Change the world one lipstick at a time! Cargo has introduced a line called Plant Love that's 100% earth friendly.
Plant the Seeds of Change
It's an amazing innovation: a compostable lipstick case made from corn.
(Yes, corn.) This revolutionary bio-plastic is not only made from a
renewable resource, it's also greenhouse-gas-neutral, which helps us
fight global warming. Even the box* the lipstick comes in is
eco-friendly. Just moisten and plant it to grow your own wildflowers.
What it is formulated to do: Smooth and silky, the
innovative botanical formula is infused with Orchid Complex™ and
meadowfoam seed oil as well as jojoba and shea butter. Not only that,
but it's environmentally friendly, containing no mineral oils or
petroleums.
What else you need to know: CARGO
is donating two dollars from the sale of every shade to St. Jude
Children's Research Hospital. The PlantLove™ seeds we sow today affect
future generations so we are investing in the earth and our children
for the future of the planet!
If that doesn't wow you, then get wowed by Celebrities like Courtney Cox, Lindsay Lohan, and Evaneline Lily have even created their own shade of Cargo plant love lipstick!
It's amazing how super-awesome Cargo is! Beautiful lipstick, amazing
packaging, and all for a good cause! The landscape of Beauty truly does
have the power to change the world.
Green Computer Habits? Is it possible? Absolutely, and you don't even have to hook your computer up to stationary bike to see the results. Modern Girl Style has discovered that Green computer habits can truly affect the way you interact in the cyber world.
Flock: The First Eco Browser
When Modern Girl Style first came across Flock, it sounded like another eco-marketing ploy. Always the girl to try out new technology, it was downloaded in seconds. Of course, I thought if this doesn't work, I'll trash it. The next day arrives and its time to test drive Flock. I open up the browser and I'm a bit jarred by all the new symbols, but I love the format. Suffice it to say, that Flock will become Modern Girl Style's browser of choice, with everything Green put aside.
It is blog/website publishing friendly. Got to love that alone! By blog friendly, I mean to say that there are tons of links built into the browser to help you to publish fast. If you don't blog or ever care to, then there are still more benefits to be had. Flock operates off the Firefox system, but it has improved the concept of social networking. The Accounts & Services tab, symbolized as a key, will allow you to track all of your social networks, like Facebook, Flickr, & YouTube accounts. It also allows you to be instantly logged into your media sharing accounts like Photobucket and Picasa. The advantages of this is enormous! Flock is unique in that after you've easily logged all of your accounts into the browser, you will be instantly connected with all of your friends & family. For instance, track all of your friends at Flickr instantly & know when they last updated media, as well as content! I love Flock!
Flock is Green
As if all those features aren't totally amazing, Flock Eco-Edition comes loaded with the best Green information on the web! For instance, Modern Girl Style stumbled into the super-fab Ecorazzi! Straight Celebrity gossip can be boring, Ecorazzi only covers Green Gossip. The surprising thing you might learn is how much stuff Hollywood & other celebs are really doing for the world. Ecorazzi also has amazing resources on fashion, cars, home style, and more. If you can't commit to a browser change, then just sign-up for an account and drop by this website daily!
Daily Green Tip: Turn the Computer Off!
Bad habits are hard to break. I'll admit that I'm overcoming my habit of keeping my computer running 24/7. Every night, I make sure that I turn off my computer instead of putting it in sleep mode. Sleep mode still sucks energy from the wall. Turning the computer 100% off is the best way to not waste electricity. I also make sure that I turn off printers and any other computer accessories. This was tough for me at first, but with the help of friends & family {I'm so serious!} I was able to kick it. I mean who really needs to be able to jump on the computer at 4:00am? Like no one, at least, not any woman that wants to look well rested the next day.
MacBook Air is Green
If you're in the market for a new computer, then Buy the MacBook Air.It made of a fully recyclable aluminum case, and is “the
first” to have a mercury-free display. The glass on the screen is
arsenic-free and all the circuit boards are BFR-free and PVC-free.
Also, the retail packaging uses 56 percent less material than the
regular MacBook packaging.
Green Computer Habits will change the World! Green Your Computer Habits starting Today!
Welcome to Green Week at Modern Girl Style! In the following 5 days, get ready to reduce, recycle, & renew your lifestyle in one week or less. This week will be packed with tons of info & links on eco shopping, green makeup, smart health tips, and more! On Tuesday April 22, Earth Day, Modern Girl Style is celebrating with a special interview with Gorgeously Green author, Sophie Uliano, who happens to be her first appearance on Oprah's Earth Day Show with Julia Roberts! Hola!
To kick off the week, why not start with the basics.
What does it mean to be Green?
Modern Girl Style defines the Green living as an individual's attempt to reduce, recycle, and renew common materials in order to help our environment.
Last November, Dell held an eco-innovation booth at the Oracle OpenWorld 2007 to ask people that very question. Here is a quick video with some interesting thoughts on what being Green means to people on the streets.
Going Green Tip # 1
Stop using paper or plastic at the grocery store! Yes, that sounds like tons of hard work to remember to bring your own bags to the store, but the benefit to the environment is tremendous! WikiAnswers has this to say:
"Basically plastic bags are not biodegradable. Plastic bags thrown out
as waste on lands do not decompose and remain as such for a long time.
This blocks the rain water getting percolated into land and instead
makes to run on the surface of land causing erosion of soil, carrying
various pollutants to nearby water bodies resulting in pollution of
water. Erosion of soil in hilly areas makes the roots of trees exposed
thereby trees loose their strength to survive. Further erosion of soil
causes washing off vegetation nutrients available in the soil. As
percolation of rain water into land is prevented by plastic bags,
recharge of ground water is also affected. If plastic bags are burnt,
they emit hazardous gases causing air pollution. At times, cattles
happen to swallow thrown out plastic bags while they are grazing making
them affected by digestion problems causing death. Besides these ill
effects of plastic bags, lot of energy is being used in manufacturing
plastic bags and chemical effluents are coming out and mixed with
domestic sewage which is quite not feasible for treating or recycling
with an affordable cost. Thus plastic bags are largely affecting
environment in many ways."
Hello, this is just another reason to own more bags!
Modern Girl Style suggest buying something that reflects your style so that you'll love toting bags to the store. The Anya Hindmarch "I'm Not A Plastic Bag", pictured below, was all the rage last year with women lined up for hours in London to try & snatch one of these Green bags!
In fact, Macy's has just announced that their shopping bags are going green by being made of recycled bags! That's the sort of effort that this world needs to make a difference.
As though the thought of shopping for new bags wasn't already super-fab, you can score a totally free tote!
Sephora has long been the fix for beauty junkies nationwide. Why are people hooked on Sephora? It's simple. Sephora selects amazing makeup brands to sell in its shop, from small women-owned companies like Tarte, Bare Escentuals, DuWop, Laura Mercier, to the big names like Dior, Lancome, Clinque, & Shiseido. Sephora is akin to being on Rodeo Drive & having an assortment of small boutiques to choose from.
3 Reasons That Will Make You Want to Own This Book
1. Improve Your Everyday Makeup Routine.
Life's hectic! Women not only have all the responsibilities of life, but we want to look good doing it. This book provides insider information that will benefit your makeup routine without having to buy Sephora out. Learn how to improve your skin care routine, perfect a flawless salon-like blowout, fix makeup mistakes, and protect yourself in the sun. Unlike many other make-up books where you have to buy specific products, you don't have to buy a thing. However, there are plenty of product recommendations to leave you better informed for your next trip to Sephora, which will leave you looking less like a lamb lost in the woods. There is even an awesome section where you will meet the Sephora masters who reveal their secrets to a great looking woman. This book really is an education.
If you love Lorac, like Modern Girl Style does, then you'll be delighted to learn from the founder herself, Carol Shaw, what beauty means to her. What is Beauty? It sounds like a simple question until you spend time digging under the surface. The first chapter alone is amazing. Melissa Schweiger, author of this Sephora book, really took the question to task by interviewing the brand owners featured at Sephora. It's inspiring to have glimpses at the philosophies behind Benefit, Philosophy, Smashbox, Make Up For Ever & the names go on. If you've ever been inspired to start your own makeup company, then this book is a must own.
Women need to look hot for sultry evenings. Be it prom, cocktails with the girls, a first date, a charity event, a wedding, or for a date with their husbands. We want to look sexy for ourselves because it feels good. So, is you don't have the tools or the tricks this book will verse in the art of seduction. First step, know the tools of the trade. Learn the difference between a rounded blush brush and a contour brush. The second step is product knowledge. The Sephora book includes a dictionary of secret ingredients that will help you not just with your smarts, but with product purchases. The final step is to know how to use your product. Learn how to apply flawless red lipstick, add some golden glow to increase the illusion of cheekbones or clevage, and there is so much more to learn.
This book is a fantastic guide to help women become the goddesses that they are! This is truly a book that you'll be using beyond fashion trends. It is the ultimate guide to makeup, skin, & hair! Modern Girl Style loves this book & you will too!
Synopsis
Ever wonder what it's like to have your own
personal team of beauty experts, advising you on how to look and feel
knockout-gorgeous every day? Or have you ever questioned what exactly
goes on inside the creative minds of beauty industry heavy-hitters?
Step into the pages of Sephora, where the top beauty
authorities give you access to their private domains. Spend the day
with Vincent Longo backstage at fashion week, create red carpet—worthy
hair with celebrity hair stylist Oscar Blandi, master the smoky eye
with Hollywood's hottest makeup artists, and take a tour of Dr.
Nicholas Perricone's kitchen with his refrigerator full of
skin-perfecting foods.
In Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority,
fashion and beauty journalist and former Sephora beauty editor Melissa
Schweiger personally introduces the people behind some of your favorite
brands and fills this gorgeous book with the beauty secrets usually
reserved for insiders. Each photo-packed page brims with words of
wisdom and expert advice from the creators of and authorities on more
than two hundred classic and emerging beauty brands sold at Sephora,
including LORAC, Smashbox, Too Faced, Dr. Perricone, Frédéric Fekkai,
and many, many more.
Each chapter is designed to mimic a
Sephora store's "try everything" vibe while revealing the finest beauty
tips and tricks for getting creative with cosmetics. From an A-to-Z
glossary of terms and ingredients and a shopping guide to the best
products, to detailed explanations of how to properly use cosmetic
tools, Sephora is the complete beauty package that no woman will want to be without.
Biography
Melissa Schweiger is a freelance writer and editor. Her articles have appeared in Women's Wear Daily, Interview, Marie Claire, Redbook, Hamptons, Seventeen, and In Style, and on Sephora.com. Most recently, she was a fashions feature editor at Marie Claire. Prior to that, she was a beauty editor at Sephora.
Knitting is a fabulous tool for unwinding after a hectic day. Here's a fabulous quick video on how to knit fingerless gloves. This is a lovely evening project that you might be able to finish by Friday!
It looks like a swank hotel or the lobby of condo building, alas, dear readers, I have to apologize for the lack of constant posts and admit that I've been Nurse Good-heart for my mother that has undergone knee surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital in Orange County, California. The hospital is amazing and the reflection on California modernism in the architecture and design is graceful and relaxing. The wonderful thing is that my sister and I were born in this hospital as well as my nephew. I hope to also, one day when I'm there, give birth at this same hospital. The other odd detail is the my Canadian fiance was born in a St. Joseph's hospital in Toronto. That has to mean we're soul mates, right? LOL!
The lobby, as photographed above, and the other waiting areas in the hospital are enabled with free Wifi, easy to access charging stations for computer use, and desks at the end of every couch. Most of the people waiting around were in fact on laptops and mostly watching movies.
The design of the hospital is based on caring for the whole person-body, mind and spirit.
More amazing design notes from the McCarthy Building Company. In keeping with the values of the Sister’s of St. Joseph -- caring
for the whole person–body, mind and spirit, the hospital’s interior
design evokes a sense of healing and inspires patient confidence.
Extensive natural daylighting, wood paneling and flooring as well as
the use of soft paint and fabric colors promote a pleasant environment
for patient and staff. Light panels above patient beds and on the walls
feature nature scenes, and a healing garden on the second floor of the
hospital offers a serene place for respite and quiet meditation for
patients and family members.
St. Joseph's Hospital is Green
The new patient care center incorporates several “green” facility
solutions in support of St. Joseph Health System’s Sustainable Design
Standards for their new facilities. Some of these environmentally
conscious elements include exterior lighting that reduces outdoor light
pollution; energy efficient Solarban 80 windows; recycled aluminum
curtainwall; Lutron lighting controls with special sensors; low
emitting flooring and carpets; PVC free wainscoting in janitor’s
closets, utility rooms and clean sterile rooms; and an energy efficient
PVC roofing system."
In 1945...
Here are some photos that I've captured from spending a week at the hospital with my mother. I wanted to start with a photograph taken in 1945 that reflects the beautiful missions of California.
Here is the hospital as of 2008. This photo is only about two weeks old. As you can see, the walls are etched in the original handwriting of the founder of the hospital, Mother Bernard. The construction company that worked on fabricating this aspect of the building had this to include:
In 2008...
“McCarthy had never conducted a project with such large-scale graphics on a building’s exterior,” said Peterson. “One
of the most challenging aspects of building this project was to ensure
that the etchings on 247 glass panels varying in size from 2-by-5 feet
to 9-by-5 feet were aligned correctly so that the design matched up
perfectly from one panel to the next.”
The chiseled scripts, quotes, and mottoes are inspiring and beautiful. As you might expect in the OC, valet parking at the front door, only $3 bucks! For any girl that has lived in the city, most of the time you can't even park your car for a hour. St. Joseph has every major entrance set-up with valet parking. A nice perk, particularly if you're going in for something major or minor. In my mother's case, she was having a knee replacement. Here are more pictures of the entrance. I love the next shot because the old mission bell towers can be seen. There is a nice visual reference between the old and the new.
Since I started this post with the inspiring super-mod shots of the lobby, I'm going to cut to a typical hallway found inside the hospital. I really love the hip use of vertical lights to create length in the corridor.
This next shot is for all the nurses in training! Don't you love the sight of the next generation of hospital gadgets. I know that one of those gizmos holds the morphine, no joke!
My mother had a private room (note: If you want something as swanky as this, you better lie and say you snore. People who snore or have apnea, never end up in a two-person room). The image that follows is the lovely chaise/daybed that allows loved one to relax in total comfort. I loved the scale of the bed. It was great to sit in or to lay down in and read. The fabric is also well chosen. It reflects the bright orange colors of the lobby and weaves continuity throughout the hospital. God is in the details!
The entrance to the room is the open door against the room, the second door is the entrance to a large bathroom and shower. The television operating system needs major work but once we got it figured out, we had all the major channels, cable, music, and movies on demand. At the nurses station, there is an image of the entire staff, with the most drop dead gorgeous staff I've ever seen in my life! My mother even asked her doctor is the staff had to be handsome in order to work at St. Joe's. The nurse station also proudly displays their well-earned award for being one of the top 10 hospitals in America, as listed by US News & World Report in 2007. This hospital was a fantastic experience for my mother and my family. I have to thank the nurses, doctors, and physical therapists for their happy attitudes and up-beat work ethic. The aura of the team that worked on my Mother was nothing short of magical.
Back to the lobby, this image is out of focus but it is a wonderful water sculpture reflecting the values of the hospital. It is a calming experience to watch water trickle down the soft smoked glass. The
Remind yourself everyday when you wake up that Prayers Work and Miracles Happen.
(Blooming Magnolia flower outside St. Joseph's Hospital)
Self Magazine is such a wonderful source of inspiration for modern girls looking to get in shape. Their website has countless free tools to help you set goals, learn how to eat healthy, and, of course, get information on workout moves that work. If these sweet images don't inspire you to start working out for summer, find something that does!
Another important aspect of getting results is keeping track of everything that you eat in a food journal. This is a food journal that I created & I've used for the last month. I can't believe how effective this works! I've read that most people under estimate their calorie intake, sometimes as much half. Do you know exactly what you eat? Do you eat enough? Are you an emotional eater? Do late night nibbles ruin your day?
I found that for the month of February that I was emotionally eating
and I had major sugar attacks. How did this happen to me?! I discovered from
Self Magazine that Diet Coke was the reason I was having major sugar
attacks. According to a group of scientists recording lab rats, the
group that received Diet Coke had major sugar attacks around one hour
after drinking. The theory is that drinking Diet Coke causes the body to believe that calories will be digested, instead the Diet Coke has nothing to offer and hence the need for sugar! The long term effects of drinking Diet Coke on the lab
rats was that the group had an overall larger BMI than the rats
drinking water or regular coke. After reading this, I became my own guinea pig. I removed all soda from diet and guess what? The violent need for sugar went away and I'm dropping more pounds than ever! Wow! I just might look fabulous for my wedding in Maui! Now that's a goal, isn't it?! Here's the chart. Download it and fill in the date, time, and the items that you consume. You just might be in for a big surprise.
Get your heart open, hips swinging, & legs moving! Hula Dancing is an amazing way for women to get in touch with their feminine spirit of dance. More importantly, if you can Hula, you'll impress every person you meet! Take a few minutes to get happy & dance!
Want a simple at home hula lesson? Amazon has tons of amazing Hula DVD workouts!
Adriana Lima for Victoria's Secret knows how to get the interest of any man, but the bigger question is do you? Forgot trying to look perfect because that's best reserved for magazine ads and Photoshop. Modern Girl Style is going to take you on am essential tour of the things in life that will make you look & feel super-fabulous in a night.
Scrub-a-Dub-Dub!
Who likes a stinky Valentine? Nada, nobody! Spice up your bathroom, play up what you've got out with candles, towels, seashells, & more. Get inspired by these amazing bathroom from Design to Inspire! You just might want to invite your Valentine over early!
From apartments to mega mansions,these are the sexy bath tricks that will rock your Valentine! If your solo, single, and without on the V-day, like me for too many years, why stress out! Gather up these same products and treat yourself! Bath time is for for everyone, so toss a bomb into your tub, and love!
I discovered Lush products at Heathrow airport years before they hopped the pond. Thank god for the internet because any girl can delight in their totally amazing products! Sex Bomb is their
best-selling bath bomb worldwide. If you've had a spat with your other half,
settle your differences this Valentines and bathe together in jasmine, clary sage and
ylang ylang.
This is another great sexy Valentine gift. Use it on February 14th & for several dates beyond that! This gift set even comes with a sip of bubbly! The natural sea sponge "vase" holds everything
you'll need to purify and pamper. Formulated in France and scented with
the essence of rose and citrus, these delicately fragranced products do
wonders to refresh and revitalize. A light and silky hand cream in a
handy flip-top tube; liquid hand/body soap made with pure vegetable oil
and natural glycerin; an oversized bar of extra pure soap made in the
tradition of Marseille, and a handy travel sized soap, for on-the-go.
And, last but not least, a miniature, pink citrus candle sets the mood.
As you relax, try a refreshing glass of beautifully pink, sparkling
rose wine. Infused with flavors of small red berries and delicious from
start to finish, we invite you to enjoy a peaceful moment.
After the bath, lotions are great but why not try something different?
Like all dusting powders, this is best applied when bare naked, Let the
sparkling, rose-scented powder fall on and get in-between your nooks
and crannies. Fight the urge to remain nude for the rest of the day -
go out and seduce someone instead.
Cupcakes, chocolate, and candy have to be some of the most sinful ways to strike up an evening of romance! So, what are you going to be doing on the big day? What are you going to wear? What if you're single! Modern Girl Style is going to focus on the world of love for the next two weeks. So, turn your kitchen into the testing grounds of love starting with this link for Red Velvet Cupcakes as created by Country Living.
Here's the scene from Sex & The City that helped to launch a storm at Magnolia bakery a couple years back:
The line for cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery:
Modern Girl Style Fact:
Cupcakes are worth waiting for! I waited in line for forty-five minutes, like Jimmy Kimmel, at Sprinkles in Beverly Hills for a bite of their red velvet cupcakes.
OMG! It was super-fab! Since my visit, Oprah, Katie Holmes, Today Show, Good Morning America, & everybody else went on to hype the heck out this shop, but all for good reason!
An awesome cupcake is worth waiting for, just like love!
