Tag Archives: books

Eco-Friendly Halloween Decorations

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Paula

Looking for some eco-friendly and budget friendly Halloween decorations this year?  Well, look no further!  It’s super easy and super low cost to make these cute pumpkins from old books.  Some old books have no real future use such as … Continue reading →

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Organic Skin Care

Posted on February 20, 2010 by Paula

I was reading a book recently called “Gorgeously Green” by Sophie Uliano.  She describes easy (and not so easy) ways to make your life green-er and explains why it’s so important to do so.  One of the first steps in her greening up process was to go through your skin care items and read the ingredients.  The author wants you to categorize everything from your best eye cream for wrinkles to your toothpaste.  I did the exercise and was frankly pretty surprised at what I found in all of my shampoos, lotions, creams and cleansers.

These products are especially important for a couple of reasons.  First of all, they are applied directly to your body so the chance of them being absorbed into your system is extremely high.  If it is something that you wouldn’t want to eat, you really shouldn’t be coating your body with it.  Some of the additives lead to skin irritation, allergic reactions, rashes and may even be carcinogenic!

Secondly, many of these products such as soaps and shampoos are rinsed off into the water.  This means that whatever is in the products goes directly into the water!  This can easily and quickly contaminate the ground water and anything growing or living in or around the water.

Luckily, there are tons of organic skin care lines hitting the market.  Don’t just trust the labels though.  Just because something is labelled as being “natural” or “botanical” does not mean that it’s organic.  Look for products that say “Paraben free” or “100% organic” instead.  Read the ingredients.  If it’s something you can’t pronounce then maybe it’s not the product that you should buy!  Research products online.  There are a ton of directories that can help you sort out what’s really an organic product and what’s not.  One of my favorite skin care lines right now has to be Burt’s Bees but there are many others.  Sophie Uliano recommends checking out the skin deep database online to research a ton of different products.

Image by Flickr User titanium22.

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What I’m Reading Right Now…

Posted on January 5, 2009 by Paula

I’ve started reading Eckhart Tolle’s Reawakening to Your Life’s Purpose.  It’s amazing although not what I would recommend for bedtime reading.  You really need to be a little bit more awake than that to follow where he leads his readers!  At one point in the first chapter he says that you will either think the book makes no sense or it will change your life.  I thought that this was really over dramatic — an either you get it and think it’s great or you don’t and you’re stupid.  That is not what he says at all but it’s just sort of the impression it gave me when I read it.  I kept on because I didn’t have any other books to read and I’ve got to read before I go to sleep.

He talks about the “illusion of ownership” — how the ego identifies with objects that we “possess” and uses them to make up the construct of self.  The author states that possessions are illusions because they are only temporary.  We cannot identify ourselves as the owner of a cadillacs or Gucci watches because these things are not forever, just as our bodies themselves are not forever.  In fact, he goes on to say that buying famous name brand items is just a way of buying into a collective, self reproducting illusion as the names themselves mean nothing.  That’s too bad — I love Gucci watches!  However, I understand what he’s saying.  These items do not make up our being.  They are just things.

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Auntie’s new book Hot off the presses!

Posted on April 16, 2007 by Paula

We just received a copy of a new book from Mark’s (mine as well) auntie. It’s titled Swahili Chic: Serenity, Sensuality, Spirituality and it contains some of the most beautiful pictures that I have ever seen. This is her second book which explores design, travel and cultural differences throughout some of the many regions Bibi has explored. The books are worth it for the pictures alone! Check it out at www.bibijordan.com. She has her bio, book listing (including a video of her new release), and gallery which you can order limited edition prints from. I also noticed she has an upcoming exhibit which is previewing next weekend April 29 in LA. It opens officially May 6 and runs until the end of June. I know that she also runs some tours to various regions including Africa–those of you who have met Bibi realize just what an adventure this would be!!! We’re so proud of you Auntie! xoxo Continue reading →

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