Mind, Body and Spirits is the place to be!

It was so nice to be invited to one of the grand opening events at Rochester's new Mind, Body and Spirits restaurant, and after experiencing it first hand, I can't say enough good things about it.

Mind, Body and Spirits is a totally new concept to hit the area. There are two distinct sections to the restaurant -- a 90-seat dining room on the first floor, and a Higher Ground Lounge on the second floor that seats 50. Each floor has its own menu, hours and atmosphere. In addition, there is a seasonal 45-seat second-floor outdoor deck. Upstairs offers a great view of downtown Rochester, and features lounge seating with specialty drinks, appetizers and desserts. The downstairs features a more traditional dining area with its own specialty menu. The dining room is decorated with artwork from local artists. On my first trip to Mind, Body and Spirits, I was able to experience appetizers in the Higher Ground Lounge -- be sure to try the dates wrapped in bacon and bleu cheese. Even though we were totally stuffed, we still had to try some things from the menu downstairs in the dining room. You'll absolutely love the Third Street Potato fries, and the shrimp soup I had was fantastic!

Right: Owner Mike Plesz stands in front of Mind Body and Spirits in downtown Rochester. (Photo courtesy of Laurie Puscas, the Oakland Press)

The 5600 sq. ft. restaurant boasts some of the latest and greatest eco-concious innovations. The entire building is geothermal heated and cooled and banks of solar panels on the roof generate electricity and hot water for the building. A newly constructed greenhouse grows herbs for the kitchen, and is partially heated by heat retaining columns of water. Even the building materials used in construction are eco-friendly, such as the floors, which are constructed of bamboo and cork, both renewable resources. The furniture in the restaurant is made of recycled materials and even the padding in the seats consists of foam manufactured from corn.

Left: Director of Marketing David Youngman shows off the greenhouse behind Mind, Body and Spirits in downtown Rochester. The greenhouse, which will grow herbs and other edible plants for the restaurant, contains a concrete-filled wall and water-filled tubes to retain daytime heat and release it at night. (Photo courtesy of John Stormzand, the Rochester Eccentric)

Visit the restaurant's website at http://www.mindbodyspirits.com/. You can view the menus and read more interesting information about Rochester's first "green" restaurant! Stop by for a drink or for dinner tonight!

Recycling your old cosmetics

If you're like me and purchase new makeup all the time, chances are you have drawerfulls of makeup that is either old or you just don't use anymore. It's a waste to throw it out. Consider some of these ideas for what to do with that unwanted lipstick or eyeshadow:

• If the makeup is in good condition and is still useable, see if a friend or coworker might want it. You may also want to consider donating it to a woman's shelter or organization in your area that does career counseling for women to help them get back on their feet.
  
• Put together a makeup bag for your daughter or granddaughter - it'll be perfect for when they want to play dress-up!
  
• Reuse makeup for art projects. Eye pencils make great art pencils! Eye shadow and other powers can be used with rubber stamps for crafting. If you have friends who are artists, they may be interested in your old makeup for their own projects!
  
• Your husband or handyman may be able to use certain pieces of makeup, like eyeliner pencils for construction projects, like marking drywall or lumber.
  
• See if your local drugstore accepts old makeup for recycling.

Organic makeup that is good for your skin...and lasts!

Nvey Eco products - These great products are a new discovery.....you too will fall in love with their natural goodness....and excellent quality!

Organic Erase Corrective Make-up - Soothingly conceals blemishes, dark circles and other facial imperfections -- works great and it's natural! Made with a natural blend of safflower, jojoba, and organic castor oils, along with natural antioxidants.

Organic Lipstick - Yes, even lipstick that is organically made can provide natural, vibrant colors...and even has long lasting power. Also has nourishing properties to help keep lips soft and smooth, including safflower, beeswax, vitamin E and organic castor oil.

Organic Creative Eye Color System - Moisturize and doll yourself up at the same time! Especially good for dry and sensitive skins, their eye makeup features antioxidants, chamomile and vitamins for a nourishing effect. (Who knew makeup could be good for you?!?). A natural base of corn silk and jojoba oil means it's easy to apply and the color lasts.

For more information, visit http://www.ecoenvybeauty.com/

Simple foods to include in a heart healthy kitchen

According to Kathy B. Glazer, director of nutrition for George Washington University Weight Management Program, a well-balanced diet should contain a varitey of foods from each part of the pyramid.

Ms. Glazer's favorites: blueberries (antioxidant rich), flaxseeds (rich in fatty acids that helps regulate blood pressure), legumes (soluble fiber lowers cholesterol), nuts (omega-3 fatty acids), oatmeal (soluble fiber), olive and canola oil (heart-smart monounsaturated fats), red wine and grape juice (high levels of antioxidants), salmon (omega 3), soy (lowers cholesterol), spinach (antioxidants). (Source: Fitness)

Green Manufacturing

Every day I hear of another wonderful green product being produced. A Rochester Hills company has developed a line of environmentally friendly anti-microbal surface treatments. The technology continuously cleans the air of harmful greenhouse gas and volatile organic compounds after being applied. For more information, please visit the story online from the Ann Arbor Business Review - http://www.mlive.com/businessreview/annarbor/index.ssf/2008/09/rochester_hills_company_to_man.html

What my clients are talking about

Green Restaurants -- My clients are all a-buzz about a new "green" restaurant which will be opening soon in town. I'm sure there's one similar to where you live -- or if not, there's probably one coming soon! Here in Rochester, "Mind, Body and Spirits" is the first of its kind to be opened in this area and possibly in Michigan. What is a "green" restaurant, you might ask? Well, owner Mike Plesz says his new business is an organic restaurant that specializes in local and organic products. His goal is to make it a fully sustainable restaurant -- meaning that they want to reduce the carbon footprint of the place. They are taking a historic building here in town, built in 1890, and are renovating it and will employ many green features such as geothermal wells to cool and heat the building, "photovoltaic" solar panels on the roof, an "aerobic biodigester" to convert food scraps into nutrient-rich fertilizer for their greenhouse (off site). If you're not close enough to Rochester to experience "Mind, Body and Spirts" when it debuts, you can find a green restaurant in your area by visiting http://www.dinegreen.com/

Organic Baby Merchandise - A couple people now have mentioned that they enjoy shopping at Sage Baby ( http://www.sagebabynyc.com/ ), the self-proclaimed eco-friendly baby store - "everything you need to create a green and stylish nursery." I checked them out and it's a cute store! Sage Baby has tons of unique "green" items - everything from clothing to toys to bath items. I really appreciate how they have gone to great lengths to stock their store with only the greenest, safest products. I know I'll be going on a Sage Baby shopping spree soon for my granddaughter!

Whole Foods Market - Can you believe that they just opened a beautiful, flagship store right by my house? Everyone is talking about the wonderful new store and I've been asked by a dozen people already, "have you been to the new Whole Foods???" Yes, I have and it's truly an experience. I have been a fan of the store for years and now it's even better! Whole Foods Market is a full service natural foods grocery store. They have an in-house bakery, deli and tons of certified organic produce, bulk food and grocery items. Their meats are naturally raised and cruelty-free. Oh and there's also a huge wine section, and specialty cheeses from around the globe. Don't forget to check out their vitamin and herbal supplement section. You can find a store near you by going to their website at http;//www.wholefoods.com.

Organic Lotion for Baby

If you're a fan of natural and organic skincare, why not treat baby to natural? You can with Lilyrose organic baby lotion. This is a nice, rich lotion that is unscented so it won't irritate. It has chamomile and plenty of other natural and organic ingredients. Plus it's paraben-free to boot. You may even want to use it on your own skin. It's a terrific moisturizer even for mom, so you might be keeping it in your purse instead of in the diaper bag! Plus, $1 from each bottle purchased will go to the Trisomy 18 Foundation. Available online at http://www.lilyrosebaby.com/

Beautiful Nails

Here are a couple of our favorite "safe" nail products. You don't have to reak of a chemical factory whenever you do your nails! Not only are these products safer to work with, they're easier on the enivronment too!

Ulta's Salon Formula Crème Nail Lacquer is both formaldehyde-free and toluene-free. The rich, quick-drying formula proves that you can have great looking nails without the chemicals. Plus, it's high-gloss and chip-resistant to boot. Available in Ulta stores or online http://www.ulta.com

SunCoat (http://www.suncoatproducts.com/) has a Natural Nail Polish Remover that is made from farm crops and contains no petroleum ingredients. Imagine...no fumes, no chemcials, no problems! The non-toxic formula is also non-carcinogenic and is biodegradable. It works on both water-based nail polish and conventional, "normal" polishes. Get rid of your acetone-based polish removers -- and your acetate based removers (a.k.a. acetone-free remover)!

While we're on the subject of nailcare, here's a quick tip - to stop the top of the nail polish bottle from sticking...dip a small paintbrush in nail polish remover and use it to clean off the rim of the bottle. This will help prevent the top from sticking next time you use it. It's the enamel left on the rim of the bottle that bonds the top to the top, making the top always so hard to get off. Oh, and forget using a cotton ball to do this -- the cotton fibers will stick to the enamel, no matter how hard you try to be careful.

Natural Reading

If you're into natural products, "green living," and just plain being good to your body and the planet, then you need to read Natural Health Magazine. It's the one magazine I look forward to receiving each month. They have wonderful sections about health/wellness, healthy recipes, and standard features, such as "Fit for Life," "Feel Good," and "Look Good." Do yourself a favor and get a subscription today. You'll be glad you did!

What are you favorite "green" things?

Here's one of our favorites -- now tell us what yours are!

Ashley Watson - http://www.ashleywatson.net/ - handmade purses, wallets and accessories from recycled materials. Ashley Watson handcrafts her one-of-a-kind leather products using exclusively recycled material. She began designing handbags with recycled leather in early 2005, inspired by the original features of jackets purchased from charity thrift stores. She ultimately incorporates these features, such as pockets and seams, into each unique bag or wallet design.

Please post your favorite "green" products and tell us why you love them!

Healthy Skin/Healthy Body

The simpler, the better, I always say. As someone who has bookcases full of beauty books and magazines, here are some of my favorite tips that seem to appear, time and time again. But don't take my word for it. I've added some facts straight from the mouths of the pros.

Eat young - Dr. Nicholas Perricone, adjunct professor of medicine at Michigan State University says, "people who eat more fresh fruits, vegetables and protein-rich fish, tend to have fewer wrinkles."

From A to Z - choose beauty products that have vitamins A, C and E, and also ingredients that have free-radical-fighting antioxidants like green tea, alpha-lipoic acid and grapeseed extract.

Get to bed - Dr. Andrew Weil, director of the Program of Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona says that many factors effect skin's aging, including "....how we handle stress, [and] how we rest or sleep...." Use an overnight eye or facial cream at night to help repair daytime damage while you sleep. If you don't have enough repairative sleep, you are not allowing your skin enough time to rehydrate and heal itself.

Be smart about the sun - Dr. Lisa Donofrio, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine says, "With too much skin exposure, blood vessels in the skin grow, and the stimulation from UV light causes enzymes in collagen and elastin to break down. Sunburns set up an inflammatory response that breaks down proteins in the skin, accelerating the loss of collagen and elastin, which can cause the skin to wrinkle."

You lotion-up before tanning, but how about after catching those rays?

While I have basketfuls of sunscreen, self-tanners, bronzers, etc. in my hall closet, one thing that I rarely come across are skincare essentials for after-tanning.

Keep Sarah Scott's TanKeeper after-tan healing cream on your nightstand and apply after a day in the sun....you'll be glad you did. It has a chemical-free formula made with 100% natural ingredients, so you can feel good about moisturizing your skin after catching some rays -- either at the beach or just spending a day outside. It has what you would expect in a high-quality natural lotion - aloe, grapeseed, coconut and rosemary. However, it also adds the healing power of honey (yes organic honey - but don't worry, the lotion is smooth and creamy and not sticky or greasy) and also adds vitamin E to further accelerate healing.

TanKeeper was featured in Natural Health Magazine recently and is available at http://www.tankeeper.com/