Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog

Monday, Monday, can't trust that day...and we're giving away a little sumpin' sumpin' from Orghipchick.com.  BUT what's an orghipchick?

Orghipchick is a new online boutique.  Owner Tanya Tyson carefully hand-selects fashionable clothing, handbags, jewelry, and accessories with a strong leaning to the ecofriendly.  

Org is for organic and hip is for hip and chick is for Tanya.  Org-hip-chick!
 
One hip reader will win authentic Havaianas sandals in either cool violet or cool black from Orghipchick.

You probably are familiar with the comfy sandals, but in case you're not...

Havaianas are truly the best rubber sandals in the world. They are designed and manufactured in Brazil.  The ultra-high quality of Havaianas is due to a top-secret rubber recipe, making the sandals soft as marshmallows, light, and highly durable. There are many knock-offs in the market place, but Havaianas customers know that there is no substitute for the authentic comfort and quality that only Brazil’s Havaianas can provide.  AND Havaianas scream summer!

ENTRY RULES

Visit www.orghipchick.com  to discover some fashionable item you can’t live without.  Then leave a comment in the comment section below.  You can gain an additional entry if you follow Orghipchick on Twitter: http://twitter.com/OrgHipchick.

Giveaway expires at midnight EST on May 3, 2009. You may enter one time only. One winner will be picked randomly and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email. If there is no response, another random winner will be picked. The winner will receive one pair of Havaianas sandals in cool violet or black. United States and Canada only. Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions of Use for a complete list of our Contest and Giveaway Rules. This promotion is void where prohibited by law.  Fulfillment provided by sponsor.

Times are tough, but we are all hanging in there. Things are going to get better.  In the meantime, we can brighten our moods in our little corner of the world with Tees for Change.

Tees for Change are eco-friendly, fair trade t-shirts that lift spirits and give back. These positively comfy tees are made from bamboo and wick away moisture, making them perfect for hot summer days or trips to the gym.

And, a little piece of your clothing budget will go to a greener planet. Tees for Change has partnered with Trees for the Future to plant a tree for every tee you buy.

Inspire those around you with uplifting messages like "laugh often," "choose happiness" and "practice kindness."

Because the world needs that brand of cheer right now.

Available at teesforchange.com.

Other Mood-Brightening Articles on Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog:

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• Popular Articles on GWBBB

Are you familiar with Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, an eco-friendly, super cute line of cleaning products? 

Few women realize that Mrs. Meyer is a real person and the inspiration behind the brand.  Mrs. Thelma Meyer is an Iowa mother of nine, and her daughter named the company after her to honor her old-fashioned values and useful cleaning tips.  

Her new book was launched last week, making her tips available to everyone: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Home: No-Nonsense Advice That Will Inspire You to Clean Like the Dickens. 

We have always wanted to clean like the dickens, and our cleaning dickens is functioning much better as a result of Mrs. Meyer.

Thelma Meyer was one of the original women to make "green” chic in the world of cleaning.  This fun and quirky book gives tons of suggestions on using common household items to solve problems and keep your home clean.

But this is not just Mother Blogger's cleaning book.  The book has some great beauty-related tips that we found interesting and and helpful. 

With four girls growing up in her house, Mrs. Meyer knows how to keep beauty green, chic, and budget-friendly:

• To get hairspray off of mirrors: Pour rubbing alcohol on a cloth and clean in small circles.  You can also use a baby wipe if you have them handy.  Then grab club-soda that you’ve put in a spray bottle and give the mirror a spritz, wiping it clean with bunched-up newspaper.
• Cleaning up broken glass: If your makeup mirror falls on the floor, you’ll want to remove all those little pieces from the floor.  Dab a piece of bread on top of them, vacuum, then wipe down the floor with a water-dampened cloth.
• Removing Mascara from clothing: Mix a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with two cups cold water, apply the solution to the stain, and then blot until it’s gone.
• Makeup Expiration Dates: If you have trouble keeping track of how old things are, start writing the dates on them with a permanent marker when they’re new. Mascara lasts only three months, and it’s important that you remember when you opened it, because that wand gets a buildup of bacteria that you don’t want in your eyes.  Sunscreen lasts one year and lipstick up to three.  
• Keeping the Bathroom Smelling Fresh: Fill a spray bottle with water, three drops of lemon oil, and two drops of eucalyptus oil.  Shake this really well before using.

Now four of our readers can win a copy of Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Home: No-Nonsense Advice That Will Inspire You to Clean Like the Dickens. 

ENTRY RULES

Giveaway expires on midnight EST on April 1, 2009.  You may enter only one email address.  Four winners will be picked randomly by Contest Machine and will be notified by email.  The winners will have 48 hours to respond to the email.  If there is no response, Contest Machine will randomly pick another winner. 

The winners will receive copies of Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Home: No-Nonsense Advice That Will Inspire You to Clean Like the Dickens ($19.99).  United States and Canada only. Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions of Use for a complete list of our Contest and Giveaway Rules. This promotion is void where prohibited by law.

Good luck!

What's New on GWBBB?

• Beauty Blog Giveaways and Magazine Sweeps
• Current Articles on GWBBB 
• Popular Articles on GWBBB

Beauty product review of Alima Pure Holiday Collection:  Alima Pure is the perfect mineral makeup for the "green" fashionista on your holiday shopping list. The Holiday Collection is presented in two acts designed to create classic, festive looks.  It's a modern take on vintage Hollywood glamour.

All we can say is "Encore!  Encore!"

Why are we so taken with Alima Pure? Learn why.

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• How to prepare for your baby by detoxifying your home.
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• How to keep your home toxic-free.
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• How to de-mold safely (and you don't even need to use clorox).
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• How to choose fruits, veggies, fish, and the healthiest food for your kids.
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• How to make sure you and your baby practice safe beauty practices.
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• How to choose healthy and safe toys, including choosing a pacifier (clear silicone pacifiers are the safest).
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• How to keep your garden and outdoor spaces healthy.
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• How to improve your indoor air (open your window at least five minutes a day).
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• How to keep your pets healthy and safe, and learn how to make anti-flea sachets.
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• How to renovate safely.
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• How to take action outside and beyond the home.

Total Beauty and Healthy Child are both committed to helping reduce our carbon footprint and creating a healthier environment. As I have said before, don't overwhelm yourself. Start small. Every Green step is a step in the right direction...and don't forget to enter to win an eco-friendly Subaru from Total Beauty.

Have a healthy day.

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2. Use the What Not To Buy list to avoid especially problematic ingredients — like mercury, lead, and placenta — and the products that contain them.
   
3. Use fewer products. Is there something you can cut from your daily routine, or a product you can use less often? By cutting down on the number of chemicals contacting your skin every day, you will reduce any potential health risks associated with your products.
   
4. Use the "Advanced Search" feature of Skin Deep to find products that have fewer potential health issues. Choose a product category and exclude the hazardous ingredients — carcinogens and neurotoxins, for instance — and Skin Deep will generate a custom shopping list for you.
   
5. Read labels. Marketing claims on personal care products are not defined under the law, and can mean anything or nothing at all, including claims like organic, natural, hypoallergenic, animal cruelty free, and fragrance free. Read the ingredient label carefully to find evidence that the claims are true.
   
6. Use milder soaps. Soap removes dirt and grease from the surface of your skin, but also strips away your body's own natural skin oils. Choosing a milder soap may reduce skin dryness and your need for moisturizers to replace oils your skin can provide naturally.
   Minimize your use of dark hair dyes. Many contain coal tar ingredients that have been linked to cancer in some studies.
   
7. Cut down on your use of powders; avoid the use of baby powder on newborns and infants. A number of ingredients common in powder have been linked to cancer and other lung problems when they are inhaled. FDA warns that powders may cause lung damage if inhaled regularly.
   
8. Choose products that are "fragrance"-free. Fragrances can cause allergic reactions. Products that claim to be "fragrance free" on the packaging may not be. They could contain masking fragrances that give off a neutral odor. Read the ingredient label — in products truly free of fragrance, the word "fragrance" will not appear there.
   
9. Reduce your use of nail polish. It's one of the few types of products that routinely contains ingredients linked to birth defects. Paint your toenails and skip the fingernails. Paint nails in a well-ventilated room, or outside, or avoid using nail polish altogether, particularly when you are pregnant. (To a reader that asked, OPI is okay to use. You can click here and send OPI a letter and thank them yourself.)

Brains on Beauty: With a little research and a decent amount of label-reading, along with the helpful guides provided by Skin Deep and the Environmental Working Group, it’s possible to find safe, non-toxic cosmetics without having to give up on beauty products altogether.


Sources: Breast Cancer Fund, Environmental Working Group, Campaign For Safe Cosmetics

Images: Poster from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics