People always ask me how do you transition into becoming vegan? I always tell them you start slowly one meal at a time. One lesson at a time. There are many sample boxes out there but when Vegan Cuts came to life it was like an answer to so many prayers. Awesome little vegan gifts arrive in one box into your mailbox and then you get to sample all sorts of snacks and products. I loved this idea for myself and for those that wanted to try out a little veganism for themselves.

The cool peeps at Vegan Cuts sent me a box of yumminess and I sampled everything like the gluttonous person that I am LOL! April’s box was full of Skinny Pop popcorn, Sweet Potato chips, Oloves green olives, 22 Days PB Chocolate Chip Nirvana bar, Meow Grapefruit Clove lip balm, Roasted Peppers and Artichoke Bruschetta, Teese Mozzarella Vegan Cheese, Pamela Parmesan style cheese and Teecino Frech Roast coffee. For $19.95 a month I think it’s worth every taste and every try of each new product. The best thing is if you don’t like all of the products you lost nothing. I loved some and disliked others it’s only natural. But it’s something to look forward to every month or as a gift for those that mean something to you.

Visit their site and snag that box:
http://vegancuts.com/snackbox

#Sponsored Post

After my divorce I moved my son back to New York City. This is where I was born and where I am from. I love this city because for people like me that are vegan there is never a shortage of where to eat, where to shop or an event to attend. Last Tuesday I was excited for two reasons. I went to PeaceFood Cafe “where you eat differently” and I also was able to attend the “On Being Vegan” book signing by Author and Speaker Colleen Patrick-Goudreau (funny side note my mother is absolutely terrible with names and she for the life of me can’t pronounce Colleen’s last name so she kept saying Cutron instead of Goudreau. I had to make sure she had the name right the day of the book signing).

Colleen was at PeaceFood Cafe a vegan restaurant here in NYC. The line was long but so worth it. Delicious appetizers were passed along by the nicest servers I have ever met  while we waited and let me tell you it was enticing enough that it made me stay after to eat. Colleen was funny and kind. When we left she remembered our names even after meeting so many people. The book is a collection of mini essays. She is funny and keeps it real. If you don’t know who Colleen is you have to check out her podcasts.

After meeting Colleen my mother, my son and I sat down to eat, drink and be merry. I have to say the menu is affordable, the staff is friendly and very informative and the ambience is comfortable and fun. The portions are large so get ready to eat! Or at least eat half and take the rest home as I did. I had a delicious burger and the Bangkok tea which was full of rich vanilla aromas and heaven on my tastebuds.

I swear I could live like this everyday of my life.

What are your favorite vegan restaurants?

I have the best recipe for that morning and delicious green smoothie everyone loves to drink. The green smoothie basics stay the same. You have your fruit and your veggie mixed with either water or a milk base (for us vegans soy, coconut, almond, hemp or rice milk). But I love to add a little spice to mine. Here is my recipe and one that I hope you love. It’s easy and yummy.

Ingredients (They will vary depending on your liking and how much or little you want of each ingredient)

1/4 cup of frozen fruit

1/2 a banana

1/3 cup of spinach and kale or either one

1 cup of milk

1/4 cup of water

Ice

Two capfuls of bourbon…okay not real bourbon GOTCHA! But Bourbon Vanilla Extract

A couple of dashes of cinnamon

BLEND AND ENJOY!

OOOH! Here is a really great recipe I found from a fellow writer…check her out:

http://ohsheglows.com/2013/05/10/tropical-pineapple-boozy-baked-oatmeal/

I am obsessed. I recently had to downsize my wardrobe, my makeup, my shoes, my everything because there just isn’t enough room in my closet, my apartment and not even in my storage for all of the wondrous beauty and fashion products I accumulate. But I couldn’t stop myself I had to attend the NVEY ECO Beauty Launch here in NYC yesterday April 18, 2013.

See for me it is hard to find great beauty products that stay true to being organic, eco friendly and do not test on animals. When I found NVEY ECO makeup and products it was hope that as each day passed by the need for something out of the ordinary, extra-ordinary and going against the grain exists and those needs are being fulfilled. I do this everyday of my life as a Vegan.

So, I stepped into the W Hotel in Times Square switched from my flats to my black pumps and hopped in the elevator to the studio. I walked into an intimate event where the product was displayed beautifully. Models sat in their black ensembles and one of the exclusive NVEY ECO makeup artists continued to chat it up with the bloggers, journalists, publicists, and who’s who that was there to see this launch. He shifted back and forth always touching up the models. Hors d’oeuvres were served and cocktails were poured.

I immediately fell in love with the palettes that boasted the subtle greens and greys. For me green is in this season and I can’t wait to take it into summer. It’s definitely trending. NVEY ECO is actually an Australian makeup collection. 100% natural and organic. It is NATRUE and NSF Organic Certified. It does not test on our furry friends and is chemical free. What I love about NVEY ECO is that their product is still high in pigment and long lasting. Proving that it can be done and it was done beautifully.

I wish that my girlfriends would open up their minds, their hearts and their makeup cases to more products that shower you with love and care. I loved my NVEY ECO goody bag at the end of the night because it meant that with each addition to my own makeup case I was living what I preach.

Do you use any eco-friendly, organic or vegan products?

]]> http://bonnieleecuevas.com/nvey-eco-beauty-launch-nyc/feed/ 0 http://bonnieleecuevas.com/bondi-new-york/ http://bonnieleecuevas.com/bondi-new-york/#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:27:41 +0000 Bonnielee Cuevas | The Vegan Stylista http://bonnieleecuevas.com/?p=2331 Continue Reading →]]>

As women we have varying outlets for self expression, it can be the way we wear our hair, that perfect pink lipstick we swipe across our lips, the perfect pair of shoes we slip on our feet, the sexiest pair of jeans we slide onto our body and the perfect color we paint on our nails.

Not too long ago I got the pleasure to go behind the scenes with an exclusive interview with Richard Annington Founder of Bondi New York. For those that don’t know who Bondi New York is. They are an eco-friendly, vegan and philanthropic nail polish company looking to really make an impact on women’s nails, lives and the community around them. I was also sent the most delicious pink color my nails have ever had the pleasure of wearing it is called “fuschia-istic”. It became a fan instantly. My nails are like a mood ring. They tell you exactly how I am feeling.

Peel those eyelids and sit down for a great read with the Richard Annington the brainchild behind this woman’s nail polish.

Me: When did Bondi officially launch and what makes it different from all of the other nail polishes in the industry?

Bondi New York launched a few weeks ago.  It was originally supposed to launch during New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 in September. But we did some testing on the formulation and we were not happy with it. We wanted to make sure that we got that right. There are a lot of brands in the market place like Essie and Butter London that we are pinned up against. Ours is five free and near natural. Free of formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, toluene and DBP.

There was an Interesting video shown on the ABC website where they tested various nail polish brands on the market today and found some really nasty ingredients. We rigorously vetted our manufacturer. We make sure our product is what we say it is.

Another one of the biggest differences is that any profit after cost goes to various charitable and non-profit organizations and causes. We have recently pledged $25,000.00 for the Food Bank of NYC.

Who is behind the Bondi brand?

It’s me! I was sitting in this exact office last year. As a kid I was fascinated with nail polish. I love color it can change your mood and appearance. The genius behind the brand is myself.  However, I am not going to take credit for the design and feel of the product. The color collection was a fluke. I have subscriptions to every magazine. After months of looking at the magazine that specifically follows runway trends the collection was born. We have a mix online of fall, winter and summer.  As for the name Bondi means water crashing over rock. It is also a beach we British go to. It was the perfect name for this near natural product.

Your product is non-toxic and near natural does it contain any animal products?

It is Cruelty-Free and Vegan. We can publicly claim that!

What is the process for creating the color palate and picking the names to go along with it?

We create mood boards and use Pantone as the color authorities. We use fabrics, bead stores, designer collections including finishes and treatments. We look at their trends and predictions. For example we have emerald green as one of our colors. It is missing but currently in production. We are also a trend-setting brand so we will have a few limited time edition colors.

Do you ever consider expanding into other beauty products other than nail polish?

We like what butter London has done. They have stayed true to the core of their brand. Building their brand and then added complimentary lip-gloss. We will go in whatever Direction our consumer takes us.

Who do you want to see using your products?

Celebrity or otherwise. We recently opened up our site globally. We also subsidize the shipping it is $3.99.  Our product is being worn in Dubai, Qatar and it is just as popular in the Mid-West, Alaska or a Fashionista in Brazil. We do not want consumers to be put off by the price point. We always offer discount codes to be used when purchasing our product.

**Sponsored post

I spent the weekend gallivanting around New York City. I was partaking in every delectable experience that my palate craved. It was gluttonous at times. But it was a sin that I was happy to commit over and over. It mildly affected my waistline but I was very aware of my portions. As women we can’t deny that we sometimes develop an intimate relationship with what we put in our mouths (get your minds out of the gutter. I am talking about food).

There are so many places that I have yet to discover. But through it all I found myself on Friday night at Atlas Cafe. It is small place with only room to seat a few people inside the establishment. But when you go in it is a very cool place. The entire menu is on the wall with dozens of options. I am horrible with options. I can’t make up my mind to save my life. But I zeroed in on the vegan Philly steak. It was deliciously layered on a Panini. There were layers of lettuce, onions, tomatoes and what I believe was Seitan. I did not skimp on dessert. Actually I ate dessert first. What person in their right mind wouldn’t? Dessert was equally as good as I bit into a red velvet cupcake.

Saturday my experience was no less. For the longest time I have been trying to find THE best vegan pizza. One that had the same essence of a true New York Slice. I found THE best crust at a place called Two Boots. I stepped into the Grand Central station restaurant and we ordered a large pie. Half with Daiya cheese and mushrooms and the other half plain. I have to say I was sold! This was the closest to the traditional New York slice many crave and love. I also had a really great beer called Coney Island Lager. A portion of the proceeds goes to support the arts. I couldn’t verify if the beer was vegan so that was a let down. But I truly enjoyed every sip.

I think that the best part of this weekend was experiencing new places, new things and new foods. There is always a good time to be had when you let go of gaining a few extra pounds and watching that waistline and and instead indulging in a few bites. It was truly THE best food porn. Simply orgasmic.

The one thing I love about Nolcha Fashion week is that it feels amazingly creative. You have these independent designers that in a sense are fighting for their life. They are putting all they have into these collections and they want the world to notice. Each designer is unique and you find reasons to love something from each and everyone. This fall 2013 season was no different. It was presented by RUSK and it pulled out all of the stops.

I arrived at Pier 59 studios at Chelsea Piers a little bit before the show and grabbed a cocktail at the café with a friend. We then headed into the show because she had the savvy to check us in early so we wouldn’t have to worry about fighting through the crowd. The first room we entered was pre-gathering with various food, cocktail and clothing sponsors. We stopped for pictures at the step and repeat. We finally headed in and sat in our second row seats. The room was full of great dance music and the lights dimmed and came back up full throttle and the models began to hit the runway.

At Nolcha Fashion Week you have various designers presenting back to back. I will zero in on my absolute favorites. Studio 6^th Sense was phenomenal. The combination of black and white with soft and hard was incredible. It was sexy, fun, edgy and it screamed “I am woman hear me roar.”I loved the light fabric with leather (which I hope is faux leather as I am Vegan. I love the designer and sadly I could not verify if it was).  I hate to say this but I was surprised that the designer was a man. He truly understands a woman’s body and every design brought out the best in us.

Another one of my favorites was Andressa Leao. The collection was elegant and rich. I fell in love with a few pieces. My absolute favorite was completed beaded. You could tell it was heavy but it was stunning. It had a nice blend of blissful colors with subdued hues. She was a designer that wanted to make a woman feel like a million dollars and she did not fail in doing so.

Nolcha was also packed with celebrities that included Carrie Keagan (VH1), Dawn Olivieri (House of Lies) who was wearing Nolcha designer Tess Johnson, Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola (Jersey Shore), Kacie Boguskie (The Bachelor) who wore looks by Nolcha’s designers Diana Simaan & Lilly Lorraine, Waka Flocka (rapper), Masha (recording artist), Allure (female R&B group), Briella Calafiore (Style Network’s Glam Fairy), Early Morning Rebel (rock band), Krystal Joy Brown (Broadway star, “Big Fish”), Guinevere (recording artist), Steve Maneri (Kansas City Chiefs), Robert McClain (Atlanta Falcons), and James Anderson (Carolina Panthers).

I could go on and on with so many great designers from Nolcha but it would take dozens of pages to take you with me into each dreamy or fiery collection. I left realizing that my style changes every day. I am edgy and elegant but tomorrow that may change!

What is your style and does it change often?

See original article written by ME @ http://thecurvyfashionista.mariedenee.com/2013/02/nolcha-fashion-week-fall-2013/ 

“I don’t give a damn about my reputation.” Blared loudly as I walked into the Juicy Couture Store on Bleeker street. On the back wall the short film by Juicy Couture was flashing.

My inner bad girl was roaring and dying to get out. As I walked through the rows of mannequins dressed with the Juicy Couture Fall 2013 Collection I sensed the inspiration for the good girl gone bad. It was good girl by day and bad girl by night. The whole collection was fun and spirited. You could wear the pieces for work during the day then add another layer from the collection to make a killer outfit for your night life.

The collection was bright and full of rich reds, pinks and blues. You had mixtures of animal prints and gold shimmery skinny jeans. In stark contrast you had dresses that hugged your body gently and flowing A-lines. The accessories were gold and bold. It was girlie girl becomes rocker chic. The collection was literally mouth watering it was sexy, fun and juicy (pun intended).

Side note: Juicy Couture adopted a Fur Free policy in 2008.

Original article written by ME can be found at: http://thecurvyfashionista.mariedenee.com/2013/02/juicy-couture-fall-2013-collection-bad-reputation/

There once was an earth girl who saved an abused kitten on the street. One day she is given magical powers and entrusted with fighting for justice and peace. She gathers her team aka her justice soldiers and they fight for the universe. The story of Sailor Moon is one we must all know or have seen. But how does this character inspire Fashion?

I had the distinct pleasure of attending the Vaute A/W 2013 Outerwear show at the Eyebeam at New York Fashion Week. Vaute by Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart is an all vegan fashion label. Their textures come from organic, recycled and innovative high technology fabrics. Nothing comes from an animal. It is completely vegan and cruelty-free. What inspired the collection was the story of Sailor Moon. One that Leanne finds common ground with.

Vaute boasts a major vegan and non-vegan celebrity following including Alicia Silverstone, Zooey and Emily Deschanel, Ginnifer Goodwin, Felicity Huffman, and Jennifer Love Hewitt. But Vaute is not just for the celebrity crowd. Vaute is for anyone who has a soft spot for animals and their well being. It is for the person that wants to make an impact on the world around them and wear it proudly. Literally wear your cause on your body.

The line was whimsical and fun and the textures were soft blues, purples and white contrasts. It was a legendary presentation inspired by a legendary warrior.  Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart is a bit of a visionary because she has turned Vaute into a brand that inspires infinite change one outfit at a time.