Ideal Bite

Today I start my first-ever cleanse. I've heard a lot of different takes over the years on how a cleanse affects the body (even Ideal Bite has a position on it…), and while I'm yet to decide what side of the line I live on, I figure trying one out wouldn't hurt in the decision making process.

I picked the BluePrintCleanse, based in NYC. It's a fresh juice-based cleanse, mostly organic, with 3 levels of intensity: you've got your Renovation Cleanse, targeted at novices who “consider ketchup a vegetable”; the Foundation Cleanse for those who “work out and love cheese plates”; and the Excavation Cleanse for those of us who are “extremely conscious of everything they put in their body,” aka, the Read the full post... 

One of my best friends gave birth to a little boy recently and when I finally caught her on the phone, we gushed for a bit, but the conversation quickly turned to nursing, bottles and all the other practicalities of dealing with those overwhelming first few days and weeks with a newborn.

I hardly feel like an expert - Roxane is my first and she's 11 months - but I realized I had a lot of little tips to share, like what to put on cracked nipples (olive oil in a pinch); how to soothe inflamed ones (wet and chill cotton nursing pads, and apply between feedings); or which infant carriers are best. 

Also there’s stuff I wish I’d known to do at the time, like scheduling Read the full post... 

I feel like I’ve been city-break-hopping all summer long. Weekend trips to the beach, Cape Cod, the Hamptons, Chicago, Philly…I’m exhausted just thinking about it. Although trips = fun times, I’ve unfortunately been ignoring friends to the point that one gal emailed me today asking if I moved! Well, this weekend I’m staying put (firmly) and catching up on some NYC events. See ya there…

Josie Maran Makeovers
What: Meet Josie Maran and get a free JMC makeover. Read the full post... 

Few things universally impress the Biter team like coconut oil. We put it in our hair, in our food…and, after tromping around in summer sandals at the beach and everywhere else for a few months now, on our feet - mine are so callused that with a little friction, they could take the rough edge off the corner of a table.

Some suggestions for an at-home pedicure:

Take off polish (I used the remains of a not-so-eco formula just to get rid of it, but go for something like Sante if you're buying new)

Soak feet in Epsom salts (which I've recently been mixing 50-50 with my favorite EO Bath Salts to stretch them farther) Read the full post... 

The morning of Ideal Bite's first launch party in NYC, a bunch of us on the team were tasked with cutting up ginger, sticking it into some Square One vodka bottles, and calling it infused. Turns out it takes more than six hours to infuse vodka. But assuming you've got even just a few days, you can do it up right.

Diane's infusion advice:

Chop just about any fruit or veggie into many pieces (so there's more surface area for the vodka to touch), and stick them straight in the bottle.

Beginners can try pineapple or any citrus, which infuses in about 3 days (you can leave it in longer, but the skin gets bitter after about 2 weeks).

Also try leaving cinnamon, Read the full post... 

I'm pretty busy today so I'm gonna make this quick (by which I mean, I need to locate more ingredients for this so tasty cocktail recipe as soon as possible). Courtesy of Christopher Becerra, drinks guru at one of my favorite Chicago spots, Uncommon Ground, this cocktail packs a spicy-peachy kick using organic spirits from Koval, combining its smooth Chicago Rye with sweet Rose Hip Liqueur. Now if you'll excuse me - liquor store duty calls…

Uncommon Ground's Local Celebritini
Serves 1

Ingredients:
(fresh, local, and organic whenever possible)

• 2 oz Koval Rye Chicago
• 1 oz Koval

Read the full post... 

Released to the internets earlier this month and definitely NSFW:

If you've ever wondered what would happen if Christmas trees got sick of being cut down (and could kill), watch the Sundance-screened slasher short Treevenge. Fair warning: if you press play, expect 15 minutes of cursing, blood, guts, and talking trees.

-Toshio…off to make holiday plans…

From DT Read the full post... 

Last Thursday I met this radiant French woman, Valérie, with glowing, flawless skin at Le Pain Quotidien (natch). She's an ex-film exec whose diagnosis with breast cancer was the impetus for quitting her job, moving to Topanga Canyon in LA, switching to a raw food diet, and making homemade skin care. When the fish outgrew the fishbowl so to speak, she found a business partner and Odacité was born.

I've been using the exfoliating face wash, rose water spray, and day and night creams all weekend, and I used the masque once. So far, so spoiled - the products feel alive on my face and smell lovely without being overly fragrant. Odacité is made with organic ingredients, sans the bad junk ( Read the full post... 

B(each) 52s

Wearing next to nothing 'cause it's hot as an oven? Set sail for the beach (a clean one while you're at it) with the necessary eco-accessories in tow. Not ready to bare it all? Check out our upcoming Bikini Guide too to prep your bod - workouts, swimwear, de-hairers, and more. Now shimmy.

1. Rock the tote.

Toss your sunny-day essentials into a reusable tote - you can use them for groceries when beach season's through - made from recycled bottles or reclaimed fabrics like sails. Get the full Bite.

2. Suits you to a T.

If beaching in the buff isn't your thing (we get that), slip into a cute suit made from eco-friendly Read the full post... 

I’m blown away - humbled - by the winners of this year’s Young Eco-Awards, sponsored by SF-based nonprof Action for Nature. A 15-year-old who sparked the CA legislature to adopt new emissions regulation? An 8-year-old who wrote a book and raised $2,000 for the World Wildlife Fund?

The group, which encourages young environmentalists, recognized 18 kids and teens age 8-16 with equally stunning stories.

-Mama Bite Editor Alison...off to remember what she did at that age…
From Mama Bite



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