Wood Watches

Product find!!  Made from 100% Natural Wood, WeWood Wooden Watches brings you closer to nature.  They are made without any artificial and toxic materials.

(photo credit: http://we-wood.us/collections/best-seller)

WeWood is in partnership with American Forests and Trees for the Future, they will plant one tree for every time piece purchased!  This really helps you make a difference to this planet.  Any way I can give back I try and do my part!  I truly feel closer to earth by wearing one of these, I am following my values by being more eco-friendly and sustainable, and this time piece reminds me of that every day!  It makes me very proud to wear one of these unique pieces and I highly recommend any one shopping around for a watch to check out WeWood first!  The picture below is the watch I recently purchased and I must say, it is everything I thought it would be!  I am absolutely in love with it!  It is 100% Natural Wood and completely free of toxic chemicals.  They can be a little bit on the pricy side, but rather than spending a few hundred on a Michael Kors watch, I would rather give back to my planet, completely worth it.  Is it worth checking out, and can even make a great gift!

Soph

Wake Up With This Green Juice Recipe

The one thing I drink the most of are fresh juices and smoothies.  I LOVE juicing! I always try and start my morning with green juice.  So jumpstart your next morning with this high-fiber, low-calorie breakfast drink.  Great start to your day!  I always feel so refreshed and energized for my day after drinking one glass of this.  I hope you enjoy it!

The ingredients I use:
Spinach
Cucumber
Celery
Parsley
Mint
Carrots
Apple
Orange
Lime
Lemon
Pineapple

Combine in a blender, serve and ENJOY! 

What are some of your green juice recipes?  Feel free to comment and share!


Soph

Ways to Go Green at Work

There are lots of ways to go green even at work. It is simple to make any environment a little bit more green. If you can make your home more eco-friendly, then it is just as easy to make your work space eco-friendly. Here are some helpful tips to become more green and eco-friendly at work:

• Conserve computer energy-  At work we tend to use our computers for hours at a time. For most of us, it is the central tool at work! It is important to remember to save as much energy by optimizing the energy settings on your computer. You can also set the display to sleep or turn off after 15 minutes or less when not in use.  And always shut the computer down when you leave for the day ("standby" settings will continue to draw power even when not in use). Also remember to unplug anything not in use, such as power adapters and battery chargers.
• Printers- Printers and scanners should always be unplugged until they need to be used. And try not to use color ink if possible. When buying printer paper, look for recycled paper with a high percentage of post-consumer content and the minimum of chlorine bleaching. When printing, try to use both sides of the page to minimize the use of paper. And don't just throw away your empty ink cartridges. Recycling printer cartridges is often free, and recycled replacements are cheaper than new ones.
• Use Green Materials-  Some paper use can't be avoided, so use recycled paper and envelopes that have been processed and colored using eco-friendly methods.  Pens and pencils can also be made of recycled materials, and refillable pens and markers are preferable to disposable ones. One website that I like is Remarkable.

Soph

A Guide to Frosting

One of my favorite things to do is cook and bake- as you can tell from a few of my posts! I love to make a lot of different things homemade.  But not only do I enjoy cooking but I also really enjoy baking!  And one thing I especially like making homemade for my desserts is the frosting.  There are countless varieties of different ways to make frosting (ganache, sugary frosting, royal icing, fondant, meringue buttercream, chocolate glaze, and more).  So what is the difference between all of these you may wonder?  When do you use each one?  Is there a big taste difference?--These are probably the most common questions people ask.  So lets break these frostings down.  At least the ones I use most often and the ones you will most likely use the most as well.

1. Ganache:

• Made by whisking chopped solid chocolate covered by warm heavy cream (36-40% fat content).  or you can use whipping cream (35%).  For the chocolate, it is best to use quality chocolate: bittersweet (extra dark), semisweet (dark), milk or white.
• Ganache can be made into many different consistencies, I usually make a thinner consistency (more cream, less chocolate) for pouring over cakes, desserts, etc.
• Can be stored, covered, in refrigerator for several days and reheated slowly for use.

2. Sugary Frosting:

• Also known as "icing," and "cupcake frosting."
• Typically made from butter, icing sugar, vanilla and milk.  Sometimes it is made from shortening.
• The taste is usually creamy, rich and super-sweet.  I like to add flavor, I usually like to use citrus zest and vanilla bean.
• Best used for cupcakes and layer cakes.
• Store at room temperature, can last up to several days.

3. Chocolate Glaze:

• Made by melting chopped chocolate and butter together (sometimes corn syrup).
• Similar to ganache in its deep, dark, glossy appearance, but there is no cream, therefore less rich.
• Thickens when cool.
• Best use for pouring over cupcakes, cakes, donuts, etc.
• Can be stored, covered, in refrigerator for several days and warmed when needed.

4. Meringue Buttercream:

• Made from granulated sugar, egg whites, butter, vanilla and salt (with countless options for variations).  Can be time-consuming, but fairly simple to make.
• Very rich, buttery, creamy and not too sweet.
• Typically used for filling and frosting cakes of all kinds, coating cakes to be covered in rolled fondant, frosting cupcakes, and more.
• Can be frozen (a month) or refrigerated up to a week in an airtight container, then brought to room temperature before re-whipping.

I hope this helps and brings some clarity to all the frosting and icing confusion that is out there.  Happy Baking! :)

Soph

Eco-Friendly Apparel

Just wanted to share a few pieces of clothing I recently purchased that I am so excited about!  When searching for a new pair of jeans, most shoppers focus on fit and price, paying little attention to the carbon cost of their purchase.  I found this great clothing company that sells eco-friendly premier-quality denim, uniting ecology with technology; they recycle fabric from the textile waste stream to manufacture eco-friendly jeans with minimal new material.  They believe that environmental awareness can coexist with fashion.  If you are shopping for some new shorts for summer and want to do it the green/eco-friendly way, check them out! 

Soph

3 WaysTo Reuse Old Items In Your Home

Before rushing to toss something in the garbage, recycling bin or in the donation box, take a minute to think creatively of how you could still use that item.  A lot of us don't take the time to think of ways they can reuse things we don't need anymore.  Many things around the house can still be repurposed! We just rush to get rid of anything and everything to clean out and make room for new stuff.  By reusing items we have around the house that we don't think we can use anymore, we are helping out our landfills!  And revamping our homes with new stylish décor!

1.  Empty Toilet Paper Rolls

There are many creative ideas for your empty toilet paper rolls all over DIY Pinterest pages!  More and more creative ideas keep popping up everywhere!  One use I have for them is to help me organize messy extra cords.  If you have extra cords smushed up in a drawer or in the corner on a shelf in the garage, help yourself out a bit by detangling them and organizing them properly on a shelf or in a drawer by using toilet rolls!- they work wonders!  Simply wind a single cord into each empty paper roll and store side by side, standing up in a drawer, bin or even an empty shoebox- Ding! Ding!- another reusable item.  Bye Bye tangled messes!

2. Wine Bottles

I love to use my empty wine bottles as decorative vases and as bracelet holders!  For decorative vases I like to paint the exterior of the bottle white, it goes with almost every room!  Before you do start painting just make sure the label is off.  You can simply remove the label from the bottle by soaking it in hot sudsy water (use dishwashing detergent) for 5 or more minutes until the label becomes soft. Gently peel it away; use a scrub brush to remove any leftover residue.  Also, just remember to clean the inside of the bottles too by simply rinsing out the bottle by using warm water and a drop of dishwashing liquid.

3. Jewelry Rack

So not only do I reuse wine bottles to help organize my jewelry but I also reuse old trays for my necklaces.  If you have old cutlery trays laying around the house that no longer has any use, they make for awesome jewelry racks!  Line the inside of the tray with your favorite fabric or paper scraps- or even paint it with your favorite color.  Attach small cabinet knobs and/or tiny hooks within each segment of the tray and use them to hang and organize favorite necklaces, bracelets and earrings.  If you don't have an old tray laying around, or you do, you just still use it, but love this idea and are in need of a new jewelry display you can always use an old picture frame and stick the paper with tacks.

Soph

Homemade Salsa

One of my favorite things to snack on is Chips & Salsa!  I love to make homemade salsa!  It is so much better for you than the store bought jars and much better tasting.  Ever since the first time I made this, I haven't been able to go back!  Trust me, it is VERY addicting- but it's ok because it's healthy! ;)

Ingredients:
5 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 Small onion, chopped
2 Jalapeño chiles, seeded and minced
1 Clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
Salt & Peper to taste

Directions:
Pretty much self-explanatory!  After everything is finely chopped and minced put everything into a bowl.  Let sit for an hour.  The longer the better so the flavors can permeate over time.  Then after some time has passed by dig in & enjoy!!


Soph

5 Minute Summer Makeup Routine

Sometimes it can be a challenge to wear makeup in the hot summer heat, so if you want to "beat the heat" just remember to do a light, natural application.  I like to keep it simple and easy with a 5-minute makeup routine.  Here are some of my favorite products I use in the summer for a quick and easy natural makeup look.

Tinted Moisturizer:
I always make sure I wear a foundation with SPF in the summer. Sometimes I like to double up and wear it under my makeup as well. However, in the summer I love to supplement my foundation for a tinted moisturizer- because it is all in one- my moisturizer, foundation and SPF!  It is probably the one product I use the most of in the summer time!  My favorite is Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20. It is light, and super hydrating with a sheer hint of color.  What I love most about this product is the light finish. This products looks like your natural complexion, you can barley tell you have any makeup on at all!

Blush:
I have always been a huge fan of Orgasm Blush by Nars.  But in the summer time my new favorite has been Benefit Blush in Dandelion.  What I like about this powder is the hint sheer, radiant, shimmer finish it leaves, it skips the extra step of having to apply a highlighter to the cheekbones.  You can apply this product either apply it to the cheeks as a soft blush or dust it all over the face as a brightening finishing powder.

               

Eyeshadow:
My go-to eyeshadows to use in the summer are cream shadows.  My favorite are the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadows.  Copper colors are great for all over lid colors for the perfect summer smoky look!  They are long-wearing and smudge free.
I apply them with a cream shadow brush then blend with my fingertips.

     

Waterproof Mascara:
My ultimate FAVORITE waterproof mascara is Lancome Hypnôse Drama Waterproof Mascara.  One reason why I love this mascara is the volume it gives my lashes!  You see a difference in one single coat, it's amazing!

Lip:
I LOVE a bright lip for summer!  I am tied between 2 favorites for summer- Laura Mercier HydraTint SPF 15 and Tarte glamazon pure performance 12-hour lipstick.  The HydraTint is a multi-purpose lip balm with long-lasting moisture and an SPF protection.  The Tarte pure performance lipstick is super rich and hydrating and is also long-wearing with a smooth finish that won't fade away.

 

Soph

How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Around Your Home

So many of us are already aware of the simple ways of eco-proofing our homes such as recycling waste and line drying laundry. But lets take it a step further and talk about other different and unique ways to help reduce our carbon footprint around our homes even more.

So maybe it be that your home has already been built and lived in for years, but you are now just deciding to make it a greener home, you are in luck!  That is still possible!  Although an increasing number of architects are designing buildings and homes that have Eco-friendly designs integrated into their plans, these brilliant ideas can be recreated by homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient.  Lets break down these ideas and hopefully they can be mimicked into your home!

Sustainable Furniture
This one is pretty easy because lately there has been boom in furniture and home accessories that are made from sustainable materials.  If you look around and keep your eyes and ears out, you are bound to find something of your taste!  A great website to check out is 2modern, I absolutely LOVE their furniture, especially for the outdoors.

Update to Greener Appliances
Look into replacing appliances you have had for more than 10 years with Energy Star appliances.  Energy Star is a joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy aiming to help Americans save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices.  The first things I would focus on updating first is your refrigerator, washer and dryer, and the dishwasher.

Lighting
Nowadays more and more houses and other buildings are designed to take in as much natural lighting as possible.  As you may know, this benefits the environment greatly because it is cutting back on the use of electric lights.  You can replicate this in your home by installing skylights, especially into rooms that are often dimly lit.  Or if you don't want to go to that extent you can look into using LED lights and  installing motion detectors in rooms to further prevent energy waste.


Soph

Grilled Salmon Kabobs

Its summer time which means its BBQ season! And what better way to enjoy summer than to grill with your family and friends and enjoy a nice cocktail on a gorgeous day.  One of my favorite things to grill in the summer are Kabobs!  I do a lot of shrimp and vegetable kabobs because I love seafood  especially paired with freshly grilled vegetables.  Lately I have been trying different variations and one in particular that I have been making a lot of are salmon kabobs!  They are so quick and easy to make!  I like to use lemon, fresh herbs and spices.  I made these last night for dinner, and they were a HUGE hit! 

Post a comment below if you have tried making these before and what recipe you like to follow.

Soph

5 Amazing Eco-friendly Beauty Products

Time to incorporate a little green in our beauty routine!  Here are some of my FAVORITE eco-friendly beauty products:


Scent

Although I am one who will always love my Chanel and Daisy perfumes, I have tried to give them up for something a little more light and natural that are not as harsh and strong, so I have slowly been shifting my way to all natural oils!  Often times perfumes can cause irritation on skin due to artificial colors and the synthetic fragrances they are blended with.  Tsi-La Organic Perfume Oils, $44 each are made with 80 to 100% certified organic, pure plant-based ingredients that don't contain dyes, synthetic fragrance, parabens, harsh petrochemicals or sulfates.

With notes of orange blossom, amber, vanilla, ilang ilang, and more, you can wear them alone or mix them together for your own unique blend!  Although the bottle may seem small and you may feel like you will use it up in a few weeks, they last!  Trust me, a little goes a far way.

Lip Gloss

I have tried a few all natural lip glosses, and this is by far my favorite! This 100% natural lipgloss is packed with intense color!  It is extremely hydrating, and lasts for hours. Which is another reason why I love it so much, I hate to reapply lip gloss every few hours.








Nail Polish Remover

My good friend came about this product.  I was so amazed!  I never came across a product like this before. All natural nail polish remover??  I will never go back to anything else!  This product has absolutely NO scent!  It is made with all natural and organic ingredients.  G2 Organics Odorless Nail Polish Remover takes off every kind of nail polish and won't leave your nails feeling dry.  It contails aloe vera and vitamin E that helps prevent dryness.

Plus, it comes in a glass bottle that's 100% recyclable, making it environmentally-friendly all around.

All-Natural Deodorant

This stuff works just as good as the Secret and Dove deodorants you find at your local drug store.  JASON Pure Natural Deodorant Stick in Soothing Aloe Vera, is pure and natural that gives all day protection.  The natural aloe vera and nourashing vitamin E soften and soothe your underarms while the grapefruit-seed extract fights odor-causing bacteria. 

Bar Soap

Pangea Organics has the best bar of soap!  The lavender is so soothing and relaxing- just try and take a five-minute shower!  Pangea has been one of my favorite all-natural body care companies for years, but this bar of soap is probably one of my favorite products of theirs!

Soph

Household Cleaning- The Green Way!

Household cleaning is an every day process, and whether it's cleaning the bathroom sink, or the kitchen counter, it is important to clean the smart, safe, and green way.  Conventional cleaning products are among the most hazardous substances you will find in your home, they are extremely hazardous to human life as well as to the environment.

Increasingly, you can find more and more eco friendly home cleaners being sold on the market today, which is great to see!  Such as Clorox new green works cleaners.  But did you know that you can make your very own green cleaning products yourself?  Just from simple ingredients found in your own kitchen!

• Baking Soda:  Mix with two tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon to remove sticky greasy stains, ink stains on clothes and fish tanks.  I have two large fish tanks in my house, one salt water and one fresh water and I love using this baking soda cleaning product to clean the outside of the tanks- it makes them look brand new!
• White Vinegar:  This is a very popular ingredient people use an eco friendly home cleaner.  It has a great acidic nature!  It can remove stains from glass surfacers, dirty windows, and mirrors.
• Olive Oil:  This can be mixed with lemon juice as a natural wood furniture polishing agent.  The ratio of mixing olive oil and lemon juice is 2:1.

• Homemade All Purpose Cleaner-  This recipe is my favorite!  And the one I use the most!  I use it for just about everything that needs a quick wipe down! (counter tops, chairs, desks, walls, refrigerator, etc.)  It is a great disinfect with a lovely aromatic scent!

Half White Vinegar and Half Warm Water

7-10 Drops Tea Tree Oil

7-10 Drops Essential Lavender Oil

7-10 Drops Lemon Essential Oil

Happy Green Cleaning!

Soph

Kale Chips- A Healthy, Delicious Snack!

Kale Chips have been my new obsession lately!  I LOVE chips- a little too much, so I have been on the hunt of how I can can cut back and find a healthier alternative.  So I recently found the probably the HEALTHIEST alternative that will still give me the same great crunchy, salty flavor I crave from my Lays- KALE CHIPS!!  Kale is a superfood that is extremely good for us, so I am trying to eat more and more of it!  It does have a very bold, strong flavor so for some it might take some getting used to.  But once you start to adapt a taste to them, you will not be able to stop--just thought I would warn you in advance!

Ingredients: 

• Bunch of Kale
• Olive Oil
• Sea Salt
• Garlic Powder (optional)

(Thats it!  Just those 4 simple, easy ingredients!)

Directions: 

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees.
2. Wash and dry the kale leaves.
3. Remove the leaves from their stems.  
4. Place the kale on a baking sheet and pour on the olive oil.
5. Be sure to really massage the oil into all the leaves.
6. Sprinkle with Sea Salt and add a pinch of garlic powder- this is optional, but it is very tastyyy so I definitely recommend it!
7. Spread the leaves around so that they aren't touching.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-15 mins.
9. Let cool, and ENJOY!

Soph

Homemade Ketchup

Making your own ketchup is so easy!  One main reason I like to make it from scratch is because I control what goes into it.  Have you ever checked the label on your favorite brand of ketchup?? It is pretty frightening!  Store bought ketchup contains tons of high fructose corn syrup!  Organic ketchup is a much better alternative, but I did not want to continue paying the high price for such a small bottle.

So I had some fun in the kitchen!  I played around with a few different recipes and tweaked some of my own special ingredients until it was PERFECT!  My secret to the perfect amount of sweetness?- HONEY :).. this helps to cut down on the sugar.

Ingredients: (Servings: 22)

• 6 oz can tomato paste
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup honey (or agave)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder

Directions:

• Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat; whisk until smooth.
• When it comes to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring often.
• Remove from heat and cover until cool.  Chill and store in refrigerator in a covered container.

VOILA! ..simple..easy..& HEALTHY!


Soph

Going Green

10 Ways to Make Your Life More Environmentally Friendly:

1. Grow your own food
2. Eat less meat
3. Cut down on processed foods
4. Open blinds to let in natural light
5. Take shorter showers
6. Hang clothes on a clothesline to dry
7. Turn off water when brushing teeth
8. Recycle bottles, cans, newspapers, etc.
9. Donate items you no longer need or use
10. Use reusable bags at the grocery store

Soph

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has been becoming more and more popular.  And I can see why- there is pretty much nothing this oil can't do!  It's the new craze that everyone wants to find out more about..and I don't blame them, I am pretty much addicted and use it for just about everything!  Some people think its strictly for cooking and baking, and others know the benefits it has on our  bodies and hair- like me!  I pretty much replaced all my lotions with coconut oil.  I first started to dig into my research after I was hearing talk that it can help cure KP (Keratosis Pilaris).. also known as "chicken skin"- but I don't go by that, who wants to say they have "chicken skin".. like seriously!  So anyway, just after a few weeks of using the oil I saw a HUGE difference! And now I absolutely SWEAR by it!!  Before I discovered coconut oil, I tried just about everything on the market and nothing was working.  I was so frustrated that I just wanted to give up.  I am sooo happy and relieved that I FINALLY found a product that actually works and that can be useful for many other things as well!.. SO if you are one that does not suffer from the horrible KP but may suffer from other things- lets find out if coconut oil is your CURE!

1. Itchy Legs from your Shaving Cream:  If you are one like me that suffers in the winter (or year round) with itchy legs, then this is your CURE!  For the longest time I could not figure out what was causing my legs to itch so bad, I knew it wasn't any of my lotions because before coconut oil I was using all natural, unscented scrubs and lotions, until I realized my shaving cream was not one of them!  So a friend of mine suggested me to use my coconut oil for in the shower as well as after in replace of my shaving cream.  Bye Bye itchy leg syndrome!!

2. Body Lotion: As I mentioned above, I use coconut oil in replace of my body lotion.  I exfoliate in the shower then immediately after lather my entire body with the oil.  You do not need much- a little goes a far way!  It helps with roughness (red bumps), and dryness.  In just weeks you will notice a difference- I PROMISE!

3. Frizz Control: All us girls can all relate to this one..especially in the summer time!  The oil helps those little annoying flyaways!  You can also use it after the shower when your hair is damp to add some shine and help with dryness.  Just take a small amount and rub it in your hands then run your fingers through the ends of your hair.

Soph

Organic vs Natural- What's The Difference?

There is a lot of talk about the difference between organic and "natural" food.  Most people don't know that there are major differences between the two.  It 's unfortunate that the two titles get tossed around a lot, it just confuses people to the point where no one seems to be able to determine which is which!  So lets separate this confusion and break down the facts about both of these food labels to ensure that your next visit to the local store is an educated shopping experience so you know exactly what it is you are purchasing.

Basic Facts: What is Organic?

• Organic food is grown with strict standards that use no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers in the field.  Organic growing maintains soil and ecological biodiversity, GMO seeds are not allowed.
• Organic foods are minimally processed.  They contain no preservatives; no artificial ingredients, no GMOs, and they cannot be irradiated.
• Organic meat, poultry  eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones.
• Farmers earn the USDA Certified Organic label by growing and processing to strict organic standards.  They also go through a stringent process of fields and records inspections.  Soil and water are tested regularly to make sure a farm is not using synthetic products.

What Does "Natural" Really Mean?

• The term 'natural' really can mean just about anything!  (Scary, I know!)  There are no rules or guidelines and no inspection or certification system.  A food labeled "natural" is usually considered to contain less preservatives and chemical additives than other kinds of processed foods, though since there is no way to legally supervise the product, no sure answer may be set forth.  So basically all the term means is just to confuse consumers into thinking they are getting something as healthy as organic without the added expense, which is certainly not the case at all!

Soph