – you name it.  They’re blowing up!).  They have a “3 Free” policy, which means none of their polishes or products contain Formaldehyde, Toluene (a soil contaminator that can effect the nervous system) or DBP (which has been linked to cancer and infertility). They have a no animal testing policy and their color selection is completely cutting edge and I pretty much want one of each.

Butter – blowing raspberries

Here are my findings:

Application: Both polishes went on smooth and even. I quickly realized why I pay $35 every three weeks to have a professional paint my toe nails. Apparently I have the painting skills of a four year old. Color: I used Butter’s “Blowing Raspberries” (reddish) and the traditional brand’s “Moonlight Over Moscow” (deep purple, almost black). That’s right, I’ve had two different colors on my toes for a week and a half and I live in LA where it’s still warm, so hullo! open toe. All for you, my Lovlies. Both colors were evenly and deeply pigmented. Drying: Here is where the most noticeable difference is. Butter’s polish took about 15 minutes longer to dry thoroughly than the traditional brand. Durability: It’s been 10 days and not a chip on either foot. Conclusion: Extra drying time is well worth kicking the toxins to the curb.

Let’s face it, mani/pedi’s aren’t the healthiest or the best for the environment. The polishes are full of toxins, bad for you and bad for the land fill. And let’s not even talk about the harsh chemicals we need to remove the coveted color. It’s sad, but true. So it looks like we’ll all just have to get by with just a buff and a file.

Just kidding! I haven’t had bare toes since 1998. I don’t really want to start now. Thanks to the whole slew of new products popping up with less nasty chemicals and improved pigmentation, I don’t have to and neither do you.

I decided to conduct a little experiment, a Pepsi Challenge, if you will, and put a polish sans toxins up against a very popular brand of traditional polish, who shall remain nameless. The traditional polish’s contender is Butter London, a brand from Seattle (and recently featured in Vogue, In Style, People, Lucky – you name it.  They’re blowing up!).  They have a “3 Free” policy, which means none of their polishes or products contain Formaldehyde, Toluene (a soil contaminator that can effect the nervous system) or DBP (which has been linked to cancer and infertility). They have a no animal testing policy and their color selection is completely cutting edge and I pretty much want one of each.

Butter – blowing raspberries

Here are my findings:

Application: Both polishes went on smooth and even. I quickly realized why I pay $35 every three weeks to have a professional paint my toe nails. Apparently I have the painting skills of a four year old. Color: I used Butter’s “Blowing Raspberries” (reddish) and the traditional brand’s “Moonlight Over Moscow” (deep purple, almost black). That’s right, I’ve had two different colors on my toes for a week and a half and I live in LA where it’s still warm, so hullo! open toe. All for you, my Lovlies. Both colors were evenly and deeply pigmented. Drying: Here is where the most noticeable difference is. Butter’s polish took about 15 minutes longer to dry thoroughly than the traditional brand. Durability: It’s been 10 days and not a chip on either foot. Conclusion: Extra drying time is well worth kicking the toxins to the curb.

My dear friend and divinely talented photographer, Darrin Noble, just turned me on to this book this week and I just can’t resist writing about it.  How I wish such a book existed when I was a kid!  That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals by Ruby Roth is a sweet, but poignant children’s tale examining the happy lives of animals in their natural state, the sad lives of livestock animals and the environmental impact of eating them.  Praised by animal rights activists including Jane Goodall, Alicia Silverstone, Ingrid Newkirk (founder & Pres. of PETA) and best-selling authors, John Robbins (The Food Revolution) and Rory Freedman (Skinny Bitch)… This endearing book is a wonderful way to introduce children & parents alike to the merits of vegetarianism and veganism.

“The boldest step yet in children’s literature, this heartfelt, informative book offers a key resource to inspire parents and children to talk about a timely, increasingly important subject.”  We want our children informed, right?

My dear friend and divinely talented photographer, Darrin Noble, just turned me on to this book this week and I just can’t resist writing about it.  How I wish such a book existed when I was a kid!  That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals by Ruby Roth is a sweet, but poignant children’s tale examining the happy lives of animals in their natural state, the sad lives of livestock animals and the environmental impact of eating them.  Praised by animal rights activists including Jane Goodall, Alicia Silverstone, Ingrid Newkirk (founder & Pres. of PETA) and best-selling authors, John Robbins (The Food Revolution) and Rory Freedman (Skinny Bitch)… This endearing book is a wonderful way to introduce children & parents alike to the merits of vegetarianism and veganism.

“The boldest step yet in children’s literature, this heartfelt, informative book offers a key resource to inspire parents and children to talk about a timely, increasingly important subject.”  We want our children informed, right?

“What’s good for the Bitch is good for the Bastard.

 When I read Skinny Bitch (btw, it’s NY Times best-seller) 2 1/2 years ago…it changed my life.  After being a vegetarian for 23 years (and having never developed a taste for fried foods), I thought I was a pretty healthy gal.  Sure, I loved eggs and I LOVED cheese, but I had no idea:

A. how incredibly unhealthy dairy and eggs are for humans.
B. the unbelievably inhumane treatment that chickens, cows, goats, sheep (even sometimes the “free-range, organically-fed ones”) suffer at the hands of these industries. *This point is actually a lot more important to me than the health issue.

Anyway, I read the book in 1 day and it changed my life.  I’ve been happily vegan for over 2 years, I feel SO MUCH healthier, I’ve lost weight and I really enjoy food shopping and cooking in a way I never have before.

Back in the day when I did first read S.B.,  I tried to get my husband to read it.  He tried, but No dice.  I think maybe it was that the writing was a little lady-slanted AND he really had no interest is going vegan.  Here we go…

Rory Freedman, the brilliant, hilarious and meticulously-researching mind behind the entire “Bitch” empire has finally found her “Dude” voice with Skinny Bastard.

Time to get healthy, boys!

“What’s good for the Bitch is good for the Bastard.

 When I read Skinny Bitch (btw, it’s NY Times best-seller) 2 1/2 years ago…it changed my life.  After being a vegetarian for 23 years (and having never developed a taste for fried foods), I thought I was a pretty healthy gal.  Sure, I loved eggs and I LOVED cheese, but I had no idea:

A. how incredibly unhealthy dairy and eggs are for humans.
B. the unbelievably inhumane treatment that chickens, cows, goats, sheep (even sometimes the “free-range, organically-fed ones”) suffer at the hands of these industries. *This point is actually a lot more important to me than the health issue.

Anyway, I read the book in 1 day and it changed my life.  I’ve been happily vegan for over 2 years, I feel SO MUCH healthier, I’ve lost weight and I really enjoy food shopping and cooking in a way I never have before.

Back in the day when I did first read S.B.,  I tried to get my husband to read it.  He tried, but No dice.  I think maybe it was that the writing was a little lady-slanted AND he really had no interest is going vegan.  Here we go…

Rory Freedman, the brilliant, hilarious and meticulously-researching mind behind the entire “Bitch” empire has finally found her “Dude” voice with Skinny Bastard.

Time to get healthy, boys!

And inside she wears a lovely little Kelly B number from Green with Glamour…

Read all about Emily’s vegan ways, her efforts to make the Bones set “green”, her foiled cooking attempts and how she channels Ed Begley, Jr. to conserve energy!

And inside she wears a lovely little Kelly B number from Green with Glamour…

Read all about Emily’s vegan ways, her efforts to make the Bones set “green”, her foiled cooking attempts and how she channels Ed Begley, Jr. to conserve energy!

Ok… even writing this is making me clutch my metaphorical pearls.  It’s not that were a bunch of prudies here at Green with Glamour, but condom-talk just isn’t really our m.o.  Anywho, my incredible hair/make up artist & always-in-the-know dear friend, Vanessa Price, sent me this fun post from Daily Candy all about French Letter’s Eco-friendly condoms.  Read the D.C. article here… We’ll leave all of the cheeky puns to them, but our hats are off to French Letter for tackling such a touchy subject, for the support of Fair Trade – and for the tasteful packaging!