We’ve already said goodbye to 2015, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look back and remember it fondly.

The video below represents a New York Times reporter’s life in 2015 — one day and second at a time.

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NYE cheers from Shutterstock

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I don’t know about you, but after this past week, I’m kind of ready to tell 2015 to shove it… and all I want to do is watch animal videos.

Well, thank goodness Google and YouTube exist, because all I had to do was type “cute pets 2015” and I came across this gem. Watch, enjoy, and have a wonderful New Year.

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The post Let These Cute Pets Help You Say “Bye!” to 2015 [Video] appeared first on EcoSalon.

Most women are lip stuff junkies to some degree. Gloss, stick, stain, balm…whatever your lippy of choice, it’s the cherry on top of your makeup routine. Find out which is your best lip color in our month by month guide.

Have you ever noticed that your favorite lip color looks all wrong as seasons change? You wouldn’t wear black calf high boots or red plaid in the heat of summer or your flowy mango tank in the winter, right? It looks all wrong. Same goes for lip color.

As if it’s not enough fun to pick out a new lip color, how about a different one for each month? Think of it as trying something new. In a colorful, gorgeous, stylish way.

All of the following lip color choices are made with organic ingredients and contain no harmful stuff. Oh, and did we mention gorgeous?

Your Month By Month Guide to Choosing the Best Lip Color

January may be coming to a close, but it’s not over yet. Plus this month’s color has a place in your beauty regimen year ‘round. Ilia Beauty Tinted Lip Conditioner in Crimson & Clover is a vibrant red that goes on sheer. Dry winter lips stay hydrated thanks to plant oils and cocoa butter.

February brings Valentine’s Day and who wouldn’t look sweet enough to kiss in Ilia Beauty Lip Gloss in Love Buzz? This pretty pink dresses up any pucker.

Spring style forecasts the statement lip. What better time to try something bright than March? A swipe of RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Beloved ought to do the trick beautifully.

April may bring showers, but that doesn’t mean lips have to look dreary. Alima Pure Velvet Lipstick in Georgia is a berry pink that’ll have you tip toe-ing through the tulips.

May is time to bloom. Vapour Organic Beauty Siren Lipstick in Coquette is petal perfect.

Kick back and relax in June with an almost clear, super sheer, barely there hint of color. Acure Organics Lip Lush in No Strings is just the thing.

July calls for a hit of color. Whether you’re blowing off fireworks, hitting the beach, or hanging at the pool, Kjaer Weis Lip Tint in Sweetness gets lips fired up.

August is the segue from summer to fall. Nude is the perfect transitional shade. Kjaer Weis Lip Tint in Dream State has just enough peachiness to look natural.

Go deep in September with a sheer berry. W3LL People Nudist Lip Shine Stick in Fig looks like a dark purple that goes on like a stain. Result: a sheer berry smudge of color.

Take a bite out of October a glossy fruit punchy hit of color. RMS Beauty Lip Shine in Sacred will do nicely.

November may conjure earthy hues. Ilia Beauty Lip Gloss in Gypsy is no boring brown. Just deep, rich, smoldering color.

December calls for something special. W3LL People Universalist Multi-use Colorstick in Moonstone Glow lends a dusting of sheer gold shimmer to not only lips but eyes, cheeks, collar bones…use your imagination. Top lips with Ilia Beauty Lip Gloss in White Rabbit.

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Image of lipstick via Shutterstock

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Bored with your workout? Your body may be too. Here’s what’s hot in fitness trends for 2015.

If you are no longer seeing the same results from your workout, you’ve most likely plateaued. Performing the same exercise over and over means your body gets used to it and has to expend less energy. Muscles stop responding like they used to and you just aren’t feeling that same burn. Time to switch things up.

Variety is said to be the spice of life and that works with fitness too. Not only will revving up your routine be better for your bod, but doing something new is, let’s face it, a lot more fun.

So what’s it going to be? Following are the 7 Top Fitness Trends for 2015.

#1 // Bodyweight Training. Not just one of the top fitness trends, but forecast as the workout for 2015 by American College of Sports Medicine (the folks who accurately predicted Zumba would be the it workout of 2012). It’s no secret this type of exercise is good for you. Getting back to basics offers hot results with little to no equipment. You already have what you need…your body. Added bonus, you can do this stuff anywhere. We are talking the exercises you learned in gym class: squats, planks, pushups, crunches.

#2 // HIIT. Clocking in at number two is HIIT workouts, or high intensity interval training. This one isn’t for sissies but is definitely the most efficient. You have your cardio and strength training all wrapped into one workout. Scared? Me too. The good news, these workouts are so effective they can be done in mini sessions and still get results. Start with these 10 minutes workouts to burn calories and tone up.

#3 // Treadmill. If this is the machine you’ve been avoiding for years, take a new look. Fitness trends for the year include dusting off the good ol’ treadmill. And it’s getting social. Look for treadmill studios in your area. Like spinning for runners, these classes offer that running group feel but done in the comfort of a gym. And set to music. Actually sounds fun.

#4 // Cardio bars. Speaking of fun, you may be able to take your cardio to a different sort of group setting. Like, the bar. While the thought of cardio at the bar conjures a certain type of sweating, these locales are seriously healthy. Think juice-fueled dance parties, complete with DJ. Burn calories while shaking it with your friends.

#5 // Barre. This one has been creeping up on us for a while. Why hot now? Barre has become more mainstream. No longer the super exclusive, members only setting, Barre workouts are popping up in gyms everywhere. The benefits? Branded the “everywoman’s workout”, its ballet-inspired sculpting moves rival the best yoga practice.

#6 // Tech. Oh yes, workouts have gone digital too. There are tons of cool fitness apps that do everything from help you count calories or steps, to reminders to get moving. Like having a personal trainer in your pocket. Looking for a class but don’t have time to get to the gym? Search workouts online.

#7 // Recovery. Muscles need down time too. Recovery efforts are making a big splash in lots of gym workouts. Training hard is good, just be sure you aren’t setting yourself up for injury. Add in some stretching, massage, yoga, even complete days off from working out. It’s important to give days off to let your body recover, or take a down day when you are feeling under the weather or just worn out. The experts insist.

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Image: adifansnet

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Made your New Year resolutions yet? Don’t forget your beauty kit. Get your routine streamlined and healthy for 2015 with these natural beauty resolutions.

You’ve likely heard of the less is more approach to healthy beauty. As in, using fewer products means fewer ingredients on your skin. So true, but some of us are not so minimal when it comes to beauty. If you fall into this camp, read on for ways to revamp your kit for the healthier in the coming year.

Choose one from the following list and go from there. Or use these as inspo and come up with your own beauty resolutions.

12 Natural Beauty Resolutions for 2015

1. Ditch your mainstream moisturizer

Or any product that sits on your skin all day long (serum, eye cream, makeup). Conventional beauty products contain harmful chemical ingredients. More exposure means these ingredients have more time to soak into skin and body. If you’ve yet to make the switch to healthy products, this is a great place to start. Shop Spirit Beauty Lounge for a wide range of safe products, plus a helpful skin type guide.

2. Cleanse safer

If you are looking for an easy transition to green beauty, this is a fairly easy place to begin. Unlike our favorite moisturizer or beauty treatment, cleansers are fairly universal. Look for products free from Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). Always stick with products made for your skin type. This goes for body wash too.

3. Take the less ‘poo is more approach

Not only are mainstream hair care products chock full of harmful ingredients, but all of that sudsing up is keeping your locks from looking their best. Commit to skipping a day (or five) in between washings to bring back bounce and shine. Feeling greasy on your off day? Try a dry shampoo to absorb excess oil and add body.

4. Trade in your old scent

We’ve talked before about the hazards of synthetic fragrance, but it is important enough to mention again. You are not doing yourself or those around you any favors by sporting toxic scent. Test drive a natural fragrance and you will soon have your new, healthy, signature scent.

5. A more friendly mani

As you’d imagine, nail polish can be loaded with icky ingredients. There are several brands on the market making safer polishes. And they come in a dizzying array of color options. Grab a few and take your fave with you to your next mani session.

6. Invest in multi-taskers

What’s better than one beauty product that can perform several functions? Add an RMS Beauty Eye Polish to your beauty kit. These work on eyes, cheeks, and lips. I love Solar and Magnetic for winter.

7. Opt for refillables

Purchase beauty products with refillable containers to cut down on waste. Kjaer Weis makes incredibly gorgeous makeup products with compacts so hot you’ll want to display them, not throw away. Worth every cent, inside and out.

8. Recycle tubes, boxes, and bottles

While we’re on the subject of packaging…Most organic beauty companies take care to put their products in packages that can be recycled. Don’t forget to throw yours in the proper bin once you’ve used the last drop.

9. Clean and toss

As you do in the kitchen, be sure you are keeping your beauty kit clean. Wash brushes (I use a bit of foaming face wash, rinse well, and allow to air dry) and purchase new sponges regularly. Don’t forget to throw out old or expired products. Find out how long to keep products around.

10. Slough to smooth

This step is often overlooked, but regular exfoliation is essential in keeping skin healthy and looking its best. A simple DIY sugar and milk mixture does the trick beautifully. Gently massage over face and body while in the shower. Emerge with baby soft skin. This can (and should) be done once or twice weekly, depending on your skin type.

11. Say no to animal testing

By purchasing products whose ingredients have not undergone animal testing you are casting your vote to end the practice. Testing cosmetic ingredients on animals is cruel and unnecessary. Read a brand’s commitment page to make sure their ingredients (not just finished products) have not been tested on animals.

12. Add something new

Who said resolutions can’t be fun? Mix things up a bit. Usually stick to sheer lipgloss? Try a deeper color. Pick up a colored mascara or new eyeshadow hue. Find out what’s hot for the New Year and go for it!

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Image by Haugh Photography at Flickr.com.

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Getting your reading list ready for 2015? May as well start now with these five picks for best spiritual books.

Holiday break is the perfect time to settle in with a good book or several. If your book shelves are bare it’s time to get shopping. And what better than a few reads that have the potential to transform your life?

Most of us spend at least some of our reading hours on fiction. Still, spiritual material is an ever growing market. Which means many of us are reading the stuff.

Positive thinking and manifesting desire are hot topics. And why not? Who doesn’t want to create their best life? It seems the idea of taking happiness into our own hands is more solid than ever. The belief is that we are in control of our thoughts, and that those thoughts influence how we feel and live our lives.

No matter your religion or spiritual view, the following books hold information and concepts everyone can use. While each approaches the subject with different voices, styles, and tools, they have one current in common: uncovering what we all want in life and ways to make it happen.

Sure, material stuff is fun and we all want some of it to varying degrees. But, whether we realize it or not, what we all really yearn for is a feeling. Feeling happy or secure or loved. The feeling we think we will have if we reach a certain level of success or riches. These books can help to guide you down a path of doing just that–unearthing what you truly crave from life and the valuable instruction on getting there. All of these books are capable of becoming time-worn, dog-eared companions that you come back to time and again.

5 Best Spiritual Books to Read in 2015

1. “The Desire Map” by Danielle LaPorte // Possibly the bible for meeting your life’s dreams. LaPorte has managed to pour what seems like a lifetime of thoughts into one big envelope. If you have yet to get your hands on it, treat yourself right now. “The Desire Map” comes with two parts plus many exercises, worksheets, and thought pieces. This one may take a year to work through or a weekend. Up to you. Favorite from the is book: You can feel the heat of this powerful message getting ready to change your life.

2. “The Book of Secrets” by Deepak Chopra // Taking things a step deeper than he did in “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success”, Chopra lays out a plan for guiding us toward our desired life. The fifteen secrets he outlines in this book persuade us to notice signals in our lives that help us to open up to our possibilities. At the end of each chapter (step) Chopra offers ways to change your life to allow that particular secret in. Favorite quote from this book: “Ultimately, all roads are connected to all other roads. So break out of the mindset that your life consists of good and bad choices that set your destiny on an unswerving course.”

3. “You Can Heal Your Life” by Louise Hay // This sweet, quick read is so full of heart. Louise shares lessons from her life that are raw and honest. She has a deep compassion for the human soul and it shines through strongly in this book. In it she shares links of physical ailments to their emotional counterparts, complete with reference list. Favorite from this book: Hands down, the physical to emotional reference list. You will truly flip to it over and over. It’s so interesting to see why you are feeling the way you feel and amazing how truly it lines up. Almost addictive.

4. “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho // If you have yet to read this book, go out and buy it today. This simple yet oh-so-powerful story is chock full of subtle life lessons. I pretty much forced my high schooler to read this book. He may not have gotten out of it what I have, but I wanted this information in his head. It is that good. Loved it the first, second, and third times I read it. Favorite quote from this book: “…when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.”

5. “E Squared” by Pam Grout // If you like your spirituality with a side of snarky wit this is the one for you. Grout shares her views on manifesting what you want in such super real terms it is almost like chatting with a friend. She even addresses in some detail why it seems our manifesting efforts and prayers often go unanswered. This is the book that cuts through the mind bending philosophical sludge and puts some straight-shooting positive thinking ideas in your noggin. Favorites from this book: Grout’s spot on analogies that make manifestation seem like a trip to the grocery store.

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Image by Alejandro Escamilla at Unsplash

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Don’t look now but 2015 is almost here. Are you ready? We present your 2015 mood board for the new year. Complete with trends in beauty, fashion, food, and wellness.

Must Have Hue // Pantone has announced that Marsala is the hue to have for 2015. A deep, rich mahogany red, this must-have shade is mellow yet adds zesty color. InStyle magazine suggests pairing a Marsala-hued accessory with navy, black or mustard. Yum!

New Beauty // The good news? Super natural looking skin is in. This means taking good care of your skin trumps contouring and heavy makeup. You can go for a truly natch look sans makeup, or try an all nude look using taupes, browns, and pale pinks. For you color-loving gals, don’t fret. A super saturated lip look is hot for next year too. Opt for creamy lip color and pat on with your finger. Love RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek for lips brimming with color. Glamour girls, winged out eyeliner is the go-to in glam for the new year. Go soft with pencil or intense with liquid liner. Here’s your inspo.

Current Coif // Hair for next year – think undone. Even of-the-moment braids are left a bit messy. This means you can put away your blow dryer, straightener, and curling iron. Don’t forgo the regular trip to your stylist though. Going au naturel here means hair still has to be cut to perfection and taken good care of. Use organic products that are free from harmful ingredients and go a day or two between washings to let your body’s own oils do their job. Some high performance organic haircare lines are Acure Organics, Yarok, and Rahua.

Fashion Forward // Fashion seems to have a split personality for next spring with hippie chic and girly girl both hitting the runways. Boho is still hot, with fringe and bell bottoms making an appearance. Rather than wearing together, try a fringe jacket with a dress or bell bottoms with a tailored shirt. If you are more into the feminine look, ruffles and oversized floral prints are on trend, and these can be worn together.

Fitness Fad // Yahoo reports the new trend is…no trend. That’s right, it’s back to basics where exercise is concerned. This means traditional cardio routines and body weight training. You can’t get more back to basics than running. Check out the hottest running shoes for 2015.

Hot Health Food // It is not news that kale and broccoli are healthy foods. But have you tried broccoli sprouts? How about kalettes? Broccoli sprouts hold the same cancer fighting benefits as their cruciferous cousin, but come with an extra enzymatic punch that boosts potency. Add to salad or pair with cooked broccoli. Kalettes are a kale/Brussels sprouts hybrid that deliver the health advantages and flavor of both.

Java Habit // The new year in coffee means darker is better. Push those sugary, flavored coffee drinks aside if you want to go on trend with your joe. Even Dunkin’ Donuts will roll out their new dark roast. Looks like espresso is on the menu too. If you can’t skip the sweetener, try Gloria Estefan’s Cuban Coffee recipe. Delicious!

Cleanse to a Tea // Move over Master Cleanse, there’s a new detox in town. Starvation cleanses are so, well, this year. In the new year, teatoxing is the way to go. A nutritionist friend of mine says living on liquid or very little food is stressful to the body and does not recommend this type of cleansing for anyone. With teatoxing you still get to eat and exercise healthfully, adding in a cup or three of detoxifying tea daily. No low blood sugar, insatiable hunger, diarrhea, tears (just sayin’). Teatoxing is safe, effective, and actually pleasant. Want to give it a try? Skinny Teatox has 7, 14, and 28 day kits. Plus the teas look gorgeous and tasty. Perfect post holidays.

State of Mindfulness // While meditation is at an ever increasing high in terms of popularity, mindfulness is the hot term of the moment. What’s the dif? You don’t have to sit in lotus for several minutes to achieve the peace of mind meditation offers. By being in the moment during your daily tasks you can reap the rewards of awareness. This practice even works with diet. Multitasking is over, mindfulness is the new state of mind.

Have fun creating your own mood board for 2015 with these tips. See you in your Marsala hued fringe jacket in the new year.

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Image: Runners by The Q Speaks at Flickr.com cc, Pantone Marsala by Eric delcroix at Flickr.com cc, messy braid by Maegan Tintari at Flickr.com cc, RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek via SpiritBeautyLounge.com, cubana by Timothy Boyd at Flickr.com cc, Skinny Teatox via skinny-teatox.com, Kjaer Weis eyeshadow via SpiritBeautyLounge.com.

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