The Balm that Packs a Punch

I received my handy pocket size “pot” of Organic Girls Vanilla Lip Balm today and I love it! The sweet aroma of vanilla immediately drew flashbacks of me as a little girl running after the ice cream truck on a hot summer day. Oh, how I wish the weather was warmer. I can’t stop licking the creamy softness of balm smeared across my lips. One little dab and my chapped lips are gone!

Visit Organic Girls now to pick up a few of these inexpensive ($3 each), delicious smelling vegan lip balms!

The Queen & Her Bag

As a little child you may have dreamed of being a princess, but why be second to the queen when you can be a queen?! Evelina, eco-luxury designer extraordinaire, has made this dream possible with the introduction of her Vegan Queen handbags. This multi-faceted artist, who’s worked with fashion legends such as Karl Lagerfeld, is on a mission to prove that we can all be royalty & enjoy luxurious, sustainable styles.

Born from the need to satisfy eco-fashionistas’ demands for high-quality, stylish handbags, Vegan Queen has quickly conquered the accessories' throne. Everyone is scrambling to get their hands on these fabulous eco- bags. Crafted from the finest sustainable materials, Vegan Queen promotes a socially conscious lifestyle that doesn’t sacrifice our environment. It’s no wonder why celebrities like Madonna, Heidi Klum, and Natalie Portman are going gaga for the Queen!

Vegan Queen’s dynamic designs are a result of combining masculine silhouettes with feminine details. Developed to the highest ecological standards, Vegan Queen only uses natural, non-toxic, and recycled materials. These beautifully embossed handbags are made from Vegetal “leather,” a cotton-based fabric that’s rubberized with natural latex extracted from wild rubber trees in the Amazon Rainforest. Peak inside and you’ll discover a soft interior lining of 100% organic cotton terry. Adorning the outside is nickel-free antique brass-finish hard ware and her trademark recycled crest medallion.

Vegan Queen is committed to preserving natural resources and helping to reduce harmful pollutants. Therefore, all shipping materials used are 100% carbon offsetting. Head to Vegan Queen’s online boutique now and crown yourself Queen! I guarantee you won’t be able to resist the new City Bag (left) or Eco IT Bag (right).

Fashion News Alert!

Spotted…Celebrity/Lifestyle Blogger Tia Walker wearing the Lindsey Dress by cmarchuska @ Alex McCord + Simon van Kempen’s (The Real Housewives of NYC) cocktail party.

Photo by Gregory Partanio, ManhattanSociety.com

I love the outfit Tia put together. I need to get my hands on this cmarchuska dress. Tres chic!!


xoxo,
Mia

My EcoDiva Guest Appearance

Check out my guest appearance on EcoDiva and read all about the "other" black dress!

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Bamboo Warriors– Finding the Ultimate Active Apparel

Allow your body to breathe and bend with ease as you hike to the top of the Hollywood Hills or strike a Warrior II Pose… Green Apple’s organic active apparel was designed specifically to handle all the adventures of your active lifestyle.

This apple’s seedling sprouted when veteran athletic designer Cristofer Smith developed the first certified organic bamboo and cotton active apparel. After many travels and extensive research, Cristofer determined that bamboo mixed with organic cotton was the most viable textile to mimic the abilities of petrol-chemical textiles (“THE BAD GUYS” - nylon & poly) most commonly used in athletic apparel.

Not only does the soft, silky feel of Green Apple hugging your body feel luxurious, but the organic bamboo fiber has a natural anti-bacterial deodorization effect too (known as “Bamboo Kun”)! Therefore, there’s no need to fret about breaking a sweat because bamboo will battle it all.

Bamboo is the ultimate tropical grass samurai…

Along with its powers to fight odor causing bacterium,
these fibers naturally block 98% of all harmful UVA rays, and have a unique cross section of micro gaps and micro holes that enable breathability & thermal control.

Green Apple has been a pioneer in organic active wear and strives to be environmentally friendly in all aspects of their business. They were the first apparel company to use 100% bio mass, bio degradable plastic for packaging & shipping. Plus, all branding is done on recycled papers, natural pulp fibers, and leftover organic fabrics.

I love wearing my Green Apple yoga pants to the gym or just lounging around in my apartment. It’s time for everyone to be as comfortable as me! Visit http://www.greenappleactive.com/ to see the new Spring ’09 collection & much more. Men’s active apparel is on the way soon too.

If you ask me, there’s no tartness in this Green Apple!

Casual – Sustainable - Sexy Menswear

Women aren’t the only ones with sexy sustainable style options. Men have options TOO thanks to companies like Loomstate! Designer’s Rogan Gregory & Scott Hahn launched this eco-friendly brand in 2004 with one thing in mind – creating high quality casual clothing using socially and environmentally responsible methods of production.

Believe it or not guys… you DON’T have to dress like a bum to be comfortable. It’s time to throw out those old ratty tees and sweats & step up your clothes game. Enter the new era of “sexy casual menswear.”

Loomstate is the go-to sustainable line for stylish clothes with “lived-in” character. Inspired by classic American casual styles, each piece is created with:

• 100% certified organic materials


• Modern fits


• Softened fabrics


• Aged hardware

Get your hands on Loomstate in stores such as Bloomingdales, Barneys, and Blue & Cream (NYC) or visit http://www.loomstate.org/ to learn more.

Also, Loomstate only works with factories that follow the highest environmental and labor standards. They are committed to organic farming and use 100% organic cotton from various regions of the world such as Turkey, Peru, Africa, India and the USA.

Now remember guys, you have no more excuses for wearing tattered clothes now that you know about Loomstate!

Strawberry, Vanilla, Cherry... On My Lips, Oh My!

Smooching your way to Valentine’s just got cheaper… Ladies, tell your man to start puckering up and get ready for the sweet taste of your new $5 organic lip gloss! Your smile will light up the room after you paint your lips with Organic Girls’ vegan glosses.

Choose from classic flavors such as Strawberry, Vanilla, Honey and Cherry. Or be a little wild n’ crazy and try Shirley Temple, Cookie Dough, or Bubble Gum.

Each gloss goes on as a beautiful neutral hue, with the exception of the “double the color” line (Honey and Cherry). These two particular hues add an extra hint of red and bronze to your lips.

Organic Girls’ organic vegan lip glosses are also:

Biodegradable
Cruelty Free
Handmade in the USA
Non Toxic

Visit http://www.organic-girls.com/ to pick up a handful of these fabulously smelling lip glosses!

FYI - A portion of sales is donated monthly to a local animal protective foundation.

My EcoDiva Guest Appearance

Check out my guest appearance today on EcoDiva! www.theecodiva.blogspot.com

Stay tuned to S.S.S. - I'm working on some sexy updates for everyone!

Creating a Forest Thanks to Ananas!

Addictions aren’t all bad. Did you know that your addiction to stylish handbags can have an environmental benefit such as creating forests?! I recently stumbled upon Ananas, an eco-conscious handbag company that’s on a mission to do just that – rebuild forests.

The seed to create Ananas was first planted in designer Jennifer Lagdameo’s head while she was living in the Philippines. It was there where she observed the local traditional textile techniques and discovered a treasure of indigenous materials. Ananas started as a small collection of handmade handbags made from abaca, a natural plant fiber, and has since developed into a “retro-chic” collection of both leather and abaca pieces. Each Ananas creation utilizes organic materials from the Philippines such as coconut shells, mother-of-pearl shells, and polished native woods.

Lamdameo is continuously experimenting with new designs and materials in an effort to keep her collection unique and progressive. What’s cool is that all of her bags are handmade here in the Big Apple (NYC). Plus, for every Ananas eco-bag sold, Trees for the Future plants 10 trees in the Philippines!

Ananas has a grip on designing stylish eco-bags. Peep the jaw dropping “Coco” cork clutch or the hip “Nealy” in brilliant blue w/taupe. These eco-bags are just a few hot items from the Spring ’09 collection. Check out http://www.ananascollection.com/ to see more of these gorgeous bags. Ananas can also be found in fine boutiques and select department stores across America and Japan.

Remember…the Earth gets greener and leafier each time an Ananas eco-bag is purchased!

Pleasure Principle - Sensual Organic Massage Oils

Preparing the perfect romantic date night can be stressful… The Dirt candles may be glowing, but the ambiance might not be enough to relax your body. If this is the case, ask your partner to grab a bottle of Aura Cacia organic massage oil and rub your tension away. Aromatherapy massages not only relax your tired muscles, but they soothe your mind and invigorate your senses. Feel your stresses quickly melt away after a few minutes of being massaged. Allow your body to find inner peace and harmony so you can truly enjoy a special date night.

Aura Cacia offers an extensive selection of divine massage oils to choose from such as Energize, Relaxation, Heart Song, and Tranquility. You’re guaranteed to be satisfied with any fragrance blend you choose; however, if you’re looking to have a thrilling night of sustainable sensuality, I highly recommend using Euphoria. The name says it all. Exhilarate your body with this oil and your pleasure points will skyrocket with joy.

Plus, these nourishing body oils are multifunctional. The blend of pure essential oils and all-natural vegetable oils can be used for massages, added to bath water or applied generously after a shower.

In addition to using the finest natural ingredients, this eco-conscious company participates in a variety of sustainability initiatives involving energy, waste management, green construction, and responsible business practices. Aura Cacia strives to use recyclable packaging (made from post-consumer materials), minimize waste, and strategically selects ingredients based on the impact they will have on their environment. All products are FREE from animal testing and contain no animal by-products with the exception of beeswax.

Go to http://www.auracacia.com/ to see the full product line and read more about this sustainable company that ALWAYS has SEXY on their mind.

Light up Valentine’s with Dirt Candles

Valentine’s Day is only a month away so it’s time to start planning your sexy and sensual night! Nothing is more beautiful than being in a softly lit room filled with flickering Dirt candles. Cultivated here in the USA, Dirt candles are composed of GMO-free* organic soy wax, essential oils, botanical ingredients, and all-natural cotton wicks. These all natural candles are fully biodegradable, soot-less, and never tested on animals.

The air is filled with love on Valentine’s Day so why not add a few blissful scents to accompany it? Dirt has a wide variety of fragrances to choose from (25 to be exact). Let your flame catch you lighting “Love Machine” or “Heart Breaker” and things are bound to heat up in the bedroom! The irresistible blend of ingredients such as jasmine, azalea, rose, vanilla and woods will have you floating in ecstasy.

Don’t worry about these candles fading quickly either. Dirt 10oz candles have a burn time of approximately 60+ hours and even their cousin the mini .5oz tealight will burn 6+ hours.

All of Dirt’s packaging - the post consumer boxes, lids, glasses and plastic are recyclable. Plus, a portion of proceeds from every candle sold goes to charity. There’s no price tag on love and even if there was, these candles are worth every cent.

Go to http://www.dirtcandles.com/ and pick your sexy sustainable scents now!

P.S. – Make sure you read Dirt's tips on how to get the maximum enjoyment from these candles by burning them properly. Yes, there is a correct way to cut wicks and burn candles.

*genetically modified organisms

Look to the Cookie...

I’ve got a special delivery for all the baking impaired and busy bodies that don’t have time to spend in the kitchen. It’s not a package of Chips Ahoy cookies either! You can still enjoy savory treats even if you don’t bake them yourself. Just let Josh Auerbach, President & Master Baker, of The Black & White Cookie Company handle the job for you. His “Yin & Yang” creations are guaranteed to create a mini-explosion of flavors in your mouth.

Josh’s premium B&W cookies are unique because they are all NATURAL and kosher certified - NO preservatives, NO corn syrup. This gourmet cookie company likes to have fun. So they mixed a few modern twists into their secret recipe... In addition to the original B&W, The Black & White Cookie Company now offers a full range of exotic flavor combinations to satisfy everyone’s palate! I’ve personally had the luxury of tasting flavors such as blueberry, strawberry, bubblegum, mint, and orange. Trust me; these cookies are so delicious that Cookie Monster himself would jump through the TV to get his hands on them! One-of-a-kind cookie creations are no problem either. Josh can create edible custom decorations for any occasion including weddings, birthdays, religious events, corporate events, etc.

The Black & White Cookie Company is dedicated to making the environment a sweeter place one cookie at a time. That’s why they use minimal packaging and highly efficient utilities. Cookies aren’t the only thing on the menu either. You can order handmade truffles, brownies, tarts, scones, challah breads, and more. Check out http://www.blackandwhitecookies.com/ to see what’s baking in the oven! P.S. - Valentine’s is coming up so don’t forget to order your sweetheart some gourmet cookies!

Let’s face it. New Yorkers love the Black & White cookie so much that I think it’s now considered the “unofficial state cookie.” And thanks to Jerry Seinfeld & friends, this vanilla and chocolate creation is a hit across the world – or at least where syndicated episodes of Seinfeld air.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and hear Jerry's words of wisdom about eating Black & White cookies! I think I’m going to look to the cookie to unveil my next sexy topic…

Pretty & Perky with Style

I know I promised to add some delicious short-cuts for the jet setters, but this new discovery was too sexy to wait!

Have you ever noticed how sexy and amazing you feel when you’re wearing beautiful lingerie? You unknowingly exude confidence regardless of how many layers of clothing you have on. Lingerie is the base of a woman’s outfit. It’s the clothing equivalent of the foundation we put on our faces every day. I think all women will agree that finding well-fitted lingerie is very difficult, so you can imagine how incredibly hard it is to find stylish, high quality lingerie made from sustainable fabrics.

Cry no more! I have FINALLY found stylish, sustainable lingerie for all women who desire to look & feel sexy. Belabumbum is the answer. Pronounced as Bellaboomboom – Portuguese for “beautiful bottom,” this lingerie collection holds the key to making your curves look lushes in all the right places. Belabumbum specializes in lingerie, lounge wear and maternity lingerie. These flirty designs originated in Rio de Janiero, Brazil and have quickly become the rage among Hollywood’s elite. A-List celebrities like Halle Berry, Kate Beckinsale, Paris Hilton, and Lindsay Lohan are all slipping their bottoms into Belabumbum.

In addition to using innovative fabrics such as bamboo, Belabumbum focuses on a number of environmental and social issues. Co-owners, Heidi Rauch and Alyssa Weiss, believe that creating jobs is the only way to fight poverty and improve people’s quality of life. Factory employees are respected and provided with a safe working environment. Plus materials used are recycled.

Belabumbum can be found internationally and in fine boutiques and department stores throughout the US. You can also check out their affordable collection online at http://www.belabumbum.com/. There you’ll see one of my favorite styles -- the Cotton Candy underwire bra & hipster panty. This girlie combo reminds me of spring and warmer weather, exactly what I’m craving. Now that the foundation is set, all we need are some cute clothes & accessories to wear!

Sweet N' Healthy Night In

OK city girls…it’s time to pull those sweaters and shoes out of your oven and actually put it to use for baking! WOW that’s a concept a lot of my girlfriends haven’t heard in a while… But remember, a “girl’s night in” is all about indulgence. Pampering yourself is good to do every so often, and what better way to indulge than to nibble on something sweet & delicious?!”

Baking can be as fun and sexy as dressing up in high fashion. It’s all about the style and personality you bring to it. So here’s the game plan for baking up a tasty treat for your “girl’s night in”…

First you’ll probably need to make a quick trip to Whole Foods or your neighborhood grocery store for the following ingredients: (Again, feel free to ask each of your friends to pitch in to buy them. I’m sure they’ll be happy to once they know Chunky Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with Fleur de Sel are on the menu!)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup roasted, unsalted peanuts, coarsely chopped

1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips Fleur de Sel, to taste

**NOTE some people recommend substituting the following:
Use 1/2 cup of Ghee in place of butter
Use 1/4 cup of Splenda and 1/4 cup of sugar in place of 1/2 cup of sugar
An egg substitute may need to be added if dough is still a little dry.

How to Bake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla extract. Whisk together the flour, baking soda and baking powder and add to peanut butter mixture, stirring to combine well. Stir in chopped peanuts and chocolate chips. Drop generous spoonfuls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Press each mound of dough with a fork to flatten slightly. Bake until bottom of cookies are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle immediately with Fleur de Sel to taste. Let cookies cool on sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely. Recipe makes about 2 dozen cookies.

I know that most city kitchens are cramped and ill-equipped. So if you’re in need of mixing bowls or other kitchen accessories, I highly recommend checking out http://www.ecosumo.com/. Ecosumo is the new online, one-stop shop for all things green. Take a look at the beautiful Bambu spoon and bowls I found! Bamboo products are great in the kitchen for many reasons. With a tensile strength superior to steel, bamboo is suitable for both hot and cold foods and clean up is a cinch. Just wash with warm soapy water or a damp cloth.

Not only will the Bambu products be a stylish addition to your kitchen, but you’ll also be helping the environment. Bamboo plays an important role in the reduction of timber consumption because it’s a non-timber, non-petroleum resource that grows incredibly fast.
My mouth is already watering for a taste of these sweet & salty treats. However, if you’re completely baking impaired or you don’t have a working oven, no worries… I’ve got a short-cut on the way!

Quenching Your Skin’s Thirst...

It happens every year…as soon as the frigid air creeps in, our skin becomes dry and scaly. YIKES that’s not a sexy look for anyone! You may think your parched skin is caused by the cold itself, but in reality it’s because of the air’s dryness. Once the moisture is zapped out of your skin, the natural protective layer of dead cells begins to break down thus making your skin prone to irritation, flaking, and redness. Oy ve. Like we don’t have enough problems freezing our butts off as we walk to the subway or our cars?!

Just because our skin is dry doesn’t mean we can spend all winter hibernating like bears. Besides, staying indoors isn’t a solution to the dryness -- it’s a cause. Heated air piped into our homes just causes more dryness. Although there are plenty of over-the-counter lotions and potions that claim to battle winter’s dry skin, they often only provide temporary relief. Who wants temporary relief?! I want the problem solved! I don’t know about you, but I can’t afford to be cuddled up with a date & have dry flaky skin. That’s totally NOT sexy…

It looks like I’ve been left with no choice but to research home-remedies that are known to be rehydrating. Get ready to write these tips & ingredients down!

• Honey is an excellent moisturizer. Mix honey with lemon juice and apply it for ten minutes before thoroughly washing off. Remember - we’re not trying to attract bugs here!
• Plain yogurt (NOT the one with fruit on the bottom) mixed with tomato juice is also a wonderful remedy for toning and moisturizing.
• It can’t be said enough…Drinking plenty of water and natural juices will help you to retain moisture.
• Mix extra virgin olive oil (unprocessed oil) with honey and massage it into your skin for a few minutes before washing off with warm and cold water alternatively.
• Mash a ripe banana with oatmeal and honey then apply it to the face and neck for 10 minutes before washing off.
• Avoid regular consumption of alcohol and tobacco and excessive drinking of coffee and tea
• Mix egg yolk, rose water (you can buy bottles in health food stores, herb stores or even delicatessens), lime juice, olive oil and orange juice (1 tea spoon each) thoroughly. Apply the smooth mixture on your face in morning and wash it off after 20 minutes.
• Mix honey, egg yolk, olive oil and rose water and apply as a mask, then wash off.
• Do as your mother says…eat plenty of fruits, proteins, and greens. Eating a diet rich in Vitamin A, B, and E is essential for keeping your skin looking great. o Examples of foods with Vitamin A: sweet potatoes, carrots, mangos, cantaloupe, spinach, egg yolks, and milk
  o Examples of foods with Vitamin B: bananas, turkey, tuna, lentils and tempeh
  o Examples of foods with Vitamin E: whole grains such as wheat and oats, nuts and seeds, leafy greens, wheat germ, and sardines

As you can see there are numerous natural home-remedies to treat dry skin with. I realize that pocket stings are tight these days and people are trying to budget. So rather than going out to buy all of these ingredients yourself, call up your girlfriends and plan a special “pampering pot luck” night in! Pick a few “remedy recipes” to try and ask each guest to bring an ingredient. This way everyone contributes and still gets pampered!

Also, don’t forget to bake up some tasty sweets to munch on while you’re whipping up these beautifying concoctions. Stay tuned for my next sweet treat...it’s an edible surprise! Yummy.

The Little Black Dress That Could...

The little black dress (a.k.a. LBD) has been a closet essential for women since 1926. The LBD phenomenon began after Vogue published a picture of Coco Chanel’s newest design – a short, simple black dress. This simple, versatile black dress quickly became a “rule of fashion” that is still enforced by “fashion police” today.


Regardless of the style modifications the LBD has seen over the past eight decades, this style locomotive has climbed its way to the top of the fashion food chain and remains perched there. Choo Choo.

“Yea, yea…so what does all this fashion history about the LBD matter to me?” you ask. Well, if you haven’t heard, the LBD has recently experienced its sexiest transformation yet! The iconic little black dress has finally gone GREEN!!! Not green the color… but green as in the fabric. It’s puzzling why it took designers so long to make a sustainable LBD. Luckily for me I have the inside scoop on where to find the hottest sustainable designs.

Christine Marchuska, a fast rising eco-friendly designer, has created a collection of 2009’s MUST HAVE sexy, sustainable LBDs. My favorite design from the cmarchuska line is the luxurious Sylvia Dress. I covet this redesigned 1960’s inspired dress because of its fitted silhouette and asymmetrical off the shoulder neckline. The organic silk/modal blend feels heavenly against my body.

The Sylvia Dress is my #1 pick for any LBD occasion – whether it’s a dinner date at Mr. Chow or a New Year’s Eve party! You’re guaranteed to turn heads as you sashay across town in this dress. Accessorize it with The OC handbag by Ecoist and Monkey heels by MINK and you’re set to go.

Check out http://www.cmarchuska.com/ to see more LBD designs and Christine’s entire Signature Collection. See for yourself how feminine and flattering cmarchuska clothes are. They have become a staple in my closet and my “go to” pieces for any fashion emergency. It’s apparent that Christine has put a lot of thought into her sustainable line and its versatility. Keep your eyes on this new designer cause she’s sure to burn up the catwalk in ‘09!

Oh by the way…I heard a rumor that Brad Pitt got his hands on cmarchuska’s Hunter Scarf. Talk about sexy!

Photo provided by photographer Daniel Brothers.