THE CAT´S MEOW
Eco Friendly Kitten Heels are the Purrrrfect Height
By Bonny Osterhage

Sure, nothing screams sexy like a sky-high stiletto, but let’s face it — it isn’t always comfortable teetering on those three-inch (or higher) slender heels. Fortunately, the kitten heel is making a comeback, thanks in part to shows, such as Mad Men, and the resurgence of all things retro. If the high-heeled stiletto is synonymous with sex appeal, think of the kitten heel as its more ladylike cousin. This demure style, made popular by Audrey Hepburn, is for the woman who wants the same curve and sex appeal of a stiletto, but without the height. Who says you can’t have it all? Check out the following kitten heel vegan and eco friendly shoes. We think they are the cat’s meow!

An educational note: There is a difference between eco friendly and vegan. Vegan means that absolutely no animal products are used, but the materials are not necessarily sustainable. Call it socially responsible. Eco friendly means the materials used are either recycled, vegetable tanned leathers (as opposed to chemically tanned) or other sustainable textiles.

As you know, our Top 10 stories now call out which finds are “ECOnomical” (good for the Planet and your wallet) and which are worthwhile “Splurges” (in our humble opinion).

SERIOUSLY?!
Boxing in Your Babies

If we have said it once, we have said it 1,000 times, we are all about supporting eco friendly products causes etc., but this is one product that gave us pause: The Customizable Cardboard Cot. ADF Designs has created this cardboard crib, which comes complete with mattress, for parents who want to create an eco friendly sleeping environment for their little bundles of joy. SERIOUSLY?!

Um…news flash — if you want to put your kid in a cardboard box to sleep, you can find them for way less than this $289 price tag. We laughed out loud at the “easy to assemble” description (it’s a box) and the fact that you can customize it yourself (it’s called a box of markers). Then, there is the fact that it is on wheels. Again, SERIOUSLY?! Can you imagine the first time a child stands up in that thing? Major safety hazard! And what happens if they have an “accident” on it?! We think this is an idea that the developers should sleep on a bit more. $209.03 Euros (approximately $289) at www.littlefashiongallery.com.

Check out our Eco Friendly Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle Exclusive Offers page with discounts on clothes, handbags, shoes, jewelry,
skin care, makeup and more!!

TREND ALERT
Not Your Grandmother´s Pearls

No longer just for dinner parties and debutantes, pearls are back in a big way! And while many of them may have a vintage quality, these aren’t your grandmother’s necklaces. This look is fresh and funky with pearls often playing a supporting role against layers of chains, oversized pendants and other adornments. Also, unlike your grandmother’s pearls, these new looks don’t require a trust fund to enjoy them. In fact, we found three eco friendly versions that perfectly illustrate what we mean — and all of them are ECOnomical at under $100!

With its single strand of pearls sweeping across the varying lengths of brass chains and charms, the Madeline (left/$30) looks far more expensive than its $30 price tag. For something more elegant, Laura Stark’s “Olivia” gets our vote (center/$92), for its unique combination of a brass filigree finding, brass chains and glass pearls. Finally, the Golden Grapes Bauble Earrings (right/$89) from VerdeRocks are a wonderfully cascading shape, made of up gilt beads, vintage pearls, vintage crystal beads and rhinestone chains. We'd wear all of these with a tee and jeans — bet your grandmother never wore hers that way!

DIY BEAUTY
Make Your Own Gorgeously Green Beauty Products
with Expert Sophie Uliano

We’re very excited to introduce you to our new contributing expert, Sophie Uliano, who is going to help you save money, be good to your body and stay Gorgeously Green, with her amazing DIY (Do It Yourself) recipes.

Sophie is a NY Times best-selling author of three books, including Gorgeously Green, 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life, The Gorgeously Green Diet, How to Live Lean and Green, and her newest book, Do it Gorgeously, Homemade and Organic Solutions for Every Woman’s Life.  Her appearances on many television shows, including Oprah, The View and Good Morning America, have inspired women across America to pursue an eco friendly lifestyle.

In this video, Sophie demonstrates just how easy it is to make a yummy, rich, non-toxic Vanilla Body Cream that will leave your skin soft and supple all winter long.

To make life easier, all of the ingredients used in Sophie’s videos, as well as other wonderful green products, can be purchased on her website. Go to www.gorgeouslygreen.com.  Her books are available at www.amazon.com.

Where you see the White Apricot symbol, it means there´s an Exclusive Offer - and that means a great discount or deal - Click it!