by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, books, Modeling, Music, My Organic Life
Fashion Week LA has been a crazy whirlwinded blessing so far. I walked my first runway show in LA ever yesterday for iiJin and even talked to some Press after the show. Since it’s Fashion Week and I am absolutely swamped (and exhausted) I’ve rounded up some links I love for you guys covering everything from awesome music, amazing news, funny videos to Health tips in leu of some DIY tips, work photos or 1001 reasons to get off the couch 😛
Let’s see, there’s. . .
– This amazing, eye opening article on The Power of Menses that my friend & fellow Wellness Warrior Colleen sent me.
– Make Life A Ritual
– How Girl’s Take A Shower (True to the last joke)
– This incredible acoustic cover of Closer
– 7 Unconventional Reasons Why You Absolutely Should Be Reading Books
– Too Cute is now on Netflix and it’s all I’ve been watching.
– Drunk History is nothing short of amazing.
– Brain Treats Rejection Like Physical Pain
– Complete skull of 1.8-million-year-old hominin found
– Smile ( my new jams!)
– The next thing I’m adopting
– Ever wonder what it’s like to climb Mount Fujiyama? Read Brenda’s amazing story!
– China Tried To Build A City To Replicate Paris … And Here’s What It Looks Like Now
– Your 2013 eco-tourism guide
I hope you’re all having a wonderful and productive week!
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by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, books, My Organic Life
As you may have noticed, I’m a huuuuuge (with 5 u’s) bookworm. The only thing I have going on more than headphones on my head is a book in my hand (mostly because I can fall asleep more comfortably with a book than my huge ‘phones… but that’s beside the point!)
I’m often reading 1 or 2 books at a time, and I get through them quickly. I share my newest and greatest book finds with fellow dorky friends who I know love and appreciate literature. I also share my woe’s and restraints when it comes to my immense book buying problem…
Does anyone else share this?
You’re in the bookstore, and you pick up one. Then two. Then three books.
Soon enough you’re practicing your balancing skills.
You even sit down to read one or two of them, hoping you’ll find something icky and be able to put one back!
Sooner or later you’re doing the dance.
You know the one!
Where you tentatively put Most Expensive Book #1 back on the shelf…
then swap it for Most Expensive Book #2…
You vow to yourself to “get to the library” soon and make sure they have it, and you text a friend asking if it’s worth it to blow your last paycheck on another Steinbeck?
Anyone? Anyone?
… Okay maybe it’s just me.
😉
Anyway, I got through a tremendous amount of books this month! My Book Reading Ability gets heightened when I travel cause I’m alone so much, and my trip to NY in August has me piqued!
So, Happy October!!
Here are some of my recommendations for books that I read, or re-read some underlined parts of in September. I’ve tried to cover a few different genres so as to give the best recommendations!
Enjoy!
The Tipping Point – How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
By Malcolm Gladwell
The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire. This lively narrative is mostly an amalgamation of social psych studies on fads, all connected to their “tipping point”. While I’ve previously read a lot of the studies, the connections that the author brings together were still fascinating to me. All of the examples Gladwell writes about have one culmination: how unpredictable people can be when they find themselves in the throes of doing what everyone else is doing at the same time.
Autobiography of a Yogi
by Paramahansa Yogananda
Whenever I am out and about reading Autobiography, I never fail to get stopped by someone who wants to tell me how much this book changed their life. Not once.
It’s my #1 Book recommendation to everyone always all the time every day any moment regardless of what you’re doing in life. Seriously.
Not only has this book brought exceptional clarity and love into my life, it set me on a unique path to self discovery. For a book averaging a miracle every 1 page, I come back to it again and again.
This acclaimed autobiography presents a fascinating portrait of one of the great spiritual figures of our time. With engaging candor, eloquence, and wit, Paramahansa Yogananda narrates the inspiring chronicle of his life: the experiences of his remarkable childhood, encounters with many saints and sages during his youthful search throughout India for an illumined teacher, ten years of training in the hermitage of a revered yoga master, and the thirty years that he lived and taught in America.
In her memoir of her father, Margaret Salinger notes that had it not been for Autobiography of a Yogi, she would never have been born. Her father, J.D. Salinger, had already begun his reclusive lifestyle. He wanted to divorce himself from the duties of domesticity and family life in order to achieve a higher spiritual consciousness. However, Paramhansa Yogananda ‘s book revealed to him that -in his understanding salvation can also come to those who live a family life yet still practice his science of Kriya Yoga.
I am lucky enough to visit the Self-Realization Fellowship Center in Los Angeles from time to time to get my global meditation on, and I could not be happier about this man’s existence.
If you’re looking for your introduction to spiritual narrative, you’ve
found it.
Yours, Isaac Asimov: A Life in Letters
by Stanley Asimov
I have an entire shelf dedicate to my Asimov Collection. I will buy an Asimov book practically any time I see it, unless I already own 2 copies of it (yes. I said 2.)
Isaac Asimov was one of the most prolific authors of our time. When he died in 1992 at the age of seventy-two, he had published more than 470 books in nearly every category of fiction and nonfiction. Asimov was a prodigious correspondent as well as a prolific author. During his
professional career he received more than one hundred thousand letters, over ninety thousand of which he answered.
For Asimov’s younger brother, veteran newspaperman Stanley Asimov, the creation of Yours, Isaac Asimov was truly a labor of love. Completed before Stanley’s death in August 1995, the book is made up of excerpts from one thousand never-before-published letters, each handpicked by Stanley for inclusion in this volume.
This book is so brilliant. It’s honestly one of the few books I’ve ever LOL’d while reading in a public place just because I couldn’t help myself!
These charming, witty, beautiful, eloquent letters are an unmatched look into Asimov’s thinking and true persona. A great way to get to know him if you haven’t read I, Robot, Bicentennial Man, The Foundation Series or any of his other classics yet!
An Awesome Book of Thanks
by Dallas Clayton
An Awesome Book of Thanks is… Awesome. Me and Josh each got a copy in our gift bags from KidStock and I’ve read it so many times! It’s so adorable and perfect for kids and adults alike! Paired with absolutely precious illustrations, this book will give you a good kick in the rear about what to appreciate in life! Makes a wonderful gift, too! 🙂
Style, Naturally: The Savvy Shopping Guide to Sustainable Fashion and Beauty
By Summer Rayne Oakes
Summer and I did a magazine shoot together a few years ago, and since I realized who this true beauty is deep down, I’ve been fascinated by her stuff! She is arguably the World’s First Model to care about sustainable fashion, and a great author to boot! In addition to explaining the basics (from fair trade to organically grown), Summer showcases hundreds of her favorite designers such as Stella McCartney and Safia Minney and eco-friendly brands such as Levi’s, Loomstate, and Aveda that have made earth-friendly materials and sustainable practices a priority. This is a perfect Coffee Table book – really fun to go through – lots of beautiful photos, insightful interviews, and eco-stories from some brands you’d least expect!
Thank you very much. Happy reading!
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by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, DIY, Garden, My Organic Life, My Photography, Product Reviews, Skincare
House Plants
The #1 thing you’ll notice upon just pulling up to my house is that I have… sort of a plant problem. If there are not 15 things potted on the front porch, there are plants hanging from the ceiling of the porch or planted in the garden, my workspace, studio, bathroom and bedroom all have at least one plant, and there are at least two by the kitchen sink. When you breathe, your body takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This opposite pattern of gas use makes plants and people natural partners. Adding plants to interior spaces can increase oxygen levels. It’s also been proven to uplift moods, purify the air, sharpen your focus and improve your mental health!
Re-evaluating the plastics & glass we throw away – even if we recycle – is always the first step. A ton of things make great planters, and a lot of plants even grow upside down very well!
If you think you don’t have room for a plant, consider these upside down methods, a terrarium, a venus fly trap or a hanging planter!
I’m cloning a bunch of peas outside (super successfully I might add!) in recycled Kombucha bottles, I planted some corn in an old egg container and every time I get strawberries, I’m super excited to plant new strawberries in the old container!
Clone Your Food
Using your trimmings, seeds or sprouting veggies for clones is a great way to perpetuate growth and nourish yourself! You can stick the trimmings of most plants (and various parts of others, depending on if it’s a fruit or veggie) in a glass of water and they will sprout roots, peas, or both within a few weeks! It’s remarkable, fun and easy!
Filter Your Water
It’s already pretty clear that we take our water for granted. The developed world has water on demand. Just turn a knob and presto! Running water. But this might not be the case for much longer, because in the United States, some neighboring states are beginning to sue one another over access to shared water resources, and aging infrastructures are struggling under the ever growing demand for abundant, clean water. Simply paying attention to how you use water can help you conserve this precious resource, too. For example, you can save water by shaving in the sink rather than the shower. And when you turn on your shower, place a 5-gallon bucket beneath the stream while you wait for the water to heat up, rather than simply allowing it to run down the drain. For instance, my laundry water drains straight to my garden via a duct. In the same case of the bath water, you can use this gray water in your garden.
It’s also important to make sure that you have clean, filtered water to drink. The 35-year-old federal law regulating tap water is so out of date that the water Americans drink can pose what scientists say are serious health risks – and still be legal.
Research your home town and see for yourself!
Aromatherapy
Where it’s this amazing Aromatherapy Flax Seed Pillow from Aquarian Bath (when I say amazing, I mean AMAZING), incense, soy candles from Hip E Chick, or my own little concoction, I really like to make sure that the house smells like something wonderful at all times. Aromatherapy is an exploration of creativity as well as technical knowledge. Creative expression comes from knowing the characteristics of oils and envisioning new combinations of scents. The scientific aspect of aromatherapy comes from knowing the subtle differences in essential oils that are attributable to thousands of aroma chemicals, and how these chemical constituents affect the human body. Some of my favorite scents for relaxation & calming are Vanilla, Lavender, Rose, Sage & Jasmine.
Remind Yourself
There’s nothing I like more than a nice little reminder of who I am and what I’m trying to do with my life to start my day. Otherwise, you can get really caught up in things like finishing coffee before rush hour or answering e-mails before you’ve even brushed your teeth that the whole day gets hectic. Having nice little reminders like this in the house, by my workspace, in the bathroom, in the kitchen – wherever I will read it – is not only affirming, but I think rather lovely. 🙂
Rescue Some Real Books
I think you all know by now that I’m totally mad about books…I left about two rooms full of boxes in New York when I moved, and have since been re-amassing a small (… by my standards…) collection of rescued and thrifted books! There are books absolutely everywhere in my home… every room, on the porch, on the couch. I’m tripping over them. But I always say if I’m going to have a problem… it may as well be an immense thirst for knowledge. 😉
I’ve always wanted to have a small bathroom library so that I could pull whatever I wanted during meditation & bath times, and my dreams are slowly but surely coming true! I might even decide to shop small bathroom vanities, so I could have more storage space in the bathroom for toileteries, as well as a space to store reading material. This way, none of the books will get wet and I will have something to help me relax on stressful days. I can’t say enough about the pleasure that reading brings me.
Re-Learn the Clean
I don’t know about you, but my sensory memory of cleaning the house is riddled with toxic smells and choking on chemicals. I recently approached Hip e Chick about their all-natural cleaning products & hand soap, as well as all natural bathroom lotion for guests! As someone who has to clean the house pretty much consistently because my dog sheds & I take baths every day, I am SUPER impressed & truly very happy with these natural alternatives to cleaning my sink, stove, counters, bath & other sensitive places my body goes.
Create A Sanctuary
Whether it’s soap shaped like rose petals, Buddha, Krishna, Jesus, dream catchers, vintage photos, or rocks in the sink, I always try to add a little touch of love to my home.
Finding ways to express yourself creatively is the nicest part of having your own place! Doing things that you’ve “always wanted to do” since you were a kid with your space is so, so rewarding!
Have fun ORGANIC-izing your space!
If you have any suggestions or comments on how you go green, feel free to leave them!
A big thank you to Hip E Chick & Aquarian Bath for their help on this post!
You May Also Like:
Hip E Chick
Treat Yourself: Aquarian Bath
Herbs to Cure Your Life
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by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, My Organic Life, My Photography
One of my absolutely favorite things to do after a hard day of work is take myself out on a date: I get to relax, there’s no conversation to keep up with, I can try all the food I like, I get my meditation in, I can make some phone calls and return e-mails, and I don’t have to share! 🙂 After I finished up at The House today, I wanted to go somewhere I hadn’t been before, and my favorite NoHo Vegan Restaurant: Lotus Vegan, just opened up another location. Perfect!
I got a 3 mile (one way!) walk in on the way there, which was so pleasant. The Noho Arts District, where I’ve been privileged to live for a year, is pristine, the location is convenient and their outdoor seating is just shady enough for a nice read! The inside really surprised me: they have a much larger space now than their last location and it’s a setting perfect both for dates or business meetings! I took a seat outside.
I ordered the Chicken Satay (soy) and had a Gingerade Kombucha. Their Kombucha/Synergy selection is really vast, though! And they have a great menu. The staff was super friendly and checked on me far more than I needed: but in a good way! Very smiley and genuine, and they will answer all of your questions about what the food is made of. I recommend their Satay as a starter to absolutely everyone! It’s really, phenomenally cheap for how good it is! I am huge on texture in my food and you couldn’t pay me to tell the difference between this and chicken, and the peanut sauce and cucumbers are delightful! And, of course, Kombucha is my favorite! 🙂
Overall, I had a truly pleasant experience and would recommend it to everyone who visits the NoHo area if you’re looking for cheap, great, healthy food! I can’t wait to bring some friends!
I read a lot today about the idea of acceptance. Whenever the weather changes my JRA acts up, and it’s been hard, even after 20 minutes of stretching in the morning, to continue my day around 5 p.m. 
as if my muscles aren’t cracking. If the past year has taught me anything, it’s that there is a tremendous connection between one’s mental state and one’s physical health. So whenever I feel some pains coming on, I take a long walk – it’s absolutely essential to get your body and muscles up and moving in order to not feel stiff. And then take out my Epsom Salt and Lavender tea, and make myself a bath:
It works absolute wonders for pain, and while I’m in there, I get my Yoga on! I know it sounds CRAZY that if you come into my bathroom, you will find me doing Yoga, but it’s the only place where my muscles -can- be in a complete state of relaxation besides a steamroom, and it works so well!! It has absolutely changed my life to do Yoga in the Bathtub, and let me be the first to recommend it to you! I start off in Utkatasana (Chair Pose), after about 5 minutes I switch to Dandasana (Staff pose), and end up in Buddha Konasana (Butterfly or Cobbler pose), and take deep, meditative breaths for a good 25-30 minutes. I also read some Autobiography of a Yogi in there today, while listening to the Heart Meditations Pandora station. I do some singing meditations, too – which I’d like to write an entire post about in the future.
I am feeling really great after my bath: about to cook a Raw meal for the family.
Namaste.
