dead decor: Dried flowers are having a moment. From dried eucalyptus to craspedia, livening up your home takes little more than a vase of dead flowers. I’ve even noticed dried palm leaves, once green and now beige, seamlessly fitting into the home decor of those who prefer to keep their interiors as neutral as possible. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to the weekly fresh flower run and looks just as good (but lasts much, much longer).

 


oh my, tie-dye
Tie-dye is the new neutral. A trend that seems to pop up in different iterations every five to 10 years is having a heyday in L.A. From Alo Yoga stores to the Stella McCartney runway, tie-dye is everywhere. But sporting the multicolor motif isn’t enough. Tie-dye parties are a trend in and of themselves. From personal experience to influencers like Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere posting about their latest tie-dye soirees, these multicolored extravaganzas are hard to ignore. So if your budget doesn’t quite allow for a pleated Prada midi-skirt, one afternoon with friends, a white skirt and some colorful dye should do the trick.

 



very vital

It’s nearly impossible to keep up with all of the trends that permeate the health food stores of L.A., but there are a few worth exploring. I recently discovered Vital Proteins’ Coconut Collagen Creamer (say that five times fast!) and have replaced my trusty organic half and half with it. The benefits of this subtle switch are hard to ignore. Collagen’s amino acids help maintain healthy hair, nails, bones and joints while its 9 grams of healthy fat from coconut milk powder is a great source of lauric acid and medium-chain triglycerides, which can provide a nice energy boost.

 



underarm aroma

It’s not every day that I’m blown away by a deodorant. But one whiff of Schmidt’s Jasmine Tea natural deodorant during a trip to the goop store was enough to make me throw away all of my other ones. The light, perfume-like scent is anything but synthetic. Ingredients include coconut oil, arrowroot, shea butter, jojoba and vitamin E—nothing the average person can’t pronounce. It’s certified vegan, cruelty-free and gluten-free and is absent not only of artificial fragrance, but of aluminum and propylene glycol as well. Plus, there’s no baby powder smell found in many other deodorants and antiperspirants, which is reason enough to check it out.

 



more than milk

Maybe I missed that day in science class, but I’m not sure what surprised me more—the fact that camels make milk or the fact that it can be purchased at certain L.A. grocery stores. Desert Farms camel milk is an alternative to cow’s milk that is both tasty and nutritious. Available in raw and lightly pasteurized options, camel milk tastes like regular milk (surprise) and boasts nutrients like vitamin E, zinc, potassium and selenium, to name a few. Working with Amish and family-owned farms throughout the country, Desert Farms is a small but mighty company that’s quickly changing the way milk is perceived and consumed.