Fair Trade Feature: Greenola

Hello all :) I'm really excited to share this feature with you. I've been crazy busy with school and it's about damn time I gave you something to read!

Choosing eco-friendly fashion isn't just about shopping for sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester. It's about keeping in mind where your clothes are coming from. Many consumers fail to realize the atrocities involved with garment manufacturing. I was absolutely appalled when I read about the rape factory in Jordan. Sure, those clothes may be cheap, but those prices don't factor in abuse.

That's why I'm happy to have discovered Greenola. Greenola features beautiful accessories and clothing handmade by Bolivian women. Through their work, these women are able to support not only themselves, but their community as well. Everything from Greenola directly supports the fair trade movement and the fight against unfair labor. Here are some of my favorite items, I adore them!

From left to right: RAYA Infinity Scarf, CALYPSO Semi-Precious Stone Bracelet, TACHE Handwoven Purse

Founder, Jennifer Moran, is extremely passionate about her work. Even after only a few online exchanges, I could tell how important this cause is to her.

"I am inspired to create a Responsible Style Revolution. We currently can pick any food item off the shelf and choose exactly what we put into our bodies. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about fashion. We read the label and have no idea who made the garment, or what goes into making the fabric... With Greenola, we have full transparency."

Besides running a fashion business the way it should be run, Jennifer has also teamed up with Solidarity Bridge, an organization that helps bring medical aid to impoverished Bolivian communities. 10% of every purchase is donated to the charity, helping the Bolivian population overcome such severe poverty.

So now's your chance to support a good cause and scoop up some cute stuff! Jennifer has supplied me with a coupon code, specifically for you lovely readers. Enter the code FORTHELOVE at checkout and receive 20% your entire order (one per customer, expires 12/31/2011). Oh, did I mention that everything is crazy affordable to begin with? Happy shopping!

Interested in the history of Greenola and it's founder, Jennifer Moran? Check out this article (page 5).

Backyard Wildlife: Hummingbirds

Good morning, all! Hope everyone is having an awesome September so far. I'm just getting back into the swing of things, balancing a hectic school and work schedule. But it's nice to be busy again!

As much as I love Fall, I'm sad to say goodbye to Summer. Especially because I love watching the hummingbirds zip around in my backyard. They are really magnificent little creatures. Yesterday, after much patience, I finally got some great snapshots of the female. I'm so excited to share them with you. Take a look:

Many people are unaware that hummingbirds are even around them. I, for one, never knew they were any in my area (Northeastern US has only one species: The Ruby Throated). Being so fast and tiny, it's easy to mistake them as an insect! They also love to hide out. But with a little bit of coaxing, you can get these little guys to come pay you a visit. Here's a few tips if you want to start attracting some next season:

• Red, red, red! Put lots of red objects in your backyard, such as ribbons and planters. Hummingbirds are crazy about the color.
• Put up a couple of feeders (make sure they're red!). Hummingbirds like options, especially since they are very territorial. Fill with simple nectar (4 parts water, 1 part sugar, boiled and refrigerated). Do not color the nectar. We're not sure how dyes may affect them.
• Keep your feeders fresh and clean. Many hummers will avoid a dirty feeder.
• Put out plants that are known hummingbird favorites. Petunias, honeysuckle, and azaleas are all great examples. Note: hummingbirds don't just like red flowers! Do a little research.
• Be patient! In areas where hummingbirds aren't super abundant, it can take time to attract some. But it's totally worth the wait.

Have you had any success in attracting hummingbirds? What other wildlife to enjoy in your area?

What I'm Loving: Pure Citizen

All this rainy weather here in Jersey has really got me bummed. The last few weeks of summer were a total washout. Between a leaky car (soggy floor mats, anyone?) and a cancelled camping trip, I've just about had it with Mother Nature.

Luckily, I found just the thing to cheer me up: a super fab find.

Matt and Nat Meryl Backpack

I've been on the hunt for a backpack for a little while now, especially since school started for me today. The canvas/leather styles are my favorite. They're so effortlessly chic. Matt & Nat had the perfect one: The Meryl Backpack. I'd been drooling over it forever. Too bad it was $150. Ouch.

But wait! This is where Pure Citizen comes in.

Online flash/sample sales are all the rage lately. There's one for everybody, including us eco-friendly girls. Pure Citizen was the first one I signed up for and it's my favorite. They feature the best stuff with the steepest discounts. I obsessively check it all the time to see what kind of goodies are up. Best of all, it's totally free to sign up. Go do it! Right now!

So my $150 dream bag just so happened to be up for 60 bucks. How freaking amazing is that? I whipped out my credit card so fast. Goodbye rainy day blues. I'm a happy girl again.

Just a head's up though: if you see something you like on a flash sale site, you gotta act quickly! Great deals go fast. After I bought my Meryl Backpack, it was sold out. So lucky!

What online flash sale site do you use? Have you ever tried Pure Citizen?