Choosing to use a natural yoga mat can help you stay in unison with your personal values, while enjoying many of yoga’s other benefits. There are several things to consider when looking for a more eco-friendly yoga mat. Greener yoga mats are often more expensive than plastic mats. Which makes sense, when you think about it. Production costs associated with pumping out PVC laden mats are much lower than working with natural materials. Also, because these mats are made from natural materials, they can break down more readily than the PVC mat competition, however technology and improved manufacturing methods have made this more of a mute point. In addition, some eco-friendly mats will emit a natural odor, but in most cases this can be solved by airing out your mat for an hour or so before its first use. Keep reading →

Being so caught up in face products as of late, I’ve completely neglected the other 90% of my skin. No doubt this is due to an attempt to cover and forget about every last bit of exposed skin these winter months. I can’t promise this mistake won’t happen again, but I do promise to point out some pretty spectacular, earth friendly body moisturizers from a few green cosmetic companies.

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Last week, Renee told us which organic products can keep our skin looking and feeling good in the harsh winter weather. Kids and babies have a special set of needs when it comes to their skin. Kids need good sun protection (especially if they’re old enough to go skiing or snowboarding), and plenty of hydration (especially if they’re spending lots of time indoors in a heated house). Babies need healing ointment to protect little butts from diaper rash, especially if those little butts are wrapped in layers of winter clothes – while cozy thermals trap heat, they can also trap moisture, making rashes more likely. And every little one needs bug protection. Wait, what? Bugs? In the winter? Yup – don’t forget that, for half of our planet, it’s actually summer right now: Australia and South Africa, for example, are just hitting their peak annual temperatures. Natural insect repellent is perfect for keeping babies bite-free safely. Keep reading →

When it comes to diapering, you want to take care of both your baby’s bum and the earth it sits on. Cloth diapers used to be the eco-friendly standard, but recent studies suggest they’re not more eco-friendly than disposables: both have their own particular impacts on the environment. So which do you choose? Convenient sposies or reusable cloth? Water-hogging cotton or landfill-clogging plastic? It’s enough to make your head spin, even without the sleep deprivation you’re probably experiencing at this stage of the baby game. Don’t fret: whether you choose cloth or disposable diapers, there are ways that you can make both methods as green as possible. Keep reading →

Like the negative affects from outdoors elements aren’t enough, dry air from furnaces and other heating sources also sucks the moisture out of skin all winter. So to combat not only the elements, but also some other nasty moisture stealers, I propose some super sweet, super green, super fun winter hydrators for your face. Wow, what a mouthful… the steps for keeping your skin healthy, hydrated and protected will be much easier than reading that again… promise!

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First Up, The Lowdown:

The word ‘pajama’ (or ‘pyjama’) was imported from the Hindustani language and comes from the word Payjama, which literally translates as ‘leg garment’. Pajamas first became popular in the West during the British colonial era in the 19^th Century. Although men started wearing pajamas as nightwear, it wasn’t long before more elegant examples- made from silk and richly coloured cotton, were worn as general loungewear.

It took until about 1920 for the trend to catch on with women. Coco Chanel’s lounging pajamas transformed popular opinion and the fashion took off in a big way. These days, pajamas are used to describe just about anything from full length jacket and trouser nightwear through to clothes for relaxing. Keep reading →

You know the drill: You go to a kid’s birthday party, you leave with a swag bag. Often, though, the party favors inside aren’t particularly eco-friendly. You might get a couple of dodgy plastic bath toys, a board book, and some candy, which your child will probably shove in his or her mouth quicker than you can say “High fructose corn syrup!” Here are some ideas for greener party favors – and they’re all under $10, so you can buy one for each of the little guests at your kid’s next get-together.

Bud takes the traditional rubber duckie bath toy and puts a fun twist on it. Give kids a Space Duck, complete with a clear plastic space helmet and orange NASA jumpsuit. Darling Duck is turquoise with cute white polka dots; Rock Duck is black with red skull-and-crossbone logos; Love Duck has hot pink hearts on a bright pink background; and, for little ghouls, Horror Duck has gory red blood splatters on his smiling face. All Bud bath ducks are made of phthalate-free plastic. Keep reading →

It’s a fact: Kids are going to snack. From toddlerhood – when most pediatricians sanction two snacks a day – all the way to college and beyond, kids will consume between-meal nibbles. It’s often up to you whether these snacks contain nutritional value, or whether they’re just sources of empty calories. The snacks you choose can also keep the planet in good shape, as well as limiting your child’s exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. Let’s pit some standard snacks against their greener alternatives. Keep reading →

OK all you last-minute romantics out there!  You still have time to “wow” the love of your life this Valentine’s Day!  I have scoured the cyber-world and compiled my top green picks this season to secure cupid status with your sweetie-pie and do something good for the environment!  Note that there are selections at many price points so everyone will have options!  Have fun shopping and you can thank me later for making it appear you spent countless hours planning your special Valentine gifts! Don’t worry, I won’t tell…

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That’s right, I’m a sucker for Valentine’s Day, and on top of that I’m a sucker for cheesy presents, and on top of that I love trying new health and beauty products. Although this could be seen as a somewhat dangerous combination to the masses, I’ll hold back a little with your interest in mind. Maybe it’s the girl in me.  Maybe I’m really just cheesy.  Either way, I put together a list of some fabo bath and shower gifts for your green conscious Valentine, or for lets say, just you…

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