by Alice | Dec 4, 2015 | Holiday Gift Guide
Happy holidays everyone! What better way to celebrate the season than by shopping small? The annual Wonderland Organics gift guide is composed of handmade or created in USA products. You’ll be sure to find a product for the people you love most- read on for the 2015 guide.
Everything Little Miss
Everything Little Miss Hedgehog Pouch
Oh, hello! These happy hedgehogs would love to greet you every day. Whether holding your makeup or your fancy pens, this pouch will add a touch of color and fun to your day! This adorable hedgehog pouch is available here.
Wonderland Organics
Wonderland Organics Indulge Lotion
This holiday season, let your skin drink in the wonders of the moisturizing Wonderland Organics Indulge Lotion. Our natural lotion goes onto your skin silky smooth with a wonderfully creamy texture. Antioxidant-rich rooibos extract and organic rosehip seed oil make your skin feel delightfully hydrated. Available on the site here.
Sustainably Chic
Filippa Dots Swedish Stockings
The Filppa Dotted Swedish Stockings on the Sustainably Chic boutique uplifts and accentuates any outfit! Light/medium coverage. It’s black and made from recycled eco yarn. 40 denier, 90% polyamide, 10% elastane. Size: S (2,4) M (6,8) L (10,12) Available on the eco boutique here.
Scotch and Cream
Scotch and Cream notepads
These sweet understated notepads make a great gift for the tea, coffee, or cocktail lover in your life. Perfect for jotting down notes, lists, anything! Lined sheets are bordered with scalloped edging and cute illustrations, measuring at 4.25 x 7″ at 50 sheets per pad. Available on their site here.
Cirque Colors
Cirque Colors Madder Polish
Cirque Colors’ Madder: a deep crimson red holographic 3-free nail color. Until December 31, 2015, 10% of net proceeds from the sale of this product will be donated to Girls Who Code: A non-profit education organization that works to empower young women to pursue opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. Available on the site here.
The Penny Rose
The Penny Rose x Blank Verse Jewelry Penelope Bangle
This bangle is a collaboration between long time friends and collaborators; Fashion blogger, writer, and actor, Christa Martin of the Penny Rose Blog and Laamie Young of Blank Verse Jewelry. Our hand forged brass bangle is versatile enough to go with anything. The Penelope Bangle looks great with stacks of bangles or alone. Slightly adjustable. Sized to fit most, but can be custom ordered in small or larger version. Available on the site here.
Sparklefly Candle Company
Sparklefly Candle Company Holiday Spice Bag of Sparkle Stones
Sparklefly Candle Company is dedicated to spreading a little Sparkle to your day. Our Scented Sparkle Stones are a shimmering reminder to see the Sparkle in the moment. No flame, no fuss, just shake and enjoy at home, the office, or anywhere you can’t burn a candle but want to surround yourself with your favorite scents. Available in many different scents and shimmering colors like Winter Pine, Candy Cane and By the Fire. Use coupon code WONDERLAND to get $10 off your purchase of $40 or more this holiday season. Offer expires December 31st. Available on the site here.
Han Skin Care Cosmetics
Han Skin Care Cosmetics Cherry Cosmos Cheek & Lip Tint
Han Skin Care Cosmetics’ Cherry Cosmos Cheek & Lip Tint is a creamy hydrating multi-tasking product infused with shea butter, cupuacu butter, argan and acai oil, vitamins and tea extracts to benefit the skin. Available on the site here.
Joybound Apparel
Joybound Apparel Sucre Clutch
The Sucre Clutch from Joybound gets its name from the city in Bolivia in which it’s made. A hardworking and talented native makes these bags and is able to support her family well by means of a fair wage job. Beautiful, unique and helping the lives of others? That makes for the perfect gift for almost any occasion! Available on Joybound Apparel’s site.
Mari Orr Art
Mari Orr Alphasticks Giclee Print
Nature’s ABCs: a piece of typographic art that is bold in its simplicity! These sticks, shaped liked letters of the alphabet, appear exactly as they were found — the only alteration made was to trim off excess branch. Components for this original piece were gathered, assembled, and photographed by Mari. Professional giclée print of my original arrangement printed on exquisite high-quality creamy satin rag paper. Print measures 16×20″ and arrives ready for framing — or hang it as is for a more minimalist vibe. Signed on the back by artist. Vintage hanger pictured is not included with print. Ships worldwide from IL, USA. Available on the site here.
The Garden Home
The Garden Home Hanging Brass Prism Geometric Ornament
Decorate your living or office space with a unique hanging planter handmade using brass tubing. The planter measures 5 inches tall and is 3 1/2 inches deep. This ornament comes with a 24″ long gold chain. To install your ornament, drill a hook into the ceiling, or use a thin rope/string to hang across the room and use an “S” hook to hang the ornament (or many ornaments!). Your ornament also comes with a rubra air plant. Available on Etsy here.
Tsoana
Tsoana Triangle Tribal Pattern Bowls
This lovely set of Triangle Tribal Pattern Bowls is perfect for everyday use. Simple and functional, this will add a pop of color and pattern to your kitchen table. Beautiful on kitchen shelving and always wonderful to see when you open your cabinets!
This piece is fired twice to achieve the finished look. It is microwave, dishwasher, and food safe. Comes in a set of 4 small bowls. Available on Etsy here.
A Slice of Delight
A Slice of Delight Sleigh Ride Soap
What’s in Santa’s Sleigh? The perfect Christmas present wrapped with a bow! Write your list, check it twice and be sure to include this soap. A Slice of Delight’s handmade soap makes a wonderful stocking stuffer! Fragranced with Sleigh Ride – enticing notes of peppermint, orange, green apples and clove. Weight: 3.5 – 4 ounces/100g This listing is for one bar.
Size: 2.5″ x 2.5″ x .75″/6.35cm x 6.35cm x 1.9cm. Available on the site here.
I Dream of Cookies
I Dream of Cookies Edible Garland
Delicious holiday decor and packaged for gifting! 8 mini edible gingerbread guys and gals decorated with royal icing and string on a 3ft ribbon. They are about 2 1.4″ w x 2 1/2″ l each. They’ll be heat sealed in cellophane and packaged in a decorative ornament kraft box with ribbon and a gift tag (not shown). The dimensions of the box are 2 3/4″ x 2 3/4″ x 2 3/4″. Ribbons color and designs may vary depending on availability. These cute gingerbread cookies are available on Etsy here.
Your Divine
Your Divine You Are Loved Shirt
You are LOVED- send your love out into the world. This is a long sleeve raglan shirt with a light-weight sweatshirt feel. It has a wide neck and raw edge for that off the shoulder look. Go one size up for a baggy or off the shoulder look. It’s light grey with black and gold ink detail. FABRIC: 50% Cotton/ 50% Polyester. Available on Etsy here.
Are there any products that catch your eye for a wonderful Christmas present? Let me know in the comments below!
by Alice | Nov 20, 2015 | Health, Skincare Tips
Organic pomegranate seeds
The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a shrub that has edible fruits: specifically, its seeds. It is native to Iran, and is now cultivated in Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, and Asia. The oil extracted from it, and the fruit itself, is rich in antioxidants.
The most powerful extrinsic aging factor is UV exposure, which breaks down collagen (and therefore ages the skin faster). The reason that antioxidants work wonderfully in skincare is because they help prevent damage due to free radicals on your skin.
So what are free radicals? Caused by UV exposure and environmental pollutants, these chemically unstable molecules work to break down healthy skin cells and destroy them. Antioxidants including vitamins A, C and E are powerful protectors against free radicals. They also seem to provide more protection when added to another antioxidant within the same formula, so look for products that contain multiple antioxidants in the formula.
The polyphenol content includes ellagic acid, both of which helps immensely to make the skin nice and supple. Punicic acid, which is a triglyceride that comes from plant sources, makes the product easy to apply to the skin. Because of these components, pomegranate seed oil is incredibly nourishing to the skin’s epidermis layer.
Looking for products with this fantastic ingredient? Check out the Soothe Serum and Sublime Serum! There is also chirally-correct d-alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) for increased freshness of the products.
References:
Swift Crafty Monkey
Pomegranate: The Most Medicinal Fruit
University of Maryland Medical Center
Dietary compound ellagic acid alleviates skin wrinkle and inflammation induced by UV-B irradiation
by Alice | Oct 30, 2015 | DIY Recipes, Halloween, Health
It’s that time of the year again: a plethora of costumes, haunted houses, and an excuse to binge on (organic and fair trade, of course) candy. Wishing everyone a happy and safe Halloween! In honor of this fun holiday, I rounded up some of my favorite healthy ideas for Halloween. These are perfect to make with your children, or for you and your friends and family.
Veggie Skeleton | via Feeding Four Little Monkeys
image courtesy of Feeding Four Little Monkeys
Great opportunity to learn about science + eat healthy with this innovative skeleton made out of vegetables!
Frankenstein Kiwis | via Two Healthy Kitchens
image courtesy of Two Healthy Kitchens
What’s more spooktacular than the original monster created by Dr. Frankenstein? These kiwis are sure to please.
Orange Pumpkins | via Spaceships & Laser Beams
image courtesy of Space Ships & Laser Beams
These healthy “pumpkins” from Spaceships & Laser Beams are adorable! All you need are organic celery stalks and oranges or clementines. These would make a great snack in the middle of the day.
Stuffed Jack o’ Lanterns | via Healthful Pursuit
image courtesy of Healthful Pursuit
The creativity behind this is such fun! Instead of carving a pumpkin, why not carve out a tiny face on bell peppers? Organic bell peppers and whatever pasta that you may desire: gluten-free, spaghetti, or zucchini noodles, this will be sure to please.
Candy Corn Inspiration | via Navy Wife Cook
image courtesy of Navy Wife Cook
From Navy Wife Cook, I love this candy corn inspired fruit dessert. Always use organic when you can- oranges and pineapples make up the bottom two portions. Though she uses whipped cream as the top layer, I would suggest organic Greek yogurt instead with live and active cultures!
Halloween Lunch | via A Pumpkin and a Princess
image courtesy of A Pumpkin and a Princess
It’s adorable when your food is in the shape of characters: pictured here, we have broccoli monster eyes, a mummy hot dog, and a banana ghost.
Jack-o-Lantern Fruit Cups | via In The Playroom
image courtesy of In The Playroom
Organic oranges + fruit in the middle? I’m sold!
Spiderweb Berry Platter | via Will Cook for Smiles
image courtesy of Will Cook for Smiles
A berry platter with vanilla yogurt + honey cream cheese! Doesn’t it look downright terrifying with the plastic spiders? (If your children are scared of these eight-legged creatures, I’d suggest to omit the spiders from this otherwise delectable plate!)
Frankenstein Avocado Toast | via Vegan Chow Down
image courtesy of Vegan Chow Down
This uber-cute toast is made of avocado, seaweed, sliced olives, tomatoes, pretzels, and whole wheat toast (for a healthier option).
Tropical Candy Corn Smoothie | via Boulder Locavore
image courtesy of Boulder Locavore
Look at how beautiful this candy corn smoothie is! White layer: coconut milk and shredded coconut; Orange layer: papaya and freshly squeezed orange juice; Yellow layer: pineapple, lime, and water.
What are your favorite healthy snacks to make for Halloween? Let me know in the comments below!
by Alice | Oct 15, 2015 | Interviews
Freud & Fashion
Today on the blog is an interview with Dr. Vania Manipod, D.O. on the importance on mental health. I was lucky to “meet” her virtually via social media this past year, and was drawn to her sweet personality and passion for helping others.
Wonderland Organics: Hi Vania! How did Freud & Fashion come about?
Dr. Vania Manipod, D.O.: Freud & Fashion came about in 2010 as I was sitting in my lonely apartment in Oregon. Having recently moved from southern California (where I grew up) to Oregon to complete my psychiatry residency training, I initially didn’t have many close friends and felt quite isolated those first few months. As I was reading various fashion blogs, I was inspired to start my own blog for the following reasons: 1) I always enjoyed writing and needed an outlet to express my creative side; 2) I believed blogging would provide a way to connect with people and help alleviate the senses of isolation I experienced living in a new place; and 3) I wanted to give readers a glimpse of the life of a new doctor and therapy pearls that I learned throughout my psychiatry training.
Wonderland Organics: Definitely love your blog! Tell us a little about your background.
Dr.Vania Manipod, D.O.: As the oldest grandchild in a family that consists of >30 grandchildren, I’ve always strived to be a positive influence and leader in my family. My grandfather was the biggest influence in my life — he raised 11 successful children in the Philippines on his small salary as a school principal. My parents are 1st generation since my dad joined the U.S. Air Force, but we were fortunate to not have to move around so much, so I grew up in both northern and southern California. The mentality of being a high-achiever manifests in my professional life, though becoming a physician has challenged me in various aspects of my personal life and led me to a much needed process of self-discovery (ie, self-care, balancing a busy schedule, managing priorities, learning about myself in the context of interactions with my patients, etc), which I share in my blog.
Dr. Vania Manipod, D.O. of Freud & Fashion
Wonderland Organics: Your grandfather sounds incredibly inspirational. Why did you decide to become a D.O.? What do you enjoy about it?
Dr.Vania Manipod, D.O.: I’m asked this question quite often and have contemplated how to best answer this question as concisely as possible, especially since it’s one of the more common questions I receive. I wrote a blogpost several months ago titled “What Being a D.O. Means to Me,” which has been my most viewed post to date, so in order to fully understand my perspective and do my degree justice, please check out my post! http://freudandfashion.com/2015/04/30/what-being-a-d-o-means-to-me/
Wonderland Organics: Great response! So why should we be concerned about mental health and keep ourselves healthy?
Dr.Vania Manipod, D.O.: Mental health correlates strongly with our physical health (and vice versa). In a general sense, maintaining physical and mental stability is dependent on our lifestyle. Important lifestyle components such as diet, sleep, and exercise influence both emotional and physical health. A great example is lack of sleep – not only can poor sleep lead to increased anxiety, irritable mood, poor concentration, etc, it can also contribute to physical symptoms such as increased pain, increased appetite and subsequent weight gain, and fatigue. Any time that you go to the doctor with a specific physical complaint, a psychiatric diagnosis is usually considered as a possible diagnosis, especially if the medical workup comes out normal (for example, panic attacks consist of physical symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, etc). And successful recovery from various medical conditions, including major surgical procedures, are also dependent on the person’s mental health especially since motivation and drive to follow treatment plans for rehabilitation is needed.
Wonderland Organics: Couldn’t agree more– it’s a huge part of our overall health. What common misconceptions do people have about mental health?
Dr. Vania Manipod, D.O. of Freud & Fashion
Dr.Vania Manipod, D.O.: There are several misconceptions about mental illness such as the belief it’s a weakness and character flaw rather than being a true neurological disease, that people living with mental illness can’t live normal lives, etc. Basically, such stigmatizing beliefs can be perpetuated by negative attitudes, inappropriate use of language, and lack of willingness to look at one’s self in order to be more open to connecting and understanding what it’s like to live with mental illness. Another common misconception is that people aren’t aware of how common it is — 1 in 4 people in the United States have struggled with mental illness, so the likelihood that each individual has a connection to someone with a psychiatric diagnosis is quite high.
Wonderland Organics: Thank you for sharing! Who should see a psychiatrist?
Dr.Vania Manipod, D.O.: If anyone is experiencing impairment in their daily life as a result of a possible psychiatric issue (such as high stress, mood changes, paranoid thoughts, addiction, insomnia, etc), then seeing a psychiatrist for an evaluation would be a great step. If psychiatric medications are indicated, then psychiatrist would be able to prescribe. Primary care physicians may also feel comfortable treating and prescribing medications for certain mental illnesses, however, more complex medication regimens and symptoms would be better addressed by a psychiatrist.
Wonderland Organics: What would you recommend for relaxation?
Dr.Vania Manipod, D.O.: I practice a patient-centered approach, so I recommend that each individual discover their own preferred methods of relaxation. The most important factor for utilizing such relaxation practices on a regular basis is that it’s enjoyable, feasible and accessible to perform on a regular basis, whether it’s attending a yoga class, hiking, getting a massage, meditating, etc.
Wonderland Organics: Yoga is one of my favorites. And finally, what do you love most about Wonderland Organics?
Dr. Vania Manipod, D.O.: What I love most about Wonderland Organics is the founder, Alice! Her journey as a skincare entrepreneur who is passionate about creating and constantly refining her organic skin care line of products is inspiring! Her warm personality and connection to her customers and many followers demonstrates the pride and motivation she has to ensure they receive clean, natural, high quality products.
Thanks so much for talking to me Vania! If you’re interested in learning more, be sure to check out her website and social media:
Website
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
Love my interviews with inspirational people? Be sure to check out Natalie of Sustainably Chic here.
What do you do personally for relaxation? Let me know in the comments below!
by Alice | Oct 9, 2015 | Sustainability
The True Cost Movie
We’ve all been swayed by those $5 H&M and Old Navy tank tops- how can you resist that kind of price? Drawn to the irresistible call of a bargain, we love owning a variety of clothes that we can discard over the next season. At some point though, we have to ask ourselves what the price is behind fast fashion.
The True Cost is about who pays the price behind the cheap clothes that we purchase. The documentary discusses the Bangladesh fire factory in 2013, where over 1,000 workers were killed in an unsafe work environment. Even more heartbreaking was seeing citizens in third world countries with deformities: much of the water supplies and their environment have been tainted as a result of continuous pesticide use for cotton.
According to True Cost, the United States alone generates over 11 million tons of textile waste per year. While we may think that it is easy to recycle clothes, most of it ends up in Haiti. Why not invest in classic pieces instead that are made sustainably and will last years?
So what are some alternatives to fast fashion? Buying fair trade is a great way to support artisans who are compensated justly for their products. For instance, Joybound Apparel has been working with an artisan from Bolivia to create handmade Sucre Clutches: look how gorgeous it is!
Madia & Matilda- Celine Top
Supporting handmade or upcycled clothes is also a great way to add to sustainability in whatever country we live in. Those of you who know me that I adore purchasing clothes from Etsy from fellow small business owners. The gorgeous Celine top by Madia & Matilda (available on Sustainably Chic’s site) caught my eye. Shalize Nicholas, the creator of Madia & Matilda, specializes in sustainable and upcycled clothing by using old vintage garments and sustainable fabrics to create new beautiful pieces of work.
The True Cost Movie can be seen here via Amazon, iTunes, VHX, Amazon Instant, or Blu-Ray/DVD.
Have you seen the True Cost Movie? What are your thoughts on alternatives to fast fashion? Let me know in the comments below!
If you love watching documentaries, check out Plastic Paradise on Netflix- my thoughts on it are here on the blog.
Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/world/asia/report-on-bangladesh-building-collapse-finds-widespread-blame.html?_r=0
http://truecostmovie.com/
http://fairtradeusa.org/#
