{Eco-Chic Weddings} by Emily Anderson

happy saturday + steering clear of crazytown

For those of you checking in this weekend, I'm posting a recent photo of my little girl, Sydney Lucille. She is the light of my life, and as you can see, she is already interested in pretty things...just like her mama.

It's been five years since I met my husband, and it took me a long time to find him. But it was worth the wait, because now I'm with a partner who has the same values that I do. We keep each other balanced. Before we got married, we went to pre-marital counseling, which isn't the same thing as meeting with a priest or rabbi, etc. We actually went to a marriage therapist, and it was probably the best thing we could have done. I highly recommend this to everyone. So how is this related to being eco-chic? You know...keeping your priorities straight, building a strong relationship that's based on love, support, understanding, acceptance...instead of going to crazytown during the wedding planning process. It's all about mindfulness and keeping true to your intention. Trust me, when I look at Sydney's beautiful little face, I never think about how I wore my hair on my wedding day ;)

how to learn {almost} everything: expert village

Want to learn how to make your own floral arrangement? How to create the perfect chignon? Now you have a place to go...Expert Village has random how-to videos for everything from how to be a ventriloquist (might be good during those toasts...) to applying your make-up. It's a little easier to navigate than YouTube just because it's all specifically how-tos.

My personal favorite: Courtney Gray's jewelry making demos...

hauteidea.com: haute ideas for a cooler planet

Haute off the presses! HauteIdea.com is a fabulous new site with eco-ideas, resources, and amazing deals (see below).  The brainchild of Meghan Meyers, who is also the lovely lady who brought eco-wedding site Portovert.com to market earlier this year. Check it out!

walking the walk: campaign for safe cosmetics

I have a confession. I have been highlighting my dark blonde hair from the age of 14...crazy, I know...I started out with the cap and pulling strands through the tiny holes. Then, I moved on to the" sun-in"method whereby you spray an entire bottle and sit in the sun for hours (or use  a hair dryer until you practically burn your scalp.) When I moved to New York, I gradually made my way around the city from salon to salon--Fekkai, Minardi, Bumble, Tricomi, Barrett...I've been everywhere. After many years,  I ended up at an Aveda Concept Salon....

ninety-nine percent of Aveda's semi-permanent dye is plant-derived, and the permanent dyes are 97 percent plant-based. In my research to find an acceptable cruelty-free alternative to the traditional petroleum based  hair dye, Aveda seemed to be the only reliable solution (for me.)
I know this is not ideal--Aveda does contain some unhealthy ingredients, and they're owned by Estee Lauder. As is Burt's Bees and Origins. And Andrew Weil licensed his supplement business to Lauder as well. And Aerin Lauder is on the cover of Better Homes & Gardens, which may or may not be the last issue of the magazine, ever...but I digress. Here are my favorite resources for information about healthy beauty:
www.care2.com
www.safecosmetics.org
www.notjustaprettyface.org

read more about beauty here...

{guest blogger} jenny ebert + priti organic spa

My first guest blogger, Jenny Ebert, is a wonderful photographer, as well as  having a beautiful site. She was kind enough to share an excellent resource for all things priti...from favors, to bridesmaid spa days, to just relaxing before you take that walk down the aisle, Priti Organic Spa is one place you might want to check out. See below for all the lovely details.

{by Jenny Ebert}
I first met Kim D’Amato several years ago on an editorial assignment. Kim is the owner of Priti Organic Spa,in New York's East Village. The spa is a mirror image of Kim herself. Beautiful, warm, friendly and full of all things fabulous. The first thing that you notice upon entering are the delicious aromas. Lavender, sage, and a hint of lemongrass  & ginger, depending on the day. The nail salon smell is nowhere to be found. Everything in the spa from the nail polish to the locally designed Asian inspired furniture to the non-toxic earthy brown paint on the walls was chosen for its earth friendly qualities. Her electricity is wind powered, her slippers are biodegradable and even her website operators are solar powered! The salon is stocked full with amazing organic products from Buddha Nose, Pangaea, Stella McCartney and Kim’s new line of Priti organic nail polishes. The spa offers a great array of manicures, pedicures, facials and massages all using custom blended organic ingredients, fresh herbs and organic essential oils. To top it all off the spa offers at home service where one of the technicians can come to you!  Priti is located in NYC at 35 East First Street between First and Second Avenues. contact: 212.254.3628.

{world peace day} twee's bliss + shiva rea

Yoga brought me to this place. I saw a need  to infuse some balance, perspective, joy into the wedding planning process. To inspire people to relax, and remember that it is about your partnership, your family, your friends...not about the size of the ring, the price of the dress, or the perfect photographs. And to remind us that we are citizens of the world, stewards of the Earth.  Today is World Peace Day and this weekend is the Global Mala Project, created by the amazing Yoga Teacher Shiva Rea. This morning, Twee Merrigan reminded me to live a more peaceful, balanced life. It is with a peaceful heart that you will truly twist and soar, on your weding day and long after.

{Yoga Journal, Twee Merrigan}

{eco-pioneer} anita roddick, founder of the body shop

Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop, has died. She was the first to truly inspire me with her revolutionary business idea:  Make good things that are Good. That's it in a nutshell.  Let her legacy live on.

          
          
          

I leave you with an interview with Dame Roddick from Waitrose.com....

Beauty and the Bride

Every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day. Organic beauty products are a better alternative because they don't have any harsh chemicals and preservatives like some of the more traditional products on the market. Desert Essence has a delicious assortment of lotions, shampoos, conditioners, and lip treatments. With flavors like Lavender, Vanilla Chai, Spicy Citrus, Coconut, Green Apple and Ginger, you'll look and feel  beautiful.

Plant(your)Love

Be a blushing bride, why don't you. Cargo's got the perfect stain for your lips, and it's totally biodegradable, inside and out. PlantLove Botanical Lipstick contains no mineral oils or petroleums, and the tube it comes in is made out of corn. You might not know it, but you can make more than just ethanol out of corn--you can also make bio-degradable plastics. And the outer carton is made of paper embedded with flower seeds, so you can plant your PlantLove and watch it grow!

(The do-gooding doesn't end there: Cargo is also donating $2 from every lipstick sale to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Cargo--you GO!)