the truth serum

There's a whole bunch of people in the Pacific Northwest who get downright giddy this time of year because it's harvest season for wild golden chanterelle mushrooms. They thrive in a moist habitat (unlike some of us.) Chefs and foodies go crazy for these beauties, with their delicate and slightly peppery taste. Other types of chanterelles grow in other areas, and each tastes a bit different, according to the mushroom experts. As we often do, we looked to Jeannie Oliver, our resident "skin chef," for a recipe that makes the most out of these miraculous morsels. If you want to...

Like snowflakes, no two Thanksgiving celebrations are precisely alike. Probably each of us has a special place in our heart for some beloved Thanksgiving tradition—like eating giant olives from your fingertips, setting the table with the "good china," or eating Aunt Maisie's ambrosia salad ("salad" is stretching it). Over the years, Kari and Lisa have come up with their own twists on the holiday. Here’s how they do it: Lisa Thanksgiving has always been a favorite in my family, but not because of any hard and fast traditions. Actually, it's quite the opposite! From the time I was little, my...

I recently traveled to Taos for a pretty fabulous week spent out in wide-open spaces with lots of sunny days and cool, crisp nights. It was a week away from it all to celebrate a big anniversary and get some much-needed downtime. One evening during our trip, a good friend mixed up a lovely Negroni with mezcal instead of gin, and it was perfect. Fast forward to a grey, dark, wet, and cold rainy weekend in Seattle a week later. It was time to revisit our trip and share it with friends and neighbors. My husband played bartender and remade...

We invite you to help us create our next Lip Whip shade, which will debut in Spring 2020. We’d love to hear from you. Got a favorite shade that you’d like us to try?  Let your imagination play. All of your input is warmly welcomed and much appreciated! List your ideas below in the “Leave a Comment” section.

At the end of the rainbow, there’s this delicious power plant bowl waiting. Now that we’ve officially turned the calendar to autumn, it’s time to get inspired by fall flavors. We turn once again to the seasonal plant-based recipes in one of our favorite cookbooks, “Plant Power Bowls:  70 Seasonal Vegan Recipes to Boost Energy and Promote Wellness” by author Sapana Chandra. Here’s the recipe for the Rainbow Quinoa Bowl, with Lemon-Tahini Dressing.   Sounds perfect for days when the sky is grey (as it often is in Seattle). This recipe is packed with craveable ingredients and a fun mix of...

The Castor Oil plant is one of the oldest cultivated crops in human history, dating back about 4,000 years!   Castor oil (Ricinus communis) is made from pressing the seeds of castor beans, producing an oil thicker than olive oil, with a pale yellow color.   Cleopatra kept a stash for her beauty rituals (the Queen of the Nile was such a trendsetter).  The story goes that she especially liked how it made her hair shiny – making it perhaps the world’s first conditioner.  So why is such an ancient ingredient getting so much buzz today?   Essentially, it’s getting a rebrand.  As...

We’re elated to announce the return of our beloved Wonder Whip lip whip.  It’s still “naked” (or “untinted” if you’re shy), but now has a hint of sparkle and spearmint, which makes it really refreshing.  You could say we’ve done a literal “refresh” of one of our classic products. Wonder Whip is near and dear to us because it’s the foundation of our Evergreen Giving Back program.  When we started Kari Gran, we knew we’d want to make giving an ongoing part of our business.  We decided to donate to organizations who are doing the hands-on daily work to make...

Know that feeling when you’ve just met someone and feel like you could talk for hours? That’s what happened when I recently had a phone chat with Dr. Emilia Javorsky.  She’s co-founder and chief scientific officer of Sundaily, a company that makes a pair of gummies targeted to boost skin health. It was “Hello” followed by 30 minutes of fun, lively conversation.   Almost instantly, we realized we share a passion for a simple, holistic approach to skincare:  healthy skin comes from a healthy lifestyle, not just products you use on your face.  Her philosophy mirrors our own: “We focus on...

“We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” -Anne-Marie Bonneau, Zero Waste Chef This is a story of a boy, a bag of old batteries and a dilemma. Owen was 6 when he first tried to figure out where to dispose of used batteries in Seattle    He knew they had chemicals that were bad for the environment and shouldn’t go in the garbage.   It was harder than he thought.  After a few phone calls, but he found a safe place.  Then he started collecting from his neighbors and with...

If we’re good to our bodies‑—eating healthy, drinking plenty of water, exercising and getting enough sleep—then we usually feel pretty good, too.   But there’s one essential nutrient that up to 80% of people don’t get enough of.   Can you guess what it is? If you answered magnesium, give yourself a gold star! Magnesium plays a central role in just about every bodily process, from the metabolism of insulin to blood pressure regulation as well as being crucial to the health of bones.  It also metabolizes Vitamin D. Talk about multi-tasking! Magnesium comes in many specific forms — it’s not...