Keep things light and neutral with a clean palette and fresh slate.

(above) Perfect for spring/summer and straight from Raleigh, NC, is the Macon Thin Fit Jean in a cool ice blue, made from locally sourced organic cotton ($224) – pricey, but as long as you can fit your butt in them, you’ll wear ‘em everywhere. @ junoandjove.com.

(above) Starting Memorial Day – more great go-tos … 100% lightweight linen Shawl Collar Blazer $110 in oatmeal @ kaightshop.com. And an organic cotton black cami $42 also @ kaight in NYC.

(above) It’s all good. This handmade, hand-dyed bamboo and organic cotton fleece hooded dress even has pockets. Features a snug, sexy fit, super soft bamboo fabric and a flirty length. $95 from CrossFox

(above) Add a little spice. This foxy, eye-catching little mini-dress is inspired by that Native American fashion icon, Pocahontas. Handmade, ‘Pocahontas’ sports an abundance of flirty hand-cut fringe. $122 @ the RehcyVonne Etsy shop.

And that wraps up today’s collection of faves. As always, we point you to the source, we don’t sell directly. Remember – love what you already have, pass along when you’re through, and support brands and designers whose values are in keeping with yours.

related: more eco fashion finds from The Alternative Consumer

Our latest edition of annotated eco news.

• Prepare for the cacophonous sounds of love… Cicadas Ramping Up for East Coast Invasion – nbcnews.com
• Tracking the common behaviors of criminals… How Criminology Can Fight Poaching – livescience
• There are only 3,000 of these hawks left – let’s catch this numbskull… Endangered Hawaiian Hawks Shot on Big Island – myway
• Attempts to stop one problem created a bigger one… The Invasive Asian Ladybird Bug Wages Biological War on Native Species – bbc
• The ‘Great Gatsby’ does some good… DiCaprio’s Environmental Charity Art Auction Raises $33 Million – enn
• Get up to speed on the facts about fracking with these infographics… Science and the Fracking Boom – npr
• A real immigration problem… Invasive ‘Crazy Ants’ are Displacing Fire Ants in Areas Throughout the Southeastern U.S. – sciencedaily
• Now this dope’s in a cage… Idaho Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Killing Zoo Monkey – reuters
• We have a U.S. Congressmen on the House Science Committee who is convinced the world is 9,000 years old… Billion-Year-Old Water Found in Reservoir Under Ontario – earthsky.org

related: more eco news from The Alternative Consumer

The Australian furniture maker GHIFY – Gorgeous Home Interiors For You – makes sustainable, handmade home furnishing from reclaimed materials. The pieces featured in the ‘Mint Edition’ line – above and below – are made entirely from scrap hardwood timber salvaged from old Queenslander houses. The pieces – an elegant dressing table and stool, media unit / console and hall table – have angular, minimalist tapered legs, Florentine brass hinges and understated, modern drawer handles.

The pieces are the definition of ‘rustic modern’. Raw materials include salvaged old floorboard, ceiling beams and battens … all given a second life as modern rustic furniture. Each plank is sanded and painted with care to reveal the timber’s inherent, original grain structure, but retains all the historical character – including the original nail holes, knots and imperfections – of the reclaimed timber.

This set is available as individual pieces and also comes in a distressed gray/blue color.

GHIFY ships internationally via Fedex. Find more of their fine handcrafted furniture at the GHIFY Etsy shop.

full disclosure: Snowberry provided us with 2 free sun care products for the purposes of our Tried and True Green Product Review.

Always on the hunt for people- and planet-friendly sun protection products that don’t leave a layer of white film on my skin … We recently discovered Snowberry Beauty, a naturally-derived upscale skin care line hailing from Auckland, New Zealand. Created by cosmetician Soraya Hendesi, (above) I tried & tested 2 of their sun protection products.

Yes, I finally found some safe and effective sunscreen products that don’t make me look white as snow after slathering them on … I’m more than pale naturally, thank you very much. But I’m inclined to give a green thumbs up for only the SPF 30, and a slight thumbs down for the SPF 15. Here’s why…

Thumbs up – After gliding on the SPF 30, I can play golf and tennis in Florida’s sun, and also dip in the ocean while not burning up. Snowberry’s Active Outdoor 30 is intended to provide Broad Spectrum High Sun Protection while sporting around, and that’s just what it does for me. It has a nice texture, goes on smoothly and doesn’t make me feel like I have an extra layer of clothing on. Skin actually feels like it can breathe, so I’m not extra hot and bothered while moving around. As with most sun protection, you’re advised to re-apply after a swim or splash but I just usually cover-up and head home in search of a hot shower.

Slight thumbs down – The SPF 15 is designed as for Everyday Broad Spectrum Medium Sun Protection so the first time I tried it, I dabbed some on my face, neck, arms and hands took a brisk walk. Although it didn’t leave a white film on my skin, it felt tacky, a bit sticky. The product is eco-conscious and provides protection, but it didn’t feel great on my skin after applying.

As a luxury brand, Snowberry products are on the pricey side. However, one should consider what goes into line … on the upside, their mineral based formulations include: zinc oxide, olive oil, shea butter and exotic plant extracts, and do not include: chemical screens, parabens, petrochemicals, added fragrance and nano-particles like many of the traditional brands on the market today. Snowberry sun care products are carbon zero certified, and the ingredients in them will not harm marine life or coral reefs when you dive in the ocean. Not many sunscreens on the market today can make those planet-friendly claims.

You can purchase these small-sized items via the company store, or check their list of online etailers and retail shops that carry them. (SPF 15 $35 & SPF 30 $38; 1.7 oz/each) find more @ snowberrybeauty.com

images above via snowberrybeauty.com

As we await the iWatch and the next generation of watch-related gadgets, we thought we’d feature a line of timepieces that are both conventional in form, and unconventional in production process and execution. A while back, we reviewed WeWood’s handsome wooden watches, but a little company called lolly, has taken wooden watch design to a new level by creating eco-friendly, wood-based, scented watches. Lolly creates its watches using a naturally sustainable polymer, sentanite that’s derived from softwood processed from fast-growing, renewable trees.

The company’s featured line is the Juice Collection – available in 8 vibrant colors that embody the following scents, orange, apple, black currant, pineapple, grape, blueberry, coconut and strawberry.

Sentanite™ is made from 100% softwood material, compounded with permitted additives and uniquely treated to ensure constant emission of a variety of  ‘tantalizing fragrances’. No petroleum-based materials are used in the sentanite production process, it’s BPA-free and hypoallergenic.

Lolly states that they are committed to making watches from sustainable eco-friendly materials – they are a “Plant-A-Tree Partner” with the Trees for the Future non-profit organization. Lolly plants a tree for each and every watch they sell. Take a moment to check out their tasty collection of scented, non-plastic watches – $85 @ lolly.com

related: more green gadgets

full disclosure: We received a free tube of PRIME Daily Pain Defense Cream by Ateevia Botanica for the purposes of our Tried and True Green Product Review. 

This botanical-based, deeply penetrating, pain alleviating cream really rubs me the right way. I’ve been using it periodically for the past couple of weeks and I’m happy to say, it actually works. You know how it is when you’re experiencing pain and you finally receive some relief – there’s nothing better, right?

I’ve my share of recurring, irritating aches and pains. These aches occur on one forearm from playing tennis, both heels, one side of my neck and occasionally along my lower back. To top it off, I recently sprained my ankle when I fainted (which was very weird).

I first tried the cream on my forearm and heels the minute I opened the box. Within 20 minutes or so, I felt sweet relief. Ateevia recommends applying it 2 to 3 times a day, so that’s what I did for the first 10 days or so. Before bed, and after my morning shower. Now I just use it at night and as-needed on any given day. Today I used it on my neck and ankle. I rub it in for about 20 seconds or so and take a deep breath. It has a nice texture and subtle fragrance. I like how quickly it works. But enough about me, what’s in this stuff, why does it work?

PRIME pain relief cream is primarily derived from botanical extracts mixed in a Shea butter base. According to the company, their trade secreted technology has allowed them to maximize the efficacy of Ateevia’s essential extractions. Light brown in color, PRIME is a unique blend of Phytonutrient-Rich, Inflammation Minimizing Extracts that provide anti-inflammatory properties including cucurbita pepo (pumpkin seed extract), helianthus annuus (sunflower seed extract), borago officinalis (Borage oil), vitis vinifera (grapeseed oil) and carthamus tinctorius (safflower) essential oil. But it’s our trade secreted manufacturing processes that enhance the potency of the ingredients, providing the greatest kick.

… it contains concentrated amounts of Flavonoids and Lignans, delivering potent anti-inflammatory action, and is rich with Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) and Oleic Acid, which provide additional anti-inflammatory benefits. These pain relieving properties, along with PRIME Therapy’s ability to effectively penetrate the skin, result in a dramatic reduction (and often elimination) of joint pain (for further explanations and pertinent scientific research, please see “Research” section of our website).

Designed to be used as an anti-inflammatory and treat Arthritic joints, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tennis Elbow, Tendonitis, lower back pain, heel pain and sports bruises, you can find more info and a list of ingredients on Ateevia Botanica’s website.

Depending on the compound and area of the body to which it’s applied, anywhere from 30-100% of the compound can penetrate skin and enter the bloodstream, I wouldn’t recommend using any chemical-laden cream. Ateevia offers a money back guarantee so there’s  little financial risk involved if you’re thinking of trying it. We give PRIME our green thumbs up … ($24.99, 3 oz) @ ateevia.com.