It would seem that we are waking up every day this week in a holiday shopping frenzy. We are approaching the holidays very fast and quickly. Most find this stressful, I find the last minute buzz of the holidays very exciting. Once it is over there is a peaceful calm and nothing left but to watch your loved ones open those well thought out presents. The reason for my calm could also be that I refuse to be caught off guard, I mostly do my shopping at least two or three weeks ahead of time. There are of course those last gifts I never seem to get to. You can see me eyeing ideas to the very last possible day.

If you do fall into the stressed out category have no fear. If you haven’t even started your Christmas shopping how do you make things a bit easier on yourself? The good news is that if you live in a city like New York there are plenty of places to go. No waiting on the mail man and no running from one part of town to the other. If you are a last minute shopper and happen to live in New York, the holiday markets located in the Columbus Circle and in Union Square are a great one stop destination for everyone on your list. Even if you do not live here, most of the same vendors that sell at these markets have websites. You are sure to find and please even the hardest and most spoiled person on your list. Whether they want vegan skincare, crave warm handmade knits, creative jewelry or a selfless kind of gift. The place has it all. All it takes is a simple walk through the market and you will walk out with bags in hand. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you will find, who needs high end designer when you can prove you are a lot more creative than that.

Browse my finds at the Columbus Circle holiday market:

Mineral and Vegan skin care and makeup from cnaturals, I love everything about this skincare. Pure and simple, the handmade soaps smell good enough to eat and more importantly the products work! 

Seeking Spirituality and expression in words? Not all t-shirts are created equal,Seeking Serenity t-shirts are soft to the touch and the modern cut aims to please. 

Tell time just a little differently than everyone else. Chose to give ECOWRIST watches made from bamboo, tagua nuts, wood and other exotic materials that are unique and all eco. The handcrafted watches are truly impressive.

Have you used a plastic bag today? They are all around us, yet so hard to notice because plastic bags have become such a common part of our lives we just do not think twice about their use. You might already know the company ChicoBag, started by Andy Keller with the goal to provide you with chic non-plastic bags you can reuse over and over and will never be tempted to throw out. Andy’s passion to show the public the amount of plastic bags we use and throw out, sadly making up most of the landfills today, has also created the Bag Monster. After being horrified at what Andy saw on his visit to a landfill he has decided to create a company that not only sells but also educates and advocates for something greater than us, our environment.

The Bag Monster is known for its demonstrative efforts to show how useless and wasteful plastic bags are, more importantly the company strives to work with politicians to change the laws and regulations on the use of plastic. On 15th of December was the inaugural DAY WITHOUT A BAG summit is being held in Los Angeles. The plan was to provide a guide to those who attended on how to reduce their personal bag consumption. Local policy makers, community activists and environmental advocates were in attendance to provide real-life case studies and advice on what you can to help change things in your community. The company continues to be part of events like this one simply because that is what they are about. Even though Bag Monster has its funny plastic bag moments, their work is serious and has a purpose greater than just themselves. The selfless work of the Bag Monster and Andy Keller is something to be admired. 

Be conscious of your use of plastic bags starting today! 

Visit the Organic Spa Magazine for the daily gift countdown to Christmas!

Visit the Daily Gift Countdown and let us do the work for you!

The cold has officially snuck up on us New Yorkers and it is time to get back to reality. Spoil yourself with these warm top picks for the chilly Fall-Winter season.

One Bath and Body products have been on the top of my list for a while now. They always seem to make me feel as if I can take a spa break just about any place. They have perfectly natural products that are great for both in and out of the shower. What makes One so appealing is that they are all recyclable and care about more than just selling those wonderful products. They care about the environment and community. My obsession has been the shea butter lip balms, I always make sure I have one on hand. You should also try their natural soaps, they are designed to wash the day away and soothe your body and soul. 

One of my pet peeves about the cold weather is that it lasts way too long and you have to cover up all that great fashion. This makes for a great excuse to give up caring, just because it is cold out there does not mean you have to wear sweatpants around the clock. I vote for almost never, however that is just me. On the top of my shopping list, or dare I say holiday list is the ethical brand Stewart+Brown. Cozy sweaters and coats that seem to tailor to your body can be worn in a brisk cold but you would never know it. The brands respect for nature and passion for design shows in each collection, no matter the item it never seems to loose its whimsical appeal. 

Keep your cheeks rosy with an Argan color stick from Josie Maran, not the offending brisk wind. Maybe you want an all in one stick that will moisturize your skin, lips and tames those pesky fly aways. Chose the Argan Oiil Moisturizing stick. Argan Oil has been proven to have nutritional benefits and the proof is in beauty. Taking care of your skin takes double the work in the winter time, make it simple. 

What is the best way to keep the cold out? A great scarf that acts as a hoodie. When you purchase your first winter scarf you want functionality, not just fashion. All products from Lento are hand crafted in Guatemala and are naturally dyed by Mayan women. What I love about the size and shape of this scarf/cloth is that you can use it in so many ways and feel good about it at the same time. “Lento” means slow in Spanish and reflects the brand’s mission of patience and dedication to hand crafting each piece with love, making it special and unique. 

For more on organic skin care and Eco fashion visit the Organic Spa Magazine

Tees For Change are no mindless t-shirts. By now we know there are many companies who have caught onto the earth friendly “trend”. For those with true passion for creating a natural product this is not a trend of the moment but a way of life. Some are simply on a mission to spread positivity and make a change with a brand that creates and builds up communities all over the world. That someone is Andreea Ayers, the founder of Tees For Change. Let me point out that there is something to be said for a tee that is flattering yet comfortable. Try finding one that is not overpriced and you will most likely fail. The color, fit and function of the tees are combined with mood lifting phrases and Viola! You feel a spring in your step each time you wear one. We all have that favorite t-shirt that has been sitting your our closets forever, this is that one tee you will never want to let go.  Tees For Change is an apparel company that makes more than attractive tees. The company partners with various charitable organizations as well as donates their tees towards positive causes. They are very appropriately partnered with Trees for the Future. Every time a tee is purchased a tree is planted. Since the company started in 2007 there has been over 10,000 trees planted and that makes a lot of trees for the future. You can be someone who has made a small change by simply purchasing a tee that will make you feel good and look good all at the same time. These tees really are on a mission.  Want more of a reason to get this tee? Tees for Change super comfortable tees use 100% organic cotton or a blend of naturally sustainable bamboo and organic cotton The cotton is cultivated with love and zero chemicals  To read more about Tees for Change go to their website.

If you so please the separates are great for mixing and matching with more edgier pieces. You will never be afraid to relax when caught in one of his S/S 2011 designs on a hot hot day. 

image via temptalia by Aveda

bottom image via style.com

My search for a great eco tote is now over. If you are like me and seem to be hesitant to purchase an eco friendly bag in about any store that sells them you might want to know about Dandelion. There is no space in my NYC apartment for yet another eco friendly bag and therefore I am picky.

Many places have caught onto selling eco friendly products however most just lack in quality or purpose. Dandelion focuses on selling only earth friendly products with a thoughtful design for mainly babies and their parents. When a company caters to babies they would not make anything that is less than perfect, and believe me their totes are. These organic totes are obviously attractive and yes looks are important however functionality and support/quality is what extends your use of a product. The best part? There is no reason to give up this tote for any season. Now that September 1st is behind us we know fall is near you can extend your summer wardrobe.

Why am I so passionate about this particular organic tote? The design was meant to be functional and used on the go as an everyday handbag. It has inside snap pockets and two big pockets on the outside, a rope shoulder strap and inside is a convenient key catcher. The tote is also big enough and strong enough to hold just about anything I can throw into a regular handbag and I know it will not wear out in a few months. We know so many of the eco friendly totes/handbags like to give up on us when we least expect it. It has served me as a stylish beach bag and now will carry tools to my design class. There you have it, this perfect 100% organic cotton canvas tote can be found on the Dandelion website.

Every Sunday morning I like to enjoy a cup of coffee and the New York Times style section. The information provides me with inspiration however it is more than just pretty pictures, the relevance of the articles, style and trends are what is going on in the industry right now. This past Sunday I was pleased to find an article about fashion trying on zero waste design. A new kind of class of designers is sprouting, one that cares about the materials they use, so much so that they refuse to part with them. After all I think we all know where the unused fabric goes, it is hard to recycle it properly without a big expense therefore it ends up in the garbage and eventually our landfills.

Denim is one item in particular that is in everyone’s wardrobe and has been known to create more than just waste. The process of making denim is a tough one, both on our resources and the environment. This will not stop anyone from buying it or wearing it, however the alternatives to how denim is being made are now widely available. Zero-waste design will contribute to making excellent denim that does not sacrifice on style. We can hope that into the future, organic and environmentally friendly also means fashion forward.

What does zero-waste represent? The experimentation with Eco fashion is being pushed further than just organic fabrics. The effort that is zero-waste design strives to create patterns that will not allow anything extra, that means no excuse for any waste on the floor. The first ever fashion course in zero-waste design will start up next month in one of the most well know fashion schools, Parsons in New York City. To read up on details regarding the class and more on the article go here.

I never though stainless steel bottles could be misunderstood. They are! Being eco is not always easy, it is all about the careful approach you chose to take. Plastic bottles used to be a thing of luxury and the occasional necessity, now they are an every day throw away and a given. U-TURN 2 TAP has taken the reverse approach to drinking water. I love their silly and serious water bottles. Yes we can say that it took resources and energy to make these bottles (even if they were made with artistic love), yet if you continue to use that plastic bottle no action will be taken at all. Actions do speak louder than words. Let’s make the using of water bottles a thing of the past. Really should it matter what modern approach we take? It was 103F in New York today. Stay hydrated!