Gifts that Give Back: For Him

Posted on December 16, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Generous & Practical: 5 Awesome Gifts He’ll Love

Finding the perfect gift for someone special is always challenging. I have several practical ideas I’m sure every man in your life would appreciate, but there’s something more to my list of gifts than just being awesome. The holidays are the perfect time to help those less fortunate, and I can show you how to combine generosity and practicality.

State Backpack

A backpack that can never go out of style is something that every man needs. This one from the State collection is extremely practical – the large number of compartments allow you to carry quite a few items in one well-organized package. It can fit a 15” laptop, and it has a convenient number of side pockets.

For every backpack sold, State delivers another to a child in need. By making this purchase you’ll not only get a quality backpack for a special man in your life, but you’re also making a child out there really happy.

David Sheldrick Wildlife Sweatshirt

One of my fave items! This sweatshirt is made out of cotton, which makes it incredibly comfy. It can also be machine-washed, so it doesn’t require any special care – I’m sure that any man would appreciate that fact.

You should also know that it has an illustration of Eddie by Hugo Guinness on it. Eddie was an orphan elephant who was saved by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, hand raised and released back into the wild. She was one of over 190 elephants that were saved by this trust. The complete net of every purchase goes directly to this cause.

Conscious Step Socks

I don’t know about you, but almost every man I know has trouble finding one whole matching pair of socks. You should introduce them to Conscious Step. My husband is obsessed and looks forward to getting them every year.

The logic behind these socks is easy. I mean why get “normal” everyday socks when you can get a fun pair that was made to help fund the world’s most important causes, like providing clean drinking water, ending famine, saving trees, fighting HIV and improving education worldwide. Conscious Step socks are quite extraordinary, don’t you think?

Feed Projects-Adventorous Kit

Men, unlike most women, somehow forget to take their essentials with them, and perhaps the reason behind it is that they don’t own their own kit. In order to help that special man in your life have a much more relaxed and convenient trip, my suggestion is to get them a practical FEED kit. The thing that makes this kit so special is the fact that making one purchase provides 15 school meals to children worldwide.

Veja-Most Ethical Sneakers

We all know that men like their sneakers and really can’t get enough of them. The company Veja is setting an example for other brands. Just to name a few of their accomplishments-Veja uses rubber from the amazon and organic cotton, they employ over 300 families and provide them with a competitive salary, and finally to cut cost for their costumers, Veja does not advertise. A few weeks ago I wrote a detailed post on this brand (yes, I’m obsessed) -please read about it here. It’s an amazing gift for everyone that likes sneakers (every man in the world, really).

Giving Tuesday 2015

Posted on December 1, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Hi Friends!

Today is “Giving Tuesday” and I know it can be overwhelming for everyone to research and try to find ways to help so I came up with a list of ideas just for you! 🙂

5 ways you can contribute to #givingtuesday!

Donate to a cause you care about-this is the simplest way to give back on this Tuesday. Haven’t thought about which one?! Check out a few of my favorite organizations (WIN, International Rescue Committee, CARE, Charity: Water, She’s the First, Pencils of Promise)
Shop at Lord&Taylor because they are matching all purchases ( up to 25,000) and donating it to Habitat for Humanity.
Have you heard of the Good Shop? Every time you shop through the Good Shop-a donation will be made to a charity of your choice (they are affiliated with over 100,000 organizations). You can shop and save with their coupons to stores ranging from Amazon to Best Buy!
If you can’t afford to give then take the day to learn about what brands are doing to have a social impact. A personal favorite of mine is Eileen Fisher-they are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! Go take a look at all there great initiatives. 🙂
Go volunteer at a local shelter or soup kitchen. Taking the day to give back and help those less fortunate is always a great idea.

Stella McCartney: Fashion Leader and Activist

Posted on October 11, 2015 by lsdiaz03

Creating a role model for young women to be inspired with is a great responsibility. That kind of exposure needs to be taken seriously – as a trendsetter, it’s necessary to set the right standards and fight for noble causes. Of course, you need to look stylish while doing it.

This level of multitasking is hard to achieve, but women worldwide should look up to Stella McCartney, an experienced designer that doesn’t have problems with inspiration when it comes to creating brilliant new collections, while she fights for the environment. So, how does she manage to achieve all of this simultaneously?

Expressive, Feminine & Natural

A lot of artists seek for some sort of divine inspiration to move them and help with their artwork. If you’d ask Stella, she’d tell you that the most important things that should serve as the greatest source of motivation can be found in the smallest everyday moments.

Things that make us happy day after day are often those which we take so lightly. A modern women, according to Stella, needs to be natural, first and foremost. When you get in touch with your true nature, you’ll have no problem drawing confidence from that inexhaustible source. Getting to know your real self isn’t an easy journey, but once you find out everything there is to know, your soft femininity and subtle sex appeal will come to the surface.

This kind of newfound reliability will help you grow into a strong powerful women, with strictly defined priorities, spontaneous hunger for hedonism and a positive mentality.

It’s about Being Fashionably Mindful

When you get to know your true self, then and only then will you be able to experience everything around you in the right way. This is the only world we have – it’s filled with amazing wonders, tiny and huge, and we shouldn’t let our hectic lives prevent us from seeing that.

However, now is the time to protect it. Being a lifelong vegetarian, Stella McCartney and her fashion house strongly advocate against environmental pollution and take a stand for animal protection. During her years in the fashion industry, she worked with many different organizations like Peta, Animals Asia, Million Trees Miami and Meat Free Monday, but also with Women’s Cancer Research Fund, War Child and the Kering Foundation.

Like her fragrance, Stella’s design pieces are so much more than just clothes and accessories. Considering the fact she was brought up on the English countryside, her memories are rather simple, but strong and powerful at the same time. Each new collection of handbags she releases reaches a new level of practicality and elegance. The amount of attention she dedicates to details is quite impressive – everything from materials to stitching is combined together to represent a sort of balance between femininity and a strong fashion statement.

Once you go “au naturale”, there’s no going back. With Stella, her fashion house, her designs and her attitude, you’ll be able to achieve a high level of style and a firm system of healthy priorities – it doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

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

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

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!

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!! 🙂

Inside the 2015 amfAR Hong Kong Gala:

Singer Robert Thicke Performs at the Gala

Please, Do tell

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