Nikki Designs

Recycled Flats

2012-02-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

Flats are a go to shoe for a lot of women. They are comfortable, always in style and easy to wear with a variety of outfits. Well, did you know you could be buying flats made of recycled materials? Check these out!

The Burke by North Face

100% recycled canvas strips, ecoOrtholite footbed, 30% recycled rubber outsole and 70% recycled board.

Hot News flats by All Black

Made with just 3 1/2 pages of Chinese newspapers they are each one of a kid. They are not made in a factory but are handwoven.

Isabel Burlap by TOMS

Made from burlap and of course, as with all TOMS shoes, for each one bought one is donated to a child in need.

ExtraSeed Reycled Flats for Nancy's Gone Green

Made in Ethiopia these are made with factory scrap fabric, ethically tanned sheepskin leather and recycled car tire tube.

Recycled Babylon Flat by olsenHaus

Vegan and made with 100% recycled materials

DIY: A Simple LOVE Project

2012-02-13T20:36:00.000-08:00

I needed to update some pictures hanging in my entry and I thought of a very simple way to do it. It also was FREE for me because I had everything I needed, woohoo!

Here is what I did.
First, I removed the pictures that were in the frames. I then found 4 pieces of fabric that I liked the look of - I cut mine out of a discontinued fabric sample book.

I taped the fabric samples to the cardboard that came with the frames, making sure they were centered.

Then I printed the letters LOVE on a piece of card stock and cut them out.

I put a small piece of 2-sides tape (carpet tape works well) on the back of each letter and centered them on the fabric pieces.

Then I placed the cardboard back in the frame and was done!

Trend Alert: Neon & Pastels

2012-02-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

Both neon and pastels are big trends for Spring 2012. Here are some ways you can incorporate these pops of colour into both your wardrobe and your home.

Inspiration:

Neon Fashion:

neonshatter by sophie-strout featuring shop handbags

Neon Home:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Pastel Fashion:

Pastels by sophie-strout featuring yellow tops

Pastel Home:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This two trends also look great paired together, just make sure to keep the pastel in a more neutral shade like light grey.

1 2 3 4 5 6

How to Make a Dog Bed

2012-02-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

This is Joey, our 12 yr old Golden Retriever.

On Sunday I decided my poor dog desperately needed a new dog bed. He had been using a play mat I made for my kids when they were little, and that was a long time ago! The zipper was broken and the foam was flat, so I scoured my fabric stash for something suitable to make a new bed out of.

Luckily I had some navy polar fleece and some navy twill on hand - perfect! I also had a huge bag of poly stuffing that I bought at Value Village for $5!

Step 1. Decide how big you want your bed to be. Lay both fabrics down flat. Draw a circle on the top piece of fabric. I find the easiest way to do this is to make a mark in the center of your circle, place your measuring tape there, and measure and mark half the diameter length every 6" or so, going all the way around. Then draw your circle, connecting the marks. Cut out your circles.

Step 2. I wanted to be able to remove my cover, so I made an insert for it. Place 1 circle of fabric on an old sheet or muslin and cut out 2 pieces. Don't you love my old sheet? It must be from the 80's!

Stitch 1/2" from edge, leave a space for turning and stuffing.

Step 3. Turn the insert right side out, fill it with whatever you have on hand that's soft (foam pieces, fabric scraps, fiber-fill). Fill it quite full, as it will flatten over time (especially if you have a slightly-overweight dog like mine!) Pin and stitch the opening closed.

Step 4. Making the cover. Serge around the edges of the top and bottom. Pin the top to the bottom, right sides together.

Your zipper should be 1/3 to 1/2 the circumference of your circle. Leave the space for your zipper open, but stitch the rest of the circle. Open your zipper and pin both side to the right sides of the top and bottom, face down. Stitch, using a zipper foot, close to the teeth.

Here is how it should look from the right side. And....you're done!

My doggie loves it, he's been sleeping on it all week!

Valentine's Day Ideas

2012-02-07T18:06:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day can be a very fun holiday and you don't have to break the bank to have a great time! Whether you are single or attached, why not make the most of it? It's really just a day to show love and be loved. Have fun with it!

Grab a free printable Valentine's Day cards

Check out local Groupon Now deals you can buy and use that day

Bake someone (even yourself) a cake like this vegan red velvet cake

DIY friendship bracelets...they aren't just for kids anymore!

Start your morning off with heart shaped pancakes

Build a blanket fort because everything is better in a blanket fort

At home wine tasting; pick up a few different bottles to try or invite guests and have them each bring one. Beer would work too.

Have a themed night like "Italy" where you eat Italian food, watch an Italian movie and so on

Watch some of the top rated romantic movies

Treat yourself or someone special

Bake Valentine's Day fortune cookies

Wear a bold shade of red or pink

DIY Inspiration

2012-02-04T10:41:00.000-08:00

Something I love to do is to take inspiration from outfit pictures and see what I can make myself. Here are some fashionable looks I love and am hoping to turn into some fun DIY projects.

Cut out the collar and buttons from a shirt/dress and attach it to a strapless dress. asos

A pleated faux leather mini skirt is an easy sewing project. leblogdemok

I love the black accents on this nude blouse. sourceunknown/Tumblr

Add ruching and a long slit to a maxi dress for a new look songofstyle

A pleated maxi skirt with an elastic waistband. pageruth

Add a lace overlay to a pair of black shorts. songofstyle

Cut a long blouse in an angle. these-days

Winner of January, 2012 Giveaway

2012-01-31T16:42:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to S. Paul from San Francisco! Your entry was chosen by a random number generator as the winner of my Lavender Eye Pillow Gift Set.

Thank you to all who entered, I especially loved hearing about your best Valentine's presents!

,

Nikki

Eco Emi January

2012-01-30T16:37:00.000-08:00

This is the last Eco-Emi box review I have! I cancelled back in December but still had one more month that was already paid for. I will say, overall, I have been very happy with my Eco Emi boxes! I have felt each one has been worth $10.

It came in a blue velvet bag with tissue paper and snowflakes. It was 80F out here that day so the snowflakes made me giggle!

I received 9 items! I love that you get a bit of everything, it's not just food or just beauty etc.

Sprouted organic Quinoa by Tru Roots. I am a big fan of quinoa and always keep it the house. I have not tried it sprouted but am very interested. I had been looking into sprouted foods recently, actually. I'm going to try soaking them so they keep all of their nutrients!

Organic Hand Purifier by Dr. Clean Green. It smells mainly like cinnamon and lemongrass. Sort of an odd combination but it smells good, very "herbal-like". This comes out as a foam and it did make my hands a bit sticky which I always find to be the case with foam hand sanitizers. It's in my purse though and I do plan on using it all up. I definitely like it better than those dollar store type ones!

Lip Tint by J.R Watkins. This is a tinted lip balm. I don't own any tinted lip balms but now I'm wondering why that is because I really like the amount of color pay off this gives. I wear a lot of bright lip colors so this is a nice, more subtle look that I don't need a mirror to apply. It's minty fresh but doesn't taste like anything. Overall, I really like this but it does contain beeswax.

Organic Eyeliner in black brown by Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques.. I was excited to get this! It is vegan. I've been wanting a black/brown eyeliner that can give the eyes a very natural look and this does just that. It is definitely not a dramatic eye liner. You can see that it does rub off some but not completely. I've worn this a few times already and while it does go on fairly light, it doesn't run or smudge!

Grapefruit Seed & Orange Peel Liquid Laundry detergent by Biokleen. I'm always happy to try out some more natural, organic laundry detergent! I haven't tried this yet but the scent sounds nice.

Organic Fair Trade Coconut Oil by Kelapo. It comes from Sri Lanka. I have coconut oil and am a big fan so this will definitely get used, whether it is for cooking or my hair/skin.

Honeydew Spearmint lotion by Deep Steep. I loved the Deep Steep foot lotion sample I got last time so I have high hopes for this! It contains organic herbal extracts blended with organic oils, butters and vitamins.

Herbal tea by TeaGschwendner Marant. This even came with two tea throw away tea bags to use- cute! These are really tasty! The fruit one has actual pieces of fruit in it! My husband loves them too. So, I think we're going to buy some loose leaf tea, whether it is this brand or another.

Endangered Species lip balm by Merry Hempsters. Yes, another lip balm. And it does contain beeswax. That said, as far as lip balms go...this one is amazing. It is truly very moisturizing! I got the scent lavender orange and while I don't like the smell of lavender this does smell quite nice. It is USDA certified organic.

Upcycle

2012-01-26T14:37:00.000-08:00

To upcycle is to take something you already own and turn it into something else! Basically it's DIY but using things you already own. It's very eco-friendly! I've been collecting a lot of upcycling projects lately and though I'd share them here.

Upcycled

Enjoy!

Etsy Favourites: Valentine's Day

2012-01-21T15:45:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I did an "Etsy favourites" post! Well, here is a special Valentine's Day themed one for you.

Heart gloves

Yastikizi

Vintage mug

The Happy Modernist

Mineral blush

Madison Street Beauty

Dark pink knitted hat

Mojospa Style

Personalized necklace

Moodi Chic

Fudge pops

Jewel of the Lion

Personalized Ring

Bragging Bags

Giveaway - Jan, 2012

2012-01-20T14:11:00.000-08:00

Wow, I can't believe it's Jan 20th already! We had a short holiday earlier this month to visit our daughter Sophie (yes, the one who writes for this blog) in sunny San Diego. Got the whole family together, it was alot of fun (and much warmer than Vancouver right now!)
Here's a shot of me and our 3 girls -

But now I need to get busy!
You will love this month's giveaway - it will make a very nice gift for Valentine's Day, or for a friend, sister, mother, or yourself! My latest listings on Etsy have been all about pampering - we all need to take time to relax and unwind every day. This month I am giving away a Lavender Eye Pillow Valentine Set!

The set comes with a linen/organic cotton reversible fabric basket to keep it in (made by my other daughter, the one on the left - yes, we're all pretty crafty!) The eye pillow is made from hemp/tencel and filled with freshly dried lavender and flax seeds.

If you don't win, I also have one for sale in my shop:)

Open to Canada and U.S. residents, 18 yrs of age or older.

Deadline: Sunday, Jan 29, 10 pm
Winner is chosen by a random number generator and will be notified by email.

Ways to enter: (you can enter more than once)

1. Leave a comment to this post, telling me your favorite item in my shop. Scroll down to the bottom of this post and click on the word "comments"

2. Become a follower of this blog (scroll down on left side of this blog). Leave a comment, letting me know.

3. Like my facebook page and leave a comment letting me know.

4. Subscribe to my monthly newsletter - where is says "sign up for monthly email updates" on the top right side of this blog, or on my facebook page. Then leave me a comment letting me know.

5. Leave a comment to this post, telling me the best Valentine's present you've ever received.

6. Share this post on your blog. Send me the link - either here under comments, or on my facebook page.

7. Grab my button on the right and leave a link to your blog under comments or on my facebook page.

8. Follow me on Twitter

9. Follow me on Pinterest

ShopCatch

2012-01-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

ShopCatch is a smartphone app available only in Canada. It allows you to find store deals, keep track of coupons and share these finds with friends. It's completely free!

Features:
- Find and save mobile coupons
- Mall maps and store information
- Search
- Share deals with people on Facebook, Twitter, email or SMS
- View deals in list or map form

It was rated one of the top 5 shopping apps in the Apple store. The Baby Blackbird did a great review of the app! It's a great way to view deals on the go and all in one place. Plus, mobile coupons are more eco-friendly than printable ones!

Follow ShopCatch on Twitter or 'like' on Facebook.

New Year Resolutions

2011-12-29T14:25:00.000-08:00

For 2012, I really want to make more of an effort to be eco-friendly. I was inspired while watching the documentary No Impact Man which is about a couple and their young daughter who, for one year, try be as environmentally friendly as they can. They do some pretty extreme things but the message overall is that you don't know until you try. It made me think about how much I can (and want) to be doing. So I compiled a list of things and will actually be writing it out on paper so I can frame it. That way I'll have a constant reminder. The list is fairly simple. I went with things I hope to be able to continue with after 2012 but that will still challenge me.

To help you all better understand my reasoning behind each thing, I went into more detail. If you can't imagine committing to this many things at once why not try 1 per month? We can all make a difference and inspire others to do the same. :)

A Greener 2012

1. Eat out less (avoid take home containers; share meals or bring own Tupperware)
When you eat out, you have less control over what products are used and how much waste is being created. I am not going to completely stop eating out but I will not use plastic straws, bring my own Tupperware for leftovers, use cloth napkins and try to choose restaurants that focus on being eco-friendly.
2. Shop locally more
When food or others are shipped they create a larger carbon footprint, more waste etc. I am going to start shopping at the Farmer's Market more often so I can buy local items that didn't have to be shipped.
3. Replace all bulbs with eco-smart ones
Kind of a given but I still have some that haven't been switched over! Time to stop putting that off.
4. Thrift more than buy new (clothes, shoes etc)
By thrifting/shopping secondhand/buying used you are purchasing items that already exist vs creating a need for more. I plan on thrifting a lot more and buying new much much less.
5. Continue to not eat/buy animal products
I have been vegan for a few months now and love it! It is very eco-friendly. Animals raised for consumption use up an insane amount of energy and water. According to Environmental Defense, if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetarian foods instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads. So just imagine what cutting out all animal products does!
6. Try to create less trash
This is one thing No Impact Man really made me think about; the amount of trash we create. To create less, I will shop less and avoid unnecessary packaging as much as possible. I will buy items that can be re-cycled or reused.
7. Recycle recycle recycle
I do recycle cans, paper, plastic, cartons etc but some items to still find their way into the trash. I just want to be more careful/strict to make sure I am recycling everything I can.
8. Always remember my reusable shopping bags (and small ones for produce)
I have gotten pretty good at remembering these. It helps to have some in the car, some in my purse and even some in my gym bag. I hadn't thought to use them for produce IN the store so I am going to do that.
9. Don't buy paper towels or wipes
I rarely buy them because I hate how much waste they create but in 2012 I won't buy any. I will use up what I have left and then stick to paperless towels. I am also going to make my own makeup remover wipes instead of buying them.
10. Always use r-usable cups
Not generally a problem for me but I will make sure to have my reusable cup with me in case I go to Starbucks or some place with throw away cups.
11. Re-use Ziploc bags/make own reusable snack bags
I use a lot of little baggies and have gotten bad about reusing them. No more!
12. Buy a cup. A "feminine cup" that is.
Read about it here.
13. No new magazine subscriptions
You can also switch them to online subscriptions, I think. I'm going to look into it since I still have a few. I don't really want to cancel and waste my money...but definitely no new subscriptions by mail.
14. Don't buy individually wrapped foods
Most food is packaged but avoid items that only have one serving in it. Try to buy items with more servings. Chances are you are cutting back on waste.
15. DIY beauty products
I'm fully aware I own plenty of beauty products. I'm not going to pretend I won't buy ANY but I do plan on trying to DIY more often than purchase from a store.
16. Donate clothes/unwanted items or post on Freecycle
I need to go through my wardrobe again and see what I should get rid of.
17. Buy all organic
Never mind the "Dirty Dozen", I want ALL of my food to be organic. I don't see why I should be putting any unnecessary chemicals in my body.
18. Air dry washed laundry
It might look a little ridiculous seeing clothes strung out all over my small apartment but I do try to air dry my clothes. Going to make a point to do it a lot more though! Might mean washing my husbands uniforms Friday night instead of Sunday so they have time to dry but that's fine. If I do use the dryer, I will use wool dryer balls instead of sheets that get thrown out.
19. Use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning
I'm going to try to make all my own household cleaning products in 2012. It's really not difficult, just a matter of getting around to it! And yes, they will be all natural and organic.
20. Buy items in glass packaging vs plastic and re-use them
I love the idea of a jar salad and other such recipes but instead of buying new jars, I will reuse the ones I have.
21. Make my own spice mixes
When a spice bottle runs out, keep it and then create your own mix of spices to add to it.
22. Unplug appliances when not in use
I do this 50% of the time. Not good enough.
23. Attempt to grow another herb garden
My last one fell to its death thanks to my cat! I love using fresh herbs.
24. Grow my own tomatoes and strawberries
I don't have a yard but these are items I can grow without one.
25. Don't let water run when washing dishes
I'm really bad about this. *cringe* Best to fill up the sink and use that water until it's too dirty then refill it. The dirty water can be used to water plants.
26. Freeze foods before they go bad
I have gotten pretty good about this. When I buy produce and bread, I divide it up and put the extras in the freezer. Most items I will thaw before using but I like to eat my blueberries and grapes still frozen! Sliced up frozen bananas are great for smoothies, no need to thaw.
27. Unsubscribe/cancel junk mail
I receive flyers from so many grocery stores, Citibank and other companies. Time to finally put a stop to it!
28. Use wool dryer balls instead of sheets
See #19.
29. Try soap nuts instead of laundry detergent
I'm eager to try these out. They are actually berries, not nuts. You put 3-5 in a muslin bag, tie it tightly and toss it in with your laundry. You can soak them in some warm water first and then wash with cold water and get more uses out of them. One baggie of "nuts" will last you a few loads. You can purchase 12oz of the soap nuts for around $18 so not only are they natural and chemical free but they are cost effective! When you are done with them, you can toss them outside as they are biodegradable.
30. Re-use toilet paper rolls (keep cords tidy, organize hair bands, store garbage/plastic bags, herb garden)
Obviously I have toilet paper rolls pretty often. Why not put them to use?
31. Turn off my computer at night.
So simple and yet I don't normally do it.
32. Take shorter showers.
Honestly, I'm not sure how long my showers currently are and I don't feel like I "dawdle" in there but I'm sure I could be faster! For every two minutes you save on your shower you can conserve more than ten gallons of water!
33. Take notes/write down grocery list on used paper (like the back of something you printed) instead of a notepad.
I'm a bit of a compulsive list maker so this is a must.
34. Buy from bulk bins at natural grocery stores.
Less packaging plus you can usually use your own bag...so no waste!
35. DIY all Christmas gifts in 2012
I'll start early, like October, and find things I can make that I fee the person receiving it will love!

Another thing I'd like to do is bokashi but I live an apartment without a yard so I'm not sure I can. I know in No Impact Man they live in a building and don't appear to have a yard so I wonder what they did with their compost. If I think of more things, I'll be sure to add them to the list, of course!

Have a great 2012!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!!

a Christmas manicure I did

Have a wonderful day full of love, laughter and merriment.

Eco-Emi December

2011-12-24T14:46:00.000-08:00

Eco Emi December box. To see what I received in my November box, go here. Eco-Emi is a subscription service where you receive a box of eco-friendly goodies each month for $15. You can sign up here!

This time it came in a box which I was able to re-use when wrapping someone's Christmas present. I appreciate that they didn't put a logo or anything on the box, making it easy to re-use. :)

a look at everything. They always include product info which usually has a coupon!

I haven't tried this yet but am looking forward to! We are almost done with our very large jug of laundry detergent and once it's empty I am wanting to switch to something more natural and organic.

Cute! I've been wearing these a fair bit. Very warm and comfortable, even for my big feet! They are thicker than my other socks. I love that these are hand knit by a family in the US.

Organic candy cane! I have been wanting to place an order with this store. I'm eating this tonight!

This candle smells SO good. Someone is going to find it in with their Christmas gifts this year, someone who I think will love it! I was tempted to keep it but I rarely use candles now that I have Scentsy.

I have tried a vitamin c chew before from a different brand and was not a fan so I was a bit apprehensive to try this. Unfortunately...I did not like this one either. It was SO sweet. It also had a gritty texture which I also found with the other brand I tried. My husband doesn't love them but he has been eating them so at least they aren't going to waste. It has a good dose of Vitamin C in it but I'll stick to my oranges for now.

I haven't tried this yet but am SO excited to! It is right up my alley. I love nut butters. This is a chocolate coconut butter...and it's raw! I try to eat a lot of raw foods/meals because they are so nutrient rich. I'm taking this on my vacation to WA State in a week. I'll probably eat it with an apple!

I decided to keep this for myself. It applies a bit streaky but evens out. The brush it like a makeup brush which is kind of different but nice and soft on the lips. I really like this lip gloss! The colour is subtle and universally flattering but you do see it. It's not overly sticky or thick either. swatches below:

This is another one I'm regifting. I'm sure it's quite nice but I received a balm last month that I kept. Neither that one or this one are vegan so I don't want to keep both.

I'm bringing this on my WA trip as well! Great travel sizes. I'm really excited to try these. John Masters Organic is VERY strict in their organic/vegan guidelines.

Overall, very happy with this box yet again. I think Eco-Emi does a great job of selecting brands that I am eager to learn more about as well as a wide variety of products.

That said, I did cancel my subscription. I really enjoyed the products both months but as a vegan I really prefer to not use products that contain animal ingredients which some of the Eco-Emi products do. I do find that a lot of them are vegan though which is so awesome. My main reason for doing it is part of my 2012 resolution; I am cutting back on online shopping (more on that to come!) as well as many other things in an effort to be more eco-friendly. So, I cancelled all my subscriptions not because of the products themselves but because I don't want to contribute to carbon footprint that comes from shipping deliveries for the next year. That said, I highly recommend Eco-Emi! I might have one more box coming in January, not sure, if I do I'll review that one too.

Wrapping Gifts

2011-12-22T14:14:00.000-08:00

It's time to wrap those gifts! I will admit, I was not creative with my wrapping this year. I used paper I had from last year and some cute bags from Target. I did use makeup bags for some gifts because it's like two gifts and one and creates less waste! I'm thinking I should at least make some gift toppers like a fun ribbon or flower. In the mean time, I'll just wishfully gaze upon these pictures....

gift card holders

Printable bird tags

Candy stocking stuffer

No Sew Fabric Flower Pins

2011-12-19T19:49:00.000-08:00

Because I sew every day, sometimes I like finding a project that requires no sewing! Fabric flowers are so popular this year. I had been wanting to make some for quite awhile, but never seemed to have the time. Well, I finally got around to it last week. I decided they would make great gifts for all my friends. I scrounged through my bins and found a big piece of red felt, and a bag of leather scraps that I've been holding onto for many, many years. The instructions are simple - you've got to try it! For these flowers a stiff fabric works best, and if it doesn't fray, that's even better.

You could make about 5 flowers with 1/4 yd of fabric. You will also need a glue gun and glue stick, something round to trace the backing, scissors, and a safety pin or brooch pin for the back of each one. You could also glue them to a hair band or belt, or pin it to a hat. Make some out of paper to decorate your presents, or pin them to a gift bag like I have (2 presents in one - or I guess that's 3 including what's inside the bag!)

First draw a simple flower on paper like the one shown. It does not have to be perfect. Mine is about 3" x 3" big. Cut out your pattern and trace it on to the fabric 7 times for one flower. You will also need 1 round piece for the back of the flower. Cut out your pieces, making sure no ink shows.

Fold one piece in half, then in half again. Cut off a small corner.

Keeping it folded, place a dab of glue on this spot and press it onto the circle of felt, a little to 1 side of the center.

Fold another piece, trim, glue and press it on the circle like this:

Add 2 more petals, so that the "points" are all touching, but leaving some room in the middle for the last 2 or 3 petals.

Add the last petals - I have used only 6 altogether in this one, because the felt is quite thick. Glue a pin on the back and you are done!

Here are some I made from leather scraps.

Christmas Decorating Part II

2011-12-19T13:57:00.000-08:00

Okay, so Christmas is less than a week away but these decorations featuring pinecones will still look great post-holiday!

Stuff them! Such a unique look.

Add drops of glitter.

Spray paint some pinecones white and leave there rest natural.

Hang from a ribbon.

Get colorful.

Make place holders.

Spray white and add some red berries.

Add a bow.

Hang from a branch.

A Really Easy DIY Gift Bag

2011-12-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

Here is a really simple fabric gift bag you can make in around 5 min, as long as you have some basic sewing skills!

I wanted my finished bag to be around 7" wide x 8" tall, so I cut a piece of fabric (I used hemp/cotton muslin) 15" x 8". I cut a piece of hemp string about 25" long, folded it in half, and stitched it to 1 side of the fabric, 2" down from the top.

The top of my bag is the selvage of the fabric, so I didn't need to finish it. but if yours isn't, you will have to serge or zig zag or cut the top with pinking sheers. Fold the fabric so that the string is inside. Serge or stitch the sides and top.

Turn the bag right side out and it is done! If you like you can embellish the bag by hand painting or stenciling a design onto it. Make sure you use fabric paint (place cardboard inside when you are painting) and that you heat set it with an iron. I have made these felt flower pins (next post, haha) which I thought looked pretty cute on the bags and my friends can also wear them after they open their gifts!

Stocking Stuffers

2011-12-16T09:18:00.000-08:00

Stockings have always been my favourite part of Christmas. What is your favourite part? Or if you don't celebrate Christmas, what is you favourite holiday tradition?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

It's free shipping day in the US today. Check out the participating stores!

Conscious Gift Giving

2011-12-12T10:03:00.000-08:00

Eco-friendly/organic gifts for all!

1. Weleda 2. G Diapers 3. Baby Earth 4. Sewn Natural 5. Oompa

1. Desert Essence 2. Eco Bella 3. Waste Less Bags 4. Natural Health

1. Natural Candy 2. Fluffy Co 3. Alternative Apparel 4. Food Matters 5. Peak Organic Beer

Winner of December, 2011 Giveaway

2011-12-09T08:58:00.001-08:00

Thank you to everyone who entered! The winner is chosen by a random number generator. The winner of my 3 reusable gift bags is Suzanne Gregg, congratulations!

Save Money While Shopping

2011-12-09T08:47:00.001-08:00

Today I want to share some ways you can save money while gift giving this Christmas although, really, these tips work all year round. Christmas is a great time to shower those we love with gifts but there is no reason to stress over how much money you can spend. Anyone can give a great gift without spending a lot.

1. Use deal websites like Groupon, Living Social, Save More etc. On these sites you can purchase deals at a discount, like $15 for a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card or $20 for $50 to spend on kids cooking products. There are sites that sell products at a discount like Shop Lately, Haute Look, The Clymb and many more. Some will give you free credit to spend just for signing up! I know The Clymb will give you $10 to spend right now! Most will give you credit if anyone uses your referral link and makes a purchase.

2. Give a subscription. Julep Maven allows you to give your own box to someone else at $20/month. Lollihop gifts are a great deal because you get each month at a discounted price. Of course, there are also magazine subscriptions. You can often find great deals at places like this or Amazon.

3. Create a themed gift. Buy a bag of good coffee, grind it yourself and pour it into a nice jar or sealed canister. You could also pick up a mug at TJ Maxx or Ross and include that. Or why not make your own truffle balls which make great hot chocolate? Another idea is a movie night. Places like Big Lots have movies for as low as $3. You could include some movie theater candy ($1 at Walmart) or if you can spend a bit more, get them a popcorn maker (because the microwave stuff is very bad for you).

4. Use coupons. Like this one for a free body butter at The Body Shop! There are also many that include a gift with purchase. If you are ordering online, always check a site like retailmenot.com before placing an order because there may be a coupon you can use.

5. Save on shipping. Right now you can sign up for Shop Runner for FREE, for an entire year. That's a $79 savings. It gives you free 2 day shipping on many sites. It also gives you special coupon discounts to use.

6. Stay on top of deals. I mainly use Fat Wallet and Deal News to see what the best deals are at any given time. Sites like these scour the web for the best deals and post them in one place, making it much easier for you and I to view them all. This can save you a lot of time and ensure that you are getting a product for the lowest price possible.

7. Re-gift. Re-gifting has gotten a bad rap over the years but when done right, I really don't think there's anything wrong with it. When re-gifting, the item should be NEW not used. Don't scour your house looking for things to re-gift, instead, when you are given something that you don't really want just keep it in its box and put it away somewhere so when you are in need a gift for someone, there is always that. For example, with my Julep Maven subscription I received a lot of products and there were a few I was okay with not keeping myself so I kept them in their original packaging and placed them in a drawer in case I one day wanted to re-gift or just give it away. Also, don't give someone something you don't think they will like. Only re-gift something you feel the person will enjoy more than you and actually use!

8. Re-use items when it comes to wrapping. I'm using makeup bags to wrap up some gifts this year. I have a few that have never been used so why not? It's like two gifts in one! Shoe boxes also work well for gift wrapping. As much as I love the cute wrapping paper in stores, I have resisted this year and opted to use what I already have, items found in my home and DIY. You can make your own wrapping paper, goodie bags and even gift boxes, you know.

9. DIY. DIY gifts are particular great for people you find really hard to shop for. Maybe it's not something they would have bought from a store but the fact that you put your own time and talent into it is going to make it mean a lot more to them. There are so many gifts you can make yourself like shag pillows, yarn covered letters, hair bows, cookie mix jars, chalkboard wine glasses, sugar scrub and reuseable snack bags.

10. Give an experience instead of something materialistic. Restaurant.com has fantastic deals for eating out. You can often get discounted movie tickets on Fandango. Or there's always the good ol' "I O U". Give a great card with a message saying you'll take them out to brunch or to the zoo. If money is tight, you can always promise to do it the following month.

Some Ways to Avoid Stress this Christmas

2011-12-09T08:42:00.001-08:00

· I thought this article from Celebrate Green was worth sharing:

Take arealistic lookat the number of gifts you plan to give and the amount you plan to spend. WillChristmas leave you with credit card debt you'll be paying well into swimseason? Is this necessary? Is it wise? How about making gifts from items youhave on hand? Or making up songs or poems or choosing to give only gifts oftime spent together?

· As you're thinkingabout Christmas, consider theenvironmental costs of things like wrapping paper. Forgetbuying it and you not only save money, but help the planet out too. Very littleof the wrapping paper purchased is recycled and even doing that takes energy.

· What kinds of family activities do you findrelaxing and fun? Choose to do one or two of those as the holiday approaches.None of them need cost any money.

· Give yourself the gift of calm every day. Ask your mate or afriend for a massage, a cup of tea, time for a bath or a walk. Think about whatwould help, then request it.

· Stay awayfrom the frenzy.Avoid any activity you find stressful from malls to tree lighting ceremoniesattended by thousands of people.

· Surroundyourself in peace. Turn the lights down, burn beeswax candles, play soft music duringstressful times. For instance, if preparing dinner for the kids is a nightmare,create a quiet atmosphere and ask them to whisper. Make it a game and they willlikely play along.

· Make eyecontact. Onereason children seem to act out more around the holidays is because they wantattention. Simply sitting with them for a few minutes at a time, looking themin the eye (no distractions) and talking, is calming and may help calm you too.

· Say"No."Refuse to take on any more than you can comfortably handle. You do not have tobake cookies for your kids' school just because you're the only mom available.If they don't have cookies for their party, it's not your problem. Seriously,you can't do everything and the more you say "yes," the more you'llbe expected to take on.

· Approach yourholiday mealwith the thought that the most important thing is to have everyone gatheredtogether for a fun and meaningful event, not to have so muchfood that no one can get up from the table without help! What this means is toshop carefully in terms of the amount of food you purchase so that little is wasted.If you find planning a huge meal stressful, how about simplifying it. Try afondue, desserts only (and guests bring them), or a lunch, when people tend tobe happier with less.

Remember that having agreen Christmas isn't about buying and neither is enjoying a calmer one. It'sabout realizing the simple joys that come from being together and knowing howeasy (and inexpensive), it is to achieve.

Eco Emi November

2011-12-04T10:13:00.001-08:00

I wrote about Eco Emi back in this post and said I was on the wait list to subscribe. Well, I received my first box last month! I was very impressed and am excited to receive another one this month. Here is a look at what I got:

Inside the shipping box, the items were packaged in a re-useable makeup bag. Eco-emi often uses reuseable bags with their packaging which I love! I'm trying to do that with Christmas presents this year. I will say, I was surprised how small the package was but once I started opening it, I realized a lot of items were wrapped together...and there were a ton of products!!

I wasn't going to keep this for myself because it contains beeswax but... the cute packaging and shimmer drew me in. I really like this balm. The shimmer and tint is subtle but nice. It wears nicely and is very smooth. Most importantly, it is moisturizing.

I haven't tried these yet, I'm saving them for when I'm on vacation in a few weeks because they are travel size. I'm excited to try them though!

I ate this right up! I was surprised to learn it was vegan but very happy. It was delicious! Expensive to order online but if I see it in store, I'll buy it.

I haven't used this yet. Again, saving it for vacation. I need a good foot cream though so fingers crossed that this is just that.

I included my finger in the shot so you can get idea of the sizes here. There is a mineral eyeshadow is a natural gold which I really like. It's very wearable. Then there is a clay mask. I love clay masks! It smells quite strong but it's a good smell. I've used it a few times now with good results. The hand cream smells quite strong when first applied but quickly fades. I love where and how it is made (see below). It absorbs quickly and is moisturizing.

This spray can be used for anything...I tried wearing it like a perfume but the smell just wasn't strong enough. If you don't like to wear perfume normally you may prefer this. I do like it for spraying my bed sheets though.

This pin is so cute! It says "hug me". I attached it to one of my purses.

Here are more details on each product:

click to enlarge

Overall, I am really happy with the box. There was a lot of samples and they will all last a while. I felt like there was a really nice mix of products too. I went online to further research each product but they all interested me, so that's a good sign.

December, 2011 Giveaway!

2011-11-30T20:45:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays Everyone! I am really in the holiday spirit this year and having an early deadline for my monthly giveaway in hope that it will arrive in time for Christmas to some lucky winner.

This month I am giving away 3 small reusable gift bags! Either plain or with a Christmas design - your choice. These bags are made from either linen/cotton or hemp/cotton.

Open to Canada and U.S. residents, 18 yrs of age or older.

Deadline: Wednesday, Dec 7, 10 pm
Winner is chosen by a random number generator and will be notified by email.

Ways to enter: (you can enter more than once)

1. Leave a comment to this post, telling me your favorite item in my shop. Scroll down to the bottom of this post and click on the word "comments"

2. Become a follower of this blog (scroll down on left side of this blog). Leave a comment, letting me know.

3. Like my facebook page and leave a comment letting me know.

4. Subscribe to my monthly newsletter - where is says "sign up for monthly email updates" on the top right side of this blog, or on my facebook page. Then leave me a comment letting me know.

5. Leave a comment to this post, telling me the best Christmas present you've ever received.

6. Share this post on your blog. Send me the link - either here under comments, or on my facebook page.

7. Grab my button on the right and leave a link to your blog under comments or on my facebook page.

8. Follow me on Twitter

Christmas Decorating Part 1

2011-11-29T18:02:00.001-08:00

Part 1: Decorating with a clear vase

For Thanksgiving this year I did a really simple centerpiece. I bought the vase for just $1 at Dollar Tree, filled it up with fresh cranberries, water and placed a candle in the center. So easy! It's a nice holiday decoration.

Similar to this:

Filling a vase is such an easy DIY project that you can change up each season/occasion! I'll be changing mine soon for the Christmas season. I think I will keep it simple and fill it with some mini ornaments. You can definitely decorate a vase for a very low price. Try thrift stores for great vases and dollar stores for less expensive decorations. If you are wanting to use fruit and keep it for a while, you may want to look for fake plastic fruit!

Love this! Don't be afraid to create layers within the vase.

Fruit adds a fun pop of colour.

Spray some pinecones to match your ornaments.

Create a tree!

Use similar varying shades of the same colour.

Add a bow!

Try flipping the vase upside down!

Pinecones + ribbon.

Black Friday Sale!

2011-11-24T20:29:00.001-08:00

Starting right now there are several items in my shop that have been discounted 25-30%!
Sale ends Friday, Nov 25th at midnight. Shop now!

Vegan Shoes for the Winter

2011-11-21T13:18:00.001-08:00

Winter calls for a studier shoe that can withstand some cold, rain and perhaps even snow! Here are a few vegan shoes that fit the bill.

For more vegan shoe options, click here.

Lollihop

2011-11-20T13:47:00.000-08:00

Lollihop is a subscription service where can sign up to receive a box full of super healthy snacks! You can subscribe monthly and pause it at any time (or, of course, cancel). The regular snack box is $18.95 a month and will contain at least 8 snacks.

Lollihop takes the time to interview every company behind the items they choose. They also check all the ingredients to make sure they are organic and minimally processed. How great is that?? It's what we should all do when buying snacks but in this case, they do the work for us! So you know your box will be full of good for you snacks that you can eat guilt-free.

In November, they had a special vegan box for $22.50 which I signed up for. It was a one time thing but starting in January it will be available monthly just like their regular box. I received mine today, so let's take a look!

Welcome message and info.

This months box focused on grains. There's the list of what I received!

the bars: Bumble Bar organic sesame bar in Chunky Cherry, Naturals Antioxidant bar chewy granola, gnu foods flavor & fiber banana walnut bar and Larabar in Cashew Cookie.

other: Linwoods flax seed, Somersaults chewy nuggets in pacific sea salt & Bella Viva cherries.

the chips: Food Should Taste Good sweet potato and blue corn chips & Popcorners in sea salt.

YUM. I'm excited for all of this. I've had Larabars and love them (easy to make yourself too!). I've seen those chips in stores but haven't tried them; I love healthier chips especially now that I'm vegan and many potato chips contain milk. I love bars so those are great! I already ate the cherries and they were good, no added ingredients at all. I already add flaxseed to a lot of things but I like that the pack also has goji berries. I received 10 items total.

So what do you think? Originally, I wasn't sure this was something I'd do more than once but now I'm thinking I might. I think my husband will really enjoy this. If only they shipped overseas, it'd be PERFECT for deployed military members!! They NEED healthy snacks. I am lucky enough to live near some healthier stores like Sprouts and Trader Joes but I know not everyone is.

Holiday Decorating

2011-11-14T09:16:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to be hosting my first Thanksgiving this year! We're hosting a bunch of single Marines who are new to the area and can't go home to visit family. I'm hoping to do a few DIY crafts this week to give my livingroom more of a festive feel. I'd like a centerpiece too.

Candles in pumpkins

DIY floating candles

Chalkboard placemats

DIY chalkboard wine glasses

Tips for flower arranging!

Simple DIY art

Grateful sign

Banner

Festive applique pillow

Printable place cards

Mod Thanksgiving table

Thanksgiving printables - just print and glue to card stock! More here.

Tips on Being Eco-Friendly

2011-11-13T07:33:00.001-08:00

Are you still finding it hard to lead a more eco-friendly life? This article has some great tips! Here are a few of them.

1) Make the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Just a few years ago, CFLs were bulky, expensive, and hard to find. Thanks to environmental commitments by companies such as Walmart, CFLs are now readily available for about $2 each. That's more expensive than incandescent bulbs, but lumen for lumen (the unit by which a light bulb's brightness is measured), CFLs use much less power. They also last up to 10 times longer than regular bulbs. (When the bulbs do eventually run out, here's how to dispose of them.)That means that the average CFL bulb will save $30 in energy costs over the course of its life. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), if every American household were to swap just one bulb to CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gasesequivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.

4) Unplug idle appliances and electronic devices. Just because that cellphone charger doesn't have a phone attached to itdoesn't mean it's not drawing energy. Devices such as televisions with standby modes can use up to half the power they would draw when turned on. Don't just turn something off: unplug it. The average household can save up to several hundred dollars a year just by pulling the plug on silent energy vampires.

6) Drive smarter. In real world testing of common fuel-saving tips, the Edmunds Automotive Network found some surprises. First, it's a good thing to keep tires properly inflated, and this is a commonly recommended strategy for saving gas. But Edmunds found other ideas that make a more noticeable difference. Use your cruise control on the highway for up to a 15 percent improvement in mileage. Driving less aggressively is the single most effective way to save gasoline: accelerate out of lights more gently, avoid rapid braking, and only drive as fast as you must. And turn off your engine rather than idling excessively. If your car starts reliably, consider shutting it down at long lights. Skip the drive-through window, park and walk your business inside whenever possible.

9) Go meatless once a week. If you're not already practicing a vegetarian diet, consider cutting back on the amount of meat in you consume. As Frances Moore Lapp pointed out in her bestselling book, Diet for a Small Planet, livestock production absorbs 16 pounds of grain and soy feed for every pound of meat that actually gets to the plate. Each calorie of animal protein requires 78 calories of fossil fuels to produce, and irrigation directly associated with livestock production (including feeds) amounts to about half of all the consumed water in the United States. Give meatless substitutes like Boca Burgers a try, or scan vegetarian recipes for healthy and earth-friendly meal ideas.

10) Buy local; buy in season. According to the nonprofit groupSustainable Table, the typical carrot travels 1,838 miles before it ends up in your kitchen. That's a lot of food miles, and a tremendous amount of wasted fossil fuels and packaging. Buying regionally produced food is a keystone of sustainability: not only does it save the energy costs associated with shipping bulk produce, it keeps a portion of your grocery money close to where live. So locate your local farmers market and add it to your weekly errands. You'll be supporting local growers while enjoying fresh, seasonal produce. You can keep up with the latest advice and tips on eating local with MNN's Food blogger, Robin Shreeves.

And here are a few of my own:

use re-useable shopping bags instead of plastic. Keep some in your car or purse if you find yourself forgetting them.
take your own coffee cup to places like Starbucks.
use re-useable bags and buy in bulk at grocery stores rather than buying pre-packaged items, when you can.
unplug electronics, like a coffee maker, when not in use.
turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.

Preparing Your Home for Cold Weather

2011-11-12T09:05:00.001-08:00

Well, the temperatures have definitely dropped. Some places have even had their first snowfall! Is your home ready for cold weather? Here are a few tips.

keep a throw blanket in the livingroom and by your computer. If you are a bit chilly, toss this on (maybe slippers too!) rather than automatically turning the heat up.
make sure your windows are properly sealed so no air escapes or comes in when they are shut. There are eco-friendly alternatives to caulking.
clean those gutters! You don't want an ice dam, that can back up the gutter and cause water to enter your home.
take down window screens. If you need storm windows, install those.
reverse your ceiling fan; it'll blow warm air downwards.
shut the doors in rooms you don't use or just aren't in.
make a draft stopper or purchase one, your choice!
now is the time to use that oven! Bake muffins, casseroles etc and let the heat of the oven warm up the place (you could turn down the thermostat prior to this).

Stay Warm

2011-11-08T16:15:00.000-08:00

The weather has finally been getting pretty cold here in Southern California which means I've dug my boots, scarves and hats out of hiding! Fall is always my favourite season to dress for. I love how creative you can be with layering. Here are some cozy accessories I am loving!

What is your favourite season to dress for?

Winner of November, 2011 Giveaway

2011-11-07T21:02:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to Tracy Bower, winner of my So Chic Linen Tray and 4 Hemp Wash Cloths! Thank you to everyone who entered - try again next month!

Thanksgiving Menu

2011-11-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a great Halloween! My husband and I decided very last minute (as in day of) to dress up as Snookie and Pauly D from Jersey Shore and attend our friends' party. haha It's very far from our normal look so it was a lot of fun.

I skipped the candy this year and instead treated myself to some delicious SoDelicious neopolitan ice cream by Turtle Mountain. It is certified organic and certified vegan. The ingredients list is impressive! It contains: organic soymilk, organic brown rice syrup, organic tapioca syrup, organic dehydrated cane juice, organic soybean oil, organic strawberries, organic cocoa, chicory root extract, natural flavours, vanilla extract, carob bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan and beet juice. 1/2 cup has 120 calorires, 3.5g fat, 2g fiber, 2g protein, 15g sugar and so on. I think it tastes better than any dairy ice cream I've had. They also make a coconut milk based one but I haven't seen it yet.

The next big holiday is, of course, the American Thanksgiving. It'll be my first vegan Thanksgiving! We're celebrating it with another couple. The wife is vegetarian, so we're going to make a lot of vegan options for us but there will be a few traditional items as well (including turkey for the husbands). Here is what I'm thinking of making....

I like the sound of mushroom gravy since I've become pretty mushroom obsessed but there is always a more traditional tasting "poultry" gravy.
mashed potatoes using Earth Balance instead of regular butter; very simple to vegan-ize.
I will probably do very simple mashed sweet potatoes (with some Earth Balance, pure maple syrup and brown sugar) although this sweet potato casserole with pecans looks amazing. I've never had sweet potatoes and apples together but it sounds pretty good, so there's also that.
My friend and I are making a green bean casserole from Peas and Thank You cookbook but this one would be good for anyone who doesn't own that. They key, IMO, is fresh green beans... I hate canned ones, yuck!
Pumpkin pie is a must! I'm not sure if I'll do it with or without tofu although the latter would be super healthy! For those who liked whipped cream on their pie, there's coconut whip!
I'm also going to make a pumpkin chocolate chip pazookie. I know my friends love pazookies so hopefully they will love this.
Tofurkey. I've never had it but my friend says it's tasty. We're going to get the "bird" from Trader Joes.
I think Tofurkey's come stuffed but stuffing is my favourite part of the holiday meal so I plan on making my own anyway. Hello, leftovers! I like the simplicity of this one.
I love cranberry sauce. I think I'll cheat and buy the canned stuff even though this cranberry chutney sounds wonderful.
I have store bought frozen rolls which are actually vegan but ciabatta bread would be nice too.
Of course a salad is important, you want some raw veggies and dark leafy greens. I don't know what my friends like but my husband and I love simple salads so I will probably do a tossed salad with spinach, romaine, arugula and various other veggies like red pepper, cucumber, tomato, shredded carrot as well as some ground flaxseed and a simple balsamic vinegarette.

I haven't decided on an appetizer yet. There are too many to chose from! Here are a few that I'm drooling over: cheezy crackers, hot artichoke dip, pumpkin knots, spinach dip, spinach pies, tofu on a stick, oven baked onion rings and stuffed mushrooms.

Now I'm hungry!

What are you making for Thanksgiving? Would you consider having even just one vegan option? I bet your guests wouldn't even notice the difference... but it would be healthier and more eco-friendly! :)

November, 2011 Giveaway!

2011-10-30T17:54:00.000-07:00

I know I've missed 2 months of giveaways, so sorry! But I will make it up to you by having a great one this month. I spent a month in Italy with my husband, traveling all over, and went into every fabric and home decor store I could find (my husband was very patient). I loved all the beautiful table linens - and the pretty bags, sachets, and fabric trays. I have created this linen tray and 4 wash cloths from that inspiration. One lucky winner will receive this set!

Value: $32

Open to Canada and U.S. residents, 18 yrs of age or older.

Deadline: Sunday, Nov 6, 10 pm
Winner is chosen by a random number generator and will be notified by email.

Ways to enter: (you can enter more than once)

1. Leave a comment to this post, telling me your favorite item in my shop. Scroll down to the bottom of this post and click on the word "comments"

2. Become a follower of this blog (scroll down on left side of this blog). Leave a comment, letting me know.

3. Like my facebook page and leave a comment letting me know.

4. Subscribe to my monthly newsletter - where is says "sign up for monthly email updates" on the top right side of this blog, or on my facebook page. Then leave me a comment letting me know.

5. Leave a comment to this post, telling me the best thing you bought for your home this year.

6. Share this post on your blog. Send me the link - either here under comments, or on my facebook page.

7. Grab my button on the right and leave a link to your blog under comments.

8. Follow me on Twitter

Link Love

2011-10-27T15:08:00.000-07:00

Just some internet finds that I'm loving...

Hot apple pancakes recipe...yes please.
Scarlett Johansson's wavy bob. Next hair style for moi?
DIY sweetheart yoke dress is on my list!
Homemade vegan shampoo and conditioner; so simple.
30 Day Nail Challenge. I'm doing this on my blog in November!
Lollihop where you can subscribe to monthly healthy snack boxes! Or you can do what I did and buy the November vegan box! Yum.
Free detoxes and cleanses. Yep, free!
Cheesy broccoli fritters sound delicious.
I print one or two of these meal planners out each week.

2011-10-21T21:19:00.000-07:00

Have you joined Pinterest yet? It's like making collages but without the paper. People create boards and pin pictures they find to their boards. You can follow people and be able to see all of their pins. It's a great source of inspiration! If you want to follow me, click here.

Here are some of my recent pins:

chalkboard placemats!

homemade creamers. mmm.

dessert stands using tart pans and candlesticks. genius.

sweater pillows

green smoothies how to

attaching Ikea spice racks to a dresser for extra storage

vegan cupcake

ombre nails

melted snowman cookie

Lots of variety, as you can see. You can also pin pictures from other websites outside of Pinterest!

Cruelty-Free Beauty

2011-10-19T17:30:00.000-07:00

As part of recently becoming vegan, I started to taker a closer look at what was in not only the things I eat and drink but my makeup, skincare, haircare etc. I prefer to buy all beauty items vegan but at the very least, they need to be cruelty-free. A tube a lipstick is not worth a dog's suffering to me. So I created a list of popular, recognizable brands that either do test on animals, do not test on animals or are vegan. It's unfortunate that so many companies do still test on animals (or are owned by companies like Proctor and Gamble that do) but thankfully there are many that don't. There are also a lot of options out there for vegan beauty products many of which are natural and better for you anyway! So here are my lists along with some great vegan finds!

Brands that DO test on animals:
Aussie
Aveeno
avon
Chapstick
Clean & Clear
Clairol
Clearasil
Coppertone
Crest
Dove
Garnier
Glade
Herbal Essences
L'Oreal
Mary Kay
Maybelline
Nair
Olay
Old Spice
Pantene
Ponds
Softsoap
Skintimate
Suave
Vaseline
Vicks
Walgreens

Brands that DO NOT test on animals:
Aveda
Abercrombie & Fitch
Almay
Bare Escentuals
Bath & Body Works
The Body Shop
Bonne Bell
Botanics
Burt's Bees
Carmex
Crabtree & Evelyn
Dermalogica
E.L.F.
Everyday Minerals
Jesse's Girl
Juice Beauty
Kiss My Face
L.A. Colors
LUSH
M.A.C.
Murad
NYX
OPI
Organix
Origins
Physician's Formula
Revlon
Safeway
Smashbox
SpaRitual
Stila
Tarte
Too Faced
Trader Joe's Company
Urban Decay
wet n wild
Whole Foods Market
Yes to Carrots
Victoria's Secret

Both lists above are according to PETA.

Vegan brands (contain no animal products and are cruelty free):
Origins
Lush (most; clearly listed)
Manic Panic
Juice Beauty
Kiss My Face
Korres
Madd Style Cosmetics (on Etsy.com)
Minna Cosmetics (on Etsy.com)
Naked Elements (on Etsy)
Nubar
Smashbox
Urban Decay (some vegan; clearly listed)
Zoya
Sugarpill
Silknaturals
Beauty Without Cruelty

The list above is according to My Makeup Mirror.

Vegan Wish Lists!

1. Madd Style eyeshadows 2. Ayelet Naturals deodorant 3. Beneficial Minerals face primer 4. Just Pure Minerals lipstick 5. Naked Eye Beauty toner 6. Simple Traditions body scrub 7. Vegan Soaps soap

1. Beauty Without Cruelty Hairspray 2. Pumpkin & Poppy Cosmetics eyeshadows 3. Silk Naturals blush 4. Sugar Pill pressed eyeshadows 5. Origins face wash 6. Lush shampoo 7. Juice Beauty antioxidant serum 8. Urban Decay palette 9. Zoya nail polish

New Balance newSKY

2011-10-14T16:53:00.000-07:00

Nice looking shoes, right?

They're made from Eco-fi, a high-quality polyester made from 95% PET plastic bottles! One shoe equals roughly 8 water bottles. Is that not so cool? I spotted an ad for these in the November issue of Whole Living and immediately wanted to know more!

From the website "According to Dave Rowell, Executive Vice President of Sales for Foss Manufacturing, the company that produces the recycled fabric, the only real difference between Eco-fi polyester and the polyester common to most apparel and home furnishings is the use of post-consumer plastic bottles during the manufacturing process. “Potentially, anything made out of polyester can be made out of Eco-fi polyester,” said Dave. “It actually has a higher strength than most of the polyester you’d find in your clothes.” Chemically and functionally, Eco-fi has the same, if not higher, level of performance as fabric made from virgin materials.".

NewBalance

Eco-fi is 10% lighter than cotton and keeps out cold better than nylon or wool! I am loving not only the concept but the overall look of these shoes. They sell for $94.99 on the New Balance site.

StyleSight

Eco-friendly Straw

2011-10-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

Last week I ate at Hill Street Cafe in Oceanside, CA with my husband. It's a charming restaurant with lots of vegetarian and vegan options (I went vegan last month). We absolutely loved it and can't wait to go back. Look at what my husband spotted:

Yay!

DIY Projects

2011-10-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

I love DIY projects. There is just something very satisfying about making something yourself. Plus, you know exactly what ingredients/supplies you used so it's easy to make it healthier, more natural or eco-friendly! Here are a few DIY projects I love. They make for great Christmas presents!