I’ve been doing a lot of “what I want” lately.  I hope you all don’t mind the quiet too terribly much.

One of the things I’ve been doing is making food appear out of nowhere by carefully watering and (naturally) fertilizing my garden.  I now have my first self-made food: a radish.

I almost have enough greens for a salad, and when I do, it’s ON.  Success!

In other news, sitting on my doorstep yesterday afternoon was a pile o’ nail polish – well, a box, to be more accurate.

Using Zoya’s Earth Day Polish Exchange, which is going on through the end of this month, I traded nine of my old, toxic nail polishes for brand new, non-toxic ones.  (From left to right: Penny, Sam, Loredana, Robyn, Ginger, Goldie, Nicole, Posh, and Jo.)  But what’s that over there…

…a second Penny!

Zoya told me not to mind the mix-up – it’s not worth the shipping cost to return one bottle – so it looks like I have something else to give away in the next month or so…yay!

This has been an awfully scatterbrained post, but it does have a purpose:  I’ve realized, over the past few weeks, that I can do so much more to open my eyes without losing my aesthetic. Gardening hasn’t ruined my nails (see today’s post at The Demoiselles for proof) and avoiding chain stores whose policies and practices I disagree with doesn’t keep me from buying great clothing – it means I pay better attention to what I choose to buy…and don’t regret a trendy, fall-apart purchase two days later.

The truth is, “going green,” when done without guilt or stress, is not nearly as hard as people pretend it is.

Which stories have you been told about being socially responsible that turned out to be myths?

After much deliberation, I’ve finalized my choices.  I’ve sent them out.  There’s no turning back now – what’s done is done, and I just hope I won’t regret my decision.

-

I am, of course, talking about nail polish.

I sent Zoya nine toxic polishes yesterday – these ones, if you’re curious – so they can dispose of them according to EPA guidelines.  In return, they’re sending me nine brand new Zoya polishes in any colors I want. They have over 400 colors to choose from, so it was a bit overwhelming, but here’s what I decided on:

(Click to see the colors/names up close.)

A couple of matte (shine-free) polishes, some super bold “toes and weekends” polishes, and a few that I can barely pass off at work, while still having fun with the season.  And “Sam”?  You have GOT to see Sam. It’s so dark and vampy!  I predict it, or something like it, will make a resurgence for fall.

There are a couple of caveats to this deal, but they’re more than reasonable.

• You must pay $3.50 per bottle – via check or card – to cover shipping and processing.  (Keep in mind, that’s less than half the cost of most Zoya polishes, and you’re not paying additional shipping, so it’s more than 50% off.)
• You have to send Zoya six or more old bottles of polish to qualify;
• The polishes you send can’t be Zoya, Qtica or Nocti polishes.  (They can, however, be regular, mini- or oddly-sized; you’ll still get a full Zoya bottle in exchange.)

The Zoya Polish Exchange lasts through June 30, so you’ve only got a month left to choose your favorite colors, pack up your old polishes and send them in.  Once I have mine, I’ll be sharing it with all of you (and maybe even giving a polish or two away) – please share your choices with me as well!

I’ve already mentioned A Beautiful Life’s nail polish once before.  Talking about my new stuff  pre-review is usually not my M.O., but I’m flying by the seat of my pants lately.

It’s called ‘Shroom, and it’s a wee bit browner than this image shows, but still very office-friendly, without being clear or light pink or something else kind of typical.

Not that all of A Beautiful Life‘s colors are office-friendly…

…but they are all “three free” (no DBP, Toulene or Formaldehyde) and developed using all natural ingredients.

At twelve bucks each, they’re on the high end of polish prices, but after trying a number of other polishes – non-toxic and otherwise – I can see why: A Beautiful Life is on par with Zoya when it comes to quality.  Opaque color with one thin coat; no sticky, uneven application; and best of all, it stays the hell on.

(Nail polish and my toes don’t get along – I have that weird nail-rubbing-on-shoes issue that ruins almost any self-applied pedicure.  A Beautiful Life’s Envy has lasted me over a week without so much as a chip.  By the way, that’s Envy in the bottle, ‘Shroom on my nails.)

I’ve also heard great things about A Beautiful Life‘s soy nail polish remover, but haven’t had a chance to try it yet.

Have you tried a “Three Free” nail polish (like Butter London, Zoya or A Beautiful Life)?

How did it compare with toxic polish?

In the past few months, I’ve noticed fashion bloggers wearing a lot of bold jewelry; namely, two-, three-, and even four-finger rings.  The Clothes Horse, the (chloe) conspiracy and Song of Style have all accessorized with them, each in their own unique style, and seemingly effortlessly.

It’s the one thing that surprises me most about the new multi-finger trend: that double and tripple rings have evolved from their hardcore brass knuckle status into a much more feminine, if still a little bold, aesthetic, and now almost anyone can wear them.

However, as I watched the trend progress, multi-finger rings still seemed a little cumbersome to me.  I was wary they’d prohibit me from my day-to day work: my “normal” job at a computer, my work on this website, as well as all my other home stuff, like taking care of my gigantic dog, cleaning up sudden messes and running errands.  My life seemed a little too rough for such a presumably delicate and inhibiting hand-piece.

Then I spoke with Mary-Jo Peritore, an indie designer that goes by the moniker MerCurios on Etsy, who endeavored to convince me that a two-finger ring can be pretty and bold without inhibiting my lifestyle.  She designed a personalized, handmade creation, on the spot, in exchange for “an honest review” of how the ring looked, and how it held up against my day-to-day responsibilities.

First of all, wow. When Mary-Jo asked me what I might like as the focal point for my ring, I didn’t give her much to work with: “I like the stones, and the evil eye, and the skull…you know what? Just surprise me.”  After she completed the ring, she told me that she just ”had a feeling” about what I might like, and went with it.

I could not have asked for a better piece of jewelry to fit my personal style. My two-finger ring has classically-inspired colors – creams, blues, and greens – with an added twist (literally, of copper wire) to keep me from getting bored, and an Asian theme to add femininity.  I can wear it to the office with pencil skirts, or pair it with skinnies and a t-shirt for a little flair.  It works with all of my neutrals – black, brown and grey – and has already been noticed by my friends and boss.

Even better, it only took me a few minutes to adjust the way I type, and it hasn’t once gotten caught or bent by anything, even when I went shopping. You’d think that the wires would have caught on something, but I didn’t even have to think about it as I tried on silk and satin, buttons and zippers.  I was really impressed.

Enough of my yammering; at this point, you’ve either stopped reading or you want to see more.  Suffice it to say that I love my new ring and am incredibly flattered that Mary-Jo was willing to work her magic for me.  She loves custom orders, and every piece is hand-made and one of a kind.  (Mary-Jo: doesn’t all that hand-wire-wrapping hurt after a while?)  She also makes tons of other jewelry; I’ve posted a few of my favorites here.  You can follow her on Twitter, too!  (That’s how I met her.)

Thank you again, Mary-Jo!

MerCurios – Hardcore Couture Jewelry for Mind, Body, Soul

Skeleton Key Asymmetrical Wrapped Copper Bangle: $66

Two Finger Lace Agate Ring – Brass Knuckles: $35

Hardcore Rock Chic Till Death Brass Skull Choker: $100

I’ve been hunting for a piece of “statement jewelry” for years. I finally found my match on my last birthday: it’s a gold and copper sandstone ring, which I nabbed for just a few dollars at  an out-of-the-way vintage shop.

What you can’t see from the crappy photos – which my broken camera and I apologize for – is the insane sparkle of the sandstone, which catches the eye of almost anyone that sees my hands at a still moment.  It gave me a whole new appreciation for cocktail rings: versatile enough for work and happy hour, interesting enough to catch the eye and, if you get the right shape for your finger, very, very comfortable.

Blue Sandstone Ring: $38 on Etsy

There’s that sparkle.  I can see this really popping with the pale pinks, lace and silk that are bound to be popular this spring and summer.

Rosie the Riveter Sterling Cocktail Ring: $150 on Etsy

This one looks stunning on, and thick enough to survive getting bumped into something.

Ursula Ring: $32 on Etsy

This is the more modern version – without being too trendy to end up dust-covered in a drawer.  It’s made of sterling and onyx, so it won’t stain your fingers, either.

Elizabeth Street Garnet Dangle Ring: $120 on Nimli

There’s only one rule with cocktail rings: they must have lots of sparkle. When they first attained popularity in the prohibition era, it was because they were so fun and bright. Attending a secret “cocktail party” was dangerous, illegal…and exciting! Women put on their finest, and a big, sparkling cocktail ring was a status symbol everyone wanted.

Nugaard Designs Small Golden Grass Circle Ring: $58 on Nimli

Sparkle can come in many forms, though. Though lots of diamonds and jewels are the standard, shining gold threads or a single, sparkling stone in a great setting can be just as striking.

Kezha Hatier Anemone Ring: $268 on Nimli

This last one needs to go on sale for a zillion percent off. It’s big, bold, and ocean-themed (I love anything ocean-themed) and just the right size and length for my little fingers.

Do you have any cocktail rings, or “statement jewelry”?

Now that greenwashing is all the rage, more and more companies are trying to capitalize on the trend, not by adopting more eco-friendly practices, but by flat-out lying to you.  Plastics are “partially recyclable” (which usually means they’re not) and paper towels are suddenly a green choice, because “they’re made from trees – a natural resource!”  (Yes, that’s a real tag line.  I know, I can’t believe it either.)

Everywhere I go, I see more and more ugly brown-and-green scratchy packaging.  It’s like these companies think that wrapping a toxic product in something green – literally – will dupe us into thinking that because it looks natural, it must be natural.

Imagine my surprise when I first saw method, a brand of cleaning and home care products that got its start with corporate giant Target.  methodis pretty and clean-looking, and boasts the words “all natural” on all its aesthetically-pleasing, colorful bottles.  It looks more marketing-conscious than eco-conscious, but after I did the research, I found out that method is the read deal: green, through and through.  

Green tea and aloe: my favorite method scent.  

When Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan founded methodin 2001, their goal was simple: to “turn the consumer packaged-goods industry on its head.”  Between Lowry’s chemical engineering skills and environmental degree, and Ryan’s high-end marketing resume (think Saturn and Gap) they’ve found a way to do it, too.  Every product methodmakes uses nontoxic ingredients that are assessed and scored by the Environmental Protection and Encouragement Agency, as well as recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency as safe for people and the environment.

So where does all this fancy packaging and mass marketing come in?  As many of us know, there’s an unspoken rule among green companies: solidarity.  We’re taught to buy from small shops, not big boxes, to support our local community.

Lowry and Ryan see it differently, and made the decision to launch method in Target, a national chain, instead of in small, local stores.  They’ve had to defend that decision again and again: 

If you want to use your business to create change, you need to create change where the change is needed. … We’re trying to show people that if they had a misperception that green had to cost a lot of money or green had to be difficult or green had to be penance-oriented or [can't come in bright colors, that] you can do it, and it’s actually really easy. Because if it’s not easy, people aren’t going to do it.  

–Lowry, when asked why method was launched in mainstream stores

When you’ve already researched how to go green, it’s easy to find the products you need, in the styles you want, at prices you can afford.  If you haven’t ever shopped at Trader Joe’s, though, or if your only access to clothes, housewares and food are major chain stores, just the idea of green products sounds scary.  Isn’t it all granola and dirty feet?  If I buy green cleaning products, will my house smell like patchouli?

That’s the misconception that method is trying to quash.  Nontoxic cleaning products can be pretty; they can smell really good; and they can look great on your kitchen counter instead of being stuck under the sink.

Green can be pretty, and green can be cheap.

 That’s not to say that method is skimping on quality just to make a pretty container.  All of their packaging is recycled and recyclable, which means there’s literally no waste product to be had.  They even design the shape and weight of their packages to ensure that they’re more easily recycled or composted (depending on the product).

Not only that, but method is continuously making efforts to further its carbon neutrality.  The company has purchased wind and solar energy credits to combat their factory emissions, and has added financial incentives for suppliers (hi, Target) that have their own sustainability initiatives.  (Corporations, take note: this is the good kind of bullying.)

Did I mention that all of their products are paraben-free, phthalate-free and vegan?

Laundry: pretty?  Apparently so.

I’m always on the hunt for fashion designers, websites, and local boutiques that offer beautiful things that are made with a conscience.  Clothes, bedsheets, even dog collars: I want these things to be good for the planet, but I also want them to be kind to my eyes.  I’ve always believed that going green is about adding another kind of beauty to your life, not about sacrificing that beauty to save the planet.

It is heartening to see that method agrees.

More information:
An interview with Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan: Grist.com.
method’s Homepage. (Check out the Company Info.)
Images via MethodHome.com and Amazon.com -
click the image to be taken to the product’s listing.  

As I recover from a brief medical emergency – seven-day migraines are no fun – I’ll be around a little less than usual.  However, it’s fashion week in New York city, so I’m sure that all of you intrepid internet readers have lots of other eye candy to keep you busy while I’m recuperating.

It can all be so tempting, though: the thousand-dollar tank tops, the unattainable gowns…hell, can we even afford the nail polish the runway models are wearing?

Apparently, we can.  I got this email from Zoya (maker of long-lasting three-free nail polish) this morning:

“Extended though Sunday 2/21/2010. In honor of NYFW (New York Fashion Week) Zoya, The New Color of Fashion, wants to give a “Fashion Reward” to all our followers and fans.

Place any Zoya or Qtica order of $10 (on http://www.zoya.com, http://www.qtica.com or http://www.artofbeauty.com/) and get any 2 Zoya Nail Polish shades (0.5oz bottles) as our Free gift to you.
Simply add all the items that you want to purchase online to your shopping cart.
Enter the code NYFW in the “code” field and press the “update” button.
A $14 discount will appear in the shopping cart for the value of the 2 Zoya Nail Polishes.

Offer valid [through] Sunday, 2/21/2010, at 5PM ET. Standard shipping charges apply.
Offer valid for consumer online orders only. Free ground shipping for orders over $55 in Continental USA only.
Not valid with any other coupon code or offer.”

In short: grab a couple of your favorite polishes (or remover, or makeup, or whatever) and get two more polishes absolutely free.  My current favorite is still Gwin (from the Spring 2010 Reverie collection, pictured below).

So, instead of dressing up and going out for fashion week, I’m going to lay a little lower…and strap on a pair of heels so I can have my own runway show.  (I don’t care if it sounds tacky.  The cat loves it.)

Finally: after much trepidation and a little help from my friends at Nature of Beauty, I got the chance to try all natural makeup.

As most of you know, I have rosacea, which means that along with all the usual makeup issues – clumping mascara, smearing eyeshadow, lipstick in the “I’m almost thirty” creases around my lips – I also have to make sure my base (or foundation) gives me decent coverage without being cakey or thick.  I also like to keep my daytime makeup as natural-looking as possible (or, if I can manage it, not wear makeup at all) but with a day job is at a “professional office” and a penchant for lookin’ extra pretty, I like to wear something on a day-to-day basis.

The good people over at the Nature of Beauty heard about my natural makeup concerns and decided to make the process easier by sending me some free samples of three of their products: Logona Tinted Day Cream, Couleur Caramel Mascara, and Couleur Caramel Eyeshadow.

First thing’s first: these three products are the only things I’m wearing in this photo (and the one below). No concealer, no powder, no eye liner, no lipstick.  (Okay, Burts Bees chapstick, but that’s it.)  The only editing I’ve done is to fix the general lighting; I haven’t removed a single blemish or stray hair, or gone crazy with the contrast.  Just me and the makeup.

Logona Tinted Day Cream

Because I’m prone to oiliness, Nature of Beauty sent me the matte version of their Logona Tinted Day Cream, which comes in both Beige Gold and and Golden Bronze.  (Girls with dry or combination skin should go for the non-matte version.)  It freaked me out at first, because it smells nothing like normal tinted moisturizers, but that’s because it’s completely natural: almond oil, jojoba, and cocoa butter keep it smooth, calendula extract balances the skin, and natural Vitamin E heals and protects.  (Even the perfumes are all natural essential oils.)

Logona Tinted Day Cream: $16 for 30ml.
Old product: Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint: $27 for 40ml…and NOT natural.
Verdict: Logona is all natural and cheaper, even with shipping.  Win-win.

Couleur Caramel Eyeshadow

Okay, bloggers, help me out here: how the hell do you photograph eyeshadow accurately? I didn’t skimp with this, and yet the photographs I took don’t do it a bit of justice.  Nature of Beauty sent me four of the above shades: Pearly Golden Sand, Pearly Coppered Brown, Pearly Red Brown and Matte Intense Brown.  That’s three shimmery colors and a matte, all of which glide on really smoothly and blend surprisingly well, even with those tough-to-use sponge brushes that come in a typical compact.  (However, I recommend you pick up an all-natural brush instead.)

I used the Matte Intense Brown to give my sparse eyebrows a little pop, and the color stuck like glue: no running, no creases (even in the fold of my lid) and no irritation.

Couleur Caramel Eyeshadow: $13.99 per shadow.
Old product: MAC: $14.50 each.
Verdict: All natural, no smudging, no holier-than-thou salesgirls pressuring me into buying brushes. Ahem.

Couleur Caramel Mascara

Out of everything Nature of Beauty sent me, my favorite is the Couleur Caramel Mascara. I got a clear snap of my lashes in the photo below, so you can see the application in as much detail as possible.  It’s also the better shot of the Couleur Caramel eyeshadows, which are natural and subdued, but still sparkly, but the mascara is my real favorite here. Along with the aesthetic benefits (a thick first application without clumps or “spider lashes”), Couleur Caramel’s mascara made me realize that my old mascara (Maybeline Great Lash, “America’s #1 Mascara”) was causing my eyelashes to break off, and I didn’t even know it.

I didn’t realize the connection until I’d been using it for a week or so: not only had I gotten used to finding a tan mascara tube instead of the usual green and pink, as well as the thinner brush with tightly-packed bristles, but I’d also gotten used to seeing longer lashes in the mirror every morning.

That’s because non-natural mascaras can keep lashes from “breathing,” and cause them to dry out.  Dry lashes equals brittle lashes, which equals broken lashes. (This is yet another reason to not leave your makeup on all night: the longer you wear mascara, the more likely your lashes are to break.)  Though I can’t be certain my lashes are more durable than they were before – I didn’t measure them or anything – I do know that they appear longer, fuller and smoother than they did a month ago.

Couleur Caramel Mascara: $22.49.
Old product: Maybeline Great Lash Conditioning Mascara: $6.99.
Verdict: My lashes are longer and prettier, and I’m creeped out that I didn’t even notice them breaking. What do you think I’m going to use from now on?  Price be damned.

Conclusion: Natural Makeup Is Awesome…and 15% Off.

So there you have it.  I was really impressed with all three of these samples, and wanted to thank Nature of Beauty for their generosity, so I emailed them.  It was at that point that Nature of Beauty got even more generous and offered to give my readers (that would be all of you) a 15% discount on anything in their store.* Not just the things I tried – though I highly recommend them – but anything, including makeup, skin care, hair care, men’s products, mom and baby products (including my favorite lotion and milk and oat bath by Erba Organics [review here]).

Just type AESTHETIC15 in the coupon section at checkout, and a 15% discount will be applied to your entire order.

…and don’t forget to make use of the “sample” section, while you’re at it.

*There’s one exception: Jane Iredale.  Other than that, the discount is site-wide.

My sense of fashion has been wandering lately.  Like a rogue traveler, it can’t seem to stay in one place: I’ve been pairing my feminine, frilly things with deconstructed jeans, my Grecian dresses with motorcycle boots.  It’s an experimental phase that has brought some of my most neglected pieces to the forefront as I put them together in ways I’d never thought to before, and it makes me feel a little like a gypsy, caravanning from one ecclectic outfit to another.

When Mapel contacted me with a reminder that I had store credit to play around with, I chose to get something sparkly, trendy, and perfect for the holiday season…and when it came to my doorstep, I ignored how sparkly and silky it was, and dressed it down with religious amulets and (faux) snakeskin flats.

It seems “gypsy” is accurate.

The top is by Champagne Lace, a brand new designer out of Portland, Oregon.  They released their first collection just a few months ago: a holiday-inspired set of silk tees and cardigans with vintage embellishments and sparkly details.  They also recycle vintage chandeliers into some of the most delicate, interesting jewelry I’ve seen in a long time.

This was going to be a capsule collection – one holiday line, and that’s it – but Champagne Lace has been selling well enough that another round of designs has just made its way to Mapel’s storefront.  It sounds like, as long as the designs continue to garner interest at Mapel’s website and Leavenworth location, Champagne Lace will keep creating and expanding both thier fashion and jewelry lines.

The thing I love most about this line is the one thing I expected it not to be: versatile.  I can see this top transforming almost anything I wear with it: high waisted skirts, fleece pea coats, even diamonds and leather.

Champagne Lace has just added their second collection to Mapel’s online store, including some brand new, gorgeous jewelry.

The Waltzing Chandelier earrings ($32) and bracelet ($42) are perfect for Valentines dinners, spring trips to the symphony, dinner parties in which you look way better than the girl your ex started dating…they have such an old-world classiness to them without being too serious (or too expensive).

These cardigans are a great example of vintage embellishment.  They’re pretty on their own, with great length and construction, but adding that hint of gold at the pocket (Peacock Adorned Silk Cardi, $48) or a hand-adorned chiffon bow (Bowtie Chiffon & Silk Cardi, $48) makes them a little less “prep school.”  I’m a big proponent of buying basics, but I’ll always take a classic top with a little twist over something generic.

The Halo Chandelier Bracelet ($42) and Holiday Silk Headband ($18) are Champagne Lace’s more casual pieces of jewelry – I’d default them to “fun office chic” status – but still pretty and classy.  I like that the headband doesn’t have the standard, everyday flower crap on it; this ruffled, knotted silk is much more fun.

Along with their cardigans and chandelier jewelry, Champagne Lace added more embellished silk tees to their second run.  These are the long-sleeve versions (Copper Glimmer and Lustrous Golden, both $34) but you can still get the short-sleeved tops (which both Elle and I have) here.  The surprise versatility of these extra-sustainable tees – silk!  hand-embellished!  vintage!  made in the US!  local indie designer! – make them a no-brainer for me.

Don’t forget: these prices include free shipping and a full satisfaction guarantee. Mapel is known for its customer service – that and their local status are why I can suggest their “corporate labels” without remorse – so it’s a safe place to take a risk, knowing you can always return something that doesn’t fit right or (god forbid) has a defect.

So, if you want, you can let your style “travel” a little.

I have a love-hate relationship with nail polish.  My entire day-to-day life is predicated on the use of my hands: I take dictation at work, I do dishes at home, and between my time with the dog and my time taking out with my friends, I wash my hands a lot.

And I just do not get how people can use drugstore nail polish.  It chips, it peels – peels! – and it’s also one of the least eco-friendly beauty products ever.  (Nail polish even smells toxic, you know?)

Enter Zoya Nail Polish.  Like Butter London, Zoya is free of phthalates (as well as toluene, formaldehyde, DBP and camphor, a.k.a. not toxic), but unlike Butter London, Zoya guarantees that their polish is “specifically formulated to deliver the longest wear possible on natural nails.”  (A side note: as Lisa mentions in the comments below, truly “natural” nailpolish will not stick to nails. It takes harsh solvents to do that.  If you’re going totally natural, no nail polish for you, period.)

When I found Zoya’s site, they were having a “two for the price of one” sale.  Their polishes are only $6 each, and I used this website as an excuse to pick up a couple of bottles: Christinna, a sheer polish in metallic dove grey, and Jane, a pale pink.  (“But honey, it’s for a review.  I have to buy it!”)

 
Please excuse the untamed nail beds. Like I said: lazy.

When it comes to non-toxic nail polish, I’ve typically found two common problems: it smells repulsive and takes forever to dry, or it dries quickly, but doesn’t “stick” to your nails.  (Again with the peeling.  Ew.)  Zoya, on the other hand, smells like normal nail polish (an enemy you know…) and stays on like normal nail polish – think OPI or China Glaze.  It also dries really smoothly, without those uneven lines of color that some sheer polishes get when you don’t paint them perfectly.  (This is important, because I am lazy.)

Zoya also has a surprising number of colors to choose from: 300 regular shades (every thing from basic pink to forest green) as well as Seasonal Collections that usually compliment whichever color scheme is currently on-trend.  They even list a desciption of each shade and its opacity, so you know exactly what you’re getting before you buy it.

Their Spring 2010 collection is called “Reverie,” and features six colors, including a cool grey, a bright red and even orange.  (I kind of want to rock the Gwin shade, but my boss would kill me.)

I still want to try their polish remover and Color Lock System (the less chipping, the better) but for the moment, I’m happy with my six-dollar purchase.  Maybe I can do orange on weekends?

Which nail colors are you into right now?

Do you have a favorite brand of polish, and is it eco-friendly?