Fashion:
Arm Yourself with Big Bold Eco Friendly Bracelets
By Bonny Osterhage

I love the jingle jangle of an arm piled with skinny, mixed style bracelets as much as the next girl, but sometimes, less is more. Sometimes, it’s all about making a big, bold accessory statement that stands proudly on its own. This season, that statement for eco friendly jewelry is oversized bracelets. Whether it’s brightly colored thicker bangles, or an intricately designed cuff, the rule is the bigger, the better. Another rule is to keep the rest of your jewelry simple. The following selections are arm candy at its sweetest. And with all of them economicaly priced at under $75, you are free to indulge!  

Mango Tree Fitted Bangles

We are hooked on these fabulous hand carved, hand painted bold bangles, made from organic Grade A mango trees. The website is like a virtual fashion playground, where you can select your skin tone and then mix and match the bracelets until you find your perfect combination. Three styles, 50 colors and four sizes mean endless possibilities. Too many choices? Their “hot color combinations” tab takes the guesswork out. We like this Slim Tiger Eye, Samba Sunny Days and Bold Ruby Red combo. Prices start at $16 each. The combination shown is $54 at  www.mangotreebangles.com.

Fahmina “Bangles” Cuff

Get the look of many bangles in one bracelet with this unique cuff. Made from recycled leather, it’s got a little of that edgy, rocker-chick thing happening, but we like the bold primary shades of yellow and blue. Fahmina donates a portion of sales to the Give Light Foundation, an organization benefiting orphans in Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. Also available in black, brick, brown and chrome colors. $65 at www.greenwithglamour.com.

SERIOUSLY?!
Have Tiddy Will Travel

Now that wearing seat belts is no longer optional, it was only a matter of time before someone came up with a device to keep the shoulder straps from cutting into your shoulders and chest. What we didn’t expect was that said device would show up in the form of a snuggly stuffed animal, called the Tiddy Bear. This cute little critter fastens on to the shoulder strap, and then slides up and down to provide cushioning where you need it most. And, it seems from the ridiculous infomercial that most women like to snuggle it right in between their tiddies! Seriously?!

This is more than a little disturbing — kind of makes this cute little bear seem more like a pervert — or would that be the driver who wears it? Instead of being face up to take in the scenery, he attaches face down with his snoot where no snoot should be in public. And, what kind of mature person wants to drive around town with a stuffed bear between their breasts? It appears that this little bear has also recently undergone a name change to a much tamer “Snugglestrap.” Was the little tiddy buddy too controversial? Call it what you want, it is still a ridiculous looking device. The bears are sold in pairs for $9.95, plus shipping and “handling” (snicker). We think it’s too much to pay for such itty bitty tiddies!

Beauty:
Want to Look Younger? Feed Your Skin!

If you could really bottle the fountain of youth, we think it would be this amazing Argan Oil from Arganica. Unlike mainstream anti-aging products, this one doesn’t involve a long list of hard to pronounce, unrecognizable ingredients. Instead, it consists of a simple anti-aging trifecta of cold pressed Argan Oil (a centuries old Moroccan beauty secret), therapeutic grade Frankincense and Lavender essential oils.  The result of this straightforward recipe is skin that is noticeably improved. Fine lines and wrinkles are softened, elasticity is renewed, blemishes and inflammations are calmed and hydration is restored. And that’s just your face!

This amazing elixir can also be used on stretch marks, massaged on sore muscles and rubbed into brittle nails to restore them to a strong healthy state. It’s like a million different products in one bottle — and we love them all! $65 at www.arganicaoil.com.

Lifestyle:
h2OMG! Why Didn’t I Think of That?

Have you ever noticed how sometimes the best ideas are the most obvious?  How long have we been talking about the dangers of plastic water bottles on so many levels — landfills, chemical leaching, etc.?  That controversy spawned a whole new industry of reusable water bottles. But, we are, after all, still a convenience driven people.  So, why has it taken until now for someone to come up with this — natural spring water in a renewable, eco friendly box?!

That is exactly what h2O Spring Water is — pristine spring water from Canada in an award-winning, multi-layered, mostly paper, insulated container, that is safe, with no danger of chemical leaching, and recyclable. The design was developed by a mom (naturally), looking for a way to enjoy spring water safely and conveniently, without harming the planet for future generations. Looks like she’s got it all bottled up! To learn more, go to www.h2Ospringwater.com.  To purchase, h2O is $5.25 for a six pack at http://h2O.alice.com and is also available at select Whole Foods stores.

Deals & Sales:
White Apricot is Excited to Sponsor Ailin Sale at Modnique and Launch Dress Give-away Contest!

As you know by now, we love to keep you in the know about great sales. Now, we are sponsoring one ourselves!

First, you need to know about our new discovery, Modnique.com, a retailer of highly discounted designer merchandise that is starting to introduce more eco friendly collections into their mix. It´s free to sign up and once you do, you´ll have access to many great events where you can find some of your favorite designer brands up to 85% off!

The sale we’re sponsoring is a fashion forward, eco friendly sportswear and swimwear line by Ailin. You can check them out at www.ailin.com.

From Thursday, April 28th, (7:00 am PST) to Monday,
May 2nd (9:00 am PST), you can get amazing discounts on select Ailin pieces at Modnique. You have to act quickly because these sales move fast and you’ll miss out if you hesitate. Shipping is FREE in the U.S. and just $4.99 internationally.

If that’s not enough reason to celebrate, we will give you one more — we’re also giving away Ailin’s adorable Stewart Islands T-Shirt Dress (an $88 value/shown right) to a lucky winner!  From April 25th to 27th, all you have to do is jump on White Apricot’s facebook page, become a fan if you’re not already, and answer one simple question to enter.  Our staff will pick the most creative answer and will announce the winner the morning of April 28th, which just happens to be when the Ailin sale starts at Modnique! Below are photos of more Ailin styles to get you pumped up!