Attention Green Chicks!! OWL Organic Cotton Pillowcase. This is a HOOT!

Check out this adorable eco-friendly OWL pillowcase!
100% Organic Cotton
One side features 3 owls and says "Green Chick" and the
other side features one owl with "I'm Organically Grown".

I only have one left in my eBay store here!

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Live Simply. Buy Used. Recycle Your Furniture. Save Money.

If you are working on a home improvement project, consider scouring the market for used furniture instead of buying new pieces. Between friends, family, thrift shops, garage sales, and ebay--buying used has become a thrilling hobby for some:)

Buying used will not only save you green stuff $ but it will also keep furniture out of the landfills.

If you have used items to sell or swap, feel free to post in the comment section!

A Great Green Wedding

Author: Paige Green

A great green wedding

Dressed in white can have a green twist. There are a number of ways to make your perfect day as environmentally friendly as possible. Here are some important ideas to consider for a great green wedding:

Invitations - everyone knows that the right paper stock is one of the most important decisions you can make when it comes to pre wedding day planning. But instead of going for a heavy card stock with environmentally damaging gloss or matte, consider if you need to have paper invitations at all!

Many wedding websites have sprung up to allow couples to plan their day and give guests all the information they need in paper saving electronic format. Couples can upload photos, tell their special story and direct guests to their registry on line. Many also have an RSVP feature so you can manage your list with a few clicks of the mouse. You and your mother can argue over background colours and menu patterns to your hearts 'content!

Dress - The right dress makes the memories. That doesn't mean you need to spend a small fortune (not to mention create a heavy environmental cost) with a tailor made piece that will just sit in your wardrobe for years to come. Consider vintage pieces or family pieces, there is nothing more sentimental to your mother, than walking down the aisle in same dress she wore back in the day. (You can tailor and amend it to suit your own taste and fashion of course!) Meanwhile, some companies create beautiful custom made pieces from sustainable fabrics , such as hemp, bamboo or organic cotton. Some even "upcycle" older gowns.

Gifts - Do you really want to face the possibility of ending up with two chip dippers or a variety of toasters that you'll have some trouble returning? You can use your special day to promote some well deserving charities and eco causes. Ask your guests to make a donation to your favourite in lieu of presents, then you can be sure you're getting the exact model of kettle you want!

Flowers - Consider the season when picking your flower arrangements. Out of season arrangements are often shipped from overseas adding to miles and emissions. There are also a number of issues regarding the ethics of the cut flower industry, with many sources citing cheap labour and unfair work conditions. Australia is abundant with beautiful species of wattles, banksias and colourful kangaroo paws for a truly unique look. Better yet, go organic!

Food - Organic caterers are all the rage. They provide some of the best food that you know is pesticide free and delightfully delicious. Look for a baker that uses organic eggs and flour and other sustainable ingredients.

Venue and transport - Pick a venue that's easy to get to and encourage your guests to carpool, or better yet, provide some shuttle bus transport yourself. Having the reception in the same place as the ceremony also cuts down on travel and emissions.

Rings - Eco is a girl's best friend. Lots of great companies "up cycle" jewellery from older pieces. Take in an old family heirloom and have it recrafted to create your own one of a kind piece.

Find more green wedding ideas from the Green Pages, Australia's number one green directory.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/weddings-articles/a-great-green-wedding-773848.html

About the Author:
Australia's number one green directory and environmental news source at www.thegreenpages.com.au

WRAP-N-MAT® , Re-Usable Sandwich and Placemat in One. Eco Print

Re-usable Sandwich Wraps

With the holidays coming up, here is a great gift!

This eco-friendly WRAP-N-MAT® , is a re-usable sandwich and placemat in one.

From the Healthy Kichenware website-"The eco print wrap 'n mat is the eco friendly way to wrap your sandwich and carry it in your lunch box. Plus once you unwrap your sandwich you will have a nice place mat to set up your picnic or lunch on. The inside is made out of PEVA which keeps your food fresh and dry. Unlike PVC, PEVA is not processed with chlorine. This wrap'n mat comes in an eco cotton/polyester blend with sayings such as "reuse, recycle, zero waste..." printed on a cream colored background."

Order your WRAP-N-MAT® here!

Natural Communities Magazine: "Bringing Positive Solutions To Life's Challenges"

Before your next trip to the grocery store, be sure to check out Dear God, Don't Eat That!, an article that lists 17 items to stay away from and why. And are you aware of the Dirty Secrets Of The Food Processing Industry?

These articles, along with a wide variety of other important topics are featured in one of my favorite resources, Natural Communities magazine.

C5 = Sustainable Fine Jewelry: Diamonds, Rubies, Emeralds, Sapphires-Q&A with Meghan Connolly Haupt

Meghan Connolly Haupt

Principal
c5 Company

http://www.c5company.com/

CELESTE: How did you come up with the name c5?

MEGHAN: Diamonds are typically valued by the 4 C’s: cut, carat, clarity, and color. We believe that the social and environmental impact should also be a factor in determining the value of the diamond and propose that consciousness be the 5th C. C5 stands for cut, carat, clarity, color AND consciousness. We simply exist to provide alternatives to conscious consumers who, for a variety of reasons, do not want to support the traditional jewelry industry.

CELESTE: Diamonds (and Rubies, Sapphires and Emeralds) are a girls' best friend, but what inspired you to carve your own eco-path into fine jewelry?

I started C5 company because I wanted to offer people an alternative to the traditional diamond and jewelry industry. Like many other consumers today, I appreciate beauty and craftsmanship, and strongly believe that both should be attainable without having to compromise my values.

The fine jewelry industry has thrived for many decades under the same model. As such, it was a long, arduous, and often demeaning process for me to get my own socially and environmentally responsible wedding ring and from this experience grew my desire to help others and a passion for a new way of doing business. I strive to offer a better way of serving clients that utilizes emerging innovations, is enjoyable for all involved and results in the perfect jewelry.

CELESTE: Give us some examples of how c5 is a sustainable fine jewelry company.

MEGHAN: We are working really hard to not only produce sustainable products, but also to operate our business in a sustainable way.

• All of our custom jewelry is made in the United States with recycled metals and either lab-created or ethically sourced gems.
• Our packaging is eco-friendly and made by a fair-trade certified company. We ship using recycled materials.
• We are incorporating sustainable materials in our office like CFL bulbs and recycled carpeting.

Some of these things may seem small, but others have been quite challenging.

CELESTE: What are some of the challenges c5 has faced?

MEGHAN: Suddenly, we found ourselves not only in the jewelry business, but the sustainable box business as well because nothing existed that we could buy wholesale. We have devoted significant resources to coming up with an alternative.

Traditional clamshell jewelry boxes are made from petroleum. C5 isn’t going to display sustainable jewelry in something so clearly out of alignment with our mission.

CELESTE: For socially conscious consumers, what gems would you suggest they consider and why?

MEGHAN: I suggest that socially conscious consumers consider lab-created gems. Rubies, Sapphires, Emeralds and Diamonds are all made chemically, optically, and physically identical to their mined counterparts, but are not associated with the same negative social and environmental implications. Also, unlike mined gems, the color is inherent in the process and therefore the gems are not color-enhanced.

There are ethically sourced, fair-trade, mined gems available. These are a good option for consumers who want to help change the industry by supporting the workers and mining communities.

Meghan's BIO:
www.c5company.com/bio.html

CELESTE: What should concerned consumers be aware of when buying jewelry?

MEGHAN: There are a myriad of issues associated with the traditional jewelry industry. Mining, simply stated, has significant environmental consequences and the social implications of the diamond and gem trade go well beyond the funding of war. Concerned consumers should learn more about labor and community issues and know that alternatives exist. C5 has made “sustainable replicas” of gorgeous jewelry that our clients have fallen in love with, but couldn’t bring themselves to purchase. You don’t have to sacrifice beauty for sustainability.

To consumers looking for more information about the issues, I recommend reading The Last Empire by Stefan Kanfer and The Heartless Stone by Tom Zoellner.

How Green is Your Makeup? Introducing Purely Cosmetics: Mineral Makeup for the Eco-Woman

Robyn Bloom

Owner & Creator/ Purely Cosmetics
www.PurelyCosmetics.com

"My success has always been on listening to my customers and
providing them with solutions to meets their needs."

CELESTE: How were you introduced to mineral makeup?

ROBYN: When I stopped working for Corporate America, I promised myself two weeks off from wearing makeup to let my skin breathe. Five years later, I was talking with a friend about the crappy care I took of my skin. She was the one who introduced me to mineral makeup and the wonderful feeling (or should I say "lack" of feeling) of wearing no makeup at all! I was hooked.

Not long afterwards, my daughter and I were shopping, when we were accosted by someone with a mineral makeup kiosk. He asked me what type of makeup I wore, and I proudly told him, thinking he'd go away. He was my first educator about the differences in mineral makeup and the chemicals that are put into the household name brands. I plunked down $60 (yikes) for a jar of foundation for my teenage daughter right on the spot. Deciding I didn't want any of those irritants in my makeup any more than I did for my daughter, I started looking online for mineral makeup companies.

BENEFITS OF MINERAL MAKEUP:
http://www.purelycosmetics.com/about-mineral-makeup-i-3.html

CELESTE: How did you formulate your own line?

ROBYN: After reading many forums and looking at all the various ingredients that can go into mineral makeup, I decided to formulate my own line using the purist ingredients I could find while still offering a reasonably priced product. I researched the properties of the various ingredients, the pros and cons of each, and ended up with 2 foundation formulations: my basic foundation that has the minimalist approach, using only zinc oxide, mica, titanium dioxide, and iron oxides. It's natural, provides sunscreen protection, and works for those with even the most sensitive skin.

CELESTE: Tell us about your Skin Smoothing formula.

ROBYN: My Skin Smoothing formula is a geared more for the mature crowd - it contains silk powder to hydrate your skin, jojoba oil to nourish it, boron to reduce pore visibility, and silica to blur fine lines. It also has more zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in it to increase the sunscreen protection (the silk powder also reflects UVA and UVB rays), in addition to providing more coverage without looking "cakey" for those of us who's skin isn't as perfect as it was when we were 20-years old.

CELESTE: How do you test your products?

ROBYN: There is no animal testing involved in any of my products - I use REAL people with REAL skin issues (blotchiness, acne, roseacea, etc). Because I do not believe in a One-Size-Fits-All approach, my starter kits are fully customizeable with the customer's choice of shades and types of products they want included. Right down to the brushes.
CELESTE: What kind of brushes do you carry?

ROBYN: I carry both synthetic, vegan approved makeup brushes as well as natural haired bristles. The natural hair brushes are only handmade, first cut hairs, making them the softest because their tips are still intact (those would get ruined with machinery) and pointy instead of blunt cut (think about how soft the hair was on your legs the first time you shaved them versus the blunt ends you get when the stubble grows back in).

CELESTE: What is the Beauty Blender?

ROBYN: It's a new type of applicator. It's a hot pink egg shaped sponge that applies makeup flawlessly and without the mess that brushes can. When your Beauty Blender needs replacing (they should last about 4 months), you can send it back for recycling! Learn more about the Beauty Blender here: http://www.purelycosmetics.com/beauty-blender-p-197.html.

CELESTE: Are you using natural and/or organic ingredients for your products?

ROBYN: Yes, all of my products are either organic, or organically derived. Some HAVE to be produced in a lab, as they can be toxic without the impurities removed (such as iron oxides). Those that are not straight minerals (stearates, such as magnesium myristate or zinc stearate), are vegetable derived (usually they can be vegetable or animal derived; I try to stay as vegan as possible). The only powder I use that is not vegan (and also has a shelf life, but it's 2 years) is 100% Pure Silk Powder, which comes from the cocoon of the silk worm.

CELESTE: Do you use any parabens, petroleum, or perfume?

ROBYN: There are no parabens, talc, bismuth, or preservatives of any sort in any of my products.

Many mineral makeup companies use many of the same basic ingredients: mica, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide. Larger companies will use lots of fillers and ingredients that don't belong to bulk up their products. Nor do I use micronized particles, as the safety of these have yet to be determined. A good comparison of many well known companies versus my product can be found here: http://www.purelycosmetics.com/mineral-makeup-comparisons-i-10.html.

CELESTE: Is your packaging recyclable?

ROBYN: The packaging isn't recyclable but they certainly are reusable.

CELESTE: What sets your line apart from other natural beauty products on the market?

ROBYN: What will set many small companies apart is the texture, adhesion, staying power, and obviously, the shade selection. I also believe that customer service ranks right up there.

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