Acorn C2G Lite Slide Sandals

My favorite slipper company, Acorn, has just come out with some new sandals perfect for this summer.  How fabulous, it's a little like being able to wear comfy slippers everywhere.  Check out these C2G Lite Slide Sandals.   This neutral Fawn color will go great with summery white clothing since they are almost like a nude against your skin--really pretty and low profile. 

There's lots of venting to keep your feet cool and the top strap has velcro for adjusting.  I find they run a bit wide and short, but still fit fine.  I'm a true 8.5 and need a 9 in these.  They're super comfortable, light weight, and would be great for summer travel, being easy to slip off going through security lines at the airport.  They're a nice alternative to flip flops and just as easy to kick off in a hurry to jump in the pool or walk barefoot on the beach.  Find them HERE.

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Horny Toad Spring-Summer

Green clothing company, Horny Toad, has some new Spring-Summer arrivals to get you ready for the weather.  I got hooked on HT a couple of years ago when I discovered their butter soft eco friendly fabrics.  Their stuff is travel friendly, low on wrinkles and heavy on comfort. 

Check out the new Long Island Dress.  It's a maxi length, very sleek, and has a panel around the waist area with some ruching that is very figure flattering and forgiving.  It's made from a bamboo blend and runs true to size.  I'm 5'5 and typically an 8/10 and the medium fits perfectly. 

This dress looks great with a pair of flip flops.  You can dress it up, or dress it down and wear it at the beach or to a more formal dinner.  It's elegant and beautiful and comes in different colors and even a print.  It has adjustable straps, a shelf bra for support and a secret stash pocket on the hip, perfect for your id and credit card or cash. 

I'm also totally in love with the Swifty Racer Tank.  Super soft tencel fabric wicks away moisture and dries fast, making it perfect for summer adventures.

The Lapis is a soothing blue-gray that I can't get enough of.  Please Horny Toad--more of this amazing color!  It reminds me of twilight, when the sky is a dreamy calming purpley blue.  A built in shelf bra makes it even better.  It's got a lot of give to it, it's not your typical tight fitting yoga or fitness top, you could wear it under a blazer to work and it wouldn't look out of place.  This would be a great base layer for your on-the-plane outfit, it would be great for yoga, camping, and every day.  

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Patagonia Drifter Eco Friendly Shoe

Need a reliable shoe for your spring and summer adventures?  The new Patagonia Drifter shoe is perfect for summer hiking and travel.  It's classified as a shoe, not a hiking boot, but I think the killer traction makes it appropriate for the trails--it's definitely more of a boot.  Because it doesn't have a ton of ankle support, I wouldn't go backpacking with these, or hike difficult or rocky trails, but for moderate hiking, I think they're perfect.  They're a decent weight at 14 oz, and the mesh will help keep your feet cool in warmer weather.  Very little break-in time with these, comfort level is great, and they are good looking and super durable.   

They come in different colors, but I love the "cardamon," the red contrast is so cute, and gives it an school hiking boot vibe.  Recycled rubber Ecostep outsoles boast some beefy tread and feel very stable.  I also love the black contrast to the tan nubuck and the way the black comes up high--it makes your foot look smaller.  Speaking of smaller, I recommend you order up one half size.   My true size is 8.5 and I need a 9 in this shoe.  Patagonia is an environmentally responsible company that backs up their product. 

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LivOn Labs Vitamin C

There's a new way to get your vitamin C, and it's supposed to be more effective because of the way it's delivered.  It's called Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C, by LivOn Labs, and it contains "smart" lyposomal nano-spheres filled with vitamin C that are said to be easier for your body to absorb than when taken in other forms.  Here is an example of how nano-technology can be used in healthful pursuits.  I'm not a big supplement person, and I definitely think the best way to get your nutrition is from healthy organic food, but I was excited to try this, particularly for winter and for travel when I feel my immune system is taxed the most.

After my initial case, I bought two more cases of the stuff and I think it really helped my body to fight off some nasty bugs that were circulating the last couple of months.  I was convinced enough to keep buying it, and it's not cheap.  It costs about $30 a case, or $1 per packet, however, if it works then I think it's worth it.  For a long time, I was taking Emergen-C, but it contains sugar and I feel that the LivOn vitamin C is superior.  I've tried powders and capsules as well, but those can upset my stomach and this does not.  It really seems like it helps with my energy level as well as boosts my immune system.  I've read about people using this in extreme cases, such as mercury poisoning. 

Each packet contains 1000mg of vitamin C in a gel that is best taken in a liquid and swallowed.  You can just open the packet and pop it into your mouth, but it tastes terrible.  If you float it in liquid, you don't taste it and it's down with one gulp.  It's meant to be taken on an empty stomach for better absorption. Find it HERE. 

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TEVA Crank: When Shoe Laces are Cool

There comes a time when little details in your kid's fashion become important to them.  Like whether or not shoes have laces.  Personally, I prefer the non-lace shoes, but at some point, my son started associating that with "baby shoes" and demanded lace up shoes.  TEVA's Youth Crank is a great choice for a children's lace up shoe.  Teva in general is great because they are high quality and hard to wear out, but I love the Crank for it's good looks, particularly the black with contrasting cobalt blue laces.

My son says they're the best shoes he's ever had and that they are super comfortable.  I find they run true to size and hold up great.  If your child needs some shoes for summer, these would be a nice option.  And for those of you that prefer a non-laced shoe, the Charge is a great pick and doubles as a hiking shoe.  It's lightweight, breathable, and great looking.

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Grand Trunk Travel Comfort

Going anywhere for Spring Break this year?  Grand Trunk Goods can offer you some extra comfort on the plane (train, car, etc).  This Hooded Travel Pillow is made with memory foam and soft fleece.  Though it works just fine without the hood, it's a really nice option to have it there, and I've never seen a travel pillow with a hood, what a great idea.  It's perfect for airplanes, for shutting everyone out and creating your own little oasis.

If you're trying to watch an in-flight movie during the day and you have glare coming in--it can get pretty bright up there with open windows--you can pull the hood over and block a lot of that out so you can focus on what's in front of you.  Or you can pull it completely over your eyes for a nap.  It's instant privacy and wouldn't something like this be awesome on a crowded flight or the dreaded middle seat?

There's a little pocket on the side for your mp3 player, or ear buds/plugs.  It also makes for some cozy warmth on a cold plane, and when you doze off, the toggle closure keeps the pillow from shifting or falling off.  I think this would work great in the car and camping too.  The cover is removable for washing and it comes in a handy stuff sack with a grab handle and pull cord so you can easily attach it to one of your bags. You can watch a video HERE. 

For the rest of your body, I love their Travel Blanket.  It's made from eco friendly bamboo and is naturally anti bacterial and wicks away moisture.  It's a renewable, sustainable fabric and it's butter soft.  There's a pocket at the bottom to keep your feet cozy, which is great for the plane and it's a generous 70x40.  It weighs in at 16oz, and it's so worth this minimal weight on a freezing cold flight.

Like the pillow, it comes in a stuff sack with a grab handle at one end and a pull cord at the other and stuffs down to about the size of a Nalgene bottle.  You can easily clip it to your backpack or carry-on with a caribiner.

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What are Nanoparticles?

Have you heard that word a lot lately--nanoparticle?  I have.  I've even seen it on products stating they contain "no nanos."  So what are they?  Kind of just what they sound like--ultra fine particles, as in tiny, and measured in nanometers.  They've been around forever, and can be natural or man made, and they can be very advanced.  There are all sorts of exciting applications for nanotecnology, but many are warning that it's moving too fast to ensure medical and environmental safety. 

All sorts of consumer goods are utilzing "nano technology" these days, including food, clothing, and body products.  There are a ton of  nanoproducts and more on the way.  Why is this of concern?  Because we're not sure they're safe and they are not regulated.  Like the problems we have with bodycare companies being able to put pretty much anything they want in their products, often concealing carcinogens with words like "fragrance," products with nanotechnology can be protected as proprietary and may go undisclosed.  So while there could be exciting and wonderful applications, there is a darker side.  Food for instance--they're using nano technology with our food--it's in M&Ms and Poptarts (not that I consider those food, but you get the idea).  And as we've seen with the GMOs, this can be a scary prospect. 

Nanoparticles are able to pass the blood brain barrier, they're small enough to find their way into the body, bypassing our defense systems and building up.  They've been shown in animal studies to interrupt fertility and create abnormal cells.  They're chaotic and there is just too much that's unknown.  Read a fascinating article on the subject HERE. 


Image Credit: earthfirstnews

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