Organice Your Life®

I figured the title would be a good start. Hello, my name is Marius Hordijk and I will be joining the writing team of OYL.

For now, I will write about running. My 12 week training program, which started yesterday, is the toughest one I've done so far, and it will prepare me for the Utrecht Singelloop on Sunday September 26th, 2010. This is a 10 kilometer race in which I hope to break my record.

I've been running for almost two years now, and I can tell you all the cliché things you hear about it are all true: yes, it helps you relax. Yes, it helps you stay and feel healthy. And yes, running can be great for the mind. Yet most important of all: it is good fun.

I hope to be exploring these topics with you, and I hope to not bore you silly with talks of calories and minutes per kilometer. So there! I have introduced myself. Soon I'll tell you more of my training schedule, and if you feel tempted to join, don't hesitate to take your running shoes out of the closet and join in!

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23-04-2010 | Posted by: Lonneke Engel
Priti Nailpolish remover
Tags: priti | nail | polish | remover | sustainable nyc |

You know what is so annoying?

At some point after you had a great manicure or pedicure, the color wears off, and you need to take it all off.

Usually you use a smelly nail polish remover that dries out your nails, and gives you a headache.

Not anymore!

I found Priti nail polish remover at Sustainable NYC (a great store where you can buy anything green, organic and/or fairtrade, like gifts, shoes and food)

Priti is based on soy, and it does smell, but not as bad.It is non-toxic. Best thing is, the nail polish comes right off, and it leaves your nails shiny and healthy!

This company also has a big line of nail polishes and other products, that are all vegan, cruelty free, non toxic and organic, but I have not tried it yet!

I am happy with doing so many shoots a week, and changes of nail polishes, I can take it off without ruining my nails!

http://www.pritinyc.com/Soy-Remover-4-oz-_p_28.html

00-00-0000 | Posted by: Lonneke Engel
Pre Shopping: Springtime!
Tags: pre | shopping | clothing |

The weather is getting better, it is time to clean out your closet again!

Put all your winter clothing away, and bring out the summer items. Try them on ( see if they still fit or if you still like them) and decide what you won't wear anymore. Give it to a friend! Or too a Goodwill organization....

It is always good to look at your clothes first before you go shopping. Maybe something you have had for a while, is in fashion this season! decide what you need to get, so you won't be spending too much money on a lot of clothes ( and returning them maybe) or something that does not fit with anything you have.

I like to do what I call: "Pre shopping".
What means " Prepared Shopping".

First I check out my closets, shoes, and jewelry. See what I have, and what I forgot about but now really want to wear.

Second: when I go shopping, I make a plan. I check magazines and online what is a trend right now. Then I don't go into stores where I know I will buy a lot that in the end I won't wear. I also prefer to do something that I actually call "Pre shopping", which is check out first a lot of my favorite stores, put things on hold, and return if I want to buy. I usually shop 2 days in a row. One day I just check out everything, I sleep on it, and next day I know what I really want to buy, and what I can afford. So I go back and buy it!

This way I almost never return clothes. I think that is a waste of your good time, doing the same shopping twice. So the more you can prevent this, the better! Not only for your time, but stores usually give you a store credit and I am sure some of you have a lot of them you never use. It is predicted that millions of dollars and euros worldwide are sitting on a shelf waiting to be spend, and some of these dollars are never used at all in the end! I don't like wasting anything, so also not dollars I can use.

I myself have a giftcard from Express I still need to use, and a gift card from Adam, a talented designer in NYC. It has been a year and I still have not used it! So bad... I am going to do that ASAP!

Thinking about it, these tips are mostly for women. Guys ( except maybe the metrosexuals and homosexuals in that group) usually shop fast, and buy what they need. Usually the same thing. It is hard to break that routine. So if you are a girl to go shopping with your boyfriend or husband, another tip I have: plan!

Think about what is in fashion, what he really needs, and what would look good on him ( styles, colors, etc) check online where they have sale's or discounts, and where they have nice things for your guy. So you can take him fast to these places, and the experience will be short and sweet ( hopefully he likes the clothes just as much as you!) And maybe he is more into shopping next time! This works for kids too.

Make sure when you buy things, that it fits you. You look actually better/thinner when clothes are a bit looser. So don't try to fit into clothes with a size you had 15 years ago. ( unless you are one of the lucky ones!). Don't just buy it because it is a trend or it is cool, but go for things that are really you!

I hope your Pre Shopping gets you some good stuff!

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Tomorrow is One Day Without Shoes!

Originated by TOMS, the shoe company that rules by the quote: “One for One”, this initiative makes us walk bare feet one day in a year,on April 8th, to experience what a lot of kids worldwide have to deal with every single day of there life: walking bare feet. Because of walking bare feet, these kids are susceptible to dangerous diseases that they get through walking in uneven and polluted soils, and also because they get cuts and scrapes when not wearing shoes . Most of these diseases are 100% preventable by wearing shoes. The life's fundamentals are food, clean water AND shoes. For hygiene it is so important to wear shoes.

One for One means that TOMS will supply a pair of shoes to people in need somewhere on the planet, when you buy a pair of shoes. This is a sustainable concept, as the Goodwill is paid by the profits made by selling shoes.
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I will do a Profile on TOMS shoes and founder/ head shoe giver Blake Mycoskie, as I had the privilege to meet him in person. You will find it on organiceyourlife.com in the future!

For now: Will you walk bare feet tomorrow, Just like Kristen Bell and the Jonas Brothers?

www.onedaywithoutshoes.com
www.toms.com

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28-03-2010 | Posted by: Lonneke Engel
United Nude shoes
Tags: united nude | shoes | rem koolhaas |

I am a big fan of these design shoes!

As they are mostly made of synthetic materials, they are great for people who don't want to wear anything made from animal products.

Very fashionable too,I put on the Community a few of my favorite pieces. This green one is definitely my favorite of all!

United Nude is a concept from world famous architect ( and fellow Dutchie) Rem Koolhaas and Galahad Clark, a 7th generation shoemaker from Somerset, England.

They bring innovative, and elegant shoes that are for sure different than anything else on the market. They play with fabrics, construction, colors and materials. Some shoes have the heel placed in a total out-of-the-box way.

They have stores all around the world!

Girls go shop and Guys: take your girlfriends and wives shopping at United Nude!
www.unitednude.com

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07-03-2010 | Posted by: Lonneke Engel
Micam, the Shoe Event, Milano
Tags: micam | shoes | vic matie | timberland | united nude |

Twice a year you can find a big event happening at the Fieramilano, the Micam fair!

A shoelovers heaven, this fair brings shoe retailers, shoe agents and shoe producers together. Shoe producers show their collection for the next season, shoe agents just look at what trend is happening next season, and shoe retailers buy their next collection.

There seems to be thousands and thousands of stands! Some with nice shoes, some with shoes for your grandma, but lots of them!

As I have the perfect sample size feet, size 37 ( I really have size 38 but for this occasion I have size 37!) I went there to help my boyfriend Bas pick out his new collection. It is really fun, as I chose some shoes and tried them on. I tried on many, many shoes! After a few days walking by all the stands, my feet were sore, my back ached, but it was so worth it!

I chose one pair I need to have ( from Vic Matie) And I tried to persuade my boyfriend to buy eco friendly and sustainable shoebrand's collections, but he was right: Most of those brands have not succeeded in making fashionable looking shoes. Most of them are still a bit alternative to put it mildly. I hope this will change in the future! And the more we support these brands, the more they will succeed and more brands will become organic, sustainable or even vegan!

But an exception is Timberland. They are starting to incorporate more sustainable practices within their production, and start using more recycled rubber made from tires. The collection in which they do that is called: Earthkeepers. As one of the new trends next season is baggy jeans, or skinny jeans in high boots with laces, I think it is a nice brand to focus on!

A collection I loved was from United Nude,designed together with dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, but they were at the International Visitor's stand, and they make a lot of plastic shoes. For vegans a really nice option. I will write more about this brand in the future.

New trends I saw for Fall-Winter 2010-2011, were: The studs are still here, maybe even shoes with chains, ankle boots with laces with or without heels, a bit of cowboy inspired boots, "boyfriend" boots with laces, suede,colors are grey, black, blue, beige. Wedges and over-the-knee boots. Also I saw shoes that had leather that had studs that looked like (under the skin) studs.

I am excited for next season!
www.micam.com
www.unitednude.com
www.timberland.com

14-11-2009 | Posted by: Lonneke Engel
Walking on tires
Tags: timberland | earthkeeper | shoes |

Shoe giant Timberland is literally getting one step closer to a better world!

With their shoe line Peacekeepers 2.0, they offer a shoe that has a sole made of at least 42% recycled rubber from tires.

And if that is not enough, the boots are made so that when you are done with them, they are easy to take apart and recycle that way.

Great idea, become an Earthkeeper!

earthkeepers.timberland.com/index_ek_us.html
earthkeeper.com/blog/about-2/

15-10-2009 | Posted by: Nancy Bommel
Pass on the wooden needles!
Tags:

Knitting has been the forbidden word for some time as it is closely linked to the word “tedious”.
But this is no longer the case. Knitting is hip and upcoming! Did you know that there is even an official “World Knitting Day” in June?
If you consult Wikipedia for the definition of knitting you’ll find that knitting is a way to make elastic tissue out of one long thread with the help of 2 or more needles without eyes.
Since the 19th century an activity mainly for women. But even before that there were already a bunch of knitting sheepkeepers and fishermen.
Actually out of every kind of material you’re able to make thread to use for knitting purposes. That an addiction to knitting can nowadays lead to functional and arty creations is something that Caroline Evers shows us.
On the Klarendalseweg 183 in Arnhem, the Netherlands, you will for instance find a chair covered with knitted fabric made on wooden knitting pens of over a meter long.
Knitting is also a good example of sustainable craftsmanship . An existing subject gets a new life by covering them with knitted fabric. Besides “knitted” furniture and clothing under the label Bedtime for Bonzo, you can also find bags, shoes and art works from friends.
Caroline is the first to turn a used chair into a piece of artwork with knitted fabric but designer Marcel Wanders designed his “Knotted Chair” already in 1996.

www.bedtimeforbonzo.nl
www.iphoneclub.nl

30-07-2009 | Posted by: Lonneke Engel
GomiNYC closing!
Tags: shop | organic | clothing | gominyc |

My favorite little shop, where I buy my organic and recycled clothes, is closing!

GomiNYC, a small gem on 6th street between avenue A and 1st avenue in NYC, like a lot of small businesses, is not surviving the credit crisis.

GomiNYC also sells jewelry, shoes, things for your home and for yourself like organic creams. As long as the products were either organic, recycled or eco friendly ( or all of it) they were eligible to be sold in the store

Now they have a big sale going on, because everything must go!

I am sad, because where can I go to find organic and eco friendly clothing?

give me tips , leave them in the community!
www.gominyc.com

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24-07-2009 | Posted by: Lonneke Engel
Flying and CO2
Tags: co2 | travel | energy saving | klm | flying |

I read an interesting article today,in the July issue of KLM's Holland Herald magazine. I was on my way to Milan, to yet another photo shoot.

One thing caught my eye:

1 KILO REDUCTION IN WEIGHT = 780 GRAMS LESS CO2 !!!

The article:

" The CO2 Equation.

The fact that one kilogram reduction in weight results in 780 grams less CO2 emissions, for each long-haul flight, speaks for itself.

Since 2008, KLM's " Weight & Fuel" programme has take CO2 reduction a step further. Some actions so far....

-Reduced weight of aircraft fixtures such as lightweight coffee pots and trolleys.
-Training for pilots focussing on fuel efficiency awareness
-A booklet of fuel-saving tips is regularly updated and distributed to flight crew.
-Individual fuel reports allow flight captains to monitor their fuel consumption
-Improve use of statistical information such as passenger numbers, weight of baggage and freight, and weather conditions allows the crew to more accurately calculate the amount of fuel to be carried, resulting in lower emissions."

Source:KLM

Maybe reconsider when packing your bag for a trip?

Those extra shoes can stay home you know!

I always try to pack only Carry On.

I know, it takes many times doing it, to get the hang of it.

You will get there with the right attitude!

www.klm.com/csr

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09-07-2009 | Posted by: Lonneke Engel
Organizing my Closet: Shoes
Tags: tips | organize | home |

Shoes. Shoes Shoes.

I have too many of them!

I LOVE SHOES.

Just like most girls in the world.

(Maybe that’s also a reason I like my boyfriend Bas so much, as he owns shoe stores)

The problem is: I never get rid of a pair.

So my collection is getting to an Imelda Marcos’ size

(Imelda , First lady of Philippines from 1956 on for twenty years, was known for her huge collection of about 2500 pairs. But also for her lavish lifestyle which she paid for reportedly with public funds. That’s bad, but us girls, we work hard for our shoes!)

I need to organize my shoes!

Here are some tips:

-really, the shoes I have not worn the past 5 years, have to go.

Unless they have some emotional value to me. Then they go to my box with memorabilia, and are put away.

-Shoe boxes are genius. You can put them on top of each other ( have u tried that with shoes themselves? Quite hard!) And the shoes are protected.

-I write down on the box, what shoes are in there For example: “ Black Christian Louboutin platform High Heels” or “ Favorite Zara golden sandals”

-I might even put a picture of the shoes on the outside. So I don’t have to open them

-High heels with High Heels, sneakers with sneakers, running shoes with running shoes.

-Another suggestion: Write down exactly how much you wear a pair of shoes, That clears up whether the shoes were a hit or miss. If you were expensive shoes every day, they have been a great buy. If you never wear them, it was a bad decision.

If you want to get rid of shoes, sell them to a vintage store close to you, or bring them to one of the collection points for clothing collection, for recycling,

For instance, there are different ones in NYC, one on Saturdays and Mondays on the Union Square Greenmarket. From 8am to 6pm.

Below you see a link for nyc, and a link for worldwide shoe recycling.

And last tip: First check your closet before you go shopping!

www.runtheplanet.com/shoes/selection/recycle.asp
www.unionsquarenyc.org/calendar.cfm

07-07-2009 | Posted by: Lonneke Engel
Work Out: Running!
Tags: work out | running | lonneke |

A lot of people dread it, and some just love it: Working Out.

I am one of those people who hates to work out. Can't we just stay in shape by reading a book or something? The answer is no. When i am at home, in my warm environment, it is hard to get myself to do it. In hotels there is a better chance I get seduced by the shiny new fitness equipment. But IF i have worked out, by running, jumping, cycling or any other way, and I am totally covered in sweat, a feeling of euphoria overcomes me. I am just so proud of myself i have done it again!.

For a lot of people it is hard to do that first step of going to a gym, or work out. So the first thing you need to do is find something that you like doing. I am very picky with what I like: not much. But Running is kind of O.K.. I like it when I am in a perfect condition, and can run for miles. But to get there, you actually have to run.....

So i had to break through that vicious circle, and so I bought a treadmill for my home. I looked on internet to find the best one. When i got it, i started running for a minute, and then walk for 3 minutes.(Trust me, 1 minute running back then was already a lot I thought!)

Slowly I could expand the intervals, and now, 6 months later, I can run for 30 minutes on 6mph like its nothing. I had to get good shoes, as it turned out at the specialized shoe store(where they film your feet and tell you which shoes to get) that I run with my feet inwards. I put my treadmill next to a mirror, so I can see myself run, and maybe correct. But most important is the distraction! I cannot run without a TV on, or listening to an Ipod. It makes the time pass faster!

When I got better at running, I started to run outside, of course only when the weather is not to cold, or hot. It is harder to run outside then on a treadmill. But I didn't look like a fool anymore, as I could actually run more than just back and forth in my street! Now-believe it or not- I like to run outside. Just see people, and things happening. It is fun.( Just watch the traffic!) I heard running is not so good for your knees and joints. So I do it every other day, to give my body time to rest. After trying many work outs, i do think this is the best for me to stay in shape!
www.run-down.com
www.treadmilldoctor.com/BestBuyAwards-Treadmill