Your Coffee Can Make a Difference

Posted on October 4, 2015 by lsdiaz03

The number one beverage in the world is certainly coffee, with over 400 billion cups consumed each year in different parts of the world. Having this in mind, it’s no surprise why certain organizations are trying to use coffee as a beverage that can change the world. Think about that when you start enjoying your next cup of coffee.

Intelligentsia Coffee – Helping the farmers create a remarkable taste

The growth and the production of the coffee demands the proper environmental conditions, but most of the time, countries that have these exceptional conditions couldn’t reach the full potential of making remarkable tasting coffee. The reasons for this issue are usually insufficient funds for quality operations, inappropriate infrastructure or not enough technical knowledge. In order to help coffee farmers, Intelligentsia Coffee is working directly with them to provide all the necessary conditions for the production of remarkable coffee. The professionals visit the farm before the harvest in order to set up a strategy, during the harvest to monitor the operation, as well as after the harvest to summarize the outcome and celebrate the success. Personal engagement is stressed as a priority in each of these countries. Not only does the production quality improve, but with direct trade the economy in the region experiences a significant improvement as well.

Laughing Man – when dreams become reality

It can be said that Australians are more than just coffee aficionados. They describe themselves as coffee snobs, and whenever they’re outside of Australia, they try to find the perfect place for their favorite flat white. Being an Australian, famous movie star Hugh Jackman truly understands the importance of exceptional coffee. As an Ambassador of World Vision Australia, he started the project, or rather foundation, called Laughing Man. Back in 1999 he travelled to Ethiopia where he met Dukale, a coffee farmer who was trying to lift his family out of poverty. His story inspired Hugh Jackman who launched Laughing Man Coffee. This project provides the necessary marketplace for coffee farmers in developing countries, and enables them to sell their products to US consumers. The Laughing Man foundation supports educational programs, the growth of entrepreneurship and small business projects, as well as community development across the globe. If you would like to learn more about this amazing partnership, please watch Dukale’s Dream, a story about new friendship and giving back.

TOMS Roasting Co. – a coffee that provides water

Most of TOMS One to One products are mainly focused on aid. In order to enhance the economic development and help create jobs in the communities of countries in development, TOMS started making a clear strategy. The first thing that can be seen, as a part of the economic process, is the coffee farming. They realized that the best way to help the economies of these countries is direct trade and ensuring farmers that they will receive the best price for their goods. Moreover, the farmers can be introduced to new agricultural techniques in order to produce higher yields and reach their full potential. Since many of the countries that produce coffee don’t have enough sources of safe and clear water, TOMS started investing in water systems, which are making a great impact on the community. For every bag of TOMS coffee purchased, one week of clean water can be provided for a person in need. There are numerous TOMS Roasting Co. cafés across USA and you can even order the monthly shipments of coffee from different parts of the world, where TOMS do business. So far, TOMS has been implementing water systems in Malawi, Rwanda, Honduras, Guatemala and Peru.

Written by: Vladimir Zivanovic

Get Wasted at Sweetgreen

Posted on September 25, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Sweetgreen started a campaign this summer called “Get Wasted”, which raises awareness about how much healthy food we waste every day. The goal is to stop people from wasting nutritious and healthy parts of vegetables and actually use them in meals.

Founded in 2007, they have been fighting for healthy and organic diet, and with their dishes they have been contributing this cause for years. Not only are their organic ingredients are carefully chosen from local farmers but their core values include thinking sustainably, which encourages other people to become more aware of our environment and its needs.

Are you aware how much food you throw out?

Every year, a great amount of food ends up in the dumpster, and we don’t think for a second about how much food we are wasting, and how much money we are throwing out. As Dan Baber says: “our culture wastes, because we can afford to waste.” But, is it really a good choice? What are we achieving by that?

Dan Barber’s wastED salad that will change the way you think

Chef Dan Barber put all food waste in one bowl and surprised a lot of people. The wastED salad has become popular all around the world, and more and more people are supporting the cause via social media. This salad will be available on all Sweetgreen’s locations-go try it out!

This salad contains: carrot ribbons, broccoli leaf, romaine heart, roasted kale stems, roasted broccoli stalks and cabbage cores, roasted bread butts, arugula, shaved parmesan, spicy sunflower seeds and pesto vinaigrette. Inspired by Blue Hill Chef Dan Barber’s wastED campaign, Sweetgreen recognized the need to take some further steps and encourage people to become aware of their environment and food they’re wasting on a daily basis.

Make an impact and make a change

People need to finally realize that their opinion and decisions do change the world and influence our community. Think of what you include in your diet every day, and see if it is really as healthy as everything that our agriculture offers.

“The choices we make every day about what we eat, where it comes from, and how it was raised have powerful consequences on the health of individuals, communities and the planet.” – Sweetgreen

Change the World One Lotion at a Time

Posted on September 16, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Founded by Mark Constantine and Liz Weir, Lush has a long and storied history of trying to hit the market with unique handmade and natural cosmetics. After their campaign succeeded and they raised awareness of the benefits of using organic products, Lush started various charity campaigns and isn’t planning on stopping.

Their cosmetics include lotions, soaps, shower gels, shampoos, cleansers, moisturizer, etc. All of these products are perfect for every skin type, and because of their natural formula they are perfectly healthy for you. All the ingredients used come from organic fruit and vegetables, essential oils, and safe synthetic compounds. Moreover, Lush makes makeup and perfumes, which are made according to the highest standards, and they make it a point to ensure customers that none of their products were tested on animals, and that all of the products are made from organic ingredients.

These healthy and luxurious products are famous all over the world, however, Lush is not only famous for their organic products, but also because they believe in protecting people, animals and the planet.

Charity pots changing the world

Lush came up with Charity Pots in 2007, and decided that 100% of the each purchase would go towards funding one mission. These missions include supporting animal and human rights, as well as various save the planet causes from all over the world. Their hand and body lotions have a picture on the packaging, with the description of their mission. This way you know exactly where your money goes and what cause it supports.

Saving the environment and protecting the planet

Many solid products, such as massage bars are sold “naked”, which means without being wrapped and without any packaging at all. This way, they decrease the amount of materials sent to landfills, and if the packaging is needed, they use recycled materials, as their aim is to raise the awareness of using biodegradable, recyclable and compostable materials. They are trying to encourage customers and other companies to stop using plastic bags and start caring about the planet we live on that we depend on for resources.

Fighting animal testing

Long before Lush was even formed, the founders were fighting for animal rights and fighting to stop people testing products on animals in labs. Today, they are buying raw materials and ingredients that weren’t tested on animals, and, as they always say, they are encouraging others to purchase from these suppliers, because the first step to stopping the immoral and inhuman testing is preventing the cash flow to those companies.

Lush is one of the rare companies that are making organic products to keep its customers healthy and happy, and, at the same time, supporting many causes in order to make our world a better place. They have been involved in many charities, projects and causes, which is the reason people find Lush inspirational and see them as a family, one which shares love all around the world.

Written by: Vladimir Zivanovic

Top 5 Sustainable Wine Companies

Posted on September 12, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Sustainability is the word of our age. No matter what kind of industry you’re in or what type of business you do, this is something you need to strive towards to – either you’re going green or you’re going extinct. Economic, social and environmental elements put heavy pressure on companies to go through this transition and develop healthy standards that will be enforced from now on.

Being that wine is a luxury product, the wine industry counts on marketing to provide enough resources for maintaining successful companies that are also sustainable. On the other hand, wine comes from agriculture and it’s only natural for its production to be – well – natural. Sustainable leaders in the industry are constantly finding new ways to further develop organic production, and work on innovations when it comes to packaging, biodynamics and all other aspects of wine production.

Otherwise, wine dependent regions will suffer the consequences; if production is stagnating or contributing to the decrease in the overall quality of life on the planet, the profits will plummet. Some companies are more successful than others with this matter, and they set an example that should be followed and admired.

Ampelos Cellars

There are three different certifications that wine companies work really hard to get. The first one marks sustainability in practice, the second one is about being organic all the way, and the third one symbolizes achievements in the field of bio-dynamics. Guess who got all three of them? Ampelos Cellars are a highly socially responsible company – if you have a winery and you want to go green, they are the role model you should look up to. They completely gave up on using bottled water, and their cover crop are fava beans, sweet peas and homes for friendly insects, so they don’t disturb the ecosystem. There’s one more fact that will explain why they are the leading eco winery – they utilize solar power.

Silvertap

Here’s an interesting idea – why serve wine from bottles when you can cut down glass expenses and serve it directly from a keg? Besides, we all know that just one bottle is rarely enough, which is why getting a keg is a much better idea. Sure, this idea is quite practical, but actually applying it within the wine industry may not be the greatest move – the industry is all about sophistication, and kegs don’t really give that impression, do they? No matter the case, Silvertap still decided to go through with this project and their daring move was widely accepted and appreciated by the green community.

Alma Rosa

In order to reduce glass production, the Alma Rosa team decided to employ a standard bottle mold for all wines they make, which directly decreases the waste. Maintaining high standards when it comes to quality, but still deciding to give up a significant factor in this industry, namely aesthetics, seems like a winning combo when a wine company wants to go green. However, this is not all they did – their wineries use only green farming techniques. There’s no such thing as doing enough when it comes to environmental issues.

Frei Brothers

Their continual efforts to cut down on glass usage as much as possible really make them stand out in a sea of similar companies, but the fact their corks are made only out of tree bark is another big plus. Frei Brothers admirers might be the luckiest among all – fans who show support for their efforts to save the environment receive various gifts.

One Hope Wine

This traditional Napa Valley vineyard really cares about their home. One Hope winery has a beautiful vision to co-exist with nature around it, and save it from all possible factors that might cause damage. After all, nature is the one responsible for this delicious beverage, and this kind of gift needs to be appreciated. Their efforts to cut back on glass production and lower overall water and energy consumption are at an enviable level. Maintaining the product quality their fans are used to and still constantly introducing new eco-friendly innovations to their winery really is an example for everyone to follow. Also check out their foundation for details on how each wine you purchase gives back. One Hope Foundation at http://www.onehopefoundation.org.

There’s so much more to wine than a simple glass that embellishes your meal. Behind each bottle, there’s a journey – each wine house nurtures their well–hidden recipes, they love and nurture each grape, they make sure you’re provided with a top quality product, and they do their best to protect our planet. So, the next time you’re trying to decide between two brands, maybe you should do some research and allow the deciding factor to be whether they are eco-friendly or not. It will taste better when you know that someone devoted and caring made it.

Jessica Alba’s The Honest Company – A Business Built on Good Value

Posted on September 9, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Jessica Alba launched The Honest Company some years back, and faced quite a few worried looks when she pitched her idea and asked for funding. In essence, the idea was a simple and morally correct one – creating, household, beauty and hygiene products using natural ingredients that don’t put anyone’s health at risk, and being incredibly open about what goes into the products.

A high level of transparency, going so far as to make even the containers transparent, combined with what seemed to be a genuine concern for the wellbeing and happiness of the consumers, and just a pinch of movie star charisma, have proven to be an incredibly potent recipe for success.

The Honest Company is now valued at around $1.7 billion, which just goes to show that putting the customer first and focusing on quality can actually work out quite well for entrepreneurs. So, what is this company all about, and why is there such a huge hype surrounding it?

The People in Charge Really Believe in What They Are Doing

The first thing you notice about this company is that it’s not just something a movie star invested in because it looked like a business venture that would make him or her even richer. Jessica Alba has been outspoken about her concerns that too many modern products are loaded with toxic chemicals. Ever since she launched the company she has worked hard on promoting a healthier lifestyle and urging people to pay more attention to what they put on and into their bodies and the bodies of their family. She is a mother of two, and her co founder Christopher Gavigan a father of three, so you know they are not just trying to use clever marketing ploys when they talk about raising healthy and strong children, and protecting your family.

The Company’s Inspiring Mission Statement and Philanthropic Work

The easiest way to know for sure whether a company is just jumping on the latest bandwagon and pulling your heartstrings with one hand while the other reaches for the wallet, or if they truly want to make a difference and give back to the community is to pay attention to their charity work. Those that talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk will make some donations here and there, but the true philanthropists with good moral values will constantly strive to make a difference. The Honest Company invests a portion of the proceeds from every purchase into helping the community in several different ways:

Putting healthy food choices in schools
Educating people on proper nutrition
Funding research and training that ensures the health of developing infants up to the age of three
Putting safer cleaning products in schools
Funding the education of ambitious young minds

This company’s mission is to ensure the proper development of babies and young children, help improve the health and wellbeing of growing bodies and ensuring that the new generations get the support they need to grow into productive members of society. These are goals that everyone can get behind.

Elegant Design and High Quality Standards

Even if we ignore Miss Alba’s movie star fame, the transparent approach and their philosophy and philanthropic approach, the products can speak for themselves. The containers are simple and elegant, featuring transparent packaging with a detailed ingredients list and calming colors. Putting natural ingredients and carefully avoiding potentially dangerous chemicals isn’t just a neat marketing gimmick – as hundreds of positive reviews, and customers raving about the products on social media can attest to, their stuff really works.

Not only do the products work as advertised, but they are offered in creative little bundles and the customers can sign up to receive monthly packages. This hassle free online shopping model, combined with clearly visible results are the things that made The Honest Company so successful.

They don’t offer products, they offer a lifestyle

When all’s said and done, we come to the very essence of the matter – these people offer a lifestyle and a better future, not mere products. This kind of talk alienates some people who’ve become jaded from years of being exposed to companies that try to paint a pretty picture while making some incredibly shade moves under everyone’s noses, but there are still plenty of good people in the world. Companies like these are run by such people, and if more passionate entrepreneurs followed in their footsteps this would be a much better world to live in.

Post Witten By: Vladimir Zivanovic

10 Eco-Friendly, Luxury Hotels

Posted on August 25, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Looking for a place to stay that offers luxury and comfort without compromising the environment? Look no further! Here are 10 eco-friendly, luxury hotels that are working to better the environment one solar-powered heating and cooling system at a time. Check them out!

Belle Mont Farm

St. Kitts, West Indies: This boutique hotel is home to a variety of Guesthouses and Farmhouses that sleep up to eight people. Eco-friendly perks begin with fresh fruits being delivered to guests each morning, but don’t end there. They also feature:

Rainwater showers
Organic farmland
Edible landscape
Foraging or fishing? The chef will happily incorporate your results into the nightly meal

Rafayel on the Left Bank

Battersea, London: Rafayel on the Left Bank is a luxury eco hotel whose mission is to provide green quality and comfort. Some of their environmentally-friendly features include:

A bamboo grove that has been planted to release 35% more oxygen than any other plant
Organic spa treatments
Fair-trade mini-bar goodies
Wines and cocktails produced using farm-to-bar methods
Activities that won’t leave a carbon footprint

Ritz-Carlton Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina: The Ritz-Carlton is a staple of luxury hotels and now, thanks to their Charlotte location, they’re also a staple of eco-friendly luxury. Some of their commitment to luxury and ecology include:

A rooftop garden featuring two honey-producing beehives and herbs and greens
Organic spa treatments
Organic meal options
Free parking for anyone driving a hybrid or electric car
Trek Bike rentals

Paradise Bay Island Eco-Escape

Whitsunday Islands, Australia: As the name suggests, Paradise Bay Island Eco-Escape is an eco-friendly escape from everyday life. Located near the Great Barrier Reef and Conway National Park, this luxury escape features a variety of eco-friendly offerings, including:

An eco-tour adventure where guests can see the Solar Field, Solar Water Heaters, and Bio-Cycle System
NaturaEco ingeno-quilts made from corn for when it’s warm
Opportunities to view and appreciate nature through wildlife watching

Urnatur

Sjogetorp, Sweden: Urnatur thrives on sustainability, possibly more so than any other eco-friendly hotel. A self-sustainable hotel, Urnatur is a three-hour drive from Stockholm and offers accommodation in tree houses and hand-hewn huts. Some other features include:

Light from kerosene lamps
Heat from solar or wood power
Locally procured menu items
Activities including building nesting boxes for owls

Gaia Hotel and Reserve

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica: Dubbed as one of the most ‘green-enthusiastic hotels in existence,’ this 5-star, adult-only, beachfront resort dedicates three-fourths of its land to create a private nature reserves that guests can enjoy. Additional ecological features include:

Raw, organic spa treatments
Farmer’s Market Tour
Ecotours

URBN Hotel

Shanghai, China: Developed from a renovated factory warehouse, URBN Hotel Shanghai is the country’s first carbon-neutral hotel. Some of its eco-friendly features include:

Air purification systems in every guest room
Beds made from cactus fiber and seaweed
Organic cleaning products
Energy-efficient cooling and heating systems
Participation in the Million Tree Project which plants trees in Mongolia to help offset carbon emissions

Waipiata Boutique Lodge

Warkworth, New Zealand: This 5-star luxury accommodation sits on 5 acres of manicured

lawns and gardens. Some of its eco-friendly features include:

Large orchards, vegetable and herb gardens
Vegetarian, organic meals for guests
A solar heating system
A recycling program
Wastewater recycling
Educational experiences at nearby marine reserves and bird sanctuaries

The Green House

Bournemouth, UK: The Green House claims to be the ‘greenest hotel in the UK,’ but is it really? If you look at all of the eco-friendly offerings, it seems they might be right. Some of their regular commitments to ecology include:

LED lighting
Solar powered heating
Organic and local cuisine
Furniture crafted from storm-felled trees
Suppliers assessed using environmental standards
Staff possess GOLD level status from the UK’s Green Tourism board

Six Senses Samui

Koh Samui, Thailand: Greeted by your very own private butler, Six Senses Hideaway Samui is surrounded by nature, the calming sea, and far off islands. Six Senses Hideaway Samui is committed to ecology through a variety of unique initiatives, including:

Creating their own bio-diesel to reduce CO2
Filtering and recycling their waste water
Educating guests on how to help the local environment and culture through a free Thai Culture Class
Growing their own organic food for guest meals
Utilizing pesticide-free gardens to grow herbs for spa treatments

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Post written by Aly Wolfe. She is the founder of style and beauty blog, The Wolf + The Wardrobe. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @TheAlyWolfe.

The Best Diaper Bags

Posted on June 1, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Baby Bag #1

If you are looking to buy a diaper bag, I have two that will make new mom’s to-be happy to have them. Jessica Alba has partnered with Feed Projects to sell a diaper bag that will help supply nutrients to mom’s and children around the world. This has come to no surprise to me because over the years FEED has teamed up with great brands such as as Target, Disney, Pottery Barn, Clarins, Whole Foods Market, Gap, Tory Burch, Rachel Roy, DKNY, Links of London, Godiva and TOMS, among many others to encourage responsible consumerism.

Jessica Alba is the founder of the Honest Company. Honest Co. sells affordable toxic-free household products with a focus on baby products that are safe to bring home. Jessica has created a socially responsible business that helps meet the needs of families that want to keep harmful chemicals outside of their home without breaking the bank.

Lauren Bush Lauren is the founder of Feed. Feed is a social business whose mission is to sell products that have a measurable donation attached to it and, to date, the business has been able to provide over 87 million meals globally through the WFP and Feeding America. FEED has also supported nutrition programs around the world, providing over 3.6 million children with Vitamin A supplements through the WFP and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

Impact: This Bag will support 1 mom and 1 child with micronutrients for 1 year.

Buy this bag at www.honest.com or www.feedprojects.com

BABY BAG #2

Rebecca Minkoff does it again! This time is with a stylish baby bag that gives back! This ultra-lightweight baby bag was made in partnership with Every Mother Counts, a non-profit organization dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for mothers around the world. For those who don’t know about Every Mother Counts-it was founded by Christy Turlington, a non-profit dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother. For each bag sold, Rebecca Minkoff will donate 20% of the proceeds to EMC to support its efforts to improve global maternal health and reduce maternal mortality worldwide.

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Olivia Wilde + H&M

Posted on April 14, 2015 by lsdiaz03

H&M is unveiling their new social conscious campaign with Olivia Wilde as the model. As many of you know, H&M is one of the largest buyers of organic cotton. They have made strong efforts to support and sell sustainable fashion while not sacrificing style and glamour. Each piece in the collection will be made from sustainable materials, including organic cotton, recycled polyamide and Tencel.

Olivia Wilde wasn’t picked to be the face of this campaign for her pretty face (although I am pretty sure that helped her too…hehe), she is feminist and a strong believer of smart consumerism. She is not only an actress and model but also the founder of an e-commerce company called Conscious Commerce where you can experience shopping with a purpose.

Check out my faves from the H&M’s new conscious collection and if you live in NYC pass by the pop-up shop today for a preview of the collection in time square at 5PM. Reservations can be made here: HMconscious@kcdworldwide.com .

Donate your clothes and receive 20% off and the chance to meet Olivia Wilde!

Today’s My Birthday

Posted on March 30, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Hi Friends:

Yes, friends…today, I turn 32!! How did that happen so fast?! hahaha. In honor of my birthday, I decided to write to you all the reasons I feel so blessed and thankful today. Don’t you agree that when we take a minute and pause to be thankful for the smallest things in our lives..your spirit immediately feels better?! It really does. If there is one thing that I am wishing for on this birthday is to remind myself to take a moment and be thankful for something each day. So here is a list of the things I am grateful for today:

1. I am thankful to be alive and healthy.

2. I am thankful for my family. I am lucky that both my parents and brothers are healthy.

3. I am thankful for my husband. I am grateful to have a teammate in this lifetime whom I can share my passions and dreams with. He is my hearts joy.

4. I am thankful for my girlfriends-they inspire me and love me for who I am. I didn’t grow up with sisters…so having a strong bond with my girlfriends is important to me.

5. I am thankful for my jobs. This is the first time in my life that I can say-I am happy to wake up every morning and go to work. I am doing exactly what I wanted to do and that is a blessing.

6. I am thankful for learning one of the biggest and best lessons of my life, thus far. This past year I learned that you need to trust the timing of your life. Have faith that if you work hard to achieve your goals-the universe will lead you to where you need to be.

7. I am thankful for my readers. I couldn’t continue writing without all your support! It brings so much joy to know that you all enjoy my blog.

Cheers to another year of life!!!

Xoxo,

Lourdes

On The Scene: 2015 amfAR Hong Kong Gala

Posted on March 15, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Hello Friends:

Yesterday, The Foundation for AIDS Research held its gala in Hong Kong. Year after year this black-tie gala becomes the platform that is used to raise funds for the Foundation’s research programs and raise awareness for HIV/AIDS. The Foundation for AIDS Research, is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of AIDS-related public policy. Last year, amfAR launched the “Countdown to a Cure for AIDS,” a research initiative aimed at developing the scientific basis for a cure for HIV by 2020. This means amfAR will strategically invest $100 million in cure research over the next five years. This annual red carpet event brings some of our most fabulous glitterati and last night raised 4 million dollars for AIDS research!! 🙂