Dear readers, help! We are seeking an awesome (smart, independent, energetic) assistant to help us manage this site and take it to the next level!
If you’ve ever sent us an email you know that we are spotty on response at best, totally MIA at worst. Well, here’s why: Other than the addition of Rebecca’s awesome posts we have nobody helping us run this site. No interns, no generous pals (well, OK, we have generous pals, just not ones who work on our site for free).
So we finally want to hire someone to help us get our s***t together and make this site a more awesome place to hang out. The job would be very part time—about 5 hours a week to start—and wouldn’t pay a whole lot at the beginning. So if you think this is you, it’s probably best that you have a second job or school and are excited at the prospect of helping this grow. The more competent the individual, the more likely this could one day turn into a full-time gig—and then some!
The person we’re looking for is:
—A total self-starter with a passion for connecting with people and growing communities
—Experienced or interested in marketing/PR/social media and writing
—Tech-savvy; Wordpress, Photoshop and social media skills a must
—Energetic with a positive attitude
—Business-minded
—Loves to socialize both on and off the web
—Passionate about clean beauty!
The job would involve:
—Checking and responding to NMDL emails daily
—Fielding our interview requests and pestering us to meet deadlines
—Managing relationships with brands and making new connections
—Exploring ways to monetize the site that don’t sacrifice its integrity
—Setting up community-content morning posts daily, copy editing and formatting as needed
—Helping with our Facebook/Twitter and beyond
—Organizing deals and contests as needed
—Possibly contributing to the site as a writer
Sounds fun, right? There’s much to do! If you are this person or know someone who would be perfect please email: nomoredirtylooks at gmail dot com with a subject that gets our attention. :) But if we don’t get back to you, please don’t be offended! Given our current bandwidth, this could be a slow process…
Whoops, sorry this took so long! Here are the five winners chosen at random to win the Konjac sponge from NuboNau. How did we choose? Eyes closed, finger-on-screen. If this is your name and comment just email customercare@nubonau.com and claim that Konjac!
Elizabeth: My favorite natural product for the past three years has been local raw honey which I use to wash my face. It works great and I think it would work even better used with a Konjac sponge for additional exfoliation.
Alexa: Going to echo some previous comments here but oh well…
For cleansing, I’ve been alternating between May Lindstrom’s The Clean Dirt (fantastic stuff!) and a pot of raw honey I picked up from Whole Foods after reading a blog post by La Bella Figura (their FB page and blog are nice to follow even if you don’t buy/use their products). I use La Bella Figura Daily Elements Face Oil for the daytime and I love it so far! Also, I’ve just started dabbling in DIY skin care with the brightening oil that Rebecca B. posted a while back. I made a sample batch and the results look promising so far; I just need to purchase more carrier oil. My charcoal konjac sponge just reached the end of its life, so it’s time for a new one :)
Beatrice: I just got some John Masters blood orange and vanilla body milk (after nubonau sent me a sample with an order, in fact!) It’s a little expensive for me but it smells So. Good.
Moni: Yay! I have yet to be able to take advantage of a Friday Deal (somehow its never in my budget on the weeks that happen :( ) but one day!
I just got some Unyevu Butter from Belle Butters, and I am obsessed; it smells amazing and is so creamy and moisturizing for my extremely dry winter skin. Since spring seems to be taking its sweet time to make it to us here in NYC it’s the perfect remedy.
Pepper: Ha! I’m actually freaking obsessed with my Konjac Sponge (the pink one)! I do really want to get one for my husband, and I’m eyeing the green one for him. I’ve been excited to get up in the morning because I want to wash my face. I’ve been using it with either my Stark balm (old fave!) or the new sensitive face wash from Acure which I very much like and am glad I purchased it! I’m also digging my new Evan Healy Immortelle hydrosol. It smells weird but my skin loves it.
Congrats winners!
We don’t do these as often these days—so when we do it’s fun to make it extra special. A little while back we told you about the Konjac sponge—Siobhan is wild about it, Alexandra has one coming in the mail, and many of you are fans. So us and the NuboNau folks thought it would be especially great to offer a deal that involved this weird little magic tool. But there’s more to it, so read on.
1. The deal is simple: Spend $50 on anything your heart desires, adding your choices to your basket (there’s a whole lot of new stuff here from 100 pure, Studio 78, RMS and Vapour). Then pick from one of the five Konjac facial sponges and apply the promo code NMDLKonjac and see the discount for the facial sponge appear. That’s a free sponge with any order over $50, which works out to just about a 20% discount on your order!
2. The Contest: Don’t have 50 bucks to spare right now? We get it. So we’ve added another dimension to the deal: Post a comment here and tell us… hmmm, tell us what your favorite product is these days—we’re always looking for suggestions! And we will choose 5 commenters at random to win a free sponge. Wootwoot!
FYI, this deal only runs until Monday. So hustle and start talking!
Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!
The small print. As always, offers can’t be combined (other than free shipping when you spend $95 after discounts and before tax) and the deal can’t be applied retrospectively. While stocks last.
How’s your sleep going? That good, huh?
Us, too, which makes us extra excited about this week’s deal. Essence of Vali Aromatherapy is back, and we know regular readers are big fans, and we’re both pretty taken with her sleep potion, which smells so great—and whisks us off to sleep in no time. Well, get excited, because her sleep box—which usually costs $72—is on deep, deep discount for you guys!
If you’re keen on the set, you can get it for just $32, with coupon code nmdlsleep. In it, you’ll get the sleep balm, 2 ox of the sleep massage and bath oil, 2 oz of the sleep mist and concentrate, all packed in a pretty box. All the products contain soothing lavender, marjoram, cedarwood, and ylang ylang. Sleep not your issue? All her other products will be 20% off with coupon code of nmdl2013.
We know we don’t need to remind you how obsessed we both are with aromatherapy, and this line is a favorite because it’s affordable, accessible, and everything (everything) smells incredible.
What will you be getting?
Despite last week’s clash over another meatless menu, we have no plans to give up on Meatless Mondays. Eating less meat is a proven boon for both health and the environment (not to mention your looks). But we do think it’s time to mix it up from the menus.
Introducing a new series: My Meatless Obsession. What plant-based food are you in love with these days? Is it almond milk, sunflower seeds, or the carrots showing up in your CSA? How do you fit this ingredient into your menu, and what are its health benefits?
Rebecca is kicking the series off with chia seeds, and Siobhan and Alexandra will get in the game too. Of course, we’d love to get your Meatless Obsession—just email nomoredirtylooks at gmail dot com with OBSESSION in the title!
Dietary leanings: Vegan, gluten free, mostly raw
Ingredient: Chia seeds (yes, the things used to grow chia pets)
Known health benefits: Chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids (great for your heart and blood vessels, brain, skin, joints, etc.). They contain all the essential amino acids and are a good source of protein. The seeds are also an excellent source of fiber and calcium, plus other minerals. I’ve read about Aztec warriors and modern ultra-marathoners using chia for energy. I know when I eat chia for breakfast, it gives me enough energy for a vigorous run/hike/bike or a long morning of work.
My favorite way to eat it: So many ways!
I love multi-taskers in skin care, and in food too. Chia seeds can be incorporated into any meal, fitting nicely into many dishes. Sprinkle them on salad, cereal, or yogurt. Mix them into smoothies, dips (like tahini, hummus, guacamole) and dressings. They can be used in baking as well, though I never bake and haven’t tried it. One day I will try making my own raw energy bars in the dehydrator using chia.
Chia seeds add a pleasant, mild nutty crunch to a dish. If you want to keep the crunch then add them at the very last second, because these little guys will soak up 12 times their weight in water. This is a very cool thing, though, because you can use them to thicken sauces and make “pudding.” I use chia quite a bit, and here’s my current favorite “recipe”:
While my first cup of tea is brewing, I pour a couple of tablespoons of chia into a short glass. Then I add fresh orange juice and fresh almond milk in about equal proportions, a total of about one cup of liquid. I mix it up with a spoon to make sure all the seeds are covered. It needs about 15-20 minutes to thoroughly soak up the liquid, and if I stir a couple more times while I’m packing my lunch it keeps the seeds distributed uniformly throughout the liquid instead of clumping (if it clumps, just break up the clump and mix). I let it sit while I do yoga, which is way more than enough time for it to get quite thick. You can play with the proportion of seeds/liquid to get something like a bubble tea consistency, all way to a thick pudding. When I’m ready to eat, I mix in some ground flax and banana slices and eat it with a spoon. I’ll be using blueberries when the season hits! I love it for breakfast, but it’s a great energizing snack too.
By the way, remember to check your smile after eating chia seeds. They gravitate to the spaces between your front teeth. And if you eat them away from home be sure to carry floss or toothpicks! Are you a chia fan?
