by Tara Mackey | Around the World, Blogroll, Modeling, My Organic Life, Travel, Uncategorized
I am packing for Mexico today… One suitcase already full of Around the World Lookbook gear: eco friendly, handmade, hand crafted, home made, sustainable jewels, shirts, skirts, pants, dresses, bracelets, necklaces, beauty products, sun screen, shoes, accessories… I am overwhelmed at all the love and I can’t WAIT to rock & shoot it all!
First I am staying at the super posh Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills. Marilyn Monroe used to live there for a period of 3 years in the 1950’s and my favorites/mentors/idols Lucille Ball & Mae West also stayed there. I am SO excited to shoot there!!
I thought I’d share with you some of the photos that Kris shot on our last trip to Joshua Tree/Palm Springs. The idea of the Around the World Lookbook was planted during this trip and I’ve gotten such an overwhelming response since that I really can’t stop smiling! I’ve been doing some extra running, lifting and push and pull ups to get my body in shape for some of these exquisite clothes! Despite the tummy burn, I am super satisfied! 🙂
I really feel like the luckiest girl on Earth sometimes. When I was young I used to sketch out and draw out plans like this and I kept them really dear to my heart. To have so many wonderful people, companies and products interested in what I am doing and willing to support me in it is really beyond words sometimes. The fact that in less than a month after we shoot this I will be in Italy shooting and exploring and styling even MORE is almost too much to comprehend!
A big, warm, long thank you to all of you!
Thanks again for making this possible, everyone! Beautiful photos to come! ♥
Photographer: Kris Rodammer | Styling: MOL | Chest Piece: New Age Couture | Necklace: MORPH Knitwear
If you know of a Sustainable, Eco-Friendly, Handmade or Home Made Brands or Companies who would like to participate in Italy, please contact us at:
TaraMackey@me.com
Thank you!
Find me on…
INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | PHOTOGRAPHY | LOOKBOOK | TUMBLR
Love & Light
ૐ
by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, Health, Uncategorized
Okay… I love my President more than the next person, and I rarely make a political post… but this is an absolute outrage that affects 100% of all Americans (and all of our children, for generations!) This is truly unhumanitarian and I’m really disgusted by it, even as a self-sustaining consumer.
Yesterday, myself, Josh and 250,000 other Americans called the White House with pleas to PLEASE not sign Section 735, the Monsanto Protection Act.
Intended to prevent the federal government from shutting down on March 27 when the current funding expires, HR 933 may seem an unlikely target for food activists. However, the trouble is in section 735. Smuggled into HR 933, the provision now being called the “Monsanto Protection Act,” essentially deregulates genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by allowing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to override judicial rulings and grant temporary permits for conventional farmers to plant and grow genetically modified crops while pending review. Previously, a court could suspend the planting and selling of genetically engineered crops if presented with a potential health or environmental risk or if not properly approved by the USDA. However, as legal battles persist, the “biotech rider” protects the ability of large biotech companies including Monsanto, Dow Chemical, and DuPont, to continue business as usual with the USDA’s blessing.
Basically, as a consumer, this means that not only will your genetically modified food be grown, shelved & sold to you
you’ll never know it’s been genetically modified.
Studies on GMO fed rats recently have been absolutely stunning. “The animals on the GM diet suffered mammary tumors, as well as severe liver and kidney damage. The researchers said 50 percent of males and 70 percent of females died prematurely, compared with only 30 percent and 20 percent in the control group.”
I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t look very appealing to me.
Neither does the alarming 70 % death rate in females.
Here are some of the shocking findings from the study:
• Up to 50% of males and 70% of females suffered premature death.
• Rats that drank trace amounts of Roundup (at levels legally allowed in the water supply) had a 200% to 300% increase in large tumors.
• Rats fed GM corn and traces of Roundup suffered severe organ damage including liver damage and kidney damage.
• The study fed these rats NK603, the Monsanto variety of GM corn that’s grown across North America and widely fed to animals and humans. This is the same corn that’s in your corn-based breakfast cereal, corn tortillas and corn snack chips.
In an effort to balance this violation of our basic rights, I am urging you to sign this, telling our President to issue an Executive Order to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods, something that he promised farmers while on the campaign trail in 2007.
It is urgent that the U.S. government rectify the 20 year old politically engineered loophole and allow for open and transparent labeling of genetically engineered foods, a basic right that citizens in 62 others countries already enjoy.
Please sign your name here to help us gain our freedom back and force the government – along with the freedom 62 other countries have – to labels GMO’s.
Thank you.
Love & Health.
by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, DIY, Garden, My Organic Life, My Photography, Uncategorized
So, something really sad happened this week: my tea kettle broke. 🙁
I went through about a day of boiling water in a pot on the stove before dragging J to Goodwill for a replacement.
We found some cute and amazing little vintage tea kettles, and a ton of tea cups I’ve been putting to good use with my newest Insomnia & Anxiety Natural Cure!
Popular throughout Europe and the United States, where it grows abundantly, Valerian root contains a number of active chemical compounds. These include different alkaloids, but the most important may be gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, which is vital for brain function, and helps to inhibit the stress-causing neurotransmitters that can lead to a lack of sleep or persistent anxiety.
This is the same active compound that is triggered by Valium, but valerian root tea is a far safer and milder alternative to this addictive drug. This has been backed up by clinical research in the past few decades. Valerian has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Hippocrates described its properties, and Galen later prescribed it as a remedy for insomnia. In medieval Sweden, it was sometimes placed in the wedding clothes of the groom to ward off the “envy” of the elves. In the sixteenth century the Anabaptist reformer Pilgram Marpeck prescribed valerian tea for a sick woman.
Valerian is also used for Abdominal Cramps, Nervousness, Obsessive Thoughts, Muscle Relaxation & Insomnia. Once again, the pills, tinctures and teas containing Valerian can get pricey, so I got myself a little Valerian plant. If you plan to use the roots, it is recommended that you snip off the leaves, that way the energy goes directly to the roots.
To prepare valerian tea, take one bag per cup of hot water and allow it to steep for approximately 10 minutes. When using valerian tea for insomnia or to get a better night of rest, it is recommended to drink valerian tea at night before bed in order to achieve the best results. It is also recommended to drink this tea regularly since it may take more than one night before taking a prominent effect.
I harvest the plant from a larger pot with adequate soil around it, that allows me to safety take the plant in and out without uprooting it:
I then:
Break or cut off parts of the roots and put them in a Tea Strainer:
Valerian has a strong odor, but mixing it with Honey or mixing with Lavender or Chamomile flowers takes that away very well.
Enjoy!
*Valerian shouldn’t be taken with many medications, especially those that depress the central nervous system, such as sedatives and antihistamines. Valerian shouldn’t be taken with alcohol, before or after surgery, or by people with liver disease. It should not be taken before driving or operating machinery. Consultation with a qualified health practitioner is recommended.
If you Enjoyed this Post, you May Also Enjoy:
DIY: Coconut Oil
From Pot to Plate
Grow Your Life
Herbs to Cure Your Life
Find me on…
INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | PHOTOGRAPHY | LOOKBOOK | TUMBLR
Love & Light
ૐ
by Tara Mackey | Around the World, Blogroll, Green Beauty, Green Makeup, Modeling, Uncategorized
We’re all in this together. Whether you buy eco-friendly fashion or carbon credits, it’s important to put your hard earned money into thoughtful purchases with real importance. Just like anything else, we can make fashion choices and purchases that are more in line with our values, bringing us closer to our true selves and supporting true causes in the World around us. Once you understand where your money goes, you really begin to understand what’s truly important to you.
We certainly shouldn’t have to compromise our wallets or our morals to look good, and we shouldn’t settle for cheap & easy fashion when there are so many wonderful causes to support!
There are many facets to what goes into a garment before it’s made available to us: a lot of people and tedious processes at work, a lot of love and care. As with anything else that we buy, each time we make a purchase, we can choose to support companies that share our values and are more in line with the world we wish to see.
Some questions that we can ask ourselves include:
- Who made this? (Look out for fair trade certifications to ensure workers were not exploited)
- Where was it made and how far did it have to travel to get here?
- Were any animals harmed or killed in the process? (Eg. Silk, fur, leather, wool, feathers)
- Was sustainability in mind during the production and design process?
Wildlife Works turns your dollars into programs for saving endangered and threatened wildlife and preserving forests around the globe. It’s a win-win where everyone benefits: wild animals +trees + the planet + local communities + you!
The Abstract Monkey Tee is inspired by the embroidered robes of West Africa. The robes, called agbada, feature exquisite patterns that are hand-embroidered with wild silk and cotton, and are worn on special occasions by men of prestige.
Can Fashion Save Wildlife?
At Wildlife Works, the answer is a resounding YES!
Shirt: Wildlife Works | Flower Crown: Gardens of Whimsy | Purse: Recycled & Handmade | Jacket: H&M | Glasses: Guess? | Jeans, Necklace & “Janis” Book: Thrifted
Photographer: @rianjames | Model: Yours Truly
Find me on…
INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | PHOTOGRAPHY | LOOKBOOK | TUMBLR
Love & Light
ૐ
by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, Green Beauty, My Organic Life, My Photography, Product Reviews, Skincare, Uncategorized
What a beautiful week! I got so much done – there are some days I swear I feel like I’m 4 different people! Been working on some killer music, the garden has been trimmed, weeded and harvested (and I need a loooooong soak!) and I’m cooking like there’s no tomorrow! My Organic Life got a lovely write up over at Lux & Eco:
If you haven’t checked out Lux & Eco yet, don’t waste another moment! They are without question the Saks 5th Ave of Eco-Fashion! I can’t thank them enough for their nod and recognition of my projects and endeavors. 🙂
I was lucky enough to receive a beautiful little travel package from Pelle Beauty the other week, and tried it out this past week. Two words: Life Saver!
Founder of Pelle Beauty, Marnie Cipriani, is such a sweetheart! Her experience as a makeup artist has told her a lot about skin! I’m a really big sucker for anything in clear packaging: it really makes me feel comfortable about my purchase and happy about my choice! Pelle Beauty’s design is sleek, elegant and fun! 🙂 This little kit is really perfect to use in the bath, in just such an order:
The Cleansing Gel is perfect after removing your makeup with coconut oil (my DIY recipe is here!) It’s simple, it works, it smells great, and it leaves skin refreshed instead of dried out. Really wonderful – I like my products as simple as they possibly can be and this really does the job with no residue.
Alcohol Free are my two favorite words when it comes to skin care products! This Facial Mist is super refreshing and really lovely. The wonderful ingredients include Chamomile, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Camellia Sinensis (Japanese Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Saccharomyces / Sea Salt Ferment (Biomin), Allantoin & Grapeseed Extract.
Stellar is absolutely now a staple part of my beauty routine! I couldn’t be happier that I found this! Stellar absorbs into the skin immediately – I’ve yet to find anything like it! My skin has been absolutely thirsty, totally dehydrated these last few weeks and Stellar has truly reversed it all! This product is Vegan friendly, and can be used on your face, hair, cuticles, or a makeup setter very well.
You see what I did there? 🙂
This Balancing concentrate is wonderful for hydration, smells earthy and absorbs super fast! I like it just as much as the Stellar.
Last, but certainly not least, this Vegan Mint Lip Balm is fantastic. 🙂 It’s my go-to lip treatment besides my home made coconut oil right now! Makes lips soft and lovely.
A big thanks to Pelle Beauty for their commitment to organic living & for just being an all around remarkable company!
If You Enjoyed this Post, you May Also Enjoy…
Beauty Blast: BluKat Design
Beauty Blast: Sequoia Beauty
Beauty Blast: Bubble & Bee
Find me on…
INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | PHOTOGRAPHY | LOOKBOOK | TUMBLR
Love & Light
ૐ
