They’re your most dependable form of transportation and the perfect excuse for buying a closet full of cute nonleather shoes. Don’t your feet deserve a special treat? A pedicure is the perfect way to show them some love and put more pep in your step. So put your feet up (literally) and give your toes some TLC with a spa-quality, at-home, cruelty-free pedicure.

What You Will Need
Pillows
A stool or chair
A clean towel
A hair dryer (optional)
A CD player and a relaxing CD (optional)
Cotton balls
Q-tips
A basin or tub
Epsom salt
Nail polish remover
Clippers
Nail file
Small brush
Cuticle treatment
Pumice footstone
Lotion
Nail polish
Search for cruelty-free products.

Procedure
Set aside approximately 45 minutes for your pedicure. Before you begin, set up a comfortable, well-lit area and gather down-free, nonshedding pillows (fluff will stick to polish) and a chair or stool to prop your feet on. Consider playing soothing music for a relaxing ambiance. Then follow the steps below:

• Fill a basin or tub with warm water. Add Epsom salts and soak your feet for 10 to 15 minutes.

• Gently pat your feet dry with a clean towel.

• Thoroughly remove any old nail polish.

• Clip your toenails straight across with clippers.

• File the toenails to smooth any rough edges.

• Gently buff and smooth your feet with a small brush. Make sure to pay special attention to your heels, the balls of your feet, and the outsides of your pinkie toes.

• Push your cuticles back with the edge of the nail file. Use a cuticle treatment if the cuticles do not push back easily.

• Exfoliate any dry skin with a foot scrub. Use a pumice stone on rough patches.

• Apply a generous amount of lotion to your feet. Gently massage it into your feet and calves.

• Wash away any excess moisturizer from your nails and then separate your toes by placing cotton between them.

• Apply one layer of base coat. Allow time for it to dry, or use a hair dryer set on low heat.

• Apply two coats of color. Use a Q-tip moistened with nail polish remover to remove any mistakes. Again, let your toes dry.

• Apply a clear top coat to add shine and to protect the color from chipping.

• Apply foot spray in order to cool and soothe fatigued, overworked feet (optional).

Tips for Happy Feet

• Don’t toast your toes! Protect them from the sun with a cruelty-free sunscreen.

• Trim your toenails straight across at least once a month.

• To give dry feet some extra lovin’, lather them up with lotion, cover them with clean cotton socks, and let them moisturize overnight.

• Now that your feet are happy and your toes are pretty from your pedicure, show them off with a pair of sexy summer sandals.

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They’re great for helping you relax or igniting some passion for a romantic rendezvous, but did you know that candles often contain ingredients that snuff out animals? Many candles are made from beeswax stolen from industrious bees’ hives, stearic acid made from tallow (a slaughterhouse product derived from beef or sheep fat), and cetyl palmitate, a waxy oil taken from sperm whales’ heads or from dolphins.

Although some paraffin candles are animal-free, they can be bad for your health and the environment. The soot given off from the burning of petroleum-based paraffin candles is essentially the same as that given off by burning diesel fuel. Fortunately, it’s now easier than ever to find or make soy candles, which burn cleaner, last longer, are better for the environment, and do not depend on killing and stealing from animals. Check out our list of compassionate candle companies, or get crafty and make your own.

These soy container candles are fun and easy to make. Get ready to let your creativity and compassion shine!

What You Will Need
• 1 pound of soy-wax flakes (found on the Internet or in local hobby shops)
• 1 mason jar or another type of decorative jar made with thick, heat-resistant glass
• 1 ounce of fragrance oil (since you won’t be adding dye to the wax, we suggest picking a scent that complements a white candle)
• 1 cotton wick (use a wick that’s attached to a metal disc)
• Scissors
• Superglue

Procedure
1. Wash and dry your glass jar completely.
2. Put a couple of drops of superglue on the bottom of the wick (metal tab), then place the metal tab at the bottom of the jar.
3. Hold the wick in place for about a minute or until the glue dries.
4. Slowly heat soy wax in a pan over medium heat until it is completely melted.
5. Remove the soy wax from the burner.
6. Stir in fragrance oil (we recommend essential oils) until it is absorbed into the soy wax.
7. Gently and slowly pour the soy-wax mixture into the jar.
8. Position the wick in the center.
9. Once the wax turns solid, trim the wick to ½ inch.
10. Light your candle and enjoy!

Find more animal-friendly candles by checking out PETA’s handy online shopping guide or shopping at the PETA Mall.

greenmgpl / cc

As spring settles in, the days get sunnier. Doesn’t it feel like it’s time to open the windows and spruce up your living space with a little spring cleaning? In these rough financial times, we’re all looking to save a little green. However, for those of us who are trying to live green and are already paying a little extra for organic foods, shelling out a little extra for greener household products might not be an option.

Here’s some good news: You can make your own cleaners for a fraction of the cost. And not only can they lift dirt and grime to leave your house sparking clean, these cleaners, with ingredients like bay leaves, lime, and peppermint, can also lift your spirits with their fragrance!

All-Purpose Cleaner
To make a simple cleaner for wiping down counter tops, sinks, and cupboards, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.

For cleaning linoleum and tile floors, place this same mixture in a bucket and dip your mop in.

Air Freshener
To get rid of unpleasant odors, leave out a halved lime (make sure that the cut side is facing upward) in a bowl of baking soda. Instead of throwing the lime and baking soda into the trash when you’re finished using them, grind them up in your garbage disposal instead to freshen the surrounding area.

If you’re a coffee drinker, don’t toss out your coffee grounds after use. Instead, put them in a bowl to absorb odors.

To keep kitchen cupboards and drawers smelling fresh, add a few dried bay leaves.

Fabric Freshener
To freshen couch cushions, use a spray bottle filled with water and two drops of an essential oil such as lemon, orange, or peppermint. Essential oils are very potent, so one or two drops is all you need. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients and mist whenever freshening is needed.

Carpet Freshener
Crush a couple of bay leaves and mix them with a bowl of baking soda. Add one to two drops of an essential oil and mix with a spoon. Sprinkle this mixture on rugs and carpets, and allow it to stand for a few minutes before you vacuum it up.

Cooktops and Ovens
For cleaning cooktops, dust with a bit of baking soda and squeeze some lime juice over it. You can use the cut lime half as a scouring tool to scrub the cooktop. Use a toothbrush to scour any hard-to-reach spots. For tough spots, make a paste out of some lime juice and baking soda, and let it sit on the problem areas for several minutes before scouring.

For ovens, make a paste out of lime juice, baking soda, and salt. Wipe out the inside of the oven with a damp sponge, then apply the paste. Allow the paste to stand for about a half-hour, then scrub it off using a scouring pad.

Hard-to-Reach Grime
Have an oddly shaped vase that you can’t seem to clean the inside of? Squeeze a drop of dish soap or some vinegar into the vase and add water along with a small amount of dried rice. Cover the top with your hand, shake and swirl the rice around, then rinse.

Be sure to check out these additional homemade-cleaner recipes.

Happy spring cleaning!

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Many people think that slow cookers are used only for meat-based dishes, but this is simply not the case! Slow cookers are a great addition to the veggie kitchen and can do so much more than make dinner. Check out these five great things about slow cookers:

1. Slow cookers help you save money by allowing you to make large quantities of food. With a slow cooker, you can prepare a big ol’ hearty stew that can last for days. You can even make your own big batches of pasta sauce to portion out and freeze for later use rather than buying commercial jars of sauce. Be sure to check out the slow cooker recipes at vegcooking.com for inspiration.

2. There is an entire cookbook devoted to cooking vegetarian with a Crock-Pot. Fresh From the Vegetarian Slow Cooker by Robin Robertson is jam-packed with 200 recipes for healthy and hearty one-pot meals.

3. Make your own infused massage oil. Why pay a lot for fancy massage oils when you can create a lovely version at home for just a few bucks? All you have to do is add about 8 ounces of olive oil and 2 ounces of dried flower petals or herbs to your slow cooker and heat on a very low setting. Dried lavender or calendula works well for this. Infused oil must be gently heated, so it is essential that you use a slow cooker that has a very low setting. Warm the oil for about two hours, and then strain it well to remove all the herb or flower particles. Allow it to cool, then use it as a moisturizer or massage oil.

4. Slow cookers help you save time. You can start your dinner in your slow cooker while you are making breakfast, and when you come home from a long day at work, your house will be filled with the aroma of a home-cooked meal. All you have to do is enjoy it!

5. Scent your home with a natural homemade simmering potpourri. Fill your slow cooker about halfway with water, and then toss in some delicious-smelling ingredients such as orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves. Warm it on a very low setting, and enjoy the comforting fragrance for hours.

Tell us about some of your favorite ways to use slow cookers!

Order vegan chocolates from PETA

Still stumped about what to get that special person in your life for Valentine’s Day? Whether you are getting a present for your SO, your BFF, or your mom, we have five quick ideas to help you get started:

1. Vegan chocolate, of course!

2. A romantic trip to a bed and breakfast

3. Cruelty-free body-care gift packs

4. A romantic vegan dinner for two (for inspiration and recipe ideas, visit the Veg Cooking blog)

5. A cute digital photo frame with your fave photos

P.S. If your dog or kitty happens to be your Valentine, make them some yummy treats or toys to show your love.

Help inspire others by sharing your Valentine’s Day gift ideas with us!

Feeling a little “fa-la-la-la-blah” after a busy and stressful holiday season? Then rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit with a little post-holiday pampering. It’s easy to recreate many of your favorite spa treatments in the privacy of your own home, for a fraction of the price, and on your own schedule—no appointment necessary! Plus, everybunny can relax because the products that we have planned for your use are cruelty-free!

Ready to set up your home-spa sanctuary? You will need to create two areas: Your bathroom will become your “treatment room,” and your patio, bedroom, or living room will become your “quiet room,” where you can relax after your treatment. Clear away any clutter that will prevent you from relaxing and focusing on your spa experience. Stash your hair products and makeup under the counter. Supply your bathroom with plenty of fresh towels, and make yourself a pitcher of “spa water”—ice water with sliced lemons or oranges and cucumbers. You’ll need this to rehydrate in your quiet room following your treatment. Most importantly, turn off your computer, television, radio, and cell phone—you shouldn’t be distracted during your spa vacation.

To unwind is divine. These sensational spa treatments are perfect to try anytime you want to pamper yourself:

• Sea Salt Scrub—a Body Glow From Head to Toe
• Facials—Putting Your Best Face Forward
• Moisturizing Hand Treatment—Making Hands Happy All Winter Long
• Meditation for Relaxation—Creating a Quiet Place
• Whole Body Soak—Washing the Blues Away

Rogan: “Did somebody mention doggie treats?”

The following post was originally published by Karen on KP’s Dog Blog, December 19, 2007.

Did you forget to buy a holiday gift for Fido or Fluffy this year? How about trying your hand at these luscious goodies instead? They will not be disappointed.

Jones and Ellie’s Holiday Biscuits

Jones and Ellie secretly slip these delicious biscuits into the other PETA office dogs’ stockings around this time every year!

Ingredients

1 cup cornmeal

3½ cups whole wheat flour

1/2 Tbsp. garlic powder

4 Tbsp. Bac-Os vegetarian bacon bits

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1½ cups vegetable broth

Directions

•Preheat the oven to 350°F.Combine all the ingredients.

•Roll out the dough and cut with cookie cutters.

•Bake 35 to 45 minutes.

Makes 2 dozen medium-sized biscuits

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Molly’s Peanut Butter Popsicles

Molly recommends these on a hot summer day, but December works too.

Ingredients

1-2 Tbsp. peanut butter

Boiling water

Directions

•Mix a tablespoon or two of peanut butter with boiling water (just enough to make it a little soupy) in a small plastic dish (e.g., a used margarine tub).

•Freeze until solid.

•Serve outdoors (it’s too messy for indoors!).

Makes 1 popsicle

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Astrid’s Frosty Banana Treats

Astrid’s mom says, “We live in the South, so we have hot, humid summers, which aren’t great for dogs with lots of fur like Astrid. Even when she is shaved, her coat is too heavy for her to play outside for long periods during the hottest months. One of the treats that we really like to get her is the Frosty Paws that they sell at the grocery store (little tubs of doggie ice cream). A few years ago, I decided to make my own doggie ice cream instead of paying $4 for a four-pack and a ton of packaging. I freeze them in small bowls, but you can use an ice cube tray or a wide-mouth plastic container like margarine comes in. I like reusable containers because they make this a waste-free treat.”

Ingredients

1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)

3 cups water

2 very ripe bananas

Directions

•In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix the peanut butter and the water until well blended.

•Mash the bananas into the peanut butter mixture and blend until smooth.

•Divide the mixture among six containers of your choice.

•Freeze until solid.

Makes 6 servings

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Mante’s Peanut Butter Bliss

According to Mante’s mom, “Mante goes bananas over these biscuits. When he sees me pull out the fixin’s and cookie cutters, he sits at the edge of the kitchen, patiently waiting for the biscuits to be cool enough to eat. Whenever he gets these, he does his “happy dance.” He’ll carefully take the biscuit from my hand, then set it on the ground while he play bows and runs laps around it, all while leaping through the air. It is so silly and incredibly cute!”

Ingredients

3 cups oat flour or whole wheat flour

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1/2 cup organic creamy peanut butter

Egg-replacer equivalent of 1 egg

Water to moisten

Directions

•Preheat the oven to 325°F.

•In a large bowl combine all the ingredients. Add enough water to form a slightly sticky dough.

•On a floured board, roll the dough to a ¼-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes.

•Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until the biscuits are well browned. Cool.

Makes 1 dozen biscuits

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Bakers, Beware!
When doing your holiday baking, keep in mind that if a dog eats uncooked dough, the consequences can be very serious indeed―even life-threatening. Warm dough can expand to many times its size and, in the process, also produces alcohol, so dogs can fall victim to both severe stomach distension and alcohol toxicity. Symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, disorientation, and depression. If the dog does not receive emergency veterinary care, which can include surgery to remove the dough, in short order, death can result, so do keep your dough out of your dog’s reach.

As a child of the ’80s, I have a tendency to revisit childhood crafts quite frequently. Most of the time, the nostalgic crafts have to do with Shrinky Dinks. So for a few gifts this holiday season to my fellow “children of the ’80s” friends, I’ve made Shrinky Dink charm bracelets. Like most of the peta2 crew, I can’t get enough of the “I am not a nugget” character so I made a charm bracelet with a small drawing of the character and the words “I am not a nugget.”

Shrink plastic shrinks to about one-third of its original size in the oven, so my charms (before baking) were about 1½ inches by 2 inches in height, and I just used a standard hole-punch to make the hole where the charm connects to the bracelet. There are endless possibilities, so have fun and charm your friends with a fun bracelet this holiday season.

While I was strolling through the aisles of Michaels a few days ago, buying supplies to wrap presents, I ran across some blank white ceramic bulb ornaments. I got really excited and bought a few, and when I got home I busted out my porcelain paints and painted up some ornaments to give away as presents this year. My favorite is one with a little pig face painted on it with the words “Love Pigs: Don’t Eat Them.”

I can’t decide if I want to hang it on my own Christmas tree for all to see a message of compassion or if I want to give it to friends to show off on their tree. Perhaps I’ll just have to make some more―some to hang on my tree and some to give away to friends to put on their trees.

Happy holidays!

This year, give the gift of clean skin and a clean conscience. By making homemade bath goodies, you can add your own twist to products and ensure cruelty-free cleanliness for all your loved ones; a basket filled with soothing goodies is enough to make anyone’s holidays bright.

Bath salts are easy to make and can be packaged beautifully when placed in a small corked glass jar or bottle (easy to find at Pier One or Michael’s). To make bath salts, just take the following ingredients and stir together in a mixing bowl. After the salts are mixed, pour them into the glass jars and cork, and—voilà!—you’re done! The whole process only takes about 10 minutes, so you can knock out a dozen presents in record time.

Homemade Bath Salts
1 cup Epsom salts
¼ cup sea salt
3 Tbsp. baking soda
3 drops essential oil in a fragrance of your choice

“Bath bombs” are also easy and quick to make. All you need is 1/3 cup citric acid, 2/3 cup baking soda, a few drops of essential oil, and a small amount of witch hazel in a spray bottle. Mix the citric acid, baking soda, and essential oil in a bowl, and spray a small amount of witch hazel into the mixture until it starts to clump together (don’t use too much witch hazel, though, as your mixture will start to fizz). Firmly pack the mixture into molds (a mini–cupcake tin works well) and leave overnight to dry. Once the “bombs” are dry, put a few into a small cellophane bag and tie with a pretty ribbon.

If you have the time and patience to make your own handmade soap, you can add that to your gift set, but beware that making handmade cold-process soap is not for the faint of heart—it’s easy to botch, the set-up costs a pretty penny, and the process is time-consuming. However, if you want to give it a try, I recommend The Natural Soap Book as a good starting point. The Sun Feather Natural Soap Company is a great place online to get supplies for cold-process soaps and is a cruelty-free company. If you want the benefits of handmade soap but don’t have the time or resources to dedicate to making your own, the Hibiscus City Soap Co. has great handmade soaps, or check out CaringConsumer.com for a long list of cruelty-free vegan soaps.

In my bath baskets, I always include handmade soap, bath salts, and fizzy “bath bombs.” Sometimes I’ll add in scented lotion, or knit up a cotton washcloth to go with it. My favorite way to package everything together is to place some crinkle or tissue paper in a “Chinese takeout” gift box, which, to me, is just kind of a fun and funky way to present all your handmade gifts.