Eco Beauty Reviews Vol. II

You may have seen my first Eco Beauty Review, it's been a little while, so I figured I would go on to a new volume! 

Today I wanted to share a few more eco products that I have been trying, and how I like them so far. :) I hope to do a recurring feature on the products I try, and how I like them. Are you interested in reading more? Let me know in the comments! :)

1) Fruit Pigmented Lip & Cheek Tint by 100 Percent Pure

These little pigment sticks are one of my favorite makeup items, I use it every day! I have two colors: Shimmery Strawberry and Peach Glow. I tend to use the peach one in the summer months, and the strawberry one in the winter ones, but they are both great for any time of year. I use them as my blush in my "5 minute face" routine. I simply swipe a little over each cheek, and then blend with my fingers or a blending sponge. It gives me a little bit of color in my cheeks without being too bright. It also makes a nice sheer lip color. Though I don't tend to use it on my lips a lot. While these are a little pricey for blush ($25), I think they last me almost a year! So they are a really good value!

Purchase Here: Strawberry and Peach.

2) Natural Hand Lotion by 100 Percent Pure

When I went to college I had TONS of lotions. Mostly gifts from friends and family, tons of scents, tons of chemicals, etc. I used them all up, because I didn't want to be wasteful... but after that point, I didn't purchase a lot of lotions. One winter 100 Percent Pure did a Black Friday special where you could get three small sized lotions for a really good price. I got one and it included lavender, coconut, and honey almond scents. I really loved it, and since then I have continued purchasing them as I'm out. I don't love the coconut scent, which I usually do like coconut, but the honey almond and lavender are favorites. I even use the lavender ones on my face when I forget my moisturizer, and it works great! These hand creams are $12, and last for quite a while.

As a tip, these eco lotions don't absorb into your skin immediately. In turn they moisturize better, but you'll want to give it a few minutes before you go about doing other things.

One of the things I've hated the most about "going eco" is that there are so many less items with fun scents. Everything is pretty hippie or just comes in a few scents. I love that 100 Percent Pure has found natural ways to scent their products. It's so much more fun again!

Purchase Here.

3) Luminizing Face Powder by Honest Beauty

I have always loved makeup looks with just a little bit of shimmer. I don't want a ton of glitter on my face, but a subtle mineral eye shadow or powder with a bit of shimmer is a favorite. This luminizing powder is really really gorgeous and layers subtly over my other makeup. I just swipe a little bit over my cheek tint (above) and it gives me a highlight on my cheek bones. You can also use it near your brow! Or wherever you want to highlight. This powder is $25 on its own, or part of a three item $50 per shipment bundle. It comes in three colors: Midnight Reflection, Dawn Reflection, and Dusk Reflection. I use the Midnight Reflection color.

Purchase Here.

What beauty products have you guys been trying? Any that you love?

Are you interested in seeing more eco-beauty posts?

This post does not contain affiliate links. As always, I'm giving you guys my honest opinion!

Thank you for reading!

Alexandra

Six Things You Don't Think About Recycling // Green Goals

Happy Wednesday Everyone! :)

I only blog about eco topics sometimes, but it's so important! So today, I'm hoping to inspire just one person to make a teeny tiny change!

Many of us recycle (YAY!), many of us want to start (great!!!), if you are looking for a get started guide, check out this post! It's got some easy and varied extensive ideas on how to be greener!

Here we go!

1) Post It Notes

I use these at work, and you can definitely recycle them! One step better? Use both sides before recycling!

2) Clothing Tags

Most clothing comes with at least one chipboard price tag or branding tag. Others come with several. Those tags (not the plastic piece) can go straight into your recycling bin!

3) Lids From Fast Food Cups

Some cups (like Starbucks) are entirely  plastic, which means you can recycle the cup and the lid. Other places have paper cups with plastic lids, or styrofoam with plastic lids. You can definitely recycle those plastic lids! :)

4) Toilet Paper Rolls

We've all got toilet paper in our house. Some brands have gone roll-less which is really cool, but most of us still have that cardboard tube when we're done. Put that sucker in the recycling bin! You can also donate them to animal shelters where they make them into toys!

5) Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Cleaner Containers

Most of the time your empty shampoo bottles, moisturizers, make up receptacles, and cleaning bottles can be recycled. Just look for the arrow triangle (recycling) symbol! Usually my shampoo/soap/face wash containers just take a quick rinse or soak before recycling! Especially large containers like laundry detergent are great to keep out of the landfill!!

6) Packaging Galore!

I don't know if you guys have noticed, but almost everything comes in more packaging than it needs to! Lip balm comes in a cardboard box. Thank you notes come in a cardboard box, in another plastic box. Tide to go pens come in plastic mounted on cardboard. There's a lot of waste there! Moral of the story, you can recycle most if not all of those things! Anything made from paper/chipboard/cardboard can be recycled. Even if you can't recycle the random plastic on tide to go pens, you can recycle the cardboard backing. (though check for the symbol, some brands make sure that the plastic piece can be recycled too!)

Most of these things come down to: think about what you're holding in your hand as you go to the trash can. Often times whatever it is, CAN be recycled! :)

Other Recent Eco Posts: 12 Ways to Go Green in 2016 (still works for 2017!), and Eco Beauty Review, Vol. I.

What about you guys? Do you recycle?

If not, do you plan to start in 2017?

Did any of these items surprise you, or make you think, "hey I could start recycling that!"?

XO,

Alexandra

12 Ways To Give Back This Holiday Season

Whew, once again I find myself completely terrified of the news, and feeling pretty hopeless on how to help. I guess that's a hard thing about the way our media works. Between violent crises in Aleppo, and the Philippines, wildfires in Tennessee, the oil spill right from the Standing Rock (related) pipeline... and all of the usual hurts of the world it's hard to know how to help. I know that many folks have felt very nervous about how things will go within the US post-election as well... 

KC and I decided to when we got married to give back every Christmas in some way or another. This year we've been feeling the need to do more, to find a way to "give back" in meaningful ways as much as we can through the end of the year. In order to keep it measurable, we decided to do one thing per-week between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. 

If you are also feeling helpless, but like you want to try to do something, perhaps there is an idea in this post for you. I tried to give a big variety, many of which we have done so far during this time period! A lot of these would make great family or group/party activities! I'd love to hear your ideas as well, so leave them in the comments!

1) Give Holiday Meals to local families in need.

Our local food pantry does an awesome job raising funds throughout the year. They hold a Food Truck Festival in May that I have yet to miss... but this Thanksgiving they also had a promotion going with local grocery stores and online where you could donate $15 for a Thanksgiving for a family of 4! That's an incredible gift for just $15. I noticed that they are doing it again for Christmas, if you live near us, you can donate here! If you live elsewhere, check with your local food pantries to see if they are doing something similar! If not, I am sure they have other ways you can help out this holiday season!

2) Donate to Water Preservers at Standing Rock

If you haven't been reading the news related to Standing Rock, here is a good intro article for you. Basically, Bismark, ND rejected a pipeline being built near them for fear of a spill contaminating their drinking water, and so the oil company has decided to build it across Native American sacred burial lands, also crossing a river used by natives for drinking water (twice). The Sioux tribe, and many others have been protesting (peacefully!) for months, and many members of the military, etc. have come out to act as human shields. There have been some pretty awful attacks on the folks there to get them to leave. But they haven't. If you've been following the news, you'll know that they have temporarily stopped the pipeline, and say they are not going to build there. However, there is not any way to ensure that, and when the administration changes, it seems very unlikely that the progress there will be kept. We heard that a friend of a friend was headed up there, so we purchased a Menard's giftcard (for shelter building supplies), some hot hands, and threw in some wool socks, old thermal shirts, kleenex, chapstick, etc. If you don't know someone who is headed that direction, you can donate directly to the Sioux tribe, here. It makes me sick that after months of protest, the pipeline DID spill, and though it is not right at Standing Rock, it's still hurting the surrounding areas. There is so much reason for this cause!

3) Donate to Syrian Rescue Workers 

The situation in Syria is absolutely terrifying. Donate directly to the "White Helmets" Rescue Worker fund. These folks are right in the action saving lives and protecting people every day. You can pick your own amount or donate a designated amount via card or paypal. Donate here.

4) Send a Water Filter to Flint, Michigan

If you've heard about the water crisis in Flint, you'll know that it's absolutely appalling. As it turns out, even more places in the US are coming forward and saying, that their drinking water is of the same quality. That's terrible, and while we wait for the local governments to improve the water quality ... we can give them filters. I am so glad that a friend posted this (via a group in our city who is headed up there) ... because holy cow is it easy, and DIRECTLY helps a person or family in need. All for just $15 + shipping. Order this shower filter, and ship it to: 

C/O Glenda Gates
3502 Lapeer Rd
Flint, MI 48503

5) Switch Your Energy to Clean Energy

Wait, you can do this?! Yes indeed you can! Call or log on to your energy company's website and switch to wind or solar energy. If you don't know your options, contact your company's customer service folks! Often the price is the same, or very close... and it's investing in a cleaner future. These companies really need this support right now, we know that environmental causes are not part of the new administration's high priorities. 

6) Donate Your Time to An Organization You Care About

The thing is... there are so many great organizations out there, so many great causes... it's impossible to know about all of the issues, to donate to every one. If there is one that you care about specifically consider giving a monetary gift or your volunteered time! We all make goals from time to time, but it's pretty clear that the world could use more love! Donating your time would be a great way to help your community in a way that is meaningful to you! Pick a place and go for it!

Creative Ways to Donate!

When I worked at a preschool, I was amazed by the ways that people gave to our organization and how we gave to our organization. It was so incredible, tons of things I never would have thought of! 

7) Organize Birthday Party Kits

Our preschool families all fell into a low SES, and we knew that many of our families struggled to provide holiday meals, birthday parties, etc. etc. We received the loveliest gift of "birthday party kits" once, and I thought that it was the coolest idea! Each bag contained a cake mix, a container of frosting, plates, cups, napkins, etc. They varied there were some specifically for boys or girls, but they were all so thoughtful! I loved this idea, and it would be a great party to have and everyone could bring a kit. They could then be donated to a local school/preschool, food pantry, etc. What a great gift to give a family or child!

8) Make Homelessness Kits and Give Them Out

Have you seen these on pinterest?! So cool and creative. If you live in an area with homeless populations it would be great to make these out and hand them out to folks you see who might need them. Or you could drop off a batch at the local shelter for distribution.

9) Give A Meal Kit to A Neighbor or Friend

Often times when someone new moves to your area they might be given some food from their neighbors, when new moms come home from the hospital they are often given casseroles, but what about all the other situations? What about those new moms two months in? What about the family who is struggling through a tough season? Your lonely neighbor? A student who isn't able to go home for the holidays? Making a meal kit and dropping it for them is a great way to show that you care. Or, invite them over for a dinner! :) Ideas for Make Ahead Meal Kits: here, here, here & here.

10) Donate Your Bras to A Shelter

Did you know that bras are one of the most-needed items in shelters? If you have a pile that is still in wearing shape, but doesn't fit or you don't wear.... box them up and call shelters (domestic violence and homeless) to see if they are in need of bras. If not, you can always drop them by a Goodwill or Salvation Army. & bonus for you: your closet is that much cleaner!

11) Make a Free Little Library or Free Little Pantry

Holiday breaks or vacations are good times for projects. So are weekends! If you are looking for a family project consider building a free little library or donation station for your yard or local organization. We have Free Little Libraries all over our city, but these Little Blessing Boxes and Free Little Pantries are also SUCH a great idea! :) Read more about those here: Library & Pantry. These would be fabulous family projects, and a great time to teach your kids to give. :) 

12) Make a Care Package for a Friend or Family Member Far Away

Perhaps you know a student who is out of state, someone who just moved far away, someone in the military or working overseas... it can often be lonely and a little bit of snail mail could brighten their day. I know when I was a student (not that far from home!) I always appreciated little care packages from my grandma. Even if it's just a small note, a gift card, a book, a whole box of groceries... it would be so appreciated. Again, spreading the spirit of giving. My cousin, who is in the Navy made this great list of ideas for military care package items!

So there you have it, 12 ways to give back this holiday season.

Looking for more ways to spread love and giving? Check out 12 Small Things You Can Do To Make The World A Better Place.

Do you or your family give back during the holidays or throughout the year?

If so, how? I would love to hear!

What are your ideas? Have you ever tried any of these?

Does anyone have a goal to give back more in 2017?

Happy Giving!

Alexandra

Eco Beauty Review Vol. I // Featuring CORA

As you guys know, I am very into keeping it green and chemical free around here. You may have read some of my past posts, especially my recent one about our Honest Bundle... but I don't share my favorite products or product reviews as often as I would like to!

Today I wanted to share a few new eco products that I have been trying, and how I like them so far. :) I hope to do a recurring feature on the products I try, and how I like them. Are you interested in reading more? Let me know in the comments! :)

1) Sensitive Skin Moisturizer via ACURE Organics

I use ACURE organics for nearly all of my skincare products. I love the products and you can read more about my skin journey here.

While I am happy with all of the things I currently use, I recently decided to try the sensitive skin moisturizer. This moisturizer is $17.99 and comes in a 1.7 fluid oz squeeze tube. Overall, I think this is a nice heavier moisturizer, it seems to be working well with my sensitive skin. I try not to put a lot on the spots where I am breaking out or prone to break out because it's too heavy for that skin. This moisturizer is unscented.... but it smells kind of weird. Salty maybe. Maybe that's the sunflower oil? Not sure, but I don't really like the smell that it has. We'll see how continued use goes and whether or not I decide to buy more when this one runs out. I think it would be really nice for the colder months for when you need more moisture!

Purchase Here.

I currently also use the day cream - which is less heavy, and has a nice citrus scent, much better for warmer seasons.

2) Organic Cotton Tampons c/o CORA

CORA is a relatively new company that has a great business model! A few things I love are:

1) Organic cotton! ... and they don't contain any of the nasty synthetic materials and chemicals that the FDA doesn't require a label for. -yay!

2) For every month of CORA you buy, a month is delivered to girls in need. Over 100 million girls and women don't have access to feminine hygiene items! This means that they miss school and work because they have no other option!

3) It doesn't stop at #3! Through CORA, "Small scale manufacturing units" are set up in communities of need, where feminine hygiene products will be produced for the area. The women working in the unit will be local women, who will be paid a living wage. They also work to teach women's health education to their employees and their daughters.

4) Their branding is SO DARN CUTE. I love the packaging, the little vegan leather case that you can stash in your tote bag, and the larger box for your stash at home. I found the small one really handy on our summer vacations!

Overall, these tampons are great. They work well, they're cute, they are easy to conceal in the cases. I love that they don't include nasty chemicals and synthetic materials, and that they are delivered right to your door, much like the Honest bundles. The biggest plus is of course the cause! Incredible work being done there! I'm very impressed by their goals and the work they are doing, and I can't wait to find out more as they grow!

The things that I don't love about CORA are mostly related to their applicator and packaging materials. They currently have a plastic applicator and a plastic wrapping for each tampon. I like that the applicator is BPA free, and I see that they are in the process of developing a bio-based plastic, but for now I'm not a big fan of the waste the plastic is creating. I am VERY excited though, that they are working to reduce that already! Maybe someday they will have an applicator free version as well. :)

Purchase & Learn More About CORA Here. - price varies based on your preferences in your order and payment plan.

For $5 off your first order you can use my code: CORA5ALEXANDRA . :) 

3) Brow Filler by Honest Beauty

You guys know that I love The Honest Company and that I am really loving their essentials bundle! What I haven't shared yet, is that I am also trying out their makeup/skincare line, Honest Beauty. I will happily share more on other products soon (let me know if you are interested!), but I wanted to share about the brow filler today!

I am one of those people who just has the scraggliest eye brows. They have never been full or dark, they have always been different shapes, and many eco-brow products I have tried just looked strange, like I have tried to paint over them or something! Not good. This pencil is what I've been looking for for a LONG TIME! It goes on easily, fills in my brows without looking harsh, obvious, or fake, and is eco! :) The pencil is $15 on it's own or part of a 3 item $50 per shipment bundle. It comes in 4 colors: blonde, auburn, brunette, and black.

I wish that it didn't have the brow brush on the end, because I have a brow brush with my makeup brushes, and it feels wasteful to get a disposable brush with each new eyebrow pencil. Other than that, I love it.

Purchase Here.

Are you interested in learning more about Honest Beauty Bundles? Let me know!

4) Naked Palette by 100 Percent Pure

I have been using 100% Pure makeup since college, I love that it's eco and that it works well. They have a HUGE inventory... so there is always something new to try. I decided to pick up their naked palette with one of my orders. The palette is $45 and contains three eye shadows, a powder blush, and a luminizing powder. I had tried the luminizer before and I really like the subtle shimmer it gives over my blush. However, I hadn't tried any of the other products in the palette. After months of use the luminizer is gone and I am still using the eye shadows. I haven't touched the blush yet, because I just don't use a lot of powdered blush. Overall, the palette is not my favorite, mostly because my daily go-to eye shadows have a bit of shimmer to them. However, if you like a daily shadow without shimmer, this is the palette for you. The colors are neutral and work with all skin tones.

I probably won't order this again, but I will continue to get the luminizer, and other individual eye shadows as well as cream blushes from them. See a review of three of my favorite 100 Percent Pure products, here. - though they have sadly discontinued my favorite eye shadow. *sobs*

Purchase Here.

What beauty products have you guys been trying? Any that you love?

Are you interested in seeing more eco-beauty posts?

This post does not contain affiliate links, but this blog was given a free product from CORA to review. As always, I'm giving you guys my honest opinion!

Thank you for reading!

Alexandra

Honest Essentials Bundle Review // One Year Later

Hopefully it isn't any secret that I love all things eco. (though I don't post about it enough!) I made the decision in college to switch over a lot of my products and habits to be greener and cleaner, and I have rarely regretted any of it! There are still things I am working on, and I am not 100% good at anything. I'm human! I just do my best, and I always strive to do better. :)

You guys DEFINITELY know that I am typically very very busy. We are usually out of the house or entertaining at least three nights a week, we work "full time", and travel frequently. This often leaves me cleaning in a flash, or not having time to run to the health food store for eco cleaners, and not always having time to make my own cleaners, etc. This is one reason I LOVE the Honest bundle.

I am not being sponsored by them, though how cool would that be?! - but seriously, I share my REAL opinions with you guys, always. 

Anyhow, we started our bundle in June of 2015, and after more than a year of bundling, I have a lot to share with you guys. So read on if you are interested!

What is it?

We do the Honest Essentials Bundle (they also have wellness, and baby related bundles). With the essentials bundle you can choose 5 items monthly (mixing and matching), pick when it ships (we do every 6 weeks), and it gets delivered to your door. The cost for this bundle is $35.95 per month (plus shipping), and you can cancel at anytime.

What Can You Choose?

With the essentials bundle you can choose from personal care (shampoo, soap, tampons, bug spray...), cleaning items (detergents, dish towels, dryer sheets, cleaners...), kiddo related (diapers, wipes, creams...), and other "add ons". (Add ons are items that don't fit into your 5 items, but can be added on as an extra item - where you can save up to 25% on each.)

Pros & Cons

Pros: 

• It's really easy. 
• Mixing and matching is convenient and quick.
• You can choose how frequently you want to get your bundles.
• You get an email when it's time to update, you can swap your items easily, and you don't have to think of it again. 
• You know that the company holds itself to a high eco-standard and makes safe and healthy products.
• We have really loved almost every product that we have tried in over a year! That's pretty impressive considering how many different things we have ordered! :) 
• HUGE selection of products that are included in your 5 items. Even huger if you consider the add on items.
• Many products are offered in multiple (natural!) scents.
• Even the shipping materials are eco. They are also good quality - I reuse mine a lot, and it's always easy to recycle as well. :) 
• We often get coupon codes via email to add on a free item, or get a discount added to the bundle. That's always a nice surprise!
• Their customer service is awesome, any time I have a question or concern they are quick on the site chat, and very helpful! 

Cons:

• There have been some concerns related to sulfate in the detergents.
• There have been complaints about the sunscreen. - I haven't had any issues with their sunscreen!
• As just two people, we don't go through many of these cleaners that quickly! So sometimes, we feel like we are getting them too close together. But now that you can get more personal care items, it's been better. I do sometimes wish that we could change it to every 7 weeks or 8 weeks though. - you CAN adjust the shipping date to make it come later though, which is a plus! :)
• I don't love EVERY product I have tried. But I really don't expect to either. 
• Sometimes popular items are out of stock, and you won't be able to add them to your bundle. This doesn't happen often for us.
• I forget to update my bundle sometimes (#usererror ...) 

Bottom Line:

We love our Honest bundle. We get consistently great customer service, good quality eco products, and it fits into our busy schedule. It saves us time and money. While we don't love EVERYTHING about bundling, we do love almost everything. It makes it just a little bit easier to get our chores done, and gives us more time to spend together. That's what's HONESTLY important. :P

I can only imagine that as a parent (someday) this will be AMAZING. Safe diapers and baby products being delivered. Yes, please.

If you would like to try a bundle, or purchase anything from their site, please use my referral link! :)

I would love to share some un-boxings of the bundles, and specific thoughts on specific products if you guys are interested. Would you like to see/hear more?! Let me know in the comments.

Have you tried the Honest bundle or any other bundling service? What did you think of it?

Have you made any eco-friendly product or habit switches in your life? Do you have any goals to? Looking for ideas? Check out my post 12 Easy Ways to Go Green in 2016!

Side note: I LOVED Jessica Alba's book that came out before her company, read my review of it here if you are interested. :) I found it VERY informative and inspiring!!

XO,

Alexandra

12 Easy Ways to go Green in 2016 // New Year State of Mind

Earth Day is this week, so I thought, this would be the perfect time to share this post! :)

Regardless of where we fall on the political spectrum, I think we can all agree that humans are kind of wasteful. #amIright ? We consume so much, and then we consume more. And a lot of that, ends up in the trash.

Though I have been working consciously for years to work on my own wasteful habits, I am not an exception to the consumption! That's something I would love to stress so much. That no one has a perfect handle on anything. It's just not possible. So here are some mini eco- resolutions we can all try out in 2016. Because every little bit does help. :)

If you have kids in your house make it a family project! It could be a roomie or husband/wife project too. The more people you have invested, the more likely you are to follow through!


Read on for an idea or two! 

1) Pick One Thing to Recycle

New to recycling? It can be overwhelming at first, but it's a great, and eventually easy thing to do. It's second nature in our house now. The best way to begin, is just to pick somewhere to start. :) Pick one thing that you use frequently, and recycle that item first. Just one thing, not too bad right? Maybe it's soda cans, or water bottles, newspapers, or plastic grocery bags. Find a place to recycle it. Oftentimes schools have recycling bins in the parking lots that accept nearly every recyclable. Walmart stores often have recycling centers as well. If you choose plastic bags, you can recycle those at Target and Walmart inside of the doorway/near the customer service area.

Already Recycle? Consider thinking outside of the box. What else can you recycle? Batteries, Electronics, old cell phones, reading glasses, etc. What can you safely dispose that you hadn't thought of? Nail Polish, Light Bulbs, Paint.. Dig deeper! :)

2) Stop Using One Disposable Thing for a Month

Maybe it's paper plates, paper napkins, plastic straws, face cleaning wipes, plastic grocery bags, etc. Pick a reusable alternative. Use your real plates, invest in inexpensive cloth napkins, go straw free or use the reusable kind you get with reusable plastic tumblers, go back to using traditional face wash, use a few reusable bags at the grocery store. You don't have to be perfect with this one, but can you imagine what would happen if everyone stopped using paper plates?! So much less waste, so much money saved by consumers. Wow. Just trying this out for a month or two could show you if it is something you really need to continue using.

3) Only Purchase Things You Need or LOVE

How many of you are impulse buyers? Inexpensive DVD, bought that. Clearance Find, bought that. Scarf that you definitely don't need and are pretty sure you like, bought that too. It's SO easy to purchase things that seem like a good deal, or an opportunity that can't be missed. But can we really not afford to miss them? I've been trying for the past few years, to purchase only items that I love or need. That means books that I want to read, I probably borrow it, get it at the library, or as a free ebook. A book I know I will read again, and want to keep, I buy it. Clearance top that fits mostly ok? Pass. Trendy dress, the last one in my size... unless I try it on a and LOVE it... pass. Cute new shade of nail polish, probably pass. Do I really need another coral-y pink? Is it really that different than the 3 I have at home? Probably not. So next time you're shopping, ask yourself, "Do I need it?" "Do I LOVE it?" It can definitely change how much you consume as well as how much you spend!! Make a conscious effort to borrow, trade for, and rent/check out what you can to avoid buying, buying, buying.

4) Switch One Product When it Runs Out

For years I have been using up the last of my "normal" products (let's not be wasteful now), and swapping them for eco-friendly versions. We are to the point where we use eco-friendly ALMOST everything. I am still hunting for the right deodorant and shampoo... and we haven't used up all of the shout stain remover... but other than that... we're there. Not because we're perfect, but because we made little steps over time. Because of that, we clean without harsh chemicals, my skin is so much happier, and I don't have coughing fits while I'm cleaning! These are all great things. This is also safer for pets and kiddos! Not to mention the companies I am supporting are doing good things for the earth, use minimal / recycled packaging, and have good ethics. It's an easy way to go greener little by little. 

Two Brands I Love: 100% Pure & ACURE Organics. (Click the links to read more about the products I use.)

5) Read Jessica Alba's Book The Honest Life

I read Jessica Alba's book, The Honest Life, a few years ago and it really opened my eyes to some things I didn't know about, but also about ways fit these things into your lifestyle. You don't have to be perfect! I felt like I learned a lot, but I was also just generally inspired by the stylish and conscious person that Jessica Alba is. I love that Alba made the book accessible to everyone, and I am SO GLAD I read it before becoming a parent. There is a treasure trove of knowledge in there on baby / kid friendly products etc. Since then, Alba has launched The Honest Company. We tried some of the products and fell in love with most of them! We now do the bundle for our home stuff, and it makes staying stocked up and getting things clean so convenient! (I'll have to blog about it sometime!) Anyway, definitely consider getting this book from your library or on your own. It's a great resource, and a fun book. Read my review of this book, here.

Other Great Books: Generation Green (this is geared toward teens, but I read it in college and think it's pretty comprehensive!), Gorgeously Green, and No More Dirty Looks. Even more suggestions here.

6) Vow Not to Use Products with Microbeads

*comic by Steve Greenberg, got via google images*

You know those body washes and hand sanitizers etc. with those teeny "cleansing beads" in them? Have you ever wondered what they were made of? I did. Turns out.... Plastic. THEY'RE MADE OF EFFING PLASTIC. Which means every time we use them they go directly into the water supply. They are ingested by fish, and other creatures, and we're eating them. That's awful, and it's so unnecessary! Normal body wash works just fine. Use a sugar, salt, coffee grounds, or other natural scrub if you want to exfoliate! Or dry brush. California has already banned microbead products, I'm pledging to too. Read more about that... here if you want to.

7) Upgrade Your Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets are filled with harmful chemicals. Plus they're disposable. I recently followed a tutorial (which is no longer online, but here is a similar one) that replaces dryer sheets, and does a great job of keeping our clothes static free, all while reducing drying time! I definitely recommend trying this DIY, and putting it into use. You'll be saving money on your energy bill, and making it to where you never need to buy dryer sheets again! Win win.

Tips: Put drops of your favorite essential oil on the dryer balls before drying to scent your clothes. If your clothing is coming out static-y, you probably need to reduce the drying time! (we always do the lowest amount, and then warm up if necessary!)

8) Go Digital / Paperless When You Can!

In addition to #3 above, I have been trying to go digital more often. I use ebooks from the library and will order an ebook rather than a new copy of a book online in most cases. I download music that I want or stream it, rather than buying a CD. Unless I really want the physical CD, which is only for my very favorite bands. Stream your shows and movies instead of buying DVDs. Get your concert, movie, and plane tickets online and put them on your phone. Select paperless billing, which saves on checks, and paper in the mail. You can even do things like magazine subscriptions online. Wherever you can, consider going digital. Those little bits of paper and other packaging definitely add up.

9) When You Want to Buy Something, Consider Buying it Used

When you do want to buy something, because you've done the process on #3 above, consider buying it used. After falling in love with a book, and knowing I'll want to read it again, I will decide I want to own it. I then either order it used on Amazon, or check out local bookstores that sell used books. If it's not there, I can wait. This also goes for DVDs, CDs, and even clothes/home items. When I am looking for a new lamp, an end table, something to spice up my wardrobe, etc. I spend an afternoon combing through local thrift stores. There are all sorts of treasures to be found there. Sometimes the finds are quirky, but sometimes I end up with the Target button up that I wanted to buy last year... but just couldn't allow myself to spend $30 on. Paying $5 for the same shirt, feels better! If you aren't into thrifting. Try things like Thred Up, Plato's Closet, and other resale/consignment stores. Amazon and local book/entertainment stores have great deals on used books, CDs, DVDs, etc.

10) Sell or Donate Your Old Stuff

Never throw things away that someone else could use. Maybe you have a mug that is really ugly, a faded rug, a book you thought was really bad... etc. Don't ever throw that stuff in the trash, there is someone who could use it. You can try to sell many old items (clothes, CDs, DVDs, books, etc.), many places will give you a chunk of store credit or cash for those things. If you don't want to go to the trouble, just throw it in a clothing bin, box it up and take it to Goodwill or The Salvation Army. Donate those items to a Women's Shelter, especially things like bras that don't fit anymore, but are still in good condition. Even the Humane society takes old blankets and towels. Wouldn't you rather give that towel with a hole in it to a sweet shelter pet than the trash can? :)

11) Get One Reusable Bag

Plastic bags make a lot of waste. Even when you reuse them, they aren't good for the environment, and they aren't that useful to be honest. They tear easily, the accumulate quickly, they don't biodegrade, and sea turtles think they look like jellies. :( I mentioned above that they can be recycled, which is definitely the right choice for the ones you have used. Eliminating your usage of them, even by a little is an even better plan. Bringing your own bags to the store means you can save bags being used, you can ensure that your groceries are kept cool if necessary in an insulated bag, you can rely on your bags not to break, and you can often times get a grocery discount per bag used. I love envriosax because they are pretty and they roll up nice and small, (my review, here). Any bag will do though. I used to be really good at always having my bags with me... but I slipped a little in the past few years! I'm hoping to focus more on this again in 2016! Start with one, and work your way up! It's an easy way to make a big difference. These bags pay for themselves quickly (I haven't lost one yet in 5+ years!) and they save thousands of plastic bags over time! Plus, Target (where we often get our groceries!), offers a $0.05 discount for each bag used during a purchase. 

12) Reuse Junk Mail Envelopes

When I go through our mail, so much of it is junk. Nearly half of that junk though, comes in a plain white business envelope. While I often tear these up and recycle or shred them, I recently decided to take off the envelopes/blank sided paper and keep those in a scratch paper bin. Then when I need to write a grocery list, menu, sketch something out, etc. I just pull out an old envelope or piece of paper and write away. When I'm done with the paper, I just toss it in the recycling, feeling good about using the paper twice. Same goes for post-its. I use them at work, and then I turn them over and save them in my drawer. I use the other side to make lists during the day, track progress on work tasks, and log my hours as I work. That way my post-its get twice the life they normally would! When I'm done, I toss them in the recycling or shredder as well! (yes, you can recycle post-it notes!)

+3 Bonus Ideas: 

1) Have a Meatless Meal 

Meat processing takes a TON of energy and water, not to mention the shipping energy to get it to your table. For this reason cutting out meat every once in a while can be a great way to be greener! Meatless Mondays are a trend right now, where people just cut out meat on Mondays. I think even one meal would be great! To do this you don't have to eat anything crazy or strange! Just think simple! Mexican food with black beans and veggies as the meat replacement, pasta with veggies in the sauce, grilled cheese, breakfast for dinner! When you think of it this way, you don't even notice that you are going without meat! I promise, my husband was a BIG carnivore and he has started saying things like, "I like this, but I don't know that it really needs meat.." - woah! A lot of meals you already love can be made meatless simply by switching the meat to veggies or beans, and chicken broth to veggie broth! Bonus? Meatless meals are almost always easier on your budget (and waistline!)!!

Check out a few of my favorites: Black Bean Corn Enchiladas, Cinnamon Vanilla Pancakes, Veggie Pot Pies, Breakfast Burritos, Belgian Waffles, Pumpkin Waffles, Easy Cheesy Potato Soup, Shell Stuffed Shells, Veggie Ravioli.

2) Carpool!

Ride with your friends or family members to your location rather than meeting them there. This saves on gas and gives you more time to connect with the ones you love! Funny things always happen in carpooling situations! Take turns driving.

3) Uplug Your Electronics When You Aren't Using Them!

Not using your blender right now? Done with your TV, DVD, game systems, for the night? Did you know that most electronics use electricity even when not in use?!?! This means that they are wasting energy AND hiking up your electrical bills! Avoiding this is simple, unplug items when they aren't in use, and utilize power strips. Plugging all of your TV related items into a power strip and turning it off at night is really quick way to be green and save green. You can save about $10 on your bill per year by doing this. It's SO easy, why wouldn't you want to save $10?!

There you have it 15 small ways to make an eco step this year! I hope you read something here that resonated with you. Every little bit does add up to make a bigger environmental impact. Every little step you make personally will make you feel great about your progress! And the more you do it, the more you can look back over the years and see what you've changed!  

What do you guys do for the environment? I would love to hear!

What do you wish you did more of?

Would you like to read more about quick and easy things you can do for the Earth in this space?

Looking for more ways to get the most out of 2016? "12 Quick Things to Start the New Year Off Organized," "12 Ways to Invest in Yourself This Year," "12 Ways to Travel More in 2016," and "12 Ways to Save More Money in 2016."

XO,

Alexandra

DIY Watercolor Mani for Valentine's Day // Lazy Girl Basics

I love having polish on my nails, but often when I try to do something super fancy... it fails. Which is such a bummer. We've all been there right? The first step is done, you go to add the easy half moon or tip... and the whole nail is botched. Surely I'm not the only one.

Well this manicure is great* for two reasons:

1) It's easy, and it doesn't have to be perfect. (shaky hands? no big deal, lack of polish finesse? even better). In fact this mani looks better the more varied it is!

2) You can actually do this on top of a chipped mani. Yep. Those once pretty nails can be refreshed starting with the second step of this process. No more chips, pretty nails again!

Sound good? Here we go.

Supplies & Prep:

Prepped Nails (w/ base coat applied & dried)
1 Light Colored Nail Polish (I used 100% Pure's 12:51)
1 Darker Colored Nail Polish (I used Essie's 'Jelly Apple' (red), but also liked 'plumberry' (pink))
Top Coat
Remover etc. for touch ups

1) Apply your lighter color to all of your nails. Be patient. Let dry.

2) Apply darker color over the top of each nail. Start about halfway down and fill in with strokes to the top. Do this in strips to give it a more 'painted' type look. You can decide if you want to use less polish and make it look watercolor-y or more polish, which will look more like an oil painting. Don't worry if some parts are thicker than others, if there are curves or indentions in your polish, the variance will make it look more artsy. :) Let dry, completely.

3) Add top coat. Let dry again. 

Another way you could try this mani is with a darker color on the bottom and a metallic color over the top.

I personally think this would be really pretty with a lilac and a plum, or a gold over a bright pink. Or black with nude or white. See? really anything works. :)

You are one step closer to being a manicure master.

What are you planning for this weekend?

My v-day inspiration, here, and outfit, here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

XO,

Alexandra

*Disclaimer: It's not for everyone, it's kind of got an artsy flair to it, you can't be into perfection. But, if you want to go with the flow, and don't mind asymmetry... this is for you!

The Green Queen // Books for Every Lady on Your List // Holiday Gift Guide // 2014

The Green Queen

This is your healthiest, activist type of friend. She's probably a vegan, if she isn't she's a vegetarian. If she isn't any of those things she might have a homestead (or want to start one). She's the one who shops at the farmer's market, makes her own cleaners, and reads product labels (and knows what she's reading!). She might even drive a hybrid or enjoy camping. Her windowsills are filled with plants, she often has a yummy soy candle burning, her sheets are organic cotton. Her Instagram is filled with nature shots, her pet, environmental statistics, and healthy breakfasts.

1) Eat Pretty: Nutrition for Beauty, Inside and Out

Many believe that the start of beauty is what you put inside your body. This book explores the relationships between nutrition and beauty, and gives tips for practical application. Including an explanation of buzzwords, 20 recipes, charts, lists, a guide of what benefits different foods have. This book is beautiful, and would be greatly appreciated by the green queen as well as the Girly Girl, and the Foodie!

2) No More Dirty Looks: The Truth about Your Beauty Products--and the Ultimate Guide to Safe and Clean Cosmetics

What you put on your body is also important to your health! The ingredients in your products are soaked into your skin and ultimately enter your bloodstream. This book is the ultimate guide to beauty products that work and are entirely non-toxic and healthy! There is no reason to sacrifice beauty while going greener! Also great for the Girly Girl!

3) Keep it Vegan: 100 Simple, Healthy & Delicious Dishes

Eating vegan or vegetarian even just once a week relieves a lot of stress on the environment and on your body! This book is relatively new, but quickly climbing in popularity among vegan cookbooks. The author Áine Carlin is a blogger who approaches vegan cooking in an attainable, yet creative way. This book won't leave you combing specialty markets for obscure ingredients or have you feeling like you are eating cardboard. This collection of 100 recipes includes cocoa and almond butter overnight oats, Hole Mole Black Bean Chili, Thick Crust Mushroom Pizza, No-bake Strawberry Cheesecake & Rosemary and Pear Stuffed French Toast. (YUM!) Not to mention, Carlin is the cutest blogger with such a sweet and relateable writing style, and GORGEOUS photos (link here). Fun fact: Áine Carlin's sister is the lovely Mairead Carlin, the newest member of Celtic Woman. :) - Also great for the Foodie!

4) Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills

Raleigh Briggs is an expert on home cleaners, how to make them, how to grow the ingredients, and how to keep yourself, your family, and pets safe from harm! This book is a highly rated guide to altering your lifestyle to be greener at home, without hassle, and confusion! Also great for the Homebody and the Momma!

5) The Honest Life: Living Naturally and True to You  (Enhanced Edition)

You might remember my love letter of a post about this book... well now Jessica Alba's first book has an enhanced edition! This book is an all around resource for having a cleaner, greener, healthier life. As a mom she approaches a lot of the topics from the standpoint of keeping them safe and healthy! This is not just a whim of a book, Alba knows her statistics! I found this book extremely clear, inspiring, helpful and eye-opening. I am so glad to have read it before starting a family! This book would be excellent for anyone, but especially good for The Momma! 

6) The Working Class Foodies Cookbook: 100 Delicious Seasonal and Organic Recipes for Under $8 perPerson 

This book has everything you need to know about eating greener on a budget. It is a seasonal guide to eating and cooking with organic foods. This is better for the earth, better for your health, and now explained and executed in a budget friendly way! This book would also be great for the Foodie!

7) Joyous Health: Eat and Live Well Without Dieting

This book is for the health nut or the health nut to be. Joy McCarthy, a holistic nutritionist created this book to help people live a healthier and more joyful life. This book's ratings are off the chart! Check out her blog of the same name!

8) The Forest Feast: Simple Vegetarian Recipes from My Cabin in the Woods

This sweet cookbook is a testament to the author, Erin Gleeson's love of nature. She moved from the city to the forest to pursue a new lifestyle. The recipes in this book are based around seasonal and wholesome ingredients, many of which are very simple! Along with the recipe you get Gleeson's signature illustrations, beautiful water color designs! This book would also be a lovely addition to any Foodie's collection!

9 & 10) Gorgeously Green & Do it Green

Sophie Uliano's highly rated, extremely inclusive guides to greening your entire life. From beauty to home fitness, and food to shopping, she leaves nothing out. But if she wanted to expand you could find that information in her other book Do it Green. Do it green is all about making your own cleaners and products. I will add that these books are not small! They really do contain so much information! She has also released The Gorgeously Green Diet! - Three great resources for anyone!

11) The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre!

For your friend who has been talking about starting a homestead, this is a great guide to beekeeping, gardening, farming, raising animals, tending to fruit trees etc. For even more details you can also look into these related books, The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals and The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects.

I hope that this list has given you some book ideas for the greenest lady in your life!

Interested in more?  Check out this post to view my book recommendations for other 'types'.

Happy Gifting!

Alexandra