For the Greater Goods

A lifestyle blog for the conscious consumer


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How To: All Natural Easter Eggs

Easter is right around the corner and you know what that means… Easter eggs! And while I don’t quite understand the connection to Easter and colored eggs, it is a tradition I love to partake in. All my life I have happily bought egg coloring kits and mixed chemicals and dyes together to make pretty eggs. This year I thought of something new. I thought there has to be a more natural way to dye eggs for Easter. So I did some research and here is what I came up with.

For each of the following colors, use 1 cup of water with one of the following:

1 cup chopped purple cabbage = blue

1 cup red onion skins = lavender

1 cup yellow onion skins = orange

1 cup shredded beets = pink

2 tablespoons ground turmeric = yellow

For a dozen eggs, you will need about five cups of dye. So you can make five cups of one color using the same ratio or split it up and make one of each. In order to make the dye, mix the coloring agent (cabbage, onion skins, beets, or turmeric) with water in a saucepan and bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, reduce it to a simmer for roughly 15 to 30 minutes. This timing difference depends heavily on how dark you want your eggs. As a rule of thumb, make sure the water is two shades darker than the desired color of your eggs. Once you have the desired color, remove the pan from the heat and let it cool before straining out the added ingredient. Add in a teaspoon of vinegar for every cup of water and you are ready to go!

All Natural Easter Eggs

Tip: Use white eggs to get the most color pay off. And if you didn’t already know, make sure the eggs are hard-boiled first!

Mix the dyes together for some fun, custom colors. Since all of the eggs are dyed with natural ingredients, they are safe to eat after. They might even have a little extra kick to them!


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Fashion Foundation Gifts That Keep Giving

gift of education

A few months ago I did an interview with Amanda Munz about her wonderful non-profit, The Fashion Foundation. I think it’s about time for an update on some of the amazing things she’s been up to since then.

November 13th marked the one year launch of their website. After that The Fashion Foundation hosted their very first annual kick off fundraiser and I would say it was a pretty big success. They sold out! Over 130 people came and over $6,000 was raised for their next school partnership. They had raffle donations from some pretty cool peeps like Calvin Klein, Michael Stars, and Dream Hotel. They even had desserts donated from bakeries throughout New York. Sounds like a pretty great time to me!

Currently, The Fashion Foundation is working on their third school partnership, which is a middle school in Queens. Because of budget cuts, the art classes at the school struggle to supply students with the necessary materials. The Fashion Foundation is donating $750 worth of art supplies to allow the students a chance to freely express their creativity.

Once The Fashion Foundation reaches that goal, it just keeps going! They are in the process of finding two new schools to partner with. So far they have worked with one elementary school and two middle schools, but Amanda is hoping to extend all the way up to high schools.

The Fashion Foundation has also partnered with AmazonSmile, which will donate .5% of your Amazon purchases to The Fashion Foundation. It’s so simple! Just click here to get started. I know you’re going to buy one holiday item on Amazon this year!

Aside from making donations, there are two other fun ways you can help the cause. One way is buying gifts that give back. There are so many gift options available online and they’re all affordable options!

give that gives backBut if you’re like me and already finished your Christmas shopping because you are a gift giving nut case, then why not buy something for yourself? With holiday parties galore and New Years right around the corner (yikes!), you should treat yourself to a new outfit! If you’re looking for something fashionable, then you’ve come to the right place. Amanda put some awesome ideas together that might just get your creative juices flowing…

holiday looks

Michael Kors Red Dress $79.50 $24.00 / Starfish Necklace $32.99 $15.00 / Aldo Black Clutch $35.00 $9.00 / Elle Nude Heels $59.99$16.00 / Kenar Black Sparkle Top $42.00 $10.00 / Forever 21 Houndstooth Skirt $15.00

$5.00


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Presents With A Purpose: Women’s Causes

Today is the last day of my Moorea Seal Presents With A Purpose gift guide series. Phew. Are you sick of me yet? Blogging everyday this week was a big challenge, but I’m glad I’m really glad I never gave up.

From the products to the charity, today is all about the ladies. The products featured today donate 7% of proceeds to the Athena Network, which has been at the forefront of ensuring gender equality and human rights in the HIV response since 2006. They are partnered with 31 global and regional women’s organizations to advance the recognition, protection, and fulfillment of women’s and girls’ human rights as a component to the response to HIV and AIDS.

Click here to see all of the products below and much much more.

Womens

1. Agate Arrowhead Necklace / 2. Teal Cylinder Vessel / 3. Pennant Earrings / 4. Amethyst Druzy Ring / 5. Speckled Sphere Vessel / 6. Stardust Quartz Ring / 7. Brigid Flats / 8. Jagged Diamond Duffel Bag 


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Presents With A Purpose: Children’s Needs

It’s day 2 of my Presents With A Purpose series. Today’s Moorea Seals products donate 7% of sales to The Flawless Foundation. And no, it doesn’t have anything to do with Beyonce. The Flawless Foundation helps to create awareness about brain-based, behavioral challenges some children face. They provide evidence-based, holistic treatment programs and do research on prevention.

Their vision: “We envision a world where every child living with behavioral challenges feels flawless and is understood and embraced by society.”

You wake up, flawless. All the products below, flawless.

Child Needs

1. Macrame Plant Hanger / 2. Turquoise Log Bowl / 3. Tasia Earrings / 4. Open Teardrop Ring / 5. Hollow Pyramid Necklace / 6. Crossover Cuff / 7. Arrowhead Bracelet / 8. Metallic Leatherblocked Clutch / 9. Feather Pattern Study Vol. 3


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Orange Harp Conscious Gift Guide (For Him)

Last week, after discovering the Orange Harp app, I created a gift guide/wish list for the ladies, but I couldn’t leave the fellas out of the fun. So here is a conscious gift guide for all the lucky gents in your life. All of these products can be bought on the Orange Harp app. Enjoy!

Orange Harp Gift Guide for Him

 

In the links below you can learn more about how each of these products gives back.

1. Mako Shark Crew Neck Tee by Purakai

2. The Thursday Pocket Square by Love Quixotic

3. Whistler Reversable Jacket by Ecoalf

4. Cable Beanie by Pirakai

5. The Margret Socks by Miscoots

6. Leather Belt by Sword & Plough

7. iPad Sleeve by Rickshaw Bagworks

8. Alabama Home Tee by The Home. T (there’s a tee for every state)