I eat what bears eat. I am 97 pounds and a bear weighs 400 pounds.  Yet, we are both peace-loving vegetarians. Bears are the royalty of the forest, and in New Jersey, which is the most crowded state in America, we have a thriving extended family estimated at 400 bears.

We also have a bunch of jerks in New Jersey who want to hunt bears.  These hunter’s minds fester with schemes to malign the reputation of the bears in order to instigate a hunt.

Thus, Intelligent Natural Beauties are sending letters, making calls and taking to the streets to defend the bears.

On Saturday, on behalf of Ecco Bella and as a Boardmember of Friends of Animals, I attended a fantastic rally organized by APLNJ and the Bear Group to inspire New Jersey Governor Christie to stop the hunt.

I feel energized when I team up with others who step up for animals, don’t you?

Here I am in between two hunky vegetarians. My new friend Rhett (on the right) raises Monarch Butterflies.

NJAPA even paid for a billboard. That’s impressive.

Afterwards, our new friends invited us to join them for lunch at Veggie Heaven. Nobody eats better than animal rights activists. They knows how to root out where to find the greatest veggie food!

Big-hearted smiles and bubble tea, from Debbie and Theresa who manage a farm animal rescue called For the Animals Sanctuary. 

And, how do you like the natural beauty and vivid colors of my bowl of bright green veggies, silky wontons and rice noodles soup!

We said good-bye having created comraderie and good will, knowing we’ll meet again at the next rally. Unless the Governor steps in now.

A day after the rally I got this message.

“Sally it was a pleasure meeting you and Kevin. I would say it was the highlight of my day but I have to tell you as it sounds unbelievable, as we were leaving I was fumbling with to many pockets looking for my keys, when a large Bear walked from behind the building, sniffed at the entrance doors of Veggie Heaven then trotted across the road towards me and the river, I ran to stop traffic while trying to ready this phone for photos, Lyn was so excited, and I think a little scared, she didn’t think to use her camera, it was her first Bear sighting ever. We followed him for 10 min before he slipped away at the river. You just missed him. Simply wonderful !?”
Rhett

I told you bears are vegetarian!

Fashion For a Cause:
Ecco Bella Glows at New York City’s Fashion Week

Ecco Bella’s reputation—not only for natural beauty but as a champion of environmental sustainability–brought a request from Reco Jeans to provide cosmetics for the launch of Reco’s 2011 collection, which was staged at a fundraiser for efforts against rare diseases.  The event was a runway show as part of New York’s Fashion Week, and I had the honor of attending.

Click above to see this video of the event –and also scroll down to get our further behind-the-scenes peek at the show.

Reco Jeans was founded to create high-fashion jeans from recycled material, using as few resources as possible. Their method uses 60% recycled fiber and 40% fresh cotton, and omits even leather tags! With all packaging made solely from recycled materials, they are the only recycled denim company with a green label certification.

Aware of Ecco Bella’s emphasis on recycling and on natural organic and vegan ingredients, Reco requested that Ecco Bella supply their most dramatic colors for use by the models who would be appearing in their show. We supplied a complete line of FlowerColor cosmetics–Foundations, Cover-Up, Face Powder, Bronzers, Blush, Mascara, Eyeshadow, Eyeliner, Shimmer Dust, Sharpeners, Lip Liners, Lip Crayons, Vitamin E Lip Smoother and Good For You Gloss!  See http://www.eccobella.com/cosmetics/cosmetics )
The event was sponsored by the Global Genes Project, a grassroots effort to use jeans in order to raise awareness about very rare genetic disorders. (Among other things, both jeans and genes come in pairs!) And, consistent with the altruistic efforts of all concerned, the show was staged at New York’s Greenhouse nightclub.

         New York’s environmentally-friendly Greenhouse nightclub

The LEED-approved club, with walls made of sustainable bamboo, also features furniture made from recyclable material, super-efficient LED lighting and drinks served using reusable bottles.

I’m happy to report that everyone—from make-up artist to models to the founders of both Reco and Global Genes—was as lovely as could be. You’ll also be interested to know that one model, Jericho James—who is not a professional, but a friend of the designers who was pressed into service at the last moment—made a point to tell me how natural Ecco Bella products felt: She told me she rarely wears make-up, and expected to feel like she was wearing a mask—but was pleasantly surprised to find that it “felt like her own face.”

Jericho let us know that, following the show, she ordered Ecco Bella products for herself.

Here’s a further peek at a very special evening. Don’t miss the video at the top of this article.

Photographers document make-up artist Teresa Quinones applying Ecco Bella liner.

                         A closer look…

      Reco Jeans Designer Melissa Santos gets touched up with Ecco Bella by make-up artist Wenya Chang before dressing for the fashion show.

A look at the make-up area

 Models relax downstairs at Greenhouse before dressing for the show…

…while some of those upstairs in the club wait for the show to start.

Guests were entertained during the show by live electric violin.

Great-looking clothes from recycled material! See more in the video at top.

Make-up artist Teresa Quinones with your intrepid reporter–and promoter of Ecco Bella’s environmental efforts. Photo by Lita Riddock.

Snap, snap, snap go my clothes hangers. Blue. “No”, Purple. “No”, Peach, “No. I need white, not beige, not white with stripes, white.”

Found it. A 1940’s-inspired white linen shorts and button-down top not touched in 3 years and still perfectly pressed. White linen, a straw hat, Ecco Bella Merlot Lipstick, a few swirls of our natural black mascara and I am good to go on this 90 degree day.

When you are born, your family hangs a sign around your neck that states what you are; then they hand you instructions that tell you what to do about it. If you are like me,  you go along with the traditions. Sometimes, I do it because I wish to honor my parents and their parents and theirs….and other times because I like to do it.

I was invited to the annual Friday night Jewish Sabbath worship service on the beach. Wear white, I was told. Meet at the temple in Elberon, New Jersey and we will walk to the beach with our chairs. Afterwards, back at the temple, there will be a barbeque. “You’ll like it” my mother implored, “The Rabbi brings his guitar and sings.”  “OK.” I said, “I will leave Ecco Bella early and be there.”

I arrived at the temple at 5:30 p.m. as instructed, just in time to say hello to Rabbi Stanway, who in his white shorts and with guitar hanging around his neck, called out, “Shabbat Shalom.” to me and my husband, Kevin and then marched off down the wide, beautifully landscaped street to the beach with everyone following.
I went inside the temple to ask about the barbeque. Being 99% vegan, and a Boardmember of Friends of Animals, I do not trust the word, barbeque. I feel sad that my fellow humans have parties that revolve around the prior harm to animals.  Once awakened I am certain many people would not want to participate, either.

The kind people inside the temple said, “Don’t worry we have others just like you, and there will be portabello burgers.” “Perfect, I said.” Knowing I would be fed later, I too, marched off down the street to the beach, husband alongside, meeting my parents along the way.

We joined the long stream of people, headed for the beach, and I, feeling the peace and unity of the moment, deeply appreciated having said yes.

As we neared the ocean, turning past lovely, manicured houses nestled side by side like shorebirds at the edge of the embankment, the heat fell away and the wind took over.

The early evening light, transformed the landscape, featuring in turn, humans then sea grass, and ocean and lastly, seagulls, another flock of worshippers at the water’s edge.

The Atlantic ocean set a glorious and watery stage for us. The photo below is of my parents, Jack and Max with me in the middle, and as we say at the Jersey Shore, “This is the best time of day.”

Please enjoy the video that I made for you so that you could savor the moment too.

Rabbi Stanway said. “Take a moment to reflect in silence.”

No one knows what another prays for, but I’ll share. I prayed in gratitude for my good fortune in having been able to participate in a service rooted in history that took place in the natural beauty of my home state of New Jersey.

Talk to you soon! Sally

I opened up my email to find these photos of natural beauties posing on the beach in Belmar,  New Jersey, a place I used to love to visit in the summer. In fact, on some lucky Sundays as a youngster, I would wander into the bathroom where my father was shaving and he would say in his deep voice way above my head, “We’re going to Belmar, today.”  This would unleash pandemonium in our small apartment. My feet would start jumping and I would leap into the air like a Mexican jumping bean and jump, not walk, to tell my sister, Kim, who once notified of the news, would also start jumping all around the apartment in anticipation of going to Belmar.  In fact, we never stopped jumping. We even jumped in and out of the waves and sand all day.

Leaving my reverie and getting back to the present; the photos are from my friends at Clean Ocean Action, a group that protects New Jersey’s beaches.  A lucky person had both a good camera and a good eye that produced these photos.

I looked up Least terns on the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife site and found that they are an endangered species. And I learned this: “Least terns produce several calls, more musical and high pitched than other terns,and described variously as kip, kip, kip or kit-kit-kit, and kid-ick, kid-ick, and also a rasping zr-e-e-e-p. Calls are often given in such rapid succession that two or three birds can sound like a large flock.”

Well, not only are they beautiful, they can sing. A talent I do not possess.Their parenting skills look quite good too. I never attempted to be a mother, but I am an adventerous aunt. My nieces and nephews are still alive after having gone on vacation with me numerous times.

I also admire their bright yellow beaks and jet black heads…. as they snuggle into the sand.Good luck little buddy. You can count on me to do everything in my power to protect and preserve your home and you. After all, I still jump for joy over the natural beauty of all living beings. How about all you natural beauties, will you do the same?

When you take a break from a campaign (the gulf) and business Ecco Bella,  you also give the campaign and business, a break from yourself, much to the betterment of both. I took off for the weekend with my parents, husband, joined my aunt and uncle who planned this getaway to the Hudson River Valley. Have you been there?

We stayed at the Castle on the Hudson. The beds had perfect pillows, every brass doorknob gleamed, the pool was a glimmering jewel set amongst natural gardens, and the staff superb. At breakfast, as I was reading out loud, an article about the Old Growth Forest campaign (it never ends!) to my companions, our waiter stood to the side politely, until I finished.  Usually waitstaff rush in to take orders during jokes, stories, probably even marriage proposals.

Cold Spring was where we ate dinner. Riverview Restaurant  had lots of vegetarian choices.

I am so glad great estates like Boscobel were preserved. 

In the evening, outdoors on a great lawn, with the wetlands of the Hudson River and West Point in the background I experienced the most bubbling Shakespeare ever! Set to the music of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, with actors in candy colored sixties costumes–it was Taming of the Shrew in it’s most hilarious and brilliant interpretation. In my exuberant childhoold, I danced to Herb Alpert all around my house for hours.

And my father said to me, ” Do you remember my taking you to St. John Terrell Music Circus  to see My Fair Lady, in Lambertville, NJ. ?” “Yes.” “You were three years old.”

During the day we visited the John Jay Homestead and gardens. Historic Preservation is a great way for towns to make money on upscale, intelligent tourism!

Brunch was at the Sweetgrass Grill in Tarrytown. I always enjoy regal local produce, which is their speciality. Then off to listen to music at Caramoor. I did what I was told, and was given tickets to Tiempo Libre a Cuban jazz group who loves J.S. Bach and the United States of America.

I admired this perfectly designed urn, at Caramoor’s luxurious gardens, and thought you would too.

Just before we came home we stopped at Sunnyside, Washington Irving’s home. He was the kind of uncle you’d love, because he allowed his five nieces to move in with him forever!

I hope you go!