The Green Feminine Hygiene Queen

Our Blog Has Moved

2010-08-16T10:54:00.003-04:00

Dear readers,

We have lovingly moved our blog here: http://greenfemininehygienequeen.wordpress.com/

We hope you continue to follow us on our company's journey.

-Sharon

Maxim's Summer Reading List: Yoga For A Healthy Menstrual Cycle

2010-07-20T10:19:00.011-04:00

I'm convinced that our bodies crave movement. Albert Einstein once said:

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving."

Whether it's sky-diving, pottery throwing, or turning a page, our bodies and our minds are always craving movement and change. For women, who are more naturally inclined to experience physiological changes with their menstrual cycles, it's impossible to avoid the struggle to maintain balance or the quest for healing each month when your period is making you snippy and at times inconsolable.

If you've somehow avoided taking the sweaty, yet graceful leap onto the Yoga bandwagon or you're like me and have attended hundreds of yoga classes yet have the memory of a goldfish, here's a foundational fact: The word "Yoga" comes from the gorgeously poetic and ancient language Sanskrit, and it means "union." Sanskrit is a holy language from 400 BC. The practice of yoga was developed as an extension of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs in maintaining balance in every area of life.

YOGA = UNION

Linda Sparrowe and Patricia Walden's book Yoga for a Healthy M enstrual Cycle is a unique and concise manual you can use for implementing healthy movement into a time of a woman's life where it seems counter-intuitive to stretch and welcome movement and change into her life. This is my attempt at welcoming movement into my life....

Don't judge... I'm working on it :)

Back to the book... Walden has numerous recommendations for yoga sequences that are tailored to help all kinds of menstrual issues or just to keep your body feeling happy and healthy. If you want a sampling of the book, for a generally healthy menstruation cycle, Walden suggests:

1. Reclining Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana)
2. Child's Pose (Adho Mukha Virasana)
3. Head-on-Knee Pose (Janu Sirsana)
4. Three-Limb Intense Stretch (Triang Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana)
5. Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana)
6. Wide-Angle Seated Pose I (Upavistha Konasana I)
7. Wide-Angle Seated Pose With a Twist (Parsva Upavistha Konasana)
8. Wide-Angle Seated Pose II (Upvistha Konasana II)
9. Inverted Staff Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)
10. Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)
11. Corpse Pose (Savasana)

Now, I couldn't flex and photograph all of these poses, so you can ::click here:: for a cool website with illustrations of yoga poses.

There is also an interesting debate about using yoga to maintain menstrual health that I'd like to bring to your attention. This:

(Photo Compliments of Fitsugar.com)

is the peacock pose, and it's considered an inverted pose because you are challenging the typical flow and orientation of your body. In Ayurvedic medicine (an ancient holistic medical practice from India) it's said that inverting the body and altering blood flow shouldn't be done when a woman is experiencing menstruation, but there are many people who believe otherwise. ::Click Here:: to read further about inversions.

Overall, Sparrowe and Walden's book is a quick read and a great book to have on standby for reference. Much enjoyed!

Mucous Membranes

2010-07-14T10:45:00.019-04:00

So I've been working at Maxim for what is it... two months now. I think I could let you in on a little secret about me... I'm a bit of a nerd. If nerdiness could be quantified on a spectrum of mass, almost like the one shown below:

I think I would measure out as a beluga whale on the nerdiness scale.

Jerry Seinfeld is of course the equilibrium, because I doubt he plays World of Warcraft or live action role plays in his spare time, yet he definitely has the I-lock-myself-in-my-room-sometimes-to-read-Phillip-Pullman and the I-evaded-a-swirly-in-high-school-after-quoting-Camu vibe about him. I respect the guy, really.

I've never held a Magic card for more than 2 minutes, but my best friend was voted teacher's pet in the 12th grade superlatives and I am on a first name basis with a goodly number of librarians.

Point is: I took a clinical herbalism class and started caring about obscure things like home remedies for inflammation and chakras, but hey! Everybody's got to have their kicks in life right?

And another nerdy interest of mine is healing and understanding body systems.

So today, I present you with MUCOUS MEMBRANES! This post will be the first of two or three posts to introduce you to the functions and execution of mucous membranes in our bodies.

For those of you who think I'm talking about boogers, you're on the right track, but think deeper, think source and origins... Think:

Mouth

Along the lining of the mouth (under your tongue, the back of your throat, behind your lower lip) there exists a constantly moist layer of mucous membranes. The interaction between the foreign particles and the membranes in your mouth will enable the activity of certain enzymes. For example, if you're munching on a pretzel, some carbohydrate and salt molecules will travel through the membranes in your mouth and signal the enzyme amylase to be released and begin the breakdown of carbohydrates into usable sugar particles that will eventually be converted to energy.

Nose

As you can see in this elegant photograph, your nose has hundreds of little hairs that capture bacteria and wayward particles that come into your nose. Your nose has a mucous membrane lining that will frequently release mucous to encase all of the foreign particles and make sure they don't pass through your mouth or your air track to your lungs.

Eyelids

Depicted above is a nice lady-eye that you may think is an expression of sadness, but this eye is actually utilizing an inherent defense system that cleanses the mucous membranes along your eyelids and releases stored toxins that would otherwise infiltrate the body and be processed by the immune system.

Windpipe + Lungs

Oxygen is one of the most necessary fuels for all of our metabolic systems. The way that it gets into our bloodstream is of course through our lungs, but I bet you didn't know that there was a mucous membrane working along the lining of your lungs to separate out the molecules that don't belong. The mucous that develops in your lungs during a cold is a result of your body's defense systems going a bit haywire and making sure that nothing harmful will get through into your blood system.

Stomach + Intestines

There is a mucous membrane lining in the stomach and intestines lined with cilia that will move nutrients and facilitate digestive processes.

The Ureters + Urethra + Urinary bladder

The uses of mucous membranes in this series of organs is complex and dynamic. See Mucous Membranes: Part II, for an explanation of mucous membrane function in the reproductive system.

What Do Mucous Membranes Do Exactly?

According to Wisegeek.com, "The moisture found in a mucous membrane acts to protect the body by creating a barrier and preventing the inside of the body from drying out. Mucus also traps pathogens, dirt, and particulate matter so that they can be sequestered and eliminated by the body. The nose is particularly famous for this, using mucus as a barrier between many harmful substances and the respiratory tract. Some sections of mucous membrane also have small hairs known as cilia which act as traps, and can move to push things across the surface of the membrane." When I consulted answers.com, they also had a concise explanation about the uses of mucous along the sensitive membranes in our bodies: "The nature of the cells forming a particular mucous membrane (or mucosa) reflects the specialized function at that site. All these functions are related in some way to interaction between the internal and external environments of the body: nutrition, gas exchange, excretion, or the intrusions and extrusions required for reproduction."

If you think about it, mucous membranes are really where all the magic happens. If your body doesn't roll out layers of protective mucous to protect your body or regulate what comes in from the outside world, we would be susceptible to any and all kinds of ailments and maladies. Our mucous membranes are semipermeable (think of them as filters) for a reason.

Sources Used

"What is a mucous membrane?" Wise Geek
"Internal Genital Organs" The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library
"Glossary" Diagnose Me

The Final Days of Roadtripping

2010-07-06T10:20:00.011-04:00

It is with a heavy heart that we have to leave our new friends and connections in California and the topsy-turvy hills of San Francisco, but with enthusiasm that we remember home and the loving streets of NYC that smell of daisies and happy things . In the great words of Cher Horrowitz from Clueless, "As if!" California was great. New York is great. Both places suffer from a chronic illness called traffic.

In his book entitled The Dharma Bums, Jack Kerouac says, "Comparisons are odious," so I will stop myself there. But here is a recap of the things we've done since I last posted:
We found our way to San Francisco and saw...None other than her royal highness, the Golden Gate Bridge. I would just like to note that I wasn't the only silly tourist holding my camera outside of the passenger side window to take pictures.
We also visited with one of our favorite California Worker owned Coops on Folsom Street in San Francisco called Rainbow Grocery who carries our product line.I also made a few frequent visits to the infamous Haight street, as in the district of Haight-Ashbury which served as the Hippie Mecca in the 1960's. Of course there was all kind of graffiti, but this is what caught my eye.A large strip of farms on the way back from Aptos to Napa.

A final farewell feast in Sonoma's Buena Vista Carneros Winery.

It is my hope that the time we spent in California talking with ladies about their feminine hygiene products has left a memorable mark (excuse the pun). Spending time around people who were curious about every product that they were bringing into their homes or close to their bodies ("my temple!" one woman exclaimed to me at a demonstration) was rejuvenating and challenging. I appreciated the questions and the long discussions.

Until the next time we make a trip there, I'll be doing what the Mamas and Papas were most famous for: California Dreamin'

On the Road: Day 3, Is the Tank Half Full of Half Empty?

2010-06-26T18:13:00.012-04:00

Today we had to pack up and head on Northward. We've done what we can to introduce Southern California to Maxim's goodies. Now we're going to try our hand at connecting with the lovely populace of San Francisco and the surrounding areas.

The drive was about 7 and a half hours long with traffic and pit stops. This trip has been quite a journey. So many things packed into short drives, short visits, short meals, etc. Processing the events and the things I've been learning is quite the task, but the one thing I'm always sure of is that this trip has been a privilege and a once in a lifetime experience.

Here are a few pictures from our full day drive.

Exhibit A: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
There was so much zany greenery exploding out of the sides of the trails. The smells of sage, lemon balm, lavender, licorice, chickory, and rosemary were making me delirious. The desert bloom I'm holding in the picture above would be the perfect gift for your most hated enemy.

Exhibit B: The Crazy Trekker ManThis guy seemed determined to walk the entire length of U.S. 101 North by foot. He didn't even stop to see the scenic view for rare Sea Lions! I wish I had that kind of stamina.

Exhibit C: Miles and miles of driving where I simply couldn't tell if I was awake or dreaming, because it was so gorgeous.Exhibit D: A spur of the moment hike that led us to a hidden waterfall.

Exhibit E: Dinner overlooking Big Sur at a restaurant called Nepenthe.
This restaurant was actually a blast from the past for me. I visited this place when I was a wee one with my family. But this is a must see, because not only is this place a restaurant, it's a peaceful green haven that has a gift shop (complete with locally designed crafts and books about Big Sur) and a set of hot springs.

It's days like this that renew my attitude and help me remain optimistic about our cause and our journey at Maxim.

The active question of the day is about the quality of experience and attitude:

Is the tank half full or half empty?

I'm going to go with half full on this one...

On the Road: Day 2, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food"

2010-06-26T15:35:00.006-04:00

I know this is a travel blog, so I should be posting pretty pictures of the landscape and trying to make you feel inspired/envious/excited and whatnot, but I also feel responsible to share some lessons that I've learned on this trip. Let's see:
Lesson 1: Never lock your keys in your rental car. Bad things happen.
Lesson 2: Always have towels on hand when taking long drives. You never know when a natural lake or a grassy hillside will tempt you.
Lesson 3: People in California love talking about celebrities and sometimes this can be interesting. So, the first two lessons, basic, right?

I'd like to elaborate on the third. As I stood nestled in between two aisles of vegetarian and vegan snacks today, doing in-store demonstrations, someone asked where his favorite brand of Kombucha was, and a store clerk replied that it had to be taken off the shelves because of Lindsay Lohan.

I know… this was weird to me too. What does the freckle-faced actress-turned-pop-singer-turned actress and star of The Parent Trap have to do with a blend of fermented tea that’s great for your stomach?

Apparently, Ms. Lohan was under some kind of physiological surveillance, and the state attached her to an alcohol detector to monitor her. It seems that she drank Kombucha (a fermented tea product that's really helpful with digestion, that some people claim prevents cancer... click here for more info) in a larger than normal quantity. People say this may have set off her alcohol-detection machine (click here for the article). Normally, I would not care what someone famous is drinking, but after this story became public knowledge, the Food and Drug Administration put Synergy brand Kombucha under intense scrutiny and for fear of upsetting their customers, certain health food stores took their Kombucha off their shelves.

I'm happy that the FDA cares to check up on products to make sure they're not dangerous to our health, but Kombucha? Really?!

That's lesson three.

Lesson 4: is still something that I'm working on understanding and that I've heard over and over again when talking to health fanatics in California:

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."

This Maxim (excuse the pun) was made famous by a Greek physician named Hippocrates. Ever heard of the Hippocratic oath? It's in honor of this dude! He was a believer in the balancing the 4 humors of the body (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile), which now that I think about it is a kind of rudimentary or earlier version of the whole eastern belief in healing (yin/yang and chi energy)... But anyway, his ideas were based on maintaining a balanced connection between body systems and that the "humors" your body produced were an indication of how well a person was taking care of her/himself.
I've been musing about this question as we've been traveling around California, and it's only led me to ask more questions...
How often do people sit down at a restaurant and ask themselves how the food they're about to order will effect them in the long run? And I'm not just talking about caloric content... I'm talking vitamins, minerals, hydration... etc. Is it possible for us to think of food as medicine in a culture that constantly scares us about what it means to be overweight and obese? Why does the FDA make "High Country Kombucha" write "These statements [about the nutritious/medicinal value of Kombucha] have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease" when people have found correlations between drinking Kombucha and maintaining a healthy body?

Which leads me to Lesson 5: Be cautious about labels.
People are always trying to sell us stuff, but labels are the easiest way to learn more about what we're being sold.

Fighting To Stay On The Block: Columbus Natural Food

2010-06-24T21:08:00.006-04:00

Above: Columbus Natural Food store owner and store front.

I know I've been involved with writing about the West Coast, but here's one East Coast news byte that I've just finished...

I read an interesting story in the New York Times last wee entitled, Fear (and Shopping) When Big Stores Move In by Joseph Berger. The article is about some of the obstacles that small organic businesses face, specifically one store on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, named Columbus Natural Food. To my surprise, I realized that Maxim Hygiene Products is connected with this story. We're on their shelves!

I interviewed Columbus Natural Food's owner, Anne, to find out a bit more about the struggle of her Upper West Side health food store.

"I opened [Columbus Natural Food] 17 years ago. It was the beginning of the health food store movement and there was an expansion of health consciousness in the mainstream... I knew it was the right thing to do." These were Anne's words as we discussed her way into the Organic and natural food world. She told me that growing up her father was a farmer in the French country side and that she studied Agricultural Engineering before she came to the United States and founded her small business-style store. While her store doesn't carry the same stocks of the infinite aisles of a bigger "box-store," there is a great deal of thought and dedication that's put into selecting the choice products (grocery and personal care mostly) that Anne and her co-workers lay out on their shelves. In addition the store has a fresh and organic salad bar and a selection of prepared foods made daily on the premises for an alternative “fast food” experience that is a given part of the urban life.

" By shopping in small stores people make sure they are able to enjoy a humane environment and keep their neighborhood vibrant, says Anne. Mom-and-pop stores may be less monolithic in their approach to facilitating supply and demand, but that shouldn't make them a less appealing shopping spot.

There are many perks to having a smaller store or a concentrated variety to choose from. One of them is that store owners like Anne at Columbus Natural Food can give shoppers personal recommendations and advice for products that she may have personally selected from the sea of stuff that's floating in the health foods/ organic + "green" categories. Another perk is the attention that customers can receive on the store floor.

In an article entitled, "The Importance of Customer Service," Ryan Schuster conveys a message about diminishing positivity between store employee-customer interactions:

"What really surprises me about the experience and others like it is how rare really good customer service has become. Whether at a restaurant, a big box store or a niche business-to-business firm, really memorable customer service is becoming more difficult to find.

Some businesses still go above and beyond for their clientele. Customer service is one of the key factors that help mom-and-pop operations build loyal followings and word-of-mouth advertising."

When the Maxim crew took a field trip to visit Columbus Natural Food, I noted how Anne was scarcely available for phone calls, but spent ample time discussing the layout of her store, the rarities on her shelves (Vegan Foie-gras?!), and herbal knowledge. The attention we received and the expertise Anne demonstrated about her products made is evident: Though she may be slender and as gracefully put together as the shelves in her store, Anne is not a fabled fairy-like French woman, but a passionate powerhouse of information regarding healthy lifestyles and a great asset to the Upper West Side.

Small business stores like Columbus Natural Food build bonds of familiarity and respect between people whose paths are less likely to cross without a common link like an interest in kale or a desire to invest in a healthier lifestyle. There is an inspiring power that emerges when communities can share something in common, and what better interest is there than developing a collective interest in health?

You could imagine my chagrin when I read the article out of the Times, and discovered that Columbus Natural Food's Landlord has decided to tear down Anne's store in 2013. The community has been putting pressure on the local government to put the shop in a different location, but the Landlord insists on tearing down the small stores in the building in order to build a lucrative residential building with a commercial extension. Problem is he's not promising any of his current tenants that they can remain a part of his big plans.

Some of the Issues that allow this to happen are:

-Competition from larger stores

-Imminent threat of the alteration of zoning laws

-Local governments turning a blind eye to the struggles of independent business owners

When I asked Anne what kinds of things are being done to ensure that Columbus Natural Food will survive, she said that the store has put together a petition to demonstrate the importance of this store to the surrounding neighborhoods. To date, Anne and her co-workers have collected 4,000+ signatures.

The next step in the review process and potential approval of the development planned by Anne's Landlord will take place at City Planning, Manhattan, located at 22 Reade Street. To date, we do not have a confirmation of the scheduling of this case, named Columbus House, 95 W. 95th Street. It could be as early as June 21 but may only happen on July 12. Please go to the City Planning website to check the meetings agenda.

What can you do to help?

-Shop at smaller stores! As Anne points out “Over the medium to long term this is the only way they are going to thrive and compete with larger stores despite the higher rents that can be expected in the future due to the large retail chains being able to ‘pay more’

-Sign Columbus Natural Food's petition at their store located at: 725 Columbus Avenue between 95^th and 96^th
Street

- Send e-mails to city planning's official, Amanda burden, chair of city planning commission. Click here to do so

-Read the following story for more information on Columbus Natural Food's fight in the New York Times:
Fear (and Shopping) When Big Stores Move In
by Joseph Berger

Additional Sources:
-Prairie Business "The Importance of Customer Service" by Ryan Schuster

On The Road: Day 1, Mother's Markets

2010-06-22T17:58:00.015-04:00

So, we set off early this morning in our car, known as "The Avenger" this morning to our first set of stores.

---------> Our Maxim Mobile doesn't exactly speak, but he definitely reminds me of David Haselhoff's Night Rider.
As is typical with Southern California, traffic was brutal and there was a lot of extra time for music & existential musing about the purpose of my trip to the West Coast. With the sun streaming in through the windows, and the sound of Woodstock album in the background, the VP and me spoke at length about what good could come out of our in-store demonstrations and general schmoozing with West Coasters. We're very excited to teach as many women about Maxim's organic and natural cotton products as we can, because having choices and creating understanding about periods and products is what Maxim is about at its core.
Today we visited a unique brand of health-oriented and eco-conscious stores called Mother's Markets in Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Anaheim Hills, and Laguna Woods. When I walked into each store it was hard to miss Mothers' tag line written in big red letters near the doors:

"Mother's Loves You"

I was surprised to see that each store had its own unique personality, but all of them had fresh juice bars and some type of healthy lunch provision station. While we were at the Mother's in Huntington Beach, I got to talk to many different women about their feminine hygiene product preferences, periods, and general experiences as women.

There were three main points about our products that I made sure every woman who came over understood. They were about how Maxim products are:
1. Synthetic Free 2. Chlorine/Dioxin Free 3. Made with Natural & Organic cotton products and not tree fluff pulp

As I stood there, though, all of my demos evolved into conversations...

There was one gorgeously pregnant woman who, after I told her about our natural cotton maternity pads, spoke to me about the medicinal qualities of an herb called "Blue Cohosh." Apparently, some women who are in the final weeks of their pregnancies will take blue cohosh tincture to help induce labor. She also told me that she'd been drinking red raspberry leaf tea throughout her entire pregnancy as a way to tone her uterine lining and keep her blood healthy. It was good to chat with a woman who felt so confident and empowered by her pregnancy.

There was another bright-eyed young lady that came over to my demo table and told me about how strongly she believed in the power of positivity as a part of maintaining woman's health. This young lady had just finished nursing school and was on her way to becoming a holistic healer. She said she'd take all of the points I'd shared with her and pass them on.

------------> Me and my demo table at the Mother's Market in Huntington Beach

Then, soon enough, it was lunch time, which is just about my favorite part of the day. And man oh man was I surprised! About a year ago I became a vegetarian. I won't go into the politics and the nitty-gritty bits of my decision right now, but I will tell you that it's kind of a nightmare to have to eat on the road and that I often end up eating rice and salad. So when I walked into the Cafe at Mother's Market in Huntington Beach, and there was about fifteen different kinds of fake meat, thirty kinds of vegetables and greens, fresh fruit smoothies, quinoa, brown rice, and a whole host of other "crunchy" (Urban Dictionary defines "Crunchy" as: Adjective. Used to describe persons who have adjusted or altered their lifestyle for environmental reasons) delights featured on the menu, I felt elated!

<------------- Vegan Lentil Nut Loaf, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Gingered Greens, Vegan Cob Salad, Vegan Biscuit with homemade grape jelly

Fun for my mind, heart, belly, and soul... First day down, ten more to go!

Maxim's Green Feminine Hygiene Queens On The Road: California

2010-06-22T14:14:00.005-04:00

<---- A glimpse of Venice Beach at Sunset... Where we'll be soon!

Hello everyone! Sharon here. I'm a new Green Feminine Hygiene Queen. Just got on with the Maxim Team and I've been learning all about the details that go into having an eco-conscious product line. What a journey it is and what a journey it's becoming!

Maxim has offered me to pack up my bags and head on West with the Company's VP and meet with people who share the same interests as we do in the organic market. So for the next two weeks you can follow our Green Feminine Hygiene Queen Blog for insight into the Organic world in California and to find out more about my experiences as a Green Feminine Hygiene Queen.

Cotton to the Rescue

2010-06-14T03:17:00.003-04:00

Maxim has been using cotton as a natural solution in the feminine hygiene world, but could cotton be the solution to the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?

Texas Tech Professor, Professor Ramkumar, suggests that rather than spending tons of money on building containment structures and using synthetic materials to control the oil spill, we should be using cotton. Ramkumar was inspired by the idea when working within his lab where he creates rolls of nonwoven cotton. "We are the only ones - actually, I think, to my knowledge - focused on taking cotton to oil absorption using nonwoven technology," says Ramkumar in an interview with Lubbock Online.

It is the chemistry of cotton that makes it such a gift within this situation - its waxiness, incredible strength when wet, absorption ability and biodegradability. Cotton can soak up 40 times its weight naturally, enhancing it with chemicals making it sort of super cotton will allow it to soak up to 70 times its own weight. If you ask me, that would make for one heck of a pad in the world of oil spills!

Sources say they are currently using synthetic made booms to soak up the oil; the problem is that they are not biodegradable. Using cotton can be a natural solution that might just save us money and time. Kudos to maxim for using cotton in feminine hygiene to have less of a negative environmental impact; let’s see if cotton can save the environmental disaster in the Gulf!

For more information about the possibilities of using cotton to help with the oil spill,click here .

Healthy Happy Mother

2010-05-08T19:03:00.002-04:00

Mother’s Day is coming up and what better way to tell your Mom that you love her then by making sure that both you and your mother are healthy. Women’s Health is important and can be rather tedious, that’s why you should always remember to exercise, eat healthy, and regularly check in with your doctor. Here are some specific tips that I suggest will get you on the right track:

o Check Ups are Important – Below is a link of screening guide provided from the U.S. department of Health & Human Services.

o Also, remember to check your family history before you go to your appointment, see if you are due for any tests, write down any questions or concerns that you may have for your doctor, and most importantly consider your future.

SCREENING CHART

o Wake up 10-15 minutes early and make time for a morning walk
o Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day
o Eat healthy and balanced meals
o Wash your hands!
o Read food Labels
o Protect your skin
o Take Folic Acid
o Buckle Up
o Fight the urge to use tobacco
o Drive safely
o Garden
o Relax

There are many things you can do to encourage women’s health, join the fight now, for more information about women’s health month click here .

P.S. – Don’t forget to send flowers too!!

- Maxim Hygiene

Give Back to Mother Earth

2010-04-21T15:08:00.004-04:00

It’s that time of the year again, time to celebrate Mother Nature! Earth Day is tomorrow and what better way to celebrate than by volunteering your time and giving back.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed quite an interesting volunteer program for 2010 called “Pick Five for the Environment”. The international project suggests that volunteers pick five ways in which they can help better the environment. Then you can share your stories and experiences with the world to see. The EPA suggests volunteer possibilities in six categories: water, air, land, energy, waste, and advocacy. Some specific suggestions in such categories include: using only the water you need, and reuse when possible. Prevent additional air pollution by finding alternatives to burning your waste or, when purchasing goods, opt for sustainable, recycled or reused resources. Choose items in less packaging.

Once you’ve picked your choice of the many listed on the EPA’s website, you can register your choices and make your pledge. It’s that easy! The EPA website also offers a volunteer work finder, where you can plug in your zip code and find volunteer opportunities near year. I found quite an interesting opportunity on Long Island (my current location) at Old Westbury Gardens, where volunteers educate children ages Pre-K- 4th grade about protecting and cleaning the environment. What was even neater about the event is that classrooms are gardens - how cool! Want to find out more? To help out and for more information about Earth Day click here and pick your 5 today.

The History of Earth Day

2010-04-13T13:40:00.003-04:00

There is President’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and MLK day. We have holidays in celebration of our fore fathers, holidays of love, and holidays that celebrate leaders of change. So what’s what wrong with Earth day? In 1960’s senator Gaylord Nelson believed that the earth needed a day of observation too. I mean after all, us humans use and abuse earth to our advantage every single day, why shouldn’t the earth have a holiday too.

It is actually kind of funny to tell the story of how earth day came about, the journey starts in 1962 when Senator Nelson thought back to himself that the politics of the country had no worry or issue with the poor state of the environment. Senator Nelson knew that this was not ok and urged people to spread the word for the need. His major plan was to convince President Kennedy for the need of concern for the environment while, he was on a national conservation tour. Nelson first brought it up to Attorney General Robert Kennedy, whom liked the idea, the idea was then proposed to the President who was also very impressed with the idea. The fact of matter being was that even though even the President liked the idea for many reasons the issue still did not reach the political agenda.

So where did Nelson turn next? The Senator continued to speak across the nation to encourage the “limelight” of environment. More and more people began to notice the damage being done to the earth, but still the government did not care to notice the damages. It was not until 6 years later that Nelson came up with the actual idea of earth day. Inspired by Vietnam protests called “teach- ins” that were held on college campuses around the nation, Senator Nelson, thought to himself why not have a huge grass-roots protest to bring the issue to light.

With much time and effort and the help of many other senators, college students, and local organizations on April 22, 1970 the first earth day was a success with over 20 million demonstrators. Maxim thanks Senator Gaylord Nelson for his hard work and persistence! :)

Organic Wine Tasting in NYC

2010-04-07T19:42:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite summer activities is visiting local wineries and choosing a bottle of my favorite wine from the available tastings and spending the rest of the day outdoors, sipping away at the chosen wine, on the grounds on which the wine was born, and with close friends and loved ones…aaaah, makes me crave the summer that’s slowly creeping up behind us! Until the Summer decides to roll around, I had the pleasure of participating in a wine tasting that happened not at a vineyard, but at Vero Midtown in NYC, a fun restaurant and wine bar about two hours from the beautiful North Fork vineyards on Long Island that I like to frequent in the Summers.

I was a little hesitant about this NYC tasting only because it would mean I would have to trade my preferred outdoor wine-sipping vineyard setting for the hustle and bustle of NYC, but like almost everything else in NYC, I had a quite a unique experience. I was impressed on two different levels in comparison to my wine tasting experiences on different vineyards; one, I was truly impressed by the knowledge level of the Sommelier, Kelsi Shelton, and two, they had chosen Organic and Byodynamic wines to be the centerpiece of their fun Saturday afternoon class offering.

Based on my experiences, there’s only so much one can learn from the Sommeliers found behind the busy wine tasting scene of the vineyards I’ve personally visited. I’m no wine tasting connoisseur, but I’ve visited my share of vineyards on both coasts of this great country and never learned as much as this class had to share. After six glasses of wine offered at the tasting, I still retained the information and here are some of the main points I wanted to share with you:
1. USDA organic wine certification is one of the strictest wine certification processes in the world. For example, in Europe, their law allows sulfites to be used in the wine making process; in the U.S., the use of sulfites or sulfur dioxide (preservative) is strictly prohibited.
2. The difference between Organic Certified Wine versus strictly USDA Organic Certified Wines is that both are pesticide and chemical free, but Certified Organic Wines can have naturally occurring sulfites, up to 20 parts per million, whereas USDA Organic Certified Wines can not contain any sulfites whatsoever. So, those of you who experience allergic reactions when drinking regular or organic certified wine, try a USDA organic certified wine because it might be sulfites causing discomfort with every sip.
3. There are very few USDA certified organic wines in the United States. Here are just a few: Frey Vineyards, Coates Vineyards, and La Rocca Vineyards.
4. If you ever have trouble picking from a long list of wines, here’s an interesting tip to help meet your taste preferences; if you’re looking for a sweeter wine, look for wines coming from warmer regions, since fruits ripening in warmer regions ripen faster and the more ripe they are, the sweeter they are.

Ok, well I guess my memory didn’t soak up as much as I thought it did while I was sipping on the 6 tastings served at the VERO NYC event, but I do remember my favorite of the six tastings offered at the class – Domaine Pichot Vouvray Domaine Le Peu De La Moriette from Loire Valley, France. No, that’s not English and Yes, I feel awful about not having picked a U.S. cultivated wine, but I can’t control my taste buds!!! I do feel better about my non-local choice after reading about a study posted on drvino.com. The study claims that it is more carbon efficient for East Coast wine drinkers to consume wine that has been imported because of the benefits from the efficiencies of container shipping and decreased truck time that would be required to ship wine from California, which is where 90% of American wine comes from.

Whether your next wine tasting is indoors or outdoors, imported or not, I hope you keep it organic!

Green Film Festivals

2010-03-25T16:22:00.003-04:00

Green is the color of new beginnings, life, and renewal. That is exactly what the Going Green Film Festival and the Green Lifestyles Film Festival aim to promote. In essence, green filmmaking encourages filmmakers to produce films in way in which leaves less of a carbon imprint on the environment.

Applicants of the Going Green Film Festival are required to submit a green film ranging from the categories of green production, our planet, and hybrid and alternative transportation. The green production category requires applicants to make a film of any genre that specifically documents and explains the parts of the film which were considered to be green film making. The our planet category encourages filmmakers to make a film about a third world issue, ecology, nature, wildlife, or environmental. The last category involves making a film that features the uses of environmental friendly way of transportation such as a hybrid car or a bicycle.

The Green Lifestyles film festival on the other hand is a 501 © 3 non profit organization who aims to change the modern day message brought on by violent box office hits and encourage film makers to spread messages of inspiration within their films. Both festivals celebrate film makers who urine to make a difference, and leave the world a healthier and more conscience place. Watch for Maxim within the gift bag give ways of both festivals. For more information about green film festivals click here.

Healing The Great Lakes

2010-03-24T14:17:00.002-04:00

Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, are known to the world as the Great lakes. These so called “Great” lakes have been under some extreme environmental stress lately. The lakes form the largest group of freshwater lakes on the earth’s surface and, provide drinking water to billions of people within the surrounding area. So what’s the big deal?

In 2006, the United States Congress introduced the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act, which stated the many problems that are encroaching around the lakes such as, the deep pattern of irreversible deterioration, the closing of over 1,800 beaches, the huge dead zone in Lake Erie, and the $500 million dollar damage done each year due to invasive species. Today, the issue remains as a huge environmental threat.

On Sunday, February 21, the Obama administration revealed its own plan to rescue the lakes. The plan proposes $2 billion dollar budget over the span of five years to restore the lakes through a wide range of restoration programs from the federal to the state level all under the watch of the Environmental Protection Agency. The plan gives a very graphic view of the state of the lakes and also, outlines its major goals such goals, in being, the removal and prevention 45 million pounds of “e-waste”, pharmaceutical waste, and almost 5 millions pounds of household hazardous waste. Not to mention the restoration of coastal wetlands and rein in of pollution run off from farms and homes. Lastly, the plan addresses how it also seeks to stop the spread the vast presence of invasive species like the zebra mussel.
The start of the project depends on the final approval of this budget by Congress and the final “ok” from all the governmental agencies involved. Let’s hope that the Obama administration and the EPA can restore the greatness and natural beauty of these lakes.

A Natural Products’ Lover’s Dream

2010-03-11T17:21:00.001-05:00

If you love visiting your local organic and natural store because of the pure enjoyment you getfrom smelling fresh pesticide free produce and reviewing the shelves for new and unique natural products, imagine walking a stadium’s worth full of natural products at one of the worlds most fun and top rated natural products trade shows – Natural Products Expo West 2010. This year’s show started today at its home location for the past thirty years in Anaheim California.

My experiences at Expo West are comparable to a child’s experience at a candy shop; major sensory overload in which I want to devour everything and talk to every booth vendor about their very unique products!!! Unfortunately Maxim had to sit out of Expo this year, but I am certain we will be back strong next year informing your store buyers of the need and importance of having Maxim stocked on their shelves.

Another unfortunate issue about Expo, outside of the fact that we will not be attending this year, is that it’s not open to the general public. It’s a trade show devoted solely to retail buyers and suppliers to scope out the latest in natural product innovations and opportunities. Since neither you or I will be able to attend Expo this year, as a token of our appreciation to your love for natural products, we’d like to extend to you a special opportunity – EMAIL US at info@maximhy.com by Monday, 3/15 at 6pm EST, with the key words “EXPO WEST” in the subject title and we’ll email you back a coupon for $5.00 off your next Maxim purchase at one of our valued online retail stores. This is our small gift to you to keep our minds off what we’ll be missing at Expo this weekend. Cheers!

Apple's Take on a Pad

2010-02-17T12:19:00.004-05:00

Apple’s recent release of the iPad has the Internet world buzzing not only about the cool new device, but also about its questionable name. Now, here in the feminine care industry we have the tendency to think of only one thing when we hear the word “pad.” In case it wasn’t clear, we’re thinking about the maxi pad, or in our case, Maxim’s natural pads. Obviously our office was in stitches upon seeing this video clip from madTV about the iPad. Seems feminine hygiene isn’t only on our minds. Watch the video below:

Eco-Friendly Valentines!

2010-02-15T12:34:00.008-05:00

Need a last minute V-day solution? It’s never too late to show someone you care. But don’t settle for just another card from the convenient store. And keep in mind that the cards we give and receive on Valentine’s Day use up a lot of paper. So why not try the greener approach? Maxim gave it a shot by crafting some cute cards made of recycled items lying around the office and plucked from our recycling bin. Here’s a little tutorial on how we made papier-mâché Valentine’s cards.

Supplies:
-Used Cardboard Box
-Old Newspaper
-Non-Toxic Glue
-Cup
-Paintbrush
-Paint
-Imagination!

First, we shred up some old newspaper to use for the papier-mâché:

Then, we made the papier-mâché adhesive by mixing part Non-Toxic Glue and part water in a cup:

We then drew a basic heart shape on the used cardboard and cut it out.
To begin the papier-mâché process, take a paintbrush, and coat both sides of the newspaper and then press it onto the cardboard. Continue to layer on pieces of newspaper one at a time, and each time cover the layer with a coat of adhesive:

Once the cardboard is covered with newspaper, leave it to dry.

Now that it’s dry just paint, draw, glitter, whatever your wildest imagination wills!

Not only will your sweetheart LOVE a handmade creation, but the environment will LOVE you for it too!

Stay Warm This Season with 3 Eco-Friendly Winter Outfits

2009-11-19T12:55:00.010-05:00

It’s your Eco-nista again! I know how difficult shopping for that perfect winter look can be, not to mention when you’re considering the environment. Well look no further, these 3 eco-friendly outfits are full of great separates that can be mixed and matched until the sun comes out (which is hopefully sooner than later).

Great for walking around the city, staying warm and chic.

a. Jacket
b. Scarf
c. Beret
d. Bracelets
e. Boot
f. Sweater Dress
g. Leggings

This is such a great outfit for everyday wear.

a. Top
b. Vest
c. Bag
e. Jeans
f. Booties

Cozy up next to the fire in this comfortable, eco-friendly, lounge outfit and accessories.

a. Cami
b. Pillows
c. Cardigan
e. Stuffed Animal
f. Sweat Pants
g. Slippers

Project Butterfly

2009-10-30T17:29:00.006-04:00

Maxim is thrilled to have participated in Project Butterfly in Atlanta this past Saturday! Project Butterfly was an event, presented by TeenDiariesOnline.com, based on teenage females and development. The event was hosted by Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, of R&B group TLC, and supermodel Cynthia Bailey, in order to provide “teen females (ages 13-18) with the opportunity to learn from positive celebrity role models and address self esteem issues through a fun and exciting roundtable discussion about healthy skin care and proper makeup application.”

Maxim donated trial packs for the event giveaway.

For more information click here.

2009-09-25T17:19:00.005-04:00

Did you know that every year millions of girls and women in developing countries will miss up to 50 days of school/work because of their periods? Now we’ve all experienced how debilitating our periods can be, now imagine if you had to suffer through this without the proper sanitary tools. Unfortunately, this is actually a reality for the majority of women in developing and underdeveloped areas.

However, I just learned about a great new organization that is involved in aiding this dilemma. SHE (which stands for Sustainable Health Enterprises) has launched an initiative to assist women in these areas create their own businesses to manufacture and distribute affordable, quality, and eco-friendly sanitary pads. Additionally, the products will look to use local raw materials to ensure affordability and accessibility.

SHE is just another example of how women can create positive changes in regards to their menstrual cycle, a concept applauded wholeheartedly by Maxim. To learn more, visit their website here.

Welcoming Summer with 3 Eco-Friendly Beach Outfits

2009-06-19T11:40:00.012-04:00

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

Earth Day, Maxim Style

2009-05-01T16:50:00.005-04:00

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.

Maxim and V-Day

2009-04-07T22:57:00.003-04:00

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.