December 1, 2010

I hate to break it to you, but it’s December.  Yep.  And if that isn’t enough to put a little panic into your bones, consider the fact that 3 weeks from this weekend is Christmas!  3 weeks!

Fear not though!  Even if you haven’t yet given one single thought to Christmas, it isn’t time to freak out.  It’s time to get organized and we have some tips to help!

Make lists! These are a few to get you started:

• Gifts to buy

• Christmas cards to send

• Other things you know you’ll need, like Christmas lights or new Christmas dresses for the girls

• Charitable donations to make before year-end

Start a calendar. Pick one up at the office supply store, download one online, or just draw one out on a piece of paper…just do it!

• First add every function to it that you know about this minute

• As invitations for parties and other events come in, add them to the calendar so it’s always current

• Add travel arrangements

• Add other important dates, such as shipping deadlines

Do as much as you can now. Seriously, don’t put anything off til next week if you can avoid it.  You’ll thank yourself later!

• Start your shopping NOW!

• Think about what you want to bake or cook this year, and if there are any new recipes on the list test them now.

• Don’t wait until Christmas Eve wrapping time to find out that you need boxes and tape.  Get it now when you see it on sale.

Order online as much as possible. You avoid the crowds and the parking lot dramas that always occur, plus you get it all done at the speed of light.  And you can usually get great deals!

• Gifts, of course

• Christmas cards, gift bags and wrapping supplies, mailing materials

• Stamps (avoid that deadly post office line that steals your Christmas joy)

There you have it: our top 4 tips to get your Christmas planning off to a great stress-free start.  Now get out there and deck those halls!

photo credit: jannalauren

~BigSis

November 19, 2010

Daphne

Most people are talking about preparing turkeys for the Thanksgiving meal, but LilSis is right that this Vegan Sis isn’t one of them.

It’s been 17 years since I feasted on anything that had a face or parents, and Thanksgiving is definitely not an exception. In fact, I think it’s an opportunity to celebrate the real meaning of the day, and it doesn’t have to revolve around a dead bird.

Instead of eating a turkey, how about adopting a turkey?  For just $30, you can sponsor a turkey through Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization.

“Save a life this Thanksgiving, and join me in starting a new tradition by adopting a turkey instead of eating one through Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt-A-Turkey Project.” – Ellen DeGeneres, Farm Sanctuary’s 2010 Adopt-A-Turkey Project spokesperson

Velma

Your contribution will go toward the care of animals at the organization’s New York or California facilities, and in return you get a color photo of your adopted bird buddy and fun info about him or her.

Plus you get the satisfaction of knowing you did something that honors life, and that if they could, these birds would express their thankfulness to you for that.

How about giving turkey sponsorships to your friends to celebrate your gratitude this Thanksgiving?  We’re always trying to think of something different and thoughtful to give to those people on our Christmas list who have everything.  Do they have an adopted turkey?  Probably not!

Kima

If you decide to celebrate turkeys this year, you’ll be in good company!  On Wednesday, Farm Sanctuary submitted a petition with close to 14,000 signatures to President Obama, urging the White House to send the two turkeys who will be pardoned in a ceremony next week to their world-class shelter in Watkins Glen, New York.  The petition asserts that the shelter is uniquely equipped to provide the expert care necessary for the health, comfort and longevity of these birds.

Want to learn more about celebrating a compassionate Thanksgiving?  Here are a few links to get you started:

Top 10 Reasons Not to Eat Turkeys

PETA’s Recipes for a Vegan Thanksgiving

Farm Sanctuary’s Compassionate Thanksgiving Recipes

Happy Thanksgiving!

~BigSis

November 15, 2010

We’re big fans of Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion.  Like other fans though, we hate wasting all of that product that the applicator wand doesn’t reach.  A while back, LilSis hacked into Urban Decay’s cute little purple genie bottle to show just how much waste there is.

Urban Decay’s answer to the waste was to keep the cute bottle, but to redesign the wand.  The idea was that the newly-bent wand could reach into the curves of the bottle to access the previously-wasted potion.

We didn’t love the new wand, but were happy tolerate it if it helped us get some of that wasted potion out of the bottle and onto our eyelids.

Did it do that though?  Like LilSis, I had to hack into the bottle myself to see.  I intentionally used this bottle as long as I possible could; trying to eek out every last little bit of primer.  When I finally whipped out my knife, I couldn’t get one more dab out of this bottle.

Note: Don’t try this at home.  I used a serrated knife and serrated my finger twice before I got through the hard plastic!  There was blood.  Lots of blood.

Do you see much waste?  I do!  Lots of waste!

The good news?  Urban Decay heard all the grumblings and came out with the Primer Potion in a tube!

When the tube first came out, I thought I heard that it was limited edition, but the web site doesn’t say so.  The original purple genie bottles are still available too.

Whichever packaging you prefer, you’re still getting our favorite eyeshadow primer and we wouldn’t dream of applying shadow without it.  Not only does it hold the shadow onto your lids ALL DAY without creasing or fading, it also intensifies the color of your shadow.  Bonus!

I’ve been using this product for years, and I’m still amazed sometimes when I take a look into the mirror after a long day.  My eyeshadow still looks perfect and just-applied even though it may have been on for 16 hours and survived 8 hours of work and 2 workouts!  It sounds impossible, but it’s true!  Go, Urban Decay!

~BigSis

November 11, 2010

Because of Loreal’s animal testing, my favorite Loreal Voluminous mascara has been banished from my bathroom.  I used it for years and years, and loved it.  But it’s gone now.  Permanently.  Adios, animal tester!

If I don’t like a product, I usually don’t review it on BigSisLilSis.  We all get enough negativity in our day without me being Negative Nellie and adding to it, right?

It turns out however that it’s UBER hard to find a good mascara that isn’t animal tested, so I’m making an exception to my rule.  I’ll share my thoughts about what I’ve tried lately, and you can take my comments with a grain of salt.

I’m sorry to say that of the last four mascaras I’ve tried, I don’t like any of them.  Not one ding dang one!  Boo!

Here’s what I’ve tried and tossed:

• Smashbox Hyper Lash ($21) – I had really high expectations for Hyper Lash after hearing rave reviews on the radio from a local DJ, so I bit the bullet and spent more than I ever do on mascara.  First off, the brush on Hyper Lash is really different.  It has bristles on one side to apply the product and a comb on the other side to separate the lashes.  The first coat went on truly clump-free.  Hurray!   The only problem is that one coat was very thin and skimpy, so I needed two additional coats and that caused a lot of clumping.  I didn’t get any volume or lengthening, and I felt that my lashes just didn’t show up.  I got some fine flakes under my eyes by the end of the day, and my lashes looked dry.  Hyper Lash isn’t waterproof, but was hard to remove.  This mascara was pricey and it went back to the store.

• Tarte Lights Camera Lashes ($19) – I like Tarte’s nice big normal brush, but the product was fairly thin so I didn’t get any volume, similar to the result I got with Hyper Lash.  I didn’t get much clumping, which was great, but this mascara provides an extremely natural look and I just need more from a mascara.  If your naked eyelashes look like Bambi’s, this mascara may be enough for you, but it’s not for me.  It removed fairly easily, but I did have some flaking during the day.  It isn’t a bad product, but for the price, I expected better results.

• MAC Zoom Lash ($14) – I wanted a thicker formula than what Tarte and Smashbox offered, so I guess I should be careful about what I wish for.  I went into a MAC store and asked for their best mascara for volume without clumping, and Zoom Lash was their recommendation.  Zoom Lash is radically thick to the point of being gloppy, and the small short-bristled brush made it impossible for me to apply it without a huge goopy mess.  It also straightened out my just-curled lashes. Rats!   This may be my least favorite MAC product ever, I’m sad to say!  I should have taken it back; I hate it that much.  Why didn’t I?

• Revlon 3D Extreme ($7.50) – 3D Extreme is super thick too, and has another weird brush.  What happened to plain old big brushes that reach every lash?   This one is flat with short bristles on each side with a rounded bulb kind of a thing at the end of the wand.  I don’t get it.  What am I supposed to do with this contraption?  What I did get was clumping galore, and straightened lashes like Zoom Lash gave me.  Fail!

I’m disappointed at what I’ve found so far, and I haven’t even restricted my search to vegan mascaras.  Sheesh!  The search for a good mascara will continue though.  I’m not encouraged, but I’m also not giving up and resorting to wearing false eyelashes every day!

Hey, volume-building, clump-free, perfectly-thick, cruelty-free mascara!  Come out, come out, wherever you are!

photo credit: Susan NYC

~BigSis

November 6, 2010

You do remember that we get an extra hour in our Sunday, right?  Happy dance, happy dance!

What to do with that precious hour?  Here our my Top 10 Ideas for using that extra hour:

• Make a nice pot of soup for this week.  My go-to easy soup is a “can of this/can of that” recipe: Super Speedy Mexican Vegetable Stew.

• Just do it!  Intending to exercise won’t get you into your skinny jeans!  Start that exercise program TODAY and you won’t have to make that same old New Years resolution to get in shape!  If you’re working out super-hard, you may also be less prone to sabotage yourself by eating horribly during the holidays.  Bonus!

• Dig around iTunes and download some new music to liven up your cardio playlist.

• Clean your closets out now instead of scrambling to make that end-of-the-year charitable donation on December 31st.  You know you won’t have time once the holidays get into full swing!

• Have you met your medical insurance deductible for the year?  There may be some medical appointments you should schedule to take advantage of that situation, so make a list today of the calls you can make tomorrow.

• Think about what you want to cook for Thanksgiving this year.  My recommendation of course, would be to skip the turkey and do a feast of veggies and sides!

• Start your Christmas lists: gift list, Christmas card list, to do list.  It’s never too early to begin!

• Take advantage of the beautiful fall weather if you’re blessed with it today, and get out there in it!

• Hang out with your kids or grandkids without thinking about anything else you should be doing.

• Sleep!

photo credit: Somewhat Frank

~BigSis

November 1, 2010

Did you know that November 1st is officially Cook for Your Pet Day? Yesterday, we humiliated them by dressing them up in costumes to amuse ourselves, so I guess it’s only fitting that we cook for them today to apologize! I think I better get in touch with a pet treat manufacturer so I can get them some of their favorite treats and hope they don’t hate us for dressing them up!

I’ve never cooked for my cats before, and don’t really want to since they’re meat-eaters and I’m vegan. I have done a lot of research into what my cats would really appreciate through looking into their nutrition needs (via upn reviews and videos), so I think I have a good idea of where to begin when it comes to giving them the right nutrients. I’m not going to try to veganize them since they’re carnivores by nature, but I can’t see myself cooking up a big ol’ batch of meaty goodness for them. I love ’em, but I gotta draw the line somewhere. Whatever I decide to cook them, at least I will be able to ensure that they have a good portion by using a feeding calculator.

If you, however, are a more selfless person than me and have the urge to cook today for your furkids, here are some ideas for you:

• Foods to avoid when cooking for your animals

• Tasty dog food recipes from Linda West Eckhardt, coauthor of The Dog Ate It: Cooking for Yourself and Your Four-Legged Friend (via www.womansday.com)
  

• Dog food and treat recipes from www.thepoop.com

• How to cook for your dog from www.lovetoknow.com

• Catnip Cookie recipe from www.eHow

• Kitty Cuisine from 50 Simple Ways to Pamper Your Cat by Arden Moore (via www.care2.com)

On a very serious note, if you plan to cook for your cats beyond occasional treats, please do your research before considering feeding them a homemade diet. They have very specific nutritional needs, including a necessity for the amino acid taurine, and neglecting these nutrients can result in illness and even death. Vetinfo.com can get you started with the basics on essential feline nutrition, but talk with your vet and don’t underestimate the importance of your kitty’s needs! And the same thing also goes for dogs. You may want to test your dog for allergies before tweaking their diet, and info about the how and the why can be found on portals like Jack’s Pets and the likes.

~BigSis

October 27, 2010

I love my Pink Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System.  No, that’s a lie.  Let me be completely honest.

I’m actually addicted to my Clarisonic and use it every single day.  Sometimes twice a day.

It helps me keep my persnickety skin clean and smooth.  It enables my serum and moisturizer to work better, since the skin is clear and able to absorb products easier.  I think of it as lessening the barrier of product build-up, dead skin cells and makeup.  Without that barrier, my products have an easier time of getting down into the skin to do what they’re supposed to do.

There’s only one thing wrong with my beloved Clarisonic.  It’s not pink!  It’s white!

Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System in Graphite Gray, Pink and White

I know, it’s shocking that there is a pink product on this planet that I don’t have.  I truly am the Queen of All Things Pink.

But I don’t have a pink Clarisonic.  And I’m just the teeniest tiniest bit pouty about that.

Do I need a pink Clarisonic?  No, my white Clarisonic works perfectly.

Do I want a pink Clarisonic?  Uh, YEAH, of course I do!

Now, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and you don’t have to wish and pine for a pink Clarisonic like I am.  You can get your very own Pink Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System and donate to breast cancer research at the same time.  Plus you can get it with free shipping!  AND you can add free engraving to your Clarisonic to make it absolutely your own.  Add your name, a nickname, or a fun or motivational phrase.

How would I engrave my pink Clarisonic?  “Queen of All Things Pink”, of course!  😀

~BigSis

October 22, 2010

It seems like my weekend shopping trips are lots more challenging these days since I can’t just breeze through Target and mindlessly grab my usual products.  Making a commitment to purge animal-tested products from my life has been a real project, but I’m committed to it, as LilSis is also.

I’ve had a longtime love affair with my Swiffer WetJet since the day I laid eyes on it, but alas, Swiffer is a Procter & Gamble company.  Procter & Gamble does animal testing, so Swiffer is out of my house, which made me sad at first.  I envisioned returning to a drippy string mop or sponge mop with a big steaming sloshing bucket full of Pine Sol.  Gah!

Thankfully, there are other alternatives, and I found a nifty one. I bought a Rubbermaid Reveal Microfiber Spray Mop during my last trip to Target.  How much do I love it?  Let me count the ways:

• As far as I can see, Rubbermaid doesn’t do any animal testing.  If I’m wrong, someone please correct me!

• There are no expensive disposable pads to buy.  The Reveal Mop comes with a microfiber pad that is washable!  Brilliant!  You can buy replacement pads if you ever need to.

• You can use any cleaning solution you wish!  Brilliant again!  Not only are you free of the pricey Swiffer solution, but you can use a completely environmentally-friendly, green solution!  Use plain water, or water with white vinegar, or buy a natural cleanser from Method, Mrs. Meyers, or Caldrea.  You choose.

• Another cool thing?  You can buy extra refillable spray bottles so you can switch out your solutions for different surfaces: tile, wood, vinyl, or laminate.

• No batteries required!

Even though I imagined the worst (stringy ol’ yarn mop), what I ended up with is better in many ways than my old Swiffer!

Before you even think about mopping though, you need freshly-swept floors right?  This is the perfect time to introduce you to my new electric broom; the Electrolux ErgoRapido Bagless Cordless Handheld/Stick Vacuum Cleaner.

My last electric broom lasted for probably 10 years, but it finally got weary of sucking up all that cat litter and hair, and it just passed away.  After a ton of research, I decided on the ErgoRapido and I’m so thrilled with it:

• It works well and has good suction.  It will occasionally take two passes to pick up some of the fine bits of clumping cat litter, but I think that material is a real challenge for any sweeper.

• It’s lightweight, cordless and rechargeable.

• There are no bags, and the canister is easy to empty.

• It’s a stick vacuum cleaner AND a handheld vacuum all in one.

• It looks really cool!

So with both of these tools in my cleaning closet, there’s no excuse for a dirty floor, right?  Now, all I have to do is teach my furkids to sweep and mop while I’m at work, and we’re all set!

~BigSis

October 18, 2010

Remember when President George H.W. Bush mentioned a “kinder and gentler” nation?  BigSisLilSis just celebrated our 2nd blogiversary, and those words “kinder and gentler” just seem appropriate as we think about year 3.

The last two years have seen us publish 607 posts, and we hope to continue at that pace.  We absolutely plan to keep posting with a positive attitude and message, and to keep talking about food, health, fitness, fun and anything else that interests those of us girls who are 40-plus.

What has changed in our worlds since we started BigSisLilSis in 2008?

• We’re both focusing on things we can do around our homes to “Go Green”

• We both made a commitment to purge our homes of all products that are animal-tested

• After 16 years as a vegetarian, I went the rest of the way to vegan in January

• LilSis is having to learn how to eat a non-dairy diet

• Recycling has finally become a priority in my household

The result of these changes is a kinder, gentler, greener BigSisLilSis.   We feel like we’re finding our voice; figuring out who we are and what is most meaningful for us to talk about.

What does that mean to our readers?

• We’ll continue to share reviews of our favorite products, but we won’t be reviewing anything that we know to be animal-tested

• Since we both go berserk when we find new beauty products that actually show results, we’ll keep sharing our new discoveries

• You’ll see BigSis’ recipes here from time to time without animal products (you may have already noticed a few)

• LilSis will continue to bring you healthy recipes suitable for a family of hungry guys, but also try to adapt some to non-dairy recipes

• We’re both extremely committed to exercise in order to stay healthy and fight the “mid-life, menopausal, almost inevitable, battle of the bulge”.  If we discover anything works for us 40-plus women, you can bet we’ll share it!

• We talk about it all the time, but it’s true that LIFE IS SHORT.  Too short to be negative!  As we discover motivational tools or reading that helps us stay positive and encouraging, we’ll tell you about it asap!

• Our overall goal is to bring you information that will enhance your lives in a brighter, healthier, greener, more compassionate way.

Living this way is a daily learning experience for us, and we hope you’ll give us your input along the way.  Thanks for joining us!

Photo credit: Ecstaticist

~BigSis

October 16, 2010

We don’t talk much about sports here on BigSisLilSis, but there is no way that I can let this historic moment pass without mentioning it.

LilSis and I moved to Arlington in the late 60s with the whole fam damily, so we grew up there.  Texas and Arlington are home base to us, even though I’m in Big D and LilSis is in California now.

Now, after 39 years, our Texas Rangers have won their first playoff series, AND their first playoff game at home!  It’s finally happened!  Yes yes yes!  And this week, we’re competing in the 2010 ALCS playoffs against the New York Yankees.

We know that the Rangers have had some tough years and haven’t always had a superior team, but this year they do and we’re thrilled and proud about that.  They play as a team without a bunch of diva drama, and it has taken them far…this far!

Not everyone is so happy about the Rangers’ visit to Playoff Land though.  Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News is a little less than joyous about it.  Check out this gem from Mr. Bondy:

~BigSis