Vegan Skincare

The Delivery: Hydrating body wash and lotion from 100% Pure
Staff Pick: The body wash

The DL: It is 80+ degrees here at the VNHQ, leaving most of the staff thinking about air conditioning and popsicles. This body wash, which smells just like a slice of key lime pie on a summer day, makes us want to stop everything, go home, and hang out by the pool (that none of us actually have). Perhaps a slice of chilled key lime pie will magically appear post-pool party? A magazine staff can dream. We're also dreaming about tomorrow night's Twitter Chat with Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero, where we'll talk pie (key lime included!) as we explore the duo's new book, Vegan Pie in the Sky. Join us tomorrow at 6pm PT!

A New Book

The Date: Monday, September 19
The Delivery: Student's Vegetarian Cookbook for Dummies by Connie Sarros (not vegan)
Staff Pick: Student's Vegetarian Cookbook for Dummies

The DL: While Student's Vegetarian Cookbook for Dummies is not vegan (get out of there, eggs and dairy!), we are excited for anything that helps people (college students, in this case) reduce their meat intake. Plus, we could veganize the recipe for the Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich (plus sun-dried tomato!) with the greatest of ease. Perhaps we'll make a batch for lunch tomorrow to fuel ourselves for this month's VegNews Twitter Chat. The topic? Compassionate Fashion! Join us tomorrow at 6pm PT to learn about fall trends, the truth behind labeling laws, and more.

Non-Vegan Books and a Documentary

The Date: Tuesday, August 23
The Delivery: Copies of the documentary PlanEAT and non-vegan books and cookbooks: Good Better Best by Mitch Plotnick, Salad Daze: The Hot Knives Vegetarian Cookbook by Alex Brown and Evan George, 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created by Charles C. Mann, and 175 Best Babycakes Cupcake Maker Recipes by Kathy Moore and Roxanne Wyss
Staff Pick: PlanEAT

The DL: This film, which documents scientists, chefs, and farmers as they search for the best diet for our health, the environment, and the future of the planet, sounds right up our alley. Perhaps we will stage a viewing tonight, after this evening's Twitter Chat, of course. Want to find out how some of the most successful bloggers around made their blogs full-time jobs? Join us tonight at 9pm ET/6pm PT at hashtag #VegNewsChat. Hope to see you there!

Books and Vegan Nail Polish

The Date: Tuesday, July 26
The Delivery: Raw Power! by Thor Bazler, 52 Small Changes by Brett Blumenthal, and vegan nail polish from Sheswai Lacquer
Staff Pick: The nail polish in Perfecto!

The DL: We have a sneaking suspicion you might be seeing a few more bottles of nail polish grace this blog in the upcoming weeks. Let's just say this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. And by "friendship" we mean "piece in the November+December issue." While you're waiting, take a peek inside the fascinating, furry, and fun world of farm sanctuaries with tonight's VegNews Twitter Chat, where we will be joined by Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, SASHA Farm, PIGS Sanctuary, and Best Friends Animal Society. Don't know how to participate? Read our handy guide. See you tonight!

Cookies, Fries, & Book

The Date: Thursday, June 30
The Delivery: An advanced copy of Naked Wine by Alice Feiring, eggplant veggie fries from Dominex, and raw vegan cookies from Chunkie Dunkies
Staff Pick: The cookies

The DL: This is a brand new cookie line from West Palm Beach, Fla. They have several delicious-looking flavors, but here we have Chocolate Chip Mint, Carrot Cake, and Oatmeal Raisin. Some of the VN staffers may have already sneaked a taste, and have given a two thumbs up. If you're looking for a sweet treat, then check them out now! Also check out the Twitter Chat that is taking place tonight with Farm Sanctuary's Gene Baur at 6pm PST.
 

Cookbook and Vegan Skincare

The Date: Tuesday, June 28
The Delivery: Vegetarian Entrees That Won't Leave You Hungry by Lukas Volger and DMAE Creme from derma e
Staff Pick: The face cream

The DL: Organic. Natural. Vegan. We like those three words to describe our beauty routine just as much as our dietary routine. Derma e, committed to all three, sent us their award-winning anti-aging face cream to try, and we are ready to test with gusto. We're also stoked about this Thursday's Twitter Chat with Farm Sanctuary Co-founder Gene Baur. Join us at 6pm PT by following #VegNewsChat.

Makeup and Vegan Truffles

The Date: Monday, May 23

The Delivery: Concealer from Larenim Mineral and a Truffle Sampler from Super Foxy Sweets

Staff Pick: The truffles!

The DL: We are already pretty darn full from birthday cake, but with flavors like Cinnamon Chili Blood Orange and Pistachio Cardamom, we'll make room to taste test these sweets. Planning on marrying your sweet? (For the record, we mean another person, not an edible truffle.) Tune in to our next VegNews Twitter Chat tomorrow at 6pm PT and find out how to throw the perfect vegan wedding! We'll be chatting with some of this year's VegNews wedding couples, as well as the real-life couple behind vegan-catering business Local Love. Hope to see you there!

Books, Vegan Food, and a CD

The Date: Wednesday, March 9

The Delivery: Vegetarian Traditions by George Vutetakis, assorted brown rice crackers from San-J, cinnamon rolls from Emily's Desserts, and Day 01, a CD from Early Melodic Animals

Staff Pick: The cinnamon rolls

The DL: After getting a dozen gems with assorted frostings from Cinnaholic yesterday, we thought we were tapped out on cinnamon rolls. When this batch was delivered to our doorstep today, however, somehow we managed to make room for them. It's a tough life here at VNHQ! This will be our last post until Tuesday—tomorrow we are heading down to Expo West for the weekend to check out the best new products the vegan world has to offer. But never fear! You can hang out with us and the vegan bakers from last night's episode of Cupcake Wars tonight at 6pm during the VegNews Twitter Chat. See you then!

Baby Food and Vegan Crackers

The Date: Monday, March 7

The Delivery: Organic baby food in assorted flavors from Peter Rabbit Organics and whole-food crackers from Jovan's Pure Nutrition

Staff Pick: The garden pesto crackers

The Goods: Between getting ready for Natural Products Expo West, gearing up for Wednesday's VegNews Twitter Chat where we'll be talking Cupcake Wars with two vegan bakeries, and working on the May+June issue (hint: you're going to love it!), we barely have time to sleep, let alone to eat a snack. Luckily, this bag of all-natural crackers looks like a great source of grab-and-go sustenance. Maybe we'll carve some time out of our busy day to taste test. Crackers and faux gras sounds like a great design meeting snack to us!

Chocolate Teas and Skin Care

The Date: Wednesday, March 2

The Delivery: Assorted chocolate teas from The Republic of Tea and the Dr. Alkaitis Organic Skin Food line from Holistic Dermaceuticals

Staff Pick: The red velvet chocolate tea

The DL: We're sorry, but red velvet chocolate tea? Could a cup of hot water be any more tasty-sounding right now? We hope that a delectable red velvet cupcake appears when we drop these tea bags into our mugs. Speaking of cupcakes, next week's episode of Cupcake Wars will feature two vegan bakeries. Join us on March 9 at 6pm PST for our second VegNews Twitter Chat with the owners of Sticky Fingers Bakery and C'est La Vegan to hear all about the episode! It's a cupcake's world, and we're just living in it.

Books and Faux Meats

The Date: Tuesday, February 22

The Delivery: The Kind Diet paperback by Alicia Silverstone, Vegan Desserts by Hannah Kaminsky, and Wholesome Cuisine Meals in Hawaiian Chick'n and Chili Mix with Beans from ND Labs, Inc.

Staff Pick: Vegan Desserts

The Goods: Everyone here at VNHQ is ridiculously excited about this evening's first ever VegNews Twitter Chat, featuring Kris Carr in all of her crazy sexy glory. We have been counting down the seconds until 6pm PST rolls around (32,400 to be exact), which has led to quite a few bouncing legs and cups of tea to calm excited nerves. Luckily, Hannah Kaminsky's new cookbook, filled with mouth-watering recipes (there's No-Bake Pumpkin Crème Brulee in there. No big deal.) will definitely keep us distracted until it's time to tweet. Until then, we'll be trying to keep the pages of Vegan Desserts drool-free.