Hurricane Irma Relief (Humans & Animals)

Florida has been my home for the past 10 years and it breaks my heart to see what people, and animals, have experienced this past week. Some houses have been completely torn apart, broken trees lay every two blocks, and dozens of families are currently living in shelters. To help, I've teamed up with @tedgemindfulcoworking and @ayahbrands (two Florida-based conscious brands founded by beautiful humans I'm lucky to have in my life!) to collect as many donations as possible and take everything to the families impacted by the hurricane in Miami and the Keys. We would like to deliver the donations starting this weekend so, pretty please, join our efforts! We will keep collecting for the next month or so. We need EVERYTHING! Take a minute to look around your home and donate whatever you didn't use during the hurricane, or any items that have been sitting in a corner unused. Food (human and animal), hygiene products, clothes, feminine pads, mats, pillows, lamps, flashlights. There are people with no access to water or electricity still, and this is everyone's chance to do something good and realize how wonderful it feels to help others smile again!

For my animal-lovers, I've also partnered with @southfloridawildlifecenter to have a drive specifically for our wild earthlings. I know we've all been busy protecting our own but, reality is, hundreds of squirrels, birds, raccoons and other wild animals have been left homeless too. @southfloridawildlifecenter has been taking all of them in, even though its premises were hit by the hurricane severely. Thus, they need our help! Below is a donation list. If you wish to donate cash, you can do so below too.

1) Please email me if you have items to donate to schedule pick-up or drop-off.

2) If you live outside of FL and wish to donate cash, please do by clicking the link below. Every $ you donate will go directly to helping the non-profits I have partnered with.

THANK YOU. LOVE YOU!

Valentine's Gift Ideas Full of Kindness!

Good morning, sunshines! With Valentine's Day around the corner, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite products that are not only fashionable, beautiful and cool but also really good to our planet! Feel free to go crazy guys. Buy it for your loved one or for yourself! This is the type of shopping you never regret! <3 Details below. Happy almost V-day, babes!!! Let's spread some conscious love around, ok? xx

Harveys Wallet: I love this brand so much not only because they were one of my first sponsors when I started the blog 1.5 years ago, but also because ALL of their products (bags, totes, wallets...) are made with car seatbelts and recycled plastic bottle interior lining. How incredible is that? Not to mention the unique, comfy and jaw-dropping designs they have. 

Wood watches: Who doesn't like these? Specially if they are made from recycled wood (Jord Watches) and also plant a tree for each one purchased (WeWood Watches). No-brainer here guys. I use big watches like the ones in this photo. Both designs are unisex but they also carry a line of smaller and more delicate ones. 

Yogi Jewelry by Bu Design: for all my yogi soulmates, this is THE line! Their products are made with eco-friendly materials and aimed at adding more spiritual sprinkles to your days. Malas, necklaces and Buddha keychains. Happy to announce you can now shop these on the blog with 10% of your purchase going to this quarter's WTS charities. 

Rudraksha Hand-mala: This bracelet is a WTS limited edition babes. Designed with fair-trade Rudraksha seed beads to represent compassion and strength. If worn close to the skin, they are believed to increase clarity, calm the mind and balance the chakras due to the amounts of oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen they contain. Each bracelet also carries a Silver elephant to represent the WTS logo and 10% of the sale of each goes to this quarter's WTS charities. 

Handmade Beauty: THIS LINE!!!! All natural, organic, cruelty-free, handmade, yummy smelling, healing and eco-friendly products! I don't think I've ever seen beauty products more beautiful or kind to our health and planet as these. The ones you see on the picture are: Nail polishes (clear and red), cuticle oil, All In One balm (healing) & a Balancing Oil for those well-deserved bubble baths.  

Closing 2015 with a lovely feature on Cosmo Latinas!!!

No words to describe my excitement right now guys! Not only do I feel incredibly honored to have been contacted for this piece and to represent the country that saw me grow, Bolivia, but I also find it truly inspiring that Cosmo agreed to feature the conscious brands I promote on a daily basis. From head to toe, once again, dress in planet-friendly LOVE! What an amazing way to close 2015, babes! This Cosmo issue was published in November 2015 but it wasn't until yesterday that a friend of mine called me to share the exciting news. The issue will be on newsstands until 2/16/16. Can't wait to keep spreading consciousness in 2016! Anything is possible. Never forget that! And stay kind. Always! xx

-Kimono by BohoHunter. Made by artisans in Colombia. You can find it at one of my favorite stores in Miami. This store promotes handmade, fair trade and charity-oriented fashion garments. Shop it online too!

-Flower carved boots by Melissa. Recycled plastic. The Brazilian brand “Melissa” focuses on designing shoes that have the environment in mind by reducing water and waste pollution, using recycled plastic, and reusing unsold shoes from previous collections. 

-Boho necklace by Yvera. Handmade in Bolivia. 

-Jeans by Gap. In case you haven't heard, Gap is taking new initiatives to reduce water use and pollution and is part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition where companies are evaluated on material types, products, facilities and processes based on a range of environmental and product design choices. Retailers also plan to add measures for labor and social standards. Read more here.

Photography by Bea Pernia for Cosmo Latina. 

Courage is contagious! A bracelet with a purpose.

Let’s talk bracelets. Who in this planet doesn't love them? In case you have noticed already, I’m a HUGE hippie-chic jewelry fan and kind of love to stack up my wrist with as many bracelets as possible. But here’s the trick. I don’t just wear any bracelet or necklace or ring. I like wearing things that have a meaning. Bracelets that are either spiritual, give back to our world, or are unique gifts I’ve received from family and friends. And to be honest, I believe in their healing power so much I never take them off! They are my protectors, my positive energy charms and my constant reminders that there’s hope in this world and that limits don’t exist. One of those is my “Brave” red wrap-around braided bracelet. I wear this one with pride because the story behind it is nothing less than truly inspiring. The bracelet’s brass charm says “Brave” (Klaa-han) in Khmer and was handmade in Cambodia. A country where gender inequality still stains many aspects of the Cambodian society and the illiteracy rate of women is much higher than that of men. In order to create opportunity to counter all these wrongs, Jessica Hendricks designed "The Brave Collection". Beautiful jewelry pieces carved and woven by hand by local Cambodian artisans who come from underprivileged backgrounds. Each piece serves as a symbol of bravery to empower women across the globe and to support the work of fair-trade artisans. To make this jewelry line even more breathtaking, 10% of the profits are donated to fight human trafficking and fund leadership programs for women. Each piece comes delicately packaged in a silk pouch hand-woven in Cambodia, and a Brave jewelry box. 

Are you guys as touched with this story as I am? I hope so! Christmas is around the corner and “The Brave Collection” makes the perfect opportunity to inspire those you love to believe in shopping with a conscience and giving back. There are many injustices going on in this world we are completely unaware of, guys. Lack of courage in women is one of them. Let’s help put a stop to that by wearing the courage and being the voice.  

Love, Valeria.

Click here to browse through the collection.