Decking the Halls

The Delivery: Pretty red poinsettias and a festive mini tree
Staff Pick: The flowers

The DL: When we walked into the office and found our desks decked with poinsettias, we knew the holidays had officially arrived. We’re currently in the midst of the VegNews Holiday Cookie Contest and judgement day is tomorrow. Check back next week for our picks for the best seasonal recipes. As for tonight, tune in to our Twitter chat starting at 6PT for some last-minute holiday baking tips. Special guests Allison Rivers Samson, Hannah Kaminsky, and Beverly Lynn Bennett will be on standby for your cookie-related questions.

Herbal Supplements

The Delivery: Vegetarian “Healthy Gut” herbal supplements from Kroeger Herb Products Co. Inc.
Staff Pick: The herbal supplements

The DL: Herbal supplements can aid a poor diet, but nothing impacts health like eating plates full of nutrient-rich veggies, whole grains, fruits, legumes, and other whole foods. In fact, unexpected foods like taro root and dark leafy greens contain important cancer-fighting properties, in addition to other crucial nutrients. For more information on plants that do the body good, check out 5 Foods to Eat Now. With flu season upon us, there’s no time to waste!

Cookbooks and Wayfare Products

The Delivery: Non-veg cookbook Kitchen on Fire by Olivier Said and Chef Mike C., The Sexy Vegan Cookbook by Brian L. Patton, and an assortment of Wayfare cheeses, puddings, and non-dairy products
Staff Pick: The Sexy Vegan Cookbook

The DL: This cookbook looks like a great way to start the new year (and who doesn’t want to feel sexy while they’re cooking?). Speaking of cookbooks, VegNews publisher Joseph Connelly has just posted his list of the Ten Must-Have Vegan Cookbooks of 2011, so check it out if you’re still looking for the perfect gift for the resident foodie in your family. As for everyone else, there’s no better place to turn than Etsy, and we’ve got the perfect guide for you! Think chocolate marzipan caramels, ninja soap, and gorgeous jewelry. Amazing!

Coconut Oil and Water Kefir

The Delivery: Kelapo Coconut Oil and Caveman Foods Probiotic Water Kefir

Staff Pick: Saffron-flavored kefir

The DL: This is an exciting week here at the VNHQ—as we’re finishing up the design of the January+February issue, we’re also preparing Thanksgiving-themed articles for VegNews.com. Get ready for more editions of Turkey Tuesdays, recipes to help perfect your Thanksgiving menu, and awesome giveaway prizes. While things are hectic right now, some of our staff is fortunate enough to be heading down to Mexico to bliss out on the beach, relax with some yoga, and forget about the holiday craze at home. There are still tickets available, so snag your spot while you can!

 

Bananagrams Galore!

The Delivery: The complete line of Bananagrams games—Pairs in Pears, Appletters, Zip-It, Fruitominoes, a magnetic monkey, a balloon, Bananagrams bracelets, and the original Bananagrams

Staff Pick: We’ve got to go with the classic—Bananagrams

The DL: Thank you, Bananagrams—we are thrilled with the box of games! These games combined with a tasty brunch from Dharma’s restaurant this morning mean today will have minimal productivity, but maximum enjoyability! That’s usually the relationship between work and fun, right? In all seriousness, we’ve got a magazine to produce here, so our love affair with the entire line of Bananagrams games will have to bud during word game-fuelled, lunch break-only competitions. We just started working on the design for our January+February issue, so if you want it delivered right to your mailbox, hot off the press, sign up for a subscription soon. 

 

Sleepover Party

The Delivery: What The Animals Taught Me by Stephanie Marohn, Warmables eco-friendly heat packs made of cherry pits, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics nail polish, eyeshadow, and lip gloss, and My Delight lipstick and gloss.

Staff Pick: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics nail polish

The Goods: Fun fact—VegNews is staffed almost entirely by women. This recent delivery has us calling for a girly sleepover party at the VNHQ, filled with makeovers and manicures, gossiping about celebs, and scoping the latest issues of our favorite magazines (Note: this may be code for scheming to take over the world, but we'll never tell). Have we mentioned that the November+December issue of VegNews has just arrived? It has our take on the best peanut butter cups in the world, so we know exactly what to eat during our party. And what sleepover would be complete without brunch? Not this one—that’s why we’ll have to make the issue’s recipe for savory waffles with beet compote for brunch. Perfect girls’ night in.

 

Tree-Free VegNews

The Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2011

The Delivery: Tree-Free edition of November+December VegNews

Staff Pick: The digital magazine!

The DL: The Tree-Free edition of the November+December VegNews has just arrived, and we are so excited! While we can tell you that we’re in love with its holiday-themed designs (shiny gold borders, anyone?), we’re keeping the rest on the DL until subscribers receive it. It’s the much-anticipated Veggie Awards, after all! But seriously, get ready for one of the most mind-blowing, eye-catching issues of the year. In case you want to get a jump on the festivities, come to the VegNews Book Bash on Friday, Oct 21. As one of the hottest parties of the year, this event is guaranteed to sell out, so get your ticket soon.

A Plant-Based Book

The Date: Friday, July 29
The Delivery: The new issue of Entertainment Weekly and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition by Julieanna Hever
Staff Pick: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition

The DL: Some of us here at the VNHQ are big Hunger Games fans, but we're even bigger Julieanna Hever fans (she's a VN columnist, after all!). We've been hearing about this new book for months and can't wait to dive in. Will reading it play into our weekend plans? There's a high probability. We hope you all have a wonderful weekend as well. Keep cool and we'll see you Monday!

A Lovely Arrival

Date: Friday, April 17
The Delivery: The May+June 2009 issue of VegNews
Staff Pick: Well duh, the new magazine!

The DL: It's one great day. Not only is it a sunny and beautiful Friday, but we received a much-anticipated arrival—the spring issue of VegNews! It will be hitting newsstands around the beginning of May, so be sure to keep an eye out.