Zulugrass Jewelry by The Leakey Collection

I admit that I am no fashionista, but I still admire and appreciate all of the fashion trends and occasionally add a new piece to my wardrobe.  What I enjoy just as much as the clothing is the jewelry. OK fine, I love jewelry. Finding a perfect necklace or bracelet to go with a new outfit is a lot of fun. And a jewelry piece that is not only pretty but versatile as well is important. Recently I discovered Zulugrass by The Leakey Collection, which gives you elegant yet simple designs that are made from natural materials.

"Based in The Rift Valley Kenya, East Africa, The Leakey Collection founders Katy and Philip Leakey, combine their talents in interior design and the arts with their love of nature to develop stunning handcrafted products for an international market. Using natural elements such as fallen wood, grass and porcelain, these renowned designers create unique products while protecting the environment and providing economic opportunity to the local communities."

When I was asked to review some of the Zulugrass jewelry I was thrilled. Gorgeous jewelery that is also sustainable? Yes please!! Zulugras jewelry is made from grass beads dyed with textile dyes and mixed with hand blown Czech glass beads and Japanese glass beads. The best part is their versatility. The single strands can be worn as necklaces, bracelets, anklets and even hair tyes - there are so many possibilities. I was sent two pieces to try out: a multi-strand bracelet and some single strands.

The multi-strand bracelets are made with 16 colorful with fallen Acacia hardwood. The particular color I received, Watmu, has lovely shades of blues and even a little purple. I like that the various shades allow me to wear this bracelet with a variety of outfits. And since I happen to wear a lot of purple and blue, this is perfect for me. (By the way, it is really hard to take a photo of your own wrist).

The single strands are where all of the versatility comes into play. You get three long strands which you can then wrap and twist to wear however you like. Wrap them three times to wear as a bracelet or anklet. The single strands come in some really fun and vibrant color combinations like Bright Purple, Lime and Royal Blue which are great for trendy color blocking styles. I was sent the Orange and Purple set. In general I am not a huge fan of orange by itself, but I love it when it is paired with purple. Probably because I love purple so much.

Zulugrass jewelry is the perfect accessory for summer fashions and really year round fashions. In addition to the bright colors, you can also find more neutral browns and blacks. For more ideas on how to wear your Zulugrass, watch the video below which shows you all that you can do.

To locate a retail store near you or to purchase online, visit TheLeakeyCollection.com.

Please note that the opinions and views expressed in this review are my own and based on my personal experience with the product and/or company. You may encounter a different experience with this than I did. I received free product to review.

Eco Holiday Gifts for Everyone at Abe's Market

If you want to hand out eco-friendly gifts this holiday season, look no further than Abe's Market. Our holiday gift buying list is mostly made up of our children. We have our parents and a niece and nephew to buy for as well but thankfully that is pretty much it. But I know many of you might buy for friends and co-workers as well. It would be awesome to give them all green gifts this year and you are sure to find something for everyone at Abe's Market.

Gifts for Men
So many of the eco-friendly products I discuss here are for women or children. But there are plenty of options for men out there as well. I know my husband loves watches. I think his watch collection can rival my shoe collection. The Sprout Bamboo Men's Watch features a black corn resin case with engraved bezel, black corn resin adjustable bracelet with fold-over buckle, bamboo lime degrade dial with day/date window and silver tone numbers, outside minute track and sweep second hand.


Gifts for Women
Abe's Market has some amazing looking gift baskets that any woman would love. I have been drooling over a few of them quite a bit myself. The one I keep coming back to is this A Day at the Spa natural gift box. This set includes Hydration Plus Bath and Shower Wash; Wildflower Honey Sugar Scrub; Hydration Plus Bath & Body Oil; Dead Sea Mineral Masque; two packages of herbal tea and a ribbon-tied washcloth. Perfect for your BFF! $58.00



Gifts for Foodies
Is there someone on your list who loves to bake or cook? Give them a delcisous gift like this Gourmet Baker's Kit that includes Cinnamon Bark Powder, Nutmeg, Cumin Powder, and Blue Poppy Seed, BLIS Bourbon Barrel Pure Maple Syrup, stainless steel measuring cups and a small stainless steel cookie tin to keep anything you bake fresh. $60.00


Gifts for Co-Worker
Help teach your co-worker how to pack healthy, waste-free lunches with this Eco Lunch Box 3-in-1 set of stainless steel containers. These containers nest in each other, are dishwasher safe, free from chemicals and obviously reusable. $20.00



For Kids
Let kids get creative and use their imagination as they put together and decorate this cardboard Pirate Ship. After all the fun coloring it, they will than have hours of fun playing with it. No scissors or glue are necessary. Simply fold together to assemble and then enjoy! $19.99


For the Puppy
I know how much you pet owners love your furry children. They deserve gifts at the holidays too, don't they. Surprise them with some yummy, all natural treats like this three pack of Low Allergy Trio-Of-Flavors Dog Treats. Flavors included are Pumpkin & Cheddar, Fruit & Veggie, and Peanut Butter Banana Carrot. Gently baked and lightly toasted and packed with nutrients. $16.49. Make sure you check out their kitty items as well!


Through the end of the year, Abe's Market is offering free shipping on all orders. There is no minimum purchase require or coupon code needed. Hopefully these gave you an idea of what Abe's Market has to offer. here is plenty more to see on their site. Now hurry up and finish that holiday shopping!

I was compensated for this post but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

NOVICA - Fair Trade, Hand Crafted Gifts

Novica is one of the leading fair trade artisan websites and works with National Geographic to give talented artisans around the world a place to express their artistic talents and provide access to the world market. There are literally thousands of top fair trade corporate gifts and home decor items on the website. When I was first introduced to Novica earlier this month, I literally spent hours browsing all of the unique gifts that fill the site.

So with so much to look at, where does one start? If you are looking for green gifts you will find cool statues made from recycled auto parts. Or even this pretty recycled glass chandelier.

There is also a large section for those in need of a corporate gift. I actually spent a lot of time in this section because there were so many lovely items. I really like the look of this journal and pencil set.


From Novica:

"Our Corporate Gift Program allows business both large and small access to unique treasures for all occasions. We view every project as an opportunity for you to set yourself apart from your competitors as we tailor our program to meet your specific company needs.

Our entire collection is at your fingertips! You have worked hard to build your brand, it is important that your corporate gifts reinforce that effort. Novica presents artisans from across the globe, giving you an unmatched selection of fair trade corporate gifts to suit every style. Whether on your own, or with some guidance from our knowledgeable corporate gift experts, you will surely find just the right item to make a lasting impression."

Novica was generous enough to let me pick out a few items to review. I am not exaggerating when I tell you it took me 3 days to make up my mind, that is how much great stuff is there. Now because these items are coming from all over the world, shipping can take some time. So I am still awaiting 2 items. I did however receive the Purple Parallels Cotton Handbag that I picked for myself.


The picture does not do it justice, it is just so pretty. And it makes me happy to know that this was hand crafted by an artist who was paid fairly for her work. I also have to mention the FREE gift wrap that came on this item (note: not all items receive free gift wrap). It was the first thing I saw when I opened the package. It is hard to tell from the picture, but the paper is also handmade and has some leaves in it. So simple yet beautiful. I'm saving it to reuse. :)


Now I have a few more items that should be coming in a week or so - some hand blown glassware. Once they get here I will be posting about them as well. I can't wait to see them!