Maya Gottfried 2013-05-22T08:42:55-04:00 Maya Gottfried http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/index.php?author=maya-gottfried Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Maya Gottfried Good old fashioned elbow grease. Dating as a Vegan: Honesty Is the Best Policy tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1307043 2012-03-08T12:17:47-05:00 2012-05-08T05:12:02-04:00 Maya Gottfried http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maya-gottfried/
It was a revelatory moment for me. I, like so many other women, had been working to twist and contort myself into the perfect mold of the desirable date. Finally, I was fed up. I don't know what struck this faith in my heart that being true to myself was the answer, but I realized that I needed to pay attention to my own feelings and comfort levels -- and not try so hard to fit a generic format that was rumored to be the ticket to love (and wasn't working for anyone I knew).

I didn't make it a rule to only date vegans, I only promised myself I'd respect my own feelings, beliefs and truths. I was not going to hide my vegan lifestyle, and I was going pay attention to whether or not I was comfortable dating those who consumed animal products. If I wasn't, I wouldn't. If love is about being true to one's heart, wouldn't that include being true to one's love for animals? The question for me changed from whether or not someone could love me when I didn't eat animals, to whether or not I could love someone who did.

The answer was complex, certainly not black and white. However, what I found was that as soon as I put down my foot about being open, out and unapologetic about my veganism in regards to my dating -- men started to respond in a very positive way. I didn't make a conscious decision to only date vegans or vegetarians, but I committed to respecting my own feelings when it came to the diet of the person I was with.

I was subscribed to one online dating site, with mixed feelings. I'm a big believer in serendipity when it comes to relationships and I'm not sure if that translates to the internet. I was very clear in my profile that I was vegan, but didn't indicate whether I would only date vegans and vegetarians. I heard from vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike.

The first date I went on was with someone who was vegan for health but not ethical reasons. He was creative, tall, smart and funny. We talked over tea and agreed that we enjoyed it. When we made plans again, he cancelled due to a hefty hangover. As a non-drinker, I suggested he try seltzer next time. Although we ate similarly, there were some other connections missing.

The second date I went on was with a good-looking and talented omnivore. He seemed very interested in and fascinated by my vegan lifestyle, activism and general love of animals. It was not a love connection, however, due to lack of chemistry. I never even had to watch him eat something that might be offensive to me because we only met a couple of times. Later he expressed to me his belief that I probably would not have liked his apartment as he had a cow-skin rug in it. He was right, but by staying true to my heart I never had to see it in person.

One fellow I started interacting with on the dating site was also a devoted vegan. We had even both spent time at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, N.Y. He was attractive and nice and considerate. But there was something missing. Although the common love of animals was present, that little bit of romantic magic just wasn't there.

Date three almost didn't happen. My wariness of online dating led me to suspend my account. Right before I did, I heard from someone I had the spark of a serendipitous sense about. A vegetarian for many years longer than myself, there were no rational reasons why this third date might go better than the others -- only an instinctual feeling to follow through. He had too many good qualities to mention. Date number three turned into dates number four, five, six and more. We connected in many ways, a mutual love of animals being one of them.

I know someone who has been a vegan for many years and is happily in love with and married to someone who eats animal products. She is living her truth -- being true to her love of animals by living vegan, and being true to her feelings for the person she is with. Another vegan who stands in his or her truth might have a life that looks much different. Jasmin Singer, a longtime vegan who co-founded animal rights nonprofit Our Hen House with her committed domestic partner Mariann Sullivan, comments, "My veganism is the best part of me, and sharing my life with someone who gets that, and appreciates it, is a priority for me. My partner is also a vegan, but keep in mind that I entered into this relationship after years of dating (and frequently converting) non-vegans."

Maya Gottfried is the author of books, essays and articles for children and adults. She has previously written on her experience with cancer for crazysexylife.com. Her autobiographical essay "Untitled" appeared in the book "Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes." Maya's most recent book for children, "Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary," is about the real-life residents of national farm animal protection organization Farm Sanctuary. Read her blog and buy her books on Red Room.

For more by Maya Gottfried, click here.

For more on relationships, click here.]]> Giving Gifts Of Joy: Animal Sponsorships As Holiday Presents tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.1145812 2011-12-19T19:02:24-05:00 2012-02-18T05:12:02-05:00 Maya Gottfried http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maya-gottfried/
Animals Asia

2011-12-13-Jasperafter1.jpg

Oh how we loved curling up with our teddy bears when we were little. So fuzzy and cuddly -- their warmth helped lull so many of us to sleep. Though we cherish the coziness of bears, they are certainly not practical to have in our homes. In Asia, thousands of live moon bears -- beautiful and sentient animals with the intelligence of a three-year-old -- are farmed for their bile, for use in traditional Asian medicine. Held in "crush cages," often without the space to stand or even turn around, they suffer great emotional and physical pain while being milked through (often rusty) catheters or holes cut in their abdomens. International animal welfare nonprofit Animals Asia works with government officials and bear farmers to free these bears and bring them to the organization's two placid moon bear rescue centers (in China and Vietnam) -- peaceful and beautiful sanctuaries where the bears can live out the rest of their lives in joyful comfort, with the best of care.

Bears such as Jasper, adored by humans and other bears alike, spend their days lolling on specially-made swings, playing with their friends and munching on delicious fruity treats. Adorable as they are, moon bears are wild animals and not companion animals for humans. However, for $45 per month, Animals Asia offers the opportunity to give the gift of sponsoring a rescued bears on behalf of someone else. You'll receive a giftable sponsorship certificate, photo of the sponsored bear, and information about the bear and his/her character to give to the adoptive parent. A great present for a teenager with an interest in animals, or a friend who seems to have bought everything they could ever want for themselves!

Farm Sanctuary

Children have a natural connection with farm animals. There is a peacefulness and love of life that they appear to share in common and revel in when together. It seems that as we get older, we disconnect from our pals on the farm. Farm animals have families and friends, just like we do. They play and express emotion and even respond to music, just like we do. Yet each year billions of them are held in atrocious conditions without access to any of their basic necessities (air, wholesome food, room to move) on industrialized factory farms in the United States. Farm Sanctuary is a national nonprofit organization that rescues, educates about and advocates for farm animals. Rescued animals are brought to live in the organization's three expansive shelters, located in upstate New York and California, where they are offered exceptional veterinary care, space to run, clean and sturdy shelter, plenty of healthy food and the respect of those who care for them. For the holidays, Farm Sanctuary offers the opportunity to give the sponsorship of one of their sweet residents as a present. You can give the gift of adopting a chicken named Dandypants for $10 a month or a steer named Blitzen for $50 a month. Other animals up for adoption include sheep, goats, ducks and pigs. The giftable sponsorship package includes a personalized adoption certificate, beautiful color photo and details about scheduling a VIP tour for the recipient to meet their new adopted friend. Now that's a lot more exciting than yet another plush animal toy under the tree!

Local Organizations

If you'd like to support your local animal welfare organizations, many are also offering animal sponsorships as holiday gifts. Through the Hinsdale Humane Society in Hinsdale, Ill., one can sponsor a homeless cat or dog for a minimum donation of $50. Gift givers may choose a dog, cat, kitten or puppy with recipients being sent a personalized Hinsdale Humane Society Gift Sponsorship Certificate including a photograph of the adoptee. On the west coast, Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) in Walnut Creek, Cal. also offers a chance to give the gift of adoption without jeopardizing the welfare of an animal. Gift givers, for a donation of $25 or more, will be able to sponsor a homeless cat or dog, with a personalized eCard being sent to the recipient. Now, why give a generic gift certificate from a department store when for the same amount you can share the joy of helping a beautiful animal in need?

With all of the wonderful sponsorship opportunities offered by rescue organizations this gift giving season, there's no need to try to guess what your assistant will like or what size your aunt wears. Just think of all of the joy you can bring to humans and animals alike!

The above image appears courtesy of Animals Asia

Maya Gottfried is the author of books about animals, including the children's book Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary. Maya was inspired to write Our Farm after learning about Farm Sanctuary online and working as a volunteer in New York City. Buy her books and read her blog on Red Room.]]> Great Makeup For The Holidays, Minus The Cruelty tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.1136383 2011-12-09T11:33:57-05:00 2012-02-08T05:12:01-05:00 Maya Gottfried http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maya-gottfried/
Vegan New York City makeup artist Brian Duprey says, "As a makeup artist that happens to be vegan, I extend that to my work; my products and tools. In my bag you will not find one fur brush or one drop of lanolin. I'm happy to report that it is easier than ever to find pro products without the unnecessary animal ingredients." His current favorites include Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, EcoTools (animal free makeup brushes) and Lavender & Roses Skin Lotion (for moisturizing under makeup). Brian's "#1 vegan makeup must have" is NARS' Eyeliner Stylo, a liquid liner with a pen-like applicator tip, which he deems, "The ultimate eyeliner." For the holidays he advises using the NARS Eyeliner Stylo to elongate the traditional smoky eye outward from the outer corner of the eye. He also recommends Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics' "Lip Tar" in "Stalker" for festive fêtes, calling it "... the perfect holiday red. It's classic and bold. I prefer it paired with a simple eye; darkest brown, black or navy liner smudged; and mascara."

First on my personal holiday events agenda is a party thrown by NYC music p.r. agency, Girlie Action. Most of the company's clients are twenty or thirty-something bands so I want to look sophisticated with some hip highlights. I'll start with Arbonne's makeup primer, which smoothes skin to a perfect canvas before I apply concealer, foundation and pressed powder. My favorite company for color is Scarlett Cosmetics, created and owned by Scarlett Messina whose makeup has been worn by celebrities including Debbie Harry, Christina Ricci and Drew Barrymore. All of Scarlett's Glamo-Glitz colors are vegan, coming in sumptuous shades from a shimmering gold, to electric blue, to neon yellow. They can be used as eye shadow, eyeliner, lip color, mascara or blush. (Take note vegans, the Glamo-Glitzes are all carmine-free, however, some older labels may include carmine in the list of ingredients. They are currently being replaced.)

For this party I'm excited to take "Bing," an uber-intense pink, for a spin. Says Scarlett, "...[T]o make eyes immediately light up take a dab of Bing and pat into exact middle of crease. Blend it [so it's] not too bright... the effect it gives is similar to when you get a sunburn and... secretly think you look great." I'm going to be wearing a pop of "Bing" with a swoop of black liquid liner and a lush coat of Manic Panic Collection's "Creature of the Night" black mascara. To insert a little glam into my indie music evening, I'll be adding Urban Decay's all vegan "Urban Lash" false eyelashes in "Instaflare" which are 1/3rd length lashes -- offering just the right amount of intensity without the hassle of a full falsie. These animal product-free lashes come packaged with vegan, latex-free glue. The perfect finish for the look is Arbonne's translucent "Champagne Shimmer" lip polish, part of the vegan company's "Lip Polish Palette Gift Set" which includes four gorgeous shades of gloss.

I'm dreaming of a dreamy date for Christmas. Whether or not the guy calls, I intend to go out and sparkle. That way, I can try out Urban Decay's "Heavy Metal" glitter eyeliner in "Stagedive," a mesmerizing turquoise which will look stunning on most skin tones. I have just the colors to wear with it, too! The striking touch of metallic blue-green across the edges of my lids goes great with the subtlety of Arbonne's neutral "Eye Shadow" in "Sand." I'll finish off the look with a touch of Urban Decay's perfectly pink "Afterglow" glide-on cheek tint, in "Quickie" and Arbonne's lovely pink lip polish in "Posh" (included in the "Lip Polish Palette Gift Set").

The other night one of my favorite actresses, Kristen Johnson appeared on the Bravo network "... channeling Black Swan" according to host, Andy Cohen. Her all black attire with intense lips and tightly pinned back hair made me want to go a little goth for the holidays. I found the perfect black satin dress, and Scarlett Messina offers a new spin on the smoky eye that is great for makeup inspired by, but not carbon copying Kristen's look. Scarlett Cosmetics' Glamo-Glitz in "Bordeaux" (a rich, shimmering wine-colored dust) provides "... a modern way to do the smoky eye." Says Scarlett, "Instead of that predictable dark steel grey or black, do the same technique for the smoky eye but use 'Bordeaux.'" To finish the look, Scarlett adds, "I also love to wear... a creamy pink on lips." For a more dramatic look, Scarlett explains that when wearing "Bordeaux" on eyes one can break the cosmetics rule of never pairing dark eyes with dark lips, "Wearing 'Bordeaux' on eyes and a 'Bordeaux' on lips looks fierce!" she exclaims. Arbonne's "Lip Polish" in "Raisin" (also found in the "Lip Polish Palette Gift Set") is the perfect translucent, high-gloss Bordeaux-hued complement to those rich nouveau smoky eyes.

I'll be spending Christmas day with my dad, reading and listening to classical music as he does on most Sundays, before heading out to dinner. Christmas isn't about me, and I don't want to be too self-indulgent, but I still want to look nice for my family and to go out. Urban Decay offers a great subtle eye color for day with their "Matte Eyeshadow" in the beige-y neutral "ABC Gum." If you're not pale, like me, chances are they have another nude shade that suits your coloring. To add a tasteful amount of sparkle for the evening out, I'll sweep on Urban Decay's "Stardust Eyeshadow" in "Bobby Dazzle" -- also a neutral hue, but with subtle glitter for a festive ending to the holiday.

A great online resource for vegan cosmetics is makeup artist and author Melisser Elliott's Cruelty-Free Face blog.

Maya Gottfried is the author of books, essays and articles for children and adults. She has previously written on her experience with cancer for crazysexylife.com. Her autobiographical essay "Untitled" appeared in the book "Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes." Maya's most recent book for children, "Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary," is about the real-life residents of national farm animal protection organization Farm Sanctuary. Read her blog and buy her books on Red Room.]]> How To Be A Vegan On Thanksgiving tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.1098065 2011-11-17T17:53:43-05:00 2012-01-21T05:12:01-05:00 Maya Gottfried http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maya-gottfried/
The great irony of Thanksgiving, to me, is that so many of the lovely holiday decorations celebrate the striking beauty of turkeys, standing tall and proud with their beautiful splay of tail feathers and colorful snood, alive and vibrant -- yet the reason for the turkey's prevalence in seasonal décor is not because the holiday pays tribute to the lives of these beautiful birds, but because of a tradition of killing and consuming them. The beauty of Thanksgiving, the spirit of gratitude, the celebration of community, is in so many ways negated by its predominant main course.

In going vegan, I was forced to reevaluate what Thanksgiving truly meant to me. Like so many, I closely associated the holiday with the consumption of a turkey. Once I followed my truth to a plant-based path, I discovered this was not truly what I enjoyed about the holiday -- what lifted my spirits was the connection with people I loved, the focus on thankfulness and the enjoyment of a carefully planned meal. Thanksgiving means many things to many people. For some it is a time of community events beyond immediate family -- such as school performances and donating food to those in need. For some it means revisiting a childhood home and playing sports in the backyard (or watching them on TV). There are a variety of things that make Thanksgiving a special holiday for many -- but I doubt that the untimely end of the life of a sentient being is what makes it uplifting for anyone.

I've found that my Thanksgivings with family are best for all if I don't verbally attack the people I'm with for having endorsed the death of the bird on the table. That doesn't mean I condone it, but instead I infuse the meal with plenty of delightful vegan offerings -- reminding the people I love that they have compassionate options. There are also wonderful, positive resources available. One holiday weekend, farm animal rescue and advocacy organization Farm Sanctuary's president and co-founder Gene Baur appeared on HLN network's "ISSUES with Jane Velez-Mitchell" to speak about Thanksgiving, providing a wonderful opportunity for me to sit with my family in front of the TV and learn together. Endorsed by famous vegan Ellen DeGeneres, Farm Sanctuary's "Adopt-A-Turkey" project is a way for people to express their compassion for these beautiful birds through sponsorship, and offers a website that can be shared with loved ones. I've found that my family is much more receptive to exploring a website on their own than being reminded of the life lost for the sake of their meal while sitting at the table.

Though I have offered to prepare all of my own food, my mother enjoys veganizing her Thanksgiving recipes. It was fun to introduce her to vegan marshmallows by Sweet & Sara so that she could prepare her delicious candied yams dish without any animal products. She was happy to discover that her stuffing is great made with vegetable instead of meat broth, and margarine as opposed to butter. There's always the option of preparing Tofurky as a main course, but the foods I really enjoy eating on Thanksgiving tickle the senses with the fruits of the earth -- dishes that feature unprocessed vegetables, grains and legumes. My favorite cookbook for Thanksgiving is "Vegan With a Vengeance" by Isa Chandra Moscowitz. Its hearty recipes are full of flavor and not too challenging for someone who lacks culinary genius, like me. The book's "Ginger Roasted Winter Vegetables" includes parsnips, carrots, butternut squash, sweet potatoes and fresh ginger. The colors are rich shades of browns and oranges that reference the beautiful changing leaves of the season without causing pain to an animal. To me, this is in the true spirit of a Thanksgiving bounty. Most popular with my family, though, are vegan desserts. My holiday tradition of preparing a pie continued when I transitioned to a plant-based diet, a favorite being Vegan Key Lime Pie.

Besides the Thanksgiving meal itself, the long holiday weekend presents a great opportunity to introduce vegan-doubting family members to even more delectable animal-free treats. I've surprised mine with scones for breakfast and chewy chocolate chip cookies as sweet snacks. Despite the foods' (unnoticeable) lack of dairy, my meat-eating relatives couldn't deny their deliciousness. Before I went vegan, Thanksgiving was a time when I spent lazy days in front of the television, letting my mother cook most of the holiday meal. Now I look forward to turning on the radio and spending hours cooking in the kitchen. It is so much more rewarding for me to participate in providing the weekend's meals and munchies than passively letting someone else do all of the work.

Vegan Thanksgiving recipes abound in cookbooks and online. Farm Sanctuary devotes a section of their "Adopt-A-Turkey Project" website to animal-free recipes. Mercy for Animals also makes vegan Thanksgiving recipes available at their site. And the New York Times just published a blog about celebrated wellness warrior Kris Carr featuring vegan Thanksgiving recipes.

There are many homes that prepare fully vegan Thanksgivings, some that I've been invited to. So far I've continued attending the meal at my mom's, to be with family. With each year I find it more difficult to endure the proximity of such a beautiful bird whose life was taken only for the sake of an empty tradition. However, Thanksgiving provides many opportunities to advocate for animals in a peaceful and loving way with omnivorous relatives, and share the joy of partaking in delectable home-cooked, plant-based treats with people I love.

Maya Gottfried is the author of books, essays and articles for children and adults. She has previously written on her experience with cancer for crazysexylife.com. Her autobiographical essay "Untitled" appeared in the book "Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes." Maya's most recent book for children, "Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary," is about the real-life residents of national farm animal protection organization Farm Sanctuary. Read her blog and buy her books on Red Room.]]> 'I Am An Imperfect Vegan' tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.1072163 2011-11-04T08:32:08-04:00 2012-01-21T05:12:01-05:00 Maya Gottfried http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maya-gottfried/
When I transitioned to my now vegan lifestyle, I was under the impression that "making a mistake," such as consuming something that I was unaware had butter in it, meant that I had canceled out my veganism. I believed that unless I was a perfect vegan, I was not a vegan at all. Through the years that I've been living this lifestyle, I've become wary of anyone who claims perfect veganism. I can't speak for everyone, but I don't believe that there is a perfect vegan out there. That doesn't mean that I willfully eat animal products or intentionally wear makeup with carmine (derived from the bodies of bugs) in it, but I also don't let slip-ups cancel out my compassionate lifestyle.

I believe it is 100 percent possible to live a 100 percent vegan life. From what I've read in books (such as "The China Study" and "The Food Revolution"), watched in films (such as "Forks Over Knives") and experienced from interacting with other vegans, I believe that we can get all essential nutrients from plant-based foods. There is evidence that there is absolutely no requirement for the ingestion or use of any animal product in order for us to survive healthily and happily. It has been my experience that I don't need to consume animals in order to live optimally. The realities of my imperfect human life on this planet are usually what challenge my vegan lifestyle.

Try as I might, I am not a perfect vegan. Walking on the ground, I'm sure I've stepped on bugs. I am certain that in restaurants I have unknowingly eaten non-vegan ingredients that have been mixed into dishes I've ordered, thinking they were vegan. I have sat in cars with leather seats. When I had cancer, the chemotherapy that helped to save my life was tested on rats. There are a myriad of ways that we can be imperfect vegans. But that doesn't mean that the things we do to help the animals in striving for a vegan lifestyle are discounted. Everything we do to exclude animal products from our lifestyles helps the animals. And the best I can do is to consciously exclude as many animal products from my life as is within my control.

I've found that the very topic of imperfect veganism can strike fear in the heart of an otherwise secure vegan. For me this fear is generally of having my ethics concerning animals attacked as soon as I reveal this "vulnerability" of imperfection. And a fear of failing my fellow vegans. But I've also found that the vegans I respect most in this compassionate movement, those who have sustained a vegan lifestyle for a long time and who help others, will admit their vulnerability as imperfect.

The difference between veganism and other intentions in life is that veganism is, in fact, a life or death scenario. I don't want to eat meat because it is a dead body. I don't want to drink milk because a cow has needlessly suffered for it. I don't want to wear leather because I don't believe that it is fair for a cow to lose its life so I can put on a pair of fancy shoes (especially when there are so many wonderful vegan options). So my mistakes in living vegan aren't the same as having a typo in an important letter or jaywalking. Veganism is very important to me for these and other reasons, and I don't take my compassionate lifestyle lightly. However, until society has changed on a larger scale and nothing is produced with animal products, chances are I am going to be living imperfectly vegan. To invest energy in beating myself up over it, or attacking others for being imperfect vegans, wouldn't be helpful to anyone.

I consider being a vegan as similar to being a parent or a doctor in the sense that I am responsible for the lives of others through my actions and decisions. However, no doctor or parent is perfect. I reckon that most parents would admit to being imperfect. I will guess that many parents have yelled at their children even if they didn't believe it was the correct way to treat them. That doesn't mean that those parents should give up on striving to be good, kind and compassionate parents in every way possible. Just because I have had my mistakes as a vegan, does not mean that I give up my intention of living without causing harm to animals. I try to learn from my mistakes, acknowledge myself as imperfect and continue to do my best to live a vegan lifestyle.

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, a vegan hero of mine, author, and host of the "Vegetarian Food for Thought" podcast addresses possible vegan slip-ups in the chapter "Day 30: Keeping It in Perspective: Intention, Not Perfection" of her new book, "The 30-Day Vegan Challenge." She writes:

Because many people mistakenly believe that being vegan is about being perfect, they often accuse vegans of being hypocrites... All we can do is the best we can with the information we have at the time; as we grow and learn, we can strive to make the most compassionate, healthful decisions possible. Keep in mind that being vegan is about intention, not perfection.



Maybe someday society will have shifted so much that it will be more easily possible to live a purely vegan lifestyle. In the meantime, there's a lot we can do to help the animals in the here and now.

Maya Gottfried is the author of books, essays and articles for children and adults. She has previously written on her experience with cancer for crazysexylife.com. Her autobiographical essay "Untitled" appeared in the book "Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes." Maya's most recent book for children, "Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary," is about the real-life residents of national farm animal protection organization Farm Sanctuary. Read her blog on Red Room.]]> Taking The Cruelty Out Of The Fall's Hottest Makeup Trends tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.962947 2011-09-22T16:51:13-04:00 2012-01-23T05:12:01-05:00

Maya Gottfried http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maya-gottfried/ Manic Panic, Arbonne, and Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics ), or clearly indicate which of their offerings are (such as 100% Pure, Tarte, Ecco Bella, and Urban Decay). Recently I went in search of vegan versions of this fall's makeup trends and found a treasure trove of fun and fabulous products to create them with.

I love the look of metallic makeup and was happy to see it is making a comeback this fall. For just a touch of metallic, Urban Decay offers its easy to use, 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Eldorado, a beautiful gold that sparkles on eyelids and is good for achieving this look. For intensifying the gold factor, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics's Loose Colours in Cruising and Flawed go on somewhat sheer, but with a stunning shimmering quality that is great for nights out. Metallic lips may not be for all people on all occasions, but I'm fantasizing about donning a flowing black dress and wearing Manic Panic's Tarnished lipstick in an edgy bronze with neutral eye shadow and ebony mascara to at least one event this season. If you feel like playing it a little bit more on the safe side, and relegating the metal factor to your nails, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics makes a beautiful reflective silver nail polish called Spanglemaker.

One of the hottest makeup trends for fall is a metallic smoky eye. Smoky eyes can be challenging for the novice to say the least, let alone bringing metallics into the picture. Arbonne has two beautiful little compact kits that come with instructions for creating a metallic smoky eye. Their Super Nova Quad Shadow Palette combines various shades including Lilac and Bronze for a romantic effect. With Silver, Gold, Bronze, and Black Out, Arbonne's Solar Wind Quad Eye Shadow Palette makes me feel like I should be awaiting rescue by my prince in a decrepit gothic castle.

What better accessory to go with a smoky eye than navy nails. The color is a hot trend for manicures this season. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics offers a vegan option with Inky, which is as deliciously deep and dark as the night sky.

Intense black lashes are another trend that's big for fall. There are so many television commercials for big, bold, beautiful lashes achieved with mascaras that have been tested on animals, contain animal products, or both. I sought to find a vegan mascara with all of the visual drama and none of the cruelty. Lately I've been living in Manic Panic's Creature of the Night, which comes with a great big application brush for high impact black lashes that last all day. Urban Decay offers Lush Lash Mascara which is great for defined lashes, while Arbonne's Triple Action Mascara goes on thick for a heavier lash.

I first became entranced by red lipstick when I was a senior in high school, preparing to go to prom. I wore the same Coco Red color from Chanel until I went vegan and found out that it was not cruelty free. Red lips are in fashion this fall and luckily there are a myriad of animal friendly shades and textures to choose from. Manic Panic provides a rich true red for pink/orange-toned skin like mine with Tainted Love. Arbonne's creamy and opaque Runway Rouge lipstick is a timeless shade with bluer tones. I never thought I'd be a fan of lipstick in pencil form, but Urban Decay's Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Color has turned me into one. It provides opaque color with an irresistibly intense gloss that stays on lips. The F-Bomb shade is a perfect vampy red, great for someone with some blue in their coloring.

The intensity of a red lip isn't for everyone. Even as a fan of dramatic makeup, sometimes I like to play things a little lower key and go with a natural look (especially for work). Despite being vegan for a few years, I've only recently discovered the mostly vegan cosmetics brand 100% Pure. Their tinted moisturizer is pigmented with fruit, has an SPF of 20, and is the perfect foundation for a more natural appearance. To add some color I use Urban Decay's Baked Bronzer in Toasted. 100% Pure also offers a pair of light creamy Fruit Pigmented Satin Eye Shadows in Fiji and Tahiti that have touches of shimmer and can be used together. The company's sheer Lip Glazes provide a little bit of gloss and color to complete the more subtle face. To turn on the sparkle factor for evening, I like to add a layer of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics' Loose Colour in Platonic, a glimmering, delicate pink, on my lids. For darker complexions, the Loose Colour in Smote and Dope will work better. To add more drama, there's always the option of augmenting the natural look with a little bit of a cat eye. Urban Decay's 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in black ("Perversion") is easily swooped along the lash line to achieve this effect. A quick mascara application and I'm in full Audrey Hepburn mode, and ready to take on the night.

One of the things that I've learned in seeking out great vegan makeup is to always do research before going shopping. I was, on more than one occasion, given misinformation about whether or not a brand was vegan by employees of a large cosmetics chain store. For a great list of vegan cosmetics, along with application tutorials, visit author of The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life, Melisser Elliott's makeup blog, Cruelty-Free Face.

Maya Gottfried is the author of books, essays and articles for children and adults. She has previously written on her experience with cancer for crazysexylife.com. Her autobiographical essay "Untitled" appeared in the book "Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes." Maya's most recent book for children, "Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary," is about the real-life residents of national farm animal protection organization Farm Sanctuary. Read her blog on Red Room.]]> Learning to Navigate My Vegan Social Life tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.920528 2011-08-08T11:42:00-04:00 2011-10-08T05:12:02-04:00 Maya Gottfried http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maya-gottfried/
In my experience, the issue of whether or not to indulge in an animal product in the interest of politeness is a non-issue. It comes down to common sense. Which is more painful to a sentient being, a guest saying "no" to a spoonful of cheese, or living in packed quarters without access to the sun or grass, with your newborn offspring quickly taken away from you (as happens to most dairy cattle). Read more about the lives of dairy cows at Farm Sanctuary's website.

In my dairy-eating days, I would have seen the parmesan indulger as the more compassionate person -- being sensitive to the host's feelings. Now that I've learned the pain that dairy cows endure, there is no question in my mind that the more compassionate path to take would be to just say "no."

In many ways, the commitment to avoiding all animal products forced me to dismantle many of my personal social norms, to evaluate and to rebuild them. It's been this way for me other times in my life when I discovered and started to live in a new truth. When the green movement was in its seedling beginnings I, like many of us, found collecting cans and newspapers, instead of throwing them in the garbage, a nuisance. In prioritizing what was best for the planet over personal convenience, it became my norm.

When I first went vegan the idea of asking a waitperson what was in a dish scared me -- sometimes into silence. It was the knowledge of what consuming an animal product meant in the bigger picture that helped me to find my voice and speak up. I knew that with each of these small decisions that I made as a consumer on a daily basis, I could help animals to live happier lives.

I wanted to go vegan for a while before I did, convinced it would be too difficult for me. One of the fears binding me was the thought that I would never again be able to go to a non-vegan's house for dinner. I thought requesting a meal other than the one that was planned would be so rude and imposing. I envisioned my social life diminishing dramatically.

I also imagined that going out to a meal with non-vegan friends would be near impossible. How could I possibly suggest to an omnivore that we meet at a vegan restaurant? If I went to a non-vegan restaurant would I end up just dining on bread and water while friends indulged? And what about dating? Would omnivore men think I was being overly demanding or picky by not eating any animal products?

All these fears and questions spun around my head. They kept me from moving forward into the truth I was so certain of. And they all proved unfounded. When I made the commitment to cut animal products out of my diet, these fears fell down around me. Like committing to meditate when I believed I had no spare moment in the day to do it -- once I leapt, I found a way.

I've found that, since going vegan, friends are usually happy to accommodate my diet. In fact, when I am invited over for a meal, they are often excited to explore new animal-free recipes. Upon an invitation, I usually say that since I am vegan and may not be eating what they serve, but that I would be happy to bring a dish for everyone. This way I'm not demanding more work of them, and it gives me the opportunity to contribute to the meal. It's always fun to see vegan-doubting dinner guests' faces light up upon tasting a new delicious treat.

When I first became vegan I usually went along with friends to whatever restaurant they suggested (it's generally easy to find a vegan meal on any menu). Even if there are no vegan entrées, most restaurants will adjust an existing dish so that it is animal-free, or quickly create something to accommodate vegan guests.

As the years have passed, I more frequently suggest great vegan restaurants to my friends when we make plans. With the increasing popularity of veganism, and the growing number of veg restaurants, many of my friends have been eager to explore new plant-based menus. I try to take into account their personal tastes. So if a friend enjoys Asian food, I could suggest a restaurant such as Dao Palate that serves Bibimbap and General Tso's Soy Protein. If they are more interested in innovative gourmet food, I might point us to Candle 79, a divine vegan restaurant that artfully presents it cutting edge cuisine in a manner that any foodie (vegan or not) should be able to appreciate. Of course some will refuse to take the vegan route when dining out. In those cases, I go to their restaurant of choice and order a vegan dish. No problem.

My fears about dating as a vegan also proved unfounded. Of course, exclusively dating other vegans is always an option. The truth is that I wouldn't want to date any person who disparaged me for being vegan. I found one omnivore date was eager to try the great vegan restaurant I chose for us. Another had formerly been vegetarian and was interested in my veganism. These experiences reinforced the lesson that I am constantly learning -- the closer I get to the truth, the more rewarding life is for myself and for others.

No matter how daunting crossing the bridge to veganism was, once I ignored the fear and went forward, everything fell into place and nothing was as scary as I imagined. Not even saying "no" to a spoonful of Parmesan cheese.

Maya Gottfried is the author of books, essays and articles for children and adults. She has previously written on her experience with cancer for crazysexylife.com. Her autobiographical essay "Untitled" appeared in the book "Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes." Maya's most recent book for children, "Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary," is about the real-life residents of national farm animal protection organization Farm Sanctuary. Read her blog on Red Room.]]> My Vegan Life: How Going Cruelty-Free Freed Me tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.896201 2011-07-14T08:41:00-04:00 2011-09-13T05:12:02-04:00 Maya Gottfried http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maya-gottfried/
But veganism doesn't only apply to one's diet, it means living a cruelty-free lifestyle (with no animal products), therefore I had an entire household to transform. Just as with my diet, I felt overwhelmed by the idea at first. In the end it was a surprisingly easy transition that led me to a better spiritual place through compassion for other beings, and mindfulness of the products that I use.

It didn't happen overnight. I had years worth of non-vegan make-up, shoes, bedding and other items throughout my home. There was the financial challenge at hand of replacing all of these at once (something I was not able to do on my budget) but also the challenge of letting go of objects that I had assigned sentimental value. I took the process seriously but gently, getting rid of and replacing many items immediately, but giving myself the emotional and financial space to take my time with others. In the end, I found that letting go of things I could not afford to replace right away (and simply living without instead) was infinitely more spiritually and emotionally rewarding than holding on to them.

First, there was my vast make-up collection that included a good amount of unworn high-end cosmetics. I organized every piece by cosmetics company. Then I typed up lists of all of them, organized by brand. I emailed the lists to the companies' customer service departments to find out if the products were vegan. Some companies, like MAC (despite not posting a public list of vegan products) responded to emails inquiring about specific products. If I found out that a product was not vegan (the most frequent culprit ingredients being carmine, beeswax, and lanolin) I got rid of it. Though I felt attached to my make-up -- I still maintained an awareness that the assorted colorful sticks and pots were indulgences I would likely be spiritually lighter letting go of. In the end, I was. Eventually I could afford to replace what I threw away with cruelty-free items from companies such as all-vegan Ecco Bella, Urban Decay (their website has a vegan page), all-vegan Manic Panic Collection and MAC. A fantastic resource for finding vegan make-up is the Cruelty-Free Face blog by make-up artist/author Melisser Elliot, who includes a list of vegan companies and products. Although I still have fun with make-up, in the process of "veganizing" my collection I experienced an important lesson -- that letting go of certain physical items I am attached to frees me.

Even more difficult for me than letting go of my carefully curated make-up collection, was bidding adieu to my cherished leather shoes and handbags. I perceived them as not just serving practical purposes, but as indulgences that brightened a dull day, and as integral parts of how I presented myself to the world. In the end they proved to be just like my make-up -- physical things that lightened my spiritual load when I let go of them. I recall one purple purse I was particularly attached to. I had coveted it for months before it finally went on sale and I snatched it for a still-high price. I don't think I ever missed it once it was gone. Now it's just a faint and powerless image that only emerges when I dredge it up from the recesses of my memory. Today when I covet a handbag or pair of expensive shoes, it's much easier to release the desire for them. Once in a while I still indulge. My favorite place to do so is the all-vegan shoe (and accessories) store MooShoes.

When I was little, instead of the "blankey" that many children drag around, I had a "feather pillow" (eventually I learned that this was called a "down pillow"). As an adult I still found comfort nesting my head in the cotton-encased clouds of feathers. The problem was that's just what they were: the feathers of birds. There are two ways that down is generally collected; either the birds are killed or the feathers are torn from their bodies while they are still alive. No matter what comfort level I was deriving, in my heart and soul I did not believe that my pleasure was worth an innocent bird suffering the least amount of pain, let alone losing its life. I chose to live my truth instead of responding to my juvenile attachment. My bed is still "comfy-cozy" as I used to say as a child -- I found a great quilted down alternative comforter and pillows at Laytner's Linen & Home.

When I transitioned to a vegan home, I thought the conversion would be as tedious as picking lice out of a child's thick hair. I discovered that it was a spiritually uplifting process that helped to teach me mindfulness, and opened my eyes to how I could lessen the suffering of others by making simple choices. I'm not living a monk's life that is free of material possessions -- but I've experienced first-hand the spiritual transformation that comes with letting go of the physical, and of choosing a compassionate lifestyle.

Two great resources for vegan lifestyle options are Joshua Katcher's The Discerning Brute blog for men, and Chloe Jo Davis' GirlieGirl Army for women.

Maya Gottfried is the author of books, essays and articles for children and adults. She has previously written on her experience with cancer for crazysexylife.com. Her autobiographical essay "Untitled" appeared in the book "Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes." Maya's most recent book for children, "Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary," is about the real-life residents of national farm animal protection organization Farm Sanctuary. Read her blog on Red Room.

]]> A Vegan Diet Was My Path To Good Health tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.879537 2011-07-04T16:27:30-04:00 2011-09-03T05:12:02-04:00 Maya Gottfried http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maya-gottfried/
"The China Study" presents the opinion that consuming animal proteins (meat, dairy, eggs, etc.) can promote a number of life-threatening illnesses -- including cancer and heart disease. As someone undergoing treatment for cancer, I wanted to do whatever I could to stop it in its tracks and prevent a recurrence. It turned out that, according to this theory, I had already taken preventive measures by switching to a plant-based diet. I hadn't become vegan in time to affect the development of the cancer (which doctors estimated had begun to grow about seven years prior), but my diet could possibly prevent it from worsening or returning, according to what I read. In fact, when I met with a leader of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's integrative medicine department, his first recommendation was for me to eat a vegetarian diet. I was pleased to tell him that I already was.

This particular set of data -- and my soul -- told me the same thing: that animals didn't need to suffer for my survival. By not causing pain and suffering to other beings, I was also not causing pain and suffering to myself.

The New York Times' Mark Bittman recently wrote about the benefits of a vegan diet in his blog and earlier this month the UN advised a worldwide shift away from the consumption of animal products to prevent hunger and climate change.

The human race has benefited from a number of individuals who promoted peace and service to others; Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, Gandhi. Most of us will not deny their messages of compassion. If we choose to eat animals, it is my belief that we endorse the suffering of living beings -- those who we consume and those who we share the planet with. By doing what is peaceful and compassionate, and eating a plant-based diet, I think we also help ourselves in body and in spirit. If our bodies are our temples, do we really want them built on death and suffering?

Americans seem to have a desperate love affair with protein; one in which the tendency is to think that too much is never enough. I believe that the amount of protein that people generally consume eating an omnivorous diet is detrimental to their health. The lack of protein myth about vegan diets comes from the fact that there are not complete proteins in any one plant-based food. As long as one eats a variety of vegan foods throughout the day, one will consume all of the complete protein that one needs.

It's possible to be unhealthy eating a vegan diet, but the point is that by eating a balanced vegan diet, I believe we can reduce our chances of developing life-threatening illnesses including heart disease and cancer.

The prospect of going vegan was daunting to me at first. I thought of all of the foods I'd miss and wondered what I'd consume if a restaurant had no vegan offerings. I soon began to realize that these fears were worth conquering. Besides, veganism has gained so much popularity in recent years that delectable vegan options are plentiful and readily available.

There are two nutrients vegans should be particularly aware of. The first is vitamin B12, generally not found in plant-based foods. The one plant-based source of it is an old school vegan staple -- nutritional yeast. It is delicious (despite its name) and is great sprinkled on everything from pasta to salad. I usually eat two tablespoons a day. When my B12 levels were last tested by my doctor, my results were absolutely fine.

The other essential nutrient to pay attention to is omega-3 fatty acids. Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson's book "The Face on Your Plate" (W.W. Norton) addresses the benefits of veganism for people and for the animals. The author discusses the importance of consuming long chain omega-3 fatty acids, which many people believe are only found in fish. The truth is that this essential nutrient comes from algae that fish eat. A number of vegan algae-derived supplements are available that fulfill the need for long chain omega-3 fatty acids.

As the years have passed, I've found myself eating fewer processed foods and more whole foods such as grains, fruits, nuts, vegetables and beans. The foods I used to dread being limited to when imagining a plant-based diet have become my favorites -- and I am healthier for it. I have cut sugar (and sweeteners), wheat and caffeine from my diet because of their negative impact on my personal health. It's not always easy, but the benefits have been great.

When I go to vegan events there are often vegan cakes, cookies and appetizers that run the gamut. It's funny to think that I used to be afraid of giving up these treats by going vegan and now I'm tempted by them because I am vegan. I believe that the path I am on now is what is right for me, the animals and the planet. By choosing a vegan diet, I feel that I am preventing disease in my body, and suffering in the world, with every meal.

In addition to "The China Study," the health benefits of a vegan diet are explored at length in John Robbins' books "Diet for a New America" (HJ Kramer) and "The Food Revolution" (Conari Press), as well as the film "Forks Over Knives."

Maya Gottfried is the author of books, essays and articles for children and adults. She has previously written on her experience with cancer for crazysexylife.com. Her autobiographical essay "Untitled" appeared in the book "Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes." Maya's most recent book for children, "Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary," is about the real-life residents of national farm animal protection organization Farm Sanctuary. Read her blog on Red Room.]]> How An Integrative Approach Helped Me Through Cancer tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.860773 2011-05-12T08:35:55-04:00 2011-07-12T05:12:01-04:00 Maya Gottfried http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maya-gottfried/
I had been having abdominal pains and other discomfort for about a year when I finally took a day off from work to see my doctor. I had visited her for a full check-up months prior. That day she looked me squarely in the eyes and asked if anything else was wrong. It flew through the back of my brain to tell her about the pain and other symptoms I'd been experiencing, but I shrugged it off and said, "No." Now I had stage three colon and rectal cancers (one tumor in each area of my digestive tract), and was playing "Beat the Clock."

My gastroenterologist, who had performed the colonoscopy, handed us a piece of paper with three surgeon's names on it. He told us that one of them, a doctor at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, was who we needed to try to enlist above all others. It never occurred to me to try to proceed without surgery. When I did successfully get in to see the preferred doctor, and he recommended chemotherapy in addition to surgery, I never thought to say "no" in favor of nontraditional treatments. I knew that he had seen many cases of cancer, that he was one of the top surgeons in the world. I trusted him. However, I had an almost instinctive drive to balance the surgery and chemotherapy with nontraditional treatments. As much as I knew I had to fight the cancer, I knew that I had to nurture my mind, body and spirit at the same time.

Chemotherapy is an attack on the body that levels all in its path. I was constantly nauseous; it was excruciatingly painful to touch anything cold; I was exhausted; and I was weak. I couldn't leave my apartment for days at a time. There are different chemotherapies for different cancers. Each one is brutal in its own way. A woman I spoke with once had cardiac arrest as a result of the type of chemotherapy I was being treated with. She survived. Some don't.

As the chemo began to move through my body, murdering cells bad and good as it did, I visited a visualization specialist, Dr. Catherine Shainberg. Her training was deeply rooted in Kabbalah and she spoke in quiet tones, describing scenes for me to picture in my head. They brought a great sense of tranquility, positivity and spiritual health to me when I sat down and followed her instructions. I could sometimes feel a physical difference after being still and focusing on the dreamlike mental paths she'd send me down.

I wanted to do yoga while I was being treated, but wasn't sure what I would be able to handle while undergoing chemotherapy. I discovered restorative yoga, which allows the body to relax in a few restful positions for long periods of time. It seemed ideal for what I was going through, nurturing rather than exerting the body. I found an instructor named Amanda Zapanta of Lady Bird Center where I live in New York City. We met in a small sunlit room at a yoga studio for private sessions. I'd leave feeling energized and embracing the sun. The flow of energy would move around the toxic cells and chemicals, reinforcing my life, rather than fighting death. And I knew I needed both.

I had been vegan for a few months when I was diagnosed, and I was certain that it was the best thing for the animals, the planet and my spirit, but I hadn't done much reading on veganism in relation to my health. While going through chemotherapy, I learned of the book "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell, which is about the possible relationship between eating animal proteins and illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. I stood even more solid in my vegan stance.

At Sloan-Kettering, I picked up a pamphlet on their "Integrative Medicine" offerings. Integrative Medicine encompasses therapies that aren't considered traditional medicine. The hospital hosted holistic health counseling, acupuncture, massage, meditation and yoga classes. I signed up for the holistic health counseling and acupuncture. I hoped the acupuncture would help with the many side effects that chemo brought with it. Even when it was a struggle to physically go to the appointments, I looked forward to them. I'd lay there calmly, breathing into my belly the way I'd been taught in yoga classes. The needles usually didn't hurt and I only felt slight pressure while I lay with them in me. During the sessions, the tingling in my hands and feet (neuropathy brought on by the chemo) would go away.

I don't believe I would have survived these cancers without chemotherapy and surgery. At the same time, nontraditional therapies helped me stay strong physically, mentally and spiritually -- just as important to my survival and healing. Without a strong body and spirit, I may have succumbed to the disease, the chemotherapy or an infection. There is so much ancient cultural knowledge available to help heal and strengthen us. And there is so much modern medicine available to help us survive. Incorporating the best of both worlds removed the cancer away while keeping me positive and strong.

A great resource for nontraditional therapies in the face of cancer is my.crazysexylife.com.
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