Welcoming Summer with 3 Eco-Friendly Beach Outfits

What’s in this season? GREEN, of course. And I don’t just mean Green the color. With all the fun eco-friendly clothing and accessories popping up it’s becoming increasingly EASY to be green. Therefore, I’d like to introduce myself as your new Eco-nista. Going green never looked so good! I’ve scavenged the internet in search of 3 perfect eco-friendly beach outfits. And for your shopping convenience, I’ve made sure to include links to where you can find these great outfits! Enjoy!



a. This striped racerback top is perfect alone or layered. Link

b. This statement necklace is made of natural red seeds from the rainforest. Also, a portion of proceeds go to charity. This is a must have item for any occasion. Link

c. I adooore this purse! The color of this bag will turn your everyday clothes into an outfit! A color this bold needs to be carried confidently so wear it proudly! Link

d. A classic item with a modern twist. These capris are made of 100% organic cotton. Link

e. Organic swimsuits are a must! This simple black suit will flatter almost any figure and the halter strap adds fun fashion flavor. Link

f. These boating shoes are not only adorable but they’re practical too. Check them out! Link



a. This is one of my favorite discoveries. Not only is this bag incredibly unique and super cute, but it’s a fair trade item made of natural palm leaf in Vietnam. Super purchase-worthy!! Link

b. Keep the sun out and the good vibes in. This fair trade hat is a summer sun necessity. Link

c. I am obsessed with these recycled denim lavender peep toe pumps. Link

d. The shape of this muted pink dress is old-school with a contemporary twist. Link

e. Sunglasses have never been so cool! These bamboo glasses are not only super chic, but a portion of their proceeds go to charity. I am in love! Link

f. This frilly bikini is the perfect addition to this already super cute outfit. Link



a. Hand crafted to perfection these sunglasses are epic. Link

b. This retro dress is so cool! I’m addicted to the super cute vintage buttons and peacock stitching details. While checking out this dress available on econsciousmarket.com search the awesome site for some Maxim products! Link

c. Gracefully sit poolside in style with this stunning swimsuit. Link

d. A white bag is the perfect accessory to this outfit, not to mention one that’s really cutely shaped!! Link

e. These gorgeous yellow pumps add such a hip element to this already fantastic outfit. Link

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Earth Day, Maxim Style

We’re a little late on the Earth Day Post, but we were definitely not amiss on the streets and schools of New York in celebrating our favorite holiday of the year.

Maxim was honored to be amongst several booths at several different schools in our hometown of New York, showcasing what students can do to lead greener lives. During the events, Maxim was able to demonstrate how our products are better for the Earth, and the body too!

At Hofstra University…

We took a spot at the quad in front of Hofstra University’s trendy Bits n’ Bytes Café where Earth Day was all abuzz, as The Center for Civic Engagement hosted an eco-friendly festival. Other booths included PETA, Progressive Students Union, Organic Foods, Anthropology club, Green Career opportunities and so much more!

At New York University…

We were set up under a tent outside on a cold spring NYC day on Washington Place, right smack in the middle of NYU’s most trendy metropolitan campus, where we got to meet some trendy NYUers who were blown away by what we had to say about what was lining their pantiliners. Other fun booths included Honest Tea, POM, Sustainable NYC, and Earth Celebrations.

At East Islip High School…

The gymnasium was converted in to an “earthasium.” Students were bussed in from the elementary and middle schools to take part in the districts dedication to keeping the youth informed about their responsibilities to the earth. You would think youngsters at this age would be shy or giggling about learning about tampons, but they were not only overly enthused, but quite serious about what Maxim had to say about the content of their tampons, pads and pantiliners.

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Maxim and V-Day

Maxim is always looking to take part in events and affairs that focus around women's health, awareness, and well-being. It's funny how many women's events revolve around vaginas; lucky for us, as given the nature of Maxim products, that's right up our alley. Last time it was the Vagina Festival; most recently Maxim was pleased to have participated in Hofstra University’s production of The Vagina Monologues. The performance is part of an annual "V-Day” campaign hosted on college campuses across America to end violence against women.

With the shared value of women’s health and security in mind, Maxim happily supports the cause and donated two different gift baskets to be raffled off at the end of two of the performances. Each gift package contained fun spa packages and a selection of Maxim’s 100% Organic and Natural Cotton Products. Proceeds from the raffle went towards the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

The performance is a fun, thought-provoking, provacative and sometimes emotional showcase for exploring some of the issues surrounding women’s rights, issues and perceptions, but it wasn’t the only hit and excitement for the evening. As seen in the picture above, Maxim shared a table with Planned Parenthood, educating students about other related women’s issues. Students were pleasantly surprised as they got handed free Maxim samples on their way in to the theatre. Student, Megan Walker, was beaming as she emerged from the ladies room stating, “It honestly feels healthier.”

With women’s health and security in mind, Maxim was honored be included in such an important event.

For more information on V-day, click here.

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Stay Warm with Heat Saving Tips for Your Earth & Pocket

The Holidays are over, but Winter is in full blast, which means so is your heat. The heat may be warming you up but it may also be contributing to global warming and other avoidable environmental wastes and effects. If you're like me and living in an old small apartment with building controlled thermostats that don't seem to be working and awful insulation then you'll definitely need to read on, along with all other heat blasting earth lovers. For someone who loves to stay warm but not at the cost of waste, here are some pointers for ya....

In addition to watching the great video above created by the Grist team here are some of my tips for staying warm while keeping your impact low:

1. Take a short hot shower right before hitting the sac. This will quickly raise your body temperature which will stay with you for the rest of the night under the protection of your covers. It's also relaxing!

2. Exercise! Even though it's tempting to stay cuddled, get out of bed and move your body. Movement gets the blood circulating in your body, creating a natural heat environment. It's also healthy!

3. Furnish your space. Carpets and heavy drapes will help keep things feeling warmer. Carpets will keep your feet off of cold tiles and drapes will block the cold air from coming through windows. I recommend keeping the drapes open on sunny days as there is nothing more naturally warming than the sun. But make sure to close the drapes at night and windy days.

4. Long Johns. Okay, they may make you look a few pounds heavier or not work well with your fashionable skinny jeans, but leave your fashion trends for the Summer when Long Johns aren't necessary to keep you warm.

5. Clean. Dust acts as an insulator but not the good kind because it builds up on heated surfaces like your furnace that is the source of heat. Make sure to keep your furnace dust free and serviced every year (your gas, oil or electric company can do this for you at a cost that will save you more in the long run).

6. Shut those vents you might have forgotten about. Vents can be found all over your home from the laundry room to the fireplace, acting as an easy avenue for heat to escape. Keep vents closed or the door to the laundry room closed to keep heat from escaping.

7. Electric blankets. Slip one in between your sheets and you'll be heavenly warmed and pleasantly spending less than what it would cost to heat your room.

8. "Think Warm, Be Warm." The power of thought costs nothing and can be stronger than anything else! I'm thinking countdown to Summer....162 days left!!! Woohoo!!!

Warm wishes!

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Recession Green Gift Giving Solutions - "Do It Yourself!"

This post will wrap up the last few posts and bring our Recession series posts to an end on a high note with a good chuckle (I'm sure we can all use one)....So most of us are not shopping at Saks this year, even if everything is practically on sale and for free (relative to the Saks standard), but most of us are looking for green gift alternatives. There are enough blogs and articles out there about green gift-giving so I'm going to stay away from that, but just in case you're living under a rock here are a few:

Gaiam's "Green Gift Guide: 30 Ideas for the Style Maven, Gadget Guy, Yoga Lover & More"

Treehugger's "Holiday Gift Guide 2008: Give Green to Save Green"

The Environmental Defense Fund's "Green Gifts for the Holidays"

These articles will give you great product green gift giving solutions, but I have a more green and recession friendly option inspired by my friends over at www.diygiving.com - "do it yourself!"

Remember when you were in kindergarten, before you knew how to count your change and balance a budget? Remember the creative freedom you had in putting together hand made gifts? Most importantly remember the big smile you put on your loved ones' faces when you gave them your hand-crafted gift that got posted on the refrigerator instead of returned to the department store or re-gifted to an enemy?

Well nothing put a bigger smile on my face than the above photograph of a "diy," "Do It Yourself" gift option, posted by an anonymous contributor on the diyGiving website, which features creative, do-it-yourself, economical gifts ideas for the holidays and special occasions. Not only was I smiling but I was on the floor dying of laughter. What's more organic and priceless than a good laugh??

Just make sure you're being eco-friendly and using Maxim Sanitary Pads when putting together your holiday slippers!

Holiday cheers to the creators of diyGiving.com for coming up with such a unique concept in green (in more ways then one) gift giving. Visit the diyGiving website to submit your "diy" Gift Giving idea; Maxim promises to send free Maxim products to whoever can up with more creative "diy" feminine hygiene inspired ideas like the one above. Email us with your address when your idea has been posted and we'll send you some Maxim Organic and Natural Cotton Feminine Hygiene Products so you can come up with more creative "diy" gifts or maybe just use them yourself.

Have fun "doing it yourself!"

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Recession Retail Madness Ctd: Organics Will Prevail!

My Recession Retail Madness experience at Saks, described in the last post, is a rare opportunity, a spur of the moment occurrence based on the thrill of getting fashion for less, not anything like an organic shopping experience. Organic shopping comes with deep value. Values live beyond a sale or fashion trend. It's not like fashion where "one day you're in and the next day you're out." It's more like, once you go organic you'll never go back.

But, what are the numbers saying and do numbers outweigh values and trends?



The past four to five years have seen the largest growth in organic sales, anywhere from 20 - 30%. Here are some pre-recession statistics about the growth of organics that will tickle your green pickle:

- A study by the Soil Association shows retail sales of organic product sales at over $4 billion in 2007, with an average annual growth rate of 22%.

- “Sales of organic personal care products rose last year almost 20%, eight times the rate of overall sales of cosmetics and toiletries, according to some research.” (PLMA Scanner Spring 08)

- A survey of organic industry leaders by the Organic Trade Association forecasted that everyday use of organic products of all kinds would be both accepted and routine by the year 2025. Such a forecast is evident in the OTA’s 2005 Organic Non-Foods Category Sales Percent Growth figures provided below:


Organic Non-Foods Category Share, 2005
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05 Sales % Growth
Organic Categories ($Mil) 2005
------------------ -------- --------
Organic Supplements $238 29%
Organic Personal Care $282 28%
Products/Cleaners $ 19 29%
Organic Pet Food $ 30 46%
Organic Flowers $ 16 50%
Organic Fiber (Linens & Clothing) $160 44%
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total Organic Consumer Non-Foods Sales $744 32.5%


Here are some recently sited in-recession statistics that aren't so ticklish:

- Nielsen, a consumer marketing research company, reports "While 52-week dollar sales of UPC-coded organics are up 21% vs. last year, the most recent four-week period ending October 4, 2008, shows growth of only 11.2%. Last year, organics saw 27.1% sales growth during the comparable four-week period ending October 6, 2007."

- Mintel, a leading tracker of consumer product intelligence, reports "the price of all food at home increased more than 7% in the past year. “To cope with higher prices, many shoppers are simply opting not to buy pricey organic or premium brands,” explains Mogelonsky," a senior analyst at Mintel.


It's funny that this year Mintel is projecting a slowing of organic sales, when just last year they were predicting steady growth in organics as reported in "Organic Becomes Mainstream," showing that no projection or report could have ever predicted the recession were in now. This doesn't mean that "Organics are Recession Proof," but I would say they are trend-proof.

Sure organics have been on trend for the past few years, which is what some analysts are saying caused the tremendous sales growth indicated in the "ticklish" statistics first presented, but organics go beyond trends, especially when it comes to necessities and clear health threats, like the dangers of dioxin and the irritation caused by synthetics in conventional feminine hygiene products (had to plug my products here because they really do serve as a good example). Some women have no choice but to stick with organics because of the confirmed negative repercussions of choosing otherwise.

In observing and speaking with the people around me I feel confident in saying "organics will prevail!" Just today I spoke with a Sales Associate in the Organic and Natural department at NYC's very busy and bustling Fairway Market who described the mood of the Organic Shopper as extra conscious on where her dollars are being spent but not sacrificing her need and value for organics specifically in places where it really counts, like feminine hygiene. I was also very happy to see one of my close friends whom I know lives paycheck to paycheck is still stocking his Method, naturally derived biodegradable cleaning products; for him it came down to a re-prioritizing of his spending habits, like his own coffee in the morning instead of stopping at Starbucks on the way to work.

Like the way organics make us think twice about what we're putting inside and on our bodies or the way we're treating our environment, the recession is making us think twice about where we're spending our money. For many people it's a great time "re-access" their spending habits. The only difference is a recession is like a fashion trend, "one day it's in and the next day it's out." This recession will pass, just like tube socks died with the 80s, but Organic lifestyles are more intrinsic and here to stay because they are value driven.

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Recession Retail Madness - The Positives In Fashion

I used to love to shop; that was before I started paying all my bills, had the time to browse through the racks for good deals and as of late, before the recession (or so I thought on this last point)....

Never in my young shopping years have I seen so many sales and great deals, especially before the biggest shopping day of the year, Black Friday. If I get one more email about my favorite retailers' special sales, I will begin the unsubscribing process. All of a sudden I'm every retailers' "friends and family." I remember when that discount actually applied to friends and family only and made you feel special. Thanks to the recession we are all special now...I urge you to TAKE ADVANTAGE of this one ironic double edge sword positive of the recession as I did at Saks Fifth Avenue yesterday.


Now I'm not your typical Saks Fifth Avenue Shopper. Once in a blue moon I might treat myself to that incredible designer dress (Diane Von Furstenberg is my woman of choice) or impossibly unique item that can not be duplicated by any design imposter retailer wannabe, whom my wallet and need for style are extremely thankful for. My typical shopping experience at Saks involves what I like to call "fashion shopping," browsing the beautiful windows and floors to get a taste of the latest trends and styles and then heading to H&M, the more affordable design imposter wannabe retailer, across the street to find them at an eighth of the price. That all changed yesterday when Black Friday came a week early with Saks sales prices equivalent to that of H&M. I'm talking up to 70% off almost all their inventory!!!!

The funny thing is that Saks' sale is the one email I didn't get and when I asked the sales associate about it she said "we're relying on word of mouth." Are times that tough that a huge retailer like Saks can't even afford advertising or emails about their huge pre-Black Friday sale?

According to an article published in the New York Times at about the start of Saks' huge sale, "Saks lost $42.8 million for the three months that ended Nov. 1, compared with a profit of $21.6 million for the period a year ago" or another way to look at it is "Saks sales fell 11.5% for the period compared with a sales gain of 11.4% for the same period last year."

Yes, these numbers are scary, but as always in life let's look at the bright side as I did yesterday when I left Saks with my Diane Von Furstenberg purchase that totaled $65.00, originally marked $325.00.

In my next article we'll take a look at how this recession is affecting less superficial fashion values in the world of organic and natural living, but in the spirit of Black Friday and Thanksgiving I wanted to make sure to share this sale information with you and extend some sort of thanks for once for the recession.

Happy Turkey Day!

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