When I was in high school, one of my best friends was named Natascha, who often went by the nickname Nat. She got married last year, and her husband’s name is Matt, so they are frequently referred to as MattandNat. So I always giggle when I visit the site Matt & Nat, which seems like it should be their site, but  is in fact a company that makes fly vegan purses. Generally priced in the $250-$300 range, these purses are every bit as fashionable as the ones by Fendi/Prada/Chanel etc. but are cruelty-free. Plus they come in fun colors like magenta. I’m digging the small Jorja purse pictured above. I love the way it looks, and I’m ready to invest in a quality purse that will last, since all of my inexpensive (cheap?) target purses are falling apart. Maybe I’ll get this one as a gift…

Check out this disturbing little tidbit I found on VegNews:

“What’s difficult for vegans to swallow is that the majority of fining agents used in wines today are derived from animals. These agents include isinglass (from sturgeon bladders), gelatin (from boiled cows’ or pigs’ hooves and sinews), egg whites (or albumen), and casein (a milk protein). Even bulls’ blood, “sangre de toro,” was once used to clear red wine, but no longer in American or European wineries—Mad Cow Merlot just wouldn’t sell.”

Ew. For the full story, along with some vegan wine options, click here.

If you look at the links on the right, under pages you’ll see something new: The Modernista Store! In partnership with Amazon, I’m bringing you a selection of some of my favorite things. Right now the focus is on health and wellness; as the store expands I might bring in a greater variety. Please check it out, and feel free to buy to your heart’s content!

I had my last car longer than I’ve had my husband. Back in 2000, my dad helped me buy a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire. It was green, with a sunroof, stereo controls on the steering wheel, and surprisingly good pick-up. It was a great car for a 21-year old girl in Florida to have. And I loved it. But it didn’t love me back. The first month I had it, a woman made an illegal turn into me and banged up the front. A few months later, during a heavy rainstorm, I slid into a pole and bashed the back. Stereo thieves drilled a hole into the passenger door to snag my CD player. The battery had to be replaced several times. Some mysterious part snapped and prevented me from driving above 10 miles per hour. The speedometer stopped working. The brakes got sketchy. Then, finally, the transmission got flaky and the car started dropping out of gear (it was an automatic). When I realized that my car was trying to kill me, I made a decision to replace it as soon as I started working again. I started a new job last week. So, last night, I got a new car.

I had been dreaming for months of owning a hybrid Ford Escape. I like the size, the gas mileage, and the extra green-ness of driving the hybrid. My husband and I found a great deal on one, and I’m now the proud owner of a silver 2007 Escape. With heated seats. It does taking some adjusting to: the engine goes off if it sits idle for long enough, which kind of feels like the car has died. It’s my first SUV, so I almost have to relearn how to drive in order to accommodate for the extra length and change in visibility. But that’s okay, because I love this new car and I hope I have it for many years to come.

I enjoy spicy food, and lately I have been making an effort to move away from pre-packaged meals and eat more whole foods. To that end, I’ve been wanting to experiment with peppers. I’m not a huge fan of green bell peppers; they’re unripe, and to me not that tasty. I prefer orange and red peppers, but I have two issues with them: one, the peppers in the store are always huge (way more than I need), and two, organic ones are expensive, frequently running around $6.00 a pound.

So last spring I decided to try and grow my own. I bought a pepper plant (as well as sage and parsley) and put it in a pretty pot in my kitchen window. It didn’t do anything for almost a year, and then one day it flowered and sprouted a baby pepper. This one is really too tiny to eat, but I’m pleased that my plant seems to be doing okay. I really like the idea of growing my own herbs and veggies, and I kind of wish I could convert my yard into an orchard. However, I’m not a big gardener and we don’t have year-round sunshine, so potted veggies seem to be the best option for me, in terms of having affordable, organic produce on hand.

Interested in trying it? I recommend reading Bob Purnell’s Crops in Pots for tips and ideas.