Peacekeeper Truth Serum Blog

Thanksgiving is fast approaching!  In just three short days, the aromas of comfort food will waft through homes all over the country. As friends and families join together to celebrate their lives over good food, they spend that time thinking about what they are thankful for.

What are you thankful for this year?  A caring family?  Friends?  The roof over your head?  Your freedom?

While turkey is the traditional centerpiece to the dinner, a dinner free of meat is becoming more accepted.  This recipe for Squash Tart is earthy, hearty, and healthy—the perfect meat-free entrée!  What are some of your Vegetarian/Vegan replacement ideas for the turkey?

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate all the good things in your life. How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?  A quiet family dinner?  An extravagant potluck?  Do you eat out instead of cooking?  Volunteering in a kitchen for the homeless?

We’ll leave you with some of our cosmetic picks for Thanksgiving dinner:

1.        Try PeaceKeeper’s Fairness Lip Gloss for a light gold shimmer that will sparkle over a candlelit dinner.

2.       PeaceKeeper’s Paint Me Compassionate Lipstick is a bold color that will bring the focus to more than the sweet potatoes and stuffing!

3.       For a soft, effortless way to brighten your look, try PeaceKeeper’s Paint Me Loving Lipstick.

Tell us about your Thanksgiving by leaving a comment below!

With Love,

The PeaceKeeper Team

(Writer:  Renee Estey.  Editor:  Jessica Smith.  For more information about PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics, visit www.iamapeacekeeper.com.)

On Wednesday, November 17, the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that pushed for the closing of the wage gap between genders, failed to pass the Senate with a vote of 58-41.

While the House of Representatives voted in favor of the act two years ago, the Senate has refused to push it through. “This was a missed opportunity to make history and jumpstart real economic change for American women and their families,” stated AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman (Equal Pay New York).

These days, with the economy being what it is, many families rely on a woman’s income just as much as a man’s; however, the average woman makes $.77 cents to the dollar that an equally educated man makes for the same work.  Statistics show that the wage gap costs an average American woman $500,000-$1,000,000 over her lifetime.

The Paycheck Fairness Act, in closing the wage gap, would have not only been a watershed victory for women all over the country; it would have helped impoverished families afford the necessities of life that they deserve. With the failure of the Act, however, loopholes in the original Equal Pay Act of 1963 will still allow employers to pay their workers unfairly based on gender, race, or creed and that employees will still be intimidated by their companies into staying silent about their wages—both of which the Act sought to eliminate.

Hilda Solis, Secretary of Labor, stated that her department will “redouble its efforts to ensure America’s women are not treated as second class citizens by employers who refuse to compensate them in a fair and equitable manner.” (EPNY)

We at PeaceKeeper find the failure of the Paycheck Fairness Act unfortunate and unfair. We are thankful for the acknowledgement the Act has received and the many brave men and women who supported its passing.  Hopefully one day this Act can be passed, but until then we need to be grateful for what we have and hope that things will change for women in the future.

One of these days, women will be acknowledged as equal to men in the eyes of the American government.  Until then, we will continue to fight for a woman’s right to equal pay. We need to keep spreading awareness and fighting for equal pay and no discrimination!

With Love,

The PeaceKeeper Team

(Writer:  Renee Estey.  Editor:  Jessica Smith.

For more information about PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics, visit www.iamapeacekeeper.com.)

This week, we’re giving the PeaceKeeper Kiss Of Approval to Prada for their new “Made In” series! The luxury brand has created four capsule collections from four different cultures, teaming up with their native producers and using their regional skills, materials, and techniques–luxury items made by locally sourced artisans. It is a statement against ‘fast, mass-produced, globalized fashion’.

Scroll down for a preview of each collection!

Prada Made in Scotland is a collection of tartan wool kilts from United Kingdom workshops. The kilts are made from traditional manufacturing and weaving techniques.

Prada Made in India features gorgeous handmade shoes and handbags (pictured above) crafted in Chikan workshops in India (Chikan is the most ancient Indian embroidery).

Prada Made in Japan features premium denim produced by Dova, a leading denim manufacturer. The jeans have four varieties of cloth and seven washes and can be custom ordered.  (P.S.  If the insides of the jeans look this cute–check out those embroidered pockets–we can only imagine how cute the outsides will be!)

Prada Made in Peru uses Alpaca wool knitwear from traditional workshops in Peru.

The collection has been slowly but surely making its way into Prada boutiques, and is scheduled to officially launch in 2011.  We at PeaceKeeper think this collection is so cute that we want to take a stroll around the style globe ourselves!  What do you think?  Leave a comment below!

With Love,

The PeaceKeeper Team

(Writer:  Renee Estey.  Editor:  Jessica Smith.  Pictures courtesy Fabsugar.

For more information about PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics, visit www.iamapeacekeeper.com.)

In 1963 Congress passed the Equal Pay Act so that women and men were ensured the same pay rate for the same work; however, almost 50 years later, women are still making 76 cents to every dollar made by a man. The Paycheck Fairness Act was introduced in January 2009 by then-Senator Hillary Clinton and Representative Rosa Delauro to eliminate loopholes in the Equal Pay Act—and to eliminate the wage gap between genders.

 In January 2009, the Paycheck Fairness Act passed in the House of Representatives,  but not through the Senate.  On Wednesday, November 17, the Senate will vote again on this historic bill.

              We at PeaceKeeper are asking you to join us in telling the Senate to “Vote YES!” on the Paycheck Fairness Act.  Because of the pay gap, working women can lose up to one million dollars of hard-earned wages.  The average working woman in America loses $500,000-$1,000,000 over her entire lifetime;  that’s money that could feed an entire family for years, all lost because of wage discrimination.  In the new economy, the woman’s income has become as important as the man’s; without that extra money, entire families are suffering.

With the Fairness Act, corporate pay loopholes will disappear and businesses will need a legitimate reason for paying women less than men. The act will also stop employers from intimidating their employees into staying silent about their wages, so that female workers will understand how their pay corresponds to their fellow employees without fear of losing their jobs.

Here’s what YOU can do to support the Paycheck Fairness Act:

–Sign this petition to tell Congress to make the Paycheck Fairness Act a law!

–You can research more about equal pay advocacy by using this handy Equal Pay Toolkit.

–In support of the Paycheck Fairness Act, Peacekeeper has launched a light golden “Fairness Gloss,” which is perfect for all skin types.  Your purchase is donated to groups for equal pay advocacy!

–Since the Act will take effect 6 months after it passes, you can act now to start your workplace moving in the right direction!  Visit PeaceKeeper’s Paycheck Fairness Act page to find out more about the Act, how to research your fair wage, and more!

              What are some of your experiences with the wage gap?  Have you been a victim of pay discrimination?  Let PeaceKeeper know in the comments section below!

With Love,

The PeaceKeeper Team

(Writer:  Renee Estey.  Editor:  Jessica Smith. 

For more information about PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics, visit www.iamapeacekeeper.com.)

A dress from eco-friendly designer Edun, on display at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Are you interested in the history of eco-friendly fashion?  Then you should run, not walk, to Eco- Fashion: Going Green, an exhibit organized by Jennifer Farley and Colleen Hill, is coming to an end at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. The exhibition, which explores fashion’s relationship with the environment, ends on November 13, 2010. So get there before it’s over!

The exhibition features over 100 garments, accessories, and textiles from the mid 18^th century to the present– over 250 years of fashion! It examines positive and negative environmental practices over the last two centuries to showcase how our views on fashion in relation to the environment change.

A dress circa 1940, on display this week at Eco-Fashion: Going Green.

The six major themes of Eco-fashion: Going Green are the repurposing and recycling of materials, material origins, textile dyeing and production, quality of craftsmanship, labor practices, and the treatment of animals. Each of the garments and other objects will reflect at least one of these themes. Through these themes and the range of examples, the exhibition will illustrate the increasing commitment of designers and consumers to meet these environmental challenges.

A silk brocade gown from 1760, the earliest object in the exhibit, will be the starting point. In the eighteenth-century, silk was woven on hand looms, which then made it costly and difficult to manufacture, resulting in silk’s high status. The display of “two dresses from circa 1820 will emphasize the effects of cotton growing on soil and water, as well as the 20^th century’s introduction to harmful pesticides and chemical fertilizers.  Also on display is a green silk dress from 1860 with a dye that used arsenic, which caused severe health issues among the general public (shown below):

The exhibit also incorporates fashion from contemporary designers such as Edun, Linda Loudermilk, and Charmone, among others (check out PeaceKeeper’s blog post about Linda Loudermilk HERE). For more information, check out FIT’s website.

The museum is located at the Fashion Institute of Technology, at the intersection of 7^th Avenue and 27^th Street, NYC.  Hours are from noon-8pm on Tuesday-Friday and 10am-5pm on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Please educate and inspire yourself by checking out the exhibit before it closes! Take some friends and tell us what you think.

With Love,

The PeaceKeeper Team

(Writer:  Renee Estey.  Editor:  Jessica Smith.  Pictures courtesy FIT.

For more information about PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics, visit www.iamapeacekeeper.com.)

In the spirit of Vegan Month, we at PeaceKeeper aren’t just limiting our meat and dairy intake—we’re keeping it off our shoes too!  Our latest shoe addiction are the brightly colored, eco-friendly ballet flats from Extraseed Shoes, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Ballet flats are a timeless classic, perfect for the chic urban girl on the go, and these joyous pairs are the perfect pop of color amidst a sea of black and brown boots.

Extraseed Shoes travel thousands of miles to get to you, but the shoes are beautiful and custom made to your foot size; just send out your measurements!   They are unique and beautiful flats “built with longevity and style in mind”; the soles are made from recycled car tire rubber, and used scraps of fabric (considered waste in garment factories) are used for the uppers.

These eco-friendly satin shoes are a PeaceKeeper favorite–perfect for the office or a Girls’ Night Out!  Made from new scrap satin fabric, faux leather, and recycled car tire rubber.  (The plaid pair at the top of this post can be found here).

Vegan linen shoes are the perfect way to stay eco-chic in the summer!  Try these out with a pair of black shorts and a white t-shirt as a stylish alternative to flip-flops.

These shoes are affordable, too- most styles range from $38-$55, well worth it for comfort, style, and sustainability. Visit Extraseed’s Etsy page for more of their excellent flats!

What’s your favorite Extraseed shoe?  Leave a comment below!

With Love,

The PeaceKeeper Team

(Writer:  Renee Estey.  Editor:  Jessica Smith.  Pictures courtesy Extraseed.

For more information about PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics, visit www.iamapeacekeeper.com.)

November marks the start of Vegan Month 2010! It’s a chance for all the vegans out there to prove to their meat-eating, cheese-loving, butter-spreading friends that there are many ways to enjoy delicious food without being cruel to our bodies, animals, or the environment—and if you’ve ever been curious, it’s the best time to get yourself started on a vegan diet!

The easiest way to ease yourself into eating vegan is to get your hands on some tasty autumn vegetables!  Try adding squash, dark leafy greens, cauliflower, broccoli, or sweet potatoes to your daily diet.  Add fruits like apples, pears, cherries, cranberries, figs, and dates for a meal that will fill you up with hearty fall flavor—without a hint of meat or dairy!

For a main dish, try this recipe for Butternut Squash Pie.  It has egg and Parmesan cheese, but those are easily replaceable—for eggs, you can try silken tofu, bananas, or even applesauce!  For the Parmesan, you can try out this substitute, made from organic walnuts and sea salt.  To make it a true vegan masterpiece, try adding some herbs and garlic for that perfect flavor ‘kick’.

If you can’t live without your sugar fix, it’s easy to vegan-ize some of your favorite classic fall deserts like apple pie and pumpkin pie just by switching out some of the ingredients (see above for eggs!).  So long as you keep the signature fall spices like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice, your non-vegan friends won’t know the difference!  This Easy Vegan Pumpkin Pie recipe is a great starter recipe for the amateur vegan cook.  (The recipe for those mouthwatering cupcakes at the top of this post?  You can find it here.)

Veganism is not for everyone, so we’re not telling you to drop all eggs and milk immediately.  But adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet supplies you with nutrients like vitamin A, calcium, iron, and fiber—without the extra fats and empty calories you get from meat and dairy. Also, eating vegan is not only healthy for your body, but healthy for the environment too—since you’re not eating as many animal products, you’re not contributing to animal cruelty!

Experiment with old recipes and make them new, or look for something completely unusual.  Taking the small steps to add vegan dishes into your diet goes a long way to protecting your health and our planet.

What are some of your favorite Vegan dishes?  Leave a comment below!

With Love,

The PeaceKeeper Team

(Writer:  Renee Estey.  Editor:  Jessica Smith.  Pictures courtesy Whole Foods Market and Vegtimes.

For more information about PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics, visit www.iamapeacekeeper.com.)