April 2008

Fish and rice with a Southwestern twist! This is a variation of Colorful Fish Fillets, but a few substitutions make it an entirely new dish. Fire-roasted corn, tomatoes and green chilies flavor the fish, and the rice cooks with salsa for a quicker version of Spanish rice…

Look for roasted corn in the freezer section of specialty markets or better yet, make extra to freeze next time you are grilling.

Salsa Fish Fillets

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Add a quick side dish of sliced avocadoes on a bed of lettuce and dinner is served!

More from Dr. Pat…

Jake Gyllenhaals‘s looks aren’t the only thing delicious about him. The 27-year-old dreamy-eyed actor is preparing to open a an organic restaurant in Los Angeles.

Apparently, Jake has long held a passion for the culinary arts. As a matter of fact, he has made numerous appearances on celebrity chef Mario Batali‘s show, Molto Mario, and the A-lister actually made a promise to himself some time ago that, if his acting career took off, he would open a high-end restaurant before his 30th birthday.

As of right now, he is looking at real estate with longtime friend and chef Chris Fischer. The duo intends to create a high-class atmosphere where diners can experience the wonders of Tuscan food in a completely natural way. Additionally, this summer, Jake plans to take a summer cycling tour of Tuscany with his girlfriend, Reese Witherspoon, to see what kind of inspiration he can come away with.

Many celebrities have found success in the restaurant business, and it certainly sounds like Jake plans to be truly involved in this venture. We wish him all the luck in the world, and look forward to tasting a delicious Gyllenhaal dish!

Photo courtesy of criticsrant.com

Johnny Depp is lending his voice to a good cause — helping coma patients. He recorded a series of physical commands (in the voice he used for his Pirates of the Caribbean character, Captain Jack Sparrow) for Sophie, a 17-year-old British girl who has been in a coma since last November and is now starting to respond to people and sounds.

Apparently, her response to famous voices has been remarkable — so much so that her family is working to make famous voices available to other families with loved ones in a coma.

It’s important for coma patients to be exposed to a variety of possible “keys” — one never knows what might get through to them and help bring them out of the coma. It could be a smell or a sound, even a voice. In this instance, the family knew Sophie was a huge Johnny Depp fan, so they got a recording of his voice, which proved to be extremely beneficial. They then realized how useful it would be to have a bank of celebrity voices, so no matter who a patient’s favorite star is, their family could play commands in that voice.

A number of other celebrities are signing on to help out, and Sophie’s family is doing even more — they’ll be holding a charity gala ball in June to raise funds for their project. For more information, go to the Sofie’s Gift website.

Photo courtesy of jacksparrow.moonfruit.com

Happy belated Arbor Day! It was Friday, in case you missed it — and don’t worry too much if you did miss it, because there were a number of celebrities, most notably Bette Midler, in Brooklyn on Friday getting their hands dirty and planting trees.

Joining Midler was actress Marcia Gay Harden, the Blue Man Group, along with a number of other somewhat famous faces and a whole slew — over 500 — of volunteers. They spent Arbor Day in Greenpoint Brooklyn, at McCarren Park.

In addition to celebrating Arbor Day, the group was taking part in MillionTreesNYC Month, a program of which Midler is a founder and Mayor Bloomberg a big supporter. The goal, as you might have guessed, is “to plant and care for one million new trees across the City’s five boroughs over the next decade.” The City will plant 60% in parks, on streets, and in other public spaces, leaving 40% of the planting to individuals and private groups.

Meeting this goal will increase the number of trees by 20%, and at least this much is necessary to go along with the population growth NYC is experiencing. Planting trees is a relatively easy and cost effective way to ease the pains of population growth because they clean the air, provide shade, and make neighborhoods more beautiful.

To see how you can help, visit the MillionTreesNYC website and learn about getting involved. And please keep in mind that, even if you don’t live anywhere near New York, you can still plant a tree in your community — every little bit helps!

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Six o’clock already? Make it “pasta night” and you’ll have a quick and easy dinner that tastes like you planned it to perfection.

Remember Danielle’s advice?…plan specific routines to make weekly menu planning easier. My problem comes on the nights when there is NO menu planned…that’s when “pasta night” really comes in handy!

Heat the water for pasta, scan the refrigerator and pantry for ingredients, then put everything together while the pasta cooks. Only take-out could be easier! I have some tasty sauces you can prepare in minutes, and this week the key ingredient comes from a jar…

Tapenades! I love these Mediterranean-style spreads in any mix of flavors. I always have a few jars on hand for appetizers to serve with crackers or crusty bread. They all can work for a quick pasta dish, but one of my favorites is Gertie’s Finest Artichoke Salsa, a flavorful mix of chopped artichoke hearts and chunky tomato. There is just enough zing to be a little bit spicy; it’s really good! Seems I’m not the only one hooked either. Mix Gertie’s with a cup of chopped tomato or tomato sauce and simmer while the pasta cooks. Add the cooked pasta and some of the reserved pasta water if needed. Top with plenty of freshly grated cheese.

Fix a salad, fill the water glasses…because this dish will be ready as soon as the pasta is al dente… That’s no time at all!

Check out Posh Gourmet.com for their wide variety of tapenades, but if you don’t want to buy a case of Gertie’s Finest Artichoke Salsa, look for it at your local Costco.

Photo from Amazon.com.

More by Dr. Pat…

Shakira believes the best way to ensure a better, safer world is to provide vulnerable children with a basic education, and she went to Washington D.C. on April 22 to promote, as honorary chair, the Global Campaign for Education “Action Week,” which will run until the 27th.

The Global Campaign for Education “promotes education as a basic human right,” and works to put pressure on governments to provide “free, compulsory public basic education for all people.”

Having grown up surrounded by poverty in Colombia, Shakira was able to speak from her heart about growing up in a world where parents “are desperate to provide education for their children.” She spoke inspiringly, saying, “I know this is a challenge, but it’s also a historic opportunity for all of us. We know how to address this and it is within our reach, and we can truly be the architects of change and be the first generation in our history to bring education to all children so that no child is left behind.”

Just as the Grammy winner’s Hips Don’t Lie, the campaign is asking countries all over the world to keep their promises regarding education for children. Additionally, with Shakira‘s help, the Global Campaign for Education plans to raise up to $3 billion by 2012 to provide basic education for 77 million disadvantaged children who aren’t currently in school.

Photo courtesy of JustJared.com

Now that she’s done “greening up” her Sydney mansion, and as she gets underway with plans to make the Sydney Theater Company the first theater company in the world to be able to (possibly) perform an entire season relying on it’s own green energy, Cate Blanchett is putting her money into another environmental venture — Sungevity home solar systems.

The actress is the primary investor in the California company, and it looks like she chose a smart place to invest her cash. Sungevity aims to make going solar easy in California by allowing people to learn about and purchase a solar electric system online.

If you live in California, it’s as simple as going to Sungevity’s website and entering your address. From there, satellite-imaging software will look at your home, calculate your roof’s dimensions, select the proper solar arrays, and show you what they would look like installed. Plus, it will compute your return on the investment. Cool, right?

Cate knows a good investment when she sees it. Sungevity’s website lists the different ways in which an investment in solar energy will save you money. Of course, your electric bills will be dramatically reduced, and the value of your investment will increase with the rising cost of electricity. Plus, you might be eligible for cash and tax rebates to offset the cost of implementing your solar system.

Now we can only hope that Sungevity will go nation- and world-wide, so the rest of us can check out our potential solar savings, too!

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Happy Earth Day! How are you celebrating? By riding your bike to work? Cooking a dinner made of locally grown, sustainable ingredients? How about by bidding on an eco-centric adventure with one of your favorite stars?

You can bid on things like a day on the set of Damages with Glenn Close, VIP tickets to The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Daily Show, a day of filming on Daryl Hannah’s environmental blog, fly-fishing on Ted Turner’s ranch, and more, all while helping the environment by supporting the Waterkeeper Alliance. The bidding will be open for a week, until April 29.

The Waterkeeper Alliance is “a grassroots advocacy organization with 177 Waterkeepers programs … dedicated to preserving and protecting YOUR WATER from polluters.” They work locally, so each program is specifically tailored to the needs of that waterbody and its community. Every program has a full-time Waterkeeper, who is the public advocate for that body of water.

If you are interested in getting involved with the Waterkeeper Alliance or making a donation, check out their website for more information. And, if you’re interested in bidding on a celebrity experience, check out Charity Buzz — and remember, bidding closes April 29.

Photo courtesy of sustainabledesignupdate.com

Perhaps it’s because she holds so dear a place in so many people’s hearts, or perhaps it’s simply because she’s aware of the seriousness of cardiovascular disease for the female population. Either way, Barbra Streisand has made a generous donation of $5 million to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to create a new women’s heart center.

Cardiovascular disease kills nearly 500,000 women each year in our country alone, and although it’s the nation’s leading killer of women, the majority of heart disease research is focused on men. Therefore, most testing and treatment methods are based on male patterns.

Babs‘ donation will create the Barbra Streisand Women’s Cardiovascular Research and Education program, which she hopes will increase the amount of research done on female heart disease as well as awareness. More research into the role of gender in heart disease will take place.

Streisand said, “Women need to be educated about female cardiovascular disease, and the medical community must be propelled toward change. Just like with breast cancer, the impetus must come from women themselves, striving to become empowered to reduce their risks for heart disease.”

Photo courtesy of starpulse.com

This “two-for-one” will give you two different meals from one recipe…and I don’t mean leftovers! As cook and magician, you will make fabulous chili, Sloppy Joe’s or a combination of both all at the same time…and that’s just the beginning.

This is another “I can’t believe this is turkey” recipe: ground turkey masquerading as ground beef. The spices give the ground turkey a whole new identity, and with fewer calories and only a fraction of the saturated fat of ground beef, this version definitely comes out on top.

Preparation is easy, but the trick is to let everything simmer long enough to develop the rich flavor. (If you want to cut prep time, look for packaged chopped onion and pepper in the fresh produce or freezer section of the supermarket.) Make this meal ahead and reheat it for a quick weekday supper with a salad and whole grain bread.

Kid-friendly chili or two meals? If the munchkins in your family aren’t into chili yet, just divide the meat mixture into separate portions before the chili powder and spices are added and simmer separately. You will have hearty “Sloppy Joe’s” for them and delicious chili for you with no extra effort!

1. Heat the oil on medium-high in a Dutch oven; add the onions and peppers and cook about 3 minutes until the onions are translucent.
   
2. Add the ground turkey and brown well.
3. Add the beans, tomatoes, paste, water and vinegar.
4. Add remaining ingredients (*adjust the amounts if you split the recipe).
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer for 1 ½ hours (or more), stirring occasionally. Serves 6 to 8.
   

For Sloppy Joe’s: Follow the instructions above through #3, then transfer half the meat mixture to another pan and omit the spices (*).  Simmer as above, stirring occasionally. Serve on buns.

These recipes pack a lot of flavor and nutrition into a simple meal…and you won’t believe this is turkey!

Good nutrition tasting good…more recipes by Dr. Pat…

Earlier this month, radiant mommy-to-be Jessica Alba and her fiance Cash Warren held a baby shower to celebrate their bun in the oven at the Ever After Teahouse in Studio City, California. Close to 30 guests, including Jessica‘s pal Kim Kardashian, were in attendance.

Jessica reportedly registered for eco-friendly and organic items from Bel Bambini, receiving gifts like organic baby clothes and blankets and a sustainably made bassinet.

But Jessica and her bundle of joy aren’t the only ones getting spoiled with gifts of organic goodness. Miss Alba gave organic gift bags to each of her guests from Tastybaby, which does not, of course, serve tasty babies, but rather delicious food made by a company based on the fact that organic foods are the safest foods we can serve our children (and ourselves). Tastybaby has numerous celebrity fans, including Joely Fisher, Jennifer Meyer, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, Kate Beckinsale, Cindy Crawford, and Angie Harmon.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Last week, Blythe Danner got trashy, but in a really good way — she was on hand to unveil New York City’s new natural gas powered garbage trucks.

Garbage trucks are major polluters, but there’s no way we can take them off the road. According to Energy Vision, which is the non-profit behind the new trucks, if half the garbage trucks in NYC were switched to natural gas, “more than 16,000 tons of pollutants would be eliminated a year, while reliance on a clean domestic fuel would eliminate the need for 23 million gallons a year of petroleum-based diesel fuel, which is getting more expensive by the day and relies on imported oil.”

So, what does Blythe have to do with this? Well, the stunning actress and mother of Gwyneth Paltrow has long taken an interest in environmental causes, promoting recycling and conservation for the past 30 years. So, while garbage trucks might not be as sexy as, say, designing a reusable water bottle, Blythe knows that her appearance at their unveiling will bring much needed media exposure to the cause.

I know I gave you a bunch of stats about the fuel saved and pollution eliminated by the use of the new trucks, but you might be wondering exactly what that means for New Yorkers. Eliminating (or reducing) the pollution emitted into the air by replacing just 38 garbage trucks with the new natural gas powered trucks will “spare New Yorkers the health risks, involving asthma, other respiratory illnesses and cancers associated with more than 124 tons a year of airborne particulates (soot) and smog-forming nitrogen oxides.” Just 38 natural gas trucks can do that much? Let’s hope that other cities take a cue and get their own natural gas powered garbage trucks.

Photo courtesy of greendaily.com

You might already know that Drew Barrymore is a big proponent of adopting shelter dogs. In fact, she rescued her lab/chow mix, Flossie, from a flea market, and now credits her with saving her life in 2001 when a late night house fire started and Flossie woke up Drew (and her boyfriend at the time, Tom Green) by barking and thumping against the door.

Drew and Flossie have found a way to give back to the rescue community — through art. The duo has created this canvas, which includes Drew‘s handprint and Flossie’s pawprints, along with a few little extras, and it’s being auctioned off to benefit The Rescue Train. The Rescue Train is a no-kill, non-profit animal rescue “dedicated to eliminating animal suffering through hands-on rescue work, spay and neutering, education, and awareness.

Other celebrities on board with this cause are Jessica Alba and her dog Bowie, Courteney Cox and David Arquette along with their daughter Coco and dog Haley, Carmen Electra along with her pups Keiko and Daisey, and more.

If you’re interested in seeing the artwork or placing a bid, check out Charity Folks.

Photo courtesy of wikifido.com

Emmy award-winning scientist, engineer, comedian, author, inventor, and host, Bill Nye The Science Guy is coming back to television to host a new show on Discovery’s Planet Green called Stuff Happens.

Nye‘s new program will focus on showing people “what happens to everyday things before and after we consume them.” This will reveal the generally unknown and unintended consequences of many items we all take for granted, and as Nye investigates the life cycle of these products, he’ll also show us some simple changes we can all make to help reduce these consequences and benefit the environment.

The Science Guy still rides his bike to work and encourages young scientists to always clean up after themselves. His motto is “Leave the world better than you found it. Sometimes you gotta pick up somebody else’s trash.”

It seems to me that this new show is a great way for him to encourage people all over, young and old, to follow his example and work to make the world a better place, one cool science experiment at a time.

Photo courtesy of billnye.com

“happiness is making snow angels and dreaming of summertime”

submitted by Amy Lohse – Minot AFB, North Dakota

Today’s health tip is really all about fiber that tastes good!

Fiber is good for us because it can help lower cholesterol levels, control blood sugar and even regulate the digestive system. Increasing fiber can also improve the nutritional value of the foods we eat when we cut up an orange instead of serving orange juice and leave fruits and vegetables unpeeled (apples, potatoes, cucumbers and more). Whole grains are another nutritious and flavorful way to add fiber to our diets…

Oatmeal is a particularly tasty way to increase fiber and packs a zillion other nutritional benefits. (Who knew oatmeal was a Super Food?) Check out this impressive collection of oatmeal recipes from Blogher author Kaelyn Denny. I felt healthier just reading them!

Here is my recipe for oatmeal cookies. They have fiber from oatmeal and fruit (applesauce and raisins) and half the fat of most cookie recipes. I especially like how quickly they come together with a whisk and spatula…I don’t even have to get out the mixer!

Dr. Pat’s “More Oatmeal Cookies, Please”

1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 egg
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
½ cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ¼ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
2 ½ cups oats (quick or old-fashioned)
1 ¼ cups raisins*

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk the sugar, egg, applesauce, oil and vanilla until blended. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt, and add gradually to the wet ingredients, mixing with a spatula. Once blended, mix in the raisins and oats.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.

Bake 7 to 9 minutes, until lightly browned on the edges. Be careful not to overbake. Cool 1 to 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Store tightly covered. Makes about 3 ½ dozen.

*Try these variations: chopped dried fruit, Craisins, or even mini chocolate chips.

Here’s to guilt-free snacking!

More by Dr. Pat…

Supermodel Cindy Crawford is teaming up with PUR to encourage everyone — supermodel and mere mortal alike — to make their water consumption just a little greener.

This May, Cindy and PUR Water Filtration will launch Thirsty for Change, a campaign to encourage Americans to drink filtered tap water rather than the bottled water so many of us rely upon. Every year, more than 38 billion plastic water bottles end up in land fills. The good news is, Americans are drinking lots of water, but the bad news is that it’s causing a huge amount of waste.

The supermodel will do her part by designing a stylish reusable water bottle and donating all proceeds from the sales to Children’s Safe Drinking Water, a program that provides drinking water to needy kids across the globe. She’s also giving out some advice for other ways the average person can live in a more eco-friendly manner, like buying locally and unplugging unused electronic devices.

What’s great about having Cindy as a spokesperson for Thirsty for Change is that she acknowledges that not all changes are easy, but says, “… changes that fit easily into our hectic routine are the ones that are going to stick.” I’m sure we can all agree with that.

To learn more and to read the rest of Cindy‘s green tips, click here.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Since you are reading this, chances are you already know about Noodle and Boo products. There is a lot to like, and I love that their products are wholesome and natural for all skin, not just sensitive skin. They are the best I have ever used personally or have recommended as a pediatrician.

But there is more. This company has been committed to charitable giving since it began, and now the circle has widened. If you haven’t browsed the website in a while, check out the Raise Your Hand Campaign. I always felt good knowing that Noodle and Boo supported a number of children’s charities, but soon their impact will be even greater. In addition to the charities that Noodle and Boo already supports, soon you and I will be sponsoring the health and well being of an entire village in Africa just by buying a bar of soap!

Noodle and Boo’s contribution to our world is up front and personal, because these are products we use every day. And now we will feel just as good inside as we do outside!

Thandie Newton has always been an eco-minded celebrity — she’s a wearer of recycled clothing, she encourages her friends to drive environmentally friendly vehicles, and she’s often on hand to support worthy causes like breast cancer research. It looks like she’s now adding a new cause to her list — clean water in Africa.

The actress is joining a campaign sponsored by Volvic and World Vision which will supply ten liters of clean water for each liter purchased of Volvic Plain or Touch of Fruit. The campaign name is, fittingly, 10L-for-1L, and because of the support it has already received, Ghana, Zambia, Mali, and Malawi have already had wells dug which generated over 1.7 billion liters in their first year. Now that is a successful program!

Thandie decided to get on board with the project after visiting Mali and seeing the difference clean, safe water can make in the lives of children and their families. To see how you can help, check out the website.

Photo courtesy of purseblog.com

There’s no disputing that Oprah has the power to make good things happen, and she works hard to ensure they do. There’s also no doubt that she’s a huge animal lover.

This past Friday, Oprah dedicated that episode of her talk show to her late cocker spaniel, Sophie, who had passed away last month at 13 years of age. And it wasn’t just any old show — this show exposed the evils of puppy mills. It’s a hard show to watch, but I encourage you to do so, or at least learn more about puppy mills. Here are a few key points:

The conditions in which the animals live in these places is deplorable, and though the puppy might be healthy, often the mother is forced to carry litter after litter with no break, and when she’s no longer able to serve her purpose, she’s killed. Dogs in puppy mills live in their own waste without proper medical treatment. The video (shot undercover) showed a dog being euthanized as well as dogs in trashbags being tossed into a dumpster.

Oprah has always gotten her dogs from breeders, but after the emotional show, she said, “I would never, ever adopt another pet now without going to a shelter to do it. I am a changed woman after seeing this show.”

Let me encourage you to make sure you know where your pets are from before you buy from a breeder. As a nation, we can say NO to puppy mills and the mistreatment of animals by no longer spending our money with them. Celebrities all over are getting friendly with shelter pets — join them!

Oprah picture courtesy of tv.hollyscoop.com

Oprah and dogs picture courtesy of dreamdogsart.typepad.com

Sausage bread that is healthy? You bet! This has become one of my favorite recipes, made with turkey sausage and low fat mozzarella…

When I saw this recipe prepared on Fine Living  more than a year ago, I couldn’t wait to try it. My version is even better; you won’t believe how tasty (and easy) this is.

This is great finger food at parties, or as a quick supper with a big salad of rainbow veggies (greens, tomatoes, red onion, cucumbers, carrots).  It is definitely a keeper.

Healthy Sausage Bread

(Adapted from Pairings with Andrea, Turkey Sausage Bread)

8 oz. Italian-style turkey sausage, casing removed
2 cloves garlic, mashed and minced
4 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ cup grated Romano cheese
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning or oregano
12 oz. pizza dough*, at room temperature
egg wash: 1 egg, beaten with 2 tablespoons water

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Preheat skillet to medium and brown the sausage with the garlic and seasoning.
3. Cook meat fully, drain on paper towels and let cool.
4. Roll or press dough into 8 x 12-inch rectangle.
5. Place the sausage mixture and cheeses along the middle of the dough.
6. Fold long sides of dough over the sausage and cheeses, overlapping. Enclose ends and pinch all seams to seal. Invert the roll seam-side down onto parchment paper and brush entire loaf with egg wash.
7. Place on baking sheet (use cooking spray if you don’t have parchment paper) and bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.
8. Cool slightly on a rack then cut into one-inch slices.

Serves 8 as an appetizer, 4 as an entree.

* The original recipe calls for a 10 oz. can refrigerated pizza crust dough, but I use fresh dough for a lot more flavor. Look for fresh pizza dough at your market…our local Trader Joe’s has a selection of white, whole wheat, low carb and herb dough in 1 lb. bags for only $1.29.

More by Dr. Pat…

Photo courtesy of fineliving.com

Rhianna is performing a series of concerts to benefit her charity, the Believe Foundation. She has already completed two performances, one in Chicago and another in San Francisco, but she has one more coming up in New York City. The only way to purchase tickets is to make a $100 minimum purchase of Escada’s latest fragrance, Moon Sparkle, at Macy’s Herald Square, Macy’s Staten Island, or Macy’s Brooklyn on this Saturday afternoon.

After each of the concerts, Rhianna makes a point to sign autographs and spend some time with children from various local charities.

Rhianna established the Believe Foundation back in 2006 to “ensure the health and well-being of our future leaders.” Believe works to “assist and inspire children who suffer from life-threatening diseases including cancer, leukemia, and AIDS.” The foundation assists on an individual level as well as on an institutional level, raising money and awareness for medical research. Believe seeks to achieve that which Rhianna has always worked toward in her own career — “to inspire with hope, courage, and love.”

For more information about the event, check out the Highline Ballroom website.

Photo courtesy of defjam.com

Kate Hudson is coming out with an eco-friendly line of hair products, which will donate 10% of the proceeds back to the animal organization WildAid. Actually, it’s not just Kate developing the line — she’s teaming up with L.A. celebrity hairstylist David Babaii, and the haircare line, which will be free of sulfates, parabens, animal products, and not be tested on animals, will be called DAVID BABAII FOR WILDAID.

WildAid works to reverse wildlife devastation all across the earth, seeks to end illegal wildlife trade, and helps communities learn to sustain themselves without causing further damage to the environment.

To show how closely entwined this line is with environmental issues, Kate took a trip to Africa with famous photographer Peter Lindbergh to shoot the ad campaign for the products. Let me tell you right now — I am so jealous. She had the opportunity to get cuddly with cheetahs and lion cubs. However, I can’t get too miffed; listen to how excited she sounds about her new venture:

“I really have a thing about natural product. It’s very difficult to make things that are completely organic and sustainable. David and I got so excited about making something like that. Making something conscious and making it good.”

I know I, for one, will be keeping my eyes open for DAVID BABAII FOR WILDAID. Will you?

Photo courtesy of ecorazzi.com

Musical artist Mya is lending a paw, er, a hand to the North Shore Animal League for their 2008 Tour For Life. The North Shore Animal League is the nation’s largest no-kill shelter, and this is the 8th annual Tour.

The goal of Tour For Life is to “help find homes for hundreds of orphaned dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens and to raise public awareness concerning the plights of all shelter pets. … Tour For Life has been promoting the importance of adopting shelter dogs and cats as a life-saving measure.”

Mya was on hand to kick it off the Tour, which will stop in 22 cities throughout 15 over the next few weeks. It will all end with a grand finale at FAO Schwartz on Fifth Avenue, which will be hosted by the Grammy winning singer herself.

Want to see if the Tour will be coming anywhere near you with one of their mobile adoption units? Check out North Shore’s website, where they have all dates and locations listed. And remember, the next time you’re looking to adopt an animal, be sure to check out the shelters and rescues. I know here in Florida, the trendiest breed around is a mixed breed — we call them the Florida Black Dog. Check the shelter and get your own!

Photo courtesy of ecorazzi.com