FALLING FOR DIY

'Tis the season of crafting. But DIY isn't exactly a Suz nor Sarah forté. We typically opt for OIFPB {order-it-from-Pottery Barn}. Now that we're committed to a more sustainable life, though, we're giving DIY a try.

For inspiration and direction, we rounded up a few of our favorite seasonal projects from a variety of craft-loving bloggers. Take a look, and check out the well-to-do contest & give-a-way, too!

Burlap bunting by Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss

Fall garland by A Glimpse Inside

Fabric pumpkins by Tater Tots and Jello

Upcycled sweater pumpkins by Mary's Meanderings

Burlap pillow by Create Studio

Metallic pumpkins by Beans and Buttons

Martha Stewart glitter starfish from The Single Nester

Framed pattern leafs from Cottage Hill

Framed pumpkin patch by Embellishing Life

Pants turned ruffle purse by Made It On Monday

Those are some of our favorites. What are yours? 


Go on and get crafting!


LINKING UP TO...

via

xx S+S

HAPPY, HAPPY HAIRDO

Growing your hair out always seems like a good idea. Until you realize the number of bobby pins and headbands it takes to wrangle your locks into a respectable ‘do. Then there’s always that cowlick. And don’t even get Suz started on post-partum re-growth...

Luckily, cute-as-a-button designer Amanda Aileen Fisher of Charlotte, NC has a line of hair accessories to help ease wayward tresses through the painful transition. Made from pieces of vintage and salvaged fabrics from Amanda’s scrap bin, hairdo dads are attached to a bobby pin and measure 1.75" in diameter. They come on a card made from recycled boxes and are hand-embossed with a fun name.

Says Amanda on her Etsy shop, “The bob, the pixie, the beehive, the bouffant, the feathered flip... Whatever you have atop your head, these little hairpins will add a burst of color to any 'do.”

Want to tame your tresses - and add some dazzle! - with hairdo dad adornments? Well, it might just be your lucky day. Amanda designed three hairdo dads specifically for the wrap-up of well-to-do’s green beauty series. Take a look...

Perfect for Fall, right? We know. We want some, too! Share this post with a friend, fan Amanda’s line Verabelle on Facebook, and you’ll be entered to win!

Good luck and, as always, thanks for reading!

xx S+S

HAIRS TO PROSANTé

Santé is a French word meaning “for your health,” and Shaklee’s ProSanté hair care systems does just that — “pro”motes the health of your hair and scalp. Each ProSanté product contains Scalp Health Complex, a blend of 10 vitamins, minerals and herbs to give your locks back the luster, shine and thickness they've been missing.

ProSanté uses natural ingredients such as Vitamin B6, ginseng & green tea extracts, as well as tea tree leaf oil, and leaves out formaldehyde, dye, soap, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and other nasty ingredients found in many hair products.

Nourishing Scalp Treatment, $30.30

A healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair. ProSanté starts by normalizing the scalp with Nourishing Scalp Treatment, a natural based formula that normalizes the scalp to provide the optimal environment for thick, healthy hair.  

Two shampoos (priced at $13.75) work as a team to provide both gentle and deep cleansing while protecting hair’s natural moisture balance. 

Two conditioners (also priced at $13.75) provide both light and intensive conditioning to restore shine, strength, and volume.  

Long Lasting Finishing Spray, $13.75

A nonsticky, non-aerosol hairspray protects against UV damage as it gently preserves your hair style.  

Mix and match for your hair type or use all the products together for best results!

So here’s to fuller, healthy hair… the natural way. The Shaklee way! Want more info? As always we’re just an email away @ welltodoyou@gmail.com.

xx S+S

Images courtesy of Shaklee

GET SOME FRESH HAIR

We all want someone else’s hair. But you’re not going to go into a salon looking like you and come out looking like Jennifer Anniston. Not gonna happen. So drop that Harpers Bazaar and hand your head over to the best at Balance Hair and Body. Step into the bright, attitude-free space on South Main Street in Brewer and pause to take it all in: the stylish decor, the peace & quiet shampoo room, the filtered water with fresh lemon, the friendly faces… Then marvel at the service. Only the truly down-to-earth, earth-loving and perfectly pleasant work here.

We checked in with Balance's eco-minded owners, Mary and Tom McGary, for their top good-for-you, good-for-the-earth and good-for-your-wallet hair regime tips. Here’s what they had to say...

Wash your hair less often. If you shampoo daily, try every other day. Over washing can damage your hair, remove color, cause dry ends and a dry scalp. Skipping a day also saves you money. If your hair feels uncomfortably oily in the meantime, wear a ponytail or a thick headband―and think about what you’ll do with all that extra time in the morning!

Use sulfate free and botanical hair products. Pureology hair care products deliver gentle yet effective cleansing with the most luxurious ingredients. Sandalwood, geranium, rose, soy, chamomile, olive oil and mushroom extract all help achieve optimum results.

Make sure your dryers and irons have the most recent technologies. Qualities such as ionic, tourmaline-infused and ceramic help deliver the heat in a more effective less damaging way than older options. Balance uses GHD irons that have sensors in both plates which allows for self adjusting heat.

Foil your frizz with eco-friendly Keratin Complex Hair Therapy. Unlike its carcinogenic cousin, Keratin Complex thermally infuses much-needed keratin into the hair shaft without harsh chemicals thanks to a patented polymerization process.

Eat your way to healthier hair. If your hair is looking a little frazzled or funky, consider your eating habits. Well-to-do did some research and found that Biotin, a B vitamin found in many whole grains, rice, milk, and egg yolks is a key vitamin to make your hair stronger. A recent Women's Health article further suggested omega-3 fatty acids (such as salmon and walnuts) and vitamins E and A can also have an impact on the overall health of your scalp. Overall lesson: healthy diet = healthy hair.

Treat yourself. In celebration of well-to-do’s green beauty series, Balance is giving away THREE gift certificates to THREE lucky beauties in the greater Bangor area. Winners will receive their choice of a cut & style, 30 minute massage or manicure. Why do all this for you? Guess Balance thinks you’re worth it. Shouldn’t you?

Become a fan of Balance Hair and Body on Facebook (TELL US in the comments - also tell us if you're already a fan) or comment on this post and you'll be entered to win. The contest closes Wednesday at midnight so be sure to share the Balance love with all of your best tressed friends!

xx S+S

Images courtesy of harpersbazaar.com, balancehairandbody.com, goodhousekeeping.com, pureology.com, ghdhair.com, keratincomplex.com and nobelprize.org.

CAPE COD ECO-CHIC

Not quite ready to ditch your Cover Girl? Consider expressing your greener side with something easy: an eco-friendly cosmetic bag from Cape Cod Originals, a refreshing handmade accessories label where no two bags are the same.

First things first, they're just plain cute. Plus, you can pick from whatever reclaimed canvas pattern you want to be stitched - a green girl’s dream! Triply amazing is the story. Take a listen...

Sharon Gilmartin of Sandwich started sewing partly to pass the time but also as therapy when her son Charles, at the age of 10, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma-oediatric brain cancer. She knitted in waiting rooms, during surgeries and sewed on long, hard days of chemo.

Charles & Sharon Gilmartin

Sadly Charles lost his 4 1/2 year battle in November 2009. But like the superhero he enjoyed pretending to be, Charles showed his mom a way to cope with her grief, and Gilmartin turned her hobby into a business.

Customized bags may be ordered from Gilmartin’s online boutique and she has designs on Etsy as well.

In celebration of well-to-do’s green beauty series and in Charles’ memory, Cape Cod Originals is giving away not one but TWO "Fleur de Lis" cosmetic cases.  Add to that an Enfuselle Eye Makeup Remover and you have a one-of-a-kind give-a-way!

Become a fan of Cape Cod Originals on Facebook (and tell us about it in the comments), follow us via Friend Connect OR “like” our status and you’ll be entered to win! The contest is open now through Sunday, and the winner will be announced on Monday.

For more information about Charles Gilmartin's foundation, please visit http://www.charlesrfoleyjrgilmartinfoundation.com.

xx S+S

Images courtesy of Sharon Gilmartin & Cape Cod Originals

EYE AM BEAUTIFUL

Suz shed sweet tears of vanity when she found out that her COVERGIRL LashBlast Volumizing Mascara scored a 9 out of 10 (high hazard!) on Skin Deep’s cosmetic safety review.  With a little bit of research, though, she happily found a green replacement: Josie Maran’s Argan Mascara⎯equally lash-blasting but paraben and fragrance free.

Just as applying three coats of mascara every morning is part of Suz’s daily routine so is taking it off before bed. Thankfully she wasn't tearful about her eye makeup remover since she uses Enfuselle by Shaklee.

Enfuselle’s eye make up remover’s oil-free formula gently and thoroughly dissolves stubborn eye makeup. It’s features include:

• pH balanced

• Nonirritating—specially formulated for sensitive skin

• Ophthalmologist tested and safe for contact lens wearers

• Comforts delicate skin around eyes with beta glucan

• Encourages a smooth, firm, and healthy appearance

• Hypoallergenic

Daily removal of eye makeup can irritate and damage the delicate skin around the eye. But adding an eye makeup remover to your nightly routine just might improve your skin, too. Skip the toilet paper and use a cotton round or ball (organic, of course)! 

It’s not a cure for crows feet or wrinkles, so don’t expect a miracle. But it will absolutely hydrate the area, and, with regular use, could help conceal some of those lines. That alone makes it worth it!

Stay tuned for a BIG beauty giveaway on Friday!

xx S+S

Image courtesy of becomegorgeous.com

NATURALLY GORGEOUS

Want to know more about what's in your beauty products? And more important, what's not? Sephora created a comprehensive glossary of terms to help you make sense of all the green and not-so-green ingredients out there. Read through it to find out what "natural" really means and what it takes for a product to earn the 100% Certified Organic seal.


A quick skim of the terms reads like a toxic house cleaner. Clearly nobody wants lead or petroleum on their faces, right? But if you’ve read the news ever you know that the cosmetics industry uses all kinds of ingredients in its products — some dangerous, some just plain confusing. What many of them have in common is that that don’t belong anywhere near our largest organ.

Making the switch to all natural makeup is great for the earth, your skin and your health, and surprisingly easy on the budget. The most cost effective way to restock your beauty bag is by replacing your current products with green counterparts as they run out. 

Here's well-to-do's round-up of five green + glamorous cosmetic brands to get you looking and feeling fresh-faced without breaking the bank.

ALIMA PURE

Alima Pure takes being natural seriously. Super seriously. They scored a BDIH certification - the highest for natural cosmetics. Their lightweight Satin Matte Foundation ($20) and Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow ($9) rank among their best sellers. Though the line is moderately priced, if you're fickle or nervous to commit, the products are also available for sale in small sample sizes (the Satin Matte Foundation, for example, is $1.50). 

CARGO PLANTLOVE

ECOCERT certified, the environmentally conscious PlantLove line from edgy brand Cargo is the epitome of accessible, eco-friendly beauty. From the 100% natural ingredients to the biodegradable packaging (made from corn), PlantLove is stylin'. The Essential Eye Shadow Palette ($32), is a fan favorite, as is the Daily Gloss ($12).

JOSIE MARAN COSMETICS

Mom, model, actress and 2007 Dancing with the Stars contestant Josie Maran launched her own makeup line in 2006. The natural beauty teamed up with the Environmental Working Group's site Skin Deep for the creation of the cosmetics' formulas. The whole line is worth checking out but the two products most buzzed about are her Argan Cream Blush ($22) and Argan Mascara ($22). Available at josiemarancosmetics.com and also sephora.com.

NVEY ECO

The entire Nvey Eco brand is certified by the Organic Food Chain. In addition to its environmentally friendly practices, Nvey Eco is celebrated for making long-lasting, durable cosmetics. And like Alima, Nvey offers samples in everything from Organic Cake Eyeliner ($2) to Organic Erase Corrective Makeup ($2) to Organic Lip Stick ($2.50). Even cooler, as the first collection of brushes ever to be made with compostable handles, you can use each brush fully and then return it back to Nvey's headquarters in exchange for a discount coupon toward future purchases!

PHYSICIANS FORMULA ORGANIC WEAR

You probably know Physicians Formula from taking a stroll down the cosmetics aisle at your local drug store. But did you know that the brand also has a high quality organic line? Physicians Formula Organic Wear was the first ECOCERT certified American organic makeup line. The line contain 100% certified organic ingredients and is packaged in environmentally conscious paper compacts. Award winners include the Bronzer Booster ($14.95) and 2 in 1 Bronzer & Blush ($13.95).

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If you can’t be sure a product is safe, and it isn’t doing you any favors, why bother using it? We've given you well-to-do's award winners so no more excuses! Eco-friendly makeup is safe, works and doesn’t cost any more than your average chemical-based cosmetics. With the options listed above you'll be naturally gorgeous in no time.

xx S+S

DON'T WORRY, BUY HAPPY

Every green goddess needs to stay beautiful on the go which is why our Goddess from Greene suggests looking for organic, recycled or upcycled beauty bags. Do work or the kids have you too busy for google researching a pretty earth-friendly pouch? Don't worry, buy happy! Happy Solez Organics, that is: hand sewn and eco-friendly goods for babies, women and home. 

Katherine Accettura, graphic designer and seamstress extraordinaire, uses sustainable materials such as bamboo, organic cotton, 100% recycled plastic bottle felt and repurposed clothing items for her products which range from bags to baby booties. Find Happy Solez on Etsy and also online (for a wider selection).

In celebration of well-to-do's green beauty series, Happy Solez is giving away a linen and lace beauty pouch to one lucky well-to-doer. Perfect for makeup, toiletries or girlie supplies. A great way to stay beautiful and eco-conscious while on the go!

Leave a comment here or on Facebook about what skin care you currently use and you'll be entered into the random drawing. The contest closes on Sunday and the winner will be announced Monday.

Wondering what to put in your organic beauty pouch? Stay tuned 'til next Monday for a green cosmetics round-up!

xx S+S

Images courtesy of Happy Solez