Christmas Gifts + Giving Back!

Yes, you can trudge through the mall or hit Amazon in your pj's this holiday season.  But wouldn't it be awesome to get your friends & family cool, unique gifts, while helping out some fantastical causes?

Check these out...

Ho Ho Ho!

Dara Dubinet: Live, Love, Raw!

Despite being bogged down today with packing for an upcoming 10-day trip, prepping food for the week, exercising & finishing up class number two towards my certification in Plant-Based Nutrition - I was compelled to get my ass outside and soak up some Vitamin D courtesy of Mr. Sun!

Why?

Well not because of the unusual 60 degree March day in Ohio!

It was because of Dara Dubinet!

I can't recall how I stumbled upon Dara, but I am so happy I did!  I am addicted to her nearly daily and sometimes multiple YouTube videos, in which she simply whips something up in the kitchen or goes to the farmer's market and sometimes waxes philosophic (I love when she goes to the beach to do that - she lives in Cali!)

Dara, is a self-proclaimed raw food vegan, professional chef & healthy muse.  While, not my thing, her shining positivity & outlook on life has inspired me in many, many ways.  Watch one video & you shall be inspired too: to eat more raw foods, to hit up a farmer's market, to go outside and just be!  If a day goes by without a Dara video fix, things just aren't right! Her words linger with me and her optimism for a healthy life is infectious!

While it appears that Dara's website: Live, Love Raw is just getting off the ground, this is sure to be a great resource to have as well!

Check Dara out!
The Hoff

One of my fav videos!

The Olive Tap

 
If you're a fan (or patient) of Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, then you've heard of The Olive Tap - if not, allow me to enlighten you!

The Olive Tap is a neat little shop in downtown Medina, Ohio (Kmart Shopping Plaza); actually there are five locations, but only one in Ohio. 

As the name suggestions, The Olive Tap specializes in a variety of fresh, artisan Extra Virgin Olive Oils from around the world, but that's not why I think this shop is so great.

I go there for their fresh, artisan Balsamic Vinegars from around the world!

Dr. Esselstyn says that greens (kale, spinach, bok choy, etc.) are essential for good health and need to be eaten daily.  Only problem is, I don't like them!  Ok, I have alleviated this problem to a degree by incorporating wraps into my daily routine, but Esselstyn wants you to eat greens at every meal - ugh!  Esselstyn knows what time it is and that greens don't have a strong fan base.  So, he tells his patients to use flavored balsamic vinegars to make the greens more appealing; which this shop just happens to specialize in and Esselstyn is a frequent patron of.

By the way, I found out that Esselstyn's favorite vinegar is Aceto Balsamico di Modena (not bad!).

Now I am even a less of a fan of vinegar than I am of greens, so I knew I had to taste test before buying, which this shop encourages!  In fact, the staff is so super friendly and knowledgeable - all I had to do was mention Esselstyn's name and they knew exactly why I was there.  I explained that I didn't like traditional balsamic, but that I did like fruit and I was directed towards a Strawberry Balsamic and Mango Passion Fruit among others!  They even have a Dark Chocolate vinegar (pair that with some fruit)! 

I even learned that there are thicker, almost sauce-like vinegars, kinda cool!

And the best part!  

While they do sell typical large, about 12.68 oz bottles, they offer a set of 4, 3.4 oz bottles for $25 of the flavor(s) of your choice - the bottles are made up on the spot!  My plan is to keep trying all the sample bottles to discover my ultimate fav!

These cute little bottles would make a perfect gift and as a little bit of vinegar goes a long way, I predict my set is going to last me a few months and I use them daily!

The Olive Tap, Medina
1077 North Court St.
Medina, OH 44256
(330) 721-6500


Check them out or shop online!
The Hoff

P.S. They have a newsletter!

Buy, Sell or Trade Ohio Produce!

Is your garden overgrown with tomatoes?  Are you looking for fresh, green peppers in October?  Do you want to trade your honey for someone's black walnuts?

"Like" Whole Life - Ohio on Facebook and you will be a few keyboard strokes away from networking with Northwest Ohio farmers and gardeners!

Whole Life - Ohio is all about cutting out the middleman and bringing producers and consumers together!

Interested in learning more?  

Hit Loni up at Whole_Life@yahoo.com for more info!

Support Local!
The Hoff

A Very Vegan Christmas Gift!

Have a special vegan in your life with a sweet tooth?

Check out Allison's Gourmet - an all vegan, organic bakery, confectionary, & gift shop!

Really, really like this special person?

Sign them up for Allison's Monthly Cookie, Brownie or Fudge club!

Yes, this stuff is a little pricey.  But I have been pricing vegan goodies for my holiday festivities and it is inline with what everyone else in this market is charging.  Law of supply and demand...we need to generate more demand to lower the costs!

Cheers!
The Hoff

New Website Alert! Spencer's Market

Launching just in time for the holidays is a cool new site that offers personalized vegan food specials!

When you register with Spencer's Market (for free), you will be asked a series of questions, so your daily email offers are specific to your wants & needs: vegan, vegetarian, kosher, soy-free, nut-free, etc.

Products will be supplied from a combination of local, artisanal producers and commercial brands that fit the Spencer "natural-food-only policy."

Plus your offers will be at a nice discount - up to 70% off the retail price!

It's like having your own personal shopper!

Check it Out!
The Hoff

Happy Belly Bags

Happy Belly Bags, creates fun, organic gift bags designed for those with food allergies or specific dietary preferences such as vegan, kosher, gluten free, nut free, soy free - anything you can think of.  And if they don't have a bag for what you need, you can build-you-own!

Perfect for that special someone in your life for the holidays!

Happy Shopping!
The Hoff

SoulPancake.

Rainn Wilson the man behind the legend of Dwight Schrute, along with two friends, Joshua Homnick and Devon Gundry offer the universe, SoulPancake, a website dedicated to encouraging people to explore what it means to be human through art, activities and thought provoking questions.

Life's Big Questions

If your life were a movie, would it be worth watching?

What would you do differently if no one would judge you?

Can you describe yourself in three words?

be inspired.
The Hoff

New Blog Alert:From Scratch

Ok, I will just start off with that this blog is not healthy and probably never will be healthy,  but it is bond to be full of German goodness!  It also tugs on my little German heart, so I have to give a shot out to Dorothy Zehnder, the matriarch of all things at the Bavarian Inn.  At 90 years old, Dorothy is trying her hand at blogging and that's after working a 10 hour day in the kitchen of her restaurant!

I have had the pleasure of eating Dorothy's cooking on my many trips to Frankemuth a quaint, little German village in Michigan and the home of Bronner's, the world's largest Christmas Store, open 361 days a year!  (It really is huge and truly magical!)

Dorothy will be writing about about cooking, Michigan, her family and entertaining. She'll also talk about her role as a teacher, role model, philanthropist and mom, so be sure to check out From Scratch!


Viel Glueck Dorothy!
The Hoff

Check Out Femme Fitale Fitness Gear!

If you workout, you have got to check out what Femme Fitale Fitness has for you!

This cool little site has just kicked fitness, weight and golf gloves up a notch by blinging them out in hot colors, animal prints and Swarovski crystals (I do love me some Swarovski!).  Oh yeah, they threw a little 100% soft lambskin leather into the mix - meow!

Ranging from $19.99 to $34.99, I say get a couple pairs to keep the workout week interesting.

Hey, fellas - Christmas is coming (hint, hint...)!

And you thought working out had to be boring.

Check these gems out for yourself!



Work it Girl!
The Hoff

New Website Alert: PBS Food

PBS has devoted a new website to all things food, PBS Food!

"PBS Food will unite cooking shows, blogs and recipes from PBS and local stations across the country. From Julia Child to Jose Andres to local restaurant reviews, this site will celebrate the iconic chefs and culinary treats you love from PBS."

Check out the sneak preview now - full site to launch soon!

Don't forget to subscribe for the weekly newsletter.

Dig In!The Hoff

Vegan Zombie!

Yeah, that's right, I said Vegan Zombie!

The Vegan Zombie is an online zombie themed cooking show and it rocks!

John, the creator has been a vegan for 16 years; mix in a love of horror movies and you get...The Vegan Zombie!

These video shorts are hysterical - but beyond that, the episodes are incredibly well-made (someone went to film school) and you might actually learn a thing or two about cooking vegan and protecting yourself from zombies.  And my mother says you can't learn anything from watching tv- ha!

Vegan Zombie is not for the squeamish or the kiddies, there are quite a few zombies getting their heads blown off, so be prepared to be entertained prepared for violence.

Food Network - give this guy a show!
The Hoff

New Online Store Alert: Buy Momma!

Check out Buy Momma, a new online store featuring: handmade organic skin care products, children's apparel, shoes and stuffed animals, most of which are naturally made, and/or made from "upcycled" materials.

Ellen DeGeneres Launches Vegan Website!!!!

Super excited to announce a brand new vegan website from Ellen DeGeneres!!!

Going Vegan with Ellen

Having been a vegetarian for many years, Ellen has decided to go vegan and wanted to develop a website for others making the transition.

Now, now - don't dismiss this valuable resource just because you're not vegan or vegetarian - having a meat-free meal at least once per week will do your waistline, health and wallet some good.  Go wild and have an entire vegan day - oh no, she didn't!

Bookmark this site and reference it for recipe ideas, tips and to learn about famous vegans (very inspirational)!  Some celeb vegans that may shock you: Mike Tyson, Steve-O and Woody Harrelson!

There's a bunch of other stuff, including a blog!

Check out Ellen's reasoning behind going vegan:

Check it Out! FairGreenTrade.com

FairGreenTrade.com, run by a Clevelander (awesome), gets Healthy Hoff props for creating an extensive directory of green, organic and sustainable goods and services.

Check it out!
The Hoff