So I know we talked about this already : the issue of greener alternatives to feminine hygiene products. Grist however goes into great detail here. It’s part one of a two part look at disposable and reusable options. I would highly reccomend taking a look at it if you’re still on the fence about these products. I did try the Diva Cup and some reusable pantyliners a few months ago with mixed results. The pantyliners are fantastic and so much more comfortable than standard disposables. I just rinse them out and throw them in the wash and I haven’t had …read more

I was listening to NPR a few months ago and they were discussing the WIC program now including an additional allotment for produce. This has led to an increasing number of Farmers’ Markets accepting things like WIC and Food Stamps. They were referencing a specific area in Southern California in the broadcast. Here’s an article that goes into more detail about it. It’s no secret that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and healthy grains is optimal but it’s pretty difficult for the average family to do that, especially on a very limited income. We go through A LOT of produce every …read more

 
Since there’s been this Ditch the Disposables Challenge we talked about the other day I thought I would share some great replacement options. I used to have a pretty powerful paper towel addiction. It was ugly. It took a serious re-wiring of my brain to adjust to not pulling a paper towel out for EVERY.SINGLE.THING. However, I am proud to say that I was victorious over my addiction. Thanks to an army of dish rags, flannel wipes and cotton napkins, I find very few occasions where I just need to use a paper towel. Instead of going through a roll every few …read more

Have you seen those new commercials for High Fructose Corn Syrup? No, I said it right, for, like in favor of HFCS. Here’s the one that I found particularly hilarious. Umm right because far be it from me to actually READ for myself what’s wrong with HFCS or actually be able to use critical thinking to make my own decisions.  Here is a great resource for real info about why limiting or eliminating it from your diet is a good thing. The point they are trying to make is that cheap, mega processed preservatives are actually good for you in …read more

 
So unless you have been living under a rock I’m sure you’ve heard about the BPA controversy that has been swirling aroung for the past couple of years. BPA refers to bisphenol A which is chemical compound that is toxic at certain levels and could maybe sorta, depending on who you talk to, be linked to cancer, abnormal sex organs and infertility later in life. Maybe. At certain levels. But you don’t need to worry your pretty head about that. The government will let you know when the levels present in so many things you use EVERY DAY get too high. …read more

Apparently PETA is not the only group that will get naked to titillate passers-by. LUSH employees staged a naked butt-a-thon, my title not theirs, in order to educate the public on the ills of excess packaging in cosmetics and personal care products. Personally I don’t want to see anyone on the street naked to promote anything. It just makes me want to wash my hands but you know different strokes. I can’t argue with the cause and I just love LUSH anyway so there you go. What do you think about it? Tacky or cute? Savvy or sexist? Why were …read more

Okay I have something personal to discuss with you. It’s um about…um you know, your special lady time. Aunt Flow, “THE CURSE”, the rag, your menses or whatever you want to call it. I personally find “the rag” to be the most offensive of the bunch. This might be delicate in nature so I will encourage those who are easily offended or skeeved out to leave the room now. So I got my period when I was 13 and then hid it for another year. I was mortified at the thought of it and believed that everyone would know when I …read more

Planet Green has an article I saw today about making your own organic baby food. If you’re healthy on the inside that translates to outer beauty. The best way to get those habits started early is to get your kids used to the taste of “real” food. I am no organic nazi. We try to stick with what’s local and in season. There are certain things that are more important to me to buy organic than others, like the dirty dozen. Making your own baby food is sooo cost efficient and it’s greener. Little to no packaging, fresh stuff you can pick up …read more

I had this article forwarded to me and I just had to share it here. It’s all about the new Discovery Network channel, Planet Green. I found it quite amusing and thought provoking. It’s something we’ve been discussing here for a while. Basically what is the “green” message and what does it need to be? I personally don’t find a McMansion with solar panels and bamboo floors to be Eco-friendly. So I certainly don’t want to watch some pretentious actor’s green version of cribs. I don’t see that inspiring more people to compost. IDK. Interesting article so let me know what …read more

It may or may not come as a surprise to you that cosmetics is big money.
Organic cosmetics globally pulled in $7 BILLION in 2007, according to Organics Monitor. With a “b.”
Of course, according to some, that’s just a drop in a $300 billion bucket. Still, it’s enough for some people to sit up and take notice. In May, the second annual Natural Beauty Summit was held in New York. Chief executives from companies like Aveda, Weleda and more gave speeches, and over 200 attendees soaked in the green.
The question is, of course, what will the critical mass be? When will the …read more