I am proud to officially launch Cherry Berry Handbags at Green and Chic!

I fell in love with Cherry Berry when I won a handbag from a giveaway hosted at  Be Blushless blog (which is also an eco-friendly wedding dress shop, by the way!)  I was first introduced to vegan leather handbags and accessories when I became an owner of my first Matt & Nat vegan leather purse several months prior. My initial fear was that “vegan leather” would look and feel too much like plastic, and it would be a compromise on quality.

Cherry Berry (and Matt & Nat) handbags is far from “cheap”.  The  materials on my “Vegan Leather Croc Handbag“ doesn’t look or feel much different than any of my leather purses.  When I first took the brown handbag out of the cloth sack, I actually had to smell it to make sure it wasn’t leather!  In terms of quality and durability, I know  it will stand the test of time – something that is very important to me when “investing” in a bag or purse.

When you order a handbag from Green and Chic, shipping is aromatically free!

Learn more about the brand, check out the handbag collection at greenandchic.com, and let me know your thoughts!

Photo Credit: TheBusyBrain

Its been noted in various publications over the past few years that beef consumption is contributing to global warming and is linked to various health problems.  Mc Spotlight points out that “…beef consumption plays a major role in the development of heart disease, strokes, and cancer. But the over-consumption of beef is also a major cause of human hunger and poverty, deforestation. spreading deserts, water pollution, water scarcity, global warming, species extinction, and animal suffering.”

On the other hand, the Weston A. Price Foundation for Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts points out that the way mainstream beef is produced is the issue, not the beef itself.  According to this and other organizations, beef that is raised sustainably where the cows eat only grass – not grain, soy, corn, antibiotics and hormones, and not raised in a factory doesn’t contribute to ill health of the human body and earth.

Putting the controversial issue of killing animals for human consumption aside, is eating meat, (specifically beef) better for the human body and Earth when its raised in a humane and sustainable fashion?

I feel like I have to put in this disclaimer and say that I am not a vegan or vegetarian, but I do make sure what animal products I do consume (mostly poultry and fish) is sustainable and avoid factory farmed food.  I also limit grass-fed beef consumption to no more than twice a year due to personal preference.

Having read both sides of the issue does have me wondering who is right.  Is there a definite answer to this problem?  Having tried vegetarian, vegan and raw vegan diets in the past, I realized that the best diet for me is one that does consist of some animal protein, but still mostly local, organic raw and lightly cooked vegetables and fruit. Not being able to eat soy, gluten, legumes, dairy, sugar, more than a small amount of corn, and a few other foods doesn’t help, but I don’t want to be part of the problem either!

There is a very interesting article and interview on the Sierra Club website on Grass-Fed Beef: Solution or Diversion? that focuses on both sides of this issue.

What do you think?

I know this question is kind of broad, but I would like to get your open opinion on this.