I’ve been doing more research for Your Green Wedding.  There’s a lot of  really useful information out there. Links to dress ideas, tutorials, planning tips. Today, I’ve got some blog links for you to peruse.

I found a website today 2000 Dollar Wedding. It’s written by a woman who shares how she and her fiance (now husband) were able to enjoy their wedding “in a budget-minded, hand-crafted, eco-friendly way.”  The couple lists their complete cost breakdown  - their wedding cost less than $2000 - and offers advice on how to plan your own celebration. Lots of links to tutorials, lots of photos - really a delightful blog.

Etsy Wedding shares “offbeat finds for the eclectic bride.”  Finding exactly what you are looking for at Etsy can be tricky.  New items are added constantly and sifting through what is offered can be time-consuming. Etsy Wedding takes all the work out of it for you. Find links to vintage dresses, jewelry and more.

If you’ve got the time and the inclination to do the work yourself, you might want to take a look at DIY Bride where they offer “crafty wedding goodness from scratch.”  Included are do-it-yourself projects for invitations, flowers, bath and body care, favors, and decorations. Plus tips on planning and registeries, recession-proofing your wedding.

Image credit: Chase Your Bliss Photography

My first experience with natural hair color came about when I found a box of red hennaunder the sink at my stepmom’s house. I don’t know if my stepmom had ever used it before - I didn’t ask, I just put it on.  I started coloring my hair young - the first of any of my friends to do so at 15. That’s no big deal now, in fact I helped my daughter put bright crimson streaks in her hair in the 5th grade, but I was 15 back in 1982.  Things were different then.

So, the henna…..it turned me a bright crayon-orange and I loved it. It had this mud smell to it, that I also liked. I used it a few times, wore my hair in a modified flat-top-like thing. Not very feminine, but I believe I was more into shock than awe in ‘82.

If you’d like to try something natural and a lot less mud-smelling than my old friend, Henna, I suggest using a chamomile or citrus rinsefor your blonde to light brown hair.

To use the chamomile, steep a very strong cup of chamomile for 30 minutes. Wash your hair, then towel dry. Lean over the sink, pour the cup of tea over your hair, letting it drain into the sink. Refill the cup and and repeat with the pouring. Do this 12-15 times, then let it sit in your hair, without rinsing, for 40 minutes. Rinse, then style. If you have long hair, make a double batch.

Lemons are easy to usein the Summer time. Squeeze the juice of 3 lemons into a cup of water, strain, then pour into a spray bottle. Mist your hair with the lemon water as you sit in the sun (with sunscreen, of course). The combination of the citrus acids and the sun will brighten your blonde tones.

To be on the safe side, try a strand test before applying either mixture. Cut a small lock from an area of your head where it’s easily hidden, then try your natural color procedure. This way, if it goes wrong, you don’t have to walk around with the mistake on your head.

Image credit: All Posters.com

My sister, Robin, and I used to make natural facial masks at home using plain oatmeal and honey. We’d mix the two together, spread it on our face, and then wait. After rinsing the sticky mixture away, we’d get close to the mirror and examine our faces. “Do you see any difference?” we’d ask each other. Facial masks are a fun way to slow down and relax, so there’s definitely an emotional benefit, as well.

In the later years, I began to use something a little more complicated and a lot more chemically-created to treat my skin. It felt a bit on the clinical side and I find that I miss the “fun” aspect. I’m all for revisiting the natural  homemade facial masks of my youth and this time around I get my daughters in on it. At 16 and 10, I’ve been teaching them about the importance of good skin care for awhile now.

Certain household items are used frequently in the facial masks that you purchase in the store. Fruit acids exfoliate, honey has anti-bacterial properties, milk soothes, oatmeal exfoliates - most of us have these at home already, which makes them convenient for homemade facial masks.

To get the full at-home spa effect, begin with a facial steaming to open your pores. Heat a large pot of water up to the boiling point, then place to the side to cool a bit. Steam your face over the warm water to which you’ve added 5-6 drops of the essential oil of your choice.

Here are a few ideas:

For oily skin or acne, use tea tree oil
For dry skin, use rose or a chamomile tea infusion
For combination skin, use eucalyptus, lavender, or lemon

Now you are ready for the mask of your choice:

Cocoa Infusion Facial Mask - moisturizing and cleansing

1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup of honey
2 - 1/2 TBs of milk or soy milk
4 tsp oatmeal

Mix together in a bowl, apply to face, avoiding eye area, and massage in a circular motion. Let the mask set for 15 minutes, while you put your feet up. Then, rinse with warm water, and pat dry.

Olive oil makes a wonderful facial massage oil, but if you prefer, you can substitue Apricot oil instead.

Olive Oil Facial Massage Mask - exfoliating and smoothing, increases circlation

5 ripe strawberries
1 TBS olive oil
1 tsp honey

Mash strawberries into a pulp. Add olive oil, then honey. Mix, then apply to the face, avoiding the eyes. Massage into your face and neck for 5 minutes - use an upward smoothing motion on neck, gentle upward, inward circles on the face. Tissue off excess, rinse thoroughly with warm water, pat dry.

To make a vegan version of this mask or the scrub below, simply skip the honey.

Facial Scrub Mask - smoothing, softening

Ground nuts can be added to honey for an easy exfoliating scrub.  Grind 1/4 cup of walnut or almonds in a coffee grinder, then add to either 2 Tablespoons of honey or yogurt (can substitute soy yogurt for a vegan scrub). Mix well.  Apply to the face, again avoiding the eye area, and massage gently, in a circular motion for 2 minutes. Rinse with warm water, pat dry.

Image credit: All Posters.com

Chic: Teich comes through with a super cute day satchel. This looks great for a day or brunch and shopping.

Green: Made from vegetable tanned leather and hemp canvas

Buy:TEICH Brown Day Satchel, $150

Chic: Remember off-the-shoulder sweaters in the ’80s? Thank God we’re (mostly) over that. But then again. Off-the-shoulder tops are pretty cute. This one, from Kcoline, is particularly awesome. Lookit the gold trim on the back!

Green: Made of recycled cashmere and wool sweaters.

Buy:Kcoline Sweeter Sweater, $185

Chic: Subtle pleats and ruffles add a little something different to this tee. If you’ve been wanting to be a little more romantic in your style, this top is a good start.

Green: Made out of repurposed cotton/bamboo knit.

Buy: Zelaya Ruffle Top. $50

Chic: Love this super cute, simple wallet. The best kinds of wallets work well on their own is you need to run out the door. You don’t want to be the girl with the wallet that looks like a phone book.

Green: This wallet is made from recycled men’s suits.

Buy: Angelique4you Suit Coat Wallet, $18

I love Sandmaiden for lingerie, first of all. Their stuff is made in pretty colors and is sexy, yet incredibly comfortable. On top of that, it’s often made with eco-friendly fabrics.

So hurray that there seem to be a few non-boudoir type pieces coming out, like this gorgeous wrap shirt.

It’s a simple shirt that is more or less like any other wrap shirt, except I can only imagine how comfortable it is. It’s made of bamboo and organic cotton with some lycra for stretchiness.

In about 8 million colors. $72

Get the Sandmaiden wrap top.

Get the Sandmaiden Soy and Organic dress

It’s not quite an Ikat print, but I love the bright blue and pretty tidal print on this dress.

It’s made with unbleached organic cotton that is brushed and brushed until it’s super-soft.

Since it’s custom, it’ll take a few weeks to make, but so worth it.

$245

Get the dearbirthday kathryn dress

Green and vegan shoes that are custom make in the UK and designed to last ages? All you do is draw around your foot and they send them off to you!

This is what I’ve been looking for. I wish they made black pumps. I would kill for custom, patent pumps for my sad feetsies

Get Greenshoes. Now.

(Via Hippyshopper.)