Seeing Camel?

Are you loving all of the gorgeous camel colours out there this fall? Me too. Makeover your makeup kit with fall’s hottest new trend by checking out my latest article The Best Natural Makeup only at 29Secrets.com

Cup Cozies

Hi everyone! I have just found the CUTEST hand-made cup cozies. Don’t know what a cup cozy is? Well, let me tell you. You know when you drop by your local coffee house and slide a cardboard sleeve on your hot cup to keep your hands from burning? Well, that is essentially a cup cozy. The problem with all of these cardboard sleeves is the amount of waste they create. And even though most of them are made from recycled paper, how many of them find their way back to the recycle box? Kim, of KnitStorm on Etsy, has created knitted cup cozies perfect for your take out cup or coffee mug. They come in a wide variety of colours with different little notes on them (ie. Tea, Hot!, Coffee Me, Cuppa, Chai, etc). Packed with personality they are sure to spice up your morning cup of joe. The best part about these cozies is that they are small enough to keep in your purse, meaning you can pull them out and use them every time you stop for a hot drink this winter.  And I LOVE the little tea-like tags on the mug cozies. They make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

Night Out Beauty & Dry Shampoos

Hey everyone!

I’ve been a busy little bee lately. I’ve still been writing Beauty articles for 29Secrets.com and I’ve now started a brand new job!

I’d love for you to check out my latest work for 29Secrets.com

Makeup Tips for a Night Out
Planning on heading out for a night on the town? Here are this fall’s top Night Out makeup trends.

The Best Dry Shampoos
Tired of heading to the office with greasy hair? Me too. Luckily Dry Shampoo is one of the most popular hair products this fall. Check which brands got the 29Secrets seal of approval.

Costume Hunting

Even though Halloween hasn’t quite arrived yet and maybe only a a handful of you are pondering that age old question ‘What am I going to be for Halloween?’, it’s something that’s been on my mind a lot lately. Namely, because I can’t seem to find anything that I’m looking for! Have you ever noticed that these costume stores always have the same costumes on the shelves for years and years, and then in the blink of an eye they disappear off the face of the planet?? Well, that’s my predicament this year. And for some reason, every women’s costume I come across always involves a miniskirt. I can’t even be a Ninja Turtle anymore without wearing a mini! – I’d hate to think what Splinter would say to that! Now I’m not saying that I have any kind of objection to us lovely ladies dressing as ahem, whores on Halloween, I just feel like somewhere along the line we gave up creativity in the name of sex. So I’ve decided that if I really want a great costume I should make it myself – like in the good ol’ days. And really, if I’m trying to live an eco-conscious life, this is what I should have been doing in the first place!

When my mom was growing up, she and her siblings only decided what they were going trick-or-treating as on the morning of, AND they built their costumes out of items they had just laying around the house. Can you imagine how resourceful they must of been? And this way, not only will I save money by not buying a brand new costume, but in building my own I’ll also have a unique, one-of-a-kind costume, with zero chance that another Halloween party go-er will be wearing the exact same thing.

Do you have an old costume from last year that you know you won’t wear again? Why not ask around and see who else is in the same situation? Organize a costume swap between you and your girlfriends. Not only will you have a new costume to wear this year, but you’ll free up precious closet space by not buying a brand new one – and let’s face it, closet space is always at a premium. If you are looking to get rid of some old costumes do not throw them away! Donate them to the Salvation Army or Value Village – places where people will be able to use them again.

I still haven’t completely decided what I’m going to be for Halloween but I’ll be sure to share them when I do!

Do you have any awesome home made costume ideas? Share them with me. I’d love to see what awesome stuff people are coming up with for this year!!

Nice Rug

Personally, I am a hardwood-floor/area rug type girl. It’s not that I don’t appreciate some cozy wall-to-wall carpeting every now and again, but there’s just something so inviting about the rich colour of hardwood. But whether you’re a carpet lover or an area rug admirer, it’s important when selecting a new carpet to find a brand whose company is eco-conscious. And if you think that means sacrificing quality or style, you are sorely mistaken. Take for example Tigressã Carpets. Their carpets are part of Carpet One’s Green Select initiative. To earn a Green Select label, the flooring must currently be recyclable, contain recycled materials and/or be made from a sustainable, quickly renewable resource. Tigressã carpets contain 25% post-consumer recycled carpet content and they’re made of nylon that can be recycled into new nylon fibres. But these carpets aren’t just a pretty face. There are over thirty-one styles to choose from and because their carpets offer more fibre filaments per square inch than ordinary nylon carpets, they show less matting, crushing or wear over time. And at Carpet One, you can trim and bind a Tigressã carpet into a custom area rug.

If carpet isn’t really your speed but you still want a sustainable floor, than why not try cork? Cork is great because it is extremely durable. It also offers a unique look and feel and comes in a variety of shades. And since cork is a naturally sustainable resource, it’s the perfect eco-friendly choice.

But if, like me, you’ll always have a hard-on for hardwood, don’t despair. More and more hardwood flooring companies are using reclaimed wood in their products, and are using wood from FSC certified forests (Forest Stewardship Council). Estate Hardwood Floors, is just one of those companies.

Pan-per Me

Delicious food is always an important ingredient to living a luxurious life. And while I suppose it would be even more indulgent to have someone else cook that delicious food for you, I’ll settle for some great sustainable cookware instead.

I just discovered this great company GreenPan, and I had to share them with you! Never in my life had I actually considered whether or not my cookware was eco-friendly or whether the materials they were made with were healthy for me. Have you? I certainly had my eyes opened today when I visited GreenPan’s site and learned about what types of harmful toxins pots and pans are usually made with.

Aside from making great-quality cookware, GreenPan their products are the first to be made with a non-stick coating made of minerals instead of plastics. And because they don’t use PTFE coatings (the manufacturing of which causes a ton of pollution) there is reduced pollution to the environment and also less harmful chemicals swirling around in our air (if you want to read more about why GreenPan doesn’t use PTFE click here). The alterations that GreenPan has made to their products uses less energy than traditional methods, causing them to emit 60% less CO2 than products coated in PTFE. But best of all, GreenPan recycles!  They process used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials. They use upcycled stainless steel for the handles and upcycled aluminium for the cookware bodies.

So if you are looking to expand your cooking horizons and feel that a new pot or pan may be in order, why not make a choice that not only works fabulously but is sustainable as well? My favourite product is the GreenPan Stockholm Wok. Visit their website and discover your perfect pan!

Baby Soft

Want baby soft skin without wondering just what you’re lathering on? I’ve always loved using Johnson’s baby line. Their lotions smell so soothing and have a habit of leaving you feeling pampered and fresh.

And now there’s another reason to use baby products – all-natural ingredients!

So whether it’s your health or your little one’s health that’s number one on your priority list, what could be better than using products with natural ingredients?

The Johnson’s Natural line is specifically designed with baby’s delicate needs in mind. Johnson’s knows that while the earth contains multitudes of natural ingredients, not all of them are right for your baby. They’ve clinically assessed each formula to ensure that it is mild enough for your baby’s delicate skin, hair and eyes (and yours too of course!).

Johnson’s Naturals also have an Allerfree fragrance composed of naturally derived ingredients. It is completely free of known allergens and irritating essential oils. This simple, naturally derived fragrance blends subtle white florals and powdery vanilla scents – leaving you smelling delicious! And because it doesn’t contain any synthetic ingredients, you can be sure that your keeping the earth and its many babies safe and sound.

Cleaning Green

Need a little clean to go with that green?

No matter who you are or what your cleaning habits are like, chances are your house/condo/apartment/cardboard box is going to need a scrub every once in a while.  And thanks to some fabulous green-thinking companies there are tons of services out there that are dedicated to keeping your home and the environment clean. This past week one of my good friends happened to introduce me to Clean & Simple, a great local company that offers an environmentally friendly housekeeping service using only non-toxic, aroma therapeutic household cleaners – but that’s not all they do!

Clean & Simple is a spa experience for your home!  From the scent of nerve easing basil to the soft caress of uplifting lemon, your home will become a sanctuary for your senses. Turn down service, aroma therapeutic room sprays and toilet paper origami, are just some of the posh touches they offer their clientele. These treatments are sure to make your home feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

Clean & Simple is also dedicated to educating their customers on the dangers of the toxic cleaners many families continue to keep in their homes (remember toxins out, toxins in?). Their eco-conscious cleaning products are safe for us and for our planet, providing you and your family with peace of mind. Want to find out more about Clean & Simple? Check out their Facebook page about all of their different packages or catch up on Twitter to learn a little more about C&S.

And in the meantime, if you’re planning on doing a bit of cleaning yourself, remember to choose eco-friendly products that are safe for both your family and our lovely earth.

Brooching the Subject

Fashionista Karla Deras (of Karla’s Closet) knows how to rock a fun and fresh vintage look. And if you’re seeking inspiration on incorporating vintage pieces into trendy outfits, Karla’s blog is a great place to start! This brooch and carpet skirt combo (pictured above) is one of my absolute favourites! What I love most about this outfit is the vintage brooch that she’s pinned to her skirt. When shopping vintage, I’ve often come across gorgeous pins like these but thought “how can I pull this off without dating my look?” I could just never figure out where I’d pin a pin! But Karla has the answer to all my style questions. Got any of these gorgeous pins tucked away in old boxes? Bring them out! Unique brooches give your outfit a one-of-a-kind feel. And rather than dating an outfit, they can really pull a look together – just like it does for Karla’s blouse and carpet skirt. Brooches not your style? Why not sell them to a vintage shop or drop them off at Value Village – it’ll clear out some much-needed space for any new additions. Plus, selling them instead of trashing them will mean less garbage in the ground and more bling to pass around!

I have to admit, after seeing this outfit, I’m itching to get my hands on my very own brooch!!

Glam it up, Organic style.

Want to glam it up without mucking up your face or the environment? Organic Glam cosmetics is a line of high-end cosmetics dedicated to making you look and feel flawless. Created by The Organic Pharmacy, a company dedicated to making all-natural health and beauty products,  Organic Glam’s line up is developed using only natural ingredients and are completely free of the toxins often found in beauty products. And because OG uses mineral colours, herbal extracts and antioxidants, these products will also enhance your skin’s natural glow! But don’t believe me – why not ask a starlet for yourself? Sultry siren Emma Watson is a big fan of Organic Glam’s Luminous Antioxidant Foundation and pretty Pink Blusher. These two products are classic, fresh and versatile – meaning no matter your style, they’ll be the perfect addition to any glam gal’s makeup bag.