2015 is right around the corner! And if you’re like us, that means spending some time
with friends, reminiscing on the past year, and dancing to your favorite funky jams. So pop open a bottle of your favorite bubbly, kombucha, or microbrew and get down with your bad self. (more…)
It’s that time of year again, folks! Time to pause & reflect on the past 12 months, time to remind our friends and family how much they mean to us. If you decide to go the gift route, you’ll likely be pretty busy these next few weeks finding the coolest presents for your peeps. (more…)
One popular favorite is the ever fun & ever useful Freaker Knit Koozies. With five fun prints to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect fit for your friend, and by fit I mean it, this little koozie can seriously fit a wide range of bottles, from beer to wine! If you’re one for gifting delicious beverages, the Freaker Knit Koozie will make the perfect drinking mate.
Hi Buds,
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| 250 buds can WIN! 🙂 |
Thank you so much, volunteers, for all you do!
Your buds at Soul Flower
After the long and lazy hibernation of winter, there’s a lot to be done! It’s time for some major spring cleaning to revitalize our communities. Our cities (OUR WORLD!) need a helping hand.
With National Volunteer Week fast approaching (April 21-27), we wanted to brainstorm the numerous ways we can help out and volunteer year round.
Many of the links below are for opportunities in Minnesota, but please don’t hesitate to research your own home town if one of these volunteer positions interest you! 🙂
– Humane Society: help our furry and feathered friends find comfort
– Plant trees, shrubs and flowers in your area: with Earth Day & Arbor Day fast approaching, your community will have plenty of opportunities open! Arbor Day Foundation
– Habitat for Humanity: help create affordable, green shelters for low income families
–Homeless shelter: help sort donations, make/serve food, answer emails & calls, or assist with educational programs
– Protect our waters: help keep our waters clean and free of invasive species. Locals for Lakes
-If you live in Minnesota you could become a Master Naturalist Volunteer!
-Support your local zoo! Minnesota Zoo Volunteer Opportunities
– Foster Care: you don’t need to foster a child to help a child – check in with your local foster care to see what services they might need.
– Library: help out at an event, book drive or read-a-loud. Hennepin County Library Opportunities
– Be a mentor or tutor at your local school and help a struggling student feel more confident
– Nursing home: craft, play games, read, and just chit-chat to bring cheer to someone’s day
– Thrift shop: help sort & shelve items to aid them in a second chance
– Hospital: numerous organizations exist to help ease someone’s pain. Such as Open Arms Minnesota which grows, cooks and delivers food to people struggling with illnesses
– Local farms: so much work to be done, you’re sure to be needed!
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Volunteer your talents, time and joy to make our world a better place!
For more volunteer opportunities & dates check out Spring into Volunteering Hands On Twin Cities, and find what fits right for you. 🙂
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| The neon/ pastel colors on a basic grey shirt, is so brilliant |
So all the snow has finally melted, I’m not sure if it is officially spring yet, but it feels like it. For me when all the snow is melted, and the weather is tolerable, then it is officially spring. And once I got my 3 Little Branches Eco T- Shirt in the mail, then I knew I really needed to get out and celebrate this warm weather, and the happiness the sun brings. I love this top, the second I saw it I about died, the neon/ pastel colors on a basic grey shirt, is so brilliant, along with the Henna-like design, it is just so bright and happy. The swirls of the leaves reminded me a bit of Native American dream catchers. After pairing the eco-friendly top with mint green jeans, I knew I had the perfect shoes to wear. I got these striped tribal moccasins thrifted and they finished the look. With my camera in hand and my sunglasses on I knew just where I wanted to spend the afternoon.
There is this little historical monument I have been to a few times, and have always been inspired by the old western feel and look of things. The spring makes me feel like taking a road trip to Texas or Arizona, I want to go to an old ghost town, or visit a amazing gift shop with beaded necklaces and dream catchers. The texture and color of this little building is amazing, ranging from the old log house with its grainy, weather-worn stained wood, the canvas embellished tee-pees to the adobe house with its curved clay shingles. So much history around us, so much history uncovered in the spring, and so much history awaiting us.
| 3 Little Branches Eco T-Shirt – A Soul Flower Original |
Remember back in the winter, when I talked about snow, and how it blankets and conceals everything? You can easily forget what is buried underneath, like buried treasure or historical relics, it may take time, or a bit of digging to discover what happened in the past, and what was buried there. But eventually spring will come, the leaves with sprout, and things will get better. I am so happy for this weather, this time of year. Be sure to get outside and enjoy it, you waited all winter for today, at least I did!
Peace,
Heather
Check out more style ideas over at my blog Latter Day Style
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| MAKE HISTORY AND SUPPORT POSITIVITY ! |
Did you know there’s such a thing as glowing mushrooms?
There are more than 70 known species of bioluminescent fungi growing all around the world. They produce light through chemical reactions, lighting up the forest floor like a starry sky.
How awesome is that?!
How could you not want glowing mushrooms on a t-shirt?! 🙂
Another inspiration for this hand-drawn mushroom design was these amazing 19th century mushroom and fungi illustrations, drawn by French pharmacist Guilliame Sicard.
I just love their simplicity, and how they show off all the different mushroom types in a clean, non-muddy way.
When creating this design, I first sketched out a bunch of different styles of mushrooms. Then after digitizing the sketches, I added texture with little bitmapping dots that would be sure to show up on a screen print.
Sweet!
You can also snag some glowing mushrooms on an organic cotton scarf or on a bright purple tank dress. (Note: these dresses are part of a limited print run, so get ’em while you can!)
Mushrooms may seem like lowly plants (literally– they grow low to the ground!), but a second look may be all it takes to realize that pretty much everything in nature is awesome. Especially if they glow!
If you liked this shroomy inspiration, you’ll probably like our Nature Inspiration Pinterest board. Check it out!
Hey buds,
Here’s the playlist you helped us build for 2013, including Phish, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead and more!
Rock on & thanks for all the sweet suggestions, you picked some great ones!
☮ your buds at Soul Flower
Are you still struggling to find the perfect resolution? If so, here’s a list of Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions to help you out. Some are more challenging than others, but it’s best to pick something that is realistic for your lifestyle and personality; changing too much too fast usually doesn’t last longer than, oh…say, January? And, most importantly, don’t hate on yourself and surrender if you falter here and there; it happens! Just restart your resolution the next day, and all will be well with the world. True story. 🙂
-Start a compost
-Buy more organic veggies and fruits; eat in-season foods
-Buy local
-Start a garden
-Go vegetarian, vegan or simply cut back on your meat consumption by doing something like Meatless Mondays
-Always bring your own reusable bags while shopping. Create a plan so you don’t leave them behind when you need them.
-Make your own super safe household cleaners
-Learn to sew
-Use cloth instead of paper towels and napkins.
-Wash your clothes with cold water
-Line dry laundry
-Carpool
-Consolidate errands so you only need to venture out once
-Walk or ride a bike whenever possible
-Purchase a rain barrel for your yard to conserve water
-Landscape your yard so it’s critter friendly
-Rescue an animal from a shelter or the streets
-Volunteer for a good cause
-Make a craft once a month with items you would usually throw away
-Buy organic clothing such as soy, hemp or organic cotton
-Thrift secondhand goods
-Donate items you no longer use
-Upcycle shabby items in your home into something “new”
-Use a reusable coffee cup
-No bottled water! Keep a reusable water bottle with you instead.
-Read more. Educate yourself further on environmental issues and ways you can help.
-Use recycled paper & print on both sides
-Turn off energy sucking devices when they’re not in use
-Become familiar with your local farmers and their farming techniques
-Support your local farmers market
-Cook at home instead of eating out
-Learn to make household staples like butter
-Throw away less food by eating leftovers; use “scraps” to make meals such as soup
-Make small (or large) donations to an eco-friendly cause throughout the year
-Support small businesses instead of big box stores
-Use (or make) earth friendly beauty products and cleansers
-Simply use less
Happy New Year, Everyone! Good luck in all your endeavors!
❤ your bud JacQ
Hey Buds,
We loved the holiday songs you picked last year so much, we had to post them again. If you dig building playlists with us, keep your eyes on our Facebook page the first week of January, because we’ll be needing some tunes to rock the New Year!
This Organic Robin Hoody Tunic is more than just a comfortable tunic in a beautiful color. This piece of clothing represents change, and a step in the right direction taken by people who not only have a desire to make the planet better, but who take initiative and make it happen!
Buds, I’m grateful to have a store like soul-flower.com to provide me with wonderful brands like Earth Creations. This company makes their clothing with sustainable fabrics, such as organic hemp and cotton. Feel better and healthier knowing that your garment is free of any pesticides that could harm you or mother earth’s water sources. When it comes to dyes, no worries here; natural dyes (like clay) and low impact dyes are used instead of the usual toxic dyes and contaminating salt found in “conventional” clothing.
And another bonus is that this company supports made in the USA.
Jammin’ out to Scarlet Begonias – Sublime & Grateful Dead Cover in my Organic Robin Hoody Tunic!
This hemp tunic in particular is lovely. In addition to being guilt free it is so cute and comfortable. It has pockets, a hood, and long sleeves to keep you warm on those cold days (and at the same time, you don’t get overbearingly hot!). The cool buttons and details make it a stylish piece. Go for this tunic and support two awesome companies while looking great!
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| Oops, and this denim shirt – Pretend this is floating all pretty up there, instead of all awkward down here 😉 |
– Be Striped Tree Tapestry (Code: BSD013) I need more curtains in my new place.
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| Organic, fleece lined Cherry Blossom Tunic |
Lazy summer days we would sprawl out in our backyard reading under our cherry tree. This wasn’t any ordinary cherry tree, it was a mix between a weeping willow and a cherry tree, so the long branches would almost create a pink, flowery curtain encircling us, and on windy days tiny petals would rain down like confetti, sprinkling the ground with papery pink pieces.
When I saw the Mod Cherry Tunic I was instantly reminded of those happy days. Even the design is so childlike, the large pockets, the jumper style and the wide collar, reminds me of something a cute little girl with pig-tails and ribbons would wear, it is so youthful and fun. The moment I got it I knew it would be a perfect outfit to wear while exploring and playing in the fall leaves.
My backyard now reminds me of my childhood memories, our house is older and tiny, and we have a few old trees that practically take over our yard, there branches create a green golden canopy and if it is windy, you might find a few leaves swirling around, almost like my cherry blossom days as a child.
There is something beautiful about the simplicity of nature, the colors of fall leaves, a whole rainbow of hues a gift from nature. I guess this little trip outside reminded me how beautiful fall can be, how amazing it is that I can find a million different shades of green in my own backyard, and to remember the happiness you can experience in little things.
| Beautiful embroidery! |
Maybe it is the rainy weather, maybe it is a dogs sloppy kiss, or maybe it is a warm cozy sweater, whatever it is, breathe it in, let it remind you of the good and help you forgive the bad. Because there is nothing better than feeling like a child again.
For further info check out my blog Latter Day Style where I have a video review of the Cherry Blossom Tunic and my latest Soul Flower wishlist! 🙂
Happy fall,
Heather
<3 Your Buds at Soul Flower & remember to let nature be your guide!
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| Walkin on Sunshine Eco Hoody |
When the air starts to get crisp and the warmth of the sun begins to fade, its a Soul-Flower hoody I reach for! This past weekend I put my newest member to the test. It’s great to have a free day and my meandering Saturday landed me in a touristy area full of shops, an old train and way cool outdoor art! Of course my Walkin’ on Sunshine hoody accompanied me. I started the morning with it wrapped around my waste, by afternoon I was delighted to put it on and by sunset I was zipped up and hooded! Perfect fall day progression! 🙂
I ordered the small, it’s a great fit with room for a t-shirt or two underneath. It’s a great cut, a little more length in the torso (a plus) and a good (not too long not to short) length to the sleeves. I love the purpley, fuchsia color to pieces! Ya know, whatever goes into these sweatshirt creations, (the particular way they are designed/made), I hope that mold never breaks! The sweatshirt hoodies from SF are truly some of the cutest, softest, greatest fitting hoodies I’ve found. I’m in total comfort wearing one and as far as I can see, (in a world according to hoodies), nothing else fits quite to a T!
Now about that sun!! I really dig the design of the large orangey/yellow sun decal on back and the awesome saying. It got me thinking about great sun inspired saying and lyrics and just then, I came across a John Lennon painted wall i.e. ” Here Comes the Sun.” It was Kismet! Can we ever get enough of that glorious 4.6 billion year old, life giving fire ball? Not a chance!
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| I really dig the design! |
Adding Walkin’ on Sunshine to my hoody roster has been fun and even entertaining! You’ll find yourself singing Katrina and The Waves lyrics every time you wear it! Strangely, it seems to inspire people around you to do the same. Which is pretty cool, really. Like spreading a little cheer and sunshine every where you go! I think maybe this Walkin’ on Sunshine SF hoody has been cleverly engineered to impact the world positively by that very thing…bringing smile and song to everyone! An uplifting message like “Walkin’ on Sunshine”, the use of recycled plastic and organic cotton...heck we are well on our way to making this world an even brighter, sing-a-long kind of place! YAY!
Sing! Sing out loud!
~ Woo
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Heather reviewed the
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