Expo West 2011

This past weekend was the big natural products convention Expo West at the Anaheim Convention Center.  For 6 years, I have been braving the crowds, getting goodies and seeing lots of new items that will be making their way into you local natural/alt grocery store. Here are the my faves, tips and other things that I have noticed at the show (in addition to some items we will carry in the shop soon)!

FAVES:

• BEST OF SHOW: the Ecotensil: a biodegradable, foldable spoon that is seriously brilliant...already vendors at EW are using them. Mark my word, you will see this somewhere within the year.

• mushroom kits: you know i am all about the mushies in the Apartment Homestead...well they are now coming to our shop! In a few weeks you can buy your own mushroom growing kits!! Made from old coffee grounds and in recycled packaging, after you grow you mushies-the whole thing composts!  Give it a few weeks but they will be in the shop very soon.
• Fentimans: this soda company has FABULOUS "tonics" seville/mandarin orange or burdock/dandelion brews anyone??-very yummy!
• Dehydrators, yogurt makers and more: found a local carrier of cool dehydrators, soymilk makers and this cool grain/bean cooker...all coming soon!
• awesome kitchen gear: i found this incredible sponge maker AND we will be getting dehydrators, grain mills and cookers in the next few months-LOVED it!

• prickly pear juice: LOVED this and uber yummy.
• Fresh Ginger Ale: had a great talk with owner Bruce Cost who seems to be totally into all things ginger-i want his book!

TRENDS:

• love more culture: there was a great collection of products from Mexico as well as more Korean-grouped booths...lots of global!

• salts n/ spice: a number of salts of all different flavors (see a fave above) and more spices coming out.
• probiotics and more cultures: greek yogurt is happening along with kefir...i am sure there is more on the supplement area, but i didnt make it to that area.
• agave: you are going to see a lot of agave!
• *NEW* you are kind of an a$$: Giovanni Cosmetics-after watching a staff person give out a number of samples to an exhibitor, I asked if I (a buyer, who is a fan, recommends and buys from) could have a sample of something new or a shampoo (which I now USED TO LOVE). I basically had to give an interview deeming myself a small 2" sample. I left before i could get it. Sorry Giovanni, you just lost a fan-DOUCHES.

and finally, for those who want to go in 2012...

TIPS:

• if you can, take a taxi to the show, especially if you have a group of people. Meet somewhere where you have free parking or you can even meet at the parking next to our shop, we are SUPER close to the convention. you will save yourself waiting in massive traffic for parking, paying for parking and saving your feet because you will be doing lots of walking! if you split the cab with 3+ people, you spend about $10 round trip, less if you have more people.
• speaking of walking: this isn't a fashion show, leave the heels at home!
• the outer part of the convention (the booths against the walls and the first few isles/booths in) is where you will see the "new" people who are just starting out...lots of good stuff here. also....
• the lower level of the convention: is where you will see all the indie and really new peeps-VERY MUCH worth it.  

 other great finds:

(BEST BOOTH and ATTITUDE: Hugo Naturals )

(local chica Deanna with Simple Peace making a debut)

(at the same booth were this wooden ties)

(zero cal, vegan, gluten-free and shelf stabilized noodles)

Dear Santa....

Leave it to a work-a-holic to see Christmas and New Year's as a to-do list.
I am not sorry about though, New Year's is all about planning and seeing what i want to do in the coming year and Christmas is asking for things so i can do some of that stuff after New Year's...makes sense to me!

(KitchenAid mixy-do)-i want to make more bread.

(pasta do-hicky)-see bread reason

(juicer-deal)-i have been wanting one of these for years, we juice dozens of citrus a week, can you believe we do this all by hand??

(cheese making stuff)-i have been making simple cheeses but now its time to really make some cheese!!

(shoes)-i love these super cute Coach shoes...yes i know they are leather but i wear these things for YEARS and they look good with just about everything. they kind of remind me of school teacher shoes.

(Cuisinart)-i have had a blender/cuisinart deal for 10 years, and it is so beyond getto that i have to put a pillow over it when i turn it on-it is that loud. time for a new one (i am really hoping for this, i cannot bear to make pesto in that thing again).

(book)-Cory, who teaches the bread classes here at the shop brought this book over a while ago-it has EVERYTHING that you need to know about food, a total encyclopedia and is great for further learning.

(little table)-Coleman makes these UBER-cute tables that pack into a suitcase, perfect for the Jam Van (wait i havent even talked about that have i??)

i also want more ceramic classes-wait i haven't talked about that either...eek, i know i have been behind on the posts...how do you get a Christmas gift for doing more blog posts??

cleaning the tub-what works

so with everything else that is going on, we still have to do regular house-stuff...the one thing i normally argue about is the dang tub...who wants to clean it-yeah, not me!
Santa Ana has some serious hard-water and "OCD-delilah" wants it UBER-clean, military-style to be exact. only problem is that when you want to get rid of the "gunky" stuff, you might have to resort to foul smelling nastiness...do you really want that going into our water-no thank you!
here are some of the things i use to have a happy, healthy and above CLEAN tub:

Ecover: LOVE this company-nothing beats them, their limescale remover is the best thing out and really does work.

scrubbing items: seriously and old toothbrush does the trick-it gets the small spots and you are recycling! i also use walnut sponges from Natural Value...we usually sell them and i must say people order them by the case-they are that good!

ZIP-IT: use this regularly this cheap and tiny gizmo gets the gross stuff that can cause a serious drain problem before it event thinks of happening. SO WORTH the few bucks (we sell em too but so does your local hardware store).

AFM Safecoat: cannot say enough about this pioneering company that was one of the first to create low/zero-odor products-get their grout sealer- it will help if the grout wasn't sealed before and can save you scrub time.

Cream Scrubs: Ecover makes some great cream scrubs that are great for the tub itself...or make it yourself.  here's a great recipe from Natural Home Magazine (love!)

• 1 cup baking soda, in a medium sized mixing bowl
• 1/2 cup liquid castile soap
• 5-10 drops of antibacterial essential oil, such as lavender, tea tree or rosemary 
• mix everything until it makes a nice paste, make a bunch for later and use water to re-hydrate the mixture

PS: a little spray bottle of water and tea tree oil is great to freshen the tub and to keep it anti fungal.

IKEA goodness

love me some IKEA.  as far as big-box retailers, they seem to be the best one out there-they treat the employees pretty well, quit on the formaldehyde years ago, recycle and were one of the first big-guys that started charging for bags (should have been $1 though, not $0.05).  i always suggest my customers to go there if on a tight budget (just dont over-do it, too much IKEA is well, too much IKEA-you gotta mix it with other stuff).
when i first opened the store and was doing a majority of the build-out (about 8 months), i spent a good amount of time there (that and the Depot, salvage yards & flea markets) ...i was quite familiar with the products.  over the years i only go a few times and up until last week when i had to pick up another coffee press.

again, IKEA has come out with some pretty neat items, great for the person with a small space or a little imagination.

BYGEL- magnetic knife rack: i have a larger version of this at home for all of my knives, but i HAD to get this cuter, small version and at $2.50 (you get 2 of them), i figured that i could find something to do with them.  i actually used them to hold larger scissors that could not fit in the drawer!

KROGEN- pot hangie thing: huge fan of these, but unless you score on one at a flea/yard sale, they can be costly.  This version is only $25 and attaches to the ceiling.

BEKVAM-spice rack: yes pretty ordinary, but with some cute bright color this could be super cute and it was only $4!

GLASORT KULLE-bedding:  i just thought this we super inspirational to make as a quilt or wall hanging yourself

OSTLIG-plant helper: always expanding on the garden supplies, this trellis is a heck of a lot prettier than the traditional ones...very English garden!

HAVET-chair/bed deal: this is a great idea and so perfect for the person who has zero room, but might have company. what i love most is that it has wheels so you can move it around anywhere...awesome for the loft or bachie-pad, make your own cover from an extra sheet set that you can use with the bed conversion and you dont even have to clean up as quickly when guests leave!- 250 is not really that bad when you think of how many things this can be (mobile comfy chair, bed, and a long bench...even in a pinch a couch if up against a wall with big comfy pillows!)

dont get me started on AS-IS section-LOTS of ideas there!

FAWUNK! Ball & i celebrate 125 years

in case you didn't know, this year is the 125th anniversary of the Ball Brand-you know the folks who make most of the canning jars we see (there is also Kerr, but i think Ball owns them now).
anyways, to celebrate the anniversary, they put out a collectors jar-a 1-GALLON jar.
Ernie so generously gave me one a few months back, but i keep thinking about all the things i can put into them-but i only have one!
someone got me a present yesterday-i got 2 whole cases-8 jars!!  check-check it out yo!

totally cute right? they dont close like normal jars with a ring and lid, but the top is one whole piece that vacuum seal-i love them!!
today i am going to make a batch of vinegar and kombucha to celebrate!  and guess where they are going to be hanging out!

must...have...these...jars....

I just recently found these super cute canning jars from Weck....i know i am probably the last person to find about about this company, but i literally feel like a kid staring at the computer screen thinking about how cute these would look with yummy preserves in them!
again my birthday is in May, so there is plenty of time to to order a case-if you do i will give you a jar back with something yummy for you...


i love these for even refrigeration storage, very Parisian country! they even have adorable juice containers.

if you want to get me something....

i just found these super adorable iPod dock chargers from Woodtec.

perfect for the techie in your family or the modern-hippie.
and my personal favorite:

gardening for the small space dweller-Harvest to Home

(awesome window display right?)

i just recently had the pleasure of meeting local garden entrepreneur Mike Saraylian who found me from customer recommendations saying that we should meet.
we instantaneously hit it off- not only being small business owners, OC natives, but have a passion for food and growing things.

(stands are optional, you can have them on the ground)(Mike watering the garden)

Mike owns the business Harvest to Home, a service that brings small hydroponic food gardens to people who either have very little room to grow food, or they lack the proverbial "green thumb". Simply pick which season goods you want to grow and Mike comes by with your little garden installed and you only have to water every few days. after 4 months of eating your bounty, simply return the box or choose the next set of food you want to grow and start again. easy?-YES, affordable?-YES, good for apartments/condos?-YES, eat better?-YES...what are you waiting for?-BEATS ME.
just last week, Mike came in and installed 3 boxes, we are so happy to be selling these wonderful garden gadgets! the best thing is that you only need to water every few days and into this small tube that irrigates your garden...think hydroponics.

if you want to see more, come by the store or visit Mike and his business here.

next time it rains...no this is not about snails

today i met our latest intern Corissa who is going to work on special projects at the store as well as being my main assistant with Patchwork. i am super excited to work with her, not only is she a ceramic artist, but she is already hip to some of the products we carry (Klean Kanteens, bamboo kitchen items, To-Go Ware lunch containers, blah, blah)-she knows it!

one thing she showed me that i didn't know about was this new umbrella from Totes called the Eco'brella.

as far as umbrellas go, this one is pretty on it: 100% recycled PET canopy, 70% metal frame and a bamboo base...i can't think of anything more.

(Corissa modeling the Eco'brella)

(just in case you forget-70% recycled)

I really love this idea, i am just a little weary about buying them for a store where it rains every 6 months...but a few never hurt anyone.

enamel cast iron alternatives-Greenpots

i can fair very well in my shoebox kitchen with my small, budget friendly supplies and equipment...that is a the whole point of this blog-doing it small-scale, on the cheap and consciously.
but that doesn't mean a girl can't dream. in my dream kitchen, there a just a few things that i would LOVE to have (or have the room for): Vita-mix, food mill (soon!), a commercial oven, a huge antique prep counter and Le Creuset cookware.
Le Creuset, a french company has been making porcelain cast iron cookware since 1925, and if you are familiar with them, you are first familiar with their high price tag ($200 + for a dutch oven, for starters). but they are great for cooking and look absolutely beautiful. now don't get me wrong, i am still an advent follower of using La Chamba cookware, which i will talk about in detail in future CSA cooking, but one really can't beat the heavy bottom of these cast iron beauties for making candy and other treats, plus...well yes, they are gorgeous.
i was lucky enough to find one at the 127 yard sale, albeit a SMALL one but for only $5, it was the score of a lifetime, but recently a friend (who knows i have been oogling her Le Creuset wedding gift) sent me a link to a new company Greenpots, who are making affordable versions.

(7 1/2 qt. at $128)

(7 1/4 qt. at $310)

looks the same right. well they are except that one is 1/2 the price and not made in France. if you are not into brands i would consider getting one.
PS. my birthday is May 5th.