You may not always have the time to go to the spa or the money. Why not make your own spa treatments at home? You can invite some friends over and have a spa party or make your own recipes in your spare time. It’s a fun way to learn about the healing and nutritional properties of the foods you love.

Organic Yogurt Walnut Scrub

This treatment works best on normal or combination skin. The nuts exfoliate old dry skin while the yogurt soothes, and the honey promotes calmness.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup organic plain yogurt, chilled
1/4 cup organic walnuts; ground or pulverized
1 tbs Organic Fair Trade Raw Honey

Instructions:
Stir ingredients together. Apply to freshly cleaned face and gently massage to exfoliate. Let the mask sit on your face between 5-10 minutes, then wash off with warm water and pat dry.

Lavera all natural TREND cosmetics, designed for the most sensitive skin types in vibrant natural colors.

Do you have organic mascara? Do you know where to buy it? Right here!! Finding all of your organic cosmetic necessities is now super easy! Lavera makes an entire line of organic cosmetics and skincare. Mascara is a staple in many of our primping arsenal, something we never leave without. So, if you can find it organic you might as well buy it organic, right?

Product Description:
Lavera Volume Mascara with Advanced Shaping Brush adds lasting volume & length to lashes for beautiful, bright eyes! Nourishing extracts of Organic Jojoba & Wild Rose Oils deeply hydrate allowing flake-free volume throughout the whole day. This pure, paraben-free and heavy-metal-free formula rinses off with a mild cleanser and is ideal even for very sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Your personal assistant for tired looking eyes.

Application: To achieve extra lash volume, apply two coats of Lavera Volume Mascara, adding a layer of powder in between.

INGREDIENTS:

15 or 20 Organic Artichoke Hearts
2/3 cup Organic Spinach
1 teaspoon Organic Lemon Pepper
1/4 Organic Sea Salt

18 thin slices Brie Cheese
Organic Olive Oil

DIRECTIONS:
1. Start your grill.

2.Prepare artichoke hearts by either steaming or boiling them which ever you prefer.

3. At the same time chop and cook your spinach

4.Combine spinach, lemon pepper and salt in a small bowl. Top each artichoke heart with the spinach mixture and brie.
5. If you have a stone or wood slab to grill on that is great if not you can wrap the hearts in aluminum. Grill until cheese melts, 1 to 2 minutes.

Shop The Latest Eco-Fashion Sneakers & Sandals Available Now at SimpleShoes.com

I used to have these sneakers in high school! They were my favorite! The soles of the shoes were speckled with different colors and they were canvas. If I wasn’t wearing my Converse these were it! After a while finding them became extremely difficult. I was beyond disappointed. Then when I started watching Curb Your Enthusiasm I saw Larry David in what looked like my favorite old style! I am not sure if those were the brand of  his sneakers but I am almost positive! Larry David’s now ex-wife is an environmental activist so I was hoping Simple Shoes were back in action, and so they are!!
In my sneaker search I found these comfy slip-ons. They come in a variety of colors and to top it off they are soo very environmentally friendly!

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

• Men’s Gumshoe – Organic Cotton.
• Midsoles and arch cookie made of carpet padding for at-home comfort at all times.
• No glue was used in the assembly of this shoe! Thanks to a lot of stitching, it’s made with less than a thimble full of water-based adhesives – most shoes use 2 shot glasses worth of glue.
• The small amount of glue that we do use is water based, not petroleum based.
• Just another way to reduce our dependence on petroleum, and it also means no nasty smelling glue for the people who put your shoes together.
• Partially recycled shoe – the bottom of this shoe is made from a recycled car tire blended with natural rubber.
• The foot form inserts are made of post consumer recycled paper
• Shoebox made of post-consumer recycled paper, soy based printing ink, natural latex and starch based glue.
• Part of the Green Toe™ collection.

KettleWorx Totaly Body Workout

I have been hearing things about Kettle Bell work outs for a while & I admit I wasn’t completely sure what exactly a Kettle Bell was. I knew a kettle bell was a weight but I was unsure what the big deal really was. Then I came across The Kettle Worx program and decided why not try it. An at home workout never seems to have the results for me that I get from working out regularly at a gym or taking classes. Six weeks of my time I was however willing to devote to this program being that you only have to work out 1 hour a week or so it claims.

Week 1: DVD Cardio Level 1: I am aware I am not the most in shape individual that has ever graced this planet but I do work out regularly. After 10 minutes of this video I am almost positive my thighs died and left me for good! Days later my thighs still hurt. I was sweating like an animal and I felt “the burn” immediately. I could barely finish the video. I did finish slowly after the second set because my body physically was shaking! Mind you these are no complaints! I was loving it. Walking was painful for a few days but well worth the pain I hope!

Week 1 DVD 2 Core Level 1: This time the work out seemed much easier. I didn’t sweat as much but I did feel I worked out my body thoroughly. These videos are sneaky because the next day!!!!! I felt every muscle in my core!! It is definitely a good feeling!

Week 1 DVD 3 Resistance Level 1: I did this after dinner last night which was great because it helped me push myself a little bit harder than usual to work off extra calories. The Resistance DVD had many exercises I already recognized from the first 2 DVD’s which I appreciated. I was no where near as tired as the first time I Kettle Bell’d. Make no mistake my body was shaking all over and I used my muscles but the workout seemed easier for me which is exciting. My body feels like it had a good workout but I am in no pain!! I am loving this workout!

Week 1 DVD 4 Fast Fat Burn Level 1: I figured a 10 minute quick cardio session I could handle after these first 3 dvd’s. My body wasn’t as ready to quit as the first time but in 10minutes I was feeling it. There was a feeling of accomplishment. Again these workouts are sneaky in that you don’t usually feel the pain immediately after your body stops shaking but the next day and possibly the day after that you are reminded of your efforts.

Week 1 DVD 5 Fast Abs Level 1: This is yet another 10 minute quick work out. By this time I wasn’t feeling anything. I was getting a little cocky about my progress. The next few days didn’t bring any pain either which was exciting. I am hoping that for the rest of this trial it will only get easier and less painful.

Week 2 DVD 1 Cardio Level 2: This time the cardio got easier. I could go through the entire video will less shakiness and sweating. It was more fun and I felt more comfortable with the routine. I still felt worked out and there was still considerable shakiness but the next day and the following days I was good. I can feel muscles I didn’t even know I had. I think I feel the work outs working but I’m not sure.

Week 2 DVD 2 Resistance Level 2: The resistance video the first time around was difficult but I assumed as with the cardio DVD, it would get easier. I was wrong! I sweat just as much as the first time and it just as painful. I wasn’t sure I could even finish the video! My body was shaking and tired. However I did get trough it which was motivating and I felt like I was stronger going through it. The next day I completely felt it in the back of my thighs and my butt!! Also right after I put on a pair of my skinny jeans that I hadn’t been able to wear in a bit and although my waist was still a bit tight the thigh and but area definitely fit differently. It wasn’t a huge difference but its there!

Week 2 DVD 3 Core Level 2: The Core work out seems to be the easiest for me at this point. I didn’t break a sweat but I definitely felt my muscles being toned. I have yet to see a difference in the way my body looks which is a little disappointing but it is only week too. I will admit however I am not on any particular diet which would maximize my progress. I eat healthy enough but I think I would notice more of a difference if I were on a diet.

Week 2 DVD 4 Fast Fat Burn Level 2: The 10minute workout videos are the most difficult in terms of sweat and activity. The Fast Fat Burn is the most painful and my body felt like it couldn’t go any further after the first 5 minutes. I was hoping the 10 minute workouts would be the easiest due to the short time but even in week 2 I am completely feeling the burn.

Week 2 DVD 5 Fast Abs Level 2: The 10 minute workout seems to be my favorite. Its quick! How difficult can a 10 minute work out really be? The Ab workouts don’t seem to exhaust me the way the 20 minute workouts do. The ab workouts are to be the easiest for me still but I by no means have toned abs so this does confuse me a bit.

Week 3 DVD 1 Cardio Level 3: The cardio work outs are the most intense. No matter how Kettle savvy I feel I am this is the one work out still makes me feel like a beginner. I have to admit I don’t notice my body really changing or my clothes fitting any different but I am still not dieting sooo I can’t blame the workouts.

Week 3 DVD 2 Resistance Level 3: I think at this point the Resistance workouts are becoming my favorite because they don’t make me feel like I’m going to die but I can feel my muscles working. Its an invigorating feeling even if you don’t actually see results. After the workout and even the next day I feel a little sore but when I stand I can feel muscles in my abs in ways I hadn’t before. That is a feeling I appreciate very much.

Week 3 DVD 3 Core Level 3: The Core work out isn’t my favorite even though I don’t think I’m doing the workouts incorrectly. I don’t sweat or huff & puff. I can feel every exercise and set but again I see no actual results. At this point I am frustrated but at the same time the all of the other work outs are challenging. I am definitely accountable for my lack of diet and I can’t see anything different but I am not giving up.

Week 3 DVD 4 Fast Fat Burn Level 3: OMG! This 10 minute session is probably the most difficult to date. The time is tricky because it is a 10 minute exercise which seems easy enough but easy the workout is not. The levels gradually increase in difficulty without you really knowing it. The 10 minute workouts may in fact be the most difficult workouts in the series. Kettle Worx doesn’t miss a beat with these quick ones.

Week 3 DVD 5 Fast Abs Level 3: Again the ab work outs don’t seem too difficult but I can feel muscles I don’t think I have felt in a while. I am starting to notice my posture and it correcting as well. The 10 minute workouts are still more intense than the 20 minute work outs but over all the work outs in general are all intense. I want to say the ab workouts made a difference in my clothing or my over all physical look but I still see no actual results.

Week 4 DVD 1 Cardio Level 4: At this point for some reason either my DVD player or the DVD’s themselves started not really working and I got discouraged. I wasn’t as into my workouts because actually going through with them became difficult because the DVD kept stopping or resetting itself which was incredibly irritating. So this workout wasn’t very successful.

Week 4 DVD 2 Resistance Level 4: This workout proved to be better because the DVD worked which was great for me! The level 4 workout put me in check for my few day’s of discouraging behavior. Again I will mention I wasn’t on a diet of any sort soo most of the discouraged feelings were really my own fault but you like to believe the DVD when it tells you all you need is 1 hour a week worth of workouts. I however believe you need to be on a very good diet and exercise regiment to really see results by this point. However most people that dedicated workout for more than an hour a week.

Week 4 DVD 3 Core Level 4: I am still enjoying the variety of workouts and the routines but the core/ab workouts feel they aren’t quite enough of a workout for me. I don’t see any results although I do feel them. I’m not completely willing to give up but I do wish that I would see the results in my wardrobe at least.

Week 4 DVD 4 Fast Fat Burn Level 1: The 10 minute workouts only have 3 levels but they pack a punch! I am grateful that they are so short. On day’s I’m not in the mood or don’t have enough time I think these hardcore little sessions can become quite motivating. My diet however is still not up to par so I am hoping to step up both better eating habits and workout sessions. These videos are great but for someone who drives an hour each way to work then sits at my desk for 10 hours, 20 minutes 3 times a week coupled with a less than perfect diet isn’t enough. Now that the weather is nice I have started walking during my break.

At the end of this 6 week test I haven’t noticed any weight loss nor do my clothes fit better. I didn’t feel it necessary to detail the next 2 weeks because they seemed to all be repetitive. I had good workouts that I felt were doing good but over all no actualy visible changes. This is a definite testament that you need more than 1 hour a week and a diet is a must. Anything else is just lying to you I think. I have mentioned a few times in this test that although I was not on a diet I eat pretty healthy regularly. I do however have an office job that requires me to sit for almost 8 hours a day. I go for walks on my breaks but that isn’t enough. As much as I liked the DVD’s they didn’t do what I had hoped. I like the workouts and I still do them but I have to be 100% about it and implement a diet into this or it will never work.

Is your father the outdoorsy kind? Is camping a big part of your family time or his kind of relaxation? This environmentally friendly set is great for the camper dad or grandad you know. It is compact and easy to carry, instead of lugging around a bunch of different products. Even if your father or grandfather isn’t green this is a great way to teach them to be. Once they see how great these products are they will be more willing to try other products and maybe even take some advice from you for a change!

Product Features:

*1oz All Good Goop Healing Balm
*1oz Organic Mineral Sunscreen Sunscreen in SPF 20 Sport
*2 oz Herbal Cool Sore Muscle Spray
*Organic Original All Good Lips SPF 15 lip balm
*Organic cotton gift bag with logo
*Petroleum-free
*Organic and botanical ingredients
*100 % natural essential oils
*Herbal-based and chemical free
*Fair Trade ingredients
*Perfect for sensitive skin
*Co-op America Approved

I know alot of us use cosmetic rounds to remove make up or to blend it, maybe even to cleanse your face. I have been looking for alternatives to using cotton rounds which should be a cloth of some sort but for those who prefer cotton rounds I have found your answer!! Organic Essentials Cosmetic Rounds! They are sustainable and organically grown! You need to add these to your beauty regiment!

Product Description
4-Unit VALUE PACK of Organic Essentials Cosmetic Rounds Organic 80 pc – Extra absorbent organic cosmetic rounds. For pure skin cleansing and to get the most out of your quality cosmetics. These Organic Rounds are free of harmful chemicals and residues. Ingredients: Our Certified Organic Cotton is grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Growing the crop organically does not damage the environment or human health. When you buy organic cotton you are supporting a sustainable method of farming.Organic cotton production does not pollute ground water, surface water or the air; it does not poison farmers, farm workers or their families, and it improves soil quality for future generations.

How to Make Your Own Organic Cosmetics: Face Masks, Hair Rinses & Body Lotions: Recipes for Natural Beauty

I have been dabbling into home remedies and baths due to some books I have been reading and since those have been going so well I have finally decided to take a shot at making my own cosmetics. It is a great way to save money. I can create cosmetics to suit me personally and have them do the things I need specific to my body. I am elated at my new adventure. I know a little about what different herbs, fruits and veggies do but clearly I need some assistance so I don’t make a science experiment out of my skin and hair. After very little research I found this book that looked like it was on my level.

Book Description:
Natural and organic is the buzz in cosmetics. Even for over-the-counter products, everyone from is going organic when it comes to beauty. This beautiful book shows you how to make your own handcrafted, organic makeup using essential oils and other natural ingredients. With this book you can personalize your beauty regimen without standing in line. The Organic Face Book feature a range of recipes for quick and easy daily products: face cleansers, eye cleansers, toners, moisturizing creams and gels, cold cream cleanser, hand cream, body lotion, lip balm, face masks, rejuvenating treatments, liquid shampoos, hair bars, conditioners, rinses, hair nourishing treatments, deodorants, mouthwashes, aftershaves, and eye baths.

As a child I know I loved my pacifier. I always notice the attachment children always have to their pacifiers however the the dependence can cause issues with the mouth and teeth after long term use, as well as certain toxins contained in many rubber and plastic products. Oscar & Belle have tried to remedy this situation by making natural rubber pacifiers.
Oscar & Belle’s pacifiers are made from pure rubber from the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensi. The protein that on rare occasions can provoke a latex allergy is removed from the rubber mass for these pacifiers. All pacifiers are CE certified meaning the product lives up to the European Union (EU) directive in the area concerned with safety, health and environment. The pacifiers are very hygienic because they are molded in one piece. There is no joining or crack where dirt and bacteria can accumulate.

Pacifier Benefits:
* Free of allergy causing substances
* No artificial colors
* Free of cancer causing substances
* No hormone disturbing substances
* No added chemical softeners
* Contains no parabens, PVC and phthalates

Material Benefits:
* Follows the natural mouth movements of the baby
* Does not leave marks on the baby’s face
* Have shown incredible strength in the “Stretch-test”
* 100% natural
* Environment friendly

TREE APPLIQUE MEADOW DRESS

I was looking for new summer dresses and I came across this dress when I was shopping Element Eco Wear.com

. The Tree Applique Meadow Dress is Made from 100% Organic Cotton & uses low impact dyes.
Description:
* V-Neck, Knee Length
* Hand-Applied Tree Applique on Front
* Slight Pleat Tucks Under Bustline
* Slight A-Line Flatters Many Figures
* Made in Nepal
* Fair Trade

This dress is light and flowy & perfect for summer. You can wear it to the beach or an evening out with the ladies. The dress is simple but not plain. Organic cotton is a great fabric in hot weather! Try this dress on for size and let me know how you like it!!