Many times in a post I will give you a list of ingredients that are not used in a product. Why do I do that?  What are these ingredients and why is helpful to avoid them? 
Here are a few of these ingredients and the risks attached to them:
* Parabens – Parabens are used in many cosmetic products as preservative. They also have bacteriocidal and fungicidial properties. Parabens can irritate the skin, especially in individuals who have Rosacea. Some reports have linked parabens to cancer, but no causal link has been proven so far. They’ve also been linked to endocrine and …read more

If you are going to be in the New York City area this Saturday, July 11, 2009, or Chicago on July on 18th, then grab your girlfriends and head over to the Women’s Health Are You Game? event. 
This is the perfect opportunity for you to experience fun events like Euro Bungee, Rock Climbing, Beauty and Spa Treatments, a variety of workout classes, fashion shows, and more.  Be sure to wear something comfy!
Here are the specifics:
Are You Game? New York      
SATURDAY, July 11th, 2009
FROM 10 AM – 5 PM
Manhattan’s Hudson River Park at Pier 46
(Charles Street and West Street)
 
Are You Game? Chicago
SATURDAY, …read more

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I’ve been working on my fitness. I plan to take part in a sprint triathlon in early September and while I’ve been working on the swimming and biking part of my training, I haven’t been running. Running, I’ve found, is the only way that I lose weight. I just don’t get the same results from biking, even when it feels like hard work.
It’s been too hot to run outside and I’ve got a wooden bed frame stacked against the wall where my treadmill is (waiting for a yard sale and I have no …read more

It’s not too late to get in shape for Summer. Women’s Health magazine has the Belly Off Club going on now. The Belly Off Club is an 8 Week program.
You can watch a short video with trainer David Jack (cute boy, of course) where he outlines the workout requirements. You can download the workouts straight to your iPod, download them to your computer, or print them out.
In addition, real womenfrom around the country have thier information – starting weight, goal weight, age, personal motivation – posted for inspiration and support. Pretty cool.
I’m starting the program today. I plan to do …read more

This afternoon, I went to the creek for an hour with my oldest daughter. While there I thought about what I might write this afternoon, I thought about what “natural beauty” means to me.
I write a lot about products and I do love products – love to try them, love to talk about them, and I really love to share them, but natural beauty actually starts before the products. It starts with eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, getting exercise, and finding a way to relax, because stress and the effects of stress are not pretty on anybody.
The …read more

Still working on getting bikini-ready?  Maybe it’s time to get your body back in balance. Rainbow Light’s Cleanse products use fruit and fiber to wake up your system and get everything working properly again. 
I tried both theThinBerry Diet & Cleanse kit and the CleanseAway 7 Day Renewal kit.  Each kit comes complete – all you do is add water or juice. Simple and effective.
ThinBerry Diet & Cleanse is  3-step program with a morning appetite suppressor, then a fiber-rich drink, followed by an evening dose of liver support.
Supports healthy weight loss by controlling appetite with decaffeinated green tea berry, standardized …read more

Just in time for the Swine Flu…….okay, not really, I’m not jumping on the Swine Flu paranoia train, but EO Hand Sanitizers are alcohol-based and the Center For Disease Control is suggesting alcohol-based hand sanitizers, in addition to hand washing, covering your cough, and avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth when out in public, as ways to avoid disease. For more information, you can contact the CDC directly at 1-800-CDC-INFO. 
I got some EO hand sanitizer in the mail a week ago and my girls are both carrying one in thier backpacks. Sarah has the spray and Bailey is carrying the …read more

Looking for the latest in vegan bags?  How about this Summer Satchel by Pink Studios? 
I love the retro beachy look. It reminds me of something that a friend’s older sister carried back in the day. It features bamboo handles, so it’s eco-friendly, too.

Loops
$54.99
How about the Orleans by Pink Studios?  This bag is good-sized – 18 inches wide, by 10 inches, high, and 8 inches deep. There’s room for everything including a space for phone and keys.

Orleans
$64.99
I found this star-patterned vegan tote set off by a fabric rose. Cute!

Vegan Tote with Rose
$27.99
Image credit: Vegan Chic.com

It’s time for an Etsy shopping trip…..
Artimentary’s shop features earrings made with recycled and vintage materials.  I love these little vintage lucite roses. They remind me of either underwater sea creatures or roses on a brithday cake. Not sure which, but both interest me.
Black Rose Deco Earrings
$20
 
 
 
These earrings are made of vintage glass beads and brass. They would look adorable nestled in an Easter basket.
Tiny Fleur Earrings
$22
 
 
 
Image credit:  Artimentary’s shop at Etsy.com

Have you seen those ads for Acai Berry juice? Something along the lines of “Lose weight like Rachel Ray (Oprah/Kelly Clarkson/insert non-twig-like female celeb here) with acai!!” I see them every time I sign onto MySpace and yeah, I scoffed at first, but there is a lot of truth to the Acai claims.

Acai berries are what is known as a Super-Fruit. Super-Fruits are those that are high in vitamins, anti-oxidants, and fiber. They are an almost medicinal fruit. I’ve tried a fair share of Acai products for review including bars, drinks, and a supplement. I’ve found the taste to be …read more