The following post is provided by Guest Contributor, Ryan Harrison of DrNatura.

Toxins in the form of perfumes, dyes and synthetics are abundant in modern beauty products. Over time, these toxins can accumulate in the body; primarily in the liver and colon – the major organs responsible for body detoxification.

In our modern world, where toxins and synthetics exist in the air we breathe, foods we eat and products we use, the liver and colon must work overtime – thereby compromising their effectiveness. That’s why using natural beauty products is paramount to maintaining overall health and wellness. You can further enhance the effects of these natural products while promoting radiant skin and hair, from the inside, by taking an active role in the detoxification of your body.

When the body’s main detoxification organs become compromised, they aren’t able to perform their primary functions. This reduced efficacy shows up physically in your body. You may notice more blemishes and bloating, or you may discover that yours skin has become dry or that your hair has become brittle.

You can help boost your body’s natural detoxification processes, thereby enhancing your natural beauty from the inside out, by choosing all natural body detoxification products. Colon cleansing with herbal fiber, for example, is a great way to detoxify the body by removing toxins and waste while supplementing healthful herbs. All natural omega 3 and colloidal supplements can have a positive and measurable effect on the skin and hair.

When considering your beauty regimen, stick to all natural products; but also focus on enhancing your health and wellness from the inside out. That means eating lots of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, drinking lots of green tea and purified water, and adding herbal fiber supplements for cleansing and detoxification.

photo credit: DrNatura.com

Renowned illustrator Gemma Correll created the original drawing of these 3 cat faces. The reclaimed sterling silver necklace was handcrafted by Chocolate and Steel and is available at the ChocolateandSteel Etsy shop for $52. You can also purchase a matching pair of earrings.

• This doesn’t seem to apply to humans…Animals Shrink as Earth Warms – yahoo! news
• Partners share cost of Gulf Oil Spill…BP Gets $4 Billion From Andarko for Oil Spill Costs – reuters
• Mexico’s Latest Export to the US: Water – msnbc/ap
• Sounds promising…Inhibiting Allergic Reactions Without Side Effects – sciencedaily
• Boston jailbreak…Zebras Briefly Escape at Franklin Park Zoo – boston globe

It’s that time of year again. We thought we’d reprise our list – with a few minor tweaks – of our favorite scarily green movies. Here’s our Top Ten. Don’t hesitate to suggest your own:

10. Let’s get it out of the way right off the top. The thought of having to sit through Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” is a terrifying prospect for about 50% of the American public. All those Power Point charts, stock footage, melting glaciers, and God forbid facts…it’s just too much for many people to emotionally handle. Still…I know when I first saw it, it frightened the hell out of me.

9. “The Fly” (1986) – Mess with mother nature (or your chromosomes) – and you just might get what’s coming to you. And – while we’re on the topic of messing with mother nature – how many genetically modified substances do you ingest every day? Jeff Goldblum (drooling fly goo above) has some graphically scary transformation scenes – David Cronenberg does some very icky movies – and the film’s ending just might make you think before you squish that ant crawling up your pant leg… (more…)

(L to R, above) From Kaight in NYC, two beauties made in New York City: with enduring classic lines, Pleated Prokoiev Dress in surplus silk taffeta by Feral Childe ($265); and Collina Strada’s coveted Sierra Bag made exclusively for Kaight, from recycled canvas and a beautiful purple vegan leather ($345).

On a budget but looking to add a little dazzle is to your wardrobe? Accessorize – an affordable bauble, belt, scarf or hat can add a lot of sizzle without adding to your debt. EarthLover Shopping has Fair Trade, organic and recycled goods that fit the bill. We’re loving this Mosaic Hand Beaded Circle Bracelet $28. (more…)

• This ship has been stuck for 9 days and is breaking up…Crews Struggle to Drain Oil-Leaking Ship Off NZ – msnbc
• Tough conservation measures needed…New Cubs Offer Hope for Tigers, But Big Cats Still Facing Extinction – livescience
• Some real art history…In North African Cave – an Early Human Paint Shop – npr
  
• These projects need to get fast-tracked…Va. Eastern Shore Snags Wind-Power Center – yahoo! news
• From an alternate universe…Jean-Claude Van Damme Speaks Out Against Fur – ecorazzi
• PHOTO – Rare Albino Cyclops Shark Found – natgeo

We’d like to welcome our monthly Guest Contributor, Debra Duneier, creator of the EcoChi System, a new design approach for living to help you: establish and materialize your goals, nurture your health and bring you greater harmony and prosperity.

I am often asked “why did you create the EcoChi® system and how did you do it?” Looking back it seems to me that the system created itself…and somehow found me.

My journey toward the “EcoChi” began when I worked for several years as a real estate broker for the Corcoran Group. I focused on residential real estate in Manhattan and specialized in unusual properties. I spent a lot of time with their owners, and got to know the human story of each space… Every property had a unique history and as I discovered, they also had a unique energy that impacted their inhabitants and visitors.

When I showed these properties to perspective buyers, I was always struck by their immediate physical and emotional reaction. You’ve all experienced this, whether you were looking at a potential place to live, or just walking into someone’s home, office or even a hotel room. There is a distinct feeling when we are in a space. Sometimes this energy would draw the buyers in…and other times it seemed to scare them away. I now know that we are influenced by our environments and that the air, lighting, rugs, plants, furniture, colors…. everything we see, smell, touch and hear in a space affects us in a profound way. Feng shui addresses the energy and flow of interiors and studying this intuitive art was the first step toward inventing “EcoChi.”

The second step of my EcoChi journey began when I purchased a small house on Long Island. The house had few creature comforts and had not been updated in 40 years! This little house was in the woods, surrounded by trees, birds and animals of all sizes and sits less than ¼ mile from the long island sound. I spent many (more…)

A personal time-out with Whole Living (formerly, Body + Soul) … early this morning I was catching up with the October issue and got a sneak peek at November. In addition to quick, nutritious meals we can prep in minutes, I was drawn to the editorial on how we can take care of our bodies as we age. Also, I thought I might try these 5 hair and skincare products featured just last month:

Organic Indulgence Orchard Pear & Fig Body Balm – fights free radicals with a moisturizing super-fruit mix of goji and acai berries $5

Kiss My Face Olive & Aloe Soap Bar, $3

Aubrey Organics Rosa Mosqueta Body Wash – with St. John’s Wort, this calming herb has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce redness and irritation … ultra moisturizing $11. (more…)

Casey Brown Architects, or more specifically – Aussie architects Caroline Casey and Robert Brown – created this minimalist, two-story copper clad tower as an off-grid retreat for one of their clients. The location of the structure, a remote mountain sheep station, necessitated it being prefabricated off-site, transported to the location and erected. The small footprint house is called both “Permanent Camping” and the “Mudgee Tower.”

The sides of the camp open up to reveal tremendous views of the surrounding landscape, and when closed, protect the building from the elements, brush fires and interlopers. (more…)