Spring '13 Eco Footwear Finds

 

1. Atlanta Coral Leather Ballet Flat by Julie Bee's // 2. Beaded Leather Sandals by Olsen Haus // 3. Megumi Wedges by Coclico // 4. Amina ballet flats by Neuaura // 5. Emerson Ankle Cuff Sandals by Cri De Coeur

Summer Love List

(one) soy based 'mimosa' candle by KOBA (two) wood-framed shades by Shwood (three) marigold yellow organic tee by Loomstate (four) driftwood side table by Crate & Barrel (five) a fun DIY idea I found on pinterest (six) I finished this light, summer read in less than a day & a half... needless to say it's worth reading ;)

Lauren Conrad's XO Eco for Blue Avocado

This girl really has come a long way since her Laguna days. Ok, so she may not be the most exciting person to watch on reality television (that title belongs to Snooki) but I have so much respect for her as a young female entrepreneur and a role model for tweeners and aspiring fashionistas across the country. After hearing about her collaboration with eco friendly bag-manufacturing company Blue Avocado, my heart swelled with pride and joy for the young lady. Not only does she have a superb sense of style, but she cares about the environment too and is taking steps of her own to help preserve it.

Be sure to check out this awesome new line of bags here.

Where's my Team Lauren shirt at?!

Nail Art {The Safe Way}

This past summer, the beauty scene has been rampant with some outrageous nail art that puts conventional artists to shame. When visiting my younger cousin in Indianapolis this summer, she begged me to let her perform manicurist duties on me and I happily obliged. She adorned my finger nails with leopard print, spending way more time than I would ever have spent on myself, setting the gold background then carefully drawing white specks perfectly outlined in black. She then extended the jungle theme down to my feet, where my toenails were christened with zebra print. Who needs a manicurist when you've got the Pablo Picasso of nail art in the fam? I've seen tuxedo print finger nails, chevron nails, even all-out miniature paintings on the ends of women's phalanges.

While I'm all for this trend, it's important to be selective in what types of polish people are using; many of them contain harsh chemicals that could potentially be cancer-causing. The three active ingredients in many nail polishes which are cause for concern are Dibutyl phthalate, Toluene, and Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen and DBT has caused speculation for causing reproductive and development issues (including infertility). When choosing a nail polish, look for ones that say they are "three-free," which means they do not contain any of these three toxic chemicals. Good news is, many of our most beloved brands are safe. Essie, OPI, and Butter London are all 3-free. The brand Scotch Naturals is also free of ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, nitrocellulose, acetone, and heavy metals, making it "truly non toxic."

While these brands claim to be safe and "eco-friendly" it is still important to note the amount of waste that goes into the production of nail polish. All of those glass bottles go to waste because they obviously cannot be recycled... Just something to keep in mind when coming home from ULTA with the hottest 12 new OPI's of the season.

Raise your hand if you think I should walk into the salon and ask for one of these looks?

{images via HelloGiggles.com}

{sustainable fashion spotlight} Maiyet

In this video for Maiyet's Spring/Summer 2012 collection, soft, beautiful, pastel-heavy pieces are totally compatible with the natural, beachy setting where the video is shot. And you can never go wrong with Feist. The socially-conscious Maiyet partners with a nonprofit organization called Nest which promotes "prosperity, entrepreneurship, and dignity in places that need it most." Together, they source and work closely with artisans from Colombia, India, Italy, Kenya, Mongolia, and Peru, paying fair wages and providing training and development for the artisans they work with. Maiyet is sold exclusively at Barneys.