With the rising popularity of mineral makeup, choosing a brand that is right for you can be pretty tough. A lot of the lines seem like they’re all basically the same thing. The reality is that they aren’t though. Know that you pay for what you get – if something seems to good to be true, it most likely is. You’re not going to get high quality makeup at bargain bin prices.

However, Everyday Minerals does offer high quality mineral makeup at affordable prices. They use locally-sourced, natural ingredients in their products and one of the best things about their makeup is that its super basic – no unnecessary ingredients are added to their formulations. As someone who values purity in beauty and skincare products, this is very important to me.

Despite using really basic ingredients, the colors can really pop. Everyday Minerals eyeshadow and blush pigments are super rich in color and they offer a range of colors for everyday wear, as well as for special occasions or evening wear.

I tried two eyeshadows, as well as two blushes and decided to create two looks – a more natural, glowing day look, and a darker, smoky evening look.

For the lighter, day look I used Freedom eyeshadow, which is a lovely neutral earth tone. It has a bit of shimmer to it and is a great overall color. I just brushed it all over from the lid to under the brow bone. It is a nice color to give a little extra pop to your eyes and it looks fantastic paired with mascara – the color is light enough that it allows your eyelashes to really stand out. I also used the Sprung! blush, which is a gorgeous dark pink (described as berry on their website) color with a hint of shimmer. The blushes are so rich in color that you really only need to use a tiny bit.

For the evening look, I used the Freedom eyeshadow under the brow as a highlight color, and I used the Starry Eyed eyeshadow for the lid and crease. Starry Eyed is a rich, deep brown color with loads of luster! If you want a smoky eye look, this is perfect for it. I used a lot of this eyeshadow so that it would really show in the pictures – you could definitely use just a little and wear it to work or everyday settings as well. I think it’s perfect to bring out your inner rock diva though! I used the Rhapsody in Peach blush, which is so fabulous – it’s a peachy color with hints of gold shimmer throughout.

I really loved these products. Everyday Minerals has a positive mission to support feminine beauty naturally while protecting our environment. They do not test on animals, all their products are vegan, and they also offer excellent customer service. So if you’re in the market for makeup for your wedding, a bachelorette party, or just everyday use, I highly recommend checking out Everyday Minerals!

Also, I haven’t yet used their foundations, but I am really impressed by their selection of shades – they offer far more shades than most any company I’ve seen, which is great for finding a true match for your complexion. They also have sample kits they can send you so you can find your true base color before purchasing the full-sized product.

So, what are you waiting for? Get over to Everyday Minerals now!

In case you’re curious, I’m wearing an Aveda foundation in the images, Zuzu Luxe mascara, Aveda black eyeshadow as liner in the evening look, and DressGreen (Etsy) tinted lip lush for the evening look.

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Bodies of water seem to possess this magical power of bringing a sense of calm and peace about to those near them. Often wedding ceremonies take place at a beach, a lake, or other majestic locale near water. Of course, they also provide a great backdrop for photos to cherish in years to come.

Another great thing about water is the option of canoeing. Catch a Canoe & Bicycles, Too! is a company located in Mendocino at the Stanford Inn by the Sea. They offer canoe, kayak, and bicycle rentals, and also have a retail shop for boating/cycling needs. They have high quality, hand-crafted redwood canoes and paddles available for one to nine people per canoe. These would be a great idea for a bachelor/bachelorette party, or for a meet-the-parents gathering for a couple.

The location is just perfect. It’s on a 7.000 acre tract called the Big River. This area was purchased by a joint effort of state, federal, non-profit and private organizations in order to protect the integrity of the natural landscape for now and future generations. The water is absolutely gorgeous – it’s calm and picturesque.

If you’re interested in an especially romantic visit, make sure you sign up for one of their special tours. They offer a Bioluminescence Tour, on which you get to see phosphorescent algae light up as tiny green lights. They also offer a Full Moon Paddle that allows you to see the sun set and the moon rise over the majestic Big River. Check their schedule for dates.

Even if you’d just like a fun family outing, this would be a great idea. Kids will love it and dogs are allowed as well, so no family member will be left behind! For more information, check out their website at: http://catchacanoe.com/

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Skincare is always important – especially during stressful times before a wedding. Make sure you’re taking care of your skin not only through a daily cleansing, toning, and moisturizing regimen, but also with high quality, plant-based soaps. There are lots of options out there these days and the latest product I’ve come across is Wembé
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Wembé is a company originally based in Paraguay. It was started by a mother and her son, Rolando Zuccolillo several years ago in an effort to share the health benefits of Amazonian plant life with the world – to help their own community and make efforts to help the rainforest at the same time. Their products contain no silicone, petroleum, parabens, sulfates, phenoxythanol, polyethylene glycol, synthetic fragrances, or dyes. They also use organic ingredients whenever possible and carry an array of vegan and gluten free products that are hand-crafted in Paraguay. They employ roughly 20 people and pay fair wages to their workers.

I got to try a few of their soaps myself and would love to share my experiences with you. I tried the Assai Berry Detox soap, the Mango Cleansing Blend soap, and the Loofah Exfoliating Blend bar. The first two were similar in texture – they left my skin feeling refreshed and very soft and smooth. The soaps are very aromatic and smell so pure – you get nothing but real, potent essential oils. The Loofah Exfoliating Blend has somewhat coarse plant sponge in it that helps scrub away dead skin. It is a bit abrasive, but to me in a good way, because that means it’s cleaning on a deeper level than something more gentle – it’s also kind of like getting a nice back scratch.

They also carry a moisturizing stick, a make-up remover bar, and a skin treatment bar. For a nice cooling soap, try their Snow Cleansing blend – it has mint and eucalyptus that will at least temporarily lower the temperature in the middle of a heatwave.

Whether you’re planning a wedding shower, gifts for bridesmaids, or just want to treat yourself to an at-home spa experience, give Wembé a try. They make high quality products that really deliver and they’re a Green America Approved Business. They even have gift sets available that make gift-giving easier. For more information, please check out their website here: Wembé.

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Have you ever craved desserts but found yourself limited because of one allergy or another? These days, gluten allergies are especially common and more and more options are arising, but often the alternatives are specialty items in an otherwise allergen-loaded facility. Unfortunately this can lead to a mediocre product from a company that doesn’t fully know what they’re doing.

If you’re looking for a gluten free wedding cake, vegan desserts, or other allergen free items, then you’re in luck, because Let Them Eat Cake specializes in products that can be free of eggs, nuts, gluten, and/or dairy products. The company was started by a husband and wife team – Amanda Macdessi (Executive Pastry Chef) and Jason Kraft (Business Manager). Amanda has over ten years of personal experience making allergen-free desserts as a result of preparing items for her husband who has severe food allergies.

The company has been in operation since 2008 and has a certified kitchen to serve the San Francisco area. They do not at this time have a storefront, but gladly accept online orders through their order forms. They make specialty cakes for any occasion and are able to make gorgeous wedding cakes and desserts for you and your guests. Often the dreaded combination of both vegan and gluten free puts a halt on things, but don’t worry, Let Them Eat Cake can work with your dietary needs and deliver the product you’re seeking.

Even if you don’t have any food allergies yourself, it’s good to consider guests who may. Their fruit tarts and truffles would be great options for the wedding reception. Their easy ordering process allows you to put together the perfect dessert options to fit your tastes.

Contact them now for a tasting – for $30 you can try up to two cake flavors and two frosting filling flavors. For more information, please visit their website here: Let Them Eat Cake.

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Is your dream wedding a vision in white or a splash of color? In recent years, many couples have decided to stray from the traditional white and add bursts of color, which makes perfect sense to me – a wedding is a celebration of life, of love, which comes in all forms and colors.

Floral arrangements are a great way to incorporate bold colors, textures, and shapes into your wedding ceremony. Let your selections reflect who you are, both individually and as a couple. I’m sure all couples have a vision of what they want and Gingerleaf Floral of Oakland, California is here to help manifest that vision into a sublime reality.

Fu Wong Photography

Gingerleaf Floral is certified by the Bay Area Green Business program, as well as Here Comes the Bride Guide. The business was started by owner Ellen Kim, who has an extensive background in design, architecture, and floristry. Her unique set of skills come together to create stand-out, eye-popping floral pieces for your special day.

It is the goal of the staff at Gingerleaf Floral to listen to what it is that you want. You can schedule a free consultation during which you give as much detail as possible so that they can do their job best. Come prepared with pictures of yourselves, of floral arrangements from magazines that represent what you are looking for, etc. You don’t need to know what specific flowers you want, but having a feel for the mood and emotion you want to evoke will really be of value.

Silva Stills & Cinema

Gingerleaf Floral is one of only two green certified florists in Alameda County. They source many of their flowers locally and incorporate daily green practices into their business, including recycling, reusing, and conserving. Sometimes using environmentally sound flowers means decreasing the variety available. Ms. Kim believes that often design is more central, and that can be executed through more than one specific blossom.

I almost wish I were getting married now after looking at the stunning arrangements displayed on Gingerleaf Floral’s website. The colors are so rich and the composition ethereal. Don’t take my word for it though – check it out here: Gingerleaf Floral.

Prime wedding season starts in spring and goes through fall, so if you’re interested in using Gingerleaf Floral, make sure you contact them with plenty of advance notice.

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Attention all wedding planners and anyone involved in the organization process of a wedding! You’re probably overwhelmed by everything involved in putting together a wedding. There are invitations to send, a location to choose, wedding favors to select, decorations for the venue space, etc. It’s enough to make anyone go crazy and making it green on top of that adds to the challenges.

Luckily for you, there’s Dream Green Weddings, an online supplier of eco-friendly wedding favors and general supplies. The company was started by Heather Teague, who herself made green choices for her wedding. It is her mission to help promote a more environmentally-conscious lifestyle while still offering couples the chance to make their dream weddings a reality.

Dream Green Weddings offers a wide variety of wedding invitations printed on tree-free cotton paper or recycled paper with vegetable-based inks. Some options are even seeds you can plant that allow your guests to create memories to share in the future. They also have a variety of wedding favors, which include commemorative soaps, organic lollipops, bird seed favors, reusable shopping bags, and more. They even have a section of items that are under $2 each, which is great for a wedding on a low budget.

On many products you’ll find an “Eco Commitment” statement tab next to the description which lets you know the special green features about that specific item. There is also a general page which details the company’s general environmental commitments, which include: donating to non-profit organizations, such as the National Wildlife Federation, telecommuting from home to reduce fuel usage, drop-shipping when possible, using ground shipping, and more.

Oh, and there’s even a chocolate soap bar – you just can’t go wrong! If you need ideas for your wedding, check out their current highlighted Garden Vintage theme, which offers a collection of items that will cut out work on your end.

For more information, please visit: Dream Green Weddings

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Planning a wedding is a very stressful time, even if you have someone doing the bulk of the work for you. Often unexpected details require your attention and compromises can be made in your diet, sleep schedule, and other details. It’s important to take time to slow down and relax before the big day to return to a centered, balanced space. The maid of honor and bridesmaids in general have the opportunity to assist in this process.

Dropwise Essentials, a San Francisco-based company, is also here to help. Owner Donya Fahmy personally created each product in the personal care line and has a deep understanding for how important it is to use natural, plant-based ingredients that are going to come in contact with the skin. She recognizes the benefits of using organic essential oils and plant-based materials, both for consumers and the environment.

If you’re a maid of honor in search of gift baskets for an at-home spa experience, look no further. Dropwise Essentials offers essential oils and diffusers, bath salts, body oils, lip balms, lotions, candles, and more! You’ll have no problem selecting the perfect products that everyone will enjoy. Pampering the bride-to-be with tantalizing products is such to put her at ease and help bring her focus back to the true importance of a wedding – a celebration and honoring of love between two people.

With Dropwise Essentials, you get the real deal. They use organic ingredients whenever possible, reusable and recyclable packaging, electronic record-keeping where possible, energy efficient equipment, and they even donate materials to non-profit organizations. Their products contain no synthetic ingredients or petroleum-based ingredients and are hand-crafted in North California. The company is also backed by its numerous partners and affiliates, such as The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Green America.

There’s even an entire section on their site devoted to wedding and bridal gifts so that the work is already fully cut out for you. I’m quite impressed – I think you will be too.

For more information, check out their website.  For free tips and valuable health and beauty information, subscribe to the Dropwise Health & Beauty News Ezine or visit the Aroma Zone blog.

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The first time I had kombucha was at a New Year’s Eve celebration.  It was during the wee hours of the morning and somehow I still felt fully alive and alert as I danced to no apparent end.  I had been drinking water throughout the night to stay hydrated and then I was introduced to the earthy, bubbly drink known as kombucha.  I wasn’t sure how I felt about it initially, but after hearing about all its wondrous health-promoting benefits, I decided I would drink more, and that I have.  It’s been an acquired taste, but I’ve grown to appreciate its unique flavor.

Making kombucha is fun and easy and could be incorporated into a bachelorette/bachelor party or a more general wedding shower.  You start with a mother (which is a fungus of sorts, but not quite a mushroom) and add tea of choice (green, herbal, etc), sugar, and apple cider vinegar/some of a previous batch of kombucha.  Unfortunately, you won’t be able to sample the treats you make right away (you’ll need to wait a period of days to allow the fermentation process to complete), but it’s a great way to bond with your guests and create something together.  You could even have a second party when the process is complete and sample what you’ve made.

Try making batches of different flavors.  You can flavor kombucha with anything imaginable – coconut, mango, ginger, strawberry, cinnamon, etc.  It can be sweet, tangy, or somewhere in between.  Once it’s done, you can have a potluck to celebrate both your upcoming wedding and perhaps just life in general.  The time leading up to a wedding can become very stressful, so it’s great to make time for relaxation and simple fun activities with special individuals in your life.

If you’re not interested in actually making kombucha, you could still choose it as a beverage option for any event leading up to the wedding, and for the wedding itself.  Often larger cities even have locally made kombucha, so you can both support local business and reduce fuel/transportation usage.

Just like your own mother, kombucha knows what is good for you.  It’s full of antioxidants and supports the immune system, digestion, energy levels, etc.  It’s the supermom you always dreamed of.  Well, enough of this silliness – it’s time to brew!

Image can be found at:  http://www.ifood.tv/network/gt_dave_kombucha

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I remember as a kid seeing the commercial for National Arbor Day and hearing the simple, yet meaningful lyrics sung by John Denver: “plant a tree for your tomorrow . . . plant a tree for your today.” This song is part of what drove me to plant a tree at my home in Florida as a child. It’s great to do this on Arbor Day, but why not make every day Arbor Day? You can even make this a part of your wedding celebration.

Of course there’s music, dancing, great food, and mingling with loved ones, but why not add in planting a tree? Of course, you probably don’t want to be doing that in a wedding gown or tuxedo, but you could also have a change of clothes on hand for playing in the dirt. This could be a great interactive way to involve everyone in your ceremony. It’s also very symbolic of the union created by marriage – planting a tree honors the love you share and will help the planet at the same time.

If you’re not interested in doing this as part of the wedding day festivities, you could also offer it as an option for a wedding gift – instead of buying gifts, guests could have the option of planting a tree or making a donation to an environmental organization that would plant a tree in your honor.

Planting trees is great, but to be more environmentally conscious, try planting species that are native to the region in which you live. This will cut down on transportation involved (and thus the carbon footprint) for either the seedling or mature tree. It’s also great to avoid bringing in pests from other areas.

Starting your family tree can be very literal with this ritual. Future generations get to see its growth and benefit from the symbiotic relationship we share with trees. You could even decorate the tree over the years and add ornaments with your names and names of children and other family members.

Go ahead and get your thumb green as you change out of your white dress – the music will keep playing.

*Image taken from http://www.freefoto.com

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Creating a romantic atmosphere for a wedding and events leading up to the big day is usually pretty important to the bride and groom.  Hollywood films and stories from past generations have much to say about love and the ideal setting for an enchanting evening.

What better way to celebrate than to spend an hour, an evening, or even a whole day on a sailboat?  Captain Dan of Berkeley is here to provide this service for you.  He has 35 years of sailing experience and offers sailing tours on the bay.  Just imagine arriving at your wedding locale on a boat – talk about making an entrance!  You could also choose to sail off as you start your honeymoon, into the setting sun or a bright, cloudless day.  It’s really up to you.  Captain Dan wants your day to be just that – as you wish.

Sailing would also provide a great alternative for a meeting of the parents.  A nice glass of champagne or coconut water, good conversation, and the gentle breeze of the fresh air coming off of the water would create the perfect setting for what could otherwise ends in embarrassment and unforgettable awkward moments.

If you’re still not convinced, think of the fun you could have with friends at a bachelorette or bachelor party.  The thrill of sailing would beautifully complement the celebration of the night in a fun, light-hearted way that you’d be sure to remember for decades to come.  You’d get the perfect background for taking pictures and videos to share with friends and family.

In addition to the aforementioned points, sailing is also an environmentally-friendly alternative to most motorized forms of transportation.  You would use less fuel and thus reduce your carbon imprint.

So if you’re hankering for a swing back into an era of classic elegance, give Captain Dan a ring.  No matter the occasion, a little ride on the bay will do just the trick.

You can find more information here:  www.captdan.net

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