Victoria’s Secret beauty just launched PINK Body, a new 100% vegan line, that’s packed with natural and organic ingredients. I’m always happy to see big brands jumping on the clean product bandwagon, giving us new options that are free of parabens and other nasty chemicals!

For active women, I love the Energizing collection. It promises to bring new life to dull, worn and weary skin. Organic citrus and mint give the lotion, body wash and sugar scrub an uplifting scent (great for jump starting your day) while organic coffee beans tone, complementing all that hard work you do at the gym.

Another highlight–the Nourishing Shave Cream. Traditional shaving creams often contain petroleum-derived ingredients that strip moisture from your skin. But this formula has organic shea and cocoa butters as well as antioxidant-packed grape seed oil.

Climate change is a big deal for a lot of reasons, but ask a skier or snowboarder about it and you’ll probably hear that one of their top worries is the inevitable decline of snow. That’s why boarding phenomenon Gretchen Bleiler is working with organizations like Aspen Snowmass Save Snow that examine how ski resorts are adding to climate change.

And she also created an eco-friendly snowboarding jacket and pant with Oakley. The En Bleiler set is made using Eco Storm fabric. It’s lightweight, wind-resistant and water-repellent like any good traditional winter gear fabric, but this one is created from recycled polyester through a closed loop polyester recycling system that reduces energy and carbon dioxide emissions. Plus, solvents aren’t used in production. And if you fall on the slopes one too many times, the clothing can be recycled back into the system. Go Gretchen!

It’s no secret that biking to work is great for the earth and a great workout all at the same time. But if you’re not willing to compromise your fashion sense, maneuvering a two-wheeler in a dress might be easier said than done. Here are three ways to make it work.

1. While you shouldn’t wear a dress that’s short enough to leave you feeling exposed as you ride (and that’s probably not work appropriate anyway!),  longer fabrics run the risk of getting caught in the spokes. In Europe, bikes come with what they call a skirt guard, but they’re pretty impossible to find in the US. So make one yourself with a piece of tulle.

2. Unless you’re a total pro on the bike, you might want to leave the heels at home and opt for flats instead. Heels can get caught on the pedals so if you have to stop fast you could end up crashing…which would definitely ruin your look.

3. Even though it’s fine to dress up for your bike ride, you should only take it so far. If you don’t feel like you can move freely in the top and bottom you choose, you’re setting yourself up for a long and labored ride.

I just heard about an environmental festival that’s going on this week in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. Outdoors in Mammoth is a two day family festival on August 5th and 6th packed with events centered around our environmental impact and the theme ‘Summit to the Sea – Everything is Connected.’

All of the activities are outside and bring eco issues to life from experiencing geothermal heat and discussing energy sources to going on a nature walk with the region’s native people to see how they lived sustainably in the mountain community. And Jean-Michel Cousteau (yes, he’s the son of Jacques Cousteau) who has spent his life exploring the world’s oceans and working to protect them will also be a featured speaker.

Even if you can’t make it to Mammoth this week, it’s great to see events like this that bring young and old together to learn what we can do for the enviornment and why it needs to be done, all while enjoying what nature has to offer.

Plenty found a way for us to row, row, row our boats greenly down the stream with Echo Paddles made from sustainably harvested local wood certified by the Managed Forest Program.

Fit Sugar shares five reasons why watermelon is a wonderful summer treat.

BeThree asks, “Are You an Exercise Addict?” and offers solutions to break the pattern.

The Budget Ecoist found ways to be green on the go with tips to cut down on your summer vacation waste.

If you love working out and being active, I’m sure you’ve suffered from post-exercise sore muscles before too. And while you could pop a couple pills for relief I’ve found a couple of natural soothers.

Organics by Noah’s Naturals Sea Salt Soak ($16.99): I poured a bunch of this organic blend of sea salt and lavender into a warm bath for a very spa-like pain relieving experience. The intoxicating scent of lavender relaxed my mind and the warm bath combined with the sea salt (which they say helps draw out the impurities from my skin) did offer some subtle soothing. Now whether or not it came from the warm bath water alone or the stuff I was soaking in, I don’t know, but either way I felt better when I stepped out and it was enjoyable.

Topical Anti-Pain By142 ($35): This cream is like a luxe version of Icy Hot. Menthol and camphor work instantly to relieve your pain, but then you’ll feel another sensation sneaking up on your muscle aches. Cehami, a plant-based ingredient first used by Australian Aboriginal people, has an anti-inflammatory power 3,000 times that of Aspirin–with that kind of reputation why bother popping pills! Supposedly the effect lasts up to 4 hours, but I get the most relief in the first hour.

Fourth of July is here and it wouldn’t be a summer holiday weekend without grilling, right? Here are a few tips to make sure you get your grill on the green and healthy way.

Choosing your grilling weapon: Electric and gas grills are the greenest options (unless you can find a solar one). Even though propane is a non-renewable resource, charcoal and wood burning grills release more emissions into the air. If you’re partial to the flavor of charcoal, at least choose an eco-friendly charcoal to reduce the low-level smog and toxic chemicals traditional varieties create.

Cooking safely: Grilling meats can actually produce toxic carcinogenic chemicals in your food. There are two major problems–one is when fat and juice drip and burn, coming back to settle on your food in smoke later. So choose skinless and leaner cuts of beef and remove fat before cooking. Read the rest of this entry »

According to a study in published by Psychological Science, you can be motivated subconsciously by reading inspirational words such as triumph, strive, confident, go for it, achieve or graceful. So if you need an extra push to go for what you want, surround yourself with these words so you see them everywhere you look. Sounds easy enough, right?

Self magazine suggests writing them on sticky notes and posting them throughout your house. Another great idea is to make a collage of inspirational words and use it as your computer desktop image. Or you could wear your motivation on your t-shirt like this “Chase Dreams” organic cotton and bamboo option from Tees for Change.

Fit Celeb shares Maria Menounos’s healthy recipe for this lean ground turkey Mykonos burger.

The Budget Ecoist offers tips to stay green as you celebrate red, white and blue on the 4th.

My Super-Charged Life attempts to inspire with seven ways to rekindle your creativity.

The Weighting Game shares a study about how reading fitness mags can undo the feel good effects of exercise.

Whole Story takes us on a trip to Ecuador to explore fair trade certified roses.

Eating Fabulous tells you why your answer to “Got milk?” should be yes.

Jezebel critiques Teen Vogue’s spread that takes the athleticism out of the Olympics and replaces it with not-so-sport-friendly fashion.

Laurel on Health Food charts out the best ways to store fruits and veggies to keep them fresh.

The Budget Ecoist shares an easy recipe for healthy, organic and eco-friendly strawberry lemonade.

Fit Sugar gives tips on what to look for when you buy summer hiking boots.

The Accidental Environmentalist reminds us that a bicycle isn’t just a fit way to travel, it’s a green one too. And these days, it’ll even help your wallet as you avoid the pump!

Simply Stated reviews Jen Lancaster’s new book, Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist’s Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes her Ass Look Big, OR, Why Pie is Not the Answer, about dieting and working out.