green is the new black

Green Gifts: Fabric Birds

2010-11-23T10:28:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Uses for Fabric Birds : July 20, 2009 by badhuman

Here's a super great gift and decorating idea for the holidays, and just in general really. Not only are they adorable, these birds are a great way to use up extra fabric scraps, too! I would love to have a whole Christmas tree of them. What better time to start this project than in July?!
Your most twitterific friends will be pleased to find one in their stocking.

final nesting spot, originally uploaded by annaleahart.

You know these birds right? They’ve been floating around blogland for over a year now and the pattern can be found for free here.

And while they are cute you may be asking yourself what you would do with them after you’ve made your own flock (because really could you make just one?) So here are ten creative ways to make those birds earn their keep.

1. Holiday Ornament. Probably the most common use of the birds they don’t have to be restricted to the Christmas tree they can also be used to celebrate Easter or Valentine’s Day.

fabric bird

Originally uploaded by Peapods

2. Mobile. This is probably the second most common use for these birds and you can see quite a few examples here.

Bird mobile in Elin’s room

Originally uploaded by Craft & Creativity

3. Wall Art aka a more grown up version of a mobile. I really like this idea and would like to make one for my own dining room.

4. Centerpiece or mantle decoration. Is your vase of bare branches looking a little bare dress it up with some birds.

Vögel1- Birds

Originally uploaded by lorelei-for-kids

5. Cat Toy. When stuffing add a little catnip and you will be your cats new best friend. It’s best to use a more durable fabric and double stitch so your cat doesn’t tear its new toy apart.

6. Lavender Sachet. Along the same lines add lavender and let your bird sweeten up your drawers.

7. Wreath. Spruce up your door everyday of the year with this cute fabric wreath.

fabric wreath in browns, blues, reds and pinks

Originally uploaded by Holland Fabric House

8. Cake Topper. How cute would these two look on top of a wedding cake and you can customize them for any color or style!

2 Birds

Originally uploaded by spoolsewing

9. Paper weight. Add some rice to your bird and he can hold down your important documents.

10. Pincushion. How cute would one of these guys look sewn to a wristband?

Kaffe Fassett Bird

Originally uploaded by melingo wagamama

Can you think of anything I missed?

I certainly can't! Keep up the good work.

we moved!

2010-10-25T14:31:00.001-04:00

Those who live in a glass bottle house...

2010-10-25T10:56:00.000-04:00

This is just too awesome!

Russian Woman Builds House of 5,000 Glass Bottles

Photos: via siryoga Besides shipping pallets, milk and beer crates, glass bottles are another building material that can be cheap, easily collected and reused, like in this house of 5,000 glass bottles built by a woman in Novoshakhtinsk, Russia....

Read the full story on TreeHugger

Saving in the L'eau

2010-10-22T10:55:00.000-04:00

Cheap and Easy Toilet Hacks That Will Save Water

On average, a person will use a toilet four times a day. That means your toilet uses about twelve gallons of water every 24 hours. And the more people in your house, the more water is going to be used up. In all, the toilet counts for about a third of your water usage. Worried that you may need to buy a new toilet? Don't be. You can hack your current toilet with these three easy methods...

The Toilet Dam
A toilet dam reduces the size of your tank by damming off some of the water. According to the product information, the toilet dam can save 2-3 gallons a flush. A toilet dam costs less than twenty dollars.
A Water Displacement System

The Toilet Tummy, Freddie Frog, Save-A-Flush and Hippo The Water Saver are all devices that simply displace some of the water in the toilet tank. Each one of these devices saves a different amount water and each machination works best in tanks of varying size. Hippo The Water Saver, for example, salvages three liters with every flush. The Hippo is made in England and costs less than ten pounds. (Roughly around 15 dollars at the time of writing.)
DIY Toilet Hack

You can displace water with items found around the home. You don't need to buy anything. A plastic bottle filled with pebbles can displace the water in your tank. This will save about a half a gallon with each flush. If you live near where pebbles are, the cost is only one bottle. (Ten cents deposit in some areas.) Keep the bottle away from the moving parts of the toilet.

More on Saving Water:

Like Rice? Embrace The MIRI Method And Conserve Water

5 More Eco Friendly Tips for Washing Dishes By Hand

Building an Efficient Bathroom (Video)

The Death of the Yoga Mat? from TreeHugger

2010-10-15T10:41:00.000-04:00

This summer I got pretty seriously into yoga again. I loved my instructor in college, Keirsha! The most amazingly calm, equalized human I'd ever met. I wanted to pour her energy into a cup of tea and just drink it down. I got so much from her class, even though it was just a basic yoga class for anyone who needed an extra credit hour. I have always gotten really into this kind of thing. I may have been next to the underground frat boys making jokes, but I really just let myself go and indulge in her class.

Once I gradutated, couldn't attend classes because of my then waitressing job. Now that I am home in the mornings, I go religiously Mondays and Thursdays to our local community center for yoga with an equally amazing instructor.

Here's something interesting I found on my a.m. RSS. I am so worried about the filth my mat picks up from the yoga floor...

The Death of the Yoga Mat?
from The New York Times
Authentic Hatha yoga is already pretty minimalist. Spotted in The New York Times style section, a small group of yogins is taking it further--opting to sun salute on straight up floor rather than on their sticky mat.
... They argue that yoga mats are over commercialized, bad for the environment and less hygienic.
...Read the full story on TreeHugger

Green Your Halloween: Trick-or-Treat!

2010-10-14T14:58:00.000-04:00

As a little girl, Halloween nite was second only to Christmas morning for me. Getting dressed up, staying out late and collecting a bunch of sweets? It didn't get too much better than that! Whether you're taking the kids out trick-or-treating or are the one staying in to pass out goodies, you can be green about it. Here's a few tips on how to be green on Halloween nite.

At Home

"Porch Light
Try a solar powered light this year to light up your porch. Or make sure to switch your porch light bulb to a CFL bulb, if you haven’t already done so.

Battery Operated
If you are using a Halloween decoration that needs batteries, like a moving hand in a candy bowl, use rechargeable batteries to keep it going. and use LED lights for decorating (source)".

Out on the Town

WALK!

If you're going to be eco- friendly this Hallowen, you'd better start by walking to your trick-or-treat destinations. If you live way out of town car pool with a bunch of families out to town.

In the Bag
If you're not already using a pillowcase, opt for a Chico bag like this limited edition Halloween one for $5. Contact greenhalloween@chicobag.com for sales information or click the picture to purchase. Promise me you won't buy the unnecessary candy buckets from WalMart (remember this at Easter, too)! They are wasteful and use plastic that just don't get me started.

Check your local fabric store for Halloween prints and sew up the sides to make your own! YOu can use both of these for years to come.

The Treats
One of the greatest horrors of Halloween is the incredible waste that those fun-sized candies create. Unfortunately, it has to be that way... for I don't know that I'd trust anyone with my (if I had one) child's life these days. Trust no one! In this crazy world our candy has to be individually wrapped for health purposes. I don't foresee a change in this occurring anytime soon.

Give Out Organic Treats
"Be the first, start a fashion..." Pseudolus says in A Funny Thing... Forum! Avoid buying those huge bags of Hershey brand candies this year, and instead go for organic treats. Back at home, when parents are checking over their child's goodie bags they will notice your out of place organic treat and will certainly take note. It will stand out from the Reese's, Mound's and
Organic Lollipop, Fair trade coins(for Pirate themes), Equal Exchange Chocolates are a few examples of earth-friendly candies you can treat your costumed visitors to.

"Give out eco-friendly candy. The problem with Halloween is that all the candy must be wrapped in eco-unfriendly packaging. Due to safety concerns, kids are taught not to accept unwrapped candy. Hand out candy that is wrapped in paper. Many brands of taffy are wrapped in paper. There are also paper pouches full of gummy fruit snacks.source"

China and U.S. blame each other as climate talks conclude

2010-10-11T17:09:00.000-04:00

by Agence France-Presse.
TIANJIN, China - The United States and China clashed on the final day of climate change talks on Saturday, accusing each other of blocking progress ahead of a major summit next month on global warming.
The world's two biggest greenhouse-gas polluters sparred throughout the six-day United Nations talks in China, triggering anger from environmentalists who said countries were acting in self-interest and not to save the planet.
U.S. climate envoy Jonathan Pershing warned progress at the U.N.'s annual climate summit in Cancun, Mexico, was in jeopardy because of China's refusal to commit to curbing greenhouse gases. "We have made some very modest progress. But unfortunately it's been quite limited," Pershing said of the talks in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin.
Delegates from more than 170 countries joined the latest round of long-running U.N. negotiations aimed at eventually securing a binding global treaty on how to limit and cope with climate change. This would replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires at the end of 2012 and aims to keep global warming below the threshold that scientists warn will trigger catastrophic damage to the world's climate system.
World leaders failed to broker such a treaty in Copenhagen last year as developed and developing nations battled over who should carry more of the burden in curbing greenhouse gases, which are blamed for global warming.
Pershing said the biggest problem remained the refusal by China and other developing nations to commit through the U.N. process to curbing their emissions, and to have those efforts monitored and verified. "These elements are at the heart of the deal. And the lack of progress on these gives us concern about the prospects for Cancun," he said, insisting this was an element agreed to in Copenhagen.
China, on the other hand, insisted all week that the United States and other rich nations should do much more to curb their emissions, highlighting their historic responsibility for the problem.
China's chief climate negotiator, Su Wei, said the United States was throwing up smokescreens to hide its own inaction. "It's not fair to criticize if you are not doing anything," he said.
Su earlier referred to a Chinese saying that roughly translates as "a pig looking in a mirror" with reference to the United States and what he said was Washington's refusal to acknowledge its own faults.
The U.N.'s climate chief, Christiana Figueres, said the rift had not derailed the Tianjin talks and that important progress had been made on specific issues.
"I would dare say that this week has got us closer to a structured set of decisions that can be agreed in Cancun," said Figueres, the executive secretary of the U.N.'s Framework Convention on Climate Change. "This week, governments had to address together what was doable in Cancun. ... They have actually done that."
She said she was confident a plan by rich nations to give developing countries $30 billion to help them cope with climate change would be finalized at Cancun, helping build trust between the two sides. "I have said and I will continue to say that fast-track finance is the golden key to Cancun. I am confident that the golden key will be dutifully unlocked," she said.
Greenpeace international climate policy director Wendel Trio criticized the hard-line stance of the major players in the talks. "Governments should look at what they can do for the climate, not what the process can do for them," Trio said.
Amid the gridlock, a grassroots movement headed by the environmental group 350.org was gearing up for what they said would be the world's biggest day of climate-change action on Sunday. People in more than 180 countries will plant trees, install solar panels, start organic gardens, and perform other acts to help the environment during the Global Work Party.
Related Links:
Australia, Pacific kick off global climate action
The good and bad news from the Tianjin climate change negotiations
China and U.S. Cooperate To Deploy Advanced Coal Technology

Read more…

Green fraud is even more harmful than greenwashing

2010-10-11T10:41:00.002-04:00

by Terry Tamminen.

Last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed guidelines to address the practice of inflating eco-friendly claims for a growing list of products, commonly known as greenwashing. Experts are debating if manufacturers should consider minimum standards for sustainable content and recycling practices, among many other factors, in an effort to help consumers understand just what shade of green they get for any given purchase. It’s a worthy effort and long overdue, but the FTC should go beyond greenwashing and tackle green fraud.

Let’s take the oil industry, for example. A Gallup Poll, released the same week as the FTC’s eco-truth-in-advertising initiative, showed that residents of the Gulf coast with serious signs of depression jumped 25 percent since the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill of this past summer. Beyond just mental anguish, this corresponds to lost livelihoods and physical health impacts that were the direct result of the BP disaster. Against this harsh reality, the oil giant continues to publish full page newspaper ads and pay millions of dollars for TV commercials asserting that they will “make it right” with little evidence that they could ever fully restore those people to psychological and financial health. Some genies simply can’t be put back in the bottle and no amount of greenwashed ads can make it otherwise.

In my book Lives Per Gallon: The True Cost of Our Oil Addiction, I summarized the money spent on tax breaks for the oil industry, taxpayer-sponsored defense of oil around the globe, health care costs directly related to petroleum air pollution, and a variety of other tangible costs that appear on the balance sheets of governments and businesses—certainly not revealed in the liabilities column on the balance sheet of any oil company. Those costs add up to about $6 per gallon of gas above whatever it says on the pump, making the price shown in huge letters on gas station billboards a massive fraud.

And those misrepresentations have consequences. In 2008, when gas and diesel hit $4 per gallon at the pump, consumers cut back on driving and bought more fuel-efficient cars. When prices dropped back down, people reverted to old wasteful habits. Oh, I know, cars don’t waste fuel, create pollution, and literally kill people ... people waste fuel, create pollution, and literally kill other people. But if we paid the true price at the pump (and saved that money on our taxes and health care costs), might we be motivated to stop this environmental and economic suicide? Is this form of greenwashing, therefore, just as harmful as allowing a product label to say “all natural” or “eco-friendly” when such claims may be mostly false?

Moreover, if tobacco companies must tell the truth about the health consequences of their products, why shouldn’t oil companies be held to a similar standard? A study released last month by the Children’s Hospital in Boston shows a strong link between adult diabetes and air pollution. Other studies in recent years show that children living near busy freeways lose as much as one percent of their lung function annually. Where is this vital information made available to the general public? Not on any gas pump or glossy BP ads about the Gulf spill that I have seen.

The FTC’s first step to ensure that green products are truly green is laudable, but it is nothing more than that—a first step. Future scrutiny needs to also focus on the bigger wool that has been pulled over consumer eyes for decades and which—despite wool’s eco-friendly attributes—masks a far greater example of deceptive public communications than those the FTC is currently examining.

Related Links:

White House dismisses critical report on oil spill response

Scathing report on BP oil disaster from presidential commission

NYC’s anti-soda ads hit right in the gut [VIDEO]

Read more…

If the bra (doesn't) fit(s)...

2010-10-09T18:34:00.002-04:00

Okay. I'm kind of a bra snob. The big-basher brand, VS, has been my best fit for years. I'm now trying new places, that aren't asking for a fortune (now that I've started my own company, I've started cutting back on things I'd usually be game for). $50 for a bra is a lot to me now when I'm trying to pay for advertising and insurance, etc. But! Its something that has just got to fit, or its just a squirmy-fidgeted day everyone near me!

I have certain specifications. I can't go wireless... that is just freaky to me. Why even wear a bra if you've got zero support? I like some push up, I'm small cupped, so the more pump the better! I've gotten better about requiring this VS brand for the strap bras. Strapless is another story.

As for strapless, my attempts to change haven't been as good. I've tried a few brands, and their cup sizes are so far off even I'm bulging out! I can't find a bra that does as well as VS's Ipex. I love everything about this bra. The water inserts for pump, the lack of sticky weird plastic tapey stuff that most brands use to keep their bras in place are big sellers for me.

Euh, it makes me hate myself for needing this corporation's bra. I've held out through two semi-annual VS sales to not make the purchase... but with the amount of wear my nude strapless bras get in the summer (I wear a lot of dresses), I just can't go much longer. Its literally slipping down while its on me. I'm on my last nerve with it. I can't be holding my bra up when I'm wearing a princess gown entertaining a bunch of little princesses! That's just improper etiquette! And really trashy...

I have dreamed that there may be a way to just take in the bra. Like, tailor it, you know? I mean, you can make your flare jeans skinny, why can't you take in a bra? I just found this great article called, Altering Ready-to-wear! I'm headed to the sewing machine right now! I'll let you know how it goes.

If your bra is on its... last leg, then here's some places you might need to try.

Top 20 Ways To Reuse and Recycle Bras

Big Support for Bra Recycling

The Bra Recyclers

NEVER FORGET

2010-09-11T12:15:00.001-04:00

Let us NEVER FORGET to be kind to others....

A World Without Ice: Find Out for Yourself!

2010-09-07T14:18:00.005-04:00

I just finished this amazing book:

I knew a little about this obvious issue already, but after reading I feel completely enlightened and SHOCKED that people accept silly newscasters trying to

At first, I wasn't sure if I'd actually be able to swallow all this scientific stuff anyway. I'm way right-brained for a lot of what on earth he was talking about... menthanes and Co2 and stuff. But for (not the most part) the overall part he was very easily comprehended and made perfect sense to even scientifically challenged me. Once I got really into the pages the words all began to make sense to me, not to mention how poignantly real his message is. The last like, five pages are so good I want to type them all out and share them with you here. You've got to read it for yourself.

I also have a lot to say about the Discovery Channel protester, James Lee, that was shot last week. I've attached the link to his website above. I am very sorry that he took it into his hands to terrorize those Discovery Channel workers. Many of his demands, though most are quite over the top, are absolutely valid.

I'm kind of angry right now, and they tell you when you're angry to stop typing and call it quits. Homo sapiens, need to wake up, and I mean, what is my little tiny eco-blog going to do about changing the ever evolving planet earth. I certainly can't out preach FOX news.

Go read and imagine A World without Ice.

Food Pyramid

2010-09-07T09:39:00.002-04:00

This is the new food pyramid issued by the US Government. You can see the old version, the one that made Americans all overweight, to the right.

Vegetarian Food Pyramid

And for all you Parrot Heads here's the Vegan Food Pyramid. I don't quite understand the beach theme here.

Organic Strawberries Have Better Taste & Nutrition Than Conventional & Better For Soil Too: New Study

2010-09-06T08:46:00.004-04:00

photo: Dave Parker via flickr

In the tug of war over whether organic farming is really better than conventional chemical-laden farming, a new study in the online peer-reviewed journal PLoS One comes out solidly in support of the benefits of organic. Self-described as the most comprehensive study of its kind, researchers from Washington State University found that commercial organic farms produce was more flavorful and nutritious strawberries, while leaving the soil healthier and genetically diverse.

In coming to that conclusion, the scientists analyzed 31 chemical and biological soil properties, soil DNA, as well as the taste, nutrition and quality of three strawberry varieties on 13 organic farms and 13 chemical farms in California, where 90% of the US strawberry crop is grown.... FULL STORY at TreeHugger.

All Work and No Play

2010-09-04T08:23:00.002-04:00

Image by Erin Hanson

Chicken!

2010-08-18T12:43:00.002-04:00

Same Old, Same Old: Mass Production Clones

2010-08-17T12:58:00.006-04:00

Over ten years ago, a heated debate went back and forth over Walmart's presence in my small town. Papers and local shops complained that they would lose the charm that people drive for great distances to experience on our Main Street. The other side claimed it would bring jobs!

More stop lights and cars each day pollute the once walkable streets (and we don't even have it half as bad as other parts of Northern VA). We now have 3 CVSs, a Walgreens, Rite-Aid, Walmart, Staples, Home Depot, 2 Starbucks, rows and rows of postage stamp yards balancing mass constructed homes from Ryan Home and whoever elsemaybe 9 or more banks, probably around 2300 gas stations, Border's, Ruby Tuesday, Longhorn Steakhouse, Outback Steakhouse, Applebee's... Blah, blah blah. They all look the same and offer the same damn thing as the store 233 miles away.

Target has the same plastic plates in Sherman Oaks, California as it does here in Fairfax, VA; trust me, I know. Just do a store locater! Applebee's has the same menu here as it does in Lynchburg, VA. Who has something special anymore? Something different? And why do we struggle so in school to be like everyone else? Why can't we celebrate our differences and the things that make us who we are!? What happened to the character and charm of a small town?

This sameness has become comfortable to us. Everything made, from chicken breasts to bedspreads, is a clone of something else. But let me tell you, after working in a restaurant after college, this sameness does not mean you are safer. There are real people cooking those shrimp for you and they are subject to error, and running noses and forgetting to wash their hands, and they might have even eaten off your plate before they took it to your table. And think about it the food before it even gets to the restaurant... how many people touch your food before you put it into your body. You've got a lot of trust, my friend.

So save yourself with the toxic chemicals of Purell. Let's all kill the virus, because we are human and we control things! Alcohol is never the answer.

Our local camera shop in town can't compete with the low low low prices of its corporate competitors. This kind of thing makes me sick. Customers come to them consistently complaining about the quality of photos they had processed at Walmart or Walgreens, and ask for the local shop to help. Unfortunately, the quality was in the developing of the film, and the beloved photos are forever in memory books as cheap, ill-colored messes; all for about 10 cents savings. Take that great-great-grandchildren!

In the midst of this all, I find it intoxicatingly interesting that among all the corporation empires that have taken over the world in the last 30 years, there are now so many little "mom-and-pop" businesses sprouting as home based businesses. So many of my friends are crafters and jewelers on Etsy or free-lance photographers for weddings and portraits. Is the small town entrepreneur uprising our cry out against sameness? Are we now hungry for the quality we once knew? Homemade mashed potatoes and gravy instead of that oh-so-convenient "instant" box?

Are we now tired of the over production and sameness that we see in the common areas of our lives; schools, the office, other people's home? I must saw I am tired of the mass production we consumers are fooled for time and time again. I need quality, not quantity in my life.

Wake up world! Take a look at Lady Gaga. She's different and she's not afraid of it. Okay, you don't have to go that far... but say no to processed foods with no nutritional value that are actually making you fat. Buy something, or better yet make your own, handmade! Don't eat at corporate restaurants! Go antique shopping! Support our the little guys in your hometown... they might even get to know you and give you deals, unlike the workers at a corporate place who can't because of the black and white policies of the corporation.

Do what your 3rd Grade teacher said and, "Dare to be Different".

Almond Oil for Skin Care

2010-07-20T10:05:00.007-04:00

As time goes by, I'm getting hippier and hippier... I've started eating tofu, drinking rice milk, composting, and now this. Soon enough I'll be living in Topanga Canyon with the best of them. The newest development in my hippieism is that I've started using oils that you may have in your kitchen in leau of skin care products. Hear me out.

My three favorite now are almond oil, olive oil, coconut oil. You can get a great bottle for about $9, which sure, is more expensive than Suave but it does a lot more for you. And to all my Bath & Body Work's fans, don't even go there with me. Another perk is that the oil comes in a glass jar or bottle, so its better than plastic and reusable!

Almond Oil

For the skin

Sweet almond oil is one of the most popular essential oils used in aromatherapy. Pure almond oil can be used as carrier oil in aromatherapy or massage therapy. Almond oil is suitable for any skin type. You do not have to worry how it will react on your skin type. Listed below are benefits of almond oil for the skin. Beautiful skin will be no more just a dream.

Improves complexion and retains glow

Moisturises better and deeper

Soothes skin irritation and inflammation

Delays ageing process

Lightens dark circles

Relieves dry and itching skin

Nourishes the skin. Makes it smooth and soft

Cures chapped lips and body rashes

Try it in a bath, its divine!
Visit India Parenting (I love the name) for more benefits of using almond oil.

It might sound crazy, but the health and beauty benefits are huge, and its more cost effective to go this route. Your skin will thank you. Check back in the next week for my thoughts on olive and coconut oil.

OPI Nail Polish: Pretty, but Linked to Cancer

2010-07-14T13:32:00.001-04:00

This is by no means new news... well, maybe it is to some of you. And even though they're evil, OPI has some rockin' color names. My personal favorite, "I'm Not Really A Waitress" is blood red.

OPI Nail Polish: Pretty, but Linked to Cancer

Take Action

Tell OPI that toxic isn't pretty »
Read about dibutyl phthalate and breast cancer »
Do your friends use OPI? Tell them! »

For products without harmful ingredients

For Information on Why its Important to Use and Share this Information

What Happens to Your Body If You Drink a Coke Right Now?

2010-07-05T11:48:00.000-04:00

Got a kick out of this and wanted to share.

Updated Post: What Happens to Your Body If You Drink a Coke Right Now?

Have you ever wondered why Coke comes with a smile? Because it gets you high. They removed the cocaine almost 100 years ago. Why? It was redundant.

In the first 10 minutes: 10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system. (100% of your recommended daily intake.) You don’t immediately vomit from the overwhelming sweetness because phosphoric acid cuts the flavor, allowing you to keep it down.

20 minutes: Your blood sugar spikes, causing an insulin burst. Your liver responds to this by turning any sugar it can get its hands on into fat. (And there’s plenty of that at this particular moment.)

40 minutes: Caffeine absorption is complete. Your pupils dilate; your blood pressure rises; as a response, your liver dumps more sugar into your bloodstream. The adenosine receptors in your brain are now blocked, preventing drowsiness.

45 minutes: Your body ups your dopamine production, stimulating the pleasure centers of your brain. This is physically the same way heroin works, by the way.

> 60 minutes: The phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium, and zinc in your lower intestine, providing a further boost in metabolism. This is compounded by high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners also increasing the urinary excretion of calcium.

> 60 minutes: The caffeine’s diuretic properties come into play. (It makes you have to pee.) It is now assured that you’ll evacuate the bonded calcium, magnesium, and zinc that was headed to your bones as well as sodium, electrolytes, and water.

> 60 minutes: As the rave inside you dies down, you’ll start to have a sugar crash. You may become irritable and/or sluggish. You’ve also now, literally, pissed away all the water that was in the Coke. But not before infusing it with valuable nutrients your body could have used for things like hydrating your system, or building strong bones and teeth.

This will all be followed by a caffeine crash in the next few hours. (As little as two if you’re a smoker.)
Coke itself isn’t the enemy here. It’s the dynamic combo of massive sugar doses combined with caffeine and phosphoric acid, which are found in almost all sodas. Moderation, people!

By: Blisstree Staff | 605 Comments

Sugar High: 20 Worst Beverages In America You Can Swallow

Diet Coke and Mentos Explosions: What to Do With Your Coke Now That You’re Not Drinking It

Nutrition: 26 Ways to Lower Your Bad Cholesterol – Including Alcohol!

Nutrition Alert: Sugar May Increase Bad Cholesterol and Heart Disease

Eco-Friendly Diet Coke: The Sodastream Taste Test

Caffeine Addiction: Kick the Coffee Habit

What Happens to Your Body If You Stop Smoking Right Now?

Veggies for Your Summer Grilling Recipes

2010-07-02T09:11:00.000-04:00

Check out these no-meat recipes for the grill this Fourth of July weekend! When you grill out try to only fix veggies just once a month and your tummy will be super happy with you! Take it a step further and get the veggies from your local farmer's market!!

VegCooking.com is a great resource if you're looking to cut meat out of your diet once a week, or all together.

Summertime and the Living is Easy

2010-06-30T09:00:00.002-04:00

I love a good old timey American summer cookout. Fireflies, red gingham tablecloth, ice cold lemonade, corn on the cob and burgers hot from the grill... but I don't love red meat. I need a substitute and better way to avoid nasty hotdogs and going hungry than just eating the greasy chips.

I've tried BOCA burgers... but I can't imagine that the soy they use doesn't come from Monsanto (yeah, you'd better watch your soy milk, baby), so I'm not really into that idea. Its not that I need a replacement for the red meat flavor. I just need something to put on a bun cover in cheese and wash down with a cold beer. Anyone found some awesome store bought burgers at Wegman's or Whole Foods?

My friend Eliza posted that she had made chick pea burgers for lunch and now I want to try to make my own. I never even thought about making my own burgers! Here's a great recipe I found.

Ultimate Veggie Burger Recipe
These make great do-ahead meals, and you can store shaped, ready-to-cook patties in the refrigerator for a week's worth of work lunches. Sprouted garbanzos are becoming more readily available, but if you can't find them, canned or cooked garbanzos (chickpeas) will work great. Sprouting boosts their already fantastic nutritional value even more...
2 1/2 cups sprouted garbanzo beans (chickpeas) OR canned garbanzos, drained and rinsed
4 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 onion, chopped
Grated zest of one large lemon
1 cup micro sprouts, chopped (try brocolli, onion, or alfalfa sprouts - optional)
1 cup toasted (whole-grain) bread crumbs
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (or clarified butter)
If you are using sprouted garbanzos, steam them until just tender, about 10 minutes. Most of you will be using canned beans, so jump right in and combine the garbanzos, eggs, and salt in a food processor. Puree until the mixture is the consistency of a very thick, slightly chunky hummus. Pour into a mixing bowl and stir in the cilantro, onion, zest, and sprouts. Add the breadcrumbs, stir, and let sit for a couple of minutes so the crumbs can absorb some of the moisture. At this point, you should have a moist mixture that you can easily form into twelve 1 1/2-inch-thick patties. I err on the moist side here, because it makes for a nicely textured burger. You can always add more bread crumbs a bit at a time to firm up the dough if need be. Conversely, a bit of water or more egg can be used to moisten the batter.
Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium low, add 4 patties, cover, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, until the bottoms begin to brown. Turn up the heat if there is no browning after 10 minutes. Flip the patties and cook the second side for 7 minutes, or until golden. Remove from the skillet and cool on a wire rack while you cook the remaining patties. Carefully cut each patty in half, insert your favorite fillings, and enjoy immediately.
Makes 12 mini burgers.

Here's a couple more ideas to get your cookout on:
Vegetarian Lentil Burgers

Portobella Mushroom Buger with Avocados

Black soy bean burgers

Gluten-Free Brown Rice Veggie Burgers

Give Peas a Chance Infant Bodysuit

2010-06-27T16:46:00.000-04:00

Even though its not organic cotton, I just absolutely love this little onesee from PETAcatalog.com Plus, its on sale now for $16!

Give Peas a Chance Infant Bodysuit

Our cute infant one-piece is cutest way to say "Go Veg!"

100% baby rib cotton construction, with a cleverly constructed neckline designed for easy on and off. Reinforced but relaxed sleeve and leg opening and triple seat snaps make baby comfy and diaper changing easy.

Not intended for sleepwear
Machine wash cold, tumble dry low

Made in the U.S.A. by American Apparel.

Sun Chips New Compostable Bag is LOUD!

2010-06-24T22:39:00.002-04:00

Oh my gosh. The "Crinkle" of the new 100% compostable Sun Chips bag is as loud as being in the explosion of 3456 massive fireworks on the Fourth of July. There's no sneaking into the cupboard in the middle of the nite anymore. Those days are gone!

Just Google search "Sun Chips Loud Bag", everyone is all in a twist about it. I was going to make a video so you could hear it for yourself, but this guy beat me to the punch.

Sure, its loud, but isn't it nice that someone thought of this? Just dump out the chips and put them in another container if it bothers you really badly haha.

Here's all you need to know about the composting process of the new chip bag.

Lavera: Eyeliner No. 1 black

2010-06-23T09:24:00.000-04:00

Eyeliner No. 1 black

Overall Rating: ****

With organic Beeswax & Palm Oil.

Lavera Organic Mineral Eyeliner provides easy, soft and brilliant application. Pure organic Beeswax & Palm Oil give smooth texture for the most delicate eye area for non-irritating & consistent results. These natural, all-mineral based shades highlight and accentuate your eyes instantly.

Jen's Notes

I feel good about putting this one my eyes rather than CoverGirl, but you're going to have to bust open your piggy bank to get one. One 1.15 g runs $22. Phew! Its definitely worth it and holds up just as well as any other pencil liner... though I admit, I'm a liquid liner fan myself. I don't love the smudges and 34 reapplications in a day. I care about my looks, yes, but not enough to have to spend the day in the bathroom making touch ups.

Ingredient Commitment

Lavera fully discloses all ingredients on each product and sample. It is approved by the BDIH foundation in Germany to comply with the strictest standards for natural skin care.

Lavera and LAVERÉ products are:

Designed for sensitive skin
Made with pure, organic plant oils, herb and flower extracts
Free from parabens, SLS and synthetic preservatives
Free from fragrances, emulsifiers and petroleum based ingredients
Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, GMO Free

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

2010-06-20T22:45:00.003-04:00

Farmer's Market on a Saturday

2010-06-05T10:06:00.002-04:00

Mother and I are riding bikes to the farmer's market in old town.

Alba: Coconut Milk Body Cream Review

2010-05-16T09:40:00.000-04:00

Alba Hawaiian Collection: Coconut Milk Body Cream
Overall Rating: *****!

Ingredients: 100% Vegan
Certified organic lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower and aloe barbadensis juices, purified water, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, stearic acid, vegetable glycerin, glyceryl stearate, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), cocos nucifera (coconut) extract, dimethicone, aleurites moluccana (kukui) nut oil, macadamia ternifolia seed oil, vanilla planifolia and psidium guajava (guava) fruit extracts, polysorbate 60, stearyl alcohol, certified organic mangifera indica (mango) and carica papaya fruit extracts, phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, potassium sorbate, tocopherol and tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), carbomer, rosa canina (rosehip) fruit oil, citric acid and botanical fragrance.

Standards

• Hypo-allergenic
• pH balanced
• 100% vegetarian ingredients and no animal testing
• EU Cosmetics Directive compliant

Jen's Notes: Since I was so negative about Burt's Bee's Carrot Day Cream in my last post, I thought I'd post my favorite for the next product highlight.

This body cream works wonderfully. It smells amazing (I love all things coconut) and is really soothing going on your skin. I use it on my at nite and it keeps my overworked hands and feet soft. Its very thick, so I usually save it for hands and feet, but it is great for any dry skin; I just like to savor it.

Its $11.99 in most stores, but you don't have to travel all the way to Whole Foods to buy it! You can find it in CVSs all over town; and we all know you have more than one CVS in your town... because even I do. I find that even though it is more pricey than Suave or Dove, I am buying a great product. Plus, when compared to Bath and Body Works' products you are spending the same amount of money for a moisturizer that actually moisturizes, instead of just a bottle full of chemicals. Mmk?!

What others are saying: one, two reviews

What are Parabens Anyway?

2010-05-11T11:23:00.001-04:00

Hopefully, you already know that a lot of the food and body products you use contain harmful toxins. What you may not know are the affects the toxins have on your body. Parabens (including methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl-parabens) are widely used in almost every body care product you'll find in the grocery store (especially Bath and Body Works- which I boycotted long ago). They are inexpensive to use and allow products to have very long shelf lives. Just another way large corporations manage to rake in cash at your expense.

Here's some info on them, so read up!

Wikipedia defines parabens as, "a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Parabens are effective preservatives in many types of formulas. These compounds, and their salts, are used primarily for their bacteriocidal and fungicidal properties. They can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, topical/parenteral pharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution and toothpaste. They are also used as food additives."

"The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their report "Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Environment: Agents of Subtle Change?" reported that the chemical preservatives called parabens—methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl (alkyl-p-hydroxybenzoates)—displayed estrogenic activity in several tests. This means that these chemicals mimic your body´s own hormones and can have endocrine-disrupting action when they are rubbed into your body or washed down the drain into your drinking water. These disruptors interfere with your body´s endocrine system: your hypothalamus, your ovaries, your thyroid—virtually every system in your body. The EPA also stated that "continual introduction of these benzoates (parabens) into sewage treatment systems and directly to recreational waters from the skin leads to the question of risk to aquatic organisms." Scientists in Europe found other endocrine-disrupting body care chemicals in the bodies of fish that humans are eating, and in human breast milk.

Dr. Elizabeth Smith has written that "It is a known medical fact that estrogen stimulates breast cancer" and that "anything absorbed through the skin may be as high as 10 times the concentration of an oral dose." (Think about how nicotine and birth control/hormone patches work—the chemicals are absorbed through the skin!) She also reported that, in one study, a paraben was injected under the skin and was found to have an "estrogenic response on uterine tissues." Scientists observing these harmful effects on the uterus remarked that "it is suggested that the safety in use of these chemicals should be reassessed."

Endocrine disruptors are transported into the body, daily, via absorption through the skin and hair follicles when using personal care products. Now that we know that we absorb toxins through our skin, isn´t it important that body care products that claim to be organic should be as pure as the organic foods that we eat"The Truth About Parabens)?
There are non-toxic options out there. "Organic herbal medicinal tinctures made from high quality organic herbs and organic grain alcohol are shelf-stable for around two to three years. True castile soap, liquid or bars, has an excellent shelf-life of up to eighteen months or longer and requires no preservatives. Wouldn´t you prefer body care products that are fresh (like the food you eat) rather than several years old?
A self-preserved 100% organic moisturizing body oil made from organic sunflower oil, organic cocoa butter, organic coconut oil, organic peppermint oil and organic spearmint oil can have a shelf-life of up to 18 months" (The Truth About Parabens). Go organic, people.

Beware of Paraben Preservatives in Body Care Products
Parabens a chemical fact sheet from the Breast Cancer Fund

Uh, gross. I don't want that stuff on me.

Yum! Chocolate Covered Granola: Try this!

2010-05-03T10:39:00.001-04:00

This afternoon I was craving chocolate, so I made up this delightful snack. All you need is a small pot, some water to boil, some cereal or granola and about a 1/2-1 Cup of chocolate morsels.

Moms: fool your kids into getting their fiber! This takes about 10 minutes to make + however long you're willing to wait for it to cool (See below, I don't like to wait).

Its totally simple, two steps. Well, three if you add the powdered sugar. The measurements are up to you. I was just making this for myself and I used a 1/2 cup of tiny organic chocolate morsels.

Make your own:

Step 1: Melt your chocolate on the stove. Pour chocolate into a glass pot cover, I think this works better than a bowl or anything else. Once water comes to a boil, turn down the temp to LOW.

Tips: If you are a first timer don't give up! This is much easier than you are thinking it will be. The smaller the chocolate morsel the easier this will be. You DON'T want to burn the chocolate... its nasty, crumby and it doesn't smell good at all. Do NOT melt chocolate in the microwave. It never ends well.

Step 2. Pour desired amount of granola/cereal into melted chocolate and stir until each piece is covered.

After the granola is chocolate covered, lay it out on a small square of wax paper (A plate would be more eco friendly, its just reallllly hard to remove hard chocolate). Be sure to let it cool so the chocolate sets well... or you can eat it piping hot, like me, because I can't wait till it's cool.

Be careful, don't eat too much. 1 Cup of Wegman's Fitness Crunch cereals gives you 39% of your Fiber intake for the day. So don't over do it, it could do you in.

Go Without for One Day a Week

2010-04-29T08:00:00.013-04:00

I'm revisiting the book that really got me going green, Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano. If you haven't read this book, you seriously need to. She is a fun and fresh writer who brings up so many relevant thoughts to girls like us.

I used to be all about consuming. I couldn't get enough Victoria's Secret or Bath & Body Works (euh, you know now I feel about them now). I had always had an interest in living eco-consciously, but never knew how to go about doing so. Reading this book opened my eyes to so many simple things I could change about my lifestyle to make a difference for our earth.

Uliano says, "go without for one day... even if there is a really good sale on", she jokes getting to the heart of her target audience.

She asks do you ever:

Consider what the grave site of your purchases will look like?
Think about where you clothes come from and how they were made?
Think about who made the items you are buying?
Buy something that you never use or wear for a couple months before tossing?

Think about how much you really need that daily Starbucks coffee. Because you don't. Save $5 and a paper cup by reducing your coffee intake one less each week (not to mention that caffeine mess).

And while we're on Starbucks, check out their nutrition catalog.

Save money. Save the planet. Go without!

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

2010-04-22T08:44:00.011-04:00

What will you do today?

Can you...

... walk to work or school?

... wash your clothes with cold water and let them line dry outside?

... eat only veggies ALL DAY? :D What fun recipes can you come up with? Stir fry sounds good to me!

... pack your lunch in reusable containers, no plastic baggies.

... take a refillable container with you to work or school, instead of buying a new one?

... turn off the lights and eat dinner by candlelight? That sounds romantic <3.

Check out EARTH 911 for more ideas. And stay green, lovelies.

CNN: Ex-military leaders: Young adults 'too fat to fight'

2010-04-21T08:38:00.007-04:00

Okay people, so maybe this whole childhood obesity problem should have been taken care of before kids were being diagnosed with diabetes. Ever thought about that? But now that poor military is suffering, its serious!

Why is it SO hard for people to comprehend the severity of BEING FAT. What needs to be said to make you want to take care of your BODY. What are you doing to your children!?

If it becomes a danger to our 'National Security', maybe the conservatives will jump on board for change! Gotta look for something positive in this ridiculous newscast.

Turn off the TV, put down the Doritos, and take a walk. Love the life you've been given.

Let Vegetarianism Grow on You

2010-04-19T13:59:00.003-04:00

Image credit: PETA

You don't have to drop meat all together. Just try to forgo the meat portion on your plate just one night per week. Your tummy, cholesterol, regularity, toxicity, FAT, skin, hair, nails, anaemia, appendicitis, arthritis, breast cancer, cancer of the colon, cancer of the prostate, diabetes, gall stones, gout, high blood pressure, indigestion, obesity, piles, strokes and varicose veins and children will thank you.

How To Live Well Without Owning A Car

2010-04-05T10:35:00.000-04:00

I was at the library and this book popped out at me. Its called How To Live Well Without Owning A Car by Chris Balish. I really enjoyed the book, it really made me review how much I use my car unnecessarily. There's also, Carefree Times, a great resource for those living sans car.

My town, though small, is not safe when it comes to bike riding, just because auto-ists haven't really had to think about bike/pedestrian safety here. I wish there was a way that I could read this book to everyone in my town. It makes living without a car something I can't wait to do. You can buy the book here, or check your library for it-- that would be the greener option.

Now that its getting warmer out there, why not opt to walk instead of drive. I love walking to my favorite restaurant on a warm summer evening with my boyfriend. Its so nice to think that 1.) I'm being green to the earth and 2.) I'm burning off some of that shrimp pasta I ate in it's entirety. At the river beach during the summer, we bike or walk everywhere. Its all soo close, why would we want to drive?

This "is the first practical, accessible, and sensible guide to living in North America without owning a car. This inclusive guide:

• exposes the true costs of car ownership and shows how getting rid of your car can simplify your life and put you on the road to financial freedom.
• is packed with realistic, economical alternatives to owning a car, including chapters on carsharing, carpooling, and even car-free dating.
• includes more than 100 real-world tips, strategies, and success stories from people who are happily car-free or "car-lite," from cities to suburbs.
• according to a 2004 American Automobile Association study, the average American spends $8,410 per year (roughly $700 per month) to own a vehicle. (more) "

"Despite what $20 billion of automobile advertising every year would have us all believe, buying or leasing a car, truck, or SUV is the worst financial move most people make in their lifetime. And they make this mistake again and again, at a cost of literally hundreds of thousands of dollars. High gas prices, car payments, insurance, depreciation, parking, repairs, maintenance, and nearly one hundred other expenses add up so quickly and silently that most car owners don't even notice -- they just see how little money they have left at the end of the month and wonder why. As you will read in Chapters 1 and 2 (Free PDF Download), cars devour cash, increase debt, reduce savings, and make financial freedom difficult to achieve." (More)

Have fun on your walk!

Love it: Pomegranate Oolong Tea from Caribou Coffee

2010-03-22T00:42:00.000-04:00

My friend gave me a gift certificate for to Caribou Coffee. I didn't know anything about this company before, but tonite I got a tin of their Pomegranate Oolong Tea.

The extra-large leaves of Ti Kuan Yin Oolong are deliciously infused with tangy pomegranate to create this fruity and aromatic blend.

I'm totally a tea girl. I'll have coffee if I'm in dire need of a caffeine kick-in-the-face, but it usually just makes me shaky. Mmm, what a flavor! So delicious and both the tea and pomegranate are great antioxidant agents.

You get 20 tea sachets for about $7. And, just between us, if I could... I'd make underwear out of that sachet material. Ooooh silky! Its divine.

Cornography

2010-03-13T14:31:00.000-05:00

watch this video and become enlightened.
cornography by good.is

Hummus Recipe from Gorgeously Green's Sophie Uliano

2010-03-12T19:27:00.003-05:00

Always on the market for a new hummus recipe! Hope you like this one, I'm going to give it a whirl this weekend.

Traditional Hummus

I have added a little fried onion to make this hummus extra tasty; however, if you’re pressed for time, you can leave them out and use canned garbanzo beans instead of the dried.
Since store-bought hummus is expensive, you can make your own for a fraction of the price, especially if you use dried beans.

1 cup garbanzo beans, soaked overnight with a pinch of baking soda
6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 large yellow onion, finely chopped
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Juice of 1 1emon
2 large garlic cloves, crushed
4 tbsp tahini
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp pine nuts, lightly toasted (optional)
1 medium bunch of chopped flat-leaf parsley (optional)
1/2 tsp paprika

Rinse the soaked garbanzo beans under cold water, then place in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring them to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the skins are tender. Put to one side, keeping the chickpeas in the water.

Heat 2 tbsp of the olive oil in a small skillet and sauté the onion on a low heat until golden. Remove from the heat and add the cinnamon. Set aside.

Drain the garbanzo beans, keeping aside the cooking water, and blend in a food processor. If the mixture is too dry, add a little of the cooking water. When smooth, add the lemon juice, garlic, tahini, and the remaining olive oil. Add the salt and pepper and some more of the cooking water if needed.

Spoon the hummus into a bowl and sprinkle with the sautéed onions, paprika and if you are using it, the pine nuts and parsley.

Top 10 Reasons to Not Eat Pigs from PETA

2010-03-07T09:38:00.000-05:00

I stopped eating pigs a while ago. If you think about it, pigs don't sweat. Humans release toxins through their perspiration. Just adds up to be nasty in my book. But, my decision is more just because they taste greasy and fatty to me. Don't even think about offering me bacon at the breakfast table. The crunchy dried up greasy mess turns me ill.

And if that wasn't enough, there's the whole factory farm part which makes my blood curdle to think about.

Here's what PETA has to say. So if I haven't turned you off of ham, they will. They're harsh.

Top 10 Reasons Not to Eat Pigs

Attention, shoppers: Stop picking up dead “Babes” and “Wilburs” at the grocery store! Here are our top 10 reasons to keep pork off your fork and put delicious Babe-free alternatives on your shopping list instead.

Porking You Up
It’s a fact—ham, sausage, and bacon strips will go right to your hips. Eating pork products, which are loaded with artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated fat, is a good way to increase your waistline and increase your chances of developing deadly diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, asthma, and impotence. Research has shown that vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease, and they have 40 percent of the cancer rate of meat-eaters. Plus, meat-eaters are nine times more likely to be obese than pure vegetarians are. Every time you eat animal products, you’re also ingesting bacteria, antibiotics, dioxins, hormones, and a host of other toxins that can accumulate in your body and remain there for years. Learn more about animal products and your health.

Pigs Have Feelings Too
Ninety-seven percent of pigs in the United States today are raised in factory farms, where they will never run across sprawling pastures, bask in the sun, breathe fresh air, or do anything else that comes naturally to them. Crowded into warehouses with nothing to do and nowhere to go, they are kept on a steady diet of drugs to keep them alive and make them grow faster, but the drugs cause many of the animals to become crippled under their own bulk. Learn more about cruelty to pigs. Check out these videos from pig farms in Oklahoma, North Carolina, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

Pigs and Playstations
Think that you can outplay a pig on your Playstation? You may be surprised. According to research, pigs are much smarter than dogs, and they even do better at video games than some primates. In fact, pigs are extremely clever animals who form complex social networks and have excellent memories. Eating a pig is like eating your dog! As actor Cameron Diaz put it after hearing that pigs have the mental capacities of a 3-year-old human: "[Eating bacon is] like eating my niece!" Learn more about pigs.

Pigs Prefer Mud, Not Crud
Pigs are actually very clean animals. If they are given sufficient space, pigs are careful not to soil the areas where they sleep or eat. And forget the silly saying “sweating like a pig”—pigs can’t even sweat! That’s why they bathe in water or mud to cool off. But in factory farms, they’re forced to live in their own feces and vomit and even amid the corpses of other pigs. Conditions are so filthy that at any given time, more than one-quarter of pigs suffer from mange—think of your worst case of poison ivy, and imagine having to suffer from it for the rest of your life. Learn more about what happens to pigs in factory farms. Check out the mange-ridden pigs on these South Dakota and Nebraska pig farms.

Farming Family Values
Factory farms are pure hell for pigs and their babies. Mother pigs spend most of their lives in tiny “gestation” crates, which are so small that the animals are unable to turn around or even lie down comfortably. They are repeatedly impregnated until they are slaughtered. Piglets, who are taken away from their distraught mothers after just a few weeks, have their tails chopped off, their teeth are clipped off with pliers, and the males are castrated—all without painkillers. Learn more about cruelty to pigs.

The Manure Is Blowing in the Wind …
A pig farm with 5,000 animals produces as much fecal waste as a city of 50,000 people. In 1995, 25 million gallons of putrid hog urine and feces spilled into a North Carolina river, immediately killing between 10 and 14 million fish. To get around water pollution limits, factory farms will frequently take the tons of urine and feces that are stored in cesspools and turn them into liquid waste that they spray into the air. This manure-filled mist is carried away by the wind and inhaled by the people who live nearby. Learn more about how factory farming damages the environment.

Bacteria-Laden Bacon and Harmful Ham
Extremely crowded conditions, poor ventilation, and filth in factory farms cause such rampant disease in pigs that 70 percent of them have pneumonia by the time they’re sent to the slaughterhouse. In order to keep pigs alive in conditions that would otherwise kill them and to promote unnaturally fast growth, the industry keeps pigs on a steady diet of the antibiotics that we depend on to treat human illnesses. This overuse of antibiotics has led to the development of “superbacteria,” or antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. The ham, bacon, and sausage that you’re eating may make the drugs that your doctor prescribes the next time you get sick completely ineffective. Learn more about the effect of eating meat from sick, diseased, and drugged animals.

Hell on Wheels
More than 170,000 pigs die in transport each year, and more than 420,000 are crippled by the time they arrive at the slaughterhouse. Transport trucks, which carry pigs hundreds of miles through all weather extremes with no food or water, regularly flip over, throwing injured and dying animals onto the road. These terrified and injured animals are rarely offered veterinary care, and most languish in pain for hours; some even bleed to death on the side of the road. After an accident in April 2005, Smithfield spokesperson Jerry Hostetter told one reporter, “I hate to admit it, but it happens all the time.” Learn more about cruelty to pigs during transport.

Killing Them Without Kindness
A typical slaughterhouse kills up to 1,100 pigs every hour, which makes it impossible for them to be given humane, painless deaths. The U.S. Department of Agriculture documented 14 humane slaughter violations at one processing plant, where inspectors found hogs who “were walking and squealing after being stunned [with a stun gun] as many as four times.” Because of improper stunning methods and extremely fast line speeds, many pigs are still alive when they are dumped into scalding-hot hair-removal tanks—they literally drown in scalding-hot water. Learn more about what happens to pigs at slaughter.

Ditch the Bacon and Get Fakin’
Save pigs from hell and yourself from bad health by feasting on faux pork products instead. Stuff a sandwich full of Yves brand veggie ham slices, or throw some Lightlife Smart Bacon into a sizzling skillet—the freezer and “health food” sections of your local grocery or health food stores are packed full of these and other tasty substitutes. Check out VegCooking.com for hundreds of recipes, product recommendations, vegan meal plans, and a shopping guide.

Think before you eat another sausage link—order a free vegetarian starter kit full of delicious recipes and celebrity features today!

Love it! Orphaned Accessories into New Treasures

2010-03-03T09:53:00.001-05:00

How clever! I love the creativity that people possess in upcycling. This is just in time for those of your doing some spring cleaning in your closet. Find new ways to use your old stuff.

6 Clever Ways to Upcycle Orphaned Accessories into New Treasures
A misplaced pearl earring. A locket with a lost chain. A glove missing its mate. We’ve all had run-ins with orphaned or defunct accessories, and oftentimes the heartbreak can be overwhelming. But the loss of an accessory doesn’t have to be the end of the world. With a little ingenuity and elbow grease, you can easily upcycle what you might consider trash into a brand new treasure. Here are six solutions for common wardrobe malfunctions that can be spiffed up in a jiffy.
SPARE BAGSTRAP → CLASSY BELT
Read More >

Not sure how I feel about the glove headband... maybe it will grow on me?

The Essential Green You

2010-02-26T08:38:00.000-05:00

I wish I could transfer all the wonderful information that Deirdre Imus includes in The Essential Green You to you by those automatic chips from Matrix.

The third book in the Green This! series shows you easy ways to "detox your diet, your body and your life". This all inclusive book discusses eerything you need to know about updating your green life now, Here's an excerpt from "Essential Green You".

Even More:
Deirdre Imus: Becoming the Essential Green You!
The Essential Green You by Deirdre Imus, ABC TV Store

Interview with Jen of "Green is the New Black"

2010-02-22T10:56:00.000-05:00

1. What was your motivating force for beginning your own blog and when did you start blogging?
I started Green is the New Black after I graduated from college in 2007. I think I must have missed those constant writing assignments of my college days. Being glued to the computer screen trying to pour out the right words. I suppose, I felt a void in my life from not constantly having mental stimulation forced upon me.

My inspiration was reading Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano. This book changed my life. I always have had a desire to stand up for the environment and live healthy, but this book showed me that I could still be my makeup loving self and save the world. If just one person changes their habits because of something they read in my blog. I feel like I have made an impact.

2. Who inspires you when it comes to blogging?
Getting the word about eco conscious living. I think it is vitally important for people to be aware of the issues we face today on earth.

3. What is your favorite genre? Favorite books in that genre?
I really love reading plays, biographies, mystery, and anything written about Elizabethan England. Oh, and I love The Chronicles of Narnia. I actually listen to books on tape semi-frequently. I am in the car a lot from driving to play rehearsals and realized that I was missing my reading time, so I started checking out books on tape from the library.

Oh and craft books, too. Big fan.

4. What book should be a movie?
The Reader, and it is. What an amazing story.

5. What do you think should be more highlighted for students in high school?
An eco-living course. If we educated students on how to live as adults, because you know that their parents haven't, the world would be a more beautiful place for us all. Its too bad that so many groups are treating global warming like a joke. Even though it is inevitable, just ask James Lovelock, we should wake up and be kinder to ourselves and the world we call home. Students should see that its okay to question, to step out of the norm. You don't have to buy from large corporations. You don't have to have 4 cars and 2 houses. You can be happy without new clothes every week and reusing the things you already own.

6. The great debate: Harry Potter or Twilight?
Gosh, I just couldn't get into either of those. Well, at least I tried with Harry Potter. I'm not into the whole Twilight scene.

7. What do you do in your free time?
What free time? I own The Kingdom of Azuria, a childrne's entertainment company. I don a princess gown, reading at storytimes, helping girl scouts get their badges, and attending local parties and events making them magical. I really enjoy making the accessories for my Etsy shop and browsing articles on the internet.

Snow Day!

2010-02-10T13:29:00.002-05:00

Snowed in. Majorly.
Hummus was a huge success!

Love it! Lovely and Sweet Unmentionables

2010-02-10T09:48:00.001-05:00

Oh my gosh, these are adorable! Just in time for Valentine's!

A Green Guide to Sustainable Skivvies!

by Yuka Yoneda, 09/14/09
If you think eco-undies are bland, scratchy, homey garments made of hemp, maybe it’s time to think again. The latest selection of sustainable skivvies that we’ve spied is silky, sexy and soft in all the right places. After all, shouldn’t it be just as important (if not more) to make sure that the fabric that is closest to your skin is also the most natural and least harmful to the earth? Read on as we mention our favorite unmentionables…
Read more.

Pink and Red? Try Green! Tips to Eco Your Romance

2010-02-08T11:10:00.003-05:00

Think twice this year before you pick up that dozen roses from the grocery store.

Eco-Valentine's Day

Monday, 02 February 2009 Valerie Williams

P. Derk/iStockphoto

Valentine’s Day, second only to Christmas, is the western holiday that causes the most damage to the environment and exploitation of human health and well-being. Regardless of the holiday’s origins or original sentiments, today Valentine’s Day is utilized as a highly commercialized expression of love in many commonwealth countries around the world. What many consumers don’t know is that each of the traditional accoutrements of Valentine’s Day – chocolate, flowers, diamonds, gold and cards –come with a serious impact on the environment.

Many children working on cocoa farms never eat a chocolate bar in their lifetime.
Chocolates
Much of the worlds’ major chocolate ingredient is grown in developing nations by poor farmers. 70% of the world’s cocoa production is grown in West Africa, with the Ivory Coast producing 40% of the world’s estimated 6.5 billion pound crop of cocoa beans. More than half of the country’s 15 million people make a living directly on cocoa according to the International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF). The ILRF works to raise awareness about the bitter side of the global chocolate industry. Most of the world’s cocoa production includes child labor and starvation level wages for farmers. ILRF reports children work long hours, face frequent exposure to pesticides and child labor slaves face physical beatings and other cruel treatment. Many children working on cocoa farms never eat a chocolate bar in their lifetimes.
Global Exchange, a global human rights’ organization, reports US chocolate manufacturers have deflected responsibility for the conditions on cocoa plantations, citing lack of ownership of the plantations. But the $13 billion chocolate industry is heavily consolidated with two major American firms — Hershey's and M&M/Mars — controlling two-thirds of the US chocolate candy market.
Fair trade chocolate organizations work to ensure the certified chocolate you buy does not involve slave labor, is pesticide-free, grown and manufactured without genetically modified ingredients, and farmers and cocoa workers receive fair wages. Global Exchange reports currently less than 1% of the $13 billion dollar chocolate market is fair trade certified. However these figures are only expected to increase as consumers become better educated about the ethics of chocolate.
If all the roses purchased for Valentine’s Day in the USA were organically grown, it would prevent the use of 22,700 pounds of pesticides.
—The Green Book
Flowers
US consumers spend more than $18 billion on cut flowers each year reports Labor in the Americas Project. Yet flowers, considered an expression of love, have an ugly side most consumers don’t know about. There are an estimated 40,000 flower workers in Ecuador, and more than 100,000 in Colombia, working to grow, harvest, and package flowers and carnations for North Americans. Flower workers are routinely prevented from organizing unions, experience sexual harassment, forced pregnancy testing, and numerous health and safety violations according to the International Labor Rights Forum.
Flowers are one of the top pesticide-intensive agricultural crops. The Green Book estimates if all the roses purchased for Valentine’s Day in the USA were organically grown, it would prevent the use of 22,700 pounds of pesticides. A joint report between US Labor Education in the Americans and the International Labor Rights Fund found flower companies in Ecuador use more than 30 different chemicals, in addition to fertilizers, in the production of their cut flowers. The report also indicated flower workers experience higher-than-average rates of premature births, congenital malformations and miscarriages. This is in addition to inordinately high incidents of headaches, asthma attacks, frequent colds, vomiting and weight loss. In some areas more than 50% of flower workers have symptoms of pesticide poisoning.
A single gold ring leaves behind more than 20 tons of mine waste.
—No More Dirty Gold
From Green Muse: Read more inlcuding resources for finding your eco chocolates, flowers, diamons and gold.

Want more?
Eco-Valentine's Day Gifts

New - Plantable Eco Valentine's Day Cards - Stationery Scoop

Top tips for an Eco Friendly Valentine's Day from Nigel's Eco Store

Eco-Valentine's Day: Flowers | Emerald City | Los Angeles Times

Entertaining for a Veggie Planet

2010-02-06T10:22:00.000-05:00

I have another veggie cookbook to share. Yes, it was on the same shelf as Recipes from an Ecological Kitchen.

Didi Emmons' Entertaining for a Veggie Planet, has 250 recipes for dips, drinks, chili, brunch and entrees for entertaining your friends. Maybe even introducing your new found veggie love, and proving how easy it is to be a healthy, thin and eco-conscious cook.

She even includes definitions in the back. I mean, what are udon noodles, mung beans or galangal?

Love it!

Tahini!

2010-02-05T21:54:00.004-05:00

I bought Tahini tonite, just in time for the snow storm. I'm really excited about this.

What is Tahini (Arabic tahina: طحينة), zhimajiang (芝麻醤), nerigoma (ねりごま), טחינה (tahina or t'hina - Hebrew), Tashi (τασιή)?

Think peanut butter, only made with sesame seeds. To make tahini, sesame seeds are soaked in water for a day, then crushed to separate the bran from the kernels. The crushed seeds are put into salted water, where the bran sinks, but the kernels float and are skimmed off the surface. They are toasted, then ground to produce their oily paste. There are two types of tahini, light and dark, and the light ivory version is considered to have both the best flavor and texture.
Tahini is most closely associated with the Middle East, where it is eaten as is, and often used in making hummus (mashed chickpeas, flavored with lemon juice and garlic), baba ghanoush (a purée of eggplant, lemon juice, garlic, and oil), halvah (a confection that includes honey or cane syrup), and other traditional dishes.
Some people say it reminds them of peanut butter, which you can substitute for it if you want. But really, why would you? From ochef.

Recipes from an Ecological Kitchen

2010-02-04T10:03:00.000-05:00

Have you been working on reducing meat in your diet? Well, I checked out this great book at the library. Yes, they have cookbooks in the library. The shelf is amazing.

Its called, Recipes from an Ecological Kitchen by Lorna J. Sass. Its basically the Julia Child of eco-eating. Sass offers 250 recipes and no dairy or eggs are included. She even has creative ways of recycling your leftovers... I need to put this book under my mom's pillow.

There are soups, sauces, pasta, empanadas, casseroles, and my favorite, cookies, all with the world and our health in mind.

This book is perfect for someone who can't see past stir-fry for veggies. Sass helps you get creative with your healthy meals. If you're going to get healthy, lose weight and stay regular, you've got to eat your veggies.

More books by the author.

Hummus Rocks!

2010-02-02T13:24:00.005-05:00

I love, love, love hummus. Its my favorite lunch, afternoon snack, dinner or party dip. Its a quick hunger fix; fresh, filling and just delicious with warm pita or veggies.

I could it all day everyday. You can even substitute it for fatty mayonnaise on your sandwiches. I've been buying from the store, though its about $5/ tub. So I looked online and checked out an Israeli cookbook to find the best recipe.

Here's recipe and a few videos so you can find which recipe works best for you.
BON APPETITE!

Hummus is a creamy puree of chickpeas and tahini (sesame seed paste) seasoned with lemon juice and garlic, and is a popular spread and dip in Greece and throughout the Middle East. Hummus can be served as part of a meze platter; with bread or vegetable crudités for dipping; as a spread or filling for pita, lavash or Turkish pide bread; or as a tasty, creamy alternative to butter in sandwiches. A spoonful or two of hummus can also be added to Middle Eastern or Greek-style pilafs and stews to add richness.

2 cloves garlic—roughly chopped

¼ cup lemon juice

¼ cup water

14 oz (400g) canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans)—rinsed and drained

½ cup tahini

1 teaspoon sea salt

PLACE all ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until smooth, scraping the sides occasionally.
Variations: If you like a spicier hummus, add a small red chili (chopped) or a pinch of cayenne pepper, or try a little cumin for a more exotic variation.
Tip: Prepare extra quantities of this hummus—it can be refrigerated, covered, for up to 1 week and frozen for up to 3 months.

I happen to love the color, just serve it in a bright bowl and you've got a beautiful addition to any table.

I don't mean to be rude,

2010-01-31T09:24:00.000-05:00

but I just want to tell you this. I know this is harsh and I don't mean to offend anyone. I am here to inform you on issues which you may otherwise not be aware. I share simple ways you can alter your routine to be a little greener. Maybe our generation can be remembered for something positive out of all the negative that is brewing right here, right now.

I don't care if you think global warming is a faux. Wouldn't you want to be less wasteful anyway?
Don't you see how much you don't need to drive everywhere? That by bringing reusable bags to the grocery store you reduce your impact on the world?
Don't you realize that factory farm meat is nasty?

I am deeply saddened for anyone who thinks, "Well, I won't be alive then, so I don't have to do anything about it", or "God will destroy the earth when he's ready".
That is ignorant. And if you feel that way, it is not fair for you to bring life into this world. Because through your wasteful beliefs, you have sent your distant offspring and mine to premature death.

Think of the future. Not just yourself. Don't you want to make the world a better place for the population 100 years after us? What a beautiful and selfless gift. Being kind to our earth is not a fad. Unless you make it one. Do it for your grand-children.

Love it! Umbrella Fabric into a Dress

2010-01-30T09:45:00.000-05:00

Haitian Eco-Designer Upcycles Umbrella Fabric Into Couture Dresses

by Yuka Yoneda, 01/28/10

If you’ve ever gazed upon a pretty floral umbrella and thought, “That would make an awesome frock,” then Catherine Charlot is the woman you’re after. Her Brooklyn-based company, Himane, transforms discarded clothing, vintage fabrics, buttons, trim, and even broken umbrellas into retro-inspired dresses that look nothing like their original materials. It’s almost like something out of Cinderella—well, minus the animal helpers and the magic pumpkin.

Want Weight Loss? Eat Your Veggies!

2010-01-29T09:11:00.013-05:00

Its the end of January. You've already given up your new year's resolution to lose weight? I've got your fix and you've heard it before.

Eat your veggies.

Can't lose weight?
Its hard to get to the gym and avoid those seductive sweets we craaaave all year long. Then there's the holiday season, which usually does me in. All the sugar cookies, peanut butter blossoms, chocolate and eggnog partying I do over that month and a half span of jolliness replace any weight I managed to shed over the past year.

This happens to everyone, even though The Today Show and every magazine under the sun offers tips on how to avoid the holiday chunk. Enter the annual January 1 resolution to lose weight.

Last year, I lost weight in December. A first, for sure. I still partied, but I avoided the meat snacks. I've been steadily losing weight since the summer. Friends that haven't seen me in a while since then ask, "Have you lost weight"? And yes, I've lost about 15lbs.

The Solution
I tried cutting out sweets altogether for a while, but I'll be honest... I'd end up binging on them later. So I tried something new.

In the past year and a half I have significantly cut meat out of my diet. To be honest, other than chicken, I never really loved meat in the first place. Burgers always made me feel sick. I just ate meat to "keep healthy" and get "all my nutrients".

Rework Your Plan; Less Meat
Make your new weight loss plan, less meat. That's all you have to do. You don't have to label yourself as vegetarian. Try it for just one meal first. Your intestines will be cleaner and so will your body as a whole. Adding more veggies to your day will easily flush on out toxins and build up.

Even if is just a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and carrots for lunch for the first week, that's progress. The second week you can move to dinner and breakfast (get rid of that greasy bacon mess. Gross). The third week, be bold and try going without meat for the whole week. You can do this once a month to get used to it. Soon you'll find that when you do eat meat, it will make you feel bloated and overly full.

Team Up
Can go it alone? Its always better to do things in pairs. My friend, Alison and I teamed up at first to try. We'd say, "I'm going vegetarian the week". Then the other one would usually team up, too. We'd check up on each other, admitting our failures and celebrating our successes. Eventually, even her husband was on board. We've both stuck with it and have enjoyed sharing new recipes.

Eating Out
Its hard. Especially if you are the corporate restaurant type (I'm trying not to judge you). If you find yourself getting tripped up when you're out to eat. Tell your friends before you order that you have to find something without meat. They might even join in.

Get Over It!
Oh, you don't like veggies? Come on! Are you 5? You've got to grow up and overcome your distaste for veggies. And you must not salt them up for "flavor". Euh salt, is another story. I love the taste of raw unsalted veggies. Do you even know what that tastes like? Its amazing.

Try Something New
Instead of meat tacos opt for bean. Add onions to everything. Sure these will make you super regular at first, but that's because your body isn't used to getting all that wonderful fiber. You'll adjust, and soon you'll find when you do eat meat, your regularity will go out the window.

For breakfast, my boyfriend makes a new ultimate shake concoction every morning. He blends in spinach leaves, frozen berries, frozen mango, carrots, pineapple, flax seed and frozen broccoli. Its healthy, filling, satisfies my sweet tooth (I'm an ice cream fiend) and delicious!

The fruity flavors overpower the leafy greens; for those of you who were grossed out. You've got to try it, you'll be hooked, too.

So go do it. Eat less meat and there'll be less meat on you!

Savvy Magazine!

2010-01-28T20:23:00.002-05:00

I am excited to announce that I was nominated for the Beauty Editorial multi-page spread in Savvy Magazine coming this June!

Help bring me to the top by voting everyday here at Explore Modeling!

Profile:
Jen IS savvy. An honest & true beauty, Jen possesses a level of class & sophistication lost in our world today. A music teacher & founder/president The Kingdom of Azuria, Jen is very active with children. As a professional Princess, Jen brings magic & enchantment to DC events & parties. Through her work with children she displays what it is to be a true "princess"; smart, caring, confident & SAVVY.

Thanks for your vote and continued support!

Gluten-Free is the Way to Be

2010-01-21T09:11:00.010-05:00

Not that I would suggest buying from Amazon over your local natural grocer, or that all of these products are cleanly eco-friendly (there is a lot of sketchy underlying friendships and connections in the organic/natural certification business, just like any other). But I wanted you to see that Amazon does offer gluten-free Betty Crocker, pizza crust, bread and cake mixes.

What is Gluten?

Some people suffer from a disease called celiac disease, which impedes the digestion of gluten. Individuals with celiac disease must eat foods that do not contain gluten in order to prevent illness. If improperly treated, celiac disease can be fatal. In addition, care must be taken when eating grains that do not contain gluten, particularly oats and teff, as they are commonly grown near foods with gluten or processed in the same bins. Catholic sufferers of celiac disease must also exercise precaution, as wheat, which contains gluten, is a required ingredient in the wafers used for certain religious ceremonies.
Gluten can be removed from wheat flour, producing wheat starch. All of the gluten in wheat flour, however, cannot be removed. Still, according the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if a certain amount of the gluten is removed, the food product can be labeled "gluten-free." (This is somewhat similar to food products that can be labeled as 0 Calories even though a serving contains 4 or less Calories.) Gluten helps make bread elastic, providing it with that chewy texture it has when eaten. For this reason, flour that has had most of its gluten removed, produces a sticky dough that feels much like chewing gum (Read more).

Check out Gluten Girl's article, What the heck is gluten anyway?

Love it: Up-Cycled Menswear Shirt to Cute Dress

2010-01-11T00:13:00.012-05:00

I'm submerged in some major New's Year's Cleaning. We are up to our ears in pre-organization disorganization here at my house. Not to mention getting the Christmas stuff put away. For clothes, I've got three piles: donate to homeless shelter, to be mended, and sell at a consignment shop. When I'll get to mending, Lord knows... But new projects? I'm all for!

Just tonite I decided that some things in those piles could be rehashed from old to new... and as bad as it is, (I'm a fashion fiend) ooOohhh, there's nothing that I love more than new clothes. And no, you don't have to remind me that I took the pledge.

Enter, Cut Out + Keep.

Cut Out + Keep = Facebook
+ Livejournal
+ a craft lover's & upcycler's paradise
- the spending.

This super addictive site encourages you to, as the title suggests, cut out and create something new so you can keep your old stuff! Couldn't be greener, in my book!

Here's two sassy ways to revamp a used men's dress shirt! Love these two ideas to turn one of your boyfriend's or dad's old shirts into a super cute dress. Just in time for spring! Click on the images for the tutorials from Cut Out + Keep.

Cute Baby Doll Dress

Sweet Summertime Strapless Dress
Both posted by: carlyjcais

Want more from them? Here's their Best of 2009 Guide.

You'll end up spending hours on Cut Up + Keep. So as a warning to my crafty friends, beware.

Take the Pledge!

2009-12-30T13:16:00.000-05:00

Here's a top notch New Year's Resolution. Take the pledge to abstain from purchasing new clothing and pick your time frame.

The Pledge:

I __________________ pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 / 4 / 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle pre-loved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovated, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings! Signed__________________.

The Rules

1. No buying new! (handmade is excepted; So this allows for Etsy purchases etc!!) All clothing must be Recycled, Renovated, Preloved or Thrifted, or Handmade only for the term. Employment related and special needs clothing (ie sports, school), shoes and undies are excepted from the rules, although you are encouraged to have a go at making these.

2. In extreme circumstances, maybe a special event, or the worlds greatest and most amazing never to be repeated sale that you simply can not pass up, you may use the Get out of Refashionista Jail Free card. You are able to use this card once during the 2 month part of your contract; ie 1 for 2 months, 2 for 4 months etc. Of course you need to fess up on the blog and display the button!

3. You must post on the blog at least once a week to let the community know what you've been up to. This will not only give you brag points, but inspire and encorouge others! Of course you need to display the button on your blog and have copied the pledge in at least one post, and provide a link to your pledge under the button.

4. You need to be honest and admit when you've fallen off the Refashionista Wagon! Go directly to Refashionista Jail, do not pass GO and do not collect $200! Apply for parole once there.

Trader Joe's

2009-12-29T20:40:00.001-05:00

Trader Joe's has a great reputation in my circle, most of my family friends rave about it. Comically, its almost like a social placement to say you shop there (like back when all the cool kids were wearing FUBU in middle school). But I have to say, though they do offer good stuff... you really have to watch yourself.

Here's a forum topic from Chowhound, "What products at Trader Joes to avoid"?

Miracle Whip vs. Mayonnaise.

2009-12-27T19:45:00.000-05:00

Stephen Colbert highlighted this ridiculous commercial a few weeks ago on his "Colbert Report". I have to commend his mockery, but I saw it from a different side.

Ingredients: WATER, SOYBEAN OIL, VINEGAR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, SUGAR, SALT, ENZYME MODIFIED EGG YOLKS, MUSTARD FLOUR, ARTIFICIAL COLOR, POTASSIUM SORBATE AS A PRESERVATIVE, PAPRIKA, SPICE, NATURAL FLAVOR, DRIED GARLIC, BETA CAROTENE (COLOR). CONTAINS: EGG.
Size: 16 FL OZ

What's the Difference: Miracle Whip vs. Mayonnaise.

Special from Wear Your Intention

2009-12-17T10:30:00.003-05:00

Wear Your Intention Organic Cotton T-shirts are the perfect gift to give or receive!

We've just added two additional options to our existing 15 designs for women, and are introducing our first men's t-shirt:

For Women: Guardian Angel of Good Wishes brings blessings for Abundance, Health, Happiness, Success and Love. And our new Peace design bears a powerful message: World Peace Begins With Inner Peace.

For Men: we wanted our first men's tee to be something special, and this one is! The Peace design also bears the message World Peace Begins With Inner Peace.

And even though we already have amazingly low prices for quality organics, we are offering you a special discount for 20% off your next purchase! (see below)

20% Off
To receive 20% off your purchase please use coupon code Holiday at checkout. Have questions? Email us: customerservice@wearyourintention.com Offer Expires: 12/24/09

Have a Slow Holiday from TreeHugger

2009-12-06T10:26:00.000-05:00

Be sure to check out this all inclusive eco-holiday guide from TreeHugger. I love the "slow" holiday idea. What I'd give to have a slow December...

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Have a Slow Holiday

Let's face it: With all that rushing, consuming, and bargain-hunting, the holidays can be darn stressful. So this year, following the best of the methodology pioneered by the revolutionary Slow Food Movement, TreeHugger is taking them back. We're putting the brakes on stress and over consumption and making a return to those idyllic holidays of old with our Slow Gift Guide, consisting of 12 categories and over 100 gifts.
True luxury is taking the time to enjoy, the time to savor the moment. Each of these gifts--selected for thoughtfulness, longevity, and quality over quantity--have this goal in mind. Maybe it is as simple as a fresh, home-cooked meal whipped up with a pressure cooker, or the leisurely hours spent playing with a child with free downloaded paper gnomes. From delicate bracelets and sturdy fishing gear made of recycled material to donations to our favorite non-profits to bamboo keyboards, solar iPhone skins, and eco-friendly dollhouses, let's take back the holidays together. And hey, till then, take it slow. -Mairi Beautyman

Looking for more seasonal info? Our Holiday Guides are full of do-it-yourself projects, terrific recipes, and eco-friendly tips to help you celebrate smartly. Visit Planet Green's Green Holidays, Green Christmas, and Green Hanukkah, for yet more recipes, how-to ideas, and crafts. Enjoy the season!

Didn't find what you're looking for here? Give our 2008 and 2007 Holiday Gift Guides (below) a shot. It's chock full of even more green gifts!

All rights to this article belong to TreeHugger ♡.

Support Your Local Economy

2009-12-04T10:29:00.007-05:00

This Christmas season go into your downtown or old town area and buy at least three gifts from the local businesses. They are all struggling with the economy and being under priced by naasty Walmart. So, show a little support to your local merchants! Those receiving your gifts will be pleased with the uniqueness of your gifting taste.

A lot of small shops are now on Facebook, so search for your favorite shop to keep up to date on their news and (of course) sales!

My favorite "old town" shop is the Town Duck in Warrenton, VA.

Here's a great article from Etsy.com; 'your place to buy and sell things handmade'. New Rules: Support Your Local Economy.

Ummm, Yeah, About Those Holiday Cards...

2009-12-01T11:45:00.004-05:00

Okay, so any frivolous use of paper is wasteful. We know this. But what are you supposed to do about your obligation to send out Holiday cards?! Aren't they a holiday staple?! Plus, your husband's Great-Aunt Wilma will get pissed if you don't send her one this year! But seriously, besides just the general expectations and demands, what's the point of Holiday cards?
If you're only keeping in touch through snail mail with your 541 dearest friends once a year... you probably can just do away with this unnecessary burden all together.

That's what Facebook is for anyway, right?

Oh, what? You think that's impersonal? Okay. Why not use your after 9pm cell phone minutes to call one friend/relative each nite from now until the Holidays. That's eco-friendly and doesn't cost you anything, but your sanity and some free time in the evening. You can even explain to everyone the reason for the switch to no cards, that will get people buzzing!

Now you can re-joice!

If you're still not sold on saving the $100 & writer's cramp dealing with all the cards then here are some eco-friendly, bio-degradable or recycled paper cards for your mailing enjoyment.

Eco-Expression
Doodle Greetings
Bio-degradable Cards
Eco friendly Christmas cards
Where to Buy Eco-Friendly Cards
And don't forget our good friends over at Etsy!

Didn't hear enough from me? Check out Xmas Trash or Treasure.

You Can (Dis)count On Us - Deals for Green Tuesday

2009-12-01T10:08:00.003-05:00

You Can (Dis)count On Us - Deals for Green Tuesday from Ideal Bite

The Bite:

Can you depend on us for great deals on holiday gifts? Yep - for the 4th year in a row, we won't let you down. Shop online using these exclusive deals we snagged for you (and save retail store shopping-related energy while you're at it). The catch? They won't always be there for you - they're only available today - so get going…

The Benefits:

For our fourth-annual Green Tuesday, over 20 trusty online merchants are offering you Biter-exclusive discounts (today only!) as a green alternative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Online, there's no waiting in line, and you can shop 24 hours a day. Plus, you can send gifts straight to the giftee, bypassing double shipping.
Despite their size, running an ecommerce warehouse takes 1/16th of the energy it takes to operate a retail store. And even overnight air shipping uses 40% less fuel than the average car trip to shop.

Personally Speaking:

Check out our new gift guide to see what online gifts the Biter team members are coveting.

Wanna Try:

Alex and Ani - recycled accessories and jewelry. Enter the code GoGreen09 during checkout to get 20% off.
Beekman 1802 - goat milk soaps. Enter the code Bitten during checkout to get 20% off.
Big Dipper Wax Works - beeswax candles. Enter the code GREENTUESDAY during checkout to get 20% off.
Blooming Lotus - organic body care products. Enter the code BitersRock during checkout to get 20% off on any order over $40.
Brilliant Earth - fair-trade gold and diamond jewelry. Enter the code IDEALBITE during checkout to get 20% off its Choco pendant.
BTC Elements - clothing and things for decking out your home. Enter the code bite09 during checkout to get 25% off plus free shipping.
Greenloop - eco-fashion. Enter the code Idealbite25 during checkout to get 25% off.
Greensender - reusable water bottles and commuter coffee mugs that you can personalize. Enter the code GREATBOTTLE during checkout to get 20% off.
HER Design - eco-friendly handbags. Enter the code IDEAL25 during checkout to get 25% off.
Laundress - clothing care products. Enter the code idealbite1 during checkout to get 20% off.
Nau - eco-apparel. Enter the code IDEALBITE during checkout to get 20% off all regularly priced items.
One Language Label - reusable canvas bags. Enter the code 20green to get 20% off.
Organic Pharmacy - homeopathics. Enter the code IDEALB to get 20% off.
Organic Wine Company - organic wine. Enter the code IDEAL during checkout to get 20% off.
Pact Underwear - organic cotton underwear. Enter the code ib20 during checkout to get 20% off.
Pangea Organics - organic body care. Enter the code IdealBite09 during checkout to get 30% off.
Peacock Republic - gifts for snazzing up your bath and home. Enter the code idealbite25 during checkout to get 25% off plus free shipping.
Seven Planet - eco-boutique with a grab bag of products. Enter the code Idealbite25 during checkout to get 25% off.
Sust - organic cotton clothing. Enter the code GREEN40 during checkout to get 40% off.
VivaTerra - home gifts. Enter the code ID09 during checkout to get 20% off.
Weleda - organic skincare. Enter the code IDEALBITE1 during checkout to get 20% off.
West Paw Design - pet beds, clothes, and toys. Enter the code ideal2009green during checkout to get 20% off.

Holly Jolly Holiday Party

2009-11-28T11:39:00.002-05:00

Its time to get merry! Bring out (last year's) tinsel to trim the perfect Christmas Tree.
Check out this all inclusive guide (ten pages!) to throwing an environmentally conscious holiday party from Ideal Bite.

What are YOU going to do on Black Friday?

2009-11-26T12:35:00.003-05:00

How stupid does that sound, for real? Be green & just stay home. Avoid all the stress that comes along with the added 345 cars on the road during rush hour. Oh, you don't want to miss out on all the deals that cookie cutter Macy's and Walmart have to offer your plastic self?
Just go without.
Use your day off to relax in the comfort of your family and a good library book. If you're on the east coast its going to be rainy anyway = great cuddle up day.
Stay green and make a point to not buy on Black Friday. Boycott Black Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T08:34:00.001-05:00

Tips for an Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving
13 Eco-Friendly Tips for a Greener Thanksgiving | Modern Eco Homes
12 Ways to Have a Green Thanksgiving
How to Go Green: Thanksgiving Day
How To Cook a Sustainable Thanksgiving Dinner
Eating Animals, Or What Not to Eat on Thanksgiving

and my fav...

Surviving Thanksgiving Dinner with (Not-So-Green) Family

the Countdown

2009-11-25T07:16:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.
That means the Holiday season will have officially set course; not just Wal*Marts early bird fabrication-suggestion of a holly jolly season.
There's 1 month exactly until Christmas...
16 days until my Birthday...
annnnnnd 6 Days til no more smoking in Virginia bars and restaurants!
Now I can avoid getting cancer from second hand smoke AND wear whatever I want when I go out. I can't wait not have to worry about smelling like a rotting smoker lung when I come home from a nite out (sorry that was a harsh scare tactic, but I really love my smoker friends and would prefer to keep them around).

Restaurants and smoking in Virginia FAQS

Burt's Bees: Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme

2009-11-23T15:45:00.004-05:00

This is amazing stuff. I have one tin by my bed and one in my purse. I often can't fall asleep unless I've put it on. Its a comforting feeling (OMG, between this and my hand salve habits I really seem OCD). The stuff smells amazing, like lemon meringue pie, and it just really works.

The only thing I hate about it is sometime you will find it for sale in this ridiculous cardboard packaging. Its totally wasteful.

I have been in love with this cuticle creme for years. Its a staple for me, especially when the weather turns cold. As a waitress, I am constantly washing my hands to fend off swine flus and God knows what people leave in the food on their wasted lunch plates.

Rating: *****

Here's the Burt's Bees specs:

Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme
Get 10 perfect fingers and 10 perfect toes.
94.91% Natural <----- okay, so they've changed this.

How it Works This natural nail treatment softens cuticles and fortifies nails. Sweet almond oil, vitamin E and cocoa butter moisturize. Then beeswax seals in the goodness. A touch of lemon oil makes your nails appear and smell incredibly clean and beautiful. And, with regular use, your nails will become stronger and dry cuticles will disappear.

How to Use It
Massage the cream into your cuticles and nails at least once a day. For an intensive overnight cuticle treatment, apply generously to your hands and nails before bed.

Lemon Oil Featured Ingredient
Lemon Oil — Obtained from the fresh peel of the fruit of the Citrus Lemon tree, this oil is known for its astringent and anti-irritant qualities.
Read more

Ingredients: helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, beeswax, citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil, theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, tocopheryl acetate, euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, tocopherol, beta-carotene, vegetable oil

Reviews from Others
Burt's Bees Lemon Cuticle Creme Review

Toxic Beauty: How Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Endanger Your Health, And What You Can Do about It

2009-11-20T12:29:00.002-05:00

Here's a great book calling out the cosmetic industry. You need to educate yourself on what you're putting in and on your body. These nasty chemicals n mascara, blush and nail polish are toxic to your health.

Check out this book, Toxic Beauty: How Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Endanger Your Health, And What You Can Do about It by Sam Epstein. Click on the book to buy it from Amazon.

Toxic Beauty is the most important book of the decade. As a medical doctor, Sam Epstein clearly understands the causes of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and other inflammatory diseases through the exposure to petrochemical and synthetic toxins found in every day consumer products. This book is a transparent truth of the consumer industry. It is a must read for everyone. --Horst Rechelbacher, Founder of Aveda products

More Beauty Info Sites:

Not Just A Pretty Face
Organic Beauty for Hair, Skin, Nails
Toxic Beauty Products

Get it Used at Amazon

2009-11-11T12:27:00.000-05:00

Have you discovered the beauty that is Amazon.com? They have everything you could possibly imagine and most things for a "used: like new" price. I love it. If my local used book store doesn't have what I'm looking for I get on Amazon and search for what I need. The great thing is that there are companies and private sellers from all over the globe who are linked to the site.

If you need ...

a prom dress

In Rainbows by Radiohead

Kitchen Aid Mixer,

Planters for your patio garden

or Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano
Amazon has used!

You can see what other customers say about the seller you're buying from and their products. And while I'm not saying that every company that sells on Amazon is clean, everything I have bought from Amazon has arrived promptly and been super! Just be smart about your purchase.

Amazon even does the "shopping around" part for you! Amazon even tracks the items you leave in your cart when they go up or down in price.

Shopping online saves you the wild goose chase and money on gas to the stores that don't have what you're looking for. In a world that is obsessed with all things new and mass produced, be the one who finds a deal on something used and know you saved even a tiny part of the world.

How do GMOs work?

2009-11-10T15:20:00.000-05:00

Do you get it yet?
This stuff is everywhere and it needs to stop.

In DC, Paper And Plastic Will Cost You

2009-11-08T21:47:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- Mayor Fenty has signed a bill that will charge people five cents for every disposable paper or plastic bag they use at District businesses. The bill was unanimously passed by the DC Council in June.

Customers in the District will begin to see the charge on January 1, 2010. Some items including newspapers, plants, produce, and prescriptions are exempt from the charge.

Money raised by the surcharge will be used to fund the Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Fund. The DC government will use the money to educate citizens about trash disposal, provide reusable bags to residents, and clean the Anacostia. The DC government and Department of the Environment will begin the education and bag distribution campaign this fall.

The law also requires disposable bags still used in stores to be recyclable and have a pro-recycling label printed on them.

D.C. Council gives final approval to bag tax bill - wtop.com

why.i.hate.dc: DC Council Approves 'Bag Tax' Wow. This blogger should probably move away from DC if they are making an effort to blog about how much they hate it.

D.C. Council approves plastic bag tax - Washington Times

Renewable Energy Turns Me On: Progress Report on the DC Bag Tax

Not so Lucky Charms.

2009-11-06T11:02:00.000-05:00

They are full of corn products and GMOs.

Who Owns Your Food? (Quiz)

2009-11-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

Take the quiz to find out.

Check me out!

2009-11-04T14:32:00.004-05:00

Green is the New Black got a new make over this week! If you are an RSS or Facebook Note subscriber take a quick peek over here to see what I've done. :D

If you would like to be considered for advertising packages please contact me for pricing.

Love it: Burt's Bees Hand Salve

2009-11-04T11:45:00.003-05:00

Had to get my winter skin care buying before the chill sets in. I have seen this on the market for years, but never tried it, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I really watch Burt's Bees now though, as they have been bought by Clorox. So I guess in reality, who knows what they are getting away with saying is "99.9% Natural" now.

Burt's Bees Hand Salve
A Farmer's Friend:
Our all-purpose protective hand salve is made with botanical oils, herbs and beeswax, specially formulated to deeply penetrate dry, chapped hands and other areas that need extra moisturizing.

Rating: ***

I gave this only 3 stars because while it does soften and protect, it doesn't soak into your skin terribly quickly and leaves a film on your hands, causing you to have to watch what you touch for a few minutes. Its not oily, like Baby Oil, but it definitely stays greasy for a while. Because of this, its great for overnite moisturizing.

I love the tin and it doesn't come with any extra cardboard packaging= less waste! Its great to drop in your purse and not have to worry about it oozing out through a pump bottle. Though, I have this thing about washing my hands before applying lotion or lip balm from a flat tin. I feel like germs left in there from the day will breed inside and it grosses me out. Maybe that's OCD? I don't know. But the images flood back to me from high school biology of those petri dishes festering with bacteria, so I wash my hands.

I got it from the grocery store for $7, but I see it online for $21, so watch yourself and shop around.

CORN: Its What's for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Everything in Between.

2009-11-03T12:56:00.005-05:00

don't let this veiled evil fool you with cuteness!

Your Daily Diet and Staying Regular

2009-11-02T22:38:00.023-05:00

I was talking to my girlfriends over tapas and mojitos at dinner tonite about all the crap that is in the food we eat, wear, and apply. My friend has tummy problems and the doctors have no idea what is wrong with her. She can not eat without getting violently sick. Her diet is soo limited now, I don't know how she does it. The kicker is that her family has been an organic/natural family since before it was cool.

I on the other hand have the opposite problem; and have no reservations talking about it. I take probiotics (Acidophilus) which have to be refrigerated. I have though, found a new love called Triphala. It does wonders for many things rather than just colon health. Also, mother got us some fresh-from-the-orchard apple cider this weekend, and let me tell you that really does the trick.

I'm outraged with the world accepting corn as the MAIN ingredient in everything we eat from breakfast syrup to beef (yes, your juicy sirloins are pumped with corn, too).

Take a look at the products below and think about how much you eat in a day, week, month...

Its time to make some changes.

Stop eating this stuff people. Its keeping you from staying regular
and flushing toxins, thus making you fat.

Irregularity and IBS are widely accepted problems. How can we allow companies to get away with feeding us this ridiculous excuse for food when our bodies can't even digest over half of it because its fake or chemically altered.

Then to counteract our irregularity we have Jamie Lee Curtis to sell us Activia to help things flow?

Something's wrong here.

Check out these blogs:
The Angry Doctor Blog: DanActive
Dannon Activia Lawsuit

I ♥ Boys that Recycle

2009-11-02T18:22:00.006-05:00

In love with this awesome eco friendly & organic tote. Its perfect for everyday use and rocks the phrase, “I Heart Boys That Recycle” – making it a perfect girls tween gift as well.

Make-over

2009-11-02T10:37:00.001-05:00

Green is the New Black is getting make over today. So bear with me as the format is left in odd styles while I'm teaching piano lessons.

Pumpkin Carving Patterns

2009-10-30T11:50:00.006-04:00

Its pumpkin carving day with Jen & Patches. I've been searching for the perfect pattern, and I think I've found it. Here's a great list of sites with pumpkin carving patterns from Kim Lynch at Bella Online. I also found this cute Disney Princess site with patterns, too. Its been a hard choice, but I've decided on Dorothy & Toto this year.

Try drawing the design straight onto your pumpkin instead of printing out the pattern... Think about all the pumpkins that will get carved this year. I'm just saying, there's one less piece of paper wasted. ♥

Pumpkin Carving Patterns

Need some carving ideas for your next pumpkin? Then click on some of the links below. Choose a pattern, print it out and take it with you on your pumpkin hunt. It's much easier to find a pumpkin to fit your pattern, than to later try to fit your pattern to your pumpkin.

You're going to be creating a work of art and you want it to be displayed at it's best. Look for a pumpkin with a flat bottom, a strong, sturdy stem and bright orange color.

When you pick up your pumpkin give it a little shake. If you can hear or feel anything sloshing around inside, put it back. A pumpkin should feel solid and be silent when shaken.

All pumpkins will have some imperfections, which you can always work into your design. The skin of a pumpkin protects it from bacteria. If the skin has lots of nicks, dents and deep cuts bacteria can get in and often the pumpkin won't last as long.

Once you get your pumpkin home wash it with a damp cloth and wipe it dry. A carved pumpkin typically lasts, between 2 - 7 days depending on weather conditions. So choose your carving date accordingly.

BHG.com
I'm not a big fan of the Better Homes & Garden site because they have pop ups and often require registration before you can use some of their offerings, but they do offer a nice selection of patterns. The site offers 38 Printable Stencils, The Pumpkin Stencil Maker, Creative Carving Ideas and More Stencils to Carve.

CyberHaunt.com
A Variety of traditional pumpkin faces and standard Halloween themes.

DLTK.com
Large selections of carving patterns geared specifically toward children. In addition to the typical patterns of bats, spiders, witches and ghosts, this site also offers patterns for Thomas the Tank, Blues Clues, Sponge Bob and Scooby-Doo.

ehow.com
Here are a variety of templates, both scary and cute. If you want to skip the scary and personalize your pumpkin with a simple monogram, this site offers letter templates.

FamilyFun.com
This site offers a nice variety of pumpkin patterns. The "Goodnight Moon" pumpkin pattern is a lovely pattern of the stars and moon with a face, but definitely not for the beginning carver. The "Oh, No!" pumpkin is great if you're tired of a traditional pumpkin face, but don't have the time or talent to carve an elaborate design.

Herseys.com
Twenty-three great templates are offered for beginner, intermediate and advance carvers.

Hgtv.com
Say "Boo" or carve up a flying witch, a cat, a bat or some pumpkin faces complements of HGTV.

History.com
Use your pumpkin to shine a light on history with one of these great carving patterns of George Washington, Ben Franklin or Lady Liberty. A selection of traditional jack-o-lantern patterns are also included, along with some Thanksgiving themed patterns.

HP.com Pumpkin Patterns
Here are some great easy to carve Halloween themed patterns. HP also offers a selection of nature themed patterns from the World Wildlife Fund.

Kraftfoods.com Pumpkin Place
Kraft offers six basic, easy to carve pumpkin face templates, along with some great recipes.

Nickjr.com
Carve out you child’s favorite Nickolodeon character with these patterns for Dora, Moose, Uniqua, Blue, Broobee, Diego, Foofa, Pablo, Swiper and Wubbzy.

PumkinGlow.com
Here are eight patriotic carving patterns: American Flag, Liberty Bell, Lincoln Memorial, Statue of Liberty, American Eagle, George Washington, Mt. Rushmore, and The Patriot. This site also offers a nice selection of celebrity and animal pumpkin patterns.

Pumpkin Masters.com
4 Great carving patterns: Flack Jack, Icabod’s Fate, Good Bite Moon and Grim Creeper.

And here's some pumpkin seed recipes, because I know you're not going to let those go to waste:
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds Recipes - Home Cooking
Spicy Pumpkin Seeds
Sugar and Spice Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Sweet Cinnamon Toasted Pumpkin Seeds Recipe

Oh and look at the Mini Pumpkin Candleholders. These are a super cute way to max out your mini pumpkins use all the way to the Thanksgiving table.

Edit: Oct 30 @ 1:48pm
Here's our jack-o-lantern all set for tomorrow!

Dorothy & Toto

Green Halloween Guide 2009

2009-10-28T14:54:00.013-04:00

This season is my fav! Seriously. Everything about it. The smells, the tastes and I can just get lost in a landscape of reds, yellow & orange. Carving pumpkins, pumpkin pie and apple picking (find an orchard new you: PickYourOwn) and we'll be making our annual apple butter next week. So here it is. You knew it was coming...

Green is the New Black's Green Halloween Guide 2009

Halloween Party:

Use an email for party invitations, instead of mailing them out; I did this for my mom's surprise birthday party earlier this month and her friends loved it. Google documents offers templates that you can just plug in your information and save the file as a .jpg or. png.
There are even sites that you can use to organize your party. Try Evite. An electronic invitation is one less thing for your guest to have to worry about throwing out
Don’t use disposable paper or plastic plates This is an obvious one. used our own dinner plates and while there was a little added clean up getting them into the dishwasher, think how good you'll feel when the trash you take out post-party is tons lighter? Plus, when you use your own plates you can spend time chatting it up with friends while you all clean up! (If your friends wouldn't be up for helping you clean after a party... you need to get new friends)!
For decorations only buy spooky decor that you will be able to use every year. There is not sense in wasting your money on stupid plastic stuff every year. So, don't throw it away, store your stuff for next year! I have Halloween garland from college that I use to this day.
The pumpkin: Here are some great jack'o'lantern patterns. Compost your pumpkins when you’re done with them... if the pumpkin smashers don't get to them first... along with fall leaves, food scraps from your Halloween party, and other items you would normally compost. You can bake the seeds for a delicious, healthy snack. If you haven't already thrown out the guts of the pumpkin, you can bake a yummy pumpkin dessert. And, OMG, don't let those pumpkin seeds go to waste! Shake some cinnamon sugar or garlic butter on them and they make a great Monday Night Football Snack.
Trick-or-Treat
Forgo the plastic pumpkins and opt for a handmade treat bag. It is the easiest thing on the earth to make. I've been making little bags like this since I was seven.
Don't you ever Google image (love how Google is a verb now) something to get ideas from other people? Try this.

The Costume, To Buy, Make or RENT:
Halloween is a big deal to me, and I know it is for many others as well, but I always skip a year buying a costume or making my own. Here's a great site for kids costumes ideas that includes patterns.

To assume less waste, RENT your Halloween costume instead of buying more material. If you're in the Richmond, VA area check out the AWESOME costume shop in Cary Town up near Can Can & Mary Angela's Pizza. The costumes in that shop are impeccably made. Unless you are a mad good seamstress/ter there's no way you can create something that well made on your own. The rent-able costumes are serious.

And if you feel like your Halloween wardrobe is lacking here's an Organic Cotton Trick or Treat Ghost Tee. You can even personalize the shirt to your liking!

Try these sites for more spooky eco tips:

GreenHalloween
Happy Hallogreen Newsletter - Oct 31, 2008
Late October Newsletter - Oct 29, 2008
Our Scariest List Ever from Ideal Bite
11 Tips To Make Your Halloween Eco Friendly
Rent Your Halloween Costume, Instead Of Buying New
Green Your Halloween: Party

Happy Halloween! :D

Food, Inc and Staying Aware, Seriously.

2009-10-22T23:12:00.016-04:00

Tonite I attended a free screening of the film "Food, Inc". I was super excited about seeing it all week and feel lucky to have a nite free from rehearsal to go. I helped collect donations for LessCancer.org, an organization focused on preventing cancer through education of environmental causes & cancer causes awareness. The perfect pair. It was a really receptive group and the theatre was filled with support and excitement to make a difference.

The film touched on so many topics that I already felt strongly about (the corrupt and unjust corn & meat industry) while introducing me to several new concerns. Mainly, the impact that Monsanto has on everything in the world. With their GMOs, they are truly a global bully and their evil reign touches all of us, from farmer to consumer.

Monsanto is a leading global provider of agricultural products and systems sold to farming concerns. Their leading products are the Roundup herbicide, DEKALB and Agrow seed products, and biotechnology traits. Products have also included Agent Orange, the now ubiquitous PCBs, DDT, recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone and Aspartame. The company's profits for fiscal year 2007 are $1.06 billion. Monsanto has 17,500 employees... Monsanto has sued many a farmer when their GM crops have turned up on the farmer's fields even though the farmers say they never planted them (examples)[34] [35] [36]. For an alarming expose of Monsanto's legal battles with American farmers see the report Monsanto vs. U.S. Farmers. For more see Goliath and David: Monsanto's Legal Battles against Farmers (SourceWatch).

They have such a hold on these farmers and they bully them until they've destroyed their existence. Monsanto is Hitler's Third Reich of the food industry, ridding the earth of any other seed than its own creations. I say this because the scary thing is that people get in maaaajor trouble for even bringing up their sketchy and inhumane behavior.

Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear from Vanity Fair
Organic Consumers Association: Millions Against Monsanto Campaign
Monsanto: THE BAD SEED
Monsanto's Many Attempts to Destroy All Seeds but Their Own
The World According to Monsanto really interesting short film series in 8 parts and definitely worth the time to watch.

After the film, the owner of Polyface Farms (here's their policies), one of the highlighted farms, Joel Salatin was a guest for a question and answer session. He was just as charismatic in person as he was in the movie. What a great man, with a mindset that is seriously lacking in our world today. He made me so excited that I wanted to just jump up from the front row and hug hum.

More links on the film:
Director: Robert Kenner, Genre: Documentary, Running Time: 93 minutes, Rated PG: Thematic material and disturbing images
Food, Inc. Movie Teaches “Vote With Your Fork”
If you can find a screening of the film you can at least watch some of the segments online here; Food, Inc on Youtube.
For Health Or Profit, But Not Necessarily For Both NPR Review by David Edelstein

I just can't understand why people are willing to accept the ridiculous excuse for food that fills the aisles of our grocery stores. Food, Inc closed with this thought, you get to cast your vote 3 times a day to see the change you want in our food industry. Here's the first few minutes of the movie for you:

Tonite at 7pm

2009-10-22T15:32:00.004-04:00

The film screening is free to the public.

Date:	Thursday, October 22, 2009
Time:	7:00pm - 9:30pm
Location:	Highland School - Rice Theatre
	597 Broadview Ave. See you there!

Organic Diva: FREE Jane Iredale for all orders over $50.

2009-10-16T10:03:00.004-04:00

Had to share this with my green is the new black-ers. Winter is coming, so its a good time to stock up on product to protect your skin from the cold.

Oh Darling, sure the economy is scary…
...still that's no excuse to look like the Bride of Frankenstein. To help chase the demons from your make-up bag, Organic Diva is offering a FREE Jane Iredale mini Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara in Black Ice with all orders over $50.
*USE PROMO CODE: scarydiva

Perfect for tucking into the tiny clutches you'll be taking to holiday parties this season...(now that should having you running screaming into the streets), it's formulated with sea minerals that condition lashes so they can grow to their fullest potential, while thousands of cellulose fibers coat your lashes for a look that’s glamorous, rich and full. Used properly, you'll achieve Elvira's bright-eyed look in no time. But act now, this limited time offer turns into a pumpkin at Midnight on Halloween.

Why not try this?
___________________
organic diva "beat it" box :
Whether it's an illness, an ill-behaved boyfriend or boss sometimes you just need to say "beat it." Our Organic Diva "Beat It" box is the perfect pick-me up for any situation and includes our all-time best sellers. Your favorite diva will enjoy suki exfoliate foaming cleanser and cleansing bar, Nurture My Body Ginger Body Lotion and Key's Eye Butter (in full sizes) as well as a Dirty Dozen card, and Organic Diva T-shirt.

Please specify T-shirt size from M, L or XL in the comment section of the order form.

Regularly retails for $109.60. Your price: $85. Includes Free Shipping.

Swine Flu? Could it be? Could it be?

2009-10-14T10:28:00.006-04:00

Euh, I have been coughing and sneezing with a sore throat since last week. I've been popping echinacea, vitamin C. Last nite I couldn't stay asleep for coughing, so I got up at 4am and looked up Swine Flu symptoms. Everything seems worse in the middle of the night. Especially because I was visiting yesterday and my friend, who is very pregnant with triplets, said she was getting her flu shot and the kid sitting next to her was diagnosed with ... Swiiiiiine Flu. The first case in our town. One of the children in my play is being quarantined because his family has tested positive for it. IIeks!

What are you guys thinking about the Swine Flu?
Have you gotten the flu shot this year? In the past?
What do you think: Is it better to get the shot and avoid the flu, or to allow your body to fight it of on its own?

Here's the Government's website for your reading pleasure: 2009 H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)

Egg You On: from Ideal Bite

2009-10-14T08:13:00.002-04:00

We get our eggs from the farmer's market and let me tell you, if you'd don't do this already you have to try it. The eggs have this beautiful natural speckled brown colored shell and then when you crack them out pops a rich yellow yoke. You cakes will be amazing (especially if you mix them with coconut or walnut oil instead of canola oil, too). Once you've tried farm fresh eggs, the ones in the grocery store just taste like chalk. Don't wait any longer to try them.

And don't forget to return the egg cartons to the farmer so he can use them again!

Here's a great tip from Ideal Bite to keep you on the right track to buying chicken friendly eggs.

The Bite:

All riled up over confusing words on egg cartons? Inciting news: Here's what the most common eco egg labels mean…

The Benefits:

Avoid residue from antibiotics and other synthetic chems conventionally raised chickens eat - they may increase your risk for disease.
Buying antibiotic-free eggs also helps you avoid contributing to the problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Goad producers into humane practices by supporting free-range and pasture-raised practices - hens often have access to outdoor areas and many eat only organic feed.

Personally Speaking:

Jen keeps her own chickens (for eggs…and love…aww), and recently hosted a dinner party where she let one of the chicks hang out on her shoulder the whole night.

Wanna Try:

If the label says:

Animal Welfare Approved, American Humane Certified, or Certified Humane - eggs came from farms independently certified by animal welfare nonprofits (note: the latter two do allow beak-cutting).
Cage Free - not regulated, but it usually means producers keep hens uncaged in barns or warehouses (though often there's no outdoor access).
Free Range - typically means the hens are uncaged and have outdoor access - but nobody checks on the amount or duration.
Natural - the USDA says Natural food products can't contain "any artificial or synthetic ingredients, and it must be minimally processed" - vague enough that it could apply to just about any egg.
Organic - third-party-audited label that means the hens are uncaged and have access to the outdoors, and get a diet of organic, vegetarian feed without any antibiotics (beak-cutting and forced molting are permitted).
Pasture Raised - unregulated, but typically birds raised this way have the chance to go outdoors and eat an organic diet.
United Egg Producers Certified - producers can restrict hens to small cages and beak-cutting is allowed (but forced molting isn't).
No Label - the hens were probably raised in a factory farm; if a company can make a claim, it usually will

Just Crazy About Tiffany's!

2009-10-10T21:07:00.000-04:00

As if I could love Tiffany's anymore.

Tiffany & Co., Summer Rayne Oakes, and Rainforest Action Network Start the Fight to get Fashion out of the Forests

The opening night of the GreenShows -- the place to be for greenies during New York Fashion Week -- provided a platform for Rainforest Action Network (RAN), Tiffany & Co., and model and activist Summer Rayne Oakes to promote action against deforestation -- primarily driven by top fashion brands' custom packaging and shopping bags -- in Indonesia's rainforests. Tiffany's announced the switch of their iconic blue shopping bags and packaging to paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Tiffany's iconic blue bag started at a white Kraft paper bag tinted in their signature blue color. In the 1990s it switched to a one-sided color coating with a print matte laminate and a polypropylene handle and in 2005 it transformed to the look it has today; double-sided litho sheets and an embossed, hot-stamped logo. In 2007 Tiffany's began using FSC certified paper -- and in 2008 they started using a biodegradable plastic film that eventually breaks down into CO2 and H20. Tiffany's catalogue paper has a 30% post-consumer waste content and is 99% approved by FSC -- last year it was 98% -- and by next year in 2010 their goal is to have 100% of all paper and packaging FSC certified.

I asked Michael Kowalski, Tiffany & Co. chairman and CEO, and asked whether there would be any indication on the bags to inform consumers of the switch -- he said that besides the FSC logo they would not be showcasing their efforts to green their paper packaging. With the onslaught of greenwashing I respect Tiffany's quiet efforts in sustainability. They have however been vocal in their banning of coral -- to preserve the coral reefs in Indonesia -- and do not sell coral jewelry in their stores. For more on their sustainability efforts visit Tiffany & Co. Sustainability.

Happy 55th Birthday Mere!

Political Punditry from Ideal Bite

2009-10-09T08:27:00.005-04:00

Thanks to the folks over at Ideal Bite for this tip. I am constantly encouraging my friends & readers to write to the source if you want to see change. Its nice to read when someone else is pushing for action, too.

Don't think that your voice won't be heard or that writing in is futile. Last year I wrote to every major corporation (from Chik-Fil-A to Avon) I could think of asking that they make their products more buyer/eco-friendly. There's just no point in complaining about something if you're not going to step up & take some responsibility. The source you write to may not even know that someone has an issue, until they are made aware.

The Bite:

We interrupt your regularly scheduled tip-reading to remind you that even in the midst of all the chatter about health care and the economy, there's still the climate to consider. Whether you're more into Maddow or O'Reilly, get on your high horse and let your senators know you want 'em to keep the environment top of mind. Back to you…

The Benefits:

It's the right time to get the facts - there's a new climate bill going through the Senate, and the UN's Copenhagen talks on climate change are coming up fast (in Dec.).
Think about what's best for you, the planet, and your pocketbook, then make your own decision, and write or call your senator - we know you Biters like to mouth off from time to time.

Personally Speaking:

In between gabbing about the latest celeb OMG moments and the new season of Entourage, we've been chatting about the upcoming decisions on climate policy - and thought we'd bring you into our water cooler discussions.

Wanna Try:

U.S. Senate - alphabetical list of the senators, with quick links to their online contact forms. (Check out the blog to see the sample letter we whipped up that you can copy and paste.)
ABC News - Q&A on the climate bill the House passed.
Environment & Energy Daily (PDF) - find out where your senators stand.

When Farming Goes Corporate

2009-09-30T09:14:00.001-04:00

I'm down south in Mississippi visiting family and we are eating farm fresh eggs, veggies, and spreading homemade butter from the cows on our cornbread. Everyone keeps talking about the way the farmers' crop is going this year and all the rain. My family has been farming in MS for decades.

I was reading TreeHugger this morning and found this article that couldn't be more appropriate.

by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 09.19.09

photo: J. Novak

At TreeHugger, genetically modified organisms (GMO) have long provided reason for concern. Large monocultures, which are typical of GMO, can be riddled with pests. As a result, monocultures are often dressed with a toxic cocktail of pesticides so that they can survive the onslaught. In addition, monocultures can deplete the nutrients in soil and lead to erosion. But the problems with GMO go way beyond freakishly round, tasteless tomatoes. According to New York Times columnist Verlyn Klinkenborg, GMO "represent the final transfer of the collective farming wisdom of the human race into corporate hands."

In a recent article in Yale Environment 360‏, columnist Verlyn Klinkenborg explains what happens when you eliminate the role of the farmer in farming and farming goes corporate.

"Genetically modified crops are rigorously licensed forms of intellectual property. Every seed is a binding contract with stiff penalties attached," says Klinkenborg.

Farmers are essentially giving up the wheel to corporate entities that research, develop, and mass produce seeds. Tracts of land planted with commercial seeds are pushing out local crop varieties and erasing the knowledge gained from 10,000 years of farming.

High Tech vs. Low Tech Farming
Klinkenborg argues that high tech genetic modification is on track to replace low tech farming methods. While many remain nostalgic for the pastoral farming culture of yore, few realize that having large monoculture crops planted across an increasing amount of our agricultural land has serious implications for our food supply.

For example, different species of rice don't just taste different. Each species reacts differently to climatological variation. As conditions change, a genetically modified mega-chain of rice or corn could suffer under a particular change more dramatically than another. Thus, the failure of just one species to effectively adapt could cause a widespread blight, which, in turn, could lead to famine.

Adaptability in cultivating and harvesting a particular type of seed can be just as important as having access to a diversity of seeds in the first place. I recently observed that the underlying issue is that keeping heirloom seeds in seed banks could become an ineffective means for preserving plant species when farmers no longer know how to cultivate different variations of a crop.

A Flawed Agricultural Industry
Klinkenborg's concerns are not limited to the consequences of placing rice and beans on the genetic assembly line. In fact, Klinkenborg's underlying objection to this trend is that it is symptomatic of corporate America's influence on American agriculture. "[I]t is more than resistance to a type of seed. It is also resistance to a model of agriculture whose failings are all too plain," he said.

More on Genetically Modified Crops:
Why GMO Foods Have Failed at Producing Healthy Food for More People
Do You Know What You Eat? Greenpeace's Ads Against Genetically Modified Organisms
Out, Monsanto! No GMOs in National Wildlife Refuge, Says Federal Judge

Get ZeroWasted Pub Crawl & Sustainable Scavenger Hunt this Saturday in San Fran

2009-09-19T11:58:00.001-04:00

If you find yourself in San Fransisco tonite check out the ZeroWasted Pub Crawl tonite!

by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 09.17.09

Image via: Nurse Kitty Qat on Flickr. com

Don't have plans for saturday night? You do now, with the Zerowasted Bar Crawl going on Saturday, September 19 in the Mission. Join fellow TreeHuggers and beer-lovers alike as you try your wits at their sustainable scavenger hunt. Bonus: no cover. Find out where after the jump.

Get your drink on from 4-8pm this Saturday at Elixir, Doc's Clocks and Cassanova, three of the greenest bars in the Mission District. There will be drink discounts, auction items, and even better, a sustainable scavenger hunt through all 3 bars to keep you on your toes.

Here is the skinny on the schedule:

Doc's Clock: 4 pm
Casanova: 5:30 pm
Elixir: 7 pm

The event is being organized and sponsored by sustainability consultants Green & Tonic. Green & Tonic work specifically with the bar industry to green their practices, and their beer. From improving recycling to ensuring bars are compliant with San Francisco's new composting regulations, Green & Tonic works specifically on bar related issues, and gets to plan fun events at the same time.

Aside from the fun and games, the money raised from games and scavenger hunt will go to fund the next Carrotmob event. The Green and Tonic gang plans to host a Carrotmob to encourage another bar to go green and the money will be used as seed money for retrofits.

If you go, give some green love to the TreeHugger staff that will be crawling around as well. Cheers to you. :Green & Tonic

More on Green Beer
Eat Local, Drink Local Beer
Think About What Makes Beer Green Before You Drink It
How to Go Green: Beers
It's Harvest Time at the Sierra Nevada Brewery

Sigg’s Slippery Slip-up: How to Lose Partners and Alienate Customers

2009-09-18T12:05:00.005-04:00

By Mary Catherine O'Connor | September 14th, 2009

Over the last few years, bisphenol A (BPA) has become a green-household word, thanks to government and academic studies that link the monomer—a building block in many plastics we use every day—with developmental and other human health problems. Concerns over the chemical’s safety led to regulators in many states proposing bans on BPA in food and beverage containers, and many packaging manufactures started removing BPA from their products voluntarily—or at least it led them to profess the safety of their products.

One such company, Sigg, suffered a backlash earlier this month after its CEO admitted that the company hadn’t really been above board on the whole BPA thing… You can read more about that dust-up here. But consumers aren’t the only ones who feel shafted by Sigg’s reversal. Outdoor clothing and gear company Patagonia announced last week that it had terminated its partnership with Sigg, through which it had developed a co-branded water bottle. (It is also offering consumers full refunds for their Patagonia-branded Sigg bottles.)

In a statement, Rick Ridgeway, Patagonia’s VP of environmental initiatives, said the retailer asked Sigg on a number of occasions whether its water bottles contain BPA (in the bottle liner) and that Sigg “clearly said there was not.” Later in the statement he refers to this as “thorough due diligence.”

I called Jen Rapp, Patagonia’s director of communication, to ask whether there was more to this due diligence process, outside of making these queries of Sigg. There was not, she told me.

Note: The last few years, bisphenol A (BPA) has become a green-household word, thanks to government and academic studies that link the monomer—a building block in many plastics we use every day—with developmental and other human health problems. Concerns over the chemical’s safety led to regulators in many states proposing bans on BPA in food and beverage containers, and many packaging manufactures started removing BPA from their products voluntarily—or at least it led them to profess thesafety of their products.

Know the 7 Key Senators in the Climate Bill Battle

2009-09-16T11:57:00.000-04:00

If you're interested in seeing a climate bill pass, best keep an eye on these 7 senators.

By Brian Merchant
Brooklyn, NY, USA | Wed Sep 16 08:00:00 GMT 2009 AP

It's no secret that the climate bill is a controversial topic in the Senate--some senators have vowed that it will pass, at least one has "guaranteed" that it will fail, many have been reluctant to declare a side, and all of them know it's crucial legislation.

But not all of them are in the thick of the battle. Certain senators, like the ever-vociferous James Inhofe, for example, are certain to vote against it. And other than making as much noise as possible, he'll likely have little influence on the bill overall.

But these 7 senators will be absolutely crucial in developing and helping to pass a climate bill--and you should know who they are.

1. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Reid tops off a similar list of senators to watch over at the great green political blog Red Blue and Green, and for good reason: much as Nancy Pelosi was largely responsible for corralling enough votes and guiding the climate bill through the House of Reps with a steely hand, so Reid will be for the Senate's counterpart. He's heavily in favor of passing a climate bill, he's shot down the prospect of splitting a bill up into separate parts to allow a weaker bill to pass, and he's already done some work with outlining a smart grid. As the Majority Leader, he'll be instrumental in persuading his party to follow his lead in voting for the climate bill.

2. Barbara Boxer
As the Chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, she's arguably the most influential senator in the drafting stages of the bill. Even though she's (perhaps wisely) delayed bringing the bill out of committee, she's one of its most ardent supporters and leading voices.

3. John Kerry
Kerry has found success highlighting how climate change will play a large role in threatening national security--and why we need to stop it on those grounds. A strong supporter of climate legislation, he's working closely with Boxer on strong legislation.

4. Olympia Snowe
The "rogue" Republican who was notorious back in February for voting in support of Obama's stimulus bill--and helping it narrowly pass--she's also a vocal proponent of climate action. Her party will do anything possible to prevent her from siding with the Democrats, but her genuine support for fighting climate change may win out over partisan bickering.

5. John McCain
Here's one to watch. McCain has publicly stated many times that he's in favor of a cap and trade system--it was one of the issues that helped brand (and then over-brand) him as a 'maverick' for diverging from his party. He's been largely silent thus far in climate proceedings this go-round, but if something can be made to appeal to that 'maverick' in him, he's one of two or three potential Republican votes to watch for.

6. Jeff Bingham
New Mexico's clean-energy happy senator, Bingham is another supporter of the climate cause. An adept politician, he's been known to effectively barter with the opposition to make progress--his amiable touch will prove indispensable when things heat up with climate change negotiations.

7. The Cap-less Four
Okay, so this is really four senators, not one, but all four (Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, and Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan, both of North Dakota) wrote a letter calling for cap and trade to be removed from the climate bill. These swing-vote Midwestern senators are concerned that cap and trade would adversely affect the agriculture industry, and present a sticky spot for the Democrats. And though they can likely be corralled into supporting the bill as ag-state Dems were in the House, they're going to be worth watching to see what sort of concessions are made to win their approval.

More on the Climate Bill:
Economic Benefits of Climate Bill Outweigh Costs 9 to 1, Study Finds
How to Follow the Climate Bill Every Step of the Way

“Smart Choices” Food Label Recommends “Froot Loops”

2009-09-16T11:12:00.000-04:00

I've been seeing commercials for major kid's cereals advertising their addition of healthy ingredients and just have to laugh a little. Like, why didn't you have it in there already?! Children are your target audience... you should take care with what you put in your breakfast O's.

I just found this article which you should def read. I like this Carly Smolak, she's got this pinch of sarcasm and I'm just eating it up. My favorite quote from it is, "Right. And a donut is better than a bag of crack. Perhaps they should reconsider blacklisting fried, sugary confections."

And I'm sorry, there is no way that Lunchable's meat is good for your child.

By Carly Smolak By 3p Guest Author | September 16th, 2009 4 Comments

As if our obsessive-compulsive nutrition culture was not frenetic enough with the deluge of conflicting reports and industry funded studies about diet, a new food labeling project called “Smart Choices” has recently unveiled its pseudo certification to help shoppers identify “smarter food and beverage choices.”

“Smarter Choices” for consumers include Froot Loops and Cocoa Crispies. Yes, that’s right, sugar-laden cereals are considered smarter dietary choices according to the certification. Ellen T. Kennedy, a researcher from Tufts who presides over the “Smart Choices” board (apparently unpaid), defended products endorsed by the label in a New York Times interview, arguing that sugary cereals are a better choice than a donut.

Right. And a donut is better than a bag of crack. Perhaps they should reconsider blacklisting fried, sugary confections.

The program’s criteria is supposedly based on government dietary guidelines, standards that suspiciously align with corporate food industry interests. Not unlike the FDA’s food regulations, it comes as no surprise that the “Smart Choice” label is backed by major food corporations like ConAgra Foods, General Mills, Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Tyson Foods. What’s more is that fees for bearing the “Smart Choice” label are based on the sales of those products that carry the seal. Translated, this means that it is in the interest of “Smart Seal” to stamp a label on the most widely consumed products—processed foods– the same products that are largely responsible for America’s obesity epidemic.

Yet another misleading dietary guideline while we are trying to get sugary sodas and processed foods out of our school systems with experts repeatedly finding that the healthiest diets are comprised of primarily of whole, unprocessed foods. All of this amidst an unrelenting obesity epidemic and whirlwinds of diet fads.

Corrupt federal food recommendations are the crumbly foundation upon which the massive food epidemic is built. What we need is an independent recommendation for dietary consumption that is insulated from the lobbying power of industry. What we are witnessing right now is a nutritional house of cards, built upon the ill advised federal nutritional guidelines that were constructed specifically to increase demand of corporate processed foods.

In Michael Pollan’s “In Defense of Food,” he famously suggests that we should “Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Instead of such rational advice, large agribusiness, he argues, encourages consumers to focus on eliminating certain macronutrients in a trend like fashion. The low-fat trend evolved into a low-carb mania. But what these health crazes really end up doing is INCREASING overall consumption. As Pollan points out, the American population is fairly stable, and stomachs aren’t getting any bigger. The only way to grow the market, therefore, is to increase per capita consumption. And that is exactly what these fads do. The “Smart Choice” seal is just another tool to keep consumer demand of processed foods high.

What’s surprising about all of this is that poisoning your consumers is just bad business. Instead of backing false advertising, like “Smart Choice,” these large companies should be thinking about how to better serve their customers. This will undoubtedly involve visionary leadership and tough decisions. Because America’s food dysphoria is one giant clinical trial, and the proof will continue to be in the pudding. We witnessed what happened when the American car companies chose to invest in false advertising and lobbying against fuel efficiency standards instead of adapting to a changing world. Maybe large food companies are next.

I certainly hope so. This is such a great example of green washing. These companies are raking in money because not spending enough on good ingredients and healthy output for their buyers; the very ones keeping them going. What's so depressing is that with America's economic problems, for most consumers its hard to look past the store brand, much less on to the organic choices.

Maybe we should be more positive. We should give them credit for their advertising genius. Targeting kids with their bright colored mascots and making families feel like their sugar rush cereals are actually healthy. Maybe we should be thankful that these companies are realizing that their products are crap for us and they need to change their ways... even if they haven't actually changed.
Mmmm, yeah.

Here's the Smart Choices website if you wanna see more. Though, to be honest, I didn't really find anything worthwhile on it. And another article, Questionable Intelligence Surrounding "Smart Choices" Food Label , from Treehugger.

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