Non-toxic Laundry Detergent

This homemade laundry detergent is easy, non-toxic, and will save you tons of MONEY!  Plus, it eliminates buying those big, single-use plastic tubs.  This recipe is safe for you and your family (our skin is our largest organ and chemical filled detergents means your body is absorbing harmful toxins daily from pjs to jeans and workout clothes!). 

Plus, this laundry detergent lasts forever (I've reduced it twice and it still lasts me over 1 year!)

Use 1/8 cup per load.  I store this in glass Ball jars I bought at Bed, Bath & Beyond.  

You can buy washing soda on Amazon (it comes in a big box, just like baking soda) or you can make your own --------> Spread baking soda on a sheet pan and bake in the oven for 1 hour at 400 degrees.  Viola!  You have washing soda.

For the grated castile soap, 1 bar is a little less than 1 cup.

If you don't want to make your own laundry detergent, you can buy this same mixture (in a glass jar), from The Simply Co. 

Do you make your own laundry detergent or other home products?  I'd love to hear what's worked for you!  Please let me know in the comment section below. 

I think every step in the right direction is building a new kind of world - one where we can get back to the simple, non-toxic items that worked.  Mother Nature is pretty powerful.  :)

*  This recipe was originally posted by Organic Olivia.  She is an amazing resource for all things healthy and getting to the root cause of illnesses.  Please check her out on the web, Instagram and Snapchat!

Comfortable Flats

While heels are sexy and make your legs look nice and long, every woman should have a great pair of flats for when she needs to move far and fast.   

Here are some of my favorite (and stylish) brands I recommend for clients.

*  Attilio Giusti Leombruni, otherwise known as AGL - These are the Rolls Royce of flats.  If you want something to walk around in all day (on vacation, to and from work, running errands), then these are it! 

I've had at least one woman on each of my Paris trips in a pair of these and they love them (available at Nordstrom).  They are about $325/pair, but when your feet hurt, you can't focus on anything else.  

*  Corso Como - Yes, named for the famous street in Milan, these are padded so they're super comfortable and each pair has a little rhinestone placed in the middle of the sole of the shoe!  So chic!

*  Sam Edelman - Tons of styles available and at a great price point.

*  Me Too - This is the brand of my flats that I take on vacation.  They're padded and the styles are very basic (I stuck with a pointy toe and bought a size bigger, but a half-size bigger is probably all you need -- I have super flat feet! :).

*  Ivanka Trump - She has classic and some trendy flats available (the basic styles are usually available in wide, narrow and extended sizes). 

*  Anyi Lu - Another fabulous brand that so many of my clients swear by (especially those that have to stand on their feet all day!).  This brand is usually found at Nordstrom and can be expensive, but again, well worth the money.  She doesn't offer a lot of flats, but instead has a wide range of boots, heels, flats et cetera. 


Shoes say a lot about your sense of style, but just because you're not in heels, doesn't make you any less stylish than anyone else - it's the whole look that counts.  :)

**  Many people tell me they feel dumpy in flats.  My advice is to opt for a pointy toe (go up a half size if you feel your toes get squished) and look for something with a slight wedge - about a half-inch is all you need to give you a little elevation so you don't feel so "flat." 

Do you have a favorite brand for flats?  I love check out new brands and would love to hear what has worked for you!  

How to Wash Your Sweaters At Home

This video is from one of my favorite people, Wayne Edelman of Meurice Garment Care in New York.  Wayne is very knowledgeable and passionate about taking care of his customers and can clean anything from handbags, to raincoats (did you know the water repellent can be reapplied?!), to sweaters, coated jeans and more!  He is the go-to man for the fashionistas in New York. 

Here's a great video on how to wash your cashmere items at home, which is ideal since cashmere is so delicate.  Plus, it helps save you money!  (This works for all sweaters, unless the tag says "dry clean only".)

While baby shampoo is fine, it isn't as "clean" as you think.  I prefer a soap called Soak.

Soak is fragrance-free, biodegradable and phosphate-free.  It's also a no-rinse formula.  Just put a teaspoon in a gallon of water, soak for 15 minutes and then drain.  No rinsing needed! 

I love using it for lingerie, tights, bathing suits, scarves, workout clothes and especially sweaters, which would take a lot of water and elbow grease to rinse clean!

One bottle is good for 75 washes and can be used in high efficiency washing machines as well.  I love it so much, I sell it on my site because it's a bit hard to find.  You can find it here. 

How about you?  Do you avoid buying cashmere and delicate care items all together?  What's your favorite wardrobe maintenance tip?