Recycled Toilet Paper!/ Paper Higiénico Reciclado!

If you've been following me on IG or reading my blog posts for a while, you already know that in here we promote a conscious and sustainable lifestyle. And, part of that, includes the actions you take on a daily basis. Even the smallest ones! Your daily habits. Especially those at home. We can all reduce our negative impact on nature by choosing the right products to use at home. From your water filter, to your cleaning products, to your toilet paper! Yes, I said toilet paper! By switching to recycled toilet paper from virgin toilet paper you can help save trees! Imagine this: “If every household in the US replaced one 4-pack (of 240 sheets) virgin toilet paper for recycled ones, we could save 740,000 trees”! Such a powerful impact with something as simple as your bath tissue! A brand I discovered three years ago is Seventh Generation. Besides selling home products (like plantbased laundry detergent and dishwasher), they also have recycled toilet paper that is whitened without chlorine bleach! And YES…it’s soft! Your tush and our planet will thank you. If you are ready to stop playing blind and make the change, then go to Seventh Generation to browse through their amazing plantbased products. Can't wait to see how you transform your homes into sustainable ones! For more information and details on how I designed my sustainable home, use the search box at the bottom of my home page and type “home”.

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ESPAÑOL

Si han estado siguiéndome en IG o leyendo mis publicaciones de blog por un tiempo, ya saben que aquí promovemos un estilo de vida consciente y sostenible. Y, parte de eso, incluye las acciones que tomamos a diario. ¡Incluso las más pequeños! Nuestros hábitos cotidianos. Especialmente en casa. Todos podemos reducir nuestro impacto negativo en la naturaleza eligiendo los productos correctos para usar en nuestras casas. ¡Desde el filtro de agua, hasta los productos de limpieza, hasta el papel higiénico! Sí, dije papel higiénico! Al cambiar a papel higiénico reciclado, puedes ayudar a salvar docenas de árboles! ¿Te preguntas cómo? Bueno, el papel higiénico reciclado utiliza papel reciclado de post-consumo, como cartas y papel de oficina, para ayudar a depender menos de las fuentes de papel virgen para crear rollos de papel higiénico. Imagínate esto: “¡Si cada hogar en los Estados Unidos reemplazara su papel higiénico virgen de 4 rollos (de 240 hojas) por los reciclados, podríamos salvar 740,000 árboles”! Un impacto tan poderoso con algo tan simple como el papel de baño! Una marca que descubrí hace tres años es Seventh Generation. Además de vender productos para la casa sostenibles y de origen vegetal (como detergente ecológico y lavaplatos), también tienen papel higiénico reciclado blanqueado sin cloro! Y sí ... es suave! Tus nalguitas y nuestro planeta te lo agradecerán. Si estás lista/o para dejar de jugar a estar ciega/o y hacer el cambio, ve a Seventh Generation para explorar sus increíbles productos ecológicos. Muero por ver cómo transformas tu casa en una sustentable y no tóxica! Para obtener más información y detalles sobre cómo diseñé mi hogar sostenible, usa el cuadro de búsqueda en la parte inferior de mi página de inicio y escribe "home/hogar".

(Sponsored by Seventh Generation)

Chendell: a natural warrior! / Chendell: un guerrero natural!

Chendell. A book that awakens those who haven’t connected with nature yet, and motivates those humans who have already found its magic to keep protecting it!

When the Chendell team reached out to me to review this book on my blog, I hesitated. I didn’t know what to expect so I asked them to give me the opportunity to read it first so I could then decide to review it or not. Within the first 20 pages, I found my answer. Leslie Landis has created a little treasure with this book. A treasure for EVERYONE. Kids, teens, adults. Chendell shares a story I can relate to, and also one I know my thirteen year old sister would absolutely adore. A great introduction to the importance of protecting our earth, and trusting the universe and its plan for us.

I don’t want to spoil the story for you but I will give you a few hints that will hopefully leave you craving for more. Chendell tells the stories of two people completely unrelated to each other, and both with a great passion for nature. Jingson (Jamie) Chen is a young Chinese man with long black hair who discovers early in his life that he can communicate with trees. Robin Dell, is a tall American girl with green eyes and auburn hair who can communicate with insects and controls their behaviors with her thoughts. They don’t know of each other’s existence, but the universe brings them together in random ways so they can learn about the definition of genuine and honest love, and merge their powers to preserve nature and find cures for diseases like cancer and MS. After their PhD studies, they both travel to the Manu National Park in Peru to research different plant and insects. During that trip, they encounter a shaman whom, by offering them one drink, gives birth to Chendell. A combination of the best traits of both Jamie and Robin. Two halves of one person. An avatar with one green-colored eye, one dark brown-colored eye, and black and auburn hair.

….And you’ll have to get the book to continue with this story. It’s worth it! Get one for yourself, your kids, your friends. This book is easy and fun to read and you can buy it on Amazon! I finished it in a few hours.

(Sponsored)

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Español

Chendell. Un libro que despierta a aquellos que todavía no se han conectado con la naturaleza y motiva a aquellos humanos que ya han encontrado su magia para seguir protegiéndola! Cuando el equipo de Chendell me contactó para que escriba sobre este libro en mi blog, dudé mucho. No sabía qué esperar, así que les pedí que me dieran la oportunidad de leerlo primero para luego decidir si lo revisaría o no. Dentro de las primeras 20 páginas, encontré mi respuesta. Leslie Landis ha creado un pequeño tesoro con este libro. Un tesoro para TODOS. Niños, adolescentes, adultos. Chendell comparte una historia con la cual me siento identificada, y también una que sé que mi hermana de trece años adoraría. Una gran introducción a la importancia de proteger nuestra tierra y confiar en el universo y su plan para nosotros. No quiero arruinar la historia para ustedes, pero les daré algunos consejos que, con suerte, los dejarán con ganas de más. Chendell cuenta las historias de dos personas que no están relacionadas entre sí, y ambas con una gran pasión por la naturaleza. Jingson (Jamie) Chen es un joven chino con cabello largo y negro que descubre temprano en su vida que puede comunicarse con los árboles. Robin Dell, es una chica estadounidense alta con ojos verdes y cabello castaño rojizo que puede comunicarse con los insectos y controlar sus comportamientos con sus pensamientos. No saben de la existencia del uno y el otro, pero el universo los reúne de maneras aleatorias para que puedan aprender sobre la definición de amor genuino y honesto, y fusionen sus poderes para preservar la naturaleza y encontrar medicina para enfermedades como el cáncer y la esclerosis múltiple. Después de sus estudios de doctorado, ambos viajan al Parque Nacional Manu en Perú para investigar diferentes plantas e insectos. Durante ese viaje, se encuentran con un chamán que, al ofrecerles una bebida, da a luz a Chendell. Una combinación de los mejores rasgos y poderes de Jamie y Robin. Dos mitades de una persona. Un avatar con un ojo de color verde, un ojo de color marrón oscuro y cabello negro y castaño rojizo.

... Y tendrán que conseguir el libro para continuar con esta historia. ¡Vale la pena! Consigan uno para ustedes, sus hijos, sus amigos. Este libro es fácil y divertido de leer y esta en Amazon! Lo terminé en unas cuantas horas.

IKEA does it again. Social Entrepreneurship at its strongest!

I am a Brand Ambassadör for IKEA U.S. This is a sponsored post.

Last month I wrote a blog post about IKEA raising the bar with their sustainability practices, and received such a positive reaction from you guys, I've decided to partner with IKEA again and share more eye-opening and uplifting information like their Social Entrepreneurship Initiative. "Innehallsrik". Have you heard of it? Perfect topic- after celebrating two important days this quarter- for any person that cares about our planet: Earth Day & Fashion Revolution Day. Earth Day serves as a reminder of our responsibility to protect nature, and Fashion Revolution of the importance of giving artisans humane working conditions, fair opportunities, ethical wages and a chance to grow. IKEA, with its Innehallsrik Initiative, covers both! This initiative is a collaboration between IKEA and women in India with the goal of providing them with a platform and the right tools needed to showcase and sell their handmade textiles and baskets to the world. This collaboration is not only providing jobs to these women, but also giving them hopes of a brighter future and economic empowerment. IKEA has been supporting social entrepreneurs and enterprises since 2013 and contributes to the livelihoods of more than 10,500 people through these partnerships! (I know. I had no idea either! IKEA is one of those big companies that has left me speechless and even more inspired!) Lastly, each product sold under this initiative is not only beautifully handmade with natural materials such as banana fibers, but also shares the story and face of women in India who have the talent and vision of entrepreneurs.

I hope you guys enjoy this line as much as I do! I've decorated my 600sf studio in an eco-friendly and fair-trade way. From reclaimed wood palettes and wine crates I collected from different stores to pillows, a jute carpet, banana fiber baskets and a handmade throw from IKEA. Living consciously and sustainably is possible, and getting more convenient and affordable every day!

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Soy un embajadora para IKEA U.S. Esta es una publicación patrocinada.

El mes pasado escribí una publicación en mi blog sobre IKEA y sus prácticas de sostenibilidad, y recibí una reacción tan positiva de ustedes, que he decidido volver a asociarme con IKEA y compartir información reveladora y inspiradora como su Iniciativa de emprendimiento social, "Innehallsrik". ¿Han oido de esto? El tema perfecto, después de celebrar dos días importantes este trimestre, para cualquier persona que se preocupe por nuestro planeta: Día de la Tierra y Día de la Revolución de la Moda (Fashion Revolution). El "Día de la Tierra" sirve como un recordatorio de nuestra responsabilidad de proteger la naturaleza, y "Fashion Revolution" de la importancia de brindar a los artesanos condiciones de trabajo humanas, oportunidades equitativas, salarios éticos y la oportunidad de crecer. IKEA, con su iniciativa Innehallsrik , cubre ambos! Esta iniciativa es una colaboración entre IKEA y las mujeres en India con el objetivo de proporcionarles una plataforma y las herramientas adecuadas para exhibir y vender sus textiles y cestas hechas a mano al mundo. Esta colaboración no solo les da trabajo a estas mujeres, sino que también les da esperanzas de un futuro brillante y empoderamiento económico. IKEA ha estado apoyando a emprendedores y empresas sociales desde 2013 y contribuye a los medios de subsistencia de más de 10.500 personas a través de estas asociaciones! (Lo sé! Yo tampoco tenía ni idea! IKEA es una de esas grandes compañías que me ha dejado sin palabras y aún más inspirada!) Por último, cada producto bajo esta iniciativa no solo está hecho a mano con materiales naturales como fibras de plátano, sino también comparte la historia y la cara de las mujeres en India que tienen el talento y la visión de los emprendedores.

Espero que ustedes disfruten esta línea tanto como yo! He decorado mi estudio de 600sf de una manera ecológica y justa. Desde las paletas de madera recuperadas y cajas de vino que recogí de diferentes tiendas, hasta las almohadas, una alfombra de yute, y cestas de fibra de plátano hechos a mano por IKEA. Vivir de forma consciente y sostenible es posible y cada vez más conveniente!

Bedsheets that don't harm our planet? Yes, please!

(SPANISH BELOW. Para Español, deslicen hacia bajo)

I promised you guys another post focused on sustainable and ethical home decor, so here goes! As most of you already know, I decorated my 600sf studio in an eco-friendly and fair-trade way. Reusing old wood pallets I got from Home Depot, old wine crates from Total Wines, non-toxic paint by Colorhouse, a fair-trade and sustainable carpet and table from IKEA, and now my new organic cotton bedsheets by AlterraPure. I've talked about planet-friendly bedsheets before, but here's what makes AlterraPure stand out when compared to other brands.

1) TRANSPARENCY. All the way through! They are certified by GOTS, and go to extra lengths to verify that every farm, product and material used is sustainable, organic and fair-trade. You can read all about it on their website. Every single detail and process!

2) The GOTS certification is extremely important when it comes to organic cotton because GOTS only certifies brands and products that are biodegradable and free of chemicals that are harmful to our planet and humans.

3) AlterraPure also reuses 90-95% of water. 

4) AlterraPure has social projects to benefit the villages they work with in India. 

5) The box the sheets come in is made from cotton scraps and recycled paper! It is so pretty you will want to reuse it!

6) The details! From the buttons they use, to the stitches, AlterraPure pays attention to every little step in the process of making their bedsheets and duvet covers. Handmade, simple, sustainable, ethical and beautiful!

What does all this mean exactly? Well, plain simple (as it should always be!) Less waste for our planet, less chemicals thrown in our waters, less water used, less artisans paid unfairly, less non-biodegrable textiles sent to our landfills, less harmful toxins absorbed by your skin, less CO2 emissions produced. Amazing what our shopping choices can do, right? That's the power we have as consumers. Choose wisely. Always!

*sponsored by AlterraPure.

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(SPANISH)

Este es el primer articulo que hago en español en mi blog, y espero que el primero de muchos! Hoy quiero hablarles sobre mi casita ecológica. Decoré estos 600sf en una manera ética y ecológica reusando cajas de madera y pallets de Home Depot y Total Wines, y colaborando con marcas como IKEA (si, IKEA es sostenible y fair-trade!) y ahora AlterraPure para mis sábanas! Ya he hablado sobre sábanas ecológicas antes, pero aquí les dejo unas cuantas razones que hacen que Alterra se destaque en comparación a otras marcas.

1)   Transparencia. Aparate de utilizar algodón orgánico certificado por GOTS, Alterra es transparente con todo el proceso detrás de sus productos. Pueden leer sobre cada paso en su página web.

2)   La certificación por GOTS es muy importante cuando se trata de algodón orgánico. GOTS solo certifica a marcas y productos que son biodegradables y libres de químicos que son tóxicos para nuestro planeta y para nosotros.

3)   Alterra re-utiliza 90-95% de agua.

4)   Alterra tiene proyectos sociales en las comunidades con las cuales trabaja en India.

5)   La caja de las sábanas es hecha de sobras de algodón y papel reciclado. Es hermosa y pueden utilizarla para guardar cosas personales.

6)   Los detalles! Desde los botones hasta la costura; Alterra le pone mucha atención a cada detalle y proceso. Todo es hecho a mano, sostenible y ético.

Que significa todo esto? Simple (como debería ser!). Al elegir marcas como Alterra estamos disminuyendo el uso de agua, la creación de basura, los químicos que son arrojados a ríos y al mar, el abuso de artesanos, las toxinas que absorbe nuestra piel, y más emisiónes de CO2. Disminuimos todo esto con nuestras acciones como consumidor! Tremendo el poder que tenemos, no? Todo empieza con nuestras decisiones diarias. Elijan conscientemente. Cada día!

*Sponsored by AlterraPure. 

More Earth-Friendly Home Decor Tips!

(I am a Brand Ambassadör for IKEA U.S. This is a sponsored post.)

If you've been following my journey for the past two years, you know how much I believe in sustainable home décor. If you haven't, I'll summarize the story in one sentence: "my home's décor thrives on green. Everywhere!" Yes, I decorated my 600sf studio in an earth-friendly way from corner to corner. From the nontoxic wall paint to the LED lights around my paddleboard, to the table made of reclaimed wood, the fair-trade and handmade carpet, and even the bioplastic food storage bags I use. Do you know what's even more exciting and surprising than all the sustainable products I just mentioned? IKEA making a conscious lifestyle easier and accessible with their Evergreen initiative! In case you didn't know, IKEA is one of those big and powerful companies that realized the importance of incorporating sustainability and ethics deep within its roots years ago. They started by using less cardboard and paper in their shipping practices, and have grown to be one of the few companies running their stores on solar and wind energy with over 730,000 solar panels and 327 wind turbines worldwide. Are you surprised already? Well, there's more! Besides having stores that use LED lights solely, IKEA has also established strict product criteria when it comes to sustainability with furniture being made from bamboo and recycled wood, fabrics being created with sustainably-grown cotton, flax being used as a material for linen, and bioplastic made from sugarcane (no petroleum) being used to create their food plastic bags. Top that with water faucets designed to reduce your water use, a wide variety of LED lights, and fair-trade practices implemented to empower their artisans and employees, and we have everything we need to start 2018 with the right conscious foot. All in one store!

I'm so proud of this company and its practices that I've partnered with them to provide you guys with all the content and information you need to decorate your home in a planet-friendly way! Below are a few products, and I can't wait to share more throughout the next few months!

Cheers to living and shopping wisely!

To read more about IKEA's sustainably harvested (FSC-certified) wood, and their partnership with WWF, read this article and this one. 

Weaved Jute Carpet: eco-friendly, made with natural fibers and fair-trade! 

Coffee Table: I used this as a bench and decorated it with book, candles and plants. It is made with natural materials, eco-friendly and fair-trade. 

LED lights: I have these in my balcony. Energy-efficient. 

Bioplastic ziplock bags: Made from plastic which contains at least 85% renewable content (sugarcane rather than petroleum). The material can be recycled together with common plastic.

5 Tips for an Eco-friendly Home

For all those who have asked me for earth-friendly home tips, here are a few. My favorite, actually! Simple choices that can transform your home into a healthy, energy-balanced and eco-friendly piece of heaven with products you can easily and affordably find on...Amazon! 

1) Herbs: I created my own herb garden with mason jars, rocks, ecofriendly soil. First you add the rocks to the mason jars (1/3 of glass), then soil, lastly seeds or plant. Depending on the herb/plant type, you might have to water every day or every other day. To make it easier (especially when I travel), I got a self-watering system.

2) Self-watering/irrigation system: easy, affordable, earth friendly! Order this product from Amazon,  use any recycled empty bottles of wine you have at home, fill them with water, insert the clay cone of this product into your plant's soil (fill it with water first and put lid on, firmly), then insert the little hose into the wine bottle full of water. That's it! The plant will start sucking water as needed. That easy! 

3) Eco-friendly produce bags: Love this product beyond words! We use way too many plastic bags when we go grocery shopping. Take these in your bag and use them to select, buy and store your veggies and fruits. Washable, reusable, earth-friendly! 

4) Water pitcher: Have you been looking for a water pitcher with sustainable filters made of plants? Well, look no further! This is the pitcher I have at home and LOVE! This brand also provides clean water to people in need with each purchase, and the handle is made of sustainable oak! 

5) Bamboo Oil Diffuser: Everyone has been asking me about the bamboo diffuser I have at home. This is it! Affordable and beautiful! Now, you just need to get your DoTerra Oils! 

WaterThruSkin Sustainable Home Design

This is a post I’m very excited to share with you. Not only because I finally have my own place after being a homeless nomad for almost a year, but also because I’ve decorated it in the most sustainable and ethical way I could…at a really low budget! Please do have in mind that there are some eco-friendly home items that are either extremely difficult to find, or mind-blowingly expensive. Hence, on those cases, I chose products from companies that have very transparent and philanthropic values. (Don't forget that it’s all about the balance and baby steps!) With that being said, let’s jump straight into the topic because this post might be a long one!

As you may already know, I am a full-time conscious lifestyle and travel blogger, which means that I travel almost every month to review different hotels and brands for my blog. For that reason, and because I’ve finally discovered the powerful value of simplicity, I chose to turn a studio into my new home. And, in this 630sf space, I managed to create different environments: a boho living room, a wanderluster bedroom, a relaxing reading station, a yogi corner, a mandala breakfast area, a welcoming hallway, a balcony with a tiny orchard, and my bathroom and closet.

BEDROOM: 

This area is one of the most important ones in your home. This is where you’ll get to rest and recharge and dream about all the things you want to achieve in life, so make sure you design it in a way that collides with your personality. Since I love to travel, I glued an entire worldmap on my wall (8.3ft wide x 12ft tall) and used pins to mark the places I’ve visited since I started WaterThruSkin 3 years ago. After doing some research and lots of brand comparisons, I chose to purchase the map from Gilt because it came with eco-friendly and non-toxic glue while the other brands didn’t. The map came with 8 different pieces and it took me about 5 hours to measure, glue, and cover the entire wall with the map. It’s not an easy task but very much worth it.

WTS tips: I first laid the map on the floor to make sure I was placing the countries correctly (you can never be too sure!). I then pinned them to the wall, got the glue ready, and added glue to the borders of the map only. Be careful with the bubbles. They were really hard for me to avoid! I also used Onyx & Green’s natural stick glue for some tricky places.

Lastly, I placed LED lights around the map. They are energy efficient and can light up an entire room, thus, I chose to use LED instead of a night lamp. Plus, it looks cooler too! You can get them on Amazon for $9-$12. They come in strips with a tape on the back, and are super easy to stick to the wall. I used two strips/rolls. Don't forget to buy the power source too. ($9)

Bed pillows and bedsheets: can you say BAMBOO? Yes! I have bamboo bedsheets, a bamboo comforter, and pillows made of bamboo and other natural materials! They are not only beautiful, sustainable and hypoallergenic, but also incredibly comfortable! The brands I recommend are these:

-Pillows: Essence of Bamboo, and Savvy are two sustainable pillow brands. 

-Bedsheets: Cozy Earth has some 100% eco options, but you can also get them at Overstock. Cheaper prices.

-Comforter: Cozy Earth, or you can get it at Joss&Main for more affordable options. 

-Mattress: Here's a really good article I found about he best sustainable mattresses. It all depends on your budget and vision. 

Instead of using a bed base, I decided to make one myself with recycled wood crates I purchased at a wine store. Besides being planet-friendly, they were half the price of the ones people normally get at Arts & Crafts stores. I purchased eight crates for $4.99 each at Total Wine & More, placed them next to my mattress in a line that surrounded the bed, and filled them with books, succulents, crystals and more. (Note: you will have to go to the store to purchase the crates. I don't think they sell them online)

READING STATION:

 I’ve dreamed about having a hanging chair at home for years but never found one that was affordable and ethical enough to purchase, until this one came along! I bought it from Jet after going over their company’s values on Jet's website. They revolve around transparency, ethics, and giving back. They’ve even set up a charity to provide the living essentials to families in need, and match every dollar we donate to this cause. The chair (with the stand, cushion and shipping cost) was $289. I added two handmade bohemian pillows I purchased at Anthropology to give color to the chair. In case you don’t know, Anthropology is part of URBN, and they take global community initiatives and sustainability very seriously. They also support arts and education programs through different non-profits, focus on handmade products and carry vegan leather options! These pillows were on sale. Approx $35 each (with insert).

Next to the chair, I hanged a Dieffenbachia (oxygen cleaning plant) using a beautiful macramé planter that was handmade with recycled cotton by Yerbamala Design.

YOGI CORNER:

This is my spiritual corner. I designed it with items I’ve collected throughout these years. Some of them were gifts, others I made myself, and some I purchased. I won’t go into specific detail, but here are some WTS tips:

1) This is the corner that reminds you about your essence. Your spirit. The religion or philosophy of life you connect to the most. Your temple.

2) Some products I recommend: Himalayan salt lamp, aromatherapy room freshener or oils, plants, recycled wood crate for your spiritual books, a mala, a dream-catcher, and a Buddha statue.

LIVING ROOM:

I chose to go crazy with colors here! No boundaries, no design pattern.

1) SUP paddleboard: I purchased this baby about 5 years ago. It was designed by my brother and, instead of storing it, I decided to transform it into boho home décor. I wrapped LED lights around it to add eye-catching spiciness to it.

2) Pink chair: It’s ethically made, in the US, with car seat belts by Harveys.

3) Yellow Owl Planter and White Vase: They are handmade and hand-painted by women in Colombia. Fair-trade and packaged/shipped using the cutest eco-friendly boxes by HabibiLiving. You get to choose the plants on their website. Prices range between $16-$85.

4) White-Silver boxes: I bought these in Bali.

5) Gold bottles: A wine bottle and a VOSS water bottle I painted myself using gold non-toxic and water-based paint from Martha Stewart, and White Chalk non-toxic eco-friendly paint by Renaissance. 

6) Yoga mats and wheel: All three are eco-friendly but made with different materials. The beige ones, and the wheel, are made with renewable cork and recycled tire rubber by Yoloha and ILoveGurus. The pink one is made from natural tree rubber by Jade, and they plant a tree for each mat sold.

7) Rug: Fair-trade and handmade, empowering artisans in India by Guadalupe Design.

8) TV-stand: made from recycled wood by my handyman. Cheaper, faster and more sustainable than buying a TV-stand at a store. $150 with installation.

9) Sofa and floor Pillows: WestElm. Another favorite store of mine. Their products are not only fair-trade, but they also support local artisans, artists and charities. The prices of these ranged between $28-$45 (with inserts).

10) Plants: Midtown Garden Center in Miami is my place to go for plants. Nature, vegan food trucks, recycled wood furniture, and little lights everywhere

11) Soy candles: better for your health and the environment! I have Anthropologie ones around my home, and also Thx Co's (fair-trade, philanthropic, and eco). 

MANDALA BREAKFAST AREA:

I purchased the table and the stools at IKEA. One of the reasons why I love visiting and supporting IKEA is because they take sustainability and ethics to the next label by sourcing their wood sustainably, switching to energy-efficient LED lighting, and even installing solar-panels in their stores. Approx $290 for the table and three stools.

I then painted mandalas with eco water-based chalk markers on the stools, and coated them with clear paint.

Aromatherapy Diffuser: This product changed my life! All you need to do is fill it with water and your favorite aromatherapy oils.

KITCHEN TIPS:

-Use laundry (wood) clips rather than plastic clips

-Use mason jars as glasses, and also to store your superfoods

-Use planetfriendly cleaning products. My favorite brands are: Mrs Meyers and Seventh Generation

-Get a water filtering pitcher. I use SOMA. Their filters are made with 60% recycled and plantbased materials, and their handles with sustainable oak. Plus, their designs are flawless!

BALCONY TIPS:

-Use recycled wine crates as décor

-Use recycled glass water bottles, paper coffee cups, coffee mugs as planters. 

-Plant your favorite herbs, spices, veggies, and fruits. I have basil, mint, lavender, rosemary, mint, cilantro, tomatoes, lettuce, pineapple, and succulents everywhere.

BATHROOM TIPS:

-Recycle your wine and glass water bottles, paint them and transform them into decorative pieces. For eco-friendly and non-toxic paint brands, scroll up to LIVING ROOM. 

-Add some plants (The elephant planter is from HabibiLiving as well. Fair-trade and handmade)

-Get soy candles. Mrs Meyers is a great option. The scents I like are Lavender and Basil.

-Paint a mason jar and use it to store your toothbrush and toothpaste.

-Use fairtrade and handmade bath rugs. Mine is by Guadalupe Design and empowers artisans in India.

HALLWAY TIPS:

-Use your cotton shopping bags as décor. I insterted some dried lavender in mine and hung it on the wall.

-Add a vase with water and crystals next to entrance to your apartment/home. This will absorb people’s negative energy when they enter your home. Once they leave, pour the water down the drain, clean your crystals, fill with fresh water, and repeat as needed.

CLOSET TIPS:

-Use newspaper to give a twist to your mirror. I glued mine with Onyx+Green natural glue.

-Hang toquilla hats around the mirror.

LIFESTYLE TIPS:

This is for everyone who is on their phone and computer 24/7. Get a radiation protective case from SafeSleeve. I have both the laptop and iPhone ones and use them every single day. Radiations are extremely harmful to our health and have been proven to cause cancer. Safesleeve’s cases protect you against 99% of all three types of harmful EMF radiation. They have vegan leather cases available too! :)

And lastly, for all dog-lovers, GoFullCircle is a great option for when that painful moment comes and we have to say goodbye. GoFullCircle gives you the option of giving life to a tree from your dog's ashes. You will receive a beautiful container made from bamboo with fertilizer, soil and wood chips inside. All you have to do is combine your baby's ashes with the fertilizer, soil and wood chips. GoFullCircle also gives you the option of choosing which tree you want. It's a wonderful way to honor your dog and create life from life. Once you plant the tree, you can recycle and use the bamboo container to store things or memories. Use code WTSFIVE for discount. 

The perfect eco-friendly home....

You know how some people dream about the perfect wedding, the dress and the huge cake? Well, there are a few others like me that dream about the perfect eco-friendly home. One with open spaces, huge windows, solar energy panels, water reuse systems, plants and herbs everywhere, and rescued animals running around the house! That's what I envision almost on a daily basis! Honestly! So much, that I've created visualization boards on my phone and now on Pinterest to share those dreams with you and maybe inspire you to start your own eco practices at home. It doesn't have to be anything huge like solar panels (I mean if you can, please do so by all means) but you can start with the daily essentials like the cleaning products you use or planting herbs at home or switching plastic cups and bottles for glass ones. That's a big powerful start already! Everything makes a difference, guys! Give it a try!

Here are a few basic recommendations:

Cleaning products: In case you didn't know, most cleaning products have toxic ingredients (for you, your pets and our planet) and test on animals. A brand that I'm obsessed with is Mrs. Meyers.  These products are natural, do not test on animals and have aromatherapy oils as ingredients. I mean... It does not get better than this! Mrs Meyers' products will have your house smelling like paradise! My favorite scent is "Lavender".

Shower head filter: Whoever came up with this idea is a GENIUS! A shower head filter that illuminates and changes to different colors based on your water use. It turns green while you are using less than 10 liters of water, purple when you go over 10 liters, orange when you hit the 30 liter mark, and RED when you hit or pass the 50 liter mark. This will not only lower your utility bills but it also has a HUGE positive impact on our environment. Water is a FINITE source and each American household uses approximately 100 gallons of water per day at home. That amounts to a total of 355 Billion gallons of water per day (2010 stats). And that is the US ALONE! Add the rest of the world to that.....

Eco-friendly Paper Products: Just like water, same happens with paper use. We use SO MUCH OF IT! From paper towels, to toilette paper, to paper cups and printing paper. It's insane! Here's a great solution for you guys at home. There are many brands, including Walgreens affordable "Ology", that offer recycled paper products. Seventh Generation is another good eco brand. You can find it everywhere! Literally! Whole Foods, Walgreens and online. 

Now, let's get to work! A healthier, cleaner and better world awaits. <3