This post is sponsored by WAMA Underwear. All views are our own. Thanks for supporting the brands who are working to make the fashion industry a better place!

 Wama Underwear

This is a new one for me! I've loved seeing hemp used in some of my dresses and tees throughout the last few years, and they've held up incredibly well. With the rise in popularity of hemp as a fabric, I didn't even think of how great it would be used as an undergarment. However, it makes total sense with its beneficial properties, and I'm happy to see it used for these undies.

yeah.. even pregnant bellies can wear WAMA Hemp Hipsters ;)

 Why I Love Wama Underwear

Natural Health Benefits of Hemp: So how exactly does hemp help us protect our privates? Well, there are a few ways - Hemp is anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and has anti-odor properties. It's also moisture-wicking because its porous nature makes it breathable and comfortable. So yeah… why wouldn't we see more underwear made from this excellent fabric? 

Wears Well Over Time: Hemp fiber is one of the strongest and most durable natural fibers. It becomes soft when combined with other fibers, such as the organic cotton in WAMA underwear. Even after each wash, you will notice the fabric softening even more. It's also resistant to mold and UV light and retains color better than cotton. 

Less Water, Space & Pesticides: Hemp beats other natural fibers when it comes to space & the use of water and pesticides. According to hemptraders.com, "Hemp can produce 250% more fiber than cotton and 600% more fiber than flax using the same amount of land". It also requires half the water used to grow cotton and doesn't rely on pesticides or herbicides to thrive. 

GOTS Certified: This is one of my favorite certifications because of its transparency. With WAMA, you can feel confident in the hands that touch the product from material to manufacturing. China is one of the world leaders in hemp textiles, and the hemp/organic cotton blend used for the underwear is GOTS certified. The factories they have partnered with offer employees fair wages and quality working environments. WAMA even has a team member based out of China to oversee the entire production. Also - For my vegan friends, you will be happy to know they are PETA-approved! 

Made for both Men & Women: Okay, since I've approved them, I will get a pair for Travis! He is very particular about his clothes but will be pretty happy with the Hemp Boxer Briefs. And don't you love when a brand has both men and women covered?!  

Guaranteed You'll Love It: I don't know about you, but something about those words' satisfaction guaranteed' gives me confidence in a product. It shows they truly back up what they've created and gives you peace of mind before purchasing. 

Where to Purchase

After a successful Kickstarter campaign {seems like everyone was pretty excited for hemp undies!}, you can now purchase them in their online shop - here -

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by YALA. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in. Thank you for supporting the brands who are making the world a better place!

yala designs

Who doesn’t love 24/7 comfort? The whole idea of not wanting to get out of your PJs to start the day can cease to exist with brands like Yala. They take you from sleep to running errands to work to dinner {& everything in between} with their fantastic product range. And with the popularity of minimizing closets and focusing on a solid capsule wardrobe, this brand is one you need to know.

Why I Love Yala Designs

Great Basics & Designs for Building a Capsule Wardrobe: Are you trying to condense your closet? I’m constantly trying to build that ideal capsule wardrobe to hold on to for years to come. With Yala’s combination of necessary basics and classic designs, you will have zero trouble working on that perfect capsule wardrobe. Their colors are also very practical, so you can mix and match seamlessly within all collections. 

Total Comfort from Day to Night: I don’t think you can make a successful capsule wardrobe without choosing comfy pieces. Especially since you are going to be wearing them more so than a usual wardrobe, it’s essential you like the way you feel in them. By using versatile designs and practical fabrics, many of Yala’s pieces can be used throughout the day. Not to mention, they do have a nice-looking nightwear line when you want to get extra cozy at the end of the day! 

Organic Cotton & Recycled Polys: I’ve always thought organic cotton to be one of the best fabrics for basics. It’s easy to wash, holds color, wears well over time, and has minimal environmental impact. Mixing this fabric with polyester can create an even softer fabric, but it’s not so kind to the planet. I was very excited to see their use of recycled poly since I believe in reusing materials we have already created, and it does make for an exceptionally soft material. 

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What I'm Wearing

Cybill Fleece Wrap: If you don't have a long fleece sweater in your closet, I highly recommend you purchase one - this one, to be more specific ;) The combination of organic cotton and recycled poly in this fleece knit is exceptionally soft {most definitely the softest fleece sweater in my closet}. You can find it in various colors, so no matter your palette preference, you're covered! The length is also excellent - almost like wearing a good-looking robe all day - and is a great 'throw-on'. 

Phoebe Tunic: I've been able to get away with wearing it as a dress {even with the belly here - side note, I'm 5'2" just to give you a better idea of length}, but I'll be pairing it with leggings this week, and then, of course, when it gets a bit cooler out this Fall. I like how the back is longer than the front, and the side seams have a nice slit for movement. It's an upgrade from the usual t-shirt tunic! 

Evan Tee: Whenever I look for a new tee to add to my wardrobe, I always look for length. I wouldn't say I like it when they cut me off at my hips, and I prefer for them to cover a good portion of my backside. This tee is the perfect length for me and could even be considered a tunic. It's made from 100% organic cotton - do I even have to mention its comfort? Also, the sleeve style is unique because your thumbs have a little place to go! Honestly, it's been a long-sleeved style I've been searching for for some time, so I may need to get a few extra colors for this Florida fall.  

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Banyan Tree. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in. Thank you for supporting the brands who are making the world a better place!

with banyan tree essentials

In the spirit of International Women’s Day, I felt it appropriate to share with you a bit of my current self-care routine since I’ve always believed to take care of others, you must first take care of yourself. I don’t know about you, but I notice a massive difference in my attitude and energy when I take a few extra moments to myself daily. For me, those extra moments always entail a great skin-care routine. Being that skin is the largest organ of the body, I’m cautious with what I put on it. After all, it’s tough to have a productive day if you have those little annoyances of breakouts, itches, and overall discomfort. Clear skin has also given me confidence, and when you have meetings, photo shoots, and a platform in front of thousands of people, it’s nice not to have any skin worries.  

Why I Love Banyan Tree

Skin Care that Works: To say I’m impressed is an understatement - I’m genuinely obsessed. Their Day Cream & Night Cream I added into my routine a few weeks ago, and my skin has shown noticeable improvement. Not that I had a ton of concern because I try to take good care of my skin inside-out, but the usual little blemishes I had have come to a halt. Most importantly, though, my skin is softer than it has ever been before. I owe it all to these creams! 

The Scents: I have yet to use a Banyan Tree product that doesn’t take me mentally from home to the spa in an instant. From their essential oil sets to their Jasmine skincare line, each product has an incredible scent. 

Economic Opportunity: With each unique scent comes a story. Banyan Tree works with artisan communities around the world to create their products. In their Pride of Craft book, you can learn more about the makers behind the collections. 

Commitment to Sustainability & Health: Banyan Tree products are cruelty-free, parabens-free, and made with responsibly sourced materials.

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 My Daily Routine with Banyan Tree

Mid-Morning Routine 

1. Thai Chamanard Shower Gel: I'm a morning shower person, and I like waking my skin up to great scents and lots of moisturizers. This shower gel is excellent for gently removing built-up dirt and oils, and Vitamin B5 helps relieve your skin of inflammation while stimulating cell regeneration. A great whole body, pick me up for your morning! 

2. Thai Chamanard Body Lotion: Another product to jump-start my day is this lotion - especially with being pregnant, I am constantly moisturizing. The body lotion works like their day cream {which I'm excited to get to next} in that the hyaluronic acid restores your body's natural compounds to help treat and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. The cogon grassroot extract is an excellent source of potassium, as well.

3. Jasmine Rice Day Cream: As I mentioned before, their creams are worth every penny. I highly recommend you add them to your self-care routine. The ingredients of jasmine rice ferment filtrate and acacia gum work together to tighten skin and increase wrinkle resilience. I do this daily before my makeup, and my skin feels softer. 

End-of-Day Routine

1. Jasmine Rice Facial Foaming Wash: It's time to wash that long day off your face, and I can see how this foaming wash won a Harper's Bazaar Beauty Award for Best Brightening Cleanser. By using this every night, your skin will become brighter and softer each day because the combination of jasmine rice germane filtrate {slows down signs of aging} & sodium PCA {moisturizes skin from within}. 

2. Jasmine Rice Facial Toner: After using the foaming wash, this toner helps trap in all the moisture and stimulates new cell growth. It's been years since I've used a toner, and I've been missing out! 

3. Jasmine Rice Night Cream: Right before I go to bed, I finish the day off with this fantastic night cream. And like what I said about the day cream, everyone needs to add this into their routine ASAP. It's a cream I've recommended to my family and friends because it has been challenging to find one I've been 100% set on. This is a winner! 

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

ikea

Gone are the days when I shrug off a ‘big box’ store and dismiss them from my purchasing realm. I used to think, ‘that store is too large to be taking any of the necessary eco steps I like to see in a brand.’ This simply isn’t true, and if we want to see real change in the world of consumerism, we have to support the global brands who have decided to implement small changes into their supply chain. The concept of sustainable manufacturing isn’t going to reach the masses unless stores like IKEA are leading the way. After listening to an hour-long presentation on their sustainable initiatives, I am excited to have IKEA featured on Sustainably Chic. It’s a store most of us know and has access to, which makes it a perfect focus for the blog. With price and accessibility being two of the biggest deterrents to sustainable consumerism, I feel it’s necessary to applaud and showcase what IKEA has in store. 

Most of you have shopped at IKEA online or in one of their many brick-and-mortar so you may already be aware of their packaging. They got it down! I hate receiving items in the mail that use the ‘one size fits all’ type boxes because it creates excess waste and adds unnecessary space when shipping. You usually have to fill those boxes with extra paper and packaging, so the item doesn’t shift around. IKEA doesn’t do this. Their packaging is customized to the shape of the item, which usually comes broken down for you to put together easily. See how my new chairs were packaged here? I find this sustainable initiative to be brilliant and necessary action with how much this store ships globally! 

Okay, now for the fun stuff! How sleek are these indoor ODGER chairs? I’ve had this little round table for a few years but could never find suitable chairs to pair with it. I’d say I hit the jackpot with these two! They are incredibly lightweight but very sturdy. I was even surprised to see how comfortable I was sitting in them for several hours. The ODGER chairs are made from renewable wood and at least 55% recycled plastic, which {besides the aesthetic} is a big reason I instantly gravitated towards them. They are very smooth, making them easy to clean off, and you don’t need any tools to assemble them - just a few clicks and you’re ready to sit & relax! 

When I think of a sustainable product, I consider much more than the environment. Is it affordable? Is it quality? Is it practical? IKEA is doing a great job of checking all of these requirements off my list regarding these chairs. Now that Jacksonville has an IKEA, I am happy to think more people have access to this furniture in their backyard. 

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Disclosure: This post was sponsored by The Eco Hub. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in. Thank you for supporting the brands who are making the world a better place!

the eco hub

Hey, my neighbors to the north! Something exciting has just launched for you! The Eco Hub, created by one of my fellow EWC members, Candice Batista, is a digital media company connecting conscious consumers to brands & companies that sincerely care about the planet AND its people. Everything you find on their site is catered to Canadian residents, so there is no need to worry if it is available to you {as a US blogger, I know many Canadians who have asked me in the past for a resource like this}! They want to help you make informed decisions about your daily purchases. You can finally stop spending hours after you get home from work looking on Pinterest or Google for these thoughtful companies because The Eco Hub has you covered. Let them do all the hard work ;) They’ve worked to bring you the most transparent information and businesses Canada has to offer. Their Ecological Criteria set the parameters for your learning on their site. They are serious about this stuff! Along with a list of brands you can shop from, The Eco Hub will keep you up-to-date with the latest news, trends, healthy living, and wellness. 

So you may be wondering... 

What does The Eco Hub look for when deciding if a brand or business is worth showcasing on their site? The Ecological Criteria {like I mentioned before} answers 3 questions - Where, What, Who? They want to find products made in Canada, preferably from locally sourced materials. They want to know what it’s exactly made out of {recycled, upcycled, organic, cruelty-free, vegan}. Then, of course, they want to know if the maker behind the product was treated fairly. If it’s a Canadian product with high ethical standards, you may see it listed on their Brand Directory! 

What I love about The Eco Hub’s website is its aesthetic. It is refreshing to go through, and it is categorized very well, so you can easily browse through the topics you care most about. Besides their growing Brand Directory, they have a section on Style + Beauty, Living + Home, and Culture + Impact. Within these categories, you can find related articles for tips on implementing eco changes within each facet of your life.

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A little bit about the brains behind the site…

Candice Batista is the best person for this job! She is an award-winning Environmental Journalist and a top eco-advocate in Canada. Candice has an extensive background in media & communications, where she has produced & reported on environmental and climate issues for TV & digital audiences. Currently, you can find her on The Marilyn Denis Show as the National Eco Expert {which The Eco Hub will be running a week-long series around Earth Day you can't miss!}. After hosting and producing 4 eco-themed TV series, Candice added a digital media company to her impressive resume. So yeah... you can trust her on what goes up on this site! :D 

Click - here - to start {or improve} your eco journey. Even if you aren't Canadian, this is still an excellent resource! 

Oh & remember to follow them on the gram.

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