I pretty much love the new album from Gorillaz not only because it has killer tracks, but because the whole theme of the album is to help raise awareness about how plastics are destroying our oceans.

With the wonderful news on NPR that the Plastiki completed their epic journey across the Pacific to do the same, I figured it was more than fitting that I bring the album to your attention.

So while you are jamming to Gorillaz as you whip up your Stacked Vegetable Torte, shake it a little harder for the crew of the Plastiki and their totally bad ass effort to help make a change. And don’t forget to bring your bag to the store!

Richard Diebenkorn, 1922-1993
Berkeley No. 3, 1954
Oil on Canvas, 58 x 72 inches
Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco
American Abstract Expressionist

Jason Middlebrook, b. 1966
From the “Live with Less” Exhibit
Albany, New York
American Sculptor and Artist

On behalf of the Jones Center for Contemporary Arts, I would like to introduce you to the artist, Jason Middlebrook. Mr. Middlebrook has been hand picked by Arthouse to be the featured artist for their inaugural exhibit, More Art About Buildings and Food as they unveil their newly remodeled space in downtown Austin.

Jason Middlebrook, b. 1966
Cast Concrete Plastic Bottles 2, 2008
Various Dimensions
American Sculptor and Artist

Based in Hudson, New York, Middlebrook’s work has been striking major chords throughout the US and Europe for very good reason. His large scale installations boast compositions assembled entirely from found and recycled objects to thematically explore over consumption and the points at which nature and culture collide.

For the November 20th event, Mr. Middlebrook will be taking the patrons and art lovers back to their bedrock, both philosophically and literally, by hosting a communal potluck dinner where the table and chairs will be fabricated from the detritus of the demolition from the former museum and the menu will be comprised of recipes provided by YOU!

Since the link has just been made that the by products of plastic are one of the leading causes of auto-immune disorders including ADD, ADHD, autism and celiac disease, when I was asked to help support Mr. Middlebrook by asking my readers to submit their favorite gluten free recipes, how could I possibly say no? How can any of us?

Detail of Cast Concrete Plastic Bottles 2, 2008

For submission details, please see my “Living” section.

My new favorite product? Formaticum Cheese Paper. If you love cheese and are fed up with getting those carefully chosen wedges of heaven home only to see them spoil in the non-porous plastic they are typically sold in, then this is your new salvation. Formulated to imitate the environment of a cheese cave, this paper allows your cheese to stay alive.

I am happy to report that Formaticum is everything it claims to be and I highly recommend you all experience this fabulous new product. My cheese has been living happily in my fridge for the last month. This equals tremendous savings, y’all. Cheese can cost ya.

Most importantly, though, I highly respect the company that produces Formaticum because they are environmentally conscious. There is a very thin veil of plastic on the inside of the paper, but it is made of low-density polyethylene that DOES NOT contain the harmful PVC plasticizers that make normal plastic wrap stretchy and extremely toxic.

“In the case of food, research has proven that plasticizers are easily absorbed by fatty foods, such as cheese. Phthalates mimic human hormones and research has proven they disrupt the nervous system. Another concern for the use of PVC are dioxins that are a byproduct of the manufacturing process and are also released if or when it is incinerated. Dioxins pose such a great health risk because they persist in the environment for long periods of time and travel long distances easily. Dioxins have been linked to immune system suppression, reproductive disorders, and a variety of cancers.“

(Immune system suppression = ADD, ADHD, autism, and celiac disease)

You can easily peel this layer of plastic off and recycle it along with the kraft paper, making it a money and a planet saver.

Formaticum also sells a cellophane derived from wood-based cellulose fibers and is 100% biodegradable.

Upon discovering and using my new celiac-friendly Formaticum cheese paper, I can attest that it is a very well thought out, impressive product that was founded on the respect of both the artisans that produce the lovely cheeses of the world and the preservation of the environment. I’m placing my order for the cellophane now…

Tip: I even bring my Formaticum with me to the store and have the cheesmonger slice me fresh wedges of cheese so that the pieces I purchase go right into the dioxin free wrapping.

Try it! It’s really fun because you get to know your cheesemonger (thanks Mehdi and Kelly!) and you’ll feel very European in the process.

Vincent van Gough, 1853-1890
Bridge in the Rain, After Hiroshige, 1887
Oil on Canvas, 73 x 54 cm
Van Gough Museum, Amsterdam
Dutch Post-Impressionist

Hello Ladies! I am very proud to announce that Blackbird Bakery had joined forces with Mario Badescu to guide you through an all natural gluten free at home facial!

At last, you can pamper yourself without the worry!

As you all know, when it comes to our beauty products, what they are made of is just as important as the foods we eat. Our skin is the largest organ on our bodies and it is also the most porous, so the products we apply to our skin are immediately absorbed directly into our bodies. This means that if you are living the gluten free lifestyle, the beauty products you choose are crucial.

When I initiated my beauty product research, I started with the basics: cleansers, toners, moisturizers and eye creams. I began with products that I already used and branched out from there. As I explored other natural or holistic brands, some would have one or two nice products while others would have none, so it didn’t take me long to narrow the playing field. I kept coming back to Mario Badescu because all of the MB products I have ever used have been consistently phenomenal and, most importantly, gluten free. Yes, ladies, Mario Badescu has a bevy of beauty products that are gluten free, including the Glycolic Foaming Face Wash, the AHA and Ceramide Moisturizer, and the Hyaluronic Eye Cream, which I use daily.

After reading their labels’ ingredients list, the reason why their products are so good became very clear: because they are loaded with fresh fruits, botanicals, and naturally occurring vitamins and minerals rather than a laundry list of chemical compounds that you can’t even pronounce.

Then I really got to thinking.

What about facials? For those of us living the gluten free lifestyle, we can’t just go out to our favorite spa and get a facial like everybody else. Why? Because nearly all the masks that are used during a facial are riddled with gluten based ingredients.

Well fear not, my gluten free friends! Mario Badescu has customized this guided gluten free facial specifically for you!

To begin, take a nice hot shower, which will have the same, if not better, effect on your skin as having steam applied.

Bundle your hair up into a towel turban and wrap yourself in your favorite robe. Gently dry your face and neck.

Cleansing Milk with Carnation and Rice Oil

This creamy hydrating wipe of cleanser is a gentle way to purify skin and dissolve dirt and makeup. The rice oil is rich in reparative Vitamins E and F and helps promote collagen formation.

Using a small circular motion, massage the Cleansing Milk all over your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Wipe clean with a damp, warm washcloth. Pat your face and neck dry. Rinse your washcloth.

Rolling Peel Cream with A.H.A.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid (A.H.A.): Powerful, naturally occurring exfoliator-present in orange, papaya, grapefruit, lemon, strawberry, raspberry, and peach-helps smooth and soften the skin by gently sloughing away dry surface cells.

This granule free exfoliating cream will remove dead surface cells with A.H.A’s like peach extract and lactic acid. It also contains carrot extract, shea butter, and Vitamin E.

Next, apply a thin, even layer of the Rolling Peel Cream to your face and neck, again, avoiding the eye area. Allow to dry for about a minute. Lean over you sink a bit and using the same circular motion, begin rubbing the cream until it begins to ball up and peel off, removing dead skin cells, dirt and oil.

Seaweed Cleansing Lotion

Seaweed is extremely mineral rich and thanks to its sulfur amino acid content, it also has anti-inflammatory and disinfecting properties. The soothing aloe and mild Witch Hazel help restore balance.

Apply the Seaweed Cleansing Lotion to a corner of your washcloth and then wipe your face and neck with it to remove any remaining peel and tone the skin at the same time, preparing it for the moisturizer.

Ceremide Eye Gel

Ceramides: lipid molecules found in cell membranes that also function as signaling molecules, promoting cell regeneration.

Pat a small amount of the eye gel around the eye area.

Can be used day or night and for a super enjoyable treat: Refrigerate before using to deflate puffiness. Ideal for after a long night…

Buttermilk Lotion with A.H.A.

Lactic acid is the rejuvenating AHA in this absorbent and soothing lightweight moisturizer for combination skin. Formulated with non-pore clogging carnation oil and allantoin, an anti-inflammatory, botanical ingredient.

Gently massage the Buttermilk lotion all over your face and neck.

I did the treatment over the weekend and I was so impressed with how smooth and radiant my skin looked, I honestly felt and looked like I had just returned from a professional treatment. All I can say is my skin was so luminous I hardly had to wear any makeup and that, to me, is the hallmark of an exceptional facial.

The greatest part of it all? For the price of a single spa facial ($81.00), you get five products that will give you at least TEN at home treatments, leaving you with over $700.00 to spend on any number of other fabulous gluten free moments.

ENJOY!

To place an order for your first gluten free facial, go to Mario Badescu and let them know that Blackbird sent ya.

Sandro Boticelli a.ka. “The Little Barrel,” 1445-1510
Nascita di Venere or The Birth Of Venus, 1485
Galleria Uffizi, Florence Italy
Florentine Renaissance Painter

I just got the latest album from The Black Keys and all I can say they have done it again! Polished to a high gloss in their signature gritty rock-alt blues inspired style, coupled with Dan Auerbach’s haunting lyrics, this album will make your heart ache for at least one of the fleeting moments conveyed on it to be one you have actually gotten to experience for yourself. So fleeting, in fact, you’ll find yourself pressing play again and again.

I awoke today with track #7 building in my ears long before my alarm clock came to life.

I was at Barnes and Noble this morning for a meeting with my friend Karin to do a little research and as we were perusing the magazine rack, this gorgeous new magazine caught my eye. Not only is it exquisitely crafted and printed, it is the first magazine of it’s kind: Above is the first environmentally conscious high-end magazine whose aim is to promote beauty, in all it’s fleeting forms, to help save the planet.

“Above magazine is made by and for those who recognize that the true appeal of beautiful objects and places derives from their inherent rarity and fragility. For them, desirable often means simple rather than extravagant, and living more responsibly without succumbing to self-righteousness is one of the greatest forms of sophistication…

…We are committed to promoting an art of living that improves the environment without depriving daily life of its intrinsic pleasures…” -Nicholas Rachline, Editor

I’ve never found a magazine that was so in line with my own personal worldview, so when I read their mission statement, my head nearly exploded with familiar delight.

They also happen to have an impressively beautiful article about David de Rothschild and his mission to raise awareness of the perils of plastic clogging our oceans with his Plastiki Expedition, which Blackbird has been avidly following since their journey began- for two reasons. One, because the Plastiki opened my eyes to the severity of the plastics pollution problem and how devastating the reality of it really is, and two, because the latest research has revealed that the by-products of plastic have been linked to be the cause of celiac disease, ADD, ADHD and cancer, making the gluten free lifestyle all the more crucial, not just for me, but for everyone.

While in the Big Apple for the BEA, I had the great pleasure to meet the very clever Jake Bronstein, the inventor and owner of Buckyballs.

Invented in less than a month, quite by mistake, he explained, these 216 magnetic balls will keep you entertained for hours. If you happen to be suffering from a moment of delayed reaction, writers block or are just locked in a static stare, I strongly suggest you get yourself a set and see what small miracles you can produce. Best of all? They are definitely gluten free.

SIGG Skull Water Bottle that glows in the dark…

For those who know me best also know that I collect skull art in various forms, so it came as no surprise that I started carrying this fabulous SIGG water bottle around. Not only does the skull glow in the dark, for me, it also serves as a beacon of irony, shining a big light on the fact the use of plastics is detrimental to our health, especially those of us with celiac disease.

So in honor of Canada’s Celiac Awareness Month, go on and get yourself one of these super hip metal water bottles so you, too, can begin consuming cleaner water.

Photo by Knoxy.

An assortment of vintage and new-vintage glass food storage containers.

From left, I purchased these “vintage” glass food storage containers from the Container Store. The glass topped ones are reproductions of containers from “the original 1932 mold” and I love them! Not only do they provide a healthy and safe alternative to plastic food storage, but they stack nicely in the fridge or pantry. They are oven and microwave safe, so they are the ideal kitchen companions for reheating leftovers. The aluminum lidded cracker jar can also be found a the Container Store and I love using these to store my flours, sugars, whole nuts and dried fruits in. Plus the art deco detailing gives it a nice vintage feel, so they add a bit of style to your pantry.

The little bell shapped jar in the foreground is actually a Weck custard ramekin that doubles as an excellent food storage container and can be found at Sur La Table.

The spouted glass in the back is a vintage pharmaceutical laboratory jar from the 30’s that I found at my very favorite store in Austin, Uncommon Objects.

Photo by Knoxy.

M.C. Escher, 1898-1972
Three Spheres II 1946
Lithograph, 10 5/8 inches x 18 1/4 inches
Cordon Art B.V. Baarn, The Netherlands
Dutch Graphics Artist

We all know that eating gluten free foods is an imperative aspect of living the gluten free lifestyle, but for those of you who are newly diagnosed, it is just as important to be aware of the beauty products you are using; they too must be gluten free.

Why? Our skin is the largest and most permeable organ on the human body, so it goes without saying that the soaps and moisturizers we use should be as just as devoid of gluten as the foods we consume.

My favorite new soap? Dr. Bronner’s Organic Fairtrade Shikakai Lavender Soap. It’s 100% gluten free, 100% organic and it is packaged in a 100% recycled plastic bottle, making it 100% ideal for all us guys and dolls committed to the g-free way.

I’m extremely picky when it comes to beauty products. I detest soaps that refuse to froth because ever since I was little I always associated cleanliness with a healthy amount of bubbles. Obviously, this is a personal preference, but one I simply cannot live without. This soap really lathers up beautifully so when you wash your hands or face with the stuff, your skin feels so clean, you’ll look and smell like a lavender field in Provence, just after a spring rain.