If you are anything like me, you wait all year for summer to come around. It’s my favorite season because I LOVE to be outside and I love entertaining! Dinner parties under the light of paper lanterns are complete bliss for me…until the clean up! I have always struggled with what tableware to use outdoors- paper is simply not stylish enough and just wont cut it for any dinner party, plastic and melomine bring a bit more style and color to the table but with a heavy impact on the environment, and classic dinnerware simply is too heavy and too much work when it comes to cleanup. So you can imagine my excitement when I came accross this amazing line of dinnerware that is disposable, biodegradable and totally modern! The company is VerTerra and the product is made from fallen leaves and water, that’s it…just 2 ingredients!  “They’re non-toxic, biodegradable, compostable, durable, lightweight, convenient and downright stylish.”

VerTerra Dinnerware

VerTerra

These plates are simple, clean and modern and will allow for the food to do all the talking! I do recommend adding color to the table through bright linens (table cloth or placemat) and colorful glasses if you have them. I love to keep the centerpieces low and simple with a few hurricane candles thrown in the mix for ambiance. Here are some pics of options to help sass up your outdoor dinner party!

Layer up bright table cloths and runners to create vibrant color combinations!- Photo courtesy of Real Simple

Mix and match bright colored glassware to liven up the table -Photo courtesy of Anthropologie

Use your own garden flowers and glasses for centerpieces

Dress up hurricanes with rocks, flowers or shells- photo courtesy of the young bride's guide

Finding a hostess gift that is not only stylish and affordable, but packaged right and made of natural goodies is no simple task…until now. I recently came across this gorgeous site, Woodsprite.com, for organic soaps and skin care as well as soy aromatherapy. Now usually when I come to these sites I am pretty skeptical about what I am going to find because the  products and the overall brand are typically a bit too, well, shall we say earthy? Not this one, it offers beautiful products wrapped up in high end packaging, and it’s all perfectly affordable. Here are some of my favorite options for hostess and thank you gifts…

By now most people have heard the amazing story behind Tom’s Shoes…which goes a bit something like this…

“In 2006 an American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by caring TOMS customers.

TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we’re all about. The TOMS One for One business model transforms our customers into benefactors, which allows us to grow a truly sustainable business rather than depending on fundraising for support.”

Metallic Classics $54

The navy striped wedge $69

Newport Cordones in red stripe $69

Linen Classic in light blue $48

Whenever my wardrobe seems to be getting tired, or I just need a bit of personality added to my everyday skinny jeans and ribbed tank, I go for my collection of chunky, bright and playful vintage jewelry to spice things up. I have always loved vintage jewelry for it’s insanely bold colors, it’s unique personality and it’s ability to completely enhance any old outfit. And since it’s vintage, I can feel good about the price as well as the recycled life that it has lead. You can find vintage anywhere from flea markets and thrift stores to high end estate jewelry dealers. I personally love scouring the amazing flea markets in LA for my more casual vintage jewelry, but have also found amazing higher end treasures in some of the best vintage clothing shops in southern CA. In fact, I even found and wore vintage (Chanel) earrings for my wedding (I got the gorgeous gems at The Paper Bag Princess in Beverly Hills)…I was obsessed with ensuring that my wedding day attire, dress included, could never be duplicated or worn by another…and the earrings were the perfect fit!

Vintage Chanel Earrings for my wedding

Here are some of my favorite pieces on the web right now…

Etsy necklace- $34

Robin's Egg Blue Wingback Earrings- $55

Pearl and Peridot Rhinestone Ring- $24

70's bangle by Kenneth J Lane- $80

Vintage Fresh Water Pearl & Gold Metal Cocktail Ring $40

For more vintage jewelry online check out these fabulous sites…

http://www.veryvintage.com/

http://www.riceandbeansvintage.com/vintagedesignerjewelry.html

www.etsy.com

http://www.michellesvintagejewelry.com/index.html

Clearly I am a huge foodie…this is not my first post on what foods I find the most tasty, the most effective and the most healthy. And so my love affair with fresh new ideas for meals a mommy will love continues with what I call Breakfast Brilliance. Last time I posted about breakfast it was centered around that fabulous thing we call oatmeal. And while I still hold oatmeal at the top of my fabulous food list, I have a new option for you morning mommies. Try this gorgeous concoction for a protein filled, sweet tasting, organic treat…

Start with an organic whole wheat english muffin, toast it then spread it with crunchy organic peanut butter and top it off with sliced organic strawberries. Yep, that’s it…basically an “unpreserved” PB and J! This quick treat is as yummy as it is gorgeous! (and it will keep you nice and full till lunch thanks to the peanut butter).

Yes its possible and I intend to prove it through this blog from here on out…
I know it seems like maintaining a sense of style while schlepping your lil one to and from the park, or to music class, or school or swimming lessons or the grocery store, or soccer practice…(you get the idea) seems like a waist of time or simply too much work. And I know too, that choosing to make a salad for lunch instead of eating a few o your lil guy’s chicken nuggets or string cheese seems like it would take an impossible amount of self control and there is no way on this green earth that you could do it everyday…trust me, I know! It aint a cake walk, (but then again neither is being a parent) but I think it’s completely doable and totally necessary! We are strong, beautiful women who deserve the confidence and second looks that we got just a few years back.

I have always (well, at least since high school when I FINALLY got out of a uniform and had permanent free dress) loved fashion, and over the years have developed my own sense of style that in a way, defines me. If I had to describe “my style”, I guess I would say its a large scoop of the 60’s, mixed with a tablespoon of beachy comfort, an topped off with a pinch of glamour. What in the world does that look like, you ask? Here’s a picture of one of my favorite dresses…I have worn it to weddings, out to dinner, when pregnant, when slim- its an amazing dress that captures the essence of my style in a nutshell. (and no, that is not me in the picture!)

So…you have a glimpse into my style, now how do I qualify as healthy? Well, I do a few things that keep my mind and body feeling fresh and alert and sometimes even toned. 1. I run. First thing in the morning after I feed my little guy his oatmeal and fruit- we hit the strand in Manhattan Beach and I run. Sometimes its 2 miles, sometimes it’s 7…depends on how I feel that day. Sometimes it’s just walking at a brisk pace- but unless there is rain, we are out and about by 9am. Then, on the way home, I reward myself with a Latte or Iced Coffee…everyone deserves a treat after working hard! 2. I eat almost exclusively organic food…and I say almost exclusively because there are a few fruits and veggies or dried goods that do not need to be organic (things like avocados, broccoli, pasta etc), and because I LOVE to eat out on the weekends- and lets face it, not all restaurants serve local, organic foods! 3. I drink tons of water, then a touch of red wine. That’s right, I look forward to my glass of wine each night as I wind down the day and enjoy a homecooked meal. Afterall, like I said before, everyone deserves a treat after working hard…and after a long day of being a mom and business owner, I like to enjoy a treat of red wine.

So is it possible to be stylish, healthy AND a mom? I think so. I think it’s critically important to hold on to the things that made you proud, made you confident, made you who you are before you were pregnant and before you were a mommy. Of course, now that you are a master of parenthood and your life is richer, fuller and more meaningful, things are a bit different and some priorities have changed (lets face it, blow drying your hair takes a distant second to feeding your baby or getting some much needed laundry done)…but keeping yourself feeling great will only bring more happiness and life to your home. I hope that sharing my tips and tricks through this blog will bring you inspiration and new ideas on how to keep your style and your health in fabulous shape! Afterall, you have already taken on the greatest challenge of all- being a parent, the rest is easy…

and that means it’s time to start thinking about sunscreen again. Although many parts of the country are just barely feeling the warmth of the golden sun, we are fast approaching spring and with daylight savings time giving us an extra hour of afternoon sunshine, it only feels right to start talking about sun protection. Whether you are out at the park, the beach, the farmers market or strolling around town, your little one’s young and delicate skin can get too much sun in a short amount of time. Their skin is ultra sensitive and needs protection from the sun’s harmful, and healthy, rays. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, ”for babies under 6 months of age, sunscreen may be used on small areas of the body such as the face and the backs of the hands if adequate clothing and shade are not available. For babies over 6 months of age, test the sunscreen on your baby’s back for a reaction before applying it all over.” - AAP website

Of course I am a huge fan of natural and organic sunscreen…not just for your little one, but for you as well! Although it’s especially important for your little baby to only be exposed to natural products when possible…especially with sunscreen and lotions. You see, “Infants and children have what is called a high body surface to volume ratio. What this means is that proportionately babies have more skin for the size body as compared to an adult. Sunscreens are made of chemicals. On the older child and adult, the chemical exposure is relatively minimal because the body surface ratio is smaller than a baby. Therefore, babies get a higher “dose” of sunscreen than do those older.”- Ivillage- parenting.

My pick is Erbaviva’s all natural sunscreen. It’s non-greasy titanium dioxide-based creamy formula quickly absorbs into your skin. It has sweet almond and avocado oils as well as organic lavender and chamomile essential oils that all nurture and moisturize your skin. It is synthetic free and ideal for anyone with sensitive skin.

So I am not one for spending hours in the greeting card aisle searching for the PERFECT card for each occasion, but I am a huge fan of encouraging kids and telling them they are great, which is why I love the new Hallmark campaign. Contrary to some parenting tips and guidelines, I love being able to provide self confidence to someone just by telling them I think they are great, and lets be honest, kids are really the only people still innocent and humble enough to take these signs of affection and truly make themselves feel more capable, more intelligent, more beautiful and more proud of who they are and who they can become. Maybe this comes from how my mom raised me…I had notes in my lunch all the way through high school….and, oh yes, I definitely hid those notes in fear that someone would see that little sign of affection from my mom and any coolness factor that I had built up through the years would go right into the trash with the rest of my lunch sack…but really, those notes are one of my fondest memories of being a kid. I was reminded EVERY day that I was loved, even if I was just told in the car on the way to school that I must have had a “sass pill” for breakfast and to rearrange my attitude very quickly or the weekend would be a very dull one for me, sitting in my room. Those little notes- that often times just said “Love you Annie T!!!” gave me confidence, even in the wake of tough high school cliques and drama. So, I say, find your inner Hallmark…whether it be through a greeting card, hand written note, scribbled napkin or quick text…tell your little one they rock. After all, its you that they want to impress more than anyone….whether they admit it or not.

That’s right. I am a HUGE fan of the Orbit stroller (as you may already know from my list of favorites on the healthy bitch daily’s “Bitches We Love”). As I have been packing up for a little family roadtrip this weekend, I thought it only completely fitting to blog about one of my favorite travel companions- the orbit stroller and car seat. Since my son was born, we have grown with the Orbit. He came home from the hospital in the mocha car seat (so styling already), and transitioned into that gorgeous bassinet for naps and even night time sleeping. We would then click the bassinet right on to the stroller base (all the pieces work together you see, so the car seat can click into the car seat base in the car, or the stroller base- the bassinet can click into the rocker base or the stroller base…), and walk him a few blocks down to friends houses for dinner, up over the hill to the strand to see and hear and breath the ocean in, or even around the house on nights where sleep was not coming so easily for the little man. He eventually (at 10 weeks) grew too big for the bassinet and was ready for his crib…but his car seat (clicked into the stroller base) still worked perfectly for walks into town, nights out to dinner (where we simply un-clicked him from the car seat base and brought him into the restaurant with us- never waking or stirring his sweet little sleep), and of course driving around. I loved how there was a built in sun and wind shade that would snap down around the sides our little man had complete privacy while sleeping. It’s SO easy and convenient, stylish, safe and truly perfect for our lifestyle (which is a bit on the go). We even took the Orbit on a plane for the first time when we headed to Cabo last June. Again, super easy to wheel him through the airport in his stroller/carseat- click off the seat when you get to security and send the two pieces through seperately (baby will come with you through the metal detector- and oh yes, no shoes for babies either so make sure you travel with slip ons), then back together in a snap, and off we go wheeling to the gate! For that flight we even brought the seat on the plane (it wasn’t a very full flight so the flight attendants let us buckle it right into the seat next to us, and he slept nearly the whole way!). As Jack got bigger, and I got more ready to really start running again, we did invest in a BOB for around town walks and runs. But the Orbit toddler car seat sits in our car as does the stroller base. (the BOB is WAY too bulky and awkward to take in and out of the car if you ask me). The Orbit toddler seat/stroller is what we use when we head off for errands in the car… to the farmers market, to the mall etc. Still super easy to use (a bit more heavy now with 22lbs of child in that luxurious seat), but never the less, convenient and practical and did I already mention really good looking? And of course we love the Orbit even more because they strive to offer not only the safest, most functional and best looking products, but they are also green in the process. Their micro-fiber upholstery fabric of all Orbit seats is certified by the International Oeko-Tex® Association, a Europe-based institution founded to guarantee confidence in textiles. Also, all Orbit Baby products meet all applicable flame retardancy standards without potentially harmful chemicals. They use PVC free materials for their rain shields and their breakthrough OrganicFR™ fabric offers the comfort of wrapping your baby in organic cotton, while still providing the safety of federal flame retardancy (FR) standards. They also give back to several charities, fund sustainable energy projects such as Climate Care and ensure recycling and eco friendly materials are used where possible at their headquarters in Northern CA. Need we say more?

And just recently added to the family is the Orbit G2…

You deserve it! After all, you are the president and CEO of your family’s social affairs, you are the driver of the carpool, the maker of snacks, the mommy to be, the wife extraordinaire, the party throwing, dinner making, house cleaning wonder! You certainly deserve some serious relaxation time and a few moments of zen…and what better way then to indulge in a pedicure! Yes, a massage, a quick weekend getaway, and lounging by a pool in the sun are also amazing ways to unwind, but realistically a pedicure fits more easily into your schedule, right?

So when you are ready for some foot rubbing and nail painting, go with a way that wont let nasty toxins leak into your gorgeous body. I’m talking about finding a salon that uses only DPB, Toluene and Formaldehyde free nail polishes. (See below for more information on these chemicals). Believe it or not, these salons and nail polish brands are easier to find than you think.

Here is a list of some natural salons in major cities…

1. San Francisco- Nova Nail Spa , 811 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103.
2. Los Angeles- Color Me Green , 2001 Sepulveda Blvd. Unit C, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Recess, 8408 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
3. New York- Evolution Green Room 442 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

And here are some of the major brands that offer either water based or non toxic nail polish…

1. Suncoat- “Suncoat is the best nail polish on the market for those who are particularly chemical sensitive. Not only is Suncoat nail polish toluene, formaldehyde and phthalate free, it is also free of alcohol and acetones and acetates. The nail polish is also water-based and naturally colored with earth pigments. Their nail polishes do not contain any FD&C dyes. They paint on smoothly and dry very quickly.”- Tamara Hardison

Suncaot offers about 32 different colors including my favorites French Pink and Berry. They also offer mascara, lip gloss, eye liner and shadow and hair care products.

2. OPI- “OPI is an Australian brand that is frequently used in nail salons across the US. While it is not water-based, it is free of toluene, DBP, and formaldehyde. This nail polish brand is free of carcinogens, but is not geared towards more chemically-sensitive individuals. Naturally they have a vast and professional array of colors to choose from. If you can tolerate the chemicals, then this might be a good brand for you.”- Tamara Hardison

CHEMICAL INFORMATION:

Toluene, Formaldehyde and DBP have all been shown to cause cancer. “Toluene is a clear, colorless liquid that is also found in paints, thinners, and inks. It makes nail polish smooth and makes it dry quicker. When toluene is released into the air it causes headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and irritates the eyes, nose, and throat. It has also been shown to be toxic to the liver and kidneys. It is especially dangerous to pregnant women because it is transferred from mother to fetus through the placenta and through breast milk.
Formaldehyde is a carcinogenic preservative and is used in nail polish as a nail hardener. It also keeps the polish from chipping. Breathing in formaldehyde fumes irritates the lungs, eyes, nose, and throat. It also causes headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and immune dysfunction.

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is found in plastics, personal care products, paints, and pesticides. It’s used as a plasticizer that makes plastics soft and flexible. In nail polish it acts as a binder to make the nail polish last longer. Phthalates are also known carcinogens, are known to cause birth defects, and damage the reproductive organs. Particularly, it has shown to cause underdeveloped genitals in newborn boys and long-term fertility problems. It has also shown to be toxic to the liver, lungs, and kidneys. One can absorb phthalates through inhaling it, touching it, or even eating it.”-Tamara Hardison, Associatedcontent.com.