ECO DOG

As pets are part of our families, holistic wellbeing and a greener approach to life should certainly be extended to those with paws and hairier bodies.

In a mission to extend our health and eco concerns to Dot and Dário, we got Eco Dog, a gorgeous book on healthy living for canines, filled with upbeat photography and precious advice.

Comprehensive and beautifully done, this guide covers everything one should know when creating the best eco environment for our four-legged friends, from how to shop for and make non-toxic grooming products and eco-friendly pest control, and how to bake organic dog treats, to how to create a canine first aid kit.

As a plus, at the end of the book there's also a resource guide to organizations, publications and products on the subject.

( Written by Lola, Photography by Lola and Álvaro )

ECO CONTENT

We all know that having a chaotic and stressful lifestyle isn't good for you. There's no denying it.
We also know that whenever possible we should eat organic, fairtrade and (in an ideal world we would all be) vegetarian.We're also aware of harmful chemicals in everyday products... Not only the supermarket kind (which besides being in the large majority cruelly tested on animals, are also dangerous chemical cocktails) but also some mainstream luxury natural brands who appear more eco fill their products with parabens and other harmful chemicals.

I've been a vegetarian since i was 15, and having recently turned 30, i'm everyday more aware of what my actions may result in the greater picture.I always take the holistic approach in life, and being an health and beauty junkie, for me it's an absolute must to use products which aren't tested on animals. Then i look for something which is made from natural ingredients, preferably organic, and aren't packed full with the aforementioned chemicals. And at the end the day, i still have to enjoy the product's texture, smell (or lack of it), and the end result on my skin and hair...

Because it's a hard task to pick your favourites from the jumble of ethical and non-ethical brands, Content, in London's Marylebone, is an eco-luxury boutique filled with some of the best all-natural beauty and wellbeing products on offer.The owner, Imelda Burke, has researched for 2 years for brands which are Soil Association Certified, Ecocert approved, carbon neutral, and free of animal testing, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, SLS, synthetic fragrances and further 25 commonly used synthetic chemicals.

Far from the hippie look that unfortunately is often associated with green issues, it's a glamorous black space with beautiful vintage furniture and an array of exquisite brands such as Suki, Ila, Dr Hauschka, Jo Wood Organics, Suzanne aux Bains, Baby Bear Shop, Stem Organics, Pure Potions, John Masters Organics haircare, Tea and Philosophy teas, Postlethwaite's tinctures, Tsi-La 100% natural fragrances, and the delightful nail polish range from Butter London, which is totally free from Formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP.

Catering for all the family, you'll find products for the smallest and the most senior members, so shop online or, if in the neighbourhood, drop by. Let's make Earth Day every single day.

CONTENT Beauty Wellbeing at 14 Bulstrode St., Marylebone

( Written by Lola, Photos courtesy of Content )

IN THE BAG

With the A/W 2007 season in mind, we've launched four new beautiful zipper bags.

Perfect for keeping everything in place in your handbag or tote in the most gorgeous manner, and measuring 21 x 15 cm ( 8 by 6 inches ), Wooden bags are handmade from 100% cotton fabrics ( outer and lining ), and adorned with two wooden button designs, a terrier dog and a 747 plane.

In 4 fantastic colours - ochre, prune, latte and brick - and contrasting threads, they can house everything from travel necessities, make-up and beauty products, first aid, jewellery, camera and iPod, documents and currency.

Lovely as a gift for a loved one ( yourself included! ), Wooden bags are available in our online shop.

( Written and Photographed by Lola )

HAMPTON'S RETREAT

Like most, we love to peep inside other people's houses.

To make sure we do it in the most tasteful manner ( of course ), we love magazines such as Elle Decoration, Dwell, Livingetc, Vogue Living and House and Garden, who kindly let us satisfy our curiosity without having to resort to binoculars ( just kidding! ).

The November issue of House and Garden features the Hampton's hideway of actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay husband Chris Martin, a spacious and light retreat in East Hampton, set within walking distance of the ocean.

Working herself with builder and architectural designer Michael Minkoff, Paltrow went over fabric swatches and design resources while Minkoff transformed the skeleton of the house, adding a few bedrooms so all the close family could stay over.

A fan of minimalistic spaces and cool neutral colours, the whole house is a serene, clutter-free zone. Featuring some pieces of her art collection, the interiors are light and airy and decorated mostly in soft pastel colours, with the exception of daughter Apple's bright pink bedroom, the black powder room, and the spacious black cabinet kitchen.

Our favourites? Besides Tord Boontje's 'Blossom' chandelier and Tom Dixon's 'Mirror Ball' pendants, being nature and fitness fans, what we love best is the beautiful outdoor space, complete with apple orchard, canopied garden hammock, pool house and personal fitness studio for yoga and pilates, which Paltrow makes use of on a daily basis.

( Written by Lola, Photographed by Eric Cahan for House and Garden )

CITIES ON FOOT

The best way to get around a city is definitely on foot... If with plently of time and energy to spare, nothing beats enjoying the views up-close, feeling a gentle breeze on your face, mingle with the locals and, of course, do a bit of leg-shaping exercise.
With this in mind, Chronicle Books has the most practical guides, City Walks, a small kit containing 50 cards divided by city area, with a map on one side and the proposed walk on the other.
Available in 16 versions, including London ( seen here ), Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Vancouver, and Los Angeles, it's a great way to enjoy a city like the natives do.
And for travelling with kids there's also two child-friendly City Walks on offer: the kids version of the New York and San Francisco guides.

( Written and Photographed by Lola )

AMERICAN BEAUTY

Kiehl's has been a favourite for many years, and as frequent visitors to its London shops on Monmouth Street and King's Road, we've often wondered when one would open closer to home.

So we were obviously excited when it recently opened a new location in Lisbon, right next to Hermés, and like its London counterparts, it's packed full with its famed lotions and potions such as Creme de Corps, Ultra Facial Moisturizer, Creme with Silk Groom, and the refreshing Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion, which contains menthol and camphor, and was favoured by Andy Warhol who referred to it as 'the blue stuff'.

Besides its wonderful products, cool interiors, nice and helpful staff, delightfully minimal packaging, Harley-Davidson devotion, and a longtime tradition which dates back to 1851, what we love about Kiehl's it that it's fiercely eco-friendly and manages to keep animals out of the lab.

Kiehl's at Rua António Maria Cardoso , nº 39-D, 1200-108 Lisboa

( Written and Photographed by Lola )

IT'S A SUNNY DAY

We've been working non-stop lately, so quite soon, our little guys will be available in a few more shops worldwide, all very different and great in their own way.
We're really excited about that, and commited as we are, hardly stepped outside and had a break.
Since we do deserve a bit of sunshine coming our way, here's a rare occasion when we did stop to recharge our batteries and enjoy the gorgeous light of summer time Lisbon.

( Written and Photographed by Lola )

TWO WHEELED WONDER

Established in 1972 by Jinbei Yamada, Japanese manufacturer Arrow makes some of the most exquisite bicycles in the world.

Producing only 1000 units per year, the several Arrow designs are available in 18 vibrant colours and can be bought with lots of practical accessories, such as baskets and trolleys.

Besides not putting its logo on the bicycles, Yamada encourages all his clients to assemble their own bike, creating a unique bond between them and the two wheeled wonder.

( Written by Álvaro / Photo courtesy of Arrow )

DESTINATION - COWLEY MANOR

Located near Oxford, in South East England, Cowley Manor is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city living. Just one hour and a half from London, this charming boutique hotel is installed in an elegant Victorian manor and surrounded by a beautiful countryside landscape (four lakes included!), perfect for having a walk or to breath the purest air.
Wonderfully decorated, the interiors of Cowley Manor are clean and relaxing, a mix between old and new, where you can easily see an adorned wooden staircase side to side with modernist Isamu Noguchi’s Coffee Table.

Very exclusive – it has only 30 rooms – the hotel also boasts a spa where you can get pampered with their long list of calming treatments. Besides the famous ‘Cloud 9’ (the hotel spa’s signature treatment) or an ‘energy revamp massage’, you can also take a swim in the two spacious pools or have a purifying sweat in the sauna room.

( Written by Álvaro / Photos courtesy of Cowley Manor )

CANDY BOX

In 1887 two german men living in Portugal, Ferdinand Claus and Georges Ph. Schweder, founded the first Portuguese factory of soaps and perfumes in the northern city of Oporto.

Fast forward a century, two decades and a whole lot of history, and Claus Porto remains the portuguese face of luxury bath products, making an appearance in some of the most beautifully put together bathrooms worldwide.

With a wide range of products from scented candles to bath salts, our absolute favourites are the '12 Months of Soap' gift box, containing twelve tradicionally packaged soaps for each month of the year, and the 'Luxury Guest Soaps' kit, available in three versions, in a pretty golden-hued box cointaining 15 soaps of 5 varieties, and so colourful they look almost good enough to eat (but please don't!).

As the saying goes, Cleanliness is next to Godliness... so lock up your bathroom, light up a scented candle, and drift away in the pleasures of bathing.

( Written by Lola / Photo courtesy of Lafco)

SOAP OPERA

Opened in 1707 by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason in London's Piccadilly, Fortnum & Mason is an instituion of all things gourmet that has seen 300 years of history and yet still remains very much alive and kicking.
To prove just that, the makers of some of the yummiest and beautifully packaged delicacies have launched a delightful line of bath products, Fortnum’s Toiletries, well presented in vibrant colours such as lime green, turquoise, warm pink and deep purple.
In two scents, Rosa and Grapefruit, the range consists of scented candles, hand wash, bath and shower gel, hand and body lotion, eau de toilette and, our favourite, a gift package of 3 soaps.

Heavenly!

( Written by Lola / Stills courtesy of Fortnum and Mason )

ABICI BIKES

If you are one of those people who likes to do your errands in town and work out at the same time, the Abici bicycles are the perfect mean of transportation for that. Created by Giuseppe Marcheselli, Stefano Seletti and Cristiano Gozzi, the Abici range is inspired by the classic designs from the fifties and has a retro feel you wouldn't find in today's bikes.

Available in four models (Donna, Uomo, Corsa and Camporella), the Abici bicycles are all about fine details: Brooks saddles and accessories, leather handlebars, woven baskets and well designed metal mudguards, which prevents you from getting dirty while strolling around the city or the country.

( Written by Álvaro / Photos courtesy of Abici )