Helping you stay “skinny” one martini at a time

Planning a birthday party for grown ups can be stressful. Don’t get me wrong, I can be an excellent hostess, however when faced with married suburban couples I want to make sure things are as close to perfect as possible. I better be ready to bring out the sophisticated treats. Not a problem in most cases, however what if you want your party to be known for healthy and delicious tasting options. 

For me it starts with the right cocktail. The idea is to make sure the guest have a choice between a drink that is packed with calories, whether they know it or not, and a drink which will lighten their spirits and weight. I recently had a great “secret mix” cocktail at my cousin’s party, who by the way is the hip hostess in New York, and it inspired me to come up with one of my own. You want your guests to enjoy themselves without worrying about the next day’s headache.

After doing some research I found out these options work for most people:

Mimosa and bellini works best before noon, however made with light juices I find them very refreshing and light for a night cocktail as well

Some mixers to work with

Diet Sodas or club soda (soda is not my personal favorite but I know others like it)

The best way to dilute a cocktail with a skinnier option is by using club soda or mineral water

You can also try all natural and light fruit and vegetable juices 

Have a sweet tooth? I like to use fruit for a natural sweetener. Make sure to drink water in between cocktails to help out with next day’s hangover.

Finally if you are looking for something simple and low on calories vodka seems to be the number one choice. In a past interview I did with the CEO of Double Cross Vodka and a doctor I realized that the quality of what you are drinking definitely counts. Double Cross is said to provide you with a hangover free morning and is proudly made in my home country, Slovakia. Go here for more information. 

For skinny girl cocktail recipes look up Bethenny Frankel’s website. In an episode of New York City Housewives she is holding a delicious lychee martini that looks so good I have to try her recipe for a girl’s night in. 

That is it, if you know of a great option for a light cocktail that is packed with taste I want to know about it. 

Creativity

is what you do with a perfectly sturdy and reusable paper bag. Starbucks might have a near monopoly when it comes to New York’s coffee shops, however they get my green points for trying. 

Eco inspired Rachel Roy

Guess who is joining the eco designers of the world. Rachel Roy has recently been said to be near completing her eco line. While it is true that not all environtmentally friendly designers can produce cutting edgy looks we will have to wait and see what Rachel has come up with. I have been following her latest ready to wear collections and every year I get more excited about the fresh and improved Rachel Roy designs. Her customers love her, then again who can argue with elegant separates. They are the It things to own for the Spring. As we go into a hopeful future I predict green is not going out of style. 

Take a Look

at our 3rd annual and very stylish Eco Fashion issue. The cover is great, I am very proud and inspired by all the work the Organic Spa Magazine does.

Simply love love the cover.

To take a peek into our magazine and view it online GO HERE

Simply Technology

The simpler we try to make our lives it seems technology will always have a certain power over us and make things difficult. As you might have noticed we are now working with a new and even more beautiful layout. Unfortunately not all of my past articles and comments have been been transferred over and it can feel as if I am starting from scratch.  To top if off as as a result of the switch I have lost all of my February posts due to a technical/website error. I may seem like I am venting however I am actually very happy and proud of the new look. I could kick and scream or I can practice a more relaxing technique and take a deep breath while I try to learn and recover. I will keep writing the same way I always have.

Life can sometimes seem the same way, always changing and challenging us. In order to reduce unnecessary stress I have been on a mission to simplifying my life. This should make for great practice. Hold on for more great things to come in Organic Envy and I appreciate you patience while I get the new blog fired up.

Moral Fiber

Our third annual Eco-Fashion issue is about to hit the stands, and I have to say it’s probably one of my favorites to put together each year. What’s happening in fashion in this category right now is truly inspiring. There was more to choose from than ever before, across all categories—men’s, women’s, yoga wear, etc.—which is a healthy and terrific sign of the times. Make sure to check it out. We also touched upon the bamboo controversy, and would have liked to have had more space to expand upon this and other materials.

Because there are only so many magazine pages per issue, I’d like to continue the conversation here. To begin, I’m sharing a letter I received from Theresa White, a Natracare representative who so passionately shares her views on organic cotton. Here’s what she wrote, and I quote:

“Conventional cotton is the most toxic crop in the world and uses 25% of all insecticides in the world and 10% of all pesticides. According to the World Health Organization in developing cotton-growing countries such as India, Uzbekistan, and West Africa, it is responsible for 1 million to 3 million pesticide poisonings and several thousand deaths a year including that of children, while the chemical industry reaps $2 billion every year. 

Symptoms of pesticide poisoning includes vomiting, respiratory problems, skin rashes, headaches, tremors, muscle cramps, blurred vision, lack of co-ordination, seizures, and death. In these developing cotton-growing countries the cotton workers are often so poor that pesticides are often stored in their homes, contaminating foods and water and is a cause of air pollution.  Even low-level pesticide exposure has been linked to cancer, birth defects, and damage to the nervous system and the functioning of the endocrine system.

According to Will Allen, Policy Board Member of the Organic Consumers Association Feb. 2004, the U.S. is the second largest producer of cotton in the world, and Americans eat or drink more cotton products than they actually wear, sleep on, or wash with.  From a cotton harvest, cottonseed accounts for 60% of its yield and the leaves and twigs of the harvest, known as ‘gin trash,’ account for another 5 to 20%.  Eighty percent of all cottonseed and all of the gin trash go into milk via feed and bedding for dairy cows.  Supplementary to this, dairy cows are fed GM corn and soybeans, and it is not uncommon for them to enjoy a shot of bovine growth hormone, too. This actually makes milk one of the most toxically produced and genetically modified products. Just as we concern ourselves with what we put into our mouths and onto our skin, so we ought to be concerned about what we use internally.  

It was this concern, 20 years ago, that saw the creation of Natracare certified organic 100% cotton tampons and organic and natural pads and liners by lifetime environmentalist and humanitarian, Susie Hewson. Creating the world’s first certified organic cotton tampon has and continues to expose millions of women around the world to the term ‘organic,’ and allows it to highlight the benefits of organic farming to its farm workers, communities, and to the quality and stability of our environment.”

What are your thoughts on this? We’d love to hear from you.