FitSugar

Green Fashion: Soy Fabric from Under the Canopy

FitSugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 03:30:00 -0700

Want to look hot when it's hot? Searching for a tank that is cool? Interested in reducing your personal dependence on foreign oil? I can get that all for you in one fashionable top by Under the Canopy. Talk about one stop shopping.

Under The Canopy has developed a soy fabric made from a by-product of soybean oil production. Not only is the fabric a sustainable textile fiber made from renewable and biodegradable resources, it also provides consumers with an option to move away from petrochemical textile products. Yep, someone's waste byproduct can now be someone else's tee shirt. How cool is that?

The Devotion top comes in two colors: Goddess (pictured here) or Shea Butter (a soothing beige neutral). Buy one directly from Under the Canopy for $90.00.

5 Reasons to Bike

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Biking is my favorite form of locomotion. The world moves by at the perfect pace when pedaling. You can take in the view and still feel the wind in your face. Riding a bike is a great green way to get around since you can travel a greater distance in a shorter time when compared to walking, and it can be faster than driving. depending on gridlock traffic.

Here are five reasons to bike to work, bike about town, and bike for errands:

Eco: Since it is Earth Day, let's start with the greenest reason - biking reduces your carbon footprint. Using pedal power, rather than fossil fuels, for short trips and commutes can reduce your carbon emissions by an estimated 11 percent.
Cardio: Cycling is a wonderful, joint-friendly form of exercise. Instead of burning oil, you burn calories on your bike.
Strength: Biking about town builds leg strength. Pedaling tones your quads and hamstrings as well as your calves. Mini skirts and leggings are fashion trends with staying power, and shorts of all lengths will be very popular this Spring and Summer. Tone your gams while maximizing your pedal power.

See two other reasons to hop on your bike when you read more.

Money: Commute Solutions, out of Austin, TX, has estimated that biking rather than driving can save you serious dough. Pedaling a 10-mile round-trip commute can save you up to $10 a trip when you factor in all your driving expenses.
Fun: Biking is just plain fun. Whether you're speeding down an asphalt hill, navigating your mountain bike over tree roots, or cruising the flats - cycling is a good time.

Why do you bike?

Source

Gear Review: Erin Ballerina Flats by Keen

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0700

I find walking is a good form of exercise as well as a great way to get from point A to point B. Wearing comfy shoes is a simple way to ensure that you incorporate walking into your everyday activities. I have been on the hunt for shoes that are great for walking and are cute too. I found these Erin Ballet Flats ($90) by Keen and have been wearing them about town, running errands, and chasing my girls at the park.

More fashionable than sneakers and just a little less comfy than running shoes, these flats were made for walking. The soles are made from eco-friendly materials; the inner sole contains renewable cork for cushioning, and the lightweight polyurethane outsoles are made with no environmentally harmful adhesives.

The lining is made of wicking materials in case your feet get a little sweaty when you're on the go. You can pull insoles out of these Keens quite easily and slip in your own customized orthotics if your feet need personalized support. The mesh detail on the upper part of the shoes allows the foot to breathe and creates room for bunions, a bony bulge by the base of the big toe that can make shoe shopping a bear.

If you're looking for a casual, walkable, sustainable shoe, you can buy the Erin Ballerina flat directly from Keen. The manufacturer feels that this shoe runs true to size and I found that it ran a little big, so order wisely.

Ideal Bite: A Sassier Shade of Green

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Not so long ago Kermit the Frog lamented that it's not easy being green, but he obviously wasn't hip to the website Ideal Bite.

Since I like this site so much, my friends at Ideal Bite decided to sponsor a post here so I could tell you more about the Bite. Basically, the site offers bite-sized ideas for light green living e-mailed directly to you, every weekday. If you sign up for their daily newsletter you will receive tips like what is the best organic wine to pick up on your next trip to Whole Foods, no matter if you biked there or drove your SUV. They also have the low down on eco-fashions delivered in a short and sassy manner, just like that skirt you just bought. You can also create your own personalized library of tips, kind of like keeping an electronic recipe file, but this is a recipe for green living.

Ideal Bite only recommends products and services that they themselves have tested. So their recommendations will be good for you, your wallet, your sassy lifestyle and the PLANET!!! The tips are delivered with a serious dose of humor and humility since the writers candidly share eco-imperfections that we can all relate to.

If you find going green intimidating, this is the site for you. With tips doled out in bite sized chunks, you don't need to worry about biting off more than you can chew.

Get Your Butt in Gear: Ailin

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:30:00 -0700

Looking for some cute new gear for yoga or any of your fitness endeavors? Check out my new favorite line of gear: Ailin (pronounced "eye-lean").

I am especially in love with this Waitomo Caves Mock Tee ($95). It's knit from a soft polyester fiber whose smooth face makes layering easy. The brushed interior eco-friendly polyester combo fabric at the chest adds a technical, water resistant dimension. All this, along with the fact that it is super cute, makes this top perfect for fall. I wore it to the gym, took it off before working out (it was super hot in there today), and then put it back on to go run a few errands before heading home. The best part? I still felt cute, which is more than I have to say for myself when I am in my baggy hooded college sweatshirts-plus, you know I love a multipurpose item!

The Hauraki Gulf Yoga Pants ($80) provide excellent stretch and warmth. The two straps that tie into bows just above the ankles add a little flare to your average spandex pant. The pants are made from moisture wicking Supplex and Lycra, so they can be worn as a performance driven exercise pant-though my girl FabSugar may wear them as a fashion statement with booties. What's more? They did wonders for my legs. My husband couldn't stop telling me how great they looked in these pants! (Um, I'll take one in every color.)

Pair the top and pants with a cute tank, like the super soft, moisture wicking Tongariro Tank ($42), and you've got yourself one knockout workout outfit.

Pricey? Indeed. Worth every penny? Absolutely.