SHIT “N” STUFF – Rad + Raw Magazine

OUR FACE JEWELRY/PIERCINGS MOODBOARD ☽♂

Sat, 01 Sep 2018 18:40:00 +0000

Soo, the whole one nose piercing just isn’t cutting it or maybe, you’re looking to expand your creative photography portfolio. You’re likely to see face jewelry pace the alternative fashion week runways, but who’s to say we can’t change the game and bring it into different worlds of threads. Isn’t that the point of being Rad and ….Raw?

There are tons of dope face chains that linger on independent shop sites such as Kalifesta on Etsy who makes additional (even better) pieces.

Though not all men ( if you are thinking about yourself) like taking trends or jewelry to the overly eccentric heights but still want a little extra something that makes them different. Earring plugs have been around for ages and as time goes along artists are becoming more creative. We found a few that have the piercing candy feel …literally and designs that are exciting yet still tame but don’t tell the Joker plugs that.

urbanbodyjewelry.com

wtfplugs.com

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THE ULTIMATE VEGAN ‘FAST FOOD’ GUIDE AND BUSTING A&W’S BEYOND MEAT BURGER

Wed, 01 Aug 2018 04:42:41 +0000

My heart breaks just as much as you when I’m out with friends and wanting to indulge into something a little more fun than just…er…a kale salad. When I transitioned from being a vegetarian to vegan, I never thought I would ever step foot into a regular fast food joint ever again until I realized some places accidentally or not accidentally have vegan options. Not all drive-thru meals use beef oil either, or most have the oh so luxury of using a different grill if you just ask. Now here we are, just you and I diving into our not so cute paper bags to find what we can get our hands on. Just don’t eat all of the onion rings, I like those.

Burger King You can order items such as: French Toast Sticks, French Fries, hash browns, and Dutch Apple Pies.

Planta ( Burger) Take out Now this is cheating just a bit but this downtown all plant-based takeout joint can be just what you are looking for if other fast food joints ain’t cutting it. Home to 4 Temperance St – they’re the brother ( or sister) to the Planta restaurant on Bay Street. We recommended trying out the Crab cake burger, its like the filet-o- fish you can find at McDonald’s but waaay better.

McDonald’s Speaking of McDonald’s, there really isn’t anything suitable for vegans unless you are in the region of the McVegan burger. But, there are sauces such as BBQ dip, Sweet Chilli sauce, Sweet and Sour dip that you can use on one of their salads. Their hash browns claim to be vegan-friendly if your mates are stopping for breakfast.

Panera Ooo, let’s bless up because they have sooo many options that will make your belly go cray-cray. You can bring home baked goods such as certain bagels like ( plain, blueberry, cranberry walnut, poppy seed, and sesame) French baguette and a hoagie roll. For lunch, you can have the Mediterranean Veggie sandwich just minus the feta and switch to a bread such as sourdough, sea salt focaccia, and rye. To go with that you can have their kettle chips as well or like mentioned a French baguette to dip in their black bean soup ( they say its vegetarian but its vegan friendly – don’t worry) If it’s the morning or you are having a light stomach day, you can grab their oatmeal with strawberries, pecans, and cinnamon crunch topping.

Chipotle There are multiple options you can choose from at Chipotle such as their soft flour tortilla ( burrito or taco), crispy corn tortilla, sofritas, all of their veggies, beans, rice, salsas and of course guac are vegan approved. You don’t have to miss out on their chips either.

Harvey’s Such as surprise! Harvey’s veggie burgers ( even the multigrain bun), onion rings and fries are vegan-friendly.

Taco Bell You won’t have to miss out on Taco Bell’s bean burritos you just have to minus the cheese, sour cream and double check for any other lingering dairy products of course. We were pleased to find out that you can also munch on their plant-based Cinnamon Twists.

Panago Pizza – Panago might have turned me a little bias since they did send me complimentary vegan pizzas to test out when they first released them. If you don’t know already you can still toast up to the warm cheese, when we have Daiya ( holla), even with four different sauces, crusts and vegan pepperoni. Joy to the world!

Dairy Queen So you might not be able to snack on any of their products but on a summer day you can slurp on their dairy-free slush ( Arctic Rush in blueberry, raspberry, lemon-lime, grape + more) yes you can also add some fries on the side as well but don’t be such a bore.

Subway Sandwich Its super simple to order at Subway and so is their vegan options. Breads such as Italian, sourdough, hearty Italian and wrap. Besides all of those veggies, you can also top it off with sweet onion sauce, mustard, buffalo sauce, fat-free Italian dressing, vinaigrette, and deli brown mustard. Oven baked Lays are also an option to go with your meal too!

Thai Express It’s not all fabulous burgers, fries and maybe rainbows. You can have the Pad Thai, Fried Rice (flavors: basil, ginger, cashew nut, sweet and sour, soya garlic and lemongrass) Stir-fry pad salad and pad see-ew. Side note from Thai Express: their eggplant is cooked in the same vegetable oil as other proteins.

Tim Hortons On a chilly day, warm up to their harvest vegetable soup, savor their garden vegetable sandwich ( with no cream cheese) dive into their bagels ( plain, 12 grain, blueberry, everything bagel, cinnamon raisin) with peanut butter and jam and cruise with their potato wedges. They do have vegan-friendly bread too such as whole wheat, white, English muffin, and home style biscuit.

Starbucks With your vegan drink of choice, take our word when we say snag a plain, sprouted grain bagel ( or raisin if you choose) with their guac in a pack. I am telling you it will save you when you’re on the go needing a bite. There are a few other vegan snacks that linger before the counter so make sure you give a double take.

Basil Box All of their ‘ get started’ assortments are vegan, so you don’t need to be the slightest concerned. We recommend the coconut curry tofu for protein, classic peanut sauce ( though all of the other sauces are vegan-friendly too) and toppings to add to your box are limitless. Hey, their sweet mango rice parfait and Chiang Mai trail mix should come home with you too.

On the Road: Ikea is bringing multiple Swedish vegan treats to their locations such as soft serve and veggie hotdog but for now, you can have their organic pasta with marinara sauce, no cheese and veggie meatballs. If you are not feeling that, you can also try out their Moroccan Lentil Soup with Harissa.

BUSTING A MYTH: If you are a true vegan foodie, skip the Beyond Meat Burger “plant-based” at A&W. They use the same grill as their beef, bacon, and eggs as well the mayo they showcase is not vegan. You are left high and dry without many topping options. If you can’t create a proper vegan plant-based burger, and not use vegan mayo which is available, please don’t create it at all. There is no point. I’d rather pay more to try a proper vegan burger than be left with just ketchup, mustard and seasoning if I am lucky.

Vegan tip: if you don’t have to step foot into a non-vegan meat galore spot, there are so many resturants catered to this diet and lifestyle that need to make a living supporting your needs. Urban Herbivore is one of our favorites and like mentioned Planta is too.

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THE STYLE CHALLENGE: TURNING WOMENSWEAR INTO MENSWEAR

Tue, 03 Jul 2018 15:23:02 +0000

I decided to kick up the challenge and put my creative thinking caps to the test because compliments on my menswear stylist eye have become too much of native language for me. As a woman running this styling hub, I always find myself checking out the men’s section when shopping vintage or retail, you won’t catch me leaving the store until I take a peak, because men, your clothing is a real hit and please take advantage of it. When I do take certain men’s pieces into my closet I always find people complimenting me the way I add certain color or accessories to really make it feminine, but what if it was the other way around? and I’m not talking just a black t-shirt and some skinny jeans either. The point of this “challenge” is to really show that fashion should not have boundaries like restroom signs. Anybody should feel comfortable walking to any section, and wear what makes them feel like themselves. You would be surprised how many cool pieces I was taking a look at, that I never realized could turn into a rad men’s outfit. Here are the rules for this challenge:

NO men’s clothing items, accessories or eyewear allowed, though unisex is not prohibited
Must make outfits trendy and pieces that would be found floating on social media platforms/photo shoots
Outfits must have a description of how to wear as you would with a client.
All brands/pricing do not have limits but of course, can be changed via the viewer
Must have 4 completed outfits, top to bottom

The first outfit I chose is retro styled streetwear, especially hinting at those platform sneakers, which I have seen more men dare to wear ( very impressive). I didn’t’ want to use just a regular light denim, but I kept it safe with fitting as the jean does seem to cater to the baggier look which is great for sizing. Of course here at Rad + Raw, we are major for band tees no matter what season it is ( just please listen to their music) I had to put a fun spin with a little humor.

Home to rock n roll style you couldn’t possibly think I wouldn’t add a king fit, did you? I was dying to find the perfect fringe jacket as most are too western cowboy looking and not very attractive I must say. River Island came through with a velvet musk look to pair nicely with the ripped jeans and army styled boot. No doubt you have to add a chain to your pant, the smallest details make an outfit. I stumbled upon this women’s Alexander McQueen ring, which by looking at it you really would think its gender neutral. I marked it under as our wishlist because this is a head turner for any look.

This is one of my favorite looks because its really combining that artist and French look together. These jeans are a god sent item, because it helped me easily set up the rest of the outfit. I would highly recommend though if you snag a pair that looks like these to get them true to fit, of course, if these are women’s, definitely keep your eyes on the size chart for no surprise of only one leg fitting through. The beret makes the look, so if you’re going to test this one out, do not forget this piece!

Can I say band member off duty? I can picture Mick Jagger in a flared pair like these, wait a second is that a Rolling Stones t-shirt? Yes, yes it is and he was on my mind for this outfit because no brainer he is a fashion god. I added the silk scarf to throw in your back pocket for that no effort, laid-back look. I can totally see this being an outfit that you can work off of for your entire wardrobe, it’s giving all kinds of vibes and also extremely cool…..dude.

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ECO FRIENDLY STAYS YOU NEED TO VISIT YOUR NEXT TRIP!

Wed, 02 May 2018 15:12:43 +0000

Let’s get the chatter waste out-of-the-way! What is a green (or what we call eco) home? It’s a habitation purposely designed by mother earth’s materials or technology that is shrinking carbon footprint and promoting sustainable living. Some green homes are run by solar panels which absorb sunlight to create electricity and as well solar water heating that converts sunlight into heat by a solar thermal collector. Appliances that have the energy star logo is an immediate indicator that those products are energy-efficient so make sure you keep your eyes peeled when booking a home. Eco homes are built out of raw materials or recycled products such as woods, metals and so forth to give you an idea. There are different types of foundations that eco homes are built from the ground up. DIY network shows how you can use old car tires in a less conventional way. Now is this the future of living? Yes, especially if your beliefs tend to sway towards global warming and understand climate change. Major cities like right home in Toronto are vacuums for pollution and creating unnecessary waste. It’s important for future entrepreneurs that are building new towers/properties to invest in materials beneficial to the environment as well clean recycled working space for their employees. When traveling not all renters leave cleaning supplies. If you happen to do a little spillage or want to leave your space in top shape, natural and non-harmful products such as apple cider vinegar can be used for un-clogging drains as well cleaning toilets, removing stains from dishes and a little perfume to freshen up the home.

ATLANTA

Secluded Intown Treehouse – Katie & Peter – Airbnb

SWEDEN

http://www.treehotel.se/

BILPIN, AUSTRALIA

Treehouse Blue Mountains – Airbnb

PAHOA, HAWAII

Tropical Modern Eco-Farm Loft – Airbnb

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

Waterfall Retreat & Environmental Centre – Wood Cottage – Airbnb

ALGONQUIN PROVINCIAL PARK, ONTARIO, CANADA

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10 ECO-FRIENDLY + VEGAN FOOTWEAR – TO: SPRING SINCERELY, RAD MEN

Wed, 02 May 2018 14:55:29 +0000

With Fashion Revolution just passing we thought we would dedicate all of our articles for a Rad + Raw version of an eco month. Eco-fashion in womenswear has taken off but it’s rare you find brands solely dedicated for men and not to mention just as dope with prints, color and retro/vintage vibes ( anything that floats your rootbeer boat…). We wanted to not only re-use a few pieces for our threads/shit n stuff capsule guide but gathered footwear that is outside of the regular shoebox and into a spaceship of earthy tones and funky mesh recycling bin. The great part about digging into the web’s codes is finding new brands that add diversity to your wardrobe, that actually makes you stand out and this might also start up a conversation of where you purchased your new digs and introduce them to sustainability. We want to make a pledge to continue to have articles like this in the mix and showcase brands and pieces you might not have yet to see. I think we are a little over the regular box-stores, even though the rad and raw community do scope out hidden treasures anywhere our eyes follow. Our publication’s point is to always be a maverick, so what are we waiting for? This fictitious footwear closet we chose is a trail mix of a few shops all across the world – so you really are putting your footprint on this earth. All shown are vegan to boot.

Po-zu

We got really excited when we saw this high top. Living in Toronto, I have yet to see footwear exactly like this on men. I love how clean it is ( until that one child who kicks dirt on it) and allows the patches to standout Either a dress pant or jean would tango perfectly – for a man that doesn’t like to have too many soles laying around his flat. *lightsabers not included, but recommend for all ages, must stop at rad + raw headquarters for a competition – that is all*

Sole Rebels –

I am a massive fan of shoes that are made out of material. There is something so raw and organic looking about them. They will always have that slight appearance of uncommon. Though coffee would not be a great date with these, the spring sunshine would – making the crisp reds sparkle.

Avesu

We had to throw in a floral following our ‘lookbook’ from last month. Trainers have become massive especially with jeans – they give the 60’s school gym shoe a new spin. The fact you can find a pair like this mocking the traditional classics that are vegan and eco-friendly, you know these were made with love and quality that will last you a long time.

Ap Rain

To be frank, it’s rare you find a pair of rain shoes that are actually, well…are appealing and attractive. The forecast on these modern, clean and technology savvy looking active shoe doesn’t predict the ‘oh hell no’ meme. Ap Rain can be purchased through Nice Shoes, for my Vancouverites. This is not making a joke out of the frequent downpour or anything, but coming from someone who lived there for 13 years – you might just need these!

Unicorn Goods-

It might be time to depart the Chelsea boot dock when you see these. The burnt orange tones and contrast of rustic texture – are so satisfying when a newly fitted denim are paired ( I am seeping in men’s stylist tears) A boot like this becomes even more attractive as it ages especially when it gets kicked around a little. Though I do appreciate the out of the box smell and look, take this lucky boot through all the shit n stuff life takes you.

Etiko

Can you imagine these with a retro suit and puffed out pirate shirt underneath because I can. This shoe makes your imagination go crazy if you picture different scenarios with it, think of it as a long-term relationship. The thick looking laces can easily play a military outfit but as well a show stopper on its own. I would recommend going a little wild with this kick, its made for outrageously cool lads

Natural World

The look of this boot screams meditation, and what I mean by that is its easy on the eyes and can compliment a washed out outfit fairly well – for those days you don’t really feel like putting much thought into what you are wearing. For a visual – think Kanye x a plant powered office.

Nae –

Oooo dude, these are super unique and made for a techy guy that wants to bring his bulletin board and power stickies on the go. Can I give a style tip? If you are having a joggers and white dress shirt kind of day, this would be a shoe to pick. It’s not considered classy of course, but it’s very ‘interior décor persona’ very cliche *in a French accent* and architecturally pleasing.

Grandt Mason – Limited Edition

If it’s limited edition you know it’s a fun shoe. I feel like you could add wings to this and take off – that’s how funky and city superman this is. I wish more men would be risky enough to add such a color to their wardrobe. By color theory, pink is romantic, charming and youthful. So if you have been lacking on your color pills lately, this should even out your bloodstream.

Compassionate Closet –

Has there ever been a time where you look at an article of clothing or in this instance a shoe and go ‘ wow that would really look good with my ink” Just me? Anyway, this is a totally badass boot and it has a rebellious glare just waiting to beam. You can style it really un-done like an ‘ I walked for miles’ vibe or perfectly in a knot. Olive is timeless and your watch is telling you to find time to snag a pair like this.

A WEB FIND: Hey you found it! and if your reading this wondering why we are saying that, we hide cool finds in our articles every month, well now starting today, every month. Use this vegan calculator HERE http://thevegancalculator.com/ to see how much water, forest, grain etc you have saved just by cutting out animal products in your lifestyle!

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CUSTOMIZING YOUR ELECTRIC GUITAR – NON PERMANENTLY

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 17:38:56 +0000

They say just like tattoos, you get one and suddenly you want more. The charming hubbub of an electric guitar is like music surgery, it messes with your noise waves and you have an electric fever forevermore. So, you are at the stage where your babe needs a makeover, but you’re not looking for permanent face reconstructing. We found a few pieces to add to your strings wardrobe, he/she might just become a Gemini.

If you are also feeling like you would like a little tidy up yourself, check out our latest Style Profile HERE on one of your fav retro legends.

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9 WAYS TO USE VINYL RECORDS AS DECOR

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 17:13:20 +0000

This is for the time when you really can say this sounds like a broken record. Vinyl records have made a pretty big comeback thanks to sites like Tumblr and Instagram. I mean, you can pretty much turn anything into a record now – before it was old-school music, you know the quality good kind ( kind of a roast, kind of not) Why not put the fine tunes at use and into retirement. We found 9 different ways you can turn a turntables date into décor pieces that still will play memories, just as loud.

Lighting!

Hanging Decor!

Clocks!

The Rhythmic Foodie

Sit down and enjoy the music?

Quick & easy table renovation

Got to keep the beverage of choice…”cool” somehow

Make this a fine art project

Anytime is coffee time.

and even….one for the boys……

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THE EXTRA BUTTER FILM REVIEW: MOUNTAIN (AUSTRALIA)

Thu, 01 Mar 2018 05:49:03 +0000

There really is some truth to “ There ain’t no mountain high enough”. I knew I wanted to start this mini-series as one that doesn’t showcase big box office films unless it’s a documentary that needs to have a rad and raw chat. Sometimes, I feel the heart and the soul are not exuding from the screen when it’s showcased in Hollywood fantasy mode. I always feel rushed or I silently hear the producers words of if we put ‘this in’ it will for sure make us 20 million over our budget. I like simplicity, not an over amount of effects or crazy surround sound. I take away the underlying points of the film, the story and how it is showcased, especially watching another human’s work unfold.

I picked this film because I knew it had more than one meaning. Not just the sake of mountain extremists or those that continuously break boundaries literally, but sometimes we fall short of siking ourself out to do what we really want to achieve because it creates fear and danger.

Mountain created small mini-films in my head, reminiscing my childhood such as those candy rocks you would have in elementary school, or the whipped cream on top of frozen fruit you would be excited to have after dinner. They showed clips of regular folk skiing and snowboarding on massive hills as well demonstrated the overpopulation of humans all in one space. Only a few weren’t there – those scaling mountains, riding dirt bikes on edges and pushing their feet into the dirt to lift them up to a secure place after hanging from the edge couldn’t possibly fathom protection. Its true these days life activities are becoming more glamorized and ‘safe’. We are always finding ways to do something that can ‘kind of’ fulfill us and practically doing things half-ass yet, an extreme hiker and one that walks a safe trail are both called ‘ mountain hikers’. A snowboarder that willingly conquered an avalanche on one of the tallest mountains in the world is still called just a ‘snowboarder’ next to the human that went down the biggest mountain in the resort. We find ways to go around the mountain instead of going over it so we don’t feel rush and danger because we don’t want to put the time and effort to feed the hunger, so we give our hunger continuous appetizers. “Those that climb mountains are half in love with themselves and half in love with oblivion”

The film was extremely peaceful and relaxing. It could have had more narration or maybe interviews with the individuals shown, I always believe storytelling from the heart of a human, will cast a spell of true feeling to others listening. Though I did hear a few people say the same leaving the theatre, I do believe if they did have more narration or storyline, you wouldn’t be able to take a certain meaning away from the movie, or certain interpretation for yourself – moving forward.

You are an ant on your dreams mountain, why don’t you want to grow? Why don’t you want to become bigger to conquer that mountain? “ Risks are often taken by those that have the least”

Why cover the cracks with snow? Why not feel the rocks and dirt yourself? Oh, is it because your new bought jeans will get scuffed up? or your nails will feel soil? Is it because you are fearful that you are not strong enough to conquer the tallest mountain you will ever see called life? Your practice run starts now.

This is the trailer.

Illustration by: Sadie Kromm

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A few reads for your journey…

Tue, 06 Feb 2018 04:59:31 +0000

Can I see a few hands raise to my tea loving, slow music café, book in hand gentlemen? It is ever so often, you put down the electric attraction of the cellar vibrations to take time to leave it on silent and keep your eyes on the fine print of ink. You may ‘forget’ that picking up a good ol’ book can help prevent Alzheimers & Dementia, keeping your brain mentally stimulated. LifeHack.org also states that reading can also improve your analytical thinking skills, improve focus, concentration and tranquility. All things that are beneficial in unpredictable job interviews, self-confidence and who doesn’t love extra knowledge for bragging rights over a cup of joe. Hey, Ashton Kutcher did say the sexiest thing in the world is being really smart.

With a few paper cuts and fingertips we gently thumb through each folio assembling a few reads that will make your ticker strum for poetry, get in touch with your ladylike energy, be in the mood to find your own ‘man’s best friend’ or feel the ‘ hurting, the healing and the loving’ synopsis. These books create a mini-runaway to paradise.

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Men’s Color Trends 2018 – PAINTBOX

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 20:08:20 +0000

Seeking new color schemes for your wardrobe might not cause you to blink an extra 2 times or decide to make homemade brownie batter over it, but your friendly twitter fingers are raving and showing a high interest for this upcoming year…more than ever. We can’t say we are not loving it.

We follow these hue astrologers, giving you a reason to lick the edible fashion paint before it dries. Keep your mental lookbook or handy.

Old Navy

John Lewis

TopMan

ASOS

Rag & Bone

H&M

Zanerobe

Oldnavy

Farfetch

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