To celebrate speaking at PBE in Manhattan I’ve teamed up with Sugarmat and PBE to do an extra special giveaway!
Read MoreFlower Popsicles from The Little Market
Beat the heat and enjoy this delicious recipe from The Little Market Blog created by Claire of The Kitchy Kitchen!
Read MoreSave money on health foods @... Marshall's?!
If anyone asks where my favorite place to shop for healthy food finds is, they might be surprised by my answer: Marshalls! I often go there for discount clothing, but their packaged food aisle was shockingly great and filled with healthy snacks. I wanted to see if you could save money shopping there and put my hypothesis to the test with an online price-check comparison.
Here are direct side by side comparisons of how much I would spend at other places!
Nactave Organic Agave Sweetener
Retail Price: $9.36 for 15.25 Oz.
Marshall's Price: $3.99 for 15.25 Oz.
Kala Beautiful Beans: Tropical Curry
As a disclaimer Kala's website says the items are only available at Sprouts stores. I don't have one nearby and found the only option available for sale on amazon of another flavor.
Retail Price: $4.19
Marshall's Price: $3.99
Each item checked out cheaper at Marshall's than online store options! Check it our for yourself and let me know your saings :)
Pop-In @ Nordtsrom x Hedley & Bennett Event
I was super excited to attend the Pop-In @ Nordstrom Eats More event at the Hedley & Bennett HQ in Vernon. My favorite paper brand, Rifle Paper Co. did an apron collaboration with H&B which is how they first came on my radar. So when I was invited to get a first look at the nordstrom collaboration, I was all in!
Firstly, when I arrived I was amazed by the interior design at the location. Any office space with not only a swing, but a SLIDE too, gets an A+ in my book.
Together with a small group of influencers and press, we toured the facility with founder Ellen Marie Bennett and enjoyed a cooking class in our custom Hedley & Bennett aprons and a mixology class put together by Don Julio Tequila.
Click through below to see pictures of the event:
I had a lot of fun learning about the company and how cool Nordstrom pop-up events are, which are bringing healthier and eco-friendly alternatives together in one location.
You can check out the Nordstrom Pop-up and get some of these goodies in store and online. Thanks for having me Nordstrom!
Lessons from my first memory
Important events, even as babies, can be stored in our brains indefinitely. We don't get to choose our first memory, sometimes they're insignificant but 1 in 4 people's first memories are either traumatic or life changing events.
The first memory I have is of my mom closing her car door as I sat in the backseat next to my sister. I was 2. I remember there were loud sounds and my mom was crying.
At 23 I roughly knew the backstory behind this memory, but I decided to do further research to better understand it and important lessons I could learn from it. What I found was, this story really is the closest thing to a miracle I've witnessed and I should listen to my grandma's advice.
The Story
In 1997 my grandma had been feeling sick for a few days and acting differently, but wanted to still go to work as a teacher at an elementary school. My mom was concerned, so decided to trail behind her car to make sure she arrived safely. Everything was normal, so my mom stopped for gas and assumed she'd catch up with grandma at the school.
When my mom arrived at the school however, my grandma's car wasn't there. She didn't assume the worst...but shortly after, fire trucks blazed past the school and my mom felt her heart sink. She prayed and tried to reassure herself that there was another explanation, but my mom followed the trucks.
She parked and wound up near a pond in a park where a small crowd had formed with emergency vehicles.
My mom told my sister and I to stay in the car, my earliest memory, and overhead a bystander telling an onlooker that a woman had driven into a pond, became trapped in her van, and died.
Devastated, my mom cried and frantically ran towards the pond in disbelief and I'm sure time stopped for her in that moment, until she spotted her mom, wet, but alive and sitting at the edge of the pond with the van bobbling in the water.
What happened?!
When my mom stopped for gas, my grandma had a seizure and blacked out. As she lost control, her van started swerving and brushed up against a few cars. Her car took a detour towards a park and she narrowly avoided a tree and an outhouse before driving into the pond. Onlooker, Charles Rouse, A Catholic priest followed the van and miraculously a retired firefighter Marciano happened to be in the area to see the events unfold. Both of them, alongside others, jumped into the pond to assist my grandma out of the van as water began to fill in quickly.
You heard that right, a Catholic Priest and a retired firefighter were at the right place at the right time and saved my grandma.
Incoherent and dazed, she followed Marciano's voice and exited the vehicle in confusion about the events. There were no casualties, my grandma saw a doctor, and she had to find the strength to move forward with her life. A miracle happened and this story changed the lives of everyone involved.
There were a lot of important takeaways from the entire ordeal that have helped me find strength in my own personal struggles. I went through a life changing experience recently and went home to surround myself around family in St. Louis. When it came time for me to go back to California, I didn't want to get out of the car at the airport. I wanted to stay with my family and not have to go back and face my "mountains".
I was so worried about what people might think and if people would judge me. Ironically my grandma stood outside the car and yelled at me
"GIRL GET OUT THE CAR AND GO GET ON THAT PLANE".
Who would know better than my grandma when a person should get out of a 'car' and continue on with life. If she could overcome that as a survivor, so could I and so can you. And now onto The takeaways:
First, trust your gut.
Sometimes, like my mom, our intuition is screaming at us and its up to us if we want to listen to it or not. My mom had several gut feelings that day and followed them. I believe humans innately have the ability to sense when something seems off, its in our biology. If you're spiritual or religious, you can interpret that gut feeling as a higher power or the universe trying to tell you something. Trust your gut and those feelings that make you think "something just isn't right". You might not know WHAT it is, but trust your instincts.
You can't change someones perception of you
Recently, my grandma told me how some teachers at the school gossiped about her, called her crazy, and made up rumors that she drove into the pond on purpose. She had to go back to work with eyes on her and walk into her classroom regardless and do her job. Sometimes its incredibly hard to go back to normal life after a traumatic or life altering event, especially when people might think negatively of you because of it. Don't let people not understanding the full picture or judging you get you down and stop you from continuing on with your life. Focus on what you can control, you, your healing, and your growth. You don't have to explain yourself to anyone.
There aren't coincidences
Yes, sometimes there are things that happen at the right place at the right time, but I honestly believe sometimes we're shown things or experience things at a certain time for a reason. My mom, bless her heart, had to stop at the gas station. If she didn't, she would have seen my grandma swerving through traffic and may have done something drastic to stop her. Also, I wouldn't want that image of my grandma's car driving into a pond to be in my moms memory. Thankfully she just so happened to stop to avoid seeing things she didn't need to see. Just trust when things happen, there's a reason.
I hope my grandma and her story inspire you to think about what's important in life and give you the strength to overcome your challenges in life. Sometimes the weirdest, confusing, and scariest things happen in life, but I promise it can strengthen you if you allow yourself to heal and get better.
Read about my grandma's story covered by The St. Louis Post Dispatch Here
Jord: A Unique & Sustainable Wooden Watch
I’m always on the lookout for more eco-friendly versions of products made with natural materials. Plus, I love sharing them here with you on my blog to make your search a little bit easier!
I’m minimal when it comes to jewelry (I don’t even have my ears pierced), but I love a good watch. Jord has a fun line of wooden watches that aren’t too bulky or distracting, but are classy and unique. I was sold on my Cassia Walnut & Vintage Rose when I learned that they also include sustainability as a major part of their mission.
When I found out that Jord was started in my hometown, St. Louis, MO, I fell even more in love and knew I had to support this brand. We partnered together to do a giveaway where you can win your own watch:
Enter here to win your timeless Jord Watch.
All entrants will have a chance to win a $100 gift code to use on the Jord site.
Here are my top green-girl reasons to try Jord for your next watch:
Jord watches aren’t made with toxic chemicals
It’s sad that all brands don’t do this, but Jord doesn’t manufacture with chemicals that could be harmful to your skin.
The wood in their watches comes from furniture remnants
A lot of the wood comes from furniture remnants that would otherwise be thrown away. They found a way to recycle the wood to create these watches instead.
The Bamboo is sourced sustainably
This is important because some bamboo and woods used for other watches are from unsustainable farms.
The styles are classic, but modern
Somehow they’ve managed to create vintage watches that mix well with my modern wardrobe.
When you’re shopping for new clothes or accessories know that there most certainly is a more sustainable version somewhere on the web! Try to support a company that prides itself in social and corporate responsibility and sustainability. Jord does just that.
If you’re a watch enthusiast, check them out and don’t forget to enter the giveaway to have a chance at winning $100 towards a new watch!
Lessons on perfectionism from my pre-school self
When I was in preschool my mom brought cake to celebrate my birthday. Most three year olds would probably just get excited seeing pretty candles and then stuff their faces with sweets and call it a day...but I was different.
My mom told me everyone started to sing “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Le...” and I was not having it. There was this little boy in the corner who wasn’t singing and it threw me all the way off. I tugged on my mom and kept saying “Mom, he is’t singing, he’s supposed to sing!” I just couldn’t understand why he wasn’t singing. Who knows, maybe that boy was finally waking up from a nice nap and was in a bad mood or maybe he just didn’t like singing...but I was disappointed.
I wish I could go back in time and talk to my 3 year old self and say “You’ve got the whole preschool squad supporting you, who cares about this lil boy, eat your cake and enjoy it”
I realized other times in my life, I’ve done really similar things to my own detriment. I let the opinions or actions of few influence tremendously my overall happiness. I ignored my own accomplishments or reasons to be happy because of negative outside influences.
When you are a people-pleaser, perfectionist, or have a type A personality, flexible thinking can be hard and has to be learned for your own peace of mind. Perfectionists, unknowingly look for criticism and sometimes receive it from the wrong people who aren't being constructive. Perfectionists are hungry for both validation and criticism and this can turn really bad really fast if you let it.
You end up giving too much power to other people to define you, instead of validating yourself and knowing your worth on your own.
If you are seeking validation from EVERYONE, you will not get it, because some people just won’t be rooting for you and that’s okay. If you’re doing your best and a lot of people who love and support you are cheering you on, don’t fixate on the opinions or actions of few.
I say all of this to say, you are not a bad person because someone doesn’t want to cheer you on, when you don't get a promotion, when a boy doesn't love you, or if someone doesn't vibe with you. You never know their reasoning, their insecurities, or their personal struggles that have led them to treat you the way they do and you honestly don't need to, to recognize that you're doing your best and you are not defined by those things.
You are imperfect, which makes you perfectly human.
There will be those “little boys” who won’t sing on your birthday, won’t cherish you, or might dislike you for something real or percieved...but guess what? You don’t need to allow that to stop you from growing, loving yourself, and living your best life.
Eat your cake and stop worrying about little boys.
xoxo Leah T
Social Enterprise Spotlight: Anchal Project
Social enterprises and non-profits have a special place in my heart. Social enterprises are companies that create strategies to maximize financial, social, and environmental well-being. Their bottom-line looks at people, profit, and the planet equally. One day, I hope to start one, but in the meantime I like searching for innovative social enterprises to support that are making a difference in the world.
Instagram has been a great tool for me to find non-profits and social enterprises that promote sustainability, ethical fashion, and women empowerment. I search the hashtag #socialenterprise and #ethicalfashion to identify new companies to support. I was more than happy when I stumbled across Anchal Project, a non-profit social enterprise that believes design can change lives.
Anchal uses design to create innovative products and sustainable employment that empowers exploited women worldwide. I was moved by their twofold mission of women empowerment and environmental preservation. (The products are also super cute, unique and well designed)
"We use a unique business model to empower women through economic opportunity while simultaneously addressing the environmental issues of the textile industry. It is estimated that over 30,000 women are part of the commercial sex trade in Ajmer, India. These women endure dehumanizing working conditions in order to provide a small income for their families. These women are trapped in a vicious cycle that not only limits their access to education and future opportunities, but their children’s as well."
Social enterprises have the power to save lives, by providing women with the means to support their families and escape slavery and poverty. Anchal Product founder, Collen Clines was inspired by her Design for Development seminar class in India after seeing the lack of programming and dire conditions. She knew she couldn't turn away and started a fundraiser to establish 501c3 status and create Anchal in 2010.
All of Anchal’s home goods and accessories are entirely hand-stitched by Anchal’s 130 artisans in Ajmer, India with layers of the softest GOTS certified organic cotton. The home textile range includes bed quilts, pillow shams, throw quilts, decorative pillows and table linens. In addition, Anchal offers a variety of fashion accessories including scarves, tote bags and pouches. All of Anchal’s heirloom quality pieces are artfully crafted with the highest quality craft and attention to detail.
Anchal products have been sold in Urban Outfitters, featured in Harper's Bazaar, Better Homes & Gardens, Brit + CO., and Design Sponge. Most recently in February 2017, Anchal’s Sari Quilt from the Narrative Collection was honored by NY NOW® and Apartment Therapy with not only "Handmade Global Design - Best New Product”, but the “Best in Market” award.
Below you can see me pairing my Anchal Small Patchwork Mint Pouch with a fully thrifted outfit with jeans and shoes from Goodwill and Plato's Closet. I encourage you to follow them on instagram, shop on their website, and get to know more about Anchal Project and other social enterprises like it! When you buy products from social enterprises, you're making the decision to support a cleaner earth and a better, more equal, future for people all over the world.
Green & Diverse: Vapour Beauty
As most of you know by now, I love green beauty products! Recently I made a mistake and used a non-green beauty product on my skin and I broke out. Everywhere. I haven't broken out that badly since high school and my face is still recovering a month later.
I was looking for a new foundation that wouldn't clog up my pores and I connected with the team at Vapour Beauty. I was super excited because not only were the products non-toxic, they also had a range of skin colors for women of color. While a lot of brands pride themselves in being environmentally friendly, they forget about us women with darker skin! It makes me so sad when the darkest color a brand has is "tan". Thankfully Vapour was able to match the correct color of my skin just by looking at a photo. I was skeptical at first, but when the foundation came, I held it next to my hand and it was almost the exact same color.
This foundation is very liquid-y so a little goes a long way. It gives me a Rihanna-like dewy look without becoming extremely oily throughout the day. This was my first foundation of this consistency, but I've been using it every day and it works well! I used two products above for the below photo-shoot and loved how my skin looked!
They just launched new glass packaging that also makes it better for the environment. This checks off the three things on my list I normally look for when picking a makeup brand 1) non-toxic ingredients 2) commitment to diversity 3) eco-friendly packaging.
I'd recommend checking them out and giving them a try if you're looking for an innovative and eco-friendly green beauty brand. I've honestly never felt a formula just like theirs that glides on so smoothly.
River Organics: Green Beauty Review
I love green beauty and I'd shout that from a rooftop!
Around a year ago, I transformed my beauty routine into mostly green after interviewingGreen Beauty Expert Paige Padgett on Kimberlyelise.com. You won't believe the harsh chemicals that go into a lot of mainstream beauty products. For those new to green beauty, it basically encompasses a wide variety of cruelty-free and organic products that are safer for your face and body.
What you put ON your body is just as important as what you put IN it
I stumbled across River Organics oil based beauty line that uses plant oils and butters. Their products are organic and that means their oils come from plants that weren't grown with pesticides or chemicals.
They also use recyclable glass amber bottles for oils and reduce excess packaging as much as possible. Today I will be reviewing two lip balms and the Aura Facial oil.
I used the organic tinted lip balm in beige and rouge. Their packaging is adorable and easily recyclable. Beige is now a staple in my everyday beauty routine because its light color works well with my brown features. It glides on easily with a creamy texture and stays on for a while. If you're looking for a replacement for your non-organic lip balm, this might be for you.
Here is some info about the lip balms from my interview with the River Organics team below:
Lip Balms:
-The lip balms are our most popular product and we find they have just the right creamy texture to moisturize lips and also give them a naturally plump look.
The recipe for the lip balms came about as a mistake. We were following a recipe but ended up having to make a few substitutions. We found that these subs helped in giving it a unique and long lasting texture and feel.
-The lip balms of course come in our very special recyclable packaging and are actually double the size of a regular plastic tube lip balm.
-A lot of people ask how to push down the lip balm once it is popped up from the bottom so they can close the cap.
Tip: Hit it on a hard surface and it will slide down, or my favorite way is to push it back in with my lips! You can also just keep it at a low level.
News: There will be two colors coming out in October a darker berry for fall and another secret color to be announced soon! Stay in touch on our newsletter so you can find out more.
Next I tried the roll on organic face oil with rosehip, carrot and blood orange oil. Usually I'm skeptical about putting oils on my face because I oddly enough like it feeling dry, but this oil is different. You can control how much you put on easily with the roll on feature in the packaging. I've been using it before putting on my makeup because it actually helps the rest of my makeup blend really well. The smell is really quaint and you get a lovely scent of orange. It isn't too overpowering or heavy. A+ for sustainable packaging, light oil texture, and scent.
Here are some tips and a big announcement from River Organics exclusively for GGF:
Big announcement:
Aura will soon be customizable! We find that so many of our clients have specific issues they want to target so we will be coming out with a range of 'Skin Boosters' that work with with Aura's formula...more to come in October.
Here is the full list of ingredients with more in depth explanation if needed :
✧ Safflower improves skin texture and softness containing a high level of linoleic fatty acid (Omega 6 fatty acids) to regenerate cells. ✧Rosehip oil penetrates the deep layers of the skin to regenerate cells and increase collagen production. It contains Retinoic acid to help to reduce wrinkles and brighten the Complexion, as well as Vitamin C, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids for healing scars and improving the skin''s texture. ✧Carrot seed oil is a natural Antioxidant with high levels of Carotenoids which are components of Vitamin A as well as Tocopherol, a fat-soluble form of vitamin E which penetrates deep into the skin as a powerful antioxidant.
SCENT - Sweet citrus scent of Blood Orange Essential Oil which helps to ease nervous tension and boost the mood.HOW TO USE - Apply 3-4 drops to fingers and massage gently into the face. Great to use as a light oil during the day as a base under sunscreen, to refresh makeup during the day and of course as a restoring night oil.
✧ 100% Plant Ingredients, 100% Vegan Friendly ✧ Paraben free, Sulfate free, Phthalate, Cruelty free
I'm really happy with River Organics and I only feature products that I truly like. I used the products for two weeks before posting about them to truly see if I liked the products. I've been using the oil everyday before adding my foundation as well as the beige lip balm. I recommend giving River Organics a try and applaud them for their dedication to keeping products safe!
Follow them on instagram @riverorganics
Green Your Life & Home with Mackenzie Crigger
Mackenzie Crigger is the Energy Conservation & Sustainability Manager at Chapman University in Orange, CA. She has dedicated her life to promoting solutions to create a greener and cleaner future.Luckily, she shared some of her favorite tips with us to help us reduce waste, save energy, and save money.
Mackenzie has been eco-conscious since she was a little kid. So much that she warped a cassette that her parents bought her with songs about saving the rain forest and recycling! In her adult life, she became sort of an evangelist about saving the planet. She’d talk with anyone who’d listen about environmentalism and what they could do to decrease their impact.
An Easy Place To Get Green Is At Home
“A few really easy things you can do at home is not turn on your air conditioner until it gets to 78 degrees indoors, and don’t turn your heat on until it is 68 degrees indoors. Use shades or drapes to keep out hot sun in the middle of the day, or if you’re in a cold climate, use thick curtains over your windows for extra insulation. Also use natural light whenever possible and upgrade your lighting to LEDs. They’ve gotten much cheaper and now come in warmer color temperatures. ”
Is your space full of clutter? Save the planet and gain peace of mind by tryingminimalism.
Look At Your Diet & Cut Your Showers Short
“One of the easiest things you can do to be more eco-friendly is to cut down the amount of meat you eat. Red meat is especially water-intensive (to get one pound of meat, it requires enough water to shower for two weeks straight– without turning off your shower!). Another thing you can do is keep showers short. I like to see if I can get my whole shower done before Britney Spears finishes 2 songs, which is about 6 minutes! This saves water and electric/gas (for heating water).”
Trying to eat less meat? Check outthese tips on how to transition to a plant-based diet from nutritionist and wellness coach Jennie Miremadi.
Get Thrifty
“One more easy thing to do is hit the thrift stores when you need a new piece of furniture or a new piece for your wardrobe. You’ll find unique pieces that no one else has, for a price that is good for your wallet and the planet.”
Talk With Friends & Loved Ones
“For me, so much of inspiring others has been showing them how easy it is to make choices that are better for the environment. My boyfriend is a big Dodger fan, so when we started dating, I suggested taking the train to game and he, at first, was very against it. Like a true Californian, he loves his car! But once I got him on the train and he saw how nice it was to not fight traffic, he’s now the one who suggests taking the train when we are going somewhere.”
Keeping Your House Baby and Eco Friendly
If you're a green mom, you've probably thought of ways to keep your house both eco and baby-friendly. There are so many harsh chemicals out there floating around in conventional cleaners. My philosophy is, whenever you clean off a counter top you shouldn't have to wash it down with soap before you cook on it or place your little one on the counter. Shouldn't cleaners clean on their own and leave surfaces safe to touch afterwards?
I started using ECOS green cleaners when I joined the Earth Friendly Products team and I've become more aware of what I use to clean around the house. Although I don't have a baby, I've got little cousins and spent years babysitting and nannying to know how often clean-up duty comes around.
In a perfect world all cleaners would be safe enough to drink if you had to, but unfortunately many make me feel uneasy about preparing food after a counter top spray down.
So, what should we do?
Gravitate towards cleaners without harsh chemicals and those powered by green chemistry.
My favorite brand of course for cleaning sprays and soaps would be ECOS. I also started using Baby ECOS fruit and veggie wash before eating my fruits and veggies. For my moms, green cleaners are the way to go for your baby's sensitive skin just in case they come into contact with a surface cleaner. In general, pick a product that has ingredient transparency and check product labels to make sure you aren't misled. Look for products that are Safer Choice Certified and have other important environmental honors.
Use sustainable wash cloths
I like to use products that are made with sustainability in mind to clean my home. Like these organic bamboo baby wash cloths. Even when you're cleaning with green cleaners, take it one step further and purchase recycled cleaning supplies or organic and ethically made wash cloths and towels.
Use safe dish soap
Consider rechecking your labels and making sure your dish soap is also safe. You'll be eating and drinking from your dishes so they should cleaned without harsh chemicals. Plant powered cleaners are my go-to and for my moms out there, you'll want to look up product lines that are also baby safe.
Comment to let me know your favorite green cleaners!
Clean, Green, Beauty with Lilly Be
After learning about the #CleanBeautyRevolution I shared My Simple Vegan Makeup Routine on KimberlyElise.com. Since then I've dedicated my time to being more conscious about what I put on my skin. I think the best approach to greening your beauty routine is to take baby steps and test out new green beauty products every month. To make the switch easier for you I've been seeking out brands that promote both accessibility and planet friendly beauty. I got to chat withLilly Becreator Lissette to learn more about their mission and how they are taking part in the Clean Beauty Revolution.
What is the story behind Lilly Be?
Our story is one of pursuing passion and being at one with nature. I have worked with organic botanicals to create home remedies, beauty elixirs, and alternative care for about 20 years. I became a Certified Clinical Master Aromatherapist nearly 10 years ago now. I have had a passion and admiration for nature’s gifts as long as I can remember.
I officially launched Lilly Be to the public in 2015. I chose some of my best blends and created new ones based on customers’ needs. All of my products are formulated with synergy in order to create the most effective blend that targets both skincare needs and natural stress relief. Because of our deep respect for nature, we ensure that we use the cleanest version of each botanical and require that all ingredients have organic certification. Ultimately, Lilly Be is a 100% clean beauty line that provides our world with safe, effective, organic products.
What is green beauty and why is it important to you?
Green Beauty is all about using what nature readily provides. Nature is the original medicine. Green Beauty is about connecting to those gifts and using them for beauty, ailments, homeopathic care and many other daily needs. Green Beauty is important to me because it is an avenue in which I can creatively express my passion, while enhancing youthful skin and promoting a positive state of mind. It is also a healthy way to appreciate your body. There are so many artificial, chemical based products that promise beauty and youth, but are poisoning our blood stream with parabens, synthetics, dyes, fragrances, and other unhealthy ingredients. Nature has effective, amazing, natural chemical constituents that can target all the same needs people seek in a healthy way. I enjoy using organics and hope to pass that love along to our world.
How can green beauty become more accessible to a wider audience?
I believe it already has. People are becoming so aware that our skin is the largest organ and that it is absorbing everything we lather onto it. We know that certain ingredients lead to adverse health. Even older generations, who are used to using designer brands that are recognized as unhealthy today, are open to swapping those products out for clean beauty products. Social media has been an amazing outlet in promoting green beauty. Blogs, such as this one you have launched here, provide access to healthy lifestyle choices as well. Large retail stores are designating sections to clean beauty. Every week I have new customers approach me because they are interested in using organic skincare. They want to incorporate clean beauty because they know of the adverse effects from products they formerly used. This is a testament to the growth that is already taking place.
What are your favorite products in the line?
Definitely my facial care, Gentle Apricot and Anti-Aging. These two products are my top sellers. They are amazing for balancing, cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing, and firming facial skin.
What advice do you have for a customer transitioning to a green beauty routine?
Keep it Simple! Start with the product you think will work best for you, and then work in more and more over time. I am still transitioning certain products to organic. Everything over time and do it because you enjoy it! It has to work for you.
You can follow Lilly Be on instagram at @Lillybeorganics to stay up to date and checkout the website at lillybe.com. In early August Lilly Be, Splurge Skincare, and more brands will be partnering with GGF for an instagram green beauty giveaway to get you started on making the transition to clean beauty. Stay tuned!
Trying Tea Delivery with Daintea
Tea has always been a big part of my life because I strongly dislike the taste of coffee. For all the other tea-drinking-coffee-despisers like me you should give a tea order service a try.
Working 9-5 I don't always have time to make the perfect batch of refreshing tea to kick off my morning or lunch break. So when I found Daintea, by 19 year old creator Iman Berri, I knew I was in.
After having a health crisis, I was also more than willing to use a delivery service. Having that option to get a box of new exciting teas and put them in my fridge felt like getting a new present while I was on bed-rest. I kid you not, the package arriving was the most exciting part of my day along with trying and smelling each flavor.
I must admit, I was initially attracted to Daintea because of the adorable bottles and tea color scheme. The few pictures I did see on the instagram @dainteateas and on dainteabeverages.com, were too cute to pass up. I like simple and nostalgic bottles because they remind me of my grandma's house. She has so many knicknacks in her kitchen and the glass bottles were an extra plus for reduced environmental impact.
I wanted to know the story behind Daintea and reached out to Iman to know where the idea came from. At only 19 years old she's already tapped into a new market and appealed to people in need of refreshing teas.
"I would make my own teas as a remedy for my dehydration and awakening during study sessions for college and that’s where I felt like I could do something with my homemade tea recipes." ~Iman
I tried the 8.5 ounce variety pack and my absolute favorites were chamomile and peppermint. The flavors were light enough to be refreshing, but strong enough to give you a memorable taste.
Tea Flavors:
Black Tea
Chamomile Tea
Ginger Lea
Lavender Tea
Peppermint Tea
Rosemary Tea
"College was getting tough and as I am now taking a break from college, this is my focus. I plan to pursue my company all the way even with obstacles coming my way. My goal is to become a successful entrepreneur as I am doing this completely on my own with very little support. I want to open up my own Daintea shop as the company grows and this is my lifetime goal."~Iman
With pricing from $23.99-32.99 for a six pack of teas (16 oz or 8.5 oz). They currently only ship on the West Coast, but I trust and believe they'll expand in the future!
I can't stress how great it was to walk up to my door with a tea package waiting for me. It felt like one of those box subscription services, but even better. I recommend giving a tea delivery service like Daintea a try especially if you're a tea enthusiast. Plus, you get to keep the cool bottles and use them again and support and inspiring girl who I believe will make waves in the tea world.
You can follow the daintea on instagram @dainteateas
Free your artistic mind with Anna Bergland
Anna Bergland just recently finished her freshmen year at Chapman University in Orange, CA. She has a certain fire in her eyes when you talk with her about her environmental passions and art. I'm particularly intrigued by her because I had the opportunity to be her resident advisor in my last year at Chapman. After stumbling across her artwork, I knew I had to pick her brain about her funky designs and I immediately became a fan. Here's a little bit of our conversation infused with pages of her work.
What inspired you to start creating art?
I get my creative genes from my mom. She has a bachelor’s degree in art history and has been a corporate art consultant for over 30 years now. She helps make the ideas in my head come alive, and I am extremely grateful for that. I think the reason I lean towards watercolor so much is because it resonates with my personality. I’ve never been much of a perfectionist. I accept my mistakes (because I make a lot of them) and I work with them in both art and life.
I also love variety. I want to see different colors, textures, patterns in my art. I want to talk to different people, live in different places, see different things everyday. I show that passion onto my paper when I paint. And when you add music into the mix, I can sit for hours and lose myself in the colors.
What environmental awareness issues are you passionate about?
The ocean has always been an important part of my life. Growing up in Southern California, it was part of our culture. I was into surfing for bit, then snorkeling, and then I got into stand up paddle boarding. I think overall, snorkeling had the greatest impact on me.
What is so interesting about our impact on the environment is that every problem is connected to the next. If you positively affect one aspect in the field, it will most likely benefit other environmental issues with it.
Although I’m very passionate about ocean and marine conservation, I think that helping one issue can help the next. Climate change, overpopulation, biodiversity loss, and wildlife conservation is just as important to me as ocean acidification, plastic pollution, overfishing, and environmental degradation.
What advice do you have for someone looking to become more eco-friendly?
We have so much control over this planet’s future. We control it each day, every time we make a decision. What we choose to put on our plate, where we choose to buy our clothing from, how we choose get to school and work. My advice is to keep in mind who you give your money to. Which industries are open to sharing their environmental cost? Which ones aren’t? Buy food at your local farmers market, you’re not only supporting local farmers but these foods have a much smaller carbon footprint because of their little travel. Buy clothes at your local thrift shop. You know the rest…Recycle, compost, reusable water bottles… I think this is where the change begins. In the little choices we make every day.
What are your favorite places to be in nature?
Anywhere I can get to! I’ve been on many great hikes in the Orange County area and I’m only 15 minutes away from some really amazing beaches, like Laguna. Big Sur will always have a special place in my heart. I’ve visited three times and each time takes my breath away. All my favorite memories have been from camping trips.
What's the most important lesson you've learned this year?
This is a tough one to answer because this school year has definitely been the biggest transition I’ve ever gone through, so I’ve learned a lot through the process. Leaving everything you’ve ever known for a completely new adventure forces you to focus on the person you’ve become, while trying to dip your toes into this new life. Fortunately, the people I’ve met at this school have been incredible and without even knowing it, they’ve helped ease this transition. Something I need to remind myself every day is that I am right where I need to be in this journey. It’s so easy to think of what could have been or what should be, especially in college where we’re given so many opportunities to choose from. This year has been a learning process for me and that’s completely okay. In fact, I’m grateful to be able to learn in such a supportive community.
"Look up and down. Believe in the unknown for it is there. Live in many places. Live with flowers and music, books, paintings and sculpture. Keep a record of your time, learn to read well learn to listen and speak well. Know your country, know your world, know your history, know yourself, take care of yourself physically and mentally. You owe it to yourself. Be good to those around you, and do all of these things with great passion. Give all that you can. Remember, life is short and death is long. - Fritz Scholder"
Social Justice, Identity & Meditation with Young Yogi Mel
Melina Oliver, Young Yogi Mel, has a truly inspirational story. She grew up on the west Side of St. Louis, but traveled to a private school outside of her normal element growing up. Her upbringing led her on a path of cultural discovery and self-realization later in life. Now she's dedicate her life to helping others find how to be happy and gain peace through Yoga & Meditation. She's fighting against failing school systems by providing hope to students with The Young Yogi Youth Project. She refuses to give up on youth that have faced systematic injustice and provides them with coping and relaxation tools.
Author: Leah Thomas
Q: Who are you?
Growing up, I always walked a precarious line. I lived in the city, where I was saturated in noise and culture but everyday, my mom sent me off to a private school thirty minutes away from my home. I sat next to "Becky with the good hair" everyday in class, and I got asked to dances by kids whose rooms were bigger than my kitchen.
I never felt like I had found my niche. At school, I was always a little too brown or maybe a little too culturally confused to ever really feel I belonged. At home, in my hood, I was way too whitewashed to be cool. So, when I went off to college at Mizzou,
"I vowed to decide who I was for myself. "
The only thing I knew about myself then was that I loved to write, so all the trials and tribulations down in journals. They all read like bad telenovela scripts. Interesting, but always a tad melodramatic. I was constantly searching to build an identity on the outside and it showed. After a serious, "WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE"-style breakdown, I prayed for guidance. The next morning, I woke up and googled: "How to Be Happy". A self-help site popped up. It suggested a number of things--therapy, charity work, a nap-- but one, in particular, caught my eye: Yoga and Meditation. That night, I watched a youtube home video. I wobbled through the complex moves, sweated throw the flows, and eventual fell into a fitful attempt at meditation at the end. When I finally opened my eyes, I realized I'd had my first taste of peace in years. I've been teaching and sharing the practice of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness ever since.
Q: What Drives You?
What drives my passion is understanding. The world is noisy and complex and crazy, and I am all about finding stillness and peace. I believe that when we find that place inside of ourselves that allows us to be true and authentic, we can allow others to do the same. Peace truly comes from within and starts with you first.
Q: What is the Young Yogi Youth Project?
While constantly learning these tough lessons myself, I am attempting to help others. I started a program at Vashon High School in St. Louis city called Young Yogi Youth Project. Young Yogi Youth Project seeks to teach teens kindness, healthy coping mechanisms, self-discipline, and respect for themselves and others. Through the practice of yoga, meditation, and mindful activities, we encourage young people to commit themselves to their own self-betterment and to be kind to others while they work towards theirs. It's been going six months strong, meets 2-3 times a week, and works with 50+ students.
I love my city and where I'm from, but my mom sent me out to private school because she knew that St. Louis City Public Schools often times fall short. There's a lack of funding, lack of resources, and low faculty retention rates. Not to mention, that St. Louis is a city with extremely high poverty and crime rates. I know high school is hard enough without these issues, and I wanted to offer students in the city positive outlets for stress, anxiety, and personal troubles. I'm also working on a lifestyle blog for the modern/urban yogi that premiered January 2nd. It will feature updates on my program, reviews, blog posts, event listing, yoga videos, and yoga/meditation tips.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
Feminism takes nothing from men, but takes the limit off women. It demands mutual respect, freedom of movement, and opportunity for both sexes. It encourages sisterhood over separation and opens doors that were once wrongfully shut. It reveals all the ways sexism has hurt not only women, but society, as a whole and attempts to put a stop to that. It respects the intersectionality and differences among all people. I can't tell you how grateful I am for all the women, past and present, who have broken down barriers. I'm thankful there are women "audacious" enough to believe that they can do any and everything. To me, feminism is essential and takes care of all of us. It just makes sense.
Keep up with Young Yogi Mel on her social media
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/youngyogimel/
https://www.instagram.com/youngyogimel/
Are you a Green Girl? Share your story and email greengirlfood@gmail.com
Bentonite clay and Essential Oil Face Mask
A problem I see arising for myself as a vegan and conscious consumer is the lack of affordable, effective skin care products. There has to be a better way without putting sulfates, salicylic acid, and other harmful chemicals on our bodies while not breaking the bank. That's why I decided to try my hand at making some of my own products.
This process took a little research and a lot of love for essential oils. There is nothing the right oil can't fix. I researched and got a few ingredients at my local Sprouts (you can find them at health food stores and online for cheaper probably) but in the long run these few items will be reused for multiple purposes and keep you from spending your money on other products because you can just remake your home remedy version.
Most of the ingredients are not mandatory and can be switched around and substituted so no need to fret if you don't get all the ingredients. You just need the base and anything else is customizable to your financial needs and skin type.
You will need:
3 tbs bentonite clay
(Liquid or powder will both work fine depending on the consistency you desire. If you can't get powder just mix the liquid version with a bit of baking soda for a paste consistency.)
Optional:
1 tsp almond oil
1 tsp apple cider vinegar (water can be substituted)
1 tsp lemon juice
5-10 drops of essential oil (I recommend sage, lavender, and Frankincense)
You really only need bentonite clay, maybe baking soda, and water for the most basic form of this recipe and I'd encourage you to try that if you can't get the other ingredients. Adding a bit of water to your mixture if you want it to be less clumpy or thick will help smooth it out.
Directions:
Apply the mask with clean hands or a clean foundation brush. Leave on for 15-20 minutes or until you try to eat a snack and it crumbles off your face. Been there. After taking off your mask with warm water. I recommend wetting your face first and using circular motions to exfoliate with the clay/baking soda then gently wiping it off with a wet wash cloth.
This will usually leave some residue or mask left behind so just to be sure wash your face with warm water after and pat dry. Or rinse it off in the shower. I always moisturize after I do a mask and you can use whatever lotion, cream, or oil you would like. I massage 3-4 drops of rosehip oil into my face after my mask (and every morning after cleansing I freaking love this stuff!)
If you don't have a great understanding of the uses and benefits of the optional ingredients here is a simple guide to the ones I included today:
Bentonite clay: detoxifying
Baking soda: removes acne scars and dark marks, exfoliates, brightens, fights acne
Almond oil: smooths skin, clarifies, relieves eczema and psoriasis
Lemon: reduces scarring, fights acne, brightens
Lavender: good for oily/combo skin, reduces aging, fights acne, reduces dark spots
Frankincense: astringent(protects skin), reduces appearance of pores, fights acne, reduces aging
Sage: antioxidant, kills bacteria and microbes, reduces redness, reduces dark spots
Rosehip oil: moisturizing but not oily, reduces dark circles and scars, reduces signs of aging, tightens
Taking some time for yourself to make a face mask and relax while letting it naturally rejuvenate your skin is a perfect way to practice self care, not purchase overpriced products, and heal skin naturally.
If this recipe didn't work for you or you'd like to try more home made remedies and products I suggest Ella Gale on YouTube, but there are many resources out there as well.
You can follow Green Girl Abby on her vegan journey here and on her blog launching soon.
Jet setting & Veganism with Elsa Kurosu
Elsa is a 21 year old college senior finishing up school in Orange County, CA. After spending 12 years growing up in Tokyo, Japan she grew a passion for fashion, food, travel and city living. Feeling motivated by environmental impact and health Elsa made the decision to begin transitioning to veganism.
Q: What does women empowerment mean to you?
To me this means supporting, encouraging, and motivating the women around you. It means that all women are strong and independent and we have the ability to give each other the support and confidence to pursue our passions and goals.
There’s nothing better than that feeling of accomplishing something or stepping out of your comfort zone and having people around you be proud and supportive. It is also so empowering to see women rise above all the stereotypes and preconceptions of what women really can do.
Q: What drives your passion?
The constant inspiration I find that sparks my creativity is really what drives my passion. I find inspiration through photos, art, media, and most of all, the people around me. Over these past years in college I have realized how much my peers have impacted me. I have always been surrounded by highly driven and hard-working people, who inspire and motivate me to do my best and believe in myself that I can do anything as long as I set my mind to it.
A few things that I am extremely passionate about include fashion, animals, and environmental ethics.
Q: Why go plant based?
After traveling abroad and taking a class on the water crisis, and following bloggers and youtubers who shared their plant-based diets on social media, I was highly influenced to being my plant based diet lifestyle transition.
I first started my plant-based diet for health reasons and to try to lose weight from eating like a typical unhealthy college student, but later educated myself on all the ethical issues surrounding the meat industry. After being on a plant-based diet for about 8 months now, I definitely see and feel a difference in my body and how I feel after I eat.
Some may think that the plant-based diet sounds boring and not satiating, but I think the complete opposite! There are so many options and delicious food creations that I have discovered through this lifestyle, and it is all so exciting and fulfilling.
Q: How do you live sustainably?
I always had a passion for environmental issues and I try my best to live sustainably by reusing and recycling. When I go to the supermarket I always take my own bags, and when possible, I choose to walk or take my bicycle to my destination.
I also like to support local businesses, and often make a trip to the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings for some fresh and local fruit, vegetables, and flowers.
Q: What's your favorite song?
I listen to pretty much everything, but my all-time favorite songs are high energy and uplifting ones like I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston, and ABC by The Jackson 5.
Check out one of Elsa's favorite recipes here and keep up with her journey at the below links: http://www.theendlessmeal.com/zucchini-pasta-with-kale-pesto-pistachios-and-pomegranate/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/elsakurosu/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elsakurosu
Linkedin:www.linkedin.com/in/elsakurosu
Are you a Green Girl or know someone who is? Contact as and share your story here
Happiness, Nature, and Eats with Molly Peach
“An amazing thing happens when you get honest with yourself and start doing what you love, what makes you happy. You stop wishing for the weekend. You stop merely looking forward to special events. You begin to live in each moment and you start feeling like a human being. You just ride the wave that is life, with this feeling of contentment and joy. You move more fluidly, steadily, calm, and grateful. A veil is lifted, and a whole new perspective is born.” - Unknown
Molly Peach is a graphic designer from Nashville Tennessee currently based in Orange, California. Her instagram feed @m0llypeach is filled with travel memories, scenic views, delicious foods, and smiling faces. I've had the great blessing to be Molly's roommate my sophomore year in college and she continues to inspire me every day. There's a lot people can learn from her, from her living freely attitude to the delicious foods she eats.
Q: What makes you a Green Girl?
I actually didn’t consider how my actions affected the environment until moving out west. It seems there’s a lot more of an emphasis placed on reducing your carbon footprint, which I appreciate. I try to consider making small changes such as shopping locally at farmer’s markets, forgoing the plastic bags when buying produce, asking for a digital receipt instead of printed, taking shorter showers, participating in beach cleanups, and other small things throughout my day. I think everyone underestimates the power of small, easy changes we can make to our daily routines.
Q: What drives your passion?
I love visiting national parks (Big Sur has been my favorite so far). I also love design and anything creative in general, but experiencing new things with people I love is my number one source of happiness. I focus a lot of my time taking road trips, photographing friends and scenery, cooking, being outside, and, of course, designing. As of now, I’m just trying to get through senior year. I plan on spending some time visiting Hawaii and road tripping through the west this summer before taking on a 9-5.
Q: What's your favorite plant-based treat?
I make these vegan banana blender muffins from Chocolate Covered Katie (
)
and add vegan chocolate chips. Bake them for just 15 minutes and refrigerate them overnight, and you will be in love. All of my friends are obsessed with these too. They have more of a dense, fudge consistency that is makes you feel like you’re eating a rich dessert.
Q: What's your Favorite Easy Recipe?
I love making toast and putting as many toppings on it as I want. It’s super simple but delicious. Lee Tilghman (
) is an amazing food blogger and recipe creator in LA and makes BEAUTIFUL meals using toast. She makes one with caramelized bananas and peanut butter that I’m a big fan of. I don’t have exact measurements, but follow these steps:
1. Slice bananas and place in a pan with a little coconut oil. Cover in cinnamon and a bit of maple syrup.
2. Cook bananas for a few minutes until they are browned but not burnt.
3. Toast some bread (gf, vegan, whatever you’re feelin’) and top with peanut butter and caramelized bananas.
I also like to top them with different combos like peppers and avocado, figs and almond milk yogurt, etc.
What does women empowerment mean to you?
Women empowerment is summed up really well by this poem by Rupi Kaur. It’s called
what’s the greatest lesson a woman should learn?
She says,
“that since day one. she’s already had everything
she needs within herself. it’s the world that
convinced her she did not.”
You can follow Molly and her adventures at the links below:
SOCIAL MEDIA:
@m0llypeach on Instagram
Blueberry Lemon Cakes with Vegan, What?
Our first featured Green Girl is Stephanie from Vegan, What? Stephanie is a vegan foodie that loves to create healthy and delicious alternatives to her favorite desserts. Her passion for showing others how to make yummy vegan treats is showcased through her colorful photographs and recipes on her website and Instagram page.
"I feel like food should nourish you and that includes cake! Whenever I want a treat, I try my best to make a healthier version. These Blueberry Lemon Cakes are refreshing, tasty, refined sugar & gluten free. Hope you enjoy!" ~Stephanie
Blueberry Lemon Cakes
Serves 3 mini Cakes
Crust 1/2 cup gluten-free oats 1/2 cup dried mulberries 1/2 cup dates 1/2 large lemon (Zest)
Blueberry Layer 1/2 cup raw cashews (soaked overnight) 1 cup frozen blueberries
Lemon Layer 1/2 cup raw cashews (soaked overnight) 2 Frozen Bananas 1/2 large lemon (Zest) 1 large lemon (Juice) 1 tbsp maple or brown rice syrup
Instructions 1. Take all of your crust ingredients and blend in a food processor until you get a crumbly mixture. Form into your mini springform cake pans. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour, or until firm. Rinse your food processor. 2. Drain your soaked cashews. Add your cashews and blueberries to your food processor and blend until creamy. Adding a few splashes of water if necessary. Add your middle layer to your cake pan and freeze for 1-2 hours. 3. Blend all of your lemon layer ingredients in your food processor until creamy. Add your lemon mixture to your cake pans and place them back into your freezer for another 30 minutes to an hour. 4. Topped with blueberries and lemon zest.
You can follow Stephanie and her plant-based journey at the links below:
Website: www.veganwhat.org
Instagram: @veganwhat
Facebook: facebook.com/veganwhat
Snapchat: veganwhat