Written on
April 1, 2010 by
Amber
Last month I decided to try no poo. It’s short for ‘no shampoo’, and it means that I’ve ditched my traditional hair cleaning products. And I am not alone. No poo’s following is growing, and people choose it for a variety of reasons.
Why did I choose to give up shampoo? Modern shampoos typically contain artificial colors and fragrances, and a variety of ingredients that haven’t been specifically tested for safety. Shampoo and conditioner come in plastic bottles, and there are problems with recycling plastic. Also, as compared to the more environmentally-friendly organic shampoos and conditioners I was using, this solution is super-cheap.
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Hemp and raffia clothing? A shirt made from recycled plastic bottles? Could such a product look like anything other than a potato sack? I was dubious…until I found LiViTY Outernational, an apparel company who is, in their words, ‘110% for the planet’.
I recently had the opportunity to try several of their products, including the Queen V-Neck in moss and the argyle sock in gray.* And trust me, the tee looked nothing like a potato sack! It’s fitted and flattering and very soft. The socks are made of a blend of hemp, organic cotton, and Lycra, and I’m definitely a fan!
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Written on
January 25, 2010 by
DianaP
I’m a food writer and a gardener. I never thought I’d say that — even to myself, let alone out loud — and yet, here I am. Late January is blowing in with wind and ice and seed catalogs galore are gracing my mailbox — and I am itching to dig in the dirt.
I want nothing more than to get outside, feel a warm breeze on my skin and to sink my hands into the dark, heavily composted soil that will (hopefully) nourish a large part of our sustenance in the coming year. Unfortunately, I was born, raised and continue to live in The North; a frustratingly cold place where such wonderful endeavors cannot be undertaken without engaging in epic futility until well into April or May.
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Written on
November 2, 2009 by
Amber
Early on in my green journey I learned about all the chemicals that lurk in our beauty products. According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics there are phthalates in fragrances, lead in lipstick, and potential carcinogens in baby bath products. To be clear, the jury is still out on exactly what effect, if any, these chemicals actually have on human health. But speaking as a mom, I would rather err on the side of caution and avoid exposing myself and my children to potentially harmful substances.
Once I learned about the potential toxins in many beauty products, the search was on for safer alternatives.
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Written on
May 5, 2009 by
SusanC
As a birth and postpartum doula, and a natural parenting company owner who is expecting a baby in the next few weeks, I can’t help but write a post that mentions the “greenness” of homebirth.
I think that most of the time we focus on a lot of the other possible advantages to homebirth (such as lack of unnecessary interventions, comfortable atmosphere for the mother, and even affordability), but rarely mention how having a birth at home can also be a green choice for your family. So, I thought I would put together a few little green things to consider (which obviously should not be your soul reasons for choosing a homebirth, but they can’t hurt either):
– Less waste!
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Written on
April 29, 2009 by
SusanC
Much to my surprise, last week when I took my son to the park for a play-date I got a sunburn! I couldn’t believe that we are already in that season when I need to be thinking about protecting my skin from the sun. So, I thought that this week would be a good time to explore that topic a little further.
Many of us know that we need to be conscious of the kinds of products we are putting on our skin, but we don’t always know why or what to look for.
Well, let me help you get on the right track with your sunscreen!
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Written on
April 27, 2009 by
SusanC
So, you participated in Earth Hour and you went to an Earth Day celebration. Perhaps you’ve tried taking the bus or bringing your own bags to the grocery store, or maybe you’ve started recycling. And that is GREAT!
What a wonderful start, or addition to your already eco-friendly lifestyle! Whether you’re an eco-newbie or an eco-veteran, it’s all about taking it one step at a time.
But what step should you take next?
Once people start to “get it” I have exactly one suggestion for their next eco-move: “Put your money where your mouth is.”
Make sure your purchasing power is used, as much as possible, to support a sustainable and healthy lifestyle.
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Written on
April 24, 2009 by
SusanC
A giveaway courtesy of Swami Baby is a great way to end our week-long giveaway carnival, if you will, in celebration of Earth Day.
What exactly is Swami Baby?
Katie Holley, the founder and owner of this creative kiddo-centric business, is probably the best person to answer that question.
In her own words:
Swami Baby is a clothing line for infants and toddlers designed to give voice to our wise little ones.
As a yoga teacher and mother of three, I began to see that kids already possess much of what we as adults are striving to achieve; they have the innate ability to live in the present, to take time to enjoy life, to be aware of their surroundings, and to be direct.
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Written on
April 6, 2009 by
SusanC
Yes, you heard me, in addition to the last few weeks talking about using cloth for your kiddos, now I want to talk about cloth for you!
Alright, before you freak out and think, “Now this woman has totally lost it!” Hear me out!
Shouldn’t the same reasons we use for cloth diapering our little ones (reducing trash, avoiding toxins, saving money, pure comfort) be the reasons we consider using cloth for ourselves during that certain time of month?
Once again, I understand the aversion and used to have the same one! I used to think, “Wow, that is just way overboard and definitely only for hard-core hippie women.” Then I had my son and ended up using disposable pads for eight straight weeks after his birth.
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Written on
February 16, 2009 by
SusanC
This 5 Minutes For Going Green Great Green Review is brought to you by Pacific Northwest resident and new mom, Jenifer of Quarter Life Crisis. Read what she thought of her very comprehensive trial of Bummas, and then read on for details on how you can win a set for yourself!
When we found out I was pregnant with our first child last year, my husband and I decided early on that we were both committed to raising our baby as green as possible, which naturally led us down the predominantly-paved-in-plastic path to cloth diapering. When looking at the pros and cons of disposable versus cloth diapering, the decision to embrace the latter lifestyle was pretty much a no-brainer for us.
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