Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 43

Chic and Sustainable Pieces That Make Me Feel Fancy

​​It’s hard to think of fall shopping when it’s still so hot outside, but I’ve found a handful of perfect transitional pieces that will guide you effortlessly from summer to fall! I love versatile, earth-friendly clothes that I know I will wear over and over again – for years to come.

The first is this beautiful blue skirt from Rahka. All of Rahka’s garments are made from virgin bio-based or recycled biological materials. Rahka uses recycled or biodegradable materials to create all of their clothing! How cool is that? This company is extremely focused on sustainability and style.!  This one is made from vegan certified, recycled Cupro.

Styling tip: Wear it with a bodysuit or a fitted tank and pretty sandals.

Here I am wearing it – hi!

Shop it here:

Wrap Flower Print Blu Skirt, £175 @rakha.co.uk

Next from Rahka, I love this white bodysuit! 

I adore the draped neckline, and the soft recycled organic cotton fabric. I wear this with the blue skirt posted above, but it’s really cute with jeans and boots too.

Shop it here:

Lola Organic White Jersey & Voile Bodysuit, £70 @rakha.co.uk

Next is this fun orange wrap skirt from Back Beat Co. Back Beat Co uses recycled, low impact fabrics like cotton, hemp, and tencel. All of their materials are recycled or sustainably farmed. They are completely plastic free, and even their mailers are compostable and recyclable. Awesome!

My skirt is made from Tencel Linen, and is really fun and bright. Mine appears more orange, see the pic below.

Shop it here:

Tencel Wrap Skirt, $128 @backbeat.co

Isn’t this skirt so joyful!

This sweet twist top makes me excited for fall. I’ll definitely be throwing this on before I run out of the house with jeans and a cute top, or on hikes when it’s a little chilly! The one I have is the duster, and it looks like that one is sold out, but I love this one too.

Encircled makes lovely, ethically made Modal pieces. This Canadian company is a certified B corp, and uses naturally derived, biodegradable fabrics. They are completely zero waste! They work with ethical, local suppliers to lower their carbon footprint as much as possible.

Shop it here:

The Everyday Twist Top, $156 @encircled.co

I also can’t wait to wear this adorable black top from Whimsy and Row.  I have a yellow dress from them I wear constantly! As a refresher, Whimsy + Row is made in LA, and uses sustainable, deadstock materials.  This gorgeous top is made from recycled rayon, and looks great with skirts, and jeans.  I paired it recently with white denim and it was super cute.

Shop it here:

Maya Button Up, $86 @whimsyandrow.com

P.S.- use code Alicia20 for 20% off anything on WhimsyandRow.com till Sept 30th!

Lastly, this blazer from People Tree got me through my press tour for Bad Therapy.  This pretty pink looks great with a white tee, and jeans, or the matching pink pant! People Tree is an ethical company based in the UK. All of their fabrics are certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard via Soil Association. They are impressively fair trade, use good working conditions, complete company transparency, and are always looking for the best environmental practices as well as gender equality and fair wages!

Shop it here:

Mirren Blazer In Pink, $151 @peopletree.co.uk

I wore it so much! See below:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

@badtherapymovie press day from my living room! Do you like my makeshift tripod?

A Prescription for Self Care

Self care. Let’s discuss the buzz word of the year.

I hear people saying it all the time. “I need to focus more on self care.”

The phrase self care may conjure images of massages and hot tubs. But it’s so much more than that. So – what exactly does self care mean? What does it look like? How do we take good care of ourselves? And the million dollar question – how come there are so many of us who already know the answers to these questions – and we still aren’t doing it?

Self care is the act of deliberately taking action to improve your emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual well being. I tried to come up with a more interesting description but it’s pretty straightforward. So why is the actual act of self care not so straightforward? I believe that the reason that it’s SO challenging for most people is this: there’s no one who can do it for you. It’s ALL your responsibility. And we already have SO MANY responsibilities to other people. But HELLO! Why are you taking care of stuff for other people before you’re taking care of yourself?!?! PUT ON YOUR OXYGEN MASK FIRST PEOPLE! (and yes, I know I’m yelling. It’s only because I care.) In a society that is constantly trying to control things, this is one thing that we actually can take charge of…and yet, often, we still don’t. We spend so much time with output, we forget how important it is to refill our tank.

When I work with clients, self care is the thing that they struggle with most, sabotage the most, put on the back burner the most. They don’t make their doctors appointments. They don’t get enough sleep. They don’t ask for help. They don’t (otherwise disguised as “can’t”) leave work at work. They felt incredible when they were exercising during the month of January – but then they stopped. Most people know what makes them feel good, but they don’t (or won’t) make time for it.

Self care can be scheduling (and going to!) your doctor’s appointment.
Self care can be noticing when you feel totally frazzled and taking 5 minutes to close your eyes and just breathe.
Self care can be getting into bed by a certain time every night.
Self care can be waiting for at least an hour after you’ve woken up to look at your phone.
Self care can be going for a 20 minute walk every morning.
Self care can be choosing to drink alcohol more moderately.
Self care can be asking for help.
Self care can be unfollowing people on social media that bring you down.
Self care can be taking a mental health day.
Self care can be finding the time to paint once a week.
Self care can be signing up for a class.
Self care can be creating a budget and sticking to it.
Self care can be putting up boundaries in relationships.
Self care can be deciding that you’ll turn off your phone for a certain number of hours every day.
Self care can be getting a massage.
Self care can be reading a book.
Self care can be taking the time to look at where you are now and where you’d like to be at this time next year.
Self care can be having a difficult conversation.
Self care can be taking a break from social media.
Self care can be saying No.
Self care can be having lunch with a friend.
Self care can be seeing the acupuncturist.
Self care can be making time for the gym

Clearly, self care doesn’t look the same for everyone. Sure – we all need to see our doctors and get a good night’s sleep. But you don’t have to do all these things in order to take care of yourself. Did something on that list really jump out at you? Start there. Pick one thing that you are willing to make the time for it and notice how it affects your week.

Need someone to hold you accountable? Drop me a note and I’ll check in with you to help you kick your excuses to the curb. My choice? I’m gonna finally start my mornings phone free. I’ve been saying I’m going to do this for a while now. No good excuse why I haven’t – I just haven’t bothered to break the habit. So now, I’m accountable to all of you!!! I’ll let you know how it goes.

Life is too short to spend it on the hamster wheel. Get off for a minute and refuel. Go to the doctor, take a bath, read the paper, have tea without a device. No one is going to take care of you if you don’t take care of yourself.

Michelle Pollack is a leadership coach who works with her clients to lead with confidence, integrity and purpose.

Photo by Taisiia Stupak on Unsplash

Can You Adopt A Dog That Lives In Another State?

It happens – you’ve already looked at the local shelters and rescue groups and have just not fallen in love with the right pet for you yet, and suddenly you’re scrolling through facebook on a Sunday night, and *bam* you fall madly in love on sight with a beagle at a kill shelter in Detroit. But bummer, s/he’s in another state – far, far away from you, and you can’t get there easily. This does not mean you cannot still have snoopy in your bed with you by next week.  If you are serious about an adoption of a dog, but the distance seems too great – there are people out there willing to helping. Many will help organize legs or a portion of the distance to bring these dogs to a soft place to land. That is how they help, and they love to do it – sometime for a small fee or none at all. Please don’t let distance stop you! It may take a bit longer, but who cares for the right match?

This transportation list by dog page moderator Jen should be a perfunctory share for everyone.  There are always options, and a way if there is a will!

Please note: Some rescue groups and shelters strictly do not participate in out of state adoptions, however *many* do – so always ask. It never hurts to ask! Many shelters would rather the animal go to someone out of state than be euthanized for lack of shelter space.

RESCUE AND TRANSPORTATION GROUPS
TRANSPORT GROUPS

Please note that some of these groups are volunteer-based. Please be patient when waiting for a response.

Highway Heroes Rescue Transport – hhrt.teamapp.com – Facebook – facebook.com/groups/highwayheroes/
Animal Rescue Transport Network: facebook.com/pages/Animal-Rescue-Transport-Network/117998798306519
California Rescue Railroad: groups.yahoo.com/group/CaRescueRR
Dog Rescue Railroad: groups.yahoo.com/group/Dog_Rescue_RailRoad
Dogs Without Borders: Email: info@dogswithoutborders.org
Dogs In Danger Rescue: dogsindanger.com/transport.jsp.
FreedomTrainTransports: freedomtraintransports.com
Hope4Dogs: hopemaster.blogspot.com – Email: hope@hope4dogs.net
IMOM Express: groups.yahoo.com/group/IMOM-xpress
Operation Roger: operationroger.rescuegroups.org/
P.E.T.S. (Peterson Express Transport Services): petsllc.net/
Petfinder.com transport forum: forums.petfinder.com/viewforum.php…
Rescue Angels on Wheels: groups.yahoo.com/group/RescueAngelsonWheels
Rescue Transport: groups.yahoo.com/group/RescueTransport
Rolling Rescue: groups.yahoo.com/group/rollingrescue
Suzy at PET TAXI in CA 424-653-4565
Truck-n-Paws:groups.yahoo.com/group/TRUCK-N-PAWS
pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/dogtransportvolunteers/
Waggin’ Trails Transport: facebook.com/waggintrails
Wheels4Paws: https://www.facebook.com/Wheels4Paws
Additional groups that assist with animal transport can be found by searching this link: groups.yahoo.com/search?query=animal+rescue+transport
Fairy DogMother facebook.com/fairydogmotherrescue/

VOLUNTEER AIR TRANSPORT

Pilots N Paws (volunteer AIR TRANSPORT) pilotsnpaws.org/: A meeting place for those who rescue, shelter or foster animals, and pilots and plane owners willing to assist with the transportation of animals, including overseas transport. Also for people who can help with, including being a volunteer driver or a temporary overnight foster home in case of an unexpected landing.
Animal Rescue Flight (Non-profit organization) animalrescueflights.org/
Flying “B” Pet Transportation Service (individual volunteer) examiner.com/…/a-man-and-his-flying-b-transport-…
Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team (volunteer AIR & GROUND TRANSPORT) nodogleftbehind.org/ The PAART team is passionate about saving animals. Whether it be by land or by air the team is on constant standby, ready to mobilize at a moments notice. Over the last few years our missions have varied in both size and scope. Every mission has unique circumstances and challenges. From large land rescues, to spur of the moment air missions, to humanitarian missions, the team is ready and willing to go to any lengths to leave No Dog Left Behind.
Pilot.dog (volunteer AIR TRANSPORT) pilot.dog Pilot.dog is a NC nonprofit foundation that flies dogs for medical care or relocation. Founded in 2015 by Steve & Pam Rhode and a trusty IFR certified 1974 Cessna 182.

SEARCH RESCUES BY STATE

Best Friends Network: We invite you visit the new Best Friends Network website at network.bestfriends.org/. The Best Friends Network is an online community that they have created that allows animal lovers to connect and to help each other. You can search by state or by topic and find resources and forums dedicated to helping animals. Get HELP from this rescue by state, they can pull the pup to keep it safe, then you can work on transport (some are free).
Click on the state & start contacting them; they can get the pet out of the shelter for you if you live far away too. lacroixtees.com/fb_direc…/animal-rescue/index.php

ADDITIONAL LISTINGS:

Angels Behind the Wheel facebook.com/angelsbehindthewheel/
Animal Transport Rescue facebook.com/AnimalRescueTransportNetwork/
Yahoo California railroad Rescue- groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/CaRescueRR/info

If you have more groups or recommendations to add to this list, please leave them in the comments, and we will edit the post to show your updates!

Photo by Sheri Hooley on Unsplash

We Can Be a Collective Force of Nature

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” – Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

There’s no doubt this summer has looked different for many across the world. Not only has COVID-19 impacted our everyday lives in some way, but it has also posed a threat to conservation efforts globally, ranging from reduction in management capacity and effectiveness, and budgets and staffing cuts which may sometimes result in an increase of illegal activities like poaching and unregulated logging[1].

It is in these unprecedented times that we often turn to nature to find solace, hope and even newfound inspiration. For some, that might mean venturing out on the trails at a nearby national park. For others, perhaps it’s a quick stroll around your block.

During this pandemic, I can personally attribute much of my sanity to simply getting outside when possible. I’ve found calm and positivity on long walks, revitalized by the fresh air and endorphins. I’ve also found promise and strength in the sounds of nature, from the chirping of birds to the churning of the Potomac.

But our access to nature, as well as the physical and mental benefits we reap from it, are dependent on numerous variables, with climate change being a major factor. As recent as this July, Washington D.C. broke the record for most 90-degree days in a month[2], which made it difficult for many in this area (including myself!) to take pleasure in the outdoors for an extended period of time.

Regardless of your nature experience, one thing remains true: we must recognize that nature is a part of us, and come together to champion Earth’s conservation not only for our personal well being, but also for the well being of global communities and future generations.

That’s why The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is proud to be a part of the Grow Together initiative, which is a collective movement meant to celebrate the power of our beloved natural spaces and create positive change for the planet.

Here are 3 actions you can take to make an impact today:

Give: Visit growXtogether.com to make a simple $15 donation. The choice is yours: Plant trees! Clean a beach! Protect a nest! Support a local park! Create equitable access to the outdoors! Whatever you choose, you’ll have an opportunity to support impactful organizations like TNC, Big City Mountaineers, Surfrider Foundation, Outdoor Afro, The Trust for Public Land, and Point Blue Conservation Science.

Explore: Download free STEM-based Junior Field Guides here, meant to inspire the next generation of nature lovers. Developed in partnership with KinderCare Education, these guides engage children ages 2-5 in nature learning activities. The best part? Your kiddos will earn a badge for each guide completed!

Share: Spread the word to friends and family by posting a #growXtogether pic of yourself in nature, standing as a force-multiplier for good.

If nothing else, I challenge you to take some time today to reflect on your personal connection to nature. I believe the more we illuminate our own connections and stories, the more motivation we’ll have to join together as the force of nature that’s needed to protect our planet.

Leah Kartun has worked in the nonprofit sector since 2015 and is currently a manager for The Nature Conservancy’s Cause Marketing & Brand Partnerships team, which develops authentic brand partnerships to engage and inspire consumers through tangible actions that can directly impact conservation work. A native of the Chicago suburbs, she lives in Northern Virginia where you’ll usually find her outdoors or researching new sustainable recipes. To learn more about the impactful work TNC is doing globally, please visit nature.org.

1 “Ensuring the resilience of protected and conserved areas in the wake of COVID-19,” Nature.org, April 28, 2020.

2 Livingston, Ian. “Washington breaks record for most 90-degree days in a month,” The Washington Post, July 28, 2020. Accessed August 16, 2020:

Photo by Steven Kamenar on Unsplash

The Comfiest, Cutest Eco Loungewear

With so many people working and schooling from home now, who needs restrictive clothes when sweatpants exist on earth! I personally live in loungewear regardless, and have searched far and wide for the most flattering, comfiest, and – of course – most sustainably made loungewear out there. I want to share my favorites with you!

My favorite sweatshirt is from Mate The Label.  The fit is absolutely perfect. It’s soft, comfy, and I really like the muted tones it’s available in. Mate is 100% organic cotton, and made in LA. I love their joggers, tees, and dresses too! Trust me, you will never want to take this sweatshirt off! Mine is Charcoal, but the clay, pear, pink, latte, amber are all perfect choices!

Vintage Pullover in Clay, $108 @matethelabel.com

Vintage Pullover in Charcoal, $108 @matethelabel.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also really love these easy joggers Mate makes.  They are so comfy, and I like wearing them with my Mate tees, or a tank top.

Ali Pant, $138 @matethelabel.com

Another Mate favorite is this thermal waffle knit top! This is the beautifully designed thermal you’ll live in all fall and winter. It’s warm and decadently cozy – a perfect pairing to a good pair of jeans.

Elliot Thermal $108 @matethelabel.com

Mate also makes soft tees that are the perfect fit.  You won’t want to take them off! I have the green, and pink of this one:

Classic Crew, $64 @matethelabel.com

P.S. use code Alicia20 for 20% off anything from Mate the Label!

New to me is People of Leisure- an athleisure company with the greatest sets! They’re fair trade, sustainable, and also made in LA. They use deadstock fabrics, use minimal water in their techniques, and have very minimal waste. I like wearing this tie dye sweatshirt with fitted black yoga pants.

Daybreak Hoodie, $70 @peopleofleisure.co

P.S. use code Alicia20 for 20% off your purchase!

I like this waffle knit top from local LA designer, Eva Su! She has created a small collection of active loungewear that is sustainable, organic, and locally (to me!) made. I wear this top with leggings on hikes.

Zuma waffle knit, $66 @evabyevasu.com

Another great brand is PACT. I’ve posted about them before, but wanted to mention that they have a lot of cozy basics, and I love their kids line for Bear! The kids tees and sweatpants are the softest, sweetest things. Bear’s favorites are the blue and green tees, and the red sweatpants.

Shop Bear’s fave tees here, and his favorite sweatpants here!

..Happy Lounging!
Xo,
Alicia

Raw Vegan Candy Chocolate Apple Wedges

Like a healthier spin on candy apples, these 3 bite snacks are ideal for after school bites or late night nibbles when your sweet tooth hits. Organic, vegan, raw, dairy-free, soy-free, and as delicious as when Idina Menzel hits a high note, these popsicles are going to be your new go-to decadent snack.

Raw Vegan Chocolate Candy Apple Popsicle Bites

INGREDIENTS

2 large red apples
10-12 wooden ice pop sticks
1/2 cup dried pitted dates
2 tablespoons vegan milk
1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil, melted
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon nut butter of choice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of sea salt
1/2 cup organic dark chocolate chunks or chips
dash of coconut oil
your choice of crushed nuts, shredded coconut, or any other garnish

Makes 10-12 Wedges.

Cut each apple into 5 or 6 equal sized wedges. Put the ice pop stick through one end. Line a large plate or tray with parchment paper. Set the apples aside

To make the caramel, add the dates to your food professor and blend until they are broken down. Add the milk and coconut oil and blend into a paste, occasionally using a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides. Add the maple syrup, nut butter, cinnamon and salt, and blend until thoroughly mixed.

Use a knife to coat each apple wedge with the sauce and place back on the parchment paper. Put in the freezer to set for 25 minutes or so.

Just before removing the apples from the freezer, melt the chocolate in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Make sure water does not come in contact with the chocolate or materials, or it will spoil. Stir constantly with a rubber spatula so it does not burn. Add a dash of coconut oil to thin it out a little. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a minute or two.

Remove the apples from the freezer. Take one at a time by the stick and hold it over top of the bowl of chocolate and use a spoon to pour chocolate over top. Allow to set for a minute before sprinkling garnish on top, or else it will slide off. Put back on the plate and repeat for each one, before putting back in the freezer for 10 minutes to set. Store in the refrigerator and enjoy!

Jessica Milan is the founder of LookBook CookBook and the author of the book by the same name.

Smoke Signals From The Fitting Room Of A Department Store

I just got a text message from one of my most beautiful sister-friends. “Beautiful” in the superficial sense. She is lovely inside as well, but I should be clear that what I mean here is physically beautiful. The text message was a smoke signal from the fitting room of Bloomingdales. We have all sent them. In this instance, her body does not look how she remembers before her babies were born and breastfed.

We are coming to the age where women seem to start noticing and vocalizing their “demise”. In a culture where we are about to be put out to pasture. I live in the town known for its love of botox and injectables (hint: starts with an “L” ends with an “A”). Where the path to aging is quite actually frozen in time. And while I understand and respect all choices and am a vehement advocate of wellness and beauty in aging (part of my vocation is helping people to look and feel well and beautiful!), I do want to know if there is an another way.

Like how do we un-condition all of this programming that has us believing that these lines that are taking shape on our faces and a bit of sag on the rump are hideous? The closest I hear to this idea as a movement is the idea that these are our “battle scars”. But that languaging falls a bit short for me because inside of it lies a defensiveness. And I don’t want us to have to fight to prove ourselves anymore. Nor do I want us to go to the opposite end to “acceptance”. That word has ring of defeat echoing in my ear “Fuck you, ACCEPTANCE”, I say to drown it out.

I don’t want us to fight OR to lay down and drown in it. I want to walk with my sisters into this next space of our lives as the true next level that it is. We are feeling our internal shifts as we step into the power that comes with aging. I want for us to embrace the external shifts as well. I don’t want to write one of those articles that has some pat “how to” answers at the end of it. I don’t have the answer. I just have this desire. I can commit to asking myself some questions…

Questions like:

“how can I embrace these external physical changes? “
“what if I welcomed them?”
“what if I was excited about them”
So much we do comes from external programming that is NOT TRUE.
Why do we continue to shape our lives around this particular lie?
Who is this lie serving?
And how can we rise out from underneath it?

Do you remember how excited you were as a child to get measured and find that you had grown an inch? How can we walk into this next space of our lives with that level of excitement?

What if wrinkles were in vogue? You do understand that EVERY fashion and beauty trend is JUST A TREND. These are fabrications. Can we redefine and empower ourselves into embracing a new trend? When Coco Chanel was photographed with a tan in the 1920s, the current trend had been ivory skin. Just like that, new trend. What if we took away all of our ideas about aging that have been given to us by outside, outdated modes of thinking (and advertising) and create a new fashion? What if we approached each new wrinkle with the same excitement we felt about growing another inch? In this time where revolution is so deeply felt throughout our land, let’s turn another oppressive mode of operating on its ass, shall we?

Rachael Smith is a holistic wellness and energy medicine practitioner, intuitive, and educator with clients and students around the globe. 

Photo by Huha Inc. on Unsplash

The Radical Idea That Children Deserve Respect

In a world struggling with mental health and well-being, and controlled by those who seem to lack empathy and heart, how do we ever achieve any form of the elusive ‘world peace’?

“Society’s destiny rests on how it treats its children.” Robin Grille

Let’s start with “childism”. This is a prejudice against children in which it is socially acceptable for adults to treat children in disrespectful ways, in order to gain control of them. It’s also the idea that having control of your children is a sign of successful parenting. Yet when parents focus on control, manipulation, punishment and shame, or resort to other more aggressive if not violent forms of communication, inevitable problems occur. In short, children begin to develop an identity around feelings of failure and worthlessness, which contributes to the ever increasing rates of depression, anxiety and self-harm among our young people. In other words, childism is basically a socially accepted form of bullying. Children who have these experiences, will often feel the need to bully others in their life, to gain back the control they lose at home. It’s a vicious cycle.

Once we accept the radical idea that children also deserve respect, we can begin to make positive changes in our own homes.

Peace at home has the potential to infect the world with happiness. Never doubt the power of a peaceful home.

Five suggestions for peaceful and positive communication with children:

RESPECT – The most basic human right. Think about what you say to your children. If it’s not respectful to say (or do) to your closest adult friends, it’s also not okay to say (or do) to your children. This means; acceptance of your children by allowing natural growth and development, not trying to force them by use of manipulative or punitive measures. Let them look up and see inspiration, not intimidation. Respect them so they know what respect feels like. Respect yourself so they know what self-respect looks like.
EMPATHY – The ability to see life from your child’s perspective. Children want and need to feel heard and understood. If you can learn about their level of development and learn to understand their behaviour, emotions and needs, this will have the most positive outcome in your relationship. By being empathetic with your children, not only will they develop empathy, they will learn to understand people instead of judging them. Empathetic people feel and think; just what this world needs more of.
CONNECTION – Our modern world finds endless ways to be entertained and kept busy through the use of technology, however, nothing can replace the connection and affection of a human being. Quality time together, even 5 to 10 minutes a day, helps us reconnect and feel valued. When we truly connect with someone, respect and compassion is naturally, unavoidable.
COMFORT – Everyone feels comfort in their own way. A good start is to listen and acknowledge your child’s emotions and remember all emotions are valid because behind every challenging behavior, is a need. Show empathy, even if you don’t understand or agree with them completely, because what they’re feeling is very real for them. Offer comfort and respect their response; not everyone feels like a hug in the middle of an upset and that’s their choice.
SELF-ACCEPTANCE – If we don’t get the chance to be ourselves during childhood, to develop self-worth and self-respect, we might spend our entire adulthood searching for it. Your personal growth is just as important as your child’s growth. Treat yourself with the same gentleness, understanding and respect, that you would treat your child with.  Children don’t ask for perfection; they want happy parents to journey with.

The best way for children to learn any of these qualities is by seeing us modelling them, living them, being them, and normalizing them in every relationship, including the one with ourselves. It begins with loving the person we see and being the person we love.

Kirsty Lee lives in Victoria, Australia, with her husband and two children. She is the founder and creator of Gentle Parenting Memes, on a mission to ‘Be the Change’ and normalize gentle parenting.

Photo by Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash

The Eco Summer Dresses I Can’t Take Off

I don’t know about you, but when I get dressed up in the summer heat, comfort is my top priority! Whether I’m running around with Bear going out for a meal (when we can) or doing press interviews – is it so much for a Mama to want to look fabulous and feel comfy at the same time? I’ve found a bunch of amazing eco brands that I wanted to share with you – slow fashion companies that are sustainable, affordable, and kind – moving away from fast fashion and massive retailers. 

The Slow Fashion Movement is about better quality pieces and moving away from fast fashion which is polluting the earth. Microfiber pollution is a huge issue for our water system, as well as our bodies. 

It feels good to invest in fewer things  I’ll wear over and over again that are thoughtfully made, with organic materials. Fast fashion is an insanely large climate polluter, and typically the items purchased don’t have as long of a lifespan because they are cheaply made, often use unethical child labor or poor working conditions, and non-organic materials. Your skin absorbs everything you put on it – including the chemicals in your clothing! Wearing organic materials is also better for the soil, water, and air, which means less chemicals overall being released into the environment. 

If I’m not purchasing from eco companies, I’m buying used from places like The RealReal, and other secondhand consignment retailers. This is not only thoughtful because it’s eliminating clothing waste, it’s giving new life to things that I probably would have never purchased before! It’s also really fun to shop this way, and a creative way to find unique treasures.

I know it’s a little late in the game to be sharing my summer dress round up as we head towards labor day, but all these dresses are perfect for those September and October with a long sweater and boots! These are dresses that can go from season to season, effortlessly! Plus, it’s still boiling hot in my part of the country, and in many others too.

The first dress I wear on repeat is this orange maxi dress from People Tree UK! I just love it!! It’s made of 95% organic cotton, and 5% elastane for a little stretch – and it’s super flattering.  People Tree is an ethical company based in the UK. All their fabrics are certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard via Soil Association. They are impressively fair trade, use good working conditions, complete company transparency, and are always looking for the best environmental practices, as well as towards gender equality and fair wages.

Shop it here:

Morgan Blossom Print Maxi Dress, $96 @peopletree.co.uk

 

Keeping in the marigold theme – I also really love this yellow linen wrap dress from Whimsy + Row! It’s the perfect easy, summer dress to throw on with sandals.  It’s dyed with low impact dye using recycled water. The marigold is such a cute, fun, and bright color for the season. Whimsy + Row is made in LA, and uses sustainable, dead-stock materials. 

Shop it here: 

Perri Dress in Topaz Linen, $148 @whimsyandrow.com

P.S.- use code Alicia20 for 20% off anything till Sept 30th!

This blue plaid dress from Dolan  is flattering, whimsical, and chic. Dolan, as a company, is doing a lot of good in the world. Their social mission based nonprofit – The Laundry Truck LA– provides laundry services for unhoused families and people in downtown Los Angeles. A portion of all proceeds from purchases, as well as donations, go to help this effort.  They are really thoughtful and come from a slow fashion and ethical mindset.  They are continuously improving their practices and are currently accelerating movement into incorporating recycled fibers into their entire apparel line.  They are also producing more items with antibacterial technology to encourage customers to wash their clothing less – and save water. The recycled viscose fabric used in my blue dress is 100% biodegradable.  If you follow my Instagram, I’m sure you’ve seen me wear this blue dress a few times. It got me through my virtual press tour, and I wore it for a virtual photo shoot (see below!)  Styling tip: It looks extra cute with a brown belt and brown boots.

 

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TGIF! What better way to celebrate the weekend than soaking up the sun? ☀️ I love getting in my Vitamin D! I try to lay naked or as naked as I can (especially if I have company over!) at around 830AM. That rarely happens, but #lifegoals. It’s the best time to soak the sun rays free of any sunscreen and get it all into your body (or so I’m told!), but I understand sometimes life can be too busy to find time to enjoy the weather. Some days we just see walls and computers ALL DAY LONG.

Buckwheat Blini With Almond Cream And Hijiki Caviar

Matthew Kenney’s Plant food and wine in Venice, CA is home to many a uniquely exquisite vegan creation, this divine offering is a perfectly impressive stay-at-home date night meal!

BUCKWHEAT BLINI | ALMOND CREAM | HIJIKI “CAVIAR”

Blini

Ingredients:

1 Teaspoon Active Dry Yeast
11/4 Cups Warm Almond Milk
2 Teaspoons Agave
1 Tablespoon Ground Golden Flax Seeds
3 Tablespoons Warm Water
1 Cup Buckwheat Flour
1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine yeast, almond milk, and agave. Set aside for 10 minutes or until liquid is frothy. In a small bowl, combine flax and water. Set aside until it gels. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, cornstarch, and salt.Add flour mixture, flax mixture, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir to combine. Cover bowl with plastic and set aside in a warm place for 1 hour or until the mixture has risen and is bubbly. Heat a griddle to medium heat. Brush with oil. Spoon 2 tablespoons of batter per blini onto griddle. Cook for 1 minute or until bubbles form on top and the bottom is lightly browned. Flip and cook for 30 seconds or until second side is lightly browned. Serve warm.

Hijiki Caviar

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Dried Hijiki Seaweed
3 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Agave
1 Teaspoons Sea Salt,
1 Lemon For Juice And Zest

Soak the hijiki in cold water for 1 hour. Drain and rinse well and place it in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse the hijiki until it is broken down into caviar-sized bits. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the vinegar, agave, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover and marinate for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. Pour the hijiki through a fine mesh strainer to remove excess liquid. Season with more salt and lemon juice if needed.

Almond Cream

Ingredients:

2 Cups Raw Almonds – Soaked For 8 Hours
2 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Tablespoon Agave
1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
2 ½ Cups Water

Place all of the ingredients into the blender. Puree on high for 2 minutes. Chill for up to 1 hour before eating.

Via Plant Food And Wine