Modern Hippie Mag » Ellie Campbell

Modern Hippie of the Month: Dean Stubbings, Madera Furniture

Ellie Campbell — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:00:55 +0000

Modern Hippie of the Month: Dean Stubbings, owner and designer of Madera Furniture

Dean

Dean Stubbings is the owner, founder, and designer of Madera Furniture, using recycled/salvaged wood he creates one-of-a-kind furniture. His storefront/workshop is located in Fairfax, California.

When did you start “thinking green,” and what inspired you to do so?

In 1994, I got a job at Urban Ore – a salvage company in Berkeley, California that specializes in recycling. I worked for them on and off for about six years, and it was all I needed to accept the green way of life. People could go there to buy bathroom fixtures, wood, nails, furniture, books, doors… all from demo jobs, including some of the best in old building demos. This experience really taught me the meaning of the saying, “One person’s trash is another’s treasure.” I remodeled my first house using 80% recycled materials, some of which were purchased from Urban Ore.

How does being a “modern hippie” speak to you personally?

I try to implement green philosophies in my daily actions and pass them onto my four-year-old son. I bring my son to work, so he gets to hear the “sales pitch” often – artisan furniture made out of reclaimed/recycled wood. He especially likes that some of it comes from dumpsters. He’s fascinated with trash bins! I’m not sure how many other kids his age know about recycled wood.

Tell us a bit about Madera Furniture and how the company embodies eco-friendliness.

I make artisan furniture (both indoor and outdoor) out of salvaged wood, with all eco-friendly finishes and stains. I have been known to “dumpster dive” for wood. I use local vendors for supplies, local recycled wood, and all-natural products.

coffee table

How did you get started with furniture building?

Urban Ore was kind enough to rent me a space in their huge warehouse. I would buy their wood and make furniture right there on the spot. After many moves and especially after my son was born, I decided that it was time to open up my shop.

farm leaf table

How do you get ideas for your work?

Mainly from custom orders, but I build what I like. It’s usually super rustic.

adirondack and round table

What are the price points of your furniture?

Outdoor benches and tables run about $400 to $600, farm tables are $1,200 to $1,500, and raw edge dinner tables are priced about $2,000 to $3,000.

raw edge table, courtesy meisdesign.com

Where did you get your experience in woodworking?

I’ve been building benches for over 16 years, so practice, I guess!

What other modern hippies inspire you?

Anyone that can find something old and return it to working order. Urban Ore, they inspire me.

What are some eco-friendly products you can’t live without?

AFM Naturals for paint and building products.

Madera Furniture, www.maderafurniture.net, 1587 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Fairfax CA, 94930, Get Directions, (415) 516-3567.

Ellie P. Campbell

Ellie P. Campbell’s eco-interests range from natural and organic foods to skincare products, clothing and other useful gear. She is a freelance photographer, editor, writer and graphic designer. Find her beautiful photography at www.elliepcampbellphotography.com. Read Ellie’s other contributions to Modern Hippie Mag here.

Modern Hippie of the Month: Dean Stubbings, Madera Furniture is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Modern Hippie of the Month: Kyle Smitley of Barley & Birch

Ellie Campbell — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:00:57 +0000

Modern Hippie of the Month Kyle Smitley, owner and founder of Barley & Birch children’s clothing line

Kyle

Kyle Smitley is the owner and founder of barley & birch, a line of planet-saving children’s clothing. Kyle is also a full-time law student and was one of Inc. Magazine‘s Coolest Young Entrepreneurs in 2009.

How did you start “thinking green,” and what inspired you to do so?

I started living a green lifestyle in college when I took my first environmental science class. I think I was just blown away learning about all the effects that humans have on the planet and what will happen if this behavior continues. It was just mindboggling to me. During our first week, my professor asked us to save and bring to class every drink container we used for a week. Then she taught us all the effects of the plastic industry and the 90% of them that will end up in the trash. Needless to say, it made an enormous impact. I chose the field as my major and now, with my degree in environmental science, I carry that education and passion with me everywhere.

How does being a “modern hippie” speak to you personally?

It really exemplifies the sorts of things I have to do and decide on a daily basis. I think part of being a modern hippie is knowing when, where, and how to let both your hippie and modern sides come forth. Both running a business and being in law school are typically full of rules and deadlines, but being involved with the eco-friendly world is full of spontaneity and tree-hugging that is associated with being a “hippie.” My peers in law school are very straight-laced, goal- and money-focused, and all about school, so I really enjoy the concept of being a “modern hippie” because it’s all about being balanced and using your inner mix of being modern and being a hippie to improve your life, your community, and the world as a whole.

Can you tell us a bit about Barley & Birch?

Barley & Birch is a children’s clothing line that was created to give parents a truly organic and healthy alternative for their kids, while using the profits to make the line entirely carbon neutral. We also give at least 15% of the profits to organizations that are changing the lives of people all over the world.

Barley & Birch Spring 2010 Collection

How does Barley & Birch embody eco-friendliness?

We keep our environmental standards exceptionally high where all others cut some corners. We don’t stop at having one piece or even all of them being made of organic cotton. We have them printed with cutting-edge water-based inks with natural pigments. We have everything made in the United States (to avoid the pollution involved with trans-ocean shipping and because we are able to see the working conditions first hand.) We offset every ounce of carbon emissions. As far as being eco-friendly, I can’t think of one other clothing brand that goes to these lengths, which really should be the baseline, when you think about it.

Barley & Birch at Vivi Bambini

What other modern hippies inspire you?

You know, I love reading the blog Recycle Your Day for eco-inspiration. The writer, Leslie, really amazes me. I think I am pretty eco-aware at all times, really, but then I read her blog and she is making her own body cream and taking her own containers to get take out and I am like, “Dang! This woman is awesome! I need to step it up!” And I am always inspired by young women that are doing their part to truly do what’s best for the planet, like Alasandra, owner of Vivi Bambini, a children’s boutique in New Jersey. There are so many young women out there pretending to be green to make a quick buck, and it’s refreshing to find someone doing it for the right reasons.

What are some eco-friendly products you can’t live without?

My coffee thermos. It might not jump out at you as being eco-friendly, but when you think of the amount of waste that it prevents, it’s really incredible! Other than that, I love my compostable garbage bags and my CSA membership, so I am supporting local farms and cutting down on the incredible amount of fossil fuels that go into conventional off-season food consumption. All of these things make an enormous difference and are so very simple! It’s awesome!

Where do you get the materials for your clothing?

Everything is sourced from the United States.

Where is the clothing manufactured?

It’s milled, dyed, cut, and sewn in the same town in North Carolina. Making this happen was incredibly difficult to do, and it has huge environmental benefits. It’s also great that every single person in our chain knows one another and one another’s families. It is so neat!

Is every material used in your line sustainable?

Absolutely. If we hit an obstacle and doubt the sustainability of a facet of a new idea, it’s trashed. We don’t move forward with any concept that we couldn’t hold up to any of our customers and say “Look, it’s perfect.”

Solomon in Orca Shirt, Spring 2010 Collection

What are the price points?

Our pieces range from $25 to $60.

Where can people buy Barley & Birch clothing?

We have brick-and-mortar retailers all over the country, and our products are also sold online at great stores like fawn&forest, Ruby Pinwheels, or Keki Baby.

For what ages are the items available?

Our items are for children ages 3 months up through 10 years.

What is your background that led you to starting Barley & Birch?

I received my undergraduate degree from DePauw University having majored in Environmental Science and Philosophy with minors in Spanish and Chemistry. People teased me at the time, but every single subject had come in handy in the development of my business.

What are some of your other activities/hobbies?

I love to surf. I could surf all day. I also live for yoga. It truly ends up being the only moment of my day that my mind is silent and I am not stressing about work or school or saving the planet.

I know that you have a personal connection with what’s going on in Haiti. Can you tell us a bit about the time you spent there?

When I first traveled to Haiti, I was 17. My main purpose on my initial trip to Haiti was simply to deliver rice and water to schools all over the countryside and in the mountains, where there is little to no access to fresh drinking water. I fell in love with the country and, years later, I created Barley & Birch with the goal of being able to fund schools and clinics in Haiti. I’ve since been able to do that and continue to make wonderful friends there while helping the country that inspired me to work hard to change the planet.

How are you involved now?

We send money and in-kind donations to schools and clinics that I’ve worked with personally and see a need with. This sort of aid will all change now, after the earthquake, and we are all scrambling to figure out the status of our schools and friends and determine the most effective way for us to help now and long term.

What can we do to help?

Fortunately, there are many ways for people to help out. I can’t say enough good things about Oxfam, as they have an incredible reputation all over Haiti and Central America for the strength of their staffers and their ability to give aid exactly where it’s most needed. Another great group is MADRE, a group that focuses on helping women in nations like Haiti. I have worked with these organizations personally in Haiti and Central America. The best part about these two groups is that they have solid infrastructure and relationships that have been in place for over 30 years. In times of crisis, like now, that pre-existing infrastructure is crucial. There are lots of great groups that are really coming, through, from what I have been told, such as Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children, which are truly saving lives every minute in Haiti at the moment.

barley & birch – conscious by nature, www.barleyandbirch.com

Ellie P. Campbell

Modern Hippie of the Month: Kyle Smitley of Barley & Birch is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Modern Hippie of the Month: Marlon Obando Solano, Naturaleza Organic Jewelry

Ellie Campbell — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:00:57 +0000

Modern Hippie of the Month: Marlon Obando Solano, artist for Naturaleza Organic Jewelry, and his wife Amy

Marlon and Amy in southern Nicaragua near the Rio San Juan

Marlon Obando Solano is an archaeologist and artist originally from Nicaragua who creates jewelry using sustainably collected organic materials. Growing up in rural San Lorenzo, Nicaragua, Marlon gained an appreciation of the seeds and woods growing in the surrounding forests. His work as an archaeologist has inspired his use of natural materials for adornment and symbolism. He and his wife Amy now reside in Louisville, Kentucky, where they create Naturaleza Organic Jewelry, www.naturalezanica.com. Read on for our Q&A with Marlon and Amy.

How did you start “thinking green,” and what inspired you to do so?

We both trace our green thinking back to our childhoods. Marlon grew up as one of 11 children on a farm in rural Nicaragua, where living simply was a necessity, not a choice. In college he was an environmental activist, educating people and leading campaigns to protect the environment. Working as an archaeologist, Marlon was inspired by our ancestors’ lifestyle. I (Amy) also grew up with an appreciation for the earth. My first foray into activism was creating a middle school recycling program, which led to a path of social justice activism.

Marlon next to a Coroso Palm Tree, collecting materials

How does being a “modern hippie” speak to you personally?

Making art that is deeply connected to the earth provides a vehicle for appreciating, honoring, and celebrating the earth. We strive to integrate our values into our lifestyle at every turn. We hope to inspire and invite others to a more conscious lifestyle by creating a seamless connection between our creativity, our values, and our livelihood.

Coyol Seed

Tell us a bit about Naturaleza Organic Jewelry.

We create handmade jewelry from sustainable organic materials that we collect by hand. When we met, Marlon was making unique necklaces out of found materials. He mostly gave them away to friends and used them to barter for basic necessities. We started working together to find a fair trade market, starting off with tourists who were interested in supporting a local artist and eventually selling to fair trade outlets in the U.S. When we moved to the U.S., we started selling at art fairs and slowly but surely growing our business. Now that we sell our work online, we find that people who value eco-friendly art can find us easily.

Redonda - Silver Hoop Palma Earrings

How does your jewelry line embody eco-friendliness?

Our art is based on the principle of connectivity – expressing and embodying connectedness to the earth. We collect all of our materials by hand in a sustainable fashion, appreciating the environment in which they grow and their role in a delicately balanced ecosystem. Throughout our business, we maintain our commitment by choosing methods and materials that make a minimal impact. All of our packaging is made from post-consumer recycled paper.

Where did Marlon get his experience in jewelry making?

Marlon is completely self-taught, experimenting with materials since he was young. He has been making jewelry and sculpting for over 10 years.

Muran Fuerte Ring - Black Coyol & Moran Wood with silver

Where do you get the materials for your jewelry?

We collect them mostly in Nicaragua. We have several reliable spots where certain trees grow and produce quality seeds that we return to year after year. We also discover new materials all the time in Kentucky, especially when Marlon is working on an archaeology dig. Sometimes our customers send us special pieces of wood to use to create a piece especially for them.

Dusk - moran & nacascolo wood with copper & silver inlay

Do you purchase any of the materials you use, or are they all found objects?

We find all of our natural materials (wood, seed, stone, shell, etc.) ourselves. We only purchase the recycled metals that we use. The cords we use for our necklaces are made from recycled metals or sustainable sources, such as hemp.

Is the silver you use sustainable as well?

Yes, we use recycled silver.

Curoso Circle - Coroso Palm Seed

What are the price points of your work?

Between $22 and $120.

Can you tell us about the artistic process that goes into creating the jewelry?

Marlon: My artistic process begins by collecting seeds and fallen wood from the forest floor. I dry, clean and cure, carve, sand, and inlay to create one-of-a-kind necklaces, earrings, and rings. I incorporate sterling silver inlay into many of my pieces, using ancient symbols and Mayan numerology. My work reflects my cultural heritage and nature, while experimenting with new elements of design and innovative use of natural materials. I am inspired by the natural patterns and textures that I discover in the materials. No two pieces are exactly alike.

What other modern hippies inspire you?

Our friends Paul and Becca, who live in an intentional community in Nicaragua called the Jubilee House Community. It runs the Center for Development in Central America, which works on lots of local sustainable development projects (www.jhc-cdca.org). Of all of their amazing projects, the Women’s Sewing Cooperative, which makes organic clothing, is quite notable. They were the first “fair trade” Free Trade Zone in the world. Now they are working on getting a cotton-spinning plant built that will employ more people and spin local organic cotton into yarn for the fabric that is sewn at the co-op.

Paul works with Nicaraguan artists to create sustainable fair trade cooking utensils from his workshop that overlooks their straw bale house (www.jhc-cdca.org/SlightlyTwistedSpoons.pdf, www.SlightlyTwistedWood.etsy.com). Becca has worked to create a fair trade sewing cooperative and now an organic cotton spinning plant. Our friend Carol also inspires us. She founded The Food Literacy Project to connect youth to the soil and the farmers that grow their food (www.foodliteracyproject.org).

What are some eco-friendly products you can’t live without?

Slightly Twisted Spoons cooking utensils, vinegar (for cleaning and canning), handmade organic soap from local soap-makers, and fair trade organic coffee.

What are some of your other interests?

Gardening, cooking, canning, brewing beer, playing music with Appalatin… As you know, Marlon also works as an archaeologist. I (Amy) am a consultant and Spanish interpreter, and I work as an advocate in the immigrant and refugee community. We both care deeply about social justice and spend time supporting Witness for Peace and the immigrant justice movement.

Naturaleza, www.naturalezanica.com, (502) 634-2109

This is NOT a sponsored review.

Ellie P. Campbell

Modern Hippie of the Month: Marlon Obando Solano, Naturaleza Organic Jewelry is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

The Perfect Gift! Help a Friend Clear Closet Clutter

Ellie Campbell — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:10 +0000

If your wallet isn’t bursting at the seams with holiday giving cash, you are probably trying to come up with gift ideas for family and friends that don’t cost much (or any) money. One great way to truly help out a family member (or friend with whom you can be brutally honest) is by offering to go through their entire wardrobe with them – a closet cleanout extravaganza! Most people do this on their own each year or two but have a very difficult time discerning what to give away and what to put back for future wear. I’ve often said, “But the super flare leg will come back!” or “This was a really expensive sweater I got on a great sale!” in an attempt to convince myself that these items which I haven’t worn for years are worth keeping around. Never have I reincorporated them into my wardrobe; they just take up space and stare me down, reminding me that I don’t know my own self when it comes to what I will or will not find useful in the future.

This is where the gift comes in. Offer your time, enforcing that your friend try on every single item (from cocktail dresses to shoes to workout gear) before deciding its fate and being completely direct about whether something is flattering, useful, and in general has any place in your friend’s closet. Be organized about it; bring plenty of sturdy paper bags with handles and sort everything in piles of “keep,” “Goodwill” (or charity of their choice), or “give away to friends” (paying it forward with the free gift idea!). To complete the present, bag all of the items that are being given to charity and drop them off. As for the items to be given to other friends, label them with specific people in mind and remove them from the closet, ready to be handed over to their new owners asap so they will not crawl back onto your friend’s shelves. And voilà, a free, useful gift for someone you care about!

The Perfect Gift! Help a Friend Clear Closet Clutter is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Modern Hippie of the Month: Alasandra Russo of Vivi

Ellie Campbell — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:02 +0000

Presenting the inaugural Modern Hippie of the Month: Alasandra Russo of Vivi, a green-minded clothing store for children.

Alasandra Russo

When did you start “thinking green,” and what inspired you to do so?

It’s hard for me to pinpoint a specific time in my life when I started thinking green. I’ve been a nature lover since I was little, always playing outside and counting down the days to summer when I could be outside all day. Being born and raised in New Jersey, the juxtaposition of nature and industry is just about as severe as it gets. I grew up in the northern suburbs 20 minutes from New York City surrounded by farms. My family and I spent most of our weekends at my uncle’s farm about an hour west of where we live. Drive just 20 minutes south, and you’ll find a very high concentration of factories, oil refineries and gigantic malls. Driving down the turnpike with my family when I was young, it was impossible to ignore. The massiveness of the problem always made me feel small and powerless against the whole thing that was literally steam rolling its way closer and closer to my hometown. When the farms around my house were ultimately bulldozed to make way for housing developments and a strip mall named after the old farm, it was a major turning point for me.

I think what’s so great about today is that there is such awareness about living green. It’s become more main stream, and I think children today don’t feel powerless like I did. That to me is a huge step in the right direction – not only awareness of the problem, but awareness of the steps we can all take to help make it better.

inside Vivi

How does being a “modern hippie” speak to you personally?

To me it’s all about balance and innovation… and about being an educated consumer and taking small steps. The second we try to take on the entire problem, that’s the end of it. You can’t be overwhelmed by it, or you’re just committing yourself to failure right then and there. When it comes down to basic everyday choices mall versus local shops, grocery store or farmers market, recycling bin or trash can, it’s pretty simple. Where it starts to get more complicated is in areas like fashion, where the products simply aren’t readily available to the average person. That’s ultimately how I came to start my own business.

Russo with "Vivi"

What is the concept behind Vivi?

I came up with the concept for the store after the birth of my niece Genevieve, a.k.a. “Vivi.” She was a preemie, and I found it practically impossible to find clothing for her that met my standards, natural or organic fiber and socially responsible. Just finding natural-fiber clothing was tough, so you can imagine that organic was pretty much out of the question.

The “Vivi Store,” as my niece calls it, is a small clothing shop for babies and children, designed around the concept of living green, reducing waste and supporting socially responsible companies. Everything at Vivi is made with natural fibers. We have a mix of lines that are either organic, handmade or made with recycled fabric. And most of our designers are doing something to give back to the global community. Whether it’s in the structure of their company and how it’s run, in their philosophy of giving back or in their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, they are all producing fantastic products that are healthy for the planet and for the children who wear them. As consumers, we really do have the power to change the world for the better just by choosing to support the companies that are working to do just that.

Vivi

How does Vivi itself (not just the products you sell) embody eco-friendliness?

In designing the layout and displays for the store, I tried to be as innovative as possible so that I could stay within my startup budget but still make it eco-friendly. I “commissioned” my fiancé to design and build the furniture. The tables and shelving were made with bamboo plywood, and the clothing racks are just simple bamboo poles tied with hemp rope. It’s very minimalistic, but it gets the job done while still looking really beautiful. Our cash counter is an antique that I refinished myself and spruced up with a green and white tile countertop. Our wrapping and packaging materials are all made with post-consumer recycled paper. We reuse or recycle all the packaging that our inventory is sent to us in. And that’s all not including the most important part… the products we sell!

courtesy Barley & Birch

What other modern hippies inspire you?

Kyle Smitley of Barley & Birch (read more in a future Modern Hippie story) is absolutely one of my favorite modern hippies. I have a great deal of respect for her ideals, mission and of course her business. She’s setting the bar extremely high when it comes to organic children’s fashion, and she’s doing it right. Not only that, but her philanthropy is helping a lot of people in the process. If everyone ran their business the way she does the world would be a much better place.

Little Citizens

Vivi Bambini, (www.vivibambini.com), 11 Sheridan Avenue, Ho-ho-kus NJ 07458, (201) 857-2173.

Genevieve is wearing a dress from the Tea Collection at the store’s Grand Opening.

The Little Citizens of the World onesies, part of the Tea Collection. Tea donates 50% of the proceeds from those products to the Global Fund for Children.

Modern Hippie of the Month: Alasandra Russo of Vivi is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

All-Natural Skincare Favorites

Ellie Campbell — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:23 +0000

A couple of years ago, I began going to Bloom Organics for facials with Carmen McManus, who opened my eyes to the fact that what I put on my skin should play a role in my general health in addition to what I eat. As Carmen has noted, “Your skin is the largest organ of the body, and it absorbs up to 80 percent of what you put on the surface.” She didn’t have to say much more to make me realize that I needed to reassess the quality of what I was using for personal care products.

Since then, finding a nourishing skincare regimen became a similar quest to that of my dietary health. With the resources of Bloom Organics, Whole Foods, and many other excellent retailers, both local and online, I have been carefully determining the best recipe for my optimal skincare routine. Although I can’t say I’ve honed it down to perfection, I do have a handful of new essentials that I will share with you. All contain natural, organic, pure ingredients from quality-conscious brands. Keep in mind that although some of these items come at a higher price than their unnatural alternatives, a little goes a long way, so they often last longer than you’d expect.

Earth Science’s Azulene Moisturizing Shave Crème, (www.earthessentials.com). This is technically a men’s product, but both my husband and I use it regularly. The azulene is the blue extract from chamomile and is moisturizing so that your skin isn’t left flaky and dry. I have incredibly sensitive skin (prone to eczema), and my shaves have become much less irritating since we started using this product. Find at Whole Foods and online at Houseof Nutrition.com, free shipping on orders over $89.

Weleda’s Citrus Creamy Body Wash, (www.weleda.com). This delicious-smelling product contains Biodynamic^® lemon peel oil and vegetable-based cleansers. It has become our favorite all-around body wash. Find at Whole Foods and online at SaffronRouge.com, free shipping on orders over $95.

John Masters™ Organics Lavender and Avocado Intensive Conditioner, (www.johnmasters.com). Although hair care was among the last products to go organic in our personal care products, I underestimated the benefits. This conditioner, with key ingredients of lavender oil, avocado oil, and soy protein, smells clean and pure, and after leaving it on for five minutes before rinsing, my hair feels softer and powerfully restored. Find at Bloom Organics or online at Beautorium.com, free shipping on orders over $100.

Szép Élet’s ilike Organic Skin Care’s Rolling Face and Body Exfoliator, (www.szepelet.com). The Hungarian company Szép Élet’s ilike line of organic skin care is made in small batches from organically grown and hand-picked herbs, fruits, and vegetables to contain the highest possible levels of natural active ingredients. Their Rolling Face and Body Exfoliator is effective yet gentle and has served me well being used two to four times per week. The few ingredients – medicinal thermal spring water, Hungarian paprika, corn meal, castor oil, honey, capsaicin, and vitamins B, C, and E – combine as a wonderfully fragrant, successful exfoliant and gentle stimulant. This product can be beneficial for a variety of skin conditions and can help soften and remove dead keratin cells, stimulate blood circulation, promote the natural self-cleansing process of skin, and charge skin with minerals from thermal spring medical water. Find online at SkinBotanica.com, free shipping for orders over $49.

100% Pure’s Organic Virgin Coconut Nourishing Body Cream, (www.100percentpure.com). All of 100% Pure’s scents are absolutely scrumptious, but the coconut has become my “flavor” of choice. All natural, 100% vegetarian, and almost entirely organic, their creams are also intensely nourishing, serving well after time in the Florida sun. Also try the Fuji Apple and Pink Grapefruit. Find online at SkinBotanica.com.

Eminence Organic Skin Care’s Lime Stimulating Masque, (www.eminenceorganics.com). Eminence’s skincare products are made from the highest levels of all-natural organically grown herbs, fruits, and vegetables that are hand mixed with pure waters drawn from a thermal hot spring lake containing minerals and trace elements. Their Lime Stimulating Masque was a shocker to me the first time Carmen applied it during a facial. The tingling sensation was strong, and the masque left me looking like I’d sat for too long in the strong sun; however, within an hour, I was amazed. My skin felt soft yet toned, and there wasn’t a pore in sight. It is an excellent stimulating and detoxifying masque that I now use at home frequently. Only a pea-sized amount is needed for your entire face, and after just a few minutes, you’ll have cleared blemishes and oxygenated, refreshed skin thanks to the lime, thermal water, nettle, and other ingredients. Find at Bloom Organics or online at SkinBotanica.com.

Eminence Organic Skin Care’s Fire Thorn Treatment, (www.eminenceorganics.com). Another one of Eminence’s products is likely the most soothing and hydrating cream I’ve ever used for my face. My skin feels well-nourished, and the scent is incredibly soothing. Fire Thorn could be my favorite product that I use today. Find at Bloom Organics or online at BuyNaturalSkincare.com.

Just as there is no one-diet-fits-all way to nutrition, upgrading my skincare products has become an ongoing search for not only high-quality items but ones that work best for my needs. This requires some trial and error, but most companies have small or sample sizes available to aid us with our search. We’re lucky to have the resources (online and at local retailers) that help us make the right decisions for becoming conscious with what we put on our skin.

Bloom Organics, 2065 Siesta Drive, Sarasota FL 34236 (map it), (941) 362-4194, www.BloomOrganics.com

All-Natural Skincare Favorites is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Muffins Gone Healthy!

Ellie Campbell — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:21:35 +0000

I am not a muffin eater. I never buy them, even if they are locally baked and trustworthy. They are not my thing. If I’m going to have an unhealthy snack, I’d rather have a Pastry Art almond croissant or an Epicure, well, anything from their bakery. However, muffins are following me as of late. I was inspired to create healthy carrot muffins by our friend Carlene and her delicious carrot cake. Then, my friend Natalie was visiting from Boston, and we were perusing one of the recent Martha Stewart Living magazines I had lying around. I was just telling her how I find nothing useful for my life in that magazine as we stumbled across a section called “Fit to Eat” with a variety of health-conscious muffin recipes. They looked so tasty and included completely nutritious and even low-calorie ingredients, so I ripped them out and decided to test a couple of them.

They did not disappoint. Even my skeptical parents agreed they were tasty little things. And, since some research concluded that most standard muffins boast a few hundred calories – Starbucks’ lowest calorie muffin, the Low-Fat Multiberry, has 340 calories, and Panera’s Carrot Walnut muffin holds 430 – and unhealthy ingredients (sugar, corn syrup, and white flour), I decided these quite nutritious muffins are worth toting around in my bag or giving to my husband as a golf snack.

Here are the two recipes I have thus far tried, slightly adapted from Martha’s. Whole Foods carries most of the dry items in their bulk aisle and the sweeteners (raw honey, Sucanat, and blackstrap molasses) in the baking aisle. Let all muffins cool on a wire rack before storing in an airtight container for up to three days at room temperature.

Oat-Bran Applesauce Mini Muffins, Makes 2 dozen
• 2 cups unsweetened applesauce
• 2 ounces (1/2 cup) Medjool dates, pitted and finely chopped
• 1 cup oat bran
• 1/2 cup 1.5% buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 2 tbsp raw honey
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon old-fashioned rolled oats

Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat two mini-muffin tins with cooking spray. [I used non-stick silicone trays that worked wonderfully and didn’t require greasing.] Place applesauce and dates in a medium saucepan, and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture is clearly reduced, about 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely.

In a large bowl, combine oat bran, buttermilk, egg, honey, and vanilla. Add cooled applesauce mixture, and let stand for a few minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together flour, flaxseed, baking soda, allspice, and 1/4 cup oats. Stir into bran mixture.

Spoon batter into prepared tins, filling to the brims. Sprinkle remaining tablespoon of oats over the muffins. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 22 minutes.
The recipe notes that each mini muffin has approximately 50 calories, 0.1g saturated fat, 9mg cholesterol, 11g carbohydrate, 99mg sodium, 2g protein, and 2g fiber.

Carrot-Zucchini Yogurt Muffins, Makes 1 dozen
• 1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped
• 1/4 cup toasted wheat germ
• 1/4 cup Sucanat (dehydrated cane juice with a taste similar to brown sugar but less sweet)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and grated on the large holes of a box grater (2 cups)
• 1 large zucchini, peeled and grated on the large holes of a box grater (1 1/2 cups)
• 1/2 cup plain, non-fat yogurt (Horizon Organic works well)
• 2 large eggs, separated
• 2 tablespoons unsulfured blackstrap molasses
• 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest

Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a standard (12-cup) muffin tin with cooking spray. [I again used a non-stick for this one.] Whisk together flour, pecans, wheat germ, Sucanat, baking powder and soda, cinnamon, and salt. In a large bowl, stir together carrots, zucchini, yogurt, egg yolks, molasses, and orange zest. Fold in flour mixture until just combined.

Beat egg whites until shiny, stiff peaks form. Gently fold into carrot mixture. Spoon batter into prepared tin, filling to the brims. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 25 minutes. [Note: They will be very moist in the center when you take them out of the oven, due to the grated veggies and yogurt. Be careful not to overdo the cooking time, as I did the first time around in my attempt to ensure that the centers were completely baked.]

This recipe notes that each muffin contains about: 160 calories, 1g saturated fat, 5g unsaturated fat, 36mg cholesterol, 24g carbohydrate, 201mg sodium, 5g protein, and 3g fiber.

I hope you like these as much as we do, and be sure to check back for future muffin recipes.

Muffins Gone Healthy! is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Good Eats from the Germans

Ellie Campbell — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:52:05 +0000

In order to keep my writing fresh and relevant, I can often be found trolling the inspiring, well-stocked, orderly aisles of Whole Foods, wondering what will stir up some enthusiasm in my culinary habits.

On one such occasion, I discovered Seitenbacher, a German line of products ranging from cereal and müsli to noodles. Seitenbacher is a family-owned manufacturer of natural and functional foods which was founded in 1980 by Willi Pfannenschwarz, a descendant of German millers. The company notes, “As a very young man, he started questioning the health results of removing whole grains from our diet and experimenting to make whole grain products delicious and visually appealing.”

Finally, in 2006, with their products available in 8,000 European stores, Seitenbacher opened a distribution center near Tampa, so the brand’s products can now be found in most Florida health food stores, including all Whole Foods Markets in the state.

As I am always on the lookout for truly sugar-free treats – not “sugar free” as in laden with chemical sweeteners, but as in without any refined sugar in the ingredient list – what first caught my eye was something I was dearly missing from my sugar-eating days: fruit snacks. Seitenbacher makes a variety of these, with quirky, confusing names like Smooch Lions (they’re in the shape of lions, sure, but they aren’t smooching!) and Roses for You (a romantic fruit snack!) – both appropriate with Valentine’s Day fast approaching. I give the strangest award to Vampire’s Lunch, the pepper-spiked, surprisingly delicious and spicy black currant candies in the shapes of skulls and drops of blood. Other flavors include Cherry Dolphins, Elderberry Witches, and Fruity Sunhats.

Seitenbacher’s fruit snacks are sweetened by fruit juice concentrate, and their ingredients are simple, easy to read, and not unhealthy. For example, the Strawberry Alligators, my favorite, are made of: thickened apple extracts, strawberry juice, and lemon juice; apple pectin; natural flavor; and canola oil.

Another now-staple Seitenbacher product in our house is their nutrition-packed müsli (or muesli). We like their Müsli #1 Natural Body Power – like I said, the names are unusual. This one contains whole grain spelt, raisins, whole grain oats, peanut kernels, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, barley flakes, dried apples, European hazelnut kernels, and wheat germ. It serves as a good source of fiber, protein, and magnesium. Seitenbacher also has wheat-free, gluten-free, and low-fat müsli options. Their organic choices are: #21 Cashew and Almonds; #22 Raspberries and Almonds; and #23 Sesame and Almonds. Some other interesting varieties include: Men’s Formula, with pumpkin seeds (noted as being beneficial to the prostate gland); Senior Formula, with unsweetened GMO-free corn flakes for a softer texture; and the Pick-Me-Up Mix, with a generous dose of freeze-dried strawberries.

I should note that Seitenbacher’s müsli is like none other we’ve ever tasted, and I grew up with a family that loved the Swiss version. What makes theirs so unique is that they don’t simply sprinkle a few nuts and seeds in with mostly grains, but they make sure to include generous amounts of even the good stuff to make for the tastiest, healthiest müsli possible. As Willi has explained: “The worst mistake I ever made was calling this product müsli. So many people thought our product would be dry and powdery, with no pleasure. Ours are filled with the best quality, freshest fruits, European hazelnuts, all kind of flavorful seeds and nuts. That’s why people love them.” And he isn’t exaggerating!

Whole Foods also carries Seitenbacher’s spelt cereal, Ballastoos (another name that makes me giggle), which contains whole grain spelt, spelt bran, apple juice, and cinnamon. This cereal is both tasty and nutritionally sound – a great wheat-free, not-too-sweet breakfast option.

If you’re looking to up the flavor and nutrition of regular breakfast cereals, I strongly suggest you give Seitenbacher a try. Or grab a bag of their fruit snacks for a satisfying and healthy candy. Let me know if you like their products as much as I do!

Good Eats from the Germans is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Crazy for Coconut: Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Frozen Dessert

Ellie Campbell — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:00:14 +0000

We’ve gone a little crazy for coconut in our house lately. It happened mostly because of Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss frozen dessert (which I’ll get to) – and now this new craving’s run away with itself. It seems every time I’m in Whole Foods, I find a new coconut something-or-other that turns out to be all that I’d hoped, to the point that I will probably devote some upcoming columns to coconut-related items and recipes.

While the health benefits of coconut are controversial and not yet well researched, many health food companies and stores are toting its nutritional factors and incorporating coconut into a variety of products. No doubt that is due to the fact that consumption of coconut (which includes its water, meat, and oil) is now being publicized as having a wide range of advantages, including: providing a quick source of energy; improving digestion and absorption of other nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids; reducing inflammation; supporting immune system function; protecting against heart disease; and promoting weight loss through supporting thyroid function, increasing metabolic rate, and being used by the body to produce energy rather than being stored as body fat (www.coconutresearchcenter.org).

Coconut has mainly gotten its less-than-stellar reputation because of this last item – the high amounts of saturated fat in the nutrition facts; however, I interviewed Larry Kaplowitz, co-creator of Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss (the frozen dessert I mentioned made almost solely of coconut milk) and asked him about misconceptions of coconut’s fat content. He clarified: “While the oil in coconut is a saturated fat, it’s very different than the cholesterol-rich saturated fats in animal products that have been clearly shown to promote heart disease. Those are long-chain fatty acids. They’re harder for our bodies to break down, so we’re more likely to store them as fat. For years, health experts have lumped all saturated fats together and told us to stay far, far away from them. But coconut is different; it contains medium-chain fatty acids that we can easily break down and use for energy. Studies now suggest that because of this difference, coconut oil can actually reduce the risk of heart disease and raise ‘good’ HDL cholesterol levels. There is even evidence that eating coconut can help you lose weight, because the medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) actually speed up the pace at which the body burns fuel!”

Now onto the tasty stuff. After I received an email almost two years ago announcing Luna and Larry’s ice cream alternative creation – and after essentially quitting traditional ice cream due to the wear of the lactose on my stomach and the correlation between refined sugar and my headaches – I eagerly awaited its arrival to stores in Sarasota. Since it was unclear when that day would come, I had several pints delivered through Diamond Organics (www.diamondorganics.com). The result was a resounding “Wow!” Most notably, it was the first ice cream alternative that uncompromisingly passed the taste test, which is even more incredible because it is made of guilt-free, all organic ingredients, which include (in the “Naked Coconut” flavor): coconut milk, agave syrup, dried coconut, coconut extract, and Fair Trade vanilla extract. That’s all there is to it – no refined or chemical sweeteners, not even a blood-sugar-spiking natural sweetener.

If you need another reason to try Coconut Bliss, here’s the story behind it. Larry explained: “Luna and I both share a longtime passion for natural foods. We also shared a love for ice cream, but we had both long ago given up dairy. We tried alternatives but weren’t satisfied with any of them, so one day, we picked up a hand-cranked ice cream maker from Goodwill, and Luna suggested we try using coconut milk – and we were excited about using agave syrup because of its low glycemic index. We knew we were onto something special. As time went by and we shared it with our friends, who also loved it, it became apparent to us that we should focus our energy on this.

“We bought a small professional gelato machine and started experimenting at home. When we had a bunch of flavors that we were happy with, we packed them in pints and invited people to a series of tasting parties. They loved it, bought lots, and then we had stores asking for it. We’ve been working hard to keep up with the demand since.”

And lastly, if you’re concerned about your picky children or skeptical diners, don’t be. Our lactose-intolerant friends were thrilled and shocked at its creaminess and amazing flavor (even one who doesn’t love coconut), the three children who taste-tested it begged to be able to eat a pint each, and the ultimate cynic kept repeating “Wow, that’s good.” After such resounding praise, I knew I had to share Coconut Bliss with everyone I know. Do yourself a favor by picking up a pint – or several – and please let me know what you think!

Current flavors include: Naked Coconut, Dark Chocolate, Vanilla Island, Mint Galactica, Cappuccino, Cherry Amaretto, Strawberry Lemon Love, and Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge. Their three new flavors, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Naked Almond Fudge, and Pineapple Coconut, are due in stores any day! You can find out more about Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss at www.coconutbliss.com.

Crazy for Coconut: Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Frozen Dessert is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.