Beautiful Organic Lip Balms - All The Better To Kiss You With

Many girls would consider surrendering all other skincare products for the sake of an exceptional lip balm. And when a girl finds an organic lip balm available in luscious scents with the prettiest packaging in town, well you ought to buy up the whole range for her because she is going to want one in every flavour and in every handbag!

All The Better To Kiss You With have created a range of 4 impressive lip balms, all preciously presented in cute vintage recyclable tins. Try and choose between Lavender Vanilla, Pepperminty, Chai Mandarin or the new Pomegranate.



I am currently using and proudly flaunting the Chai one which is incredible! It's as if a lovely brew of chai tea sweetened with citrusy goodness has been solidified and set within the little orange tin. Lips feel completely moisturised and have just the right amount of sheen. I must say I thought the tin was Thumbelina small when it first arrived (I think I'd been ogling at the website images too long and was expecting a big tin which really isn't practical for a lip balm. And it's not like I've got Angelina Jolie lips, so the tin size is actually perfect).

The Chai Mandarin is also one of beauty store, Content's most popular products (along with the organic lip balm set). Savvy green beauties clearly know a good thing when they see (and try) it. These USDA certified organic lip balms have even been creating buzz in magazines such as UK Vogue, proving that quality organic products are making a big impact in the main stream market.



Purchase online or in store at Content for £4.50 (or £13.00 for the set)
Purchase online at Puresha for £4.50 (or £13 for the set)

Purchase online at All The Better To Kiss You With for US $5.99 (where you can also buy special gift box sets).

Chai Mandarin Ingredients

Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Cera alba (Beeswax)*, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla)*, Citrus reticulata (Red Mandarin) Oil*, Elettaria cardamomum (Cardamom) Oil*, Eugenia caryophyllus (Clove Bud) Oil*, Tocopherol (Non GMO).

*Certified by NM Organic Commodity Commission

New to Organic Skincare?

If you've yet to go fully organic, a good first product to start with would be a lip balm. When you read statistics about women ingesting 6 pounds of lipstick in a lifetime, it's alarming enough to make you want to start monitoring the ingredients in your lip sticks and lip balms immediately. Here are some ingredients you don't want lurking in your lip balm - petrolatum, phenol, synthetic fragrances, polyethylene and preservatives such as parabens.

The Bachelor Pad Photo Shoot Story

I always try to very respectful of the designers whose work I choose to post on my blog because I know how much hard work goes into even the most simple of projects. It's not just the projects that take a lot of work though, documenting them takes just as much work which is condensed into a span of just two days! I finally styled my bachelor pad project professionally photographed recently and the photographer, Jonathan Ragle, and I thought it would be fun to not only post the final photos but chronicle what actually goes into a shoot. There is real life which looks one way and there is what the camera sees which can be totally different. As Jonathan described to me, "the camera is only one eye without a brain, so it flattens things out and distorts, but it also allows me to make omissions and emphasize elements of a scene that really make the point of a designed space."

Of course, before we could shoot the apartment, Jonathan had to take my portrait. If you have a good eye, you might notice that in post production, he put a painting over the television. Jonathan's advice is to be careful of any electronics that may date quickly. We also moved all the books on the coffee table so the spines faced the camera. Now when I read magazines, I have a tendency to look at them from a stylistic perspective and notice when they make these little changes.

I might be good at taking vacation photos but I didn't know the first thing about shooting interiors until Jonathan showed me the ropes. Whereas before, I might shoot the whole room, now I know it's better to create little vignettes. As Jonathan says, "if I simply stand back with a wide lens and photograph the entirety of every room in a place, sure everything has been documented, but then the photos look like real-estate listings or Library of Congress files. If we close in, and treat the photograph as a piece of artwork in it's own right, then people will be attracted to it's balance, and they will want to look at it and study it and, generally, they will want to see that place for themselves or recreate the feeling of it. It's like choosing where to place a window in a living room which looks out onto a great view. You have to make some decision, so it should be great! Also it quiets the experience and focuses the mind. If you want to see the whole view, then you can always go outside."

As Laurie Reynolds were styling the apartment the day before the shoot, Jonathan stopped by to take test shots which would then create the shoot schedule for the next day. The shot above is one of my favorites because it's one I never would have thought of on my own. After working with Jonathan, I look at spaces in a whole new way.

Part of the process involves making a complete mess and moving everything else in the room while shoot one particular area. What Jonathan is doing now is checking the computer to look at the composition of the photo. I really enjoyed this part since part of what I do is look at images all day and I can tell if something isn't working or should be changed. As I mentioned earlier, sometimes a room can look great in real life but the camera lens will distort the image and you need to move things in order for it to work on film.

Since these photos were just for the blog and my portfolio, it was just the two of working together most of the day which actually made it a lot quicker and we could take more shots. If it were a magazine shoot there would many more people and opinions involved. According to Jonathan, "a magazine interior shoot is often 'propped' to some degree, not unlike a home would be if it were for sale. This varies of course from subject to subject. If the owner is very close to a great designer or stylist, or is a great designer themselves, then we just move things around to suit the camera angles and convey the experience one has by being there. One big potential influence on magazine shoots is how many interests are at play. You may have things in a home which were given to the owner or donated to the shoot in hopes that they would appear in the magazine story...major things, like whole kitchens. It is rarely that extreme, but it does happen and those contributions need to be considered, especially where they really benefit the interior and the photographic story."

The desk was one of the shots were we had to move items around numerous times to make sure they looked right on camera. The apartment faces North so the light was also a factor and why we left some of the lamps on. Usually for magazine shoots, they leave all the lamps turned off.

I didn't have any good photos of the dining area of the apartment so it was important for me to get a good shot for my portfolio. Jonathan tried the same test shot that I took which was of the table with the wall of maps behind but it looked lifeless so I'm so glad he came up with the idea too shoot it from the kitchen. It's another example of thinking outside the box and looking for different angles in the room. I didn't crop any of the photos so I may take out the light fixture. We ran out of money when we got to that area so I had to paint it instead of replacing it.

It was also very important for me to get a shot of the bedroom without wrinkled sheets! I also love how you can see the city skyline through the bamboo blinds.

Since the linens were such a big deal and I mentioned to Jonathan how the "Do You Iron Your Sheets" post garnered the biggest response, he thought it would be funny to take a photo of me with the iron in my hand! Then I yelled at him since my shirt was untucked and I had no lipstick on and I made him retake it after I had freshened up! I also hadn't finished styling the room in this shot.

One popular interior shot is to cut the bed and just take it with one nightstand. There was also an outlet in this shot that Jonathan was kind enough to remove the visually offensive item in post production. If anyone forgot what the place looked like before the makeover, you can click here.

It was a lot of work but I am so happy to have professional photos to finally share now. Jonathan did such a great job setting everything up before we began that I don't think it could have gone any better. And even though it was a lot of exhausting work, it was really fun too! It's really a shame that there aren't that many magazines left since I enjoyed being an editor for a day. If anyone needs a photographer, I highly recommend Jonathan Ragle. When asked what he loves best about being a photographer, he replied, "I love the relationships I build with my subjects and the people connected. It's my job to see things that other people would love to see but probably can't any other way." Oh, and if anyone needs a stylist, you know where to find me!

sewing and messing

When Amalia was born I "inherited" some clothes from some friends with older girls (we still  get a big bag of clothes every now and then, so much quicker and cheaper than sewing ;-)). There was this one very sweet apron shirt that's made in one piece. I love it when something seems very simple but the making of it is clever, especially clothes that are made in one piece - when they work and look good they are even more beautiful for this elegant solution in their making.

Anyhow I worked out the pattern more or less and since then made a few sizes. But being the chaotic crafter that I am, there seems to be no real connection between the patterns of the different sizes, god knows why. I found that out only recently and kind of late in the season for making anything to sell...

I realized that I had sort of missed the summer season about 2 month ago, when everybody started to show off their summer collections and I had done nothing all winter (but watch lots of downloaded films and TV series - hey, it was cold where my sewing machine stands).

A friend phoned me and asked to buy some summer clothes for her daughter, and then added that some friends of hers would also be interested, and should we organize a home-sale at her place before Passover. so I thought, OK, no big plans, I won't even phone my seamstress, I'll just dig up the few pieces which patterns are finished and checked, make 3-4 sizes of each, and make very few pieces to sell. and then start immediately working on winter, since I'm soooo sloooww. I started with this shirt, and drowned in this pattern mess, had to draw it all over again and try on my house model to check it works fine. so much work! I might have some things finished for the girls to buy around September... luckily, Israeli summer runs until about late November.

*It's not so well photographed, it was windy.

+

here's a cool video clip of Israeli musician Oren Lavie.

Happy Passover.

5 of the Best Vintage Prom Dresses

Why would you consider wearing vintage to your prom? Well, not only is it the most eco friendly option but wearing a one of a kind dress will also greatly reduce the risk of a girl's party nightmare coming true: wearing the same dress as someone else! Perish the thought!



Wearing vintage will make you stand out for all the right reasons. One look at this alluring array of dresses and you will be wondering why you didn't veer towards vintage sooner. I've featured a dress for each style and budget but even if you don't snap up one of the coveted dresses below, hopefully the stylish selection will inspire you to scour some vintage stores or online sites yourself (such as the fabulous Etsy and Rokit) for the perfect dress.


Sheer Polka Dot Party Dress - Melsvanity (Etsy) Pictured Above
This is my absolute favourite! Something about the steely grey silver,
sweetheart neckline and black belt defining the waist makes it so opulent looking. Love it! I can't remember which Hollywood starlet wore a silver / grey dress a few years ago at an awards ceremony (Natalie Portman perhaps?) but this one has red carpet written all over it. Medium size.
Etsy, Melsvanity for US$56 (NOW SOLD OUT SORRY)

If you would like to see some more eco-friendly dresses, you can view some stunning wrap dresses, here.
You can also subscribe to Green Lashes and Fashion via email or RSS to receive up to date information about the best ethical and stylish dresses.

Plum Satin Strapless Bow Cocktail Dress - Rokit
Plum and pale golden hues combine to create a soft, pretty prom dress ideal for girly girls.
Purchase online at Rokit for £45 / US$66.36 (deliver internationally)




Black Velvet & Glitter Tulle Puffball Dress - Rokit
'Glitter', 'Tulle', 'Puffball', all words that scream PROM! If you want
to look oh so vintage cool at your prom, then this little black dress
is the one for you! For a fun and youthful look pair with neon bright
heels or stay refined and chic with black or nude coloured heels (great
for elongating the legs!).
Rokit for £75 / US$110.59, deliver internationally - (NOW SOLD OUT, SORRY)




80's Black Lace Sequin Tiered Cocktail Dress - Rokit
A Gatsby-esque dress that looks ever so swish and sparkly! Sure to make you shine on your special night! US size 6 / UK size 10
Purchase online at Rokit for £80 / US$117.97 (deliver internationally)




Crescent Moon Black and White Maxi Cocktail Dress - adVintagous (Etsy)
This dress is so elegant and classy. Sometimes simple black and white can make the biggest impression of all. Size 6

Purchase online at Etsy, adVintagous for US$52


Click below to view more great eco friendly dresses
Best Ethical Party Dresses - Colours and Metallics

Elizabeth Martin Design

It pays to have friends in high places. Elizabeth Martin and Alexandra Wentworth went to boarding school together and when Alexandra needed an interior designer, she turned to her old friend for help. That help led to the cover of the May 2009 issue of Elle Decor! Don't worry, I'm not ruining anything for you. These photos are from Elizabeth's website, not the magazine. I really like her style and I look forward to seeing more of her work in the future!

Three Days of the Condor

It was freezing and windy in New York today and unfortunately I think they already turned the heat off in my building even though it's not quite spring. So all I want to do is curl up on my sofa with blanket and watch a movie, preferably one without subtitles. Makes me wish I owned a copy of Three Days of the Condor. It was one of my favorite movies growing up and I still love it. Robert Redford looked so ruggedly handsome and even though it premiered in 1975, his clothes don't look that dated. In fact, he looks a heck of a lot better than a lot of men I see on the street today!

Dream Design Team

I was chatting with Stefan Hurray who writes the blog Architect Design last week and I mentioned to him that I finally met Miles Redd. Stefan, it turns out, is a big Miles Redd fan and he said that if he ever wins the lottery, he is hiring Miles to decorate his house. But then he said he might want Charlotte Moss to do one room. That was until I suggested that they each do a house. If it's a fantasy, you might as well dream big! Stefan was excited by the thought of Miles (example above) decorating his city home and Charlotte decorating his country house!

I'm not sure if Stefan had this in mind but I thought it was a very pretty example of Charlotte Moss's country house style. Since Stefan is an architect, the designers probably wouldn't be given free reign, since he admits that he is a very opinionated architect! (Aren't they all!)

The conversation got me thinking about who I would choose. I admire the work of so many designers, it would be hard to choose one but if I had them design different homes like Stefan, I wouldn't have to! The one interior designer I kept coming back to as I was thinking was Nate Berkus. I love that his designs fit the client and the space and always look personal and not "done." He also seems like he would be fun to work with since he has a great personality. That and the fact that he's friends with Oprah! Just kidding! I really think he would get my style and I especially love the apartment he helped to decorate for his boyfriend and designer, Brian Atwood, in Milan that was just featured in the April 2009 issue of Elle Decor (above).

Another favorite designer is Steven Gambrel. I loved every room in his West Village townhouse in the January/February 2009 issue of Elle Decor and he would be my choice to decorate my country house. I'm not usually a big fan of color and pattern in my city apartment so I might let him go crazy in the country house. Ok, maybe not totally crazy but a little crazy. I trust him.

After my post about India Hicks and her properties in the Bahamas, she's the only person I would want to help me with my beach house! I think the photos speak for themselves!

Since this is my fantasy, I would of course have a flat in London and I can't think of anyone else I would want to decorate it besides Veere Grenney. I loved everything about his home when I saw it in Australian Vogue Living and would move right in if I could. He incorporates art well in his interiors and that is very important to me.

Perhaps, I'd also open a private little club in London like Annabel's. If I did, it would mostly be because I would want David Collins to design a bar for me. His are hands down the best I've ever seen.

Last but not least, I'd want a little pied-à-terre in Paris. I was thinking that I might like Jacques Grange to decorate it but really only if he could find me a place in his building with the view of the trees above. That's the best part. I had considered Peter Marino since I love the Paris apartment of Giancarlo Giammetti that he designed but I'm not sure I could deal with the biker look he is always sporting.

After the homes, that leaves the yacht and private jet. I'll have to think about who would decorate those. If you're going to dream, you might as well dream big! That's what makes it so fun! So who would be on your dream design team? What houses would the decorate?