In our Winter 2010-11 issue, I raved about ecoStore‘s All Purpose Citrus Cleaning Spray. Not only is it all natural (literally, five ingredients in its ingredient list, including palm and coconut based non-ionic and anionic surfactants), but my cleaning lady raves about its efficacy.
I’ve personally become a huge fan of ecoStore products, and the best part is, it won’t cost you a premium to switch to all-natural products (one of the hindrances for me to switching). ecoStore is committed to their mantra of “Truly Green, Truly Affordable, Truly Works!” I mean, the cleaning spray is just $5. That’s practically the same price as your grocery store standby, if not less expensive.
Now, for the month of December, ecoStore is offering special discounts so it’s a great time to stock up!
December 16: 60% off all hand, body and bar soap
December 23: 60% off all products
And one lucky Audrey reader will win an ecoStore Gift Basket full of their best selling products, including:
Hand and Body Wash
Household Cleaning Products
Baby Care Products
The book Raising Baby Green by renown eco pediatrician Dr. Alan Green
“The ecoStore philosophy is to bring safer and healthier products into our babies lives from day one,” says Lyne Appel Downing, the VP of Operations at ecoStore. That covers household products, baby products, personal care and even pet products. In addition, ecoStore partners with HealthyChild.org, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based nonprofit that researches and recommends the products that protect our families and planet.
To win, do the following by Wednesday, December 15, 2010, 11:59 pm:
1. Take a photo of yourself with your Audrey Magazine Winter 2010-11 issue.
Example
2. Upload your photo to our Facebook wall or tweet the photo to @audreymagazine
3. Finally, comment on this post and tell us what you do to be green in your life (or why you need to start).
As always, you must have a U.S. mailing address to win.
Start off the New Year right with green products for your household and baby! Good luck!
If you’re in NYC and a fan of a cool, vintage fashion vibe, you’re in luck. Clothing line Yumi Kim is hosting a Holiday Soiree on December 9 at the Yumi Kim flagship store in the Lower East Side! Not only will there be loads of treats, cocktails and bubbles, but for one night only, shoppers get an additional 30% off everything in the shop. Designer Kim Phan will be there to offer her styling tips, so it’s a great opportunity to meet the talent behind the name.
If you didn’t attend Audrey’s Night Out, then you missed out on Yumi Kim’s fall 2010 runway show. True to her style, Yumi Kim showed off the coolest vintage-inspired prints. Paired with a cool headband, some thigh socks and loads of attitude, and you’ve got your go-to weekend look.
A look from Yumi Kim at Audrey's Night Out 2010.
A former music industry maven, Phan designs pieces inspired by vintage prints and funky urban silhouettes. Her flagship store in New York City’s Lower East Side is a giant version of Phan’s closet, with the entire Yumi Kim line alongside vintage bags and accessories.
See more at Yumi Kim’s website.
For the Yumi Kim Holiday Soiree:
YUMI KIM SHOP
December 9th, 2010
6-9PM
105 Stanton Street
NY, NY 10002
(corner of Ludlow & Stanton Street)
This gift will surely get you on Santa’s “Nice” list this year, not to mention your friends’!
Buy one $10 year subscription to Audrey and get another subscription for free! It’s the perfect present for all the women in your life — friends, sisters, daughters, even mom! It’s the gift that keeps on giving — all year round.
Ten dollars doesn’t get you much these days, but with Audrey, $10 gets you a bit of Asian American pride!
Buy the 2 For 1 gift subscription here.
In our Winter 2010-11 issue, we introduced you to Ruby Veridiano, writer, speaker, arts educator, media personality and founder of the Glamourbaby Diaries, a writing empowerment program for Asian American college women. Here, more of our conversation with Ruby.
Photo by Chaz Cruz.
Audrey Magazine: OK, give us the basics.
Ruby Veridiano: Filipina-Chinese American, 27, born in Manila, raised in Sacramento, and currently residing in New York City. I went to University of California Davis, majored in Sociology of World Development with minors in Asian American Studies and Communications.
AM: You’ve been conducting writing workshops called the Glamourbaby Diaries, thanks to a grant by Asian Women Giving Circle. What are these workshops about, who’s attending, and why are you holding them?
RV: The workshops are for young women ages 14-20. I designed it for Asian American women as a space for dialogue about issues that they face. However, it is open to all women of various backgrounds. Right now, I have a group of girls from different backgrounds attending, which is great because it allows us all to learn from each other, and build solidarity between different communities. I held these workshops because I wanted to create an empowering place where women can view positive Asian American female role models that stand for something.
I’m also in the midst of planning the Glamourbaby Diaries speaking tour in the Spring of 2011, taking this program and compacting it into a one day event. I am excited to share this program and dialogue with future female leaders all across the U.S. next year!
AM: What does “glamourbaby” mean to you? Why that name?
RV: Ah, the term “glamourbaby.” Well, let me tell you how it came about. My friend once taped me speaking, and I kept messing up with all of these bloopers. I think I kept spitting and sounded like I had a lisp! And then I said, “Ah man, well…it’s not all glamour, baby.”
And much like most of life, it isn’t all glamour. Especially when you’re striving towards a dream, the path towards anything worth fighting for is filled with obstacles. Moreover, as an activist, there’s nothing glamorous about the injustice you witness and the disparity that you become aware of. But it’s about fighting through the struggle, embracing adversity to let it serve as a lesson of humility and perseverance, and continuing to represent something beautiful for your community. The people I consider glamourbabies are those who represent truth, love, and hope. They are influential, purposeful, visionary. They set trends and but more importantly, they set goals. They are aware of their power to inspire and act.
Read more after the jump.
In our Winter issue, we featured Indian British celebrity chef Gurpareet Bains’ new book Indian Superfood. Here, we give you a sneak peak with his recipe for his “world’s healthiest meal,” the antioxidant-rich, cancer-fighting Chicken with Blueberries and Cinnamon Curry, served on a bed of Goji Berry and Green Pea Pilau (that’s the nutritional equivalent of 49 bowls of spinach!):
"The World's Healthiest Meal" packs the punch of 49 bowls of spinach (but taste soooo much better!)
Chicken with Blueberry and Cinnamon Curry
(Serves four)
200 g fresh or frozen blueberies
20 g bunch of fresh coriander, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons grated (peeled) fresh root giner
3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
500 g low-fat Greek yogurt
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon chilli powder
500 g skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1 teaspoon garam masala
extra chopped fresh coriander, to garnish
1. In a food processor, blend together the blueberries, chopped coriander, ginger, salt and yogurt to make a puree. Set aside.
2. Place garlic into a deep saucepan with olive oil and cook over a low-medium flame until the garlic starts to turn brown — this should take no longer than one or two minutes.
3. Add turmeric, mix well and heat through for 20 seconds. Stir in cinnamon and chilli powder and cook for 20 seconds.
4. Add chicken and cook until sealed all over, stirring frequently — this should take no more than five minutes.
5. Now slowly pour the yogurt mixture into the chicken, and bring to a simmer on a low heat.
6. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes uncovered, stirring from time to time. Mix garam masala throughout. Garnish with extra coriander. Serve with Goji Berry and Green Pea Pilau (recipe below).
Goji Berry and Green Pea Pilau
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cinnamon stick
12 heaped teaspoon cumin seeds
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 carrot, grated
200 g basmati rice
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
small handful of dried goji berries
handful of green peas (fresh or frozen)
1. Pour olive oil into a deep saucepan, add cinnamon stick and cumin seeds and cook over a low-medium heat until seeds begin to pop — this should take no more than two to three minutes.
2. Add the onion and cook until soft, stirring frequently — this should take no more than five minutes.
3. As soon as onion is soft, add carrot and cook for two to three minutes, stirring frequently.
4. Place the onion mixture, rice, salt and 400 ml boiling water into a large microwaveable bowl and mix with a fork.
5. Cook uncovered in the microwave for 4 minutes (700W), 3 1/2 minutes (800W) or 3 minutes (900W).
6. Mix and microwave for another 4 minutes (700W), 3 1/2 minutes (800W) or 3 minutes (900W)
7. Mix, cover the bowl and microwave for another 4 minutes (700W), 3 1/2 minutes (800W) or 3 minutes (900W).
8. Add goji berries and peas on top of the rice and and let stand covered for 10 minutes.
9. Fluff the pilau with a fork, and serve.
Recipes courtesy of Indian Superfood.
We featured Kelly Choi in our Winter 2010-11 issue. Here’s more of our conversation with the Top Chef Masters host.
Audrey Magazine: How did you end up on TV doing a restaurant show in the first place?
Kelly Choi: I started doing Secrets of New York [a show that explores interesting sites in New York City on NYC TV after Columbia Journalism School]. People at [NYC TV] knew I was just really into food, and asked me to create my own restaurant show, which is how Eat Out NY [which involves Choi spending time in a restaurant’s kitchen learning the chef’s recipes] was born.
AM: Where did your interest in a restaurant show come from?
KC: Growing up in a grocery store, really, and just loving food. My dad was always really into food, and I take after him quite a bit. My dad didn’t cook; my mom cooked. But my dad was very into the culinary arts, and arts in general. He was always the one who’s got to sit at the table and tell my mom what was wrong with the food and what was good.
I have very distinct memories of getting food from our store and bringing it home and pretending like I was cooking. I didn’t know anything about cooking American food, but I knew that I wanted to quote-unquote cook. So I would open up all these cans of stuff and then heat up beans and get mashed potato flakes and read the directions to try to make so-called American food. My parents were like, “Uh, uh, we don’t like this American food. We’re going to eat Korean.”
AM: But those cans of pork and beans can come in handy, though.
KC: I love pork and beans. Lots of pork and beans, lots of Spam. Best things ever (laughs).
AM: That is such a Korean household.
KC: Totally. Oh my god, I had so much junk food, you can’t even imagine.
AM: So it sounds like you were officiating food critics like you do on Top Chef Masters from an early age?
KC: [My dad] was always a critic. It’s true. I didn’t think about it that way. He was always voicing his opinion and telling my mom how she should cook [a dish]. What was wrong with it; it doesn’t have enough flavor. That’s funny.
AM: How did your mom take his criticisms?
KC: She took it all in stride (laughs).
AM: Being around so many great chefs, have you picked up a lot of culinary skills?
KC: I love to cook. I’m sure I’ve learned a lot more than I realize, just about technique and what flavor combinations could really work. And then doing my own thing, I think that’s really important, too. I think a lot of people love the idea of cooking, but sometimes they’re paralyzed by, “Oh, I don’t know what tastes good; I don’t know if I could use cayenne in a dessert.” But I think what’s important is to just make it your own and don’t feel bound by rules. I think that’s the key to good cooking; really following your palate.
AM: So have you been doing that in your own kitchen?
KC: I don’t have as much time as I’d like to. And I need a bigger kitchen. But my job every day is dealing with chefs and cooking, and I can’t get it enough of it. It’s great to be around that sort of energy and to just see people who are truly inspirational. They’re no different from an artist, it just happens their medium is food, which I adore beyond belief, too.
AM: Yeah, must be rough, getting all that attention in the kitchen with a chef and then eating?
KC: God, what a pleasure, right?! Now I’m so used to going to the back of the house with the chef that going to restaurants [to just dine] makes me antsy. I prefer to be in the middle of the action and to actually see the ingredients and touch them. That is so much more visceral, and hand-to-mouth I think really just turns me on a lot more.
– Jimmy Lee
I am obsessed with my Jellypop “Jayne” boots.
Now, I’m a super high heel girl, but let me tell you, super high heels takes it toll. The Jellypop “Jayne” boot doesn’t exactly qualify as a super high heel because, well, the heel is less than five inches. But combine that with a one-inch platform, and suddenly I possess the stature that super high heels give me without the accompanying pain. So, I’ll say it again. I’m obsessed with my Jellypop “Jayne” boots.
It’s the boot of the season apparently. Jennet Chow, founder of Jellypop shoes, says all the editors have been clamoring for the shoe. (I’ve seen it myself in several fashion magazines this season.) And Audrey has it in our Winter issue, out now.
A super comfortable, on-trend, uber cute shoe? (Did I mention how affordable it is???) It’s a part of the magic that happens at Evolution Design Lab, the head design house that conjures up the goodies from Jellypop (and sister brand Vigoss). Watch this video and I dare you not to fall in love with the brand!
On December 1, 2010 (that’s today!), along with thousands of organizations and individuals, Until There’s A Cure will observe the 22nd annual World AIDS Day. 2011 is the 30th anniversary of AIDS, and although great progress has been made in last 30 years, the challenge is far from over. World AIDS Day is an opportunity for everyone to come together and recognize our shared responsibility for helping everyone affected by AIDS.
Get Tested and Share the News — Are you Already Tested? On December 1, 2010, everyone all over the world will get together and post the day we got tested in our Facebook status. To share the news, click to “Like” Already Tested. It’s time to restart the conversation!
Be a Part of the Conversation – Today’s technology allows us to reach more individuals than ever before! Leverage these platforms to help restart the conversation about AIDS:
Make your Voice Heard — One of the most powerful things you can do, to encourage awareness and advocate, is to call or write your Congressperson voicing your support for AIDS vaccine research and care funding. Let your Senator or Representative know that you’re concerned about HIV/AIDS in the United States and around the world.
Finally! Our Winter 2010-11 Issue is out! Check out our stunning red-headed, be-freckled Asian American cover girl Angelina, luxuriating in the afterglow of the season!
Inside we’ve got all sorts of goodies for you like:
* The Green Hornet‘s Jay Chou
* YouTube mega-star Joseph Vincent
* Behind the scenes on American Idol with their resident stylist Soyon An
* More photos from Audrey’s Night Out 2010
* Escape (vicarously) to an Ayurveda spa in southern India
* Resolutions (the dating kind) for the new year
* Holiday dressing, tuxedo-style
* Cozy knits and rapturous wraps for a winter getaway
* Luxe beauty products
* Plus films, TV, books, music, food, travel and all the stories that matter to you!
Get Audrey Magazine now!
Last week, the red carpet screening for The Warrior’s Way starring Korean superstar Jang Dong Gun was held in Los Angeles’ CGV Theaters. Check out the photos here:
Korean actor Jang Dong Gun, star of The Warrior's Way, at the Los Angeles red carpet screening.
Kate Bosworth stars with Jang Dong Gun in The Warrior's Way.
Danny Huston plays the villianous Colonel in The Warrior's Way.
Director Sngmoo Lee.
Producer Barrie M. Osbourne.
Korean pop star Brian Joo.
MTV Asia VJ Max Loong.
Jang Dong Gun.
And one last shot, just for all you JDG fans.
The Warrior’s Way is out in theaters now. Check local listings. To watch the trailer, click here.
Check out Audrey’s red carpet coverage of the film below:
Photos by Audrey Cho. Video by Kelly Li and Allen Lee
