Are you stuck in a rut?  Have you ever dreamed of going to Italy?  Now you can experience a complete makeover in one of the most romantic and fashion-forward countries in the world!  Imagine changing your wardrobe and your life in one week.  This exclusive and intensive program will do just that.  Kimberly Seltzer, one of our guest Runway speakers from Elite Image Makeovers is combining forces with Italian fashion designer Micaela Passeri with Bubola clothing to create a unique immersion program August 26-Sept. 1, 2010.  Do something spontaneous and amazing for yourself and check out the web-site or contact Kimberly at kimberly@eliteimagemakeovers.com

Last seasons Runway Spring/Summer 2010 event was a hard one to top, but this season is full of surprises and, of course, a breathtaking launch of the Fall/Winter 2010 line! We will keep you up to date on all that happens. Stay tuned to this blog!

Thank you for a great Spring/Summer season. Stay tuned right here for the launch of our Fall/Winter 2010 line!

In the Bella (Wisteria, Marine) you’ll be ready for anything that comes your way this summer! Get set in your favorite style and go have some fun!

I came across this article that Annie wrote for her web-site www.greenchicafe.com She was thrilled to have me share it with you here! She lists many resources on her site for green living- soon to include kikaPaprika! We are thrilled to join with her in making the world a healthier more responsible place. I hope you are inspired by this article. It is the little changes in our daily routines that often make the biggest difference.

Enjoy!

~lorifox

 “I once had an editor write an entire magazine article about the cupboard under my kitchen sink because she was so impressed with its simplicity. All it contains are these simple ingredients: Baking soda, vinegar, washing soda, a good soap and detergent, and tea tree oil. I find them the safest and most effective for cleaning….everything.”

“Using these materials and making my formulas with them dispels all the myths you may have heard about nontoxic cleaning taking too much time, or not working. I can clean everything in the house using these five favorties, even peel wax off of the floor, and most of the formulas take seconds to blend. Or if they take time, it is to let the baking soda soak overnight, for example. They never take time because they need elbow grease to work, or because the formulas are hard to mix.”

“I’ll regularly put my cleaning formulas on GreenChiCafe.com, or you can find them in my GreenChiCafe.com ebook Cleaning for Pennies, or in Better Basics for the Home. ”

Baking Soda

A commonly available mineral full of many cleaning attributes, baking soda is made from soda ash, and is slightly alkaline (its pH is around 8.1; 7 is neutral). It neutralizes acid-based odors in water, and adsorbs odors from the air. Sprinkled on a damp sponge or cloth, baking soda can be used as a gentle non-abrasive cleanser for kitchen counter tops, sinks, bathtubs, ovens, and fiberglass. It will eliminate perspiration odors and even neutralize the smell of many chemicals if you add up to a cup per load to the laundry. It is a useful air freshener, and a fine carpet deodorizer.

Washing Soda

A chemical neighbor of baking soda, washing soda (sodium carbonate) is much more strongly alkaline, with a pH around 11. It releases no harmful fumes and is far safer than a commercial solvent formula, but you should wear gloves when using it because it is caustic. Washing soda cuts grease, cleans petroleum oil, removes wax or lipstick, and neutralizes odors in the same way that baking soda does. Don’t use it on fiberglass, aluminum or waxed floors—unless you intend to remove the wax.

White Vinegar and Lemon Juice

White vinegar and lemon juice are acidic—they neutralize alkaline substances such as scale from hard water. Acids dissolve gummy buildup, eat away tarnish, and remove dirt from wood surfaces.

White Vinegar and Lemon Juice

Heinz company spokesperson Michael Mullen references numerous studies to show that a straight 5 percent solution of vinegar, the kind you can buy in the supermarket, kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses). Heinz can’t claim on their packaging that vinegar is a disinfectant because the company has not registered it as a pesticide with the EPA. But it is common knowledge in the industry that vinegar is powerfully antibacterial, and even the popular CBS news show “48 Hours” had a special years ago with Heloise reporting on tests from The Good Housekeeping Institute that showed this.

White vinegar and lemon juice are acidic—they neutralize alkaline substances such as scale from hard water. Acids dissolve gummy buildup, eat away tarnish, and remove dirt from wood surfaces.

Mold Killers and Disinfectants

For a substance to be registered by the EPA as a disinfectant it must go through extensive and expensive tests. EPA recommends simple soap to use as a disinfectant There are many essential oils, such as oregano, cinnamon, clove, and tea tree oil (an excellent natural fungicide), that are very antiseptic, as is grapefruit seed extract, even though they aren’t registered as such. Use one teaspoon of essential oil to 2 cups of water in a spray bottle (make sure to avoid eyes). A grapefruit seed extract spray can be made by adding 20 drops of extract to a quart of water.

Caution: Make sure to keep all homemade formulas well-labeled, and out of the reach of children.

We spotted Jennie exploring Los Angeles this summer! Jennie is at Disneyland wearing the Brooke top in Moss. This is the perfect shirt for a tea party! She was also seen at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard wearing a Zoe in Peacock!

Have a safe and happy holiday with your family and friends. From all of us here at kikaPaprika!

Our model is wearing the faye tank in blossom bahama, pocket shorts in white, and the Jamie hoodie in blossom bahama.

We are gearing up to bring you the best kikaRunway event ever! Join us this July in Southern California to hear expert speakers, share business ideas with your colleagues, and preview the new Fall/Winter 2010 line! See you there!