Reusable Shopping Totes on Black Friday

Hats off to Stride Rite for offering reusable shopping totes in leiu of the traditional plastic shopping bag. Granted, they are not quite as sturdy as the reusable grocery bags but the Stride Rite bags are great for quick trips to the mall.

Green Shopping Tip:
When you are dashing through the mall this holiday season, try to reduce the number of bags that you use. Bring your own shopping totes or consolidate your purchases into one or two larger shopping bags instead of gathering many small bags along the way.

Happy Green Shopping!

Green toy review - plus save 10% at Natural Pod

The kind folks at Natural Pod sent me one of their natural toys to review. Of course, I had to defer to the expert in the house, my son Alex, who has 13 months of experience with this type of very important work.

The Fagus Van is made from natural maple and fits perfectly in Alex's little hands. Its chunky rubber tires roll smoothly over our tile and carpet and they are rugged enough to tackle the great outdoors (aka Alex's sandbox and our backyard). Most importantly, Alex loves to play with the van and I love the fact that it's made from natural wood (no bells, no whistles, no motors...just imagination).

These toys actually remind me of the toys built in Santa's workshop. Are his elves moonlighting at Natural Pod? They have a wonderful assortment of natural toys and games that will stimulate your child's imagination and help them learn.

Natural Pod is offering a 10% discount on your first order. But hurry! This offer expires December 31, 2008. Use the following coupon code for your 10% discount: GCM08

One last tip: the Fagus Van would be an excellent stocking stuffer.

Happy Shopping!

Save 15% on Organic Cotton Decorative Pillows

I just love the way that decorative pillows can change the look of a room. I love it even more when the pillows are vibrant and eco-friendly!

These fabulous pillow covers are made with 100% organic cotton, which has a soft and luxurious sheen. Bold patterns are printed using water-based inks. Plus, the pillow inserts are made from recycled plastic bottles! Have no fear, there is no "crunch" in these pillows. They are super soft and very fluffy.

To celebrate these new arrivals, I'm offering a 15% discount on your entire order* from Radiant Ideas. Simply enter the following coupon code at checkout: WABISABI

But hurry! This discount expires November 30, 2008. Visit Radiant Ideas now and place your order for these gorgeous green decorative pillows. Don't forget to enter your WABISABI coupon for a 15% discount.

* Discount valid from November 7 through November 30, 2008. Discount valid on purchases that total $74.99 and up (before tax and shipping). Discount not valid on furniture purchases.

Ten Green Must-Haves for Obama's New Puppy

As promised during the campaign, Sasha and Malia Obama are finally getting their puppy. This is probably the most exciting news they've received (with their father's presidency probably coming in at a close 2nd). After all, who doesn't LOVE puppies?

In honor of this exciting news, here is a list of ten green must-haves for the presidential pooch before moving into the White House.

1. What dog wouldn't want to sleep in this sustainable dog house? It smells good, grows plants, attracts butterflies, filters water, insulates, and repels fleas. Made with FSC wood, zero-VOC paint, and beeswax waterproofing the only thing this dog house is missing is a green roof. Oh wait, it has that too! Checkout Sustainable Pet for designs and pricing.


2. While lounging in the White House, Fido can relax on an eco-friendly dog bed made from hemp fabric. It's durable, mildew resistant, antibacterial, and antifungal. Plus it's made with earth friendly dyes and eco-friendly stuffing. Prices starting at $120 at PetSquared.



3. DoginHaus has created three lines of doggy shampoos that are formulated using essential oils and herbal extracts to protect against dry skin, fleas, and ticks. We recommend the Urban Dog Shampoo for the Obama pooch. Available for $12 at Muttropolis.


4. To show his patriotism, Fido can strut his stuff in a red, white, and blue plaid leash. Made from eco-friendly fabric and renewable cotton webbing. Priced at $28 at Annie's Sweatshop.


5. Speaking of walks, it's inevitable that someone will have to pickup after the Obama pup. Biodegradable poop bags are the way to go! We use Pooch Pick-Up biodegradeable pet waste bags for our doggie, Jasmine. $6.99 for 100 bags at Petsmart.


6. Throw the dog a bone - an organic squeaker bone, that is. These super soft bone toys are made from organic fabric and all-nautral, unbleached cotton fill. Prices from $8 at Trixie and Peanut.


7. While Obama is working on world peace, Fido can be chewing on the "world's best dog ball". The super tough Orbee Dog Toy bounces, floats, and smells like peppermint. Apparently dogs love that minty scent, the bright colors, and the attached bungee. It rinses clean and is 100% recyclable when the pup grows tired of it. Prices starting at $10 from Muttropolis.


8. Once the Obamas name their pup, they should order a dog tag made from recycled aluminum. They can choose a shape and personalize it with a phrase on the front (1st Dog) and the dog's name and number on the back. Priced at $20 from Tuff Tagz.


9. All dogs have different needs when it comes to dog food so it's best to talk to the experts to determine what is best for your breed of dog. There are so many all-natural options on the market and the folks at Petco could help the Obama family out with their selection.


10. End the day with a decadent K9 Confection. These gourmet dog cookies are made in San Francisco using organic, human grade ingredients. Priced at $15 for a box of 15 treats from Keywest Aloe.


Do you have some green products to share with Obama's puppy? Leave a comment and let us know!

Download an eBook from EcoBrain and Save the Environment

Are you looking for a green book to spur some eco-friendly inspiration? Look no further than eBooks from EcoBrain.com!

This website has hundreds of eBooks about natural health, outdoor activities, green cooking, eco-friendly kids, climate change, and so much more. Browse everything from serious eBooks (like Climate Solutions) to sassy eBooks (like Sex in a Tent).

EcoBrain eBooks are greener than traditional books because they are paper-free books that you download and read on your computer or handheld device. This not only cuts down on paper consumption, but it also boosts energy and fuel conservation efforts. No printing, no binding, no packing, no shipping...just point and click, download, and read. It doesn’t get much easier (or greener) than that.

Prices range from a mere $1 to over $300. Plus every two weeks, EcoBrain features a new eBook that is totally FREE. You can browse by topic, price, or publisher. Or do a search for a more targeted approach. You can read customer book reviews and add your own two cents as well.

I will warn you that the text on this site is rather small but you can bump up the font size by holding the Ctrl key while you press the + key. You can bump it down again with the Ctrl key and the – key.

The only thing this eBookstore is missing is a cyber coffee shop! Nothing like sipping a steamy cup o’ joe while perusing a bookstore. But I guess I can settle for my own home-brewed java.

EcoBrain eBook Giveaway:
Leave a comment and enter to win a FREE copy of Radical Simplicity from EcoBrain and New Society Publishers. Just visit EcoBrain now and browse their selection. Then return to this post and let us know which title strikes your fancy. But hurry! This giveaway ends November 6, 2008 at 11:59 PM (PST). The lucky winner will be announced here and notified via email so be sure to leave your email address in your comment. View our contest rules for more info.

Bloggers
Bloggers can also receive a 2nd entry by promoting the EcoBrain eBook Giveaway on your blog. Just copy and paste the URL of your blog post in the comments section.

Hang Up Your Phone Book Deliveries

I just added yet another phone book to my teetering stack of phone books. Does this pile look familiar to you?

According to Earth911, 540 million telephone directories are distributed each year. I personally have six phone books in my kitchen alone. For some reason, it appears I'm on the super distribution cycle and I receive a new phone book (or two) every few months.

So what's a girl to do with these growing stacks of phone books? Apparently a lot of people simply trash them and 660,000 tons of phone directories end up in landfills each year. Yikes! That's a lot of trees.

I've been recycling old phone books as I receive new ones but decided to take it a step further and simply cancel my deliveries altogether. Yes, you can do that!

It just dawned on me that I have NEVER opened a single phone book since I moved into my house four years ago. Why is that? I use the Internet to lookup everything. The Internet is faster and more accurate than printed directories and it provides customer comments, pictures, directions, and maps.

Want to cancel your phone book deliveries? Simply call the phone numbers listed in your directories and asked to be removed from their distribution list. They will be sad to see you go (and so will their advertisers) but just think how happy the trees will be! I recommend that you hang on to at least one directory in case your power goes out or your Internet connection is down. Or you need a booster seat for your little ones.

If you're the type to "let your fingers to do the walking" and want to keep your phone books, please recycle your old directories instead of throwing them in the trash.

What do you do with your old phone books? Leave a comment and let us know!

Ten tips for decorating green this Halloween

Please forgo the paper and disposable plastic Halloween decorations and invest in spooky decorations that you can use year after year. Or go all-natural!

1. Decorate your home, inside and out, with locally grown pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, and brightly colored fall leaves. These natural decorations will provide a splash of season-appropriate color all the way through Thanksgiving.

2. Make homemade luminaries to light your pathway or place along your windowsills. Save a few tin cans, wash well, fill with water, and put in freezer. Once frozen, you will be able to pound a simple pattern into the can using a hammer and a nail. The ice will keep the can from collapsing as you create your masterpiece. Make simple jack-o-lantern faces, a cat, the moon, or the word “BOO”. When finished carving, remove the ice and dry well. Put some sand, dirt, or rocks in the bottom to weigh down. Place a tea light candle or a glow stick inside. Note: if you use a candle, place your luminaries up and away from your Halloween traffic. Windowsills are the perfect location for these recycled luminaries.

3. What to do with all those glass jars you've been saving? Why not decoupage them with orange tissue paper and add black shapes to create a glass jack-o-lantern? Drop a candle inside and you have a glowing masterpiece. Get creative and decoupage with purple tissue paper and add a white ghost. Use all different shapes and sizes of jars to make your collection interesting. The day after Halloween, you can use your jars to store all that Halloween loot.

4. There are many solar-powered Halloween lights on the market. These are great because you aren’t using energy to light them and you don’t have to worry about extension cords.

5. Make a simple ghost for your yard by putting a bike helmet on a hat stand. Attach a broom or a long stick to form a cross. Drape a white sheet over the hat stand and say “boo”.

6. Create a scarecrow with jeans and a shirt, stuffed with old newspaper, straw, or leaves. Leave it headless for a scary version or add a pumpkin on top with a funny face.

7. Find other home décor items made from natural materials, like our Acorn Baskets made from natural seagrass. These are not only adorable but functional and can be used year-round.

8. Banish the home fragrance sprays and fill your home with the scents of homemade cookies or a fresh-baked pie. Don’t have time? Light a fragrant soy candle with all-natural essential oils. There are several mouth watering holiday scents.

9. Light the path for trick-or-treaters with an orange CFL bulb.

10. Remember to carefully wrap and pack all of your Halloween decorations so you can continue to use them for years to come.

How are you decorating for a green Halloween this year?

Green Halloween Costumes

My green Halloween theme continues this week with Halloween costumes. Remember when we used to actually MAKE our costumes? I would spend WEEKS planning the perfect costume, scouring the house and garage for the appropriate materials, and building my masterpiece.

This year, let's get back to the basics and steer clear of the costume-in-a-bag. Sure the bagged costumes are easy but are they fun? We know they are not so great for the environment either. Get your child’s creative juices flowing with homemade costumes and have some fun in the process!

1. Make your own costume from items in your closet or garage. Do you have an old uniform that you can repurpose? What about those 80's prom dresses hanging in your closet?

2. It’s amazing what you can create with a large box, some paint, and your imagination. Cut wings out of cardboard and paint red with black dots. Add a headband with feelers, black pants, and a black shirt and you've got yourself a ladybug. Or do yellow and black stripes for a bumble bee. Or multicolored wings for a butterfly.

3. If you’re not feeling creative you can buy a used costume at a 2nd hand shop or find one on Craigslist.

4. Prior to Halloween, organize a costume swap with your friends, family, and neighbors. Invite everyone to bring their gently worn costumes to exchange for a "new-to-them" costume.

5. Keep those batteries out of the landfills and use a crank powered flashlight to light the way during trick-or-treating or for a game of flashlight tag.

6. Bust out an old pillowcase for trick-or-treating instead of buying a plastic candy pail.

Share your memories! What was YOUR favorite Halloween costume?

Green and Yummy Halloween Treats

I never thought I would say this but, "When I was a kid..." Halloween treats were usually homemade and gobbled up as soon as they were dropped into our Halloween sacks (aka pillowcases). We would bob for apples, snack on popcorn balls, tell scary stories, and play flashlight tag in the dark.

Admittedly, times have since changed and there are some safeguards that we must now take to keep our children safe. But we can still make this a Halloween a little greener with a few easy tips.

Let's face it, kids expect candy but we can deliver on that in a responsible way.

1. Yummy Earth makes truly yummy lollipops that are certified organic. Pomegranate Pucker is my fave. You can find Yummy Earth Lollipops in nearly every grocery store but if you can’t find them near you, they are currently offering free shipping if you buy on their website.

2. Endangered Species Chocolate sells individual milk and dark chocolates wrapped in festive orange and brown wrappers for Halloween. These chocolates are all-natural and ethically traded. Plus, 10% of their net profits are donated to help support species, habitat, and humanity.

3. Panda Licorice is made in Finland with all natural ingredients. We conducted an entirely non-scientific taste test in our home and the former household champion, Twizzler, was beat hands down by Panda Licorice.

4. Newman’s Own Peanut Butter Cups are simply yummy goodness.

5. Don’t want to dispense candy this Halloween? Why not give unexpected goodies like soy crayons, smencils made from recycled newspaper, stickers, or other spooktacular goodies.

Stay tuned for more green Halloween tips over the next few days but in the meantime, let me know what YOUR favorite green Halloween goodies are!

This green backpack is too dog-gone cute

To me, going green is all about making wiser decisions and modifying my shopping behavior. I continually ask myself...do I really need that? If so, I look for a green option when possible.

So when it was time to buy my son a new backpack, I was on a mission to find a super cute eco-friendly bag for the little guy. Alex is turning one tomorrow so I can still make the decisions (or that’s what I’m telling myself at least).

After some online searching, I found this adorable puppy backpack made by EcoGear. It’s made with organically-grown cotton canvas, non-toxic dyes, sustainable wood closure, and recycled plastic components.

The size is perfect for all the "mission critical" stuff he needs to take to daycare everyday like a change of clothes, sippy cup, and a toy. The cotton canvas is sturdy yet has a nice softness to it. I think I can throw it in the washing machine but will have to double check on that when he gets home tonight.

Most importantly, Alex lights up whenever he sees his new puppy bag. And I feel great knowing that it was produced responsibly and isn't releasing toxins into the air.

EcoGear also sells Panda, Pig, and Elephant backpacks in their EcoZoo line. They’re not cheap (came in around $40 after tax and shipping) but I think it was a great investment that should last him a few years.

So the next time you are in the market for that next bag, pair of shoes, cutting board, or whatever...do a quick search online to see if you can find an eco-friendly alternative. You would be amazed at the options that are at our fingertips!

Reverse Trick-or-Treating with FREE Fair Trade Chocolates

Want to surprise your neighbors this Halloween? When you take your kids trick-or-treating, give a treat back to the adults this year with fair trade chocolates. Best of all, it's FREE!

I am a fan of chocolate. I am a big fan of fair trade chocolate. I am a huge fan of FREE fair trade chocolate. Does it get any better than that? I didn't think so.

Global Exchange is running their 2nd annual "Reverse Trick-or-Treating" Campaign in an effort to raise awareness about the poverty and child labor among cocoa farmers. They are providing these reverse trick-or-treating kits for free - you just pay $4.95 for shipping. The kits consist of 20-25 pieces of fair trade chocolate and information cards.

Why is fair trade important? Despite years of promises from major chocolate manufacturers little has been done to tackle the issue of forced child labor on many farms that supply their cocoa. In addition, low cocoa prices have left cocoa farmers in poverty year after year. The Fair Trade certification prohibits the use of abusive child labor and guarantees a fair price paid for cocoa. This raises farmers' incomes and creates hope for a better future for their children. You can read more in their article about child labor in the cocoa industry.

The deadline to order your kit is October 13 but I encourage you to place your order today as supplies are limited. I just ordered my reverse trick-or-treating kit today and can't wait to share the goodies with our neighbors.

10 Tips to Go Green and Save Green

With the financial crisis looming over the country, and unemployment rates rising, it’s only natural for people to be less concerned about greening their habits and more concerned about keeping green in their wallets.

It’s important to note that the two are not mutually exclusive. You can have your green cake and eat it too with the following eco-friendly tips that will also save you money.

1. Conserve energy! This is an obvious one but necessary. Save energy by turning off unnecessary lights, lowering your thermostat, cleaning your refrigerator coils, unplugging unused electronics, and washing laundry in cold water instead of hot. Prep your house for winter by sealing drafty windows and doors.

2. Conserve water by taking shorter showers, watering your lawn less often, washing full loads of laundry, and fixing leaky faucets.

3. Organic produce is not always the most expensive option. Watch for sales when you shop – you will find some organic bargains. Maximize your food budget by opting for organic on the items that typically have the highest amounts of pesticides and herbicides including: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes.

4. Buy in bulk or in larger sizes to reduce the amount of packaging that goes to our landfills and lower your grocery bills.

5. Save on gas by going the speed limit, keeping your tires properly inflated, and avoiding the “idle” waiting. Carpool with neighbors when you can. Better yet, use mass transit, ride a bike, or walk.

6. Visit your local library instead of buying a new book.

7. Invest in a water filter and drink tap water instead of buying bottled water.

8. When it’s time to cleanup, use cloth towels, washcloths, or napkins rather than paper towels.

9. Skip the expensive and abrasive chemical cleaners and opt for more natural (and less expensive cleaning alternatives like vinegar, baking soda, and ammonia.

10. When a light bulb goes out, replace it with a CFL bulb. It does cost more than a regular bulb but it lasts ten times longer and uses a third less energy which will lower your electrical bill each month.

As you can see, you don’t have to spend green to go green. Tell us what you think! What do YOU do to save money and the environment?

Find a "Green Jobs Now" Event Near You!

This Saturday, September 27, hundreds of "Green Jobs Now" events (656 to be exact) will be held across the country to make one statement: we must repower America with green jobs.

My husband and I are taking the kids to a rally at UCSD tomorrow to show our support. I'm pretty excited about it as this will be the first "official" rally that I've attended. Just thinking about it takes me back to my parents' hippie days. Maybe I should put flowers in my hair tomorrow. Ack! I'm turning into my Mom. No flowers, no freedom music, just good ol' green support.

I'm also pretty eager to see how our 14 year old daughter and her girlfriend respond to the rally tomorrow. Today's youth are MUCH more engaged in the environment than I was at that age. I hope it will leave them with a desire to do something bigger than update their MySpace page and they will demand that we clean up our planet and keep it healthy.

Is there a "Green Jobs Now" event near you? Why not take an hour out of your busy day and drop in to show your support? Click here to find an event near you.

Top Ten Autumn Yard Tips

Autumn is the perfect time to get out and prep your lawn and garden for the winter months so you will an amazingly healthy yard in the spring. Here are a few autumn tips to get you started:

Leave your leaf blower in the garage and bust out a rake to rake up all those leaves. This is not only good exercise for you, but it’s better for the environment. Plus your lawn will love all that sunshine and air that it wouldn’t get when suffocated under a wet blanket of leaves.

Clean up your flower garden by removing all the spent flowers and vines. Watch for leaves that are diseased or infested and dispose of them separately (in the trash) so they don’t propagate throughout your garden next year.

Add your collected leaves, twigs, grass clippings, flowers, and chopped brush to your compost bin. Don’t have one yet? Composting101.com gives you step-by-step instructions, tips, and answers for all your composting questions.

Opt for an organic mulch to enrich your garden’s soil, retain moisture, protect your plants’ roots, and prevent soil erosion. You can use wood chips, bark, sawdust, lawn clippings, straw, or your compost collection. The key here is to make sure you are using dry materials because wet lawn clippings or leaves, for example, will clump together and block the much-needed air and sunlight.

Help your lawn make it through the cold and blustery months by winterizing it with fertilizer. Fertilizers help the lawn store vital nutrients that help root development and results in a fuller growth in the spring. Terracycle has a natural lawn fertilizer made from worm poop (sounds gross but works great).

Take some time to consider your spring flower garden. Who doesn’t like tulips, daffodils, and irises? It’s best to plant bulbs in late September so they will root well before the ground freezes.

Place some all-natural bird feeders out for our feathered friends. Tie a string on a pinecone, slather the pine cone with peanut butter then roll it in birdseed. Hang from a nearby branch and watch the birds flock to their feast.

Once all of the leaves have fallen off your trees you can prune the diseased, infested, dead, or broken limbs. Be sure to prune those branches that are too close to your house or the neighbor’s property.

Clean and sharpen your gardening tools so they will last for years to come and will work great in the spring.

Get outside and enjoy the crisp weather and the changing leaves before winter is here and you’re stuck inside.

Green Your Water Garden

Like most people in San Diego, my husband and I have a tiny yard. In our tiny yard is a water feature that looks like a mini tropical oasis, complete with two small waterfalls (more like trickles) and a palm tree in the center.

When we bought our home, the previous owners advised us to add a chemical called "Shock" to the water to keep algae from growing in the water feature. So in the beginning, we faithfully added our chemicals and enjoyed our little slice of paradise.

But then we started thinking...if this chemical is killing the algae, what else is it doing? We decided to research some green alternatives to the chemicals and within a few hours we had a new game plan.

Even though our water feature is rather small, we were able to add two types of aquatic plants and a few fish to the water to keep clean. We selected water irises and water lilies to filter the water and mosquito fish to snack on the algae.

You might think this sounds like a lot of work but it was incredibly simple. The aquatic plants came in planters that we just placed directly into the water. The hardest part was picking out the plants that we wanted - there's a huge variety available.

We also bought three mosquito fish at the aquatic garden center and dropped them straight into the water garden. Apparently they were "busy" because now we have hundreds of fish. Good thing they are small!


Between the plants and the fish, our eco-friendly water garden is healthier than ever. Every day we can ooh and ahh over our beautiful flowers, like the water lily in the picture above. And we are visited by butterflies and birds of all sorts, who like to cool off in the water. We were even graced with a hummingbird nest that cradled twin hummingbird eggs that hatched last spring. That nest, holding two birds, is about the same diameter as a D battery. Amazing! If that’s not proof that small changes make a big difference, I don’t know what is.

Serene and Green Giveaway

The winner of our "Green and Serene" Giveaway is "Bookworm". Congratulations, Bookworm and thank you to all who participated. Watch for more giveaways this month.

A note from our winner: "Just wanted to let you know that I received my package yesterday. Wow, everything smells wonderful. I didn't know if I should take a bath or light the candle, so I did both. Very nice! Thanks very much!"

Ahhhhh the weekend! Finally some time to unwind and decompress. For me, there's no better way to relax than to soak in the tub with some candles and a good book. So I decided to share that with you! Enter the Serene and Green Giveaway for a chance to win a Soy Candle and Handmade Rainwater Soap, courtesy of Radiant Ideas (valued at over $30).

Tell us how you relax and enter to win!
Just leave a comment below with your favorite eco-friendly relaxation tip and you will be automatically entered into our Serene and Green Giveaway. But hurry! This giveaway ends September 30, 2008 at 11:59 PM (PST). The lucky winners will be announced here and notified via email. View our contest rules for more info.

Bloggers
Bloggers can also receive a 2nd entry by promoting the “Serene and Green Giveaway” on your blog. Just copy and paste the URL of your blog post in the comments section.

Are you SURE those dishes are clean?

When is the last time you looked inside your dishwasher? At first glance, it probably looks okay. But literally stick your head in there and take a closer look.

I bent inside of my dishwasher this afternoon to grab a few lingering scraps from the last load and did a double take. At first I noticed some greasy buildup, which I guess is to be expected after years of use. Then on closer inspection, I discovered black grime and (gulp) tiny patches of mold. EWWWWW!!!

With some quick research and literally 10 minutes of elbow grease, my dishwasher is sparkling clean again and ready to tackle the toughest dishes. Here's how you can get your dishwasher in tip-top shape without using harsh chemicals:

1. Take the dishracks out of the dishwasher so you are able to easily access the inside of your dishwasher.

2. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar (yes, I love vinegar) and liberally soak all greasy, grimey, moldy areas. Don't forget to get the rubber seal, the bottom of the door, and the hinges. Trust me, these areas are the worst. ICK!

3. Using an old toothbrush, scrub the areas that you just sprayed down.

4. Wipe clean with a wet sponge and inspect your dishwasher again, repeating steps 2 and 3 as necessary.

5. Check out the drain area and remove any debris that may be stuck there.

6. Put the racks back in your dishwasher. Pour one cup of distilled white vinegar into the bottom of you dishwasher and run a full cycle on the hottest setting with no dishes in it. It's recommended to do this step once a month.

So I double dog dare you to stick your head in YOUR dishwasher and tell me what you find. I would LOVE to hear if you have any other dishwasher cleaning tips to share.

Suds Patrol

Another product that I absolutely love these days is Method Foaming Handwash. I first discovered it at Target but have recently noticed it in my local grocery store as well. It's priced right, eco-conscious, and smells great.

Hats off to Method for developing cleaning formulas that contain biodegradable ingredients derived from natural materials like soy, coconut, and palm oils. Plus their packaging is made from recyclable materials. On top of that, they also offer a budget-friendly and eco-friendly refill pack that sends less waste to our landfills.

If you haven't used Method yet, give it a shot. You'll help the environment and feel good every time you wash your hands.

Junk Mail Be Gone!

According to ForestEthics, more than 100 BILLION pieces of junk mail are delivered in the United States each year. This creates over 51 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, which is the equivalent of idling 2.4 million cars 24/7. Ouch!

Protect your mailbox before the barrage of holiday catalogs hit! GreenDimes gives you control over catalog delivery so you can choose what you get. Plus, they will plant five trees on behalf of each premium member.

GreenDimes offers a do-it-yourself kit, which is free. Or you can upgrade to their premium service for a flat fee of $20. I signed up for the premium service today and think it was money well spent. They listed a handful of companies that specialize in junk mail offers and you can also search by name of catalog. Simply add the catalogs and GreenDimes will notify them immediately.

Check it out! Your mailbox and recycle bin will thank you.

Silky Smooth Shave!

I made the trek home to visit my parents this summer and borrowed some of my Mom's shaving cream. What better way to test out a product than on someone else's dime? I'm sure Mom didn't mind.

I have to say that I love this moisture shave from Kiss My Face. Their products are made from natural ingredients like peppermint to cool and stimulate, coconut oil to soothe, orangeflower to refresh, and lemongrass to cleanse. Lovely!

Personally, I'm not a big fan of the super-sweet scented shaving creams that are on the market so I was thrilled to see that Kiss My Face has an unscented moisture shave. However, I do LOVE lavender so I had to give their Lavender Shea scent a try. It's the perfect combo of soothing lavender and moisturizing shea butter (and my new fave).

I also noticed almost immediately that the annoying itchy feeling was gone after shaving. Guess those natural ingredients really do make a difference, huh?

So I tip my hat to my Mom, who tipped me off to Kiss My Face and I hope you will love it as much as we do.