Is Pocahontas just another Disney Princess? The Importance of Environmental Studies

We teach our kids not to litter and our salaries push us to save water, but in general, most people have a casual attitude towards protecting the Earth and its resources.

In the past few decades, people have started becoming concerned with preserving natural resources but only because we have been warned that we may be depleting the resources we so depend on. Images of homeless polar bears are being pushed out as warning signals to scare people into caring.

But temporary concern isn’t enough. There has never really been a mainstream cultural ethos about preservation and stewardship. Our kids are read stories about Native Americans and their strong ties to the Earth and their resourcefulness, but how much can they relate to? Pocahontas is now just another Disney princess. So here is the question – has technology placed another barrier between the Earth and us?

Ever since the Industrial Revolution, man has been in a race – against himself. To develop a newer, better, faster, more efficient technology to replace previous ones and to provide a replacement for human labor. We’ve grown from a hunter-gatherer society to an agrarian society to one where three year olds play Angry Birds on iPads.

While technology and “development” are moving us further away from tilling soil, we are moving even further away from understanding how our actions impact the Earth.  The concept of the “ecological footprint” is now gaining traction.

In the past decade, Environmental Studies has become more prominent as a major at colleges and even as class in schools. Documentaries such as Planet Earth and the Blue Planet have influenced students to become bio majors and start nature appreciation groups on campus. Companies are also integrating environmental conservation into their corporate social responsibility programs.

Why is this important? Not because by the time we become senior citizens the glaciers will have melted or Venice will be submerged, but because we have to take on the mantel of passing on lessons not only to the next generations, but also to our contemporaries.

Cultivating a respect for the Earth is up to us. Stewardship is an ideology that maintains that humans are responsible for protecting the Earth for all living beings, instead of taking advantage of it and leaving the other organisms our leftovers.

And being environmentally and ecologically responsible is for our own good too, not just for endangered species. Our health, our economies, our development, our future all depend on our current response to environmental issues.

Why do we care? We at Maxim believe in stewardship and we believe in protecting women’s health. Our products are consciously made so as to pose less dangerous side effects to our environment and women’s health!

Help us protect the Earth and chip in any way you can. If you’re in college, take an environmental science class. Or, write a blog about environmental issues that concern you (there are dozens of topics from overfishing to more frequent earthquakes). Watch the gorgeous documentaries above and share them with your friends. Contribute time or donate money to an NGO working to preserve our ecological systems. And share your ideas of how to help with us by commenting below!

Read Full Post »

4 Fun Not-so-Average Summer Activities: Good for your Physical & Mental Health

You may be tired of the sun and sweat, but in several weeks when the cold breeze is messing up your “do”, blowing your skirt up to reveal your hiney, and forcing you to cover your perfectly browned shoulders with a jacket, you’ll regret not having done some of the following activities.

Taking advantage of summer’s beautiful weather, we went out and found the 4 most exciting activities that both allow you to challenge and tone your body, but to also bask in the sun!

1. Zip Lining

Zip lining is suspending yourself in a harness (much more comfortable than a metal diaper) and letting a pulley system of ropes fly you across lakes, trees, or just the plain ground. Agility required depends on the zip line course, but this sport is really fun for anyone: you, your grandma, your kids, and your husband.

Although once considered an exotic activity only found in countries with rainforest canopies, raging rivers, and towering forests, zip lining has become very popular in the US. Several parks and lodges offer the amenity, although we’re hoping one day they’ll build one in Manhattan so we can indulge in our secret Spiderman fantasies.

2. Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is more about the experience than having strength, although once you climb your feet and leg muscles will be steely. As one climber put it: “For me personally, it’s all about discovering the natural world around and within you. Climbing will bring you to lots of lovely places and will definitely give you a unique perspective on the world below you.”

Transcending and challenging gravity is an experience like nothing else – test your body and your mind and see the limitations. This is one of those sports that teach you about yourself and the people around you.

Rock climbing is about knowing your body and how to balance it or reposition it. Women who do Pilates or yoga will be able to scale mountain walls like Tom Cruise. Scary, maybe, but thrilling? Yes! If you’re into this, check out our post on Arches National Park and consider scaling those surfaces For information, climbing spots and answers, check out rockclimbing.com. Always go with experienced climbers, use the proper protective gear, and take a camera!

3. Paddleboarding

Paddleboarding is one of the fastest growing sports in the US. Popular in Hawaii and recently featured in an episode of Shark Tank, this sport makes those of us who are athletically challenged feel and look as sexy as surfers!

Paddleboards are like surfboard but longer, wider, and sturdier. The difference from surfing? You stand up on the board and use a paddle (similar to those used in white water rafting) to move along the waves. You can dodge and duck waves or just ride them and feel like Queen of the World. Check out these tips for beginners.

The best part? Paddleboarding can be done on almost any body of water. Whether you go to the beach and try it on the ocean or on a small lake, paddleboards can be used anywhere. And the health benefits are amazing. It offers a full body workout and is becoming a favorite cross-training activity.

4. White Water Rafting

This is my personal absolute favorite summer activity! Imagine being sweaty in a black, plastic dinghy floating along a river. Suddenly, your paddle feels resistance! You start racing down the river; you’re flung into your fellow passengers, getting kissed by ice cold drops of water until you hit a whirlpool and you’re drenched in a delicious bath of tingling water.

Ahh. There are some great rivers to raft in the US and they all have varying classes of rapids so if you’re a beginner (or you think you’re a pro, like me) you can find a passage to raft. Some call North America a haven for rafting – close your eyes, point to a place on the map and you’ll probably find a great river to run within a hundred miles.

And, trust me. After a day of rafting your arms will feel so strong you’ll be inviting everyone to your personal “Sun’s out, Guns Out” show! If you prefer solitude or a sport that gives you the “one with nature” feeling, try kayaking instead! Kayaks are great for still water as well and your abs will thank you…later.

These four sports are great not only for developing and toning muscle, but also for training the mind. Discipline, patience, dedication, and fluidity are all things that we need for mental peace. It helps in our professional and personal life to be able to take things in stride and focus and prioritize.

And they are great ways to get in touch with nature. Many of us forget the beauty of the world around us, outside cities. Caught up in work and our relationships, we find it difficult to find the quiet that nature offers.

The earth offers thrills and lessons that are irreplaceable. Maxim encourages women to get back to nature; as a company we value the Earth and do our best to be eco-friendly. Our products are environmentally friendly and thus, healthier for women. Because we don’t use dioxins in the creation of our products, we protect nature and women’s health. So, go outside, have fun, and reap the mental benefits of summer activity!

Read Full Post »

Are you an online shopper or do you prefer actual stores?

I always made an adventure out of hanging with my girls and going shopping. There is something very exciting about getting dressed to go shopping with your best friends. In fact, I can firmly state it is therapeutic.  There isn’t a word to describe how it feels to try on a new dress or a pair of shoes and twirl in the mirror with your friends starring in awe.

Online shopping is just as exhilarating but on a different level.  For one, I like gifts, so ordering stuff for myself makes me feel like it is my birthday because I love receiving packages and I love sales. Online shopping is a personal experience. You don’t need to find an outfit to wear out, you save money on transportation and the stores are 24/7 — it’s like shopping heaven. Initially, I did my online shopping around the holidays (to avoid the rush and get deals) but now I find myself buying everything online: food, furniture, makeup, shoes (especially shoes) or whatever my heart desires at the moment. I can shop at 3am or 3pm from my favorite stores and they (retailers) always seduce me with the sales that nobody in their right mind could resist.

So are you an online shopper or do you prefer to go into stores? This is a tough question for me that typically depends on the occasion. If I have an event I want a new dress for and I know well in advance- I look online first then go into the store. However, in hopes of enhancing your online shopping experience, our affiliate’s site, www.OrganicPeak.com is offering a 10% discount on all Maxim Hygiene items in honor of the site’s updated design and improved platform. Enter code NEWLOOK upon checkout to receive the discount. Happy shopping!

Read Full Post »

Work up a sweat in your backyard!

What better way to spend a nice, sunny day than in the garden???  Not only is it rewarding to make your backyard look as nice as possible, but it also has many benefits you might not be aware of.

For instance, it’s therapeutic, almost zen-like in its attention to detail and constancy.  It’s also a good form of exercise, a really fun way to burn off calories.  Every June 6^th, we celebrate National Gardening Exercise Day by getting into the yard and planting some flowers, maybe even planting some vegetables for National Fruits and Veggies month, pulling out the weeds, watering the plants, and raking up the debris.

This June 6^th, the Maxim Hygiene Green Team is encouraging a gardening spectacular.  Instead of or in addition to going to the gym, get out in your yard, or maybe even the community garden in your neighborhood, and help out.

We women must enjoy the outdoors, and get our hands dirty in the fruits of life.  Dig and plant, weed and water, shovel and rake. It’s all part of the exercise associated with gardening, and its all rewarding fun.

Gardening is not just an exercise, but it’s also an art.  Try to create a structure or design to your plantings, matching colors or offsetting them.  Maybe, build a separate garden for your veggies, and then, next year, you can choose what you liked best or experiment with other kinds of plants.

You can keep it relatively inexpensive by buying seeds from any local grocery stores.  Watch yourself build up a sweat as you paint Mother Earth with your favorite of Her pieces.

Something I love to do is hang a birdhouse in my backyard.  Sometimes blue jays or robins appear, and it’s breathtaking to see them find the food, and fly into the greenery of my backyard.  They just add to the liveliness of the flowers.

Never gardened before?  Not much of a horticulturist?  Check out the Garden Hobbies website for some helpful info as to how to get started.  And, as always, check out www.maximhy.com for more info about our all-natural and organic cotton feminine products.

Read Full Post »

Friday (Saturday) Fun Day: Wild by Nature Summer Kickoff Event

 

 

Friday Fun Day actually took place this Saturday when Maxim Hygiene’s Julia and Sacha headed East to the Hamptons to attend Wild By Nature’s Summer Kickoff event at its Hampton Bays location. The girls enjoyed the beautiful weather as they spoke to women about the importance of using organic and natural tampons and pads. Everyone applauded our demonstrations that help illuminate the fact that our products are chlorine/dioxin free, synthetic free, and wood pulp free!

Be sure to visit a Wild by Nature store near you to pick up some of your favorite Maxim Hygiene items. To learn where else you can buy our products, visit the Where to Buy section of our website here. And of course, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! The Green Queens are always here to talk to you!

Read Full Post »

Friday Fun Day – Earth Day Style

Hello all!

It’s our favorite time of the week…Friday Fun Day! For those of you who don’t know,Friday Fun Day is a way for the Maxim Hygiene team to come together at the end of a busy week and have a little fun. Each week, a different member of our team will be in charge of creating a fun way to start our Friday. This week, however, Friday Fun Day just happened to fall on the Fun-est Days of all: EARTH DAY!! It almost goes without saying that this Friday Fun Day, the Maxim Hygiene Team took time to celebrate the Earth. We did so at Earth Day’s Times Square Event. 

Although New York City may not be the most natural of environments, a lot of really great and innovative initiatives have been made towards sustainability despite the urban atmosphere. Don’t get us wrong, we’re hopeful that even more steps are taken to not only improve the climate of Manhattan, but also the world. That doesn’t mean we can’t applaud the efforts that are already in place.

In fact, just last night Maxim Hygiene’s Green Queens Julia and Rebecca went to a Green Drinks NYC event. These are monthly events organized to unite NYC environmental pioneers in a way that celebrates positive environmental developments and community. Even in a chaotic city like New York there are still a lot of folks with great values and philosophies, much like those of Maxim Hygiene’s. The event got us super psyched for Earth Day and the events of today.

We celebrated Earth Day in the heart of Times Square at the Earth Day NY event. Earth Day NY is a non-profit organization that hosts annual Earth Day celebrations in the Big Apple. The event began with a “fashion show” of sustainable cars. They even had an electric DeLorean!! Learn more about the cars here.

Then, visitors got to navigate through a path of exhibitors such as Sprout Watches, The EPA, Silk Milk, Honest Tea and more! All this earthly love right in the heart of America’s busiest city!! It was quite a sight!

Maxim Hygiene's Julia with the Sprout Watches Corn Mascot!

Needless to say, the Maxim Hygiene team was thrilled to participate in an event that honored a day which honors our very planet. Happy Earth Day to all!!

Read Full Post »