TGiF! Enjoy one of our top picks in today’s Friday Faves…

Are you a gal who prefers bikes to cars, CFL’s to incandescents, and organic food to packaged meals? Good for you – you care about your health and the environment! You make eco-friendly decisions that benefit your health and vice versa. So when it comes to your water bottle, what do you do? Recycling is certainly appreciated, but it still adds up (Americans use 30 million plastic water bottles every day), and reusing reduces waste, but it can also be harmful to your health (due to plastic leaching and bacteria growth). So what’s an eco-friendly gal to do? Never fear—SIGG is here!

SIGG Swiss Engineered Water Bottles are the must-have product in Europe, and are available in the US and online. SIGG’s reusable water bottles greatly help reduce unnecessary environmental waste and they keep you healthy and safe. Their special internal coating reduces the chance of bacterial build-up and will not flake or chip even if dented on the outside. SIGG bottles exceed FDA requirements and have been tested to ensure there is absolutely no leaching; they are 100% safe. On top of all of this, SIGG is also a member of 1% For The Planet, donating 1% of all sales to environmental causes.

With 144 bottle designs and 22 interchangeable lids, you can customize your SIGG bottle to reflect your individual personality. Our favorite? SIGG’s lifestyle bottle, “I AM NOT PLASTIC.” Make an eco-statement with your water and drink to your health!

~Kristen

Related Links:
Stop the Plastic
Dangers of Plastic Leaching
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On Thursdays we take you to “the well” - your source for inspiration and how-to’s.

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that most of us prefer happiness to gloom…I know I do! But when a bad mood strikes, it can often be tough to break free. When you find yourself down-in-the-dumps, how do you handle your bad mood? Do you wave a white flag in surrender or do you forge your way to happiness?

In one of our featured articles, we touched on the idea of having a Bad Mood Emergency Kit. I love this idea. There are emergency kits for all sorts of catastrophes and injuries: earthquakes, tornadoes, cuts, burns, and bruises… so why not have a one ready to combat a lousy mood? It just makes sense! Plus, the idea of putting it together sounds like a lot of fun, too.

There are many ways to feel joy and many things can bring joy in different ways. Your emergency kit will be as unique and individual as you are. Although you are free and welcome to come up with any mix of items that suits you, here are some fun ideas to choose from: music, movies, scents, photos, memories, mantras, and activities.

My Bad Mood Emergency Kit includes:

• Get-up and dance music: Safety Dance CD
• 3 favorite feel-good movies: Amelie, Monsoon Wedding, So I Married an Axe Murderer DVD’s
• Uplifting scent: Spearmint Essential Oil
• Favorite photo: One I took in Oaxaca of a young girl sitting beside an old, blind man as he softly strummed his guitar and sang…
• Memory: Time spent with my newborn niece – I’ve got plenty of photos and keepsakes!
• Faithful mantra: “Everything’s gonna be alright” (for an extra kick, I’ll sing it Alicia Key’s-style)
• Perspective-altering activity: Anything involving fresh air

Putting together a Bad Mood Emergency Kit gives you a chance to reflect on all of the things that make you truly happy. And it’ll help bring a smile to your face whenever you need one.

So, what’s in your kit? We’d love to hear!

~Kristen
Related Articles:
Feel Fabulous!
Understanding Your Life’s Purpose

Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam, GlamSpirit, Wellness, Health, GlamNetwork, Mood, Emergency, Happy, Joy, Music, Movies, Amelie, Alicia Keys

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TGiF! Enjoy one of our top picks in today’s Friday Faves…

Aaaah, I love Aveda products. There’s nothing like the fresh, earthy aromas of their products. Their shampoos, lotions, soaps, and even their make-up smell fresh and healthy. Little did I know that they actually bottle these aromas and sell them as pure-fume! (And yes, I did spell that correctly).

As I was perusing the Aveda shop near my house I came across a display of aroma therapeutic oils and “make-your-own” perfume. Aveda calls it pure-fume because they use all certified organic oils and make everything with pure plant essences. You can purchase a pre-made scent, concoct your own individual scent, or you can buy the purest form of all, essence oil. All three pack a powerful punch and last all day long!

If you choose to stick with a pre-made pure-fume, Aveda will blend a fresh batch for you right in front of your eyes! That’s right, you won’t get a bottle that’s been sitting on the shelf for months. It’s all about freshness and purity. Creating your own pure-fume allows you to experiment as you find just the right combination for you. Finally, if you opt for the pure essence, you’ll love the potency of this stuff and be thrilled with its longevity.

You can choose scents based on personal preference and also on therapeutic qualities. Different scents can be used calm and soothe your nerves, enhance the ability to think clearly, and balance your mind and body. Choose from sixteen different scents, including rose geranium, lavender, vanilla, ylang ylang, and sandalwood.

I bought one of Aveda’s pre-made scents and mixed one of my own. I love them both! They seem to last much longer than traditional perfume and I get compliments all of the time. So, get out to the nearest Aveda store or shop online and find the perfect scent for you!

~Jennifer Rosen

Related Articles:
Begin Every Day at the Spa
Scents for Sleep

Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam, GlamSpirit, Wellness, Health, GlamNetwork, Aveda, Shop, Oils, Organic, Individual, Fresh, Healthy, Calm, Balance, Mind, Body, Rose, Lavender, Vanilla

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TGiF! Enjoy one of our top picks in today’s Friday Faves…

One of the most inspiring books I have ever had the pleasure of reading is The Alchemist, by Paulo Coehlo. I happened to read it while traveling in India, an opportune time to hear the author’s underlying message of chance and opportunity. I’m not one to hang onto books after I’ve read them, but this one is still sitting on my bookshelf, even years later. To say it changed my thinking would be an understatement.

The Alchemist is an inspirational story about a boy following his dream. The story shows us how chance meetings and unfortunate events can ultimately lead to a better life. The most striking aspect is that the even horrible and life-altering events end up leading to other, brighter paths – and even to a golden opportunity.

Understanding this helped me to look at life differently, to see potentially “bad” occurrences as possibilities for newer, greater things. The Alchemist is a tale full of life’s lessons, theories on controlled luck, and the idea that the universe will guide you on the path that is meant for you. It encourages you to follow your dreams.

~Jennifer Rosen

Related Articles:
Secrets of Love and Sex from an Escort
Eleven Minutes by Paul Coelho

Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam, GlamSpirit, Wellness, Health, GlamNetwork, Inspirational, Controlled Luck, Universe, Dream, Crystal

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TGiF! Enjoy one of our top picks in today’s Friday Faves…

 This week’s pick is a sweet, inspirational, and touching independent film that everyone should see. It is also one of my favorite movies of all-time: Once.

Once is a raw, uncut story of spirit, life, and love. The film follows the lives of two strangers who become friends through their shared passion for music. Together they form a bond through their music and share an extraordinary journey.

Without giving any details away, I will tell you that this is a thoroughly heart-rendering story told with the genuine clarity and imperfection of real life. The music the two characters create has depth, soul, emotion, and haunting beauty. Made in Ireland, this true independent film will touch your heart more than any Hollywood blockbuster ever could.

You’ve got the whole weekend ahead of you – maybe you should watch Once. You’ll certainly be glad you did.

~Kristen Kancler

Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam, GlamSpirit, Wellness, Health, GlamNetwork, Independent Film, Music, Spirit, Love, Life, Ireland

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