Blogs

We just got word that these two dresses from Stewart + Brown will be arriving very soon!

The first is a slip dress. It's perfect for wearing alone now and will look amazing with knits piled on. The second dress has details, details, details. From ruching at the bust to a surprise back; we're in love with this one. We're also digging the styling. Slouchy socks with boots is definitely in and we're loving it.

Celine MacKay of Pure Green Blog has launched Pure Green Living Magazine! The online magazine has tons of earth friendly (and gorgeous!) content: DIY projects, organic recipes, green architecture, sustainable style and tons more. I’m already looking forward to the next edition. Go on, have a read!

I love these heart necklaces. Dainty yet tough.

Love is a Battlefield Necklace by Carolina Bleu. The heart is cut from vintage brass and hangs from a vintage, oxidized sterling silver chain.

Milagro Heart Necklace by Erica Weiner. These vintage hearts were hand-cast, probably in South America, with the intention of healing the broken-hearted. They were bought in a local Botanica and have been plated in 14K gold to make them a little more precious.

These quilts, handmade by women from Pakistan, are absolutely amazing! Each one is created from vintage fabric quilted together; they are one-of-a-kind, beautiful pieces of art.

“Adorned with bright colors and bold patterns, the quilts are also called rilli, rilly, rallee or rehli derived from the local word ralanna meaning to “mix or connect”. The quilts are just now gaining international recognition, even though women have been making these quilts for hundreds, maybe thousands of years. Every ralli quilt is different and unique They tell a story of the creativity and love of color and design of the women who create them. In the villages, ralli is an important part of a girl’s dowry.”

I had a weekend filled with some amazing flavors thanks to my friend Davin- Banana Nut Oatmeal Pancakes, A Country Fried Tofu Sandwich, and these amazing things she calls Savory rolls :). She is a genius in the kitchen! I'm just so happy she feeds me and shares her recipes with me. I don't have her creative kitchen skills.

This recipe is for Davin's Banana Nut Oatmeal Pancakes. They were developed out of her love for banana nut bread and oatmeal in the morning. Bonus, these are not only vegan but sugar free!

Davin sent this note the day after she gave me the recipe: "I refrigerated the left over pancakes and warmed a couple up for breakfast this morning and talk about delicious!!! Its like all the flavors got married and had babies overnight!" So, don't throw away your leftovers.

Thank you, Davin!

Banana Nut Oatmeal Pancakes

1 super ripe banana, mashed
2 cups soy milk
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 1/2 cup unbleached all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans

In a medium bowl, mix the soy milk, vanilla and mashed bananas. Stir in the oats and let sit for about 30 minutes. I like my oats nice and soft so I figured soaking them would do the trick!

In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and chopped pecans.

After oats have soaked, stir again. Slowly add the dry mixture, stirring constantly to make sure everything mixes well, but don't over mix! I like my pancakes nice and fluffy and I find that the less you mix them, the more fluffy they are...

Set your griddle to about 375 degree and let it get nice and hot. I used about a 1/3 cup ladle to spoon out each pancake. Use the back of the ladle to spread out the mixture (otherwise they'd be gooey in the middle while cooked on the outside). Once bubbles are coming up through the mixture and you can see that the pancake is cooked around the edges, flip them and cook roughly 2-3 minutes more. This recipe can make 8-10 pancakes, depending on how full you fill your ladle. It made 9 for me :)

Top with Earth Balance vegan margarine and 100% pure maple syrup and enjoy! I think they would even be good topped with agave nectar! If you feel like getting fancy, slice some more bananas and chop more nuts to put on top with some rice whip!!! YUM!

Enjoy!

… inspiring me to look cute and exercise! Well done!

Photography by Jono for CycleStyle discovered via Daydream Lily.

These limited edition t-shirts were created by designer Mary Meyer to help wolf advocate, educator and film maker Elke Duerr complete her film project- Wild Wolf Films. The film will follow Duerr as she documents the Mexican Grey Wolf's fight against extinction; there are only 42 left in the wild. The t-shirts are available for purchase at International Playground for $75 with 100% of the profits going to help fund Elke's efforts. They also come in black.

Photography via Wild Wolf Film and International Playground

Sneak peek: Bodkin's Fahrenheit Funnelneck arriving this fall. Don't you just love that neck?! And, the sleeves??? Photo by Tina Tyrell.
Seal peek: Photo by Paul Nicklen discovered on Mociun's Tumblr.

I am crazy about this vintage swimsuit from my friend Hilary's site Peppermint Vintage! I totally want to wear it with a sheer skirt just... like... this...

Photography via Peppermint Vintage and Trop Rouge

If you wash your hair, use deodorant or moisturize, take 8 minutes and watch this short video. Annie Leonard, the lady who brought us "The Story of Stuff", is in our bathrooms and it's not pretty. "The Story of Cosmetics" takes a look at the virtually unregulated, $50 billion cosmetic industry and its dependence on chemicals to manufacture the beauty and personal care products we use everyday– chemicals that have been linked to cancer, birth defects and learning disabilities.

On July 21st Congress introduced the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010; this is the first real look at the cosmetics industry in 70 years! If this bill passes the effects will be groundbreaking.

According to safecosmetics.org and their understanding of the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, provisions of the legislation would:

* Phase out ingredients linked to cancer, birth defects and developmental harm;
* Create a health-based safety standard that includes protections for children, the elderly, workers and other vulnerable populations;
* Close labeling loopholes by requiring full ingredient disclosure on product labels and company web sites, including the constituent ingredients of fragrance and salon products;
* Give workers access to information about unsafe chemicals in personal care products;
* Require data-sharing to avoid duplicative testing and encourage the development of alternatives to animal testing;
* Provide adequate funding to the FDA Office of Cosmetics and Colors so it has the resources it needs to provide effective oversight of the cosmetics industry; and
* Level the playing field so small businesses can compete fairly.

What we can do:

* Ask your U.S. Representative to support the Safe Cosmetics Act.
* Share "The Story of Cosmetics" with the people in your life.