Gone to Tumblr!

Since August 28, 2008, we've been blogging here at This Just In, giving you the inside scoop on the new loot arriving at the VNHQ. And yet, just as MySpace is a mere memory, it's time to move on from our blogs as well. On that note, we couldn't be more thrilled to debut VegNews on Tumblr! We'll meld behind-the-scenes scoop such as what's for lunch and the newest products arriving at the office with our favorite content from around the web, event photos, and more. It's a bit bittersweet to say so long to the blogs we've worked so hard to build, but, well, they're just so five years ago. As always, thank you for reading. Here's to what's next!

Vegan, Eco-Friendly Wine

The Delivery: Certified Sustainable Chardonnay, Liberated Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir from Carmel Road Winery

The DL: What better way to celebrate the arrival of the weekend—not to mention San Francisco's 80-degree weather—than with a bottle of vegan vino from local winery Carmel Road? Carmel Road's wine is Certified Sustainable, which is fitting considering Earth Day is on Sunday. You know what else is on Sunday? The SF Vegan Bakesale! Stop by the VNHQ for some tasty treats and read up on 5 Ways Being Vegan Saves the Planet to gear up for Sunday's festivities. Cheers!

Veggie-Packed Ice Pops

The Delivery: Veggie Mama Garden Pops

The DL: What a week it's been for frozen treats here at VNHQ! First we got to try Pop Nation's icy delights, and now we've got these healthful pops from Veggie Mama, which sound deliciously refreshing on this summery San Francisco day. We're betting few things can top this week's popsicle party, but Nutella Fudge Pops sound like pretty good contenders. Check them out in 9 New Ways to Use Nut Butters!

Herbal Tonics, Vanilla Body Wash, and a Memoir

The Delivery: Pacifica body wash, Urban Moonshine tonics, and The Monks and Me by Mary Paterson
Staff Pick: The tonics

The DL: These herbal Energy and Joy Tonics from Urban Moonshine couldn't have come at a better time—we're currently hard at work on our July+August issue and we need all the energy we can get! With ingredients such as ginseng, linden flowers, and lemon balm, these elixirs seem perfect for a mid-week pick-me-up. Still, it's hard to imagine anything more revitalizing than VegNews' Vegan Yoga Retreat in Sayulita, Mexico. Yoga, organic food, and beachside lounging? Sign us up!

Popsicle Party!

The Delivery: Born with a Junk Food Deficiency by Martha Rosenberg, Eat Smart, Eat Raw by Kate Wood, Cavi-Art plant-based caviar, Pop Nation gourmet popsicles, and Au Naturale makeup
Staff Pick: The popsicles

The DL: The arrival of these gluten-free, vegan ice pops had the VN staff in a tizzy—especially once we realized that these were no ordinary popsicles. With flavors such as Salted Dark Chocolate and Grapefruit Mint, these unconventional frozen treats would be an ideal refresher at the sun-soaked Coachella Valley Music Festival, which has been the subject of much buzz here at VNHQ. While some of us will be enjoying the weather in Indio this weekend, others of us will be gorging on vegan sweets at the SF Vegan Bakesale, taking place on Sunday at VNHQ. Come by and say hello!

Raw Cookbook, Salad Mists, Soap, and Chia Guide

The Delivery: Foaming hand soap from Vermont Soap, Gourmè Mist dressing misters, Chia by Wayne Coates (not vegan), and The World Goes Raw Cookbook by Lisa Mann
Staff Pick: The World Goes Raw Cookbook

The DL: Flipping through Lisa Mann's book, which features raw versions of dishes from around the globe, definitely has us yearning for an international vacation. Still, there are plenty of exciting things going on stateside to satisfy us in the meantime. HipCityVeg, a new vegan fast-food joint, opens in Philly today (did somebody say buffalo-portabello sandwiches?), while up-and-coming vegan city (and VNHQ neighbor) Oakland has launched its first-ever Veg Week, offering food demos and film screenings galore. Let the vegan celebrations commence!

Falafel Friday!

The Delivery: Falafels from TaDah! Foods and The Ultimate Allergy-Free Snack Cookbook by Judi and Shari Zucker (not vegan)
Staff Pick: Falafels!

The DL: Though few members of the VN team would turn down a sugary treat (remember that bake sale we enthusiastically endorsed yesterday?), we sometimes need something a little more substantial. Slathered in lemon-garlic hummus, this frozen falafel wrap from TaDah! Foods seems like a easy, quick way to get our savory fix—plus the company's name is really fun to say. Speaking of fun, we've just compiled our weekly roundup of our must-click links. Head over to Traffic Jam to check out giggling Anderson Cooper, pesto cashew-ricotta pizza, and more!

Books and Mood-Boosting Essential Oils

The Delivery: 21 Drops essential oils, Wild About Greens by Nava Atlas, Animal Impact by Caryn Ginsberg, and Vicki's Vegan Kitchen by Vicki Chelf
Staff Pick: Vicki's Vegan Kitchen

The DL: Vicki Chelf's new book contains a plethora of delicious-sounding recipes, covering everything from simple sushi to faux Cheez Whiz. Though her desserts use healthy ingredients such as silken tofu, dates, and brown-rice syrup, from what we can tell, they don't skimp on the sweetness. Perhaps we'll whip up Chelf's Tofu-Carob Brownies or No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies later this month for the SF Vegan Bakesale. Swing by the VNHQ April 22 to find out!

Bars 'n' Books

The Delivery: Enemy of the Steak by Nikki and David Goldbeck (not vegan), Meals that Heal Inflammation by Julie Daniluk (not vegan), and Pure Bars in a customized Pure Lunchskins eco-friendly sandwich baggy.
Staff Pick: The Pure Bars and baggy

The DL: We can't wait to sink our teeth into these two new Pure Bars—the dark chocolate berry bar in particular seems to be calling our name. Best of all, they arrived in this adorable reusable lunch baggy, which seems like a practical and sustainable way to guard some goodies for your midday meal. In decidedly less appetizing (but nonetheless fascinating) news, food-politics expert Michele Simon has written a great piece about the controversy surrounding "pink slime." Check out this VN exclusive here!

Jars of Fun: Vegan Parm, Olives, and Pomade

The Delivery: Olives from Musco Family Olive Co, Morrocco Method Int'l pomade (not vegan), and Parmela vegan parmesan replacer

Staff Pick: Vegan parm!

The DL: Made from fermented ingredients such as rice, nuts, and soy, this cruelty-free parmesan substitute from Parmela is a welcome addition to the VN pantry. We can't wait to sprinkle the stuff onto Managing Editor Elizabeth Castoria's dad's hearty homemade pasta sauce and meatballs—truly the stuff of legends, if you ask us. If you're not already drooling at the thought of authentic Italian pasta sauce, check out 5 Vegan-Friendly Towns on our Radar to catch a glimpse of the mouth-watering meals being churned out at eateries across the country!

Books and Body Scrub

The Delivery: The New Enlightened Eating by Caroline Marie Dupont, Healthy Tipping Point by Caitlin Boyle, and Lemongrass and Lavender Exfoliating Pumice Scrub from Metropolis Soap Co.
Staff Pick: The New Enlightened Eating

The DL: In this revised edition of her first book, spiritual guru and holistic nutritionist Caroline Marie Dupont offers simple, wholesome plant-based recipes designed to encourage conscious eating. Dishes such as Pasta with Chunky Tomato Sauce and Sweet Kale Salad sound like they'd be right at home at any VN staff lunch (seriously, have you guys noticed our penchant for kale salads?), but aside from recipes, Dupont also has some handy tips for health-conscious vegan parents. Interested in vegan parenting? Check out the VN.com feature Veganism is for Mothers by Seyward Rebhal and don't forget to tune into our Twitter chat on vegan parenting next Wednesday!

Oodles of Books!

The Delivery: Detox Your World by Shazzie, Code to Joy by George Pratt and Peter Lambrou, and The Southern Italian Farmer's Table by Matthew Scialabba and Melissa Pellegrino (not vegan)
Staff Pick: Detox Your World

The DL: Flipping through Detox Your World by Shazzie, two things are immediately clear: Eating Coconut Banana Splits sound like an ideal way to rid your body of toxins and "Shazzie" is a terrific name. While we're figuring out a way to track Shazzie down and make her our best friend, you can track down a recipe for Hawaiian Veggie Burgers by checking out our roundup of this week's best links. Happy Friday!

Vegan Cake Pops and Books!

The Delivery: Les Pops Sweets' vegan cake pops, Discardia by Dinah Sanders, Learning to Bake Allergen-Free by Colette Martin (not vegan), and Leon Baking and Desserts by Claire Ptak and Henry Dimbleby (not vegan)
Staff Pick: Cake pops!

The DL: These vegan cake pops promise "Sweet sans the guilt," and that's definitely something we can get behind after this week of massive face-stuffing. First there was Tuesday's incredibly filling mac 'n' cheese feast, followed by several helpings of homemade pasta and meatballs on Wednesday—and don't even get us started on the various snacks we've been sneaking in between meals. If you, like us, have had a couple (okay, more than a couple) bites too many, give your body some love by loading up on fresh juice. Check out 5 Ways to Get Your Juice On and drink up!

Gluten-Free Brownies, Gluten-Free Recipes, and Perfumed Products

The Delivery: Lucy's gluten-free brownie cakes, soy candles, reed diffuser, and soap from Pacifica Perfume, and Great Gluten-Free Vegan Eats by Allyson Kramer
Staff Pick: Great Gluten-Free Vegan Eats!

The DL: Mac 'n' cabbage? Who does that? Allyson Kramer, that's who. We can't wait to read through the rest of these pages and find even more creative, gluten-free dishes that are sure to surprise (and wow!) us. Want more of Allyson's delicious eats? Check out her five-dish, spring-friendly menu! Hello, Chocolate-Strawberry Pie.

Allergy-Free Vegan Cookies, Soy Creamer, and a Book

The Delivery: Cybele's Free-to-Eat allergy-free cookies, SoyGo creamer from Saving Opus One, and Main Street Vegan by Victoria Moran
Staff Pick: Main Street Vegan

The DL: All of us here at VegNews are huge fans of Victoria Moran, and we're delighted about her new book! Main Street Vegan isn't just preaching about the many benefits of veganism (though, as we all know, there are many)—it's showing everyone on Main Street (remember that?) how easy it is to be vegan, no matter where you live or how much money you make. We have a feeling this will be gifted to a lot of reluctant friends and family come birthdays, holidays, Tuesdays...