OCTOBER CONTEST: Win an Italian-made, organic shirt from Culturata!

Seen on celebs like Matt Damon, George Clooney, and Michael Cera and gracing the cover of MR Magazine, Culturta has earned worldwide respect as an international brand that represents a higher standard of contemporary clothing. Culturata is changing the way people choose clothing by pioneering sartorial sustainability. This concept is based on the balance of old and new. By combining old world tailoring traditions and hand craftsmanship with new sustainable fabrics and practices Culturata elevates  our expectations .

You can win an Organic Culturata Shirt in a few simple steps:

1. Send an email to TheDiscerningbrute@gmail.com listing “The Top 3 Things You Can Do to Promote Organic Cotton“. The Subject line must read: OCTOBER CONTEST: CULTURATA (otherwise it may get trashed)
2. The best and most creative submission wins!
3. Deadline is October 31st.
4. The winner will be announced November 1st.

Simple Strawberry Shortie

Strawberry Shortcake can make you feel like you’re home no matter where you are. The dense, moist cake, the light, sweet fluff and the crisp, tart strawberries all compliment each other so nicely. For my roommate’s birthday we made these mini strawberry shortcakes to remind her of home.

SIMPLE STRAWBERRY SHORTIE

What you’ll need:

• 1 large bundt pan or mini bundt pan (you can also use more boring shapes like a loaf)
• 1/4 cup non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening, room temp (spectrum is great)
• 3 cups unbleached, organic white flour
• 1 cup agave nectar
• 1/2 cup almond or rice milk
  
• 2 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
• 1/2 cup prepared egg-replacer
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp salt
• large container of organic strawberries
• Can of soy-whip or box of MimicCreme or Soy Whip in-a-box

Directions:

1. Combine dry ingredients: flour, salt, baking powder.
2. With a mixer (or by fork), combine shortening with flour mixture.
3. Add egg-replacer, almond milk, vanilla,  and slowly pour in agave.
4. Combine evenly, and pour into greased pan.
5. Cook on 350 for about 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Let cool for at least 20 minutes, remove from pan.
7. Add whipped topping (prepared, if necessary)and cleaned & diced strawberries.

Yummy Gelato, Kaight’s Men & Vegan Psychic Powers!

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry, a la Blackwell's Organic

Blackwell’s Organic Gelato and Sorbetto is pretty damn good. My favorites are definitely the strawberry and the chocolate (and combining them! Wow). For those of us who like full, rich flavor (none of that watered-down, way-too-sugary crap), Blackwell’s is perfect. The strawberry tastes like amazingly fresh, satisfying strawberries! The chocolate is dark, smooth, dense, and sophisticated. Check out their full range at blackwellsorganic.com.

Check out the new menswear at our friend KAIGHT SHOP for some organic denim by the ethically handsome “Good Society” and some of the hard-to-find eco-friendly Tom’s (the ones without the toxic dead cow insoles, duh…).

Does going vegan give you psychic powers? For those of you who consider yourselves spiritual or into “energy”, and you still eat meat and dairy, you’ll definitely want to read this interesting article. The article was so interesrting, that according to Ecorazzi, Brandon Routh’s (Superman) character in Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World will be a rocker with “vegan psychic powers”. I know some ladies(and gents) who wonder if he’s single…?

Sustainable Skateboards & Searching Sedona

On my last day in LA, I stopped by Kelly Green Design who carries Sustainably Harvested Skateboards. These boards were rad – and the graphics were burned on, as opposed to using toxic paints. They made really nice wall art as well.

Sustainable Skateboards

I made my way to Sedona, AZ where I checked out some petroglyphs by the Sinagua with Enzo, munched on raw coconut macaroons, avocado seaweed salad, and other vegan delights at D’Lish, and steered clear of the vortex!

Sedona, AZ

Fresh Friday Finds

1. The Better World Shopping Guide.
Wouldn’t it be great to have a resource that graded (A+ through F) companies on their practices affecting ecosystems, people, and animals? My sister recently pointed out a great resource: “The Better World Shopping Guide” by Ellis Jones. Dr Jones has 2 books out. The Better World Handbook is a big book that catalogues the many ways one human being can make a difference in the world around a wide range of social and environmental problems. You can read nearly the whole book RIGHT HERE.

2. Pureology Styling Products
Pureology is a biodegradable, vegan, cruelty-free haircare product line used by top salons and stylists. I got my hair cut at Beehive in Williamsburg, and my stylist Kay made me fall in love with their nano-wax! Smells really good too. Pompadour heaven.

3. Reclaimed, recycled, repurposed furniture from Brooklyn!

Founded in 2004, by Bill Hilgendorf and Jason Horvath, Uhuru is a small design + build furniture company dedicated to sustainability and creating timeless designs and interiors. Uhuru builds each piece by hand, in their Red Hook Brooklyn studio.

4. Soy Undies
Spotted these 2(x)ist man-briefs made from SOY! According to the 2(x)ist website, soy is “more luxurious than cashmere, breathes like cotton… and is a ‘green’ fiber”. Locate them HERE.

5. Bergmans Organic Pima Cotton Collection
I’ve had a lot of people ask me where they can get nice organic dress shirts, khakis and such. Check out this organic collection from the respected Bergman’s, who’s been on top of the organic cotton game since 1986! If you don’t know why conventional cotton is so terrible, you much read my previous post: White Gold