Green Reading August 11, 2009

A friend of mine let me borrow a book she just picked up called:

365 Ways to Live Green by Diane Gow McDilda

 

At first glance I fell in love with it simply because it was printed on 100% recycled paper!    It also qualifies for BGSG find because it is relatively cheap, on Amazon it’s listed for $7.95 and on Overstock it’s going for $6.65.

The next day I was able to sit down and read it.  It is a very quick read.  (Keep in mind, I’m not an avid reader.  So if I can get through a book in one afternoon anyone can!)  She (Diane Gow McDilda) doesn’t overload the book with crazy eco-lingo that “regular” people won’t understand and the book is filled with very simple and quick changes a person can make right now to start living green!

For example:  Did you know that a car idling for more than a minute or two uses more gas than the act of starting a car?

The book covers everything from your thought processes to at work, from in the yard to driving your car, from eating to pet care, etc.

I definitely recommend this book to all newly green peeps or anyone who doesn’t know where to start!

Product Review: Natural Baby Organics August 10, 2009

A great little company called Natural Baby Organics found me through my sister (and blogger) So Much More Than A Mom, and allowed me to do a product review for them.  Anyone can find their organic baby products in Target stores around the country and on line, now! 

 

Not only was I excited about this chance….but my two rugrats were too!  My 5 year old son and 3 year old daughter LOVE taking baths and even more than the bath itself, they love the introduction of new and yummy smelling bath items!

 

I was able to pick my product for this review and decided on the Vanilla & Tangerine body & hair wash.  I’ve got to tell you….it smells great!  I want to taste it!  (But, I won’t.) 

 

Any who, delivery day comes and I run frantically to the door as always (I LOVE packages!).  My kids are following behind me, desperately trying to guess what may have been delivered.  I didn’t tell them that we had fun bath wash coming.  Not only to help the surprise…..but mostly to help me avoid the constant:  “When’s it coming?  Did it come yet?  When do we get the new bath stuff?”  If you have kids, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about!

 

So, I open the door and there I see my cute little present package and we all run into the kitchen so I can get a knife to cut through the tape…….we open the box and there we see………….Styrofoam peanuts?!

 

 

Polystyrene or Styrofoam is found in egg cartons, carry out containers, disposable plates/cups/bowls, craft supplies, some toys, and foam insulation.  It does not biodegrade.  It does however chemically react with heat and some liquids in the landfill, leaching it’s toxins into the ground and water.  This water ends up in streams, rivers, oceans, etc.  It gets fed to our cattle, pigs, fish, etc.  Yummy!  Styrofoam is bad! 

 

Some places can recycle it but it is not very common due to the foam/air aspect.  When it is recycled very little is recoverable.  I found out today that my area does not recycle plastic #6/polystyrene.

 

So, for my product review…….the soap is great!  The bottle used for keeping it in is #2 (a “good” plastic that can easily be recycled and has no known human health impacts).   But I can’t help but feel disappointed.  Here is a great company on the surface, using natural and organic ingredients that consumers buy for the health of their children and impact on the Earth…..and their efforts are almost pointless, when they ship their great product with possibly the worst option in terms of eco-health.  They couldn’t have used old newspaper for shipping?  Overall, I give them a 6 out of 10 because of the packaging.  Otherwise, they would have had a full 10.

UPDATE!

I did ask about their decision to use Styrofoam and this is what they said:

“We use recycled peanuts and when we receive peanuts from other companies that are sending us supplies we re-use those as well as the boxes. If we do not have any boxes to use then we are forced to use new ones.”

The good folks over at Natural Baby Organics are open to new ideas for packaging…..do you have any suggestions?

Organic Baby Giveaway!- Contest Closed July 8, 2009

 UPDATE:  Thank you all so much for your interest in the contest and all of your entries!  The winner is………….

KHRYS!

 

My very generous friends over at Affordable Baby Organics have allowed me to host a giveaway for TWO of their very cool products!

 

The Prizes:

Super soft 100% certified organic cotton short sleeve onesie in white. Features a lap shoulder neckline for easy dressing, a 3 snap closure, and low-impact dyes.

    

Simple black, grey, and white stripes make these Stone Organic BabyLegs a must have. Your sense of style will be etched in stone with these versatile organic BabyLegs in Stone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lucky winner will receive one white organic cotton onesie and one pair of organic baby legs in stone, making a complete outfit for your organic baby!  (Winner will need to specify size 6-12 months or 12-18 months.)

 

 

 

  

What are “baby legs”?

 

A must have for busy moms, BabyLegs are multi-purpose! They protect knees while crawling, make diaper changes easy, and keep legs warm while diapers are off. They are fashionable under skirts, shorts, or just with a bodysuit. They are also a fun addition to dance and sports uniforms or costumes. They have a variety of uses. – Affordable Baby Organics

 

Why I love Affordable Baby Organics?

1.  Because they are AFFORDABLE ORGANIC clothing for babies!  Finally! 
2. They also ship their orders the same or next day via USPS First Class for a speedy delivery.
3. I have had nothing but wonderful communications with them!
4. FREE SHIPPING TO ALL U.S. ORDERS!
5. As a gift to my readers…….a 10% discount!  Enter this code at check out:  BeGreenSaveGreenBlog

  

Here’s how to WIN:

• Leave a (brief) comment to this post about why organics are important to you & your baby.

• Bonus Entry if you leave a link on your twitter page sharing this contest.  Then post permalink back here.

• Bonus Entry if you post a link on your blog sharing this contest.  Then post the link back here.

Contest Details:

• This contest starts on 7/8/09 and will run until 11:59pm on 7/22/09.   All entries must be received by then. 
• The winner will be chosen at random, notified on 7/23/09,  and will then need to provide shipping information.  
• Prizes will be shipped by Affordable Baby Organics directly.
• US residents only.

GOOD LUCK!

       Baby Organics at Affordable Prices!

Is Clean Energy Available To You? July 7, 2009

Well, if you live in Illinois, Maryland, or the District of Columbia it is!  Through Blue Star Energy. 

I personally compared the quote I received to my current Com Ed charges and they are a match!  On top of that Blue Star Energy offers a 5% discount to new customers for the first year.  AND Blue Star uses the existing Com Ed lines to deliver the energy to your home.  Did I forget to mention where they get their energy from?  THE FREAKING WIND!!

How awesome is that?!

How does it work?

The wind energy is not actually sent to your home per say, however it is routed into “the grid”.  This in turn, lessons your community’s dependence on nuclear and coal energy.

What is “the grid”?

Grid energy storage is used to manage the flow of electricity in a power grid. For large-scale load levelling on an interconnected electrical system, electric energy producers send low value off-peak excess electricity over the electricity transmission grid to temporary energy storage sites that become energy producers when electricity demand is greater. This reduces the cost of peak demand electricity by making off-peak energy available for use during peak demand without having to provide excess generation capacity that would not be used most of the day.

In addition, grid-connected intermittent energy sources such as photovoltaicand wind turbine users can use the electric power network to absorb surplus produced and meet needs during periods when the intermittent source is not available through the use of net metering. Effectively the intermittent source displaces energy that would have been produced by other sources. The grid connected system does not store energy on behalf of the intermittent source, instead it relies on the load following capability of other generating units. That works fine at low penetration levels (i.e., when intermittent sources provide only a small fraction of total electricity on the grid), because the grid had already handled a similar variability in electricity demand. At high penetration levels, however, grid energy storage becomes necessary to absorb the peak solar and wind outputs, when they exceed load demand. Solar and wind are non-dispatchable; they need the grid to accept them whenever they are available.

-Wikipedia

Click here to find your clean energy provider:  The US Department of Energy

Jet Dry July 7, 2009

I was talking with my very dear friend over at www.itsajaimething.com and we had a little green discussion about Jet-Dry.  It does what it is supposed to do, that is rinses your dishes “clean”.  But, is it safe? 

First thing I did this morning was research this popular product and as usual I started with the Jet-Dry MSDS sheet.  It doesn’t take long to read and please make your own conclusions about the information listed.

Personally I found it interesting that the handling precautions include wearing non-permeable gloves and goggles.  Really?!  Yes.  Do you put on safety gear when loading your dishwasher?  I would love to know how many of you think it’s strange that the manufacturer of a product that “cleans” the things we EAT off of, suggest that we actually wear gloves and goggles!  This is insane to me.  Let me say it again, gloves & goggles!  This stuff goes on our spoons, plates, glasses, forks, sippy cups, etc.  and then those things go into our mouths!  Are ya with me?!

Furthermore, I was a bit alarmed at two other things.  One, there is no “data/information available” regarding it’s eco-toxicity or aquatic toxicity.  But it does say, “Do not allow material to contaminate ground water system.”  Strange.  Two, it doesn’t say specifically if any of it’s contents are carcinogens or not.  The MSDS sheet simply says, “Not listed as carcinogenic by OSHA, NTP, or IARC.”  Interesting, but  I guess it is still better than had they said it is listed as a carcinogen. 

So, what are our options for a spot free rinse that won’t make us sick or burn our eyes or kill all the fish with our contaminated water, you ask?  I’ll give you one guess! 

VINEGAR

Simply pour white vinegar directly into the same opening you would use for Jet-Dry.  That’s it!  Not only can you get one gallon of white vinegar for under $3 but you are actually eliminating the spots with a natural sanitizer (free of chlorine)!  The vinegar over time will also get rid of any hard water build up in the dishwasher itself.  Gotta love it!    Finally, your dishes won’t smell anymore.  Have you ever noticed the chemically (yes I just made up that word) smell on your plates and glasses?  It’s there.

Happy Birthday America! July 2, 2009

Got Nuts?! June 30, 2009

Soap nuts contain saponins, a natural surfactant. They have been used for washing for thousands of year by various peoples, such as the Native Americans.  Today, soap berries are being considered for commercial use in cosmetics and detergents, among many other products.  Soap nuts, especially are used medically as an expectorant, emetic, contraceptive, and for treatment of excessive salivation, epilepsy, chlorosis, migraines, and diabetes.  Studies show that saponin from soap nuts inhibits tumor cell growth and the progression of AIDS.

Soap nuts are among the list of herbs and minerals in Ayurveda.  They are a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic shampoos and cleansers. They are used in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for eczema, psoriasis, and for removing freckles. Soap nuts have gentle insecticidal properties and are traditionally used for removing lice from the scalp.

Soap nuts are antimicrobial and are beneficial for septic systems and greywater.  Soap nuts are used in the remediation of contaminated soil. They are used by jewelers, especially in India and Indonesia, to remove the tarnish from silver and other precious metals.

- Wikipedia

I recently discovered a vendor at my local farmers market selling “soap nuts”.  On my first visit, I thought:  “Wow, that’s weird.”  But the following weekend I thought I’d give them a try.  To my surprise they worked just as well as store bough detergent but without all the extra smelly suds and build up on my clothes.

Simply put 3-5 soap nuts in a fabric bag and toss in the washing machine with your dirty laundry.  This will act as your detergent and fabric softener, saving you tons of cash!  Three to five nuts will work for 4-6 loads of laundry.  When they can’t be used any more simply toss them in your composter!  Yay!  Very little environmental impact especially when grown organically. 

(They still are shipped to the states from other countries.  Leaving a carbon footprint behind.  The good thing is though, by purchasing organic soap nuts or soap berries we are helping to support third world countries like Nepal where some of the nuts/berries come from!)

If you get a second, please check out Yoreganics.com and help support a small local business at the same time!

Bleach Alternatives June 29, 2009

Bleach and Bleach Alternatives

Chlorine bleach is highly caustic (it can burn the skin and eyes), and it can be fatal if swallowed. After it leaves your drain, it can release organochlorines into the environment. Organochlorines are suspected carcinogens as well as neurological, reproductive, and immune system toxins.

Keep in mind that there are safe, effective alternatives to chlorine bleach. Healthier options are peroxide-based bleach or quaternary ammonia. Borax is also a great alternative to bleach. See the cleaning recipes below for ways to use borax.

Try out these alternative homemade cleaning recipes!

 

All Purpose Cleaner

• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 2 tsp. borax
• 3 1/2 cups hot water
• 20 drops of antibacterial essential oil (lemon, rose, mint)
• 1/4 cup liquid dish soap
• Mix ingredients in a 32 oz. spray bottle (add dish soap last!). The vinegar smell will dissipate.

Window Cleaner

• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. liquid soap or detergent
• 2 cups water

Mold & Mildew Cleaner

• Mix equal parts vinegar and water.
• Spray and wipe clean.

Carpet Spot Remover

• Blot spot immediately with water.
• Sprinkle with baking soda, cornstarch, or borax and let dry.
• Wash with club soda and vacuum.
• Or, combine ingredients in a spray bottle and shake to mix.

 

*All information posted here is courtesy of the Oregon Environmental Council.  Thanks OEC!!

Help Your Freezer Run Efficiently June 26, 2009

 

Recycle your own milk jugs to help your freezer & fridge run more efficiently!  A stocked fridge/freezer runs better than an empty or over stocked one.  If you have some empty space, fill it with a milk jug 3/4 full of water.  It basically serves as a giant ice pack once frozen.  Then you can move it into the fridge (or rotate a couple of them) to fill any gaps in there.

As an added bonus to not running your appliance so hard you will save some cash on your electric bill.  This will also help buy you some extra time in the event of a power outage!

Make Your Own Non-Toxic Eco Friendly Cleaners May 25, 2009

I have been doing this for months now and not only have I saved A TON of $ but I am so proud of the fact that by eliminating the toxins in my home I have improved the air quality and safety for my family!  Some may find this to be extreme, but I look at it as responsible.  Extreme is paying nearly $10 for some smelly stuff in a fun plastic bottle just for the sake of making your mid-western home smell like the ocean at the cost of your families health.

Here are some of my favorite recipes:

 

Fabric Softener

Large bucket for mixing

Funnel

1c baking soda

6c white vinegar

6c + 1c water

Your choice of clear essential oil

Add baking soda and 1 cup of water to bucket (don’t worry about dissolving). 

Next, add in 6 cups of white vinegar* to dissolve the baking soda-it will bubble, this is why you need the large bucket for mixing.

When the bubbles have mostly stopped add in the remaining 6 cups of water and finish with 15-20 drops of  your favorite clear essential oil.  (You need clear to prevent any staining of your laundry.)

Pour your fabric softener into a clean bottle (you can recycle your old fabric softener bottle for this).  Add 1 cup to each load of laundry the same way you would if it was store bought.

* Don’t worry about the odor of the vinegar, it will not stick to your clothing!

 

Toilet Cleaner

1/4c baking soda

1c white vinegar

2tsp water

2tsp tea tree (Melaleuca) oil

Mix in a bowl and pour into toilet bowl.  Use toilet brush to scrub clean.

 

Wood Polish

1tsp lemon juice

1/4c olive or vegetable oil

Apply to rag or spray on wood surface.  Wipe off.  (May be good on a salad too!)

 

All Purpose Cleaner

1/2c vinegar

1/4 baking soda

2 litters of water

Mix and store in a clean bottle.  Spray on most surfaces from the kitchen to the bath and in between!  (DO NOT use on marble, granite, or grout.)  Feel free to add any essential oil you like.  Again, don’t worry about the vinegar smell; it dissipates quickly!

 

Have fun and experiment with your own recipes.  You can also be proud of the nontoxic contribution to our water supply.

Baby Wipes May 25, 2009

Did you know the average child will have around 5,000 diaper changes before they are potty trained?  Let’s say a #1 diaper will use 1 wipe and a #2 diaper will use 4-8 wipes (depending on the ick-factor).  Not to mention all the other uses for baby wipes…..travel hand & face cleaning, small mess clean up, impromptu “wipe bath” on hot days, etc.  (Any mother will know what that means!)  That’s a whole lot of wipes in the garbage!

In fact, I found a quote from someone who did the research/math:

Karen Klages of The Chicago Tribune wrote:“If someone were to load all of the disposable wipes purchased by consumers in North America last year onto 18-wheel semis, the caravan would number 9,000 trucks and stretch for 68 miles. And it would be carrying 83,000 tons of these seemingly ephemeral cloths which are anything but fleeting.”

Holy crap!  (Did you get the pun?!)  Furthermore, wipes are NOT flush-able and do not disintegrate like toilet paper does.  They are made from non-woven fabrics like cotton, wool, silk, and polyester.  Then prepared with water, alcohol, preservatives, and fragrance.  And finally, stored in plastic containers to prevent dry out.  Think this has an impact on landfills, air quality, and the water treatment facilities?  I do.

So, what do we do?  Make your own!!! 

 

Here’s the recipe:

 2 c water

2 Tbls organic baby wash

2 Tbls baby oil

You can store this mix for up to 2 weeks in a recycled wipe container.  To use the mix soak cut-up flannel fabric, wash cloths, or fabric wipes.  If you have a sensitive stomach (like me!) and don’t want to reuse/wash poopy wipes, you can cut a roll in half of strong paper towels (preferably recycled paper towels) and let that soak up the mix for an hour.  If you do this, first remove the center core.  The roll should be able to almost ”pop-up” for you, too.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with this recipe either.  Try 2 drops of tea tree or chamomile oil, 1/4 cup of aloe-vera gel, or substitute olive oil for the baby oil.

Eco Beauty May 26, 2009

Have you ever thought of what’s in your beauty products?  We all are concerned about what goes into our bodies, why not be concerned for what we put on our bodies?  The average woman uses 10 different products on her face daily.  (Think about it…..cleanser, exfoliating scrub, mask, toner, moisturizer, eye cream, foundation, power, eye make-up, lip stick,  etc.)  What’s in all of this stuff?  Right off the bat, I can tell you without any research they all (or most of them) have water, alcohol, preservatives (usually a chemical close to formaldehyde, yes formaldehyde!), dyes, and perfumes.  Mmmmm.

Why not try something that is natural?  Something that is good for your skin and won’t hurt our water supply or the eco systems the water drains into.  A mask that will improve the quality of your skin with vitamins and minerals rather than chemicals and toxins.  The best part is…..it’s CHEAP!!

Here are two recipes I found for avocado masks:

Santa Barbara’s Dry Skin Masque

Beat the yolk of an egg until it is light and frothy, then add the mashed pulp of a half avocado, blending it well (you may use a blender at this point). Cleanse your face thoroughly before using this masque (or any masque). Spread the avocado mixture over the face and neck evenly; relax on a slant board or bed for about 20 minutes. Remove with clear tepid water and a face cloth, followed by a rinse of cold water or a mild skin lotion. The result should be a marked improvement in skin texture, and all-around revitalizing.

Santa Monica’s Oily Skin Masque

Put the white of an egg, a teaspoon of lemon juice, and the mashed pulp of a half avocado into a blender. In seconds, you should have a lovely green mixture. Wash your face and neck thoroughly, then apply masque evenly on those areas. Relax for 20 minutes; remove with tepid water and a face cloth. Follow with cold astringent or skin tonic.

-Pioneer Thinking

For best results try using organic avocados and eggs.  (Free of pesticides, antibiotics, steroids, growth hormones, etc.)  You can keep these masks tightly sealed in the fridge for up to 48 hours.  Have fun and try to experiment with other ingredients like, tea tree oil or lavender oil for antimicrobial properties and a great scent!  Or add honey* for moisture.

*Note:  There is no such thing as “organic honey”.  Honey bees can fly for miles exposing themselves to pesticides and insecticides before returning home to the hive.  The bee keepers have very little (if any) control over this.

Jumeau Bag Giveaway!! May 26, 2009

Take a second to go on over to my sister’s blog and enter her contest for a $75 gift card towards a Jumeau bag!

Why do I like Jumeau?  They have an entire line of GREEN bags and the best part is……they look good!

About Jumeau

From the beginning Jumeau was designed differently.  Our focus has always been on premium function with exceptional materials.  Everything we design complements your body.  While creating products that work with your contours we also use exclusive materials more commonly found in the most expensive technical bags and packs.  This combination of premium materials, premium design, and premium craftsmanship creates a distinct product.Jumeau also uses sustainable materials and sources recycled materials when possible to aid our vision of being Green friendly.  We stand by our products 100% that’s why we offer a 45 day no questions asked satisfaction guarantee and a 5 year replacement warranty.  You won’t need another bag; so go ahead and feel good about owning a Jumeau.-Jumeau web site

 

The bag pictured here……is only $55!!!!  (Technically, not a BGSG cheap find….but a girls gotta have exceptions for responsible fashion, right!)

 

How To Buy Essential Oils May 27, 2009

Thanks so much to Gabrielle over at healingvibes.com I can now share with you some tips for purchasing your own essential oils.

 

Grading of essential oils

  

There isn’t a lot of regulation in the essential oil industry.  For that reason, labeling can be confusing.   In general, however, there are 5 grades of essential oils you should be aware of. 

1. “Perfume quality” – are the lowest quality oils.  These are over processed, chemical laden and highly adulterated oils.   Often they appear as “fragrance” on labels.  Note:  when you read a label and see “fragrance” you can be sure that the scent is synthetically made – even “natural fragrance.”

2. “Pure” – this means the oil was not diluted with a lesser quality oil.  For example lavender oilis often cut with lavandin, a hybrid plant that has much less therapeutic value.   Pure does not mean that that the oil has no chemicals added.  It also could be 75% vegetable and 25% essential oil and still be labeled “Pure.”

3. “Natural” – this means that the oil was not adulterated with vegetable oil or chemicals like propylene glycol or alcohol.  It also indicates that the oil comes from the plant’s first distillation.

4. “Complete” – this means this is an essential oil product with nothing removed or added.  It also means that the oil was distilled at low heat and pressure, to conserve all therapeutic properties.   These oils have not been stripped or re-distilled.

5. “Genuine,” “Grade A” – these are the best oils.  Great care is taken at every step of the process, from growing the plants to distillation.  See more below.

6.  Therapeutic-grade essential oils - Even beyond “Genuine” or “Grade A” oils are Therapeutic-grade” essential oils. Therapeutic-grade oils are simply the highest quality oils available.  They are produced from plants that are organically grown and harvested at exactly the right time of their flowering and at precisely the right time of the day. The fresh plant material is then immediately distilled using pure water with low heat and low pressure in stainless steel distillation chambers. 

~

Gabrielle Souczek

Clinical Aromatherapist

Certified Raindrop Technique Practitioner

Make sense?  Good, now go out and experiment with some of your favorite scents!  (And, if you can’t afford the highest quality oil…that’s fine.  I imagine most of us just want fun scents.)  If you are purchasing these oils, however, for anti-microbial properties or for the effects of the aromas (uplifting, energizing, relaxing, calming, etc.) then I would put a little extra money into those.

I have my own store!!! June 11, 2009

Wahoo!!  It took a while for me to figure out how to download Adobe Flashplayer…..long boring story.  But, I did it!  And now…..drum roll please:

This is my “Tree Lover Messenger Bag”

Follow the link to see more!!!!

Thanks for checking it out! 

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