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

In our ever-growing environmentally conscious world, anything reusable or recycled is something to consider. More and more shoppers are carrying reusable canvas totes to the grocery market. And, although those are fine for toting home tomatoes, wouldn’t it be nice to have a stylish and environmentally friendly handbag? Shoppers in-the-know have started sporting chic, eco-friendly bags.

Many independent designers have begun to create handbags, diaper bags, totes, purses, messenger bags, and carry-alls in a variety of “fabrics” that you probably never thought would end-up transforming themselves into a fashion accessory!

In addition to the hot indie designers, many local artisans in disadvantaged communities are crafting these bags as well. Proceeds from these bags are funneled back to the groups, helping to ensure a better economic future. These bags not only utilize recycled materials, they also promote fair trade within non-profit, economic, and community development organizations. Plus, you should see these bags – they’re totally adorable!

Some of the materials used by these purse-makers are items that we would normally toss in the trash: soda can tabs, candy wrappers, reclaimed inner tubes, felt, truck tarps, garbage bags, old sails, seat belts, movie bills, and rice bags (to name a few!). Other materials are environmentally grown, such as hemp or bamboo.

Eco-friendly bags come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Some sport fun patterns and textures, while others feature stamped-on graphics. The choices are endless and you’ll be surprised to see how many there are!

Whether you go for the designer clutch or the fair trade tote, you’ll be a walking example of how to be hip and eco-friendly. Cutting back on garbage and supporting under-developed communities are both great ways to feel good about your fashion choices. These bags not only have style and character, but they make a great conversation piece as well!

~Jennifer Rosen

Related Articles:
12 Ways To Green Up Your Life
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Wouldn’t it be great if you could carry your favorite fragrance with you all day? You could have an instant mood-booster right at your disposal. Well, that could prove quite difficult if your scent of choice is a precious, expensive liquid and comes in a fragile, glass container; those perfumes should probably stay on your dresser. But I’ve discovered a fabulous way to carry my favorite scents – solid perfume.

Solid perfume (or cream perfume) originated in ancient Egypt and made from a mixture of wax, essential oils, and herb or flower essences. These balms were used not only to smell exotic and luxurious, but also to lift the mood of the wearer with the aroma’s therapeutic qualities.

Today’s solid perfumes have the same idea. You can find fabulous all-natural, organic scents that calm your mind, boost your body, and rejuvenate your spirit. Companies like L’Occitane, Zents and Lunarama have solid perfumes made from natural ingredients to create products that are effective and affordable. Look for perfumes with shea butter – a natural moisturizer to nourish your skin.

My favorite scent is L’Occitane’s Green Tea Solid Perfume. It comes sweetly packaged in a 0.3 oz. tin so the fresh, invigorating scent fits right in my pocket to revitalize my mood anytime I want. Plus, the subtle citrus notes help create a fragrance to rival the beauty of nature itself. There are tons of gorgeous scents out there. Share your favorite with us!

~Jennifer Rosen

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At the end of an exhausting day, when I’m tired, achy, and feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders, all I want is one simple thing – a relaxing massage. A massage not only calms my body and releases my stress, it also helps me put things in perspective. A good massage gives me a much-needed break from a long day and leaves me feeling blissful and rejuvenated. It’s my not-so-secret cure-all, and, yes, I would like one every day.

There’s just one catch - I don’t want to have to drive half-way across town and shell out $60-plus every day; I have neither the time nor the budget to handle that one.

My quest for the perfect solution brought me to the idea of getting a massage chair. When massage chairs first entered the scene years ago, many people found them to be over-priced and far from “relaxing.” However, massage chairs have come a long way in recent years with advanced technology and understanding. And due to the demanding schedules of many people today and their need to de-stress, massage chairs are becoming the furniture piece of choice for busy professionals and stressed-out folks.

There are many types, models, and brands of massage chairs, but I fell in love with the iJoy. The iJoy replicates therapeutic techniques used by specialists to help you to relax and wind-down at the end of a hectic day. The idea is to get a quality, professional-type massage, all while in the privacy of your own home. And the best part? You can sit in that chair for as long as your heart desires. If you want a three-hour massage, go for it! The iJoy varies in price, but the I found a great deal here for about half the price of other stores.

So, there you have it! My solution to stress lies in one little chair at my beck and call to help me turn a stressful day into a sublime one.

~Jennifer Rosen

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

Tired of the same old exercise routine? If you find yourself stuck in the rut of a workout that’s getting a little dull and isn’t giving results, then keep on reading. After two long years of working out on the treadmill (and, literally, not getting anywhere fast), I found a fabulous way to get lean, toned, and feel absolutely gorgeous – all in the comfort of my own home! And you can too!

The New York City Ballet Workout (on DVD) was designed by Peter Martins (New York City Ballet’s Master in Chief) along with a group of dancers, fitness trainers, and a physiotherapist, to create a workout program that is fun, different, and effective. It begins with an introduction by Sarah Jessica Parker (a timelessly gorgeous gal with one of NYC’s sexiest bod’s), who explains the benefits of the program and her own personal experience with it (yes, she uses it!).

Unlike many exercise routines these days (weight lifting, butt-blasting, cycling, etc.) that tend to bulk muscles up, or “shorten” them, this workout does the exact opposite – this workout is all about elongating your limbs. Longer muscles give you a slimmer look and more graceful movement. This style of workout is particularly great for women who want to be fit and toned, yet do not want the look of a body-builder. (Anyone with me on this?!).

The sixty-minute workout is set to elegant classical music and it incorporates the daily regime of professional ballerinas, such as: use of the bar, strengthening and stretching exercises, and cardio fitness. It will help you tone your abs and thighs, contour your waist and buttocks, and achieve the poise of a dancer, improving your overall posture and the way you carry yourself.

This alternative to the typical gym routine will actually have you looking forward to each and every workout. In addition, you can do this routine on your own time and whenever you want. You’ll enjoy yourself so much, you’ll look great before you know it!

~Jennifer Rosen

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At Home Alternative Fitness Methods 
Tips For A Great Butt!

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