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Archive for September, 2009

Do and Look Good with Rain Tees

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

If you were with me at any point this summer there’s a good chance you saw me sporting one of my two favorite tanks or tees of the season:  my Loro Perico “lovebirds” tank or my Rain Forest tee, both by a cool company that you should know about; Andira Rain Tees.

toucan_1Like many of my favorite clothing items, Rain Tees are made with 100% organic cotton and low impact dies.  But this company goes well beyond just that.  The thing that makes their tees stand out is that they are designed, or illustrated, by kids living in endangered rain forests in Central and South America.

Rain Tees founder, Beth Doane, created the line to do some good and bring awareness to the destruction going on in our planet’s rainforests.  As the Rain Tees website beautifully illustrates, rainforests are crucial to our planet’s survival; containing more plant and animal species than anywhere else in the world, controlling global weather patterns, and providing more than 20% of the earth’s oxygen.

But by the year 2040 the world’s rainforests could be gone.  Logging, oil drilling, and agriculture are the biggest threats to our rainforests, displacing families and making the simplest tasks of gathering food and water nearly impossible.

Beth and her team decided to do what they could to bring awareness and stop the destruction.  They donated school supplies to children in endangered rainforests in Central and South America and asked those kids to draw what it is they see happening in their world every day.

Contact-LrgThe resulting drawings have become art work for the Rain Tee collection with each t’shirt or tank featuring their thoughts, illustrations and names.

Little 11 year old Mariela from Peru drew the “Tree of Life” illustration, showing a tree crying leaves over a sad scene of fish floating dead in a stream while a wild animal lays still on the ground.  For Mariela the scene is reality because of destructive oil drilling in her village, but for us it can serve as inspiration to reach out and give back.

The tees have graced the runway at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and the backs and hearts of  people all over.  For every Rain Tee sold, a child in Kids Saving the Rain Forest in Costa Rica gets a tree to plant to replace one that has been destroyed in their homeland.

Pick one up for yourself today or stock up early for Holiday gifts.  The giving season is just around the corner!  Shop  the collection on TheGreenLoop.com

To learn more, check out the Andira YouTube video.

Chemical pollutants shown to increase risk of testicular cancer

Monday, September 28th, 2009

A new study has linked chemicals, like pesticides and other pollutants, in breast milk to testicular cancer.  This is scary, especially for anyone who lives in close proximity to a conventionally farmed field.

The study came out of Denmark and its results suggest that hormone-disrupting chemicals such as pesticides may be the reason why men in that country are up to four times more likely to have testicular cancer as men in neighboring Finland.

Researchers charted levels of 121 different chemicals in samples of breast milk taken from women in both countries – Denmark and neighboring Finland.

What they found was dramatic.  While levels of chemical pollutants were relatively low in Finland, breast milk from Denmark had significantly higher levels of chemicals including dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides.

Coupled with the fact that four times the number of Danish men are diagnosed with testicular cancer than Finnish men, this points pretty strongly to a direct connection between the chemicals in breast milk (indicating exposure to the pollutants in the womb) and the increased rate of testicular cancer.

We are not immune in the United States.  While only two thousand men are diagnosed with testicular cancer in the UK each year, more than eight thousand are diagnosed annually in the US.

One of the lead researchers on the case urges women to continue to breast feed because of the “many beneficial effects for the child.”  The best care you can take it to limit your exposure to chemicals while pregnant.

Bagnesia makes remembering bags easy

Friday, September 25th, 2009

As I make my way into the Natural Products Expo in Boston this morning, I’m reminded of, and awed by, all of the hard work on the part of SO many to create healthier and greener products for you and I.

Next week I promise to blog about some of my favorite new products from the show.

In the meantime, here’s a great little line that has been out for a bit but is still worth a mention.

In case you’re one of so many people who have every intention of taking their bags with them to the grocery store and farmer’s market but instead find yourself standing, dumbfounded, by your ability to leave them at home or in the car again, Bagnesia is for you!

Symptom:  You often find yourself standing at the register regretting that you left your reusable bags in the car, or worse yet, at home:

Cure:  The bagnesia reminder kit, which contains simple, effective products that work together so you never forget to take your reusable bags into the store again.

This crafty little “reminder kit” includes:

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  • Compact Reusable Bag- smaller than most cell phones, designed to easily stow in your purse or glove compartment
  • Door Hanger- place it where you typically exit your home so you can remember to put your bags in the car*
  • Steering Wheel Wrap- strategically placed at eye level to remind the driver on the go*
  • Wrist Lanyard Key Chain- your printed reminder is attached to your keys to remind you as you exit your car before going into the store *
  • Carabineer Clip- to conveniently clip your bag onto your belt loop, water bottle or even your key chain

Developed by longtime friends and fellow bag-nedia sufferers, they’ve created something to help even the most forgetful in your greenie group.

Green Your Kitchen

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Yesterday I broke it down for the morning show team at Fox 2 Detroit.

My 4 tips to a greener kitchen

Eat more organics

For three reasons (1) the health benefits; increased nutrients, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, (2) to avoid pesticide exposure, and (3) the environmental factor.

Use more recycled goods

Although most people are recycling these days, it’s the the next step that’s so important.  We all need to get in the habit of buying more goods made from recycled materials.

Fun fact: if every household in the US replaced just 1 roll of (120 ct) virgin-paper towels with 100% recycled ones, we’d save 1 million trees!

Make your fridge more efficient

Your refrigerator can be the biggest energy sucker in the home, but it doesn’t have to be.  Clean out the excess and use  empty containers and pitchers filled with water to help take up empty space and make it more efficient.

Start a reusable bag collection

Start to carry them every time you go to the grocery store, farmers’ market or (for the super committed) department store.  They’re getting smaller and handier by the month.  Number one reason to start your collection:  Americans use close to 100-billion plastic bags every year and less than one-percent of these are recycled!

Watch the Fox 2 News segment and get the full dish!

Jane Iredale Puts a Silver Lining on the Fall Cloud

Monday, September 21st, 2009

I’ve been on vacation for the last week, basking in the Cabo sun and dining on fresh, delicious foods.

And I’ve come back to discover a crispness to the air that wasn’t in place when I left, and a real sense that Fall is on the way.

To that end, meet two NEW products from jane iredale’s Fall collection; Silver Lining:

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image002(1) PureMoist Lip Gloss in Hazelnut

(2) PurePressed Eye Shadow Trio in Silver Lining:

  • Wear the medium shade daily for a clean, neutral look
  • Wear the highlighting shade over that for a brighter result.
  • Transition the day look to the nighttime look with the darker shade over it.
  • If you’re already wearing the dark shade, add water to intensify the shade lash out with black mascara

I’ve been wearing both and loving them.  The eye trio is especially beautiful and when you follow the tips by the jane iredale makeup artist, you can create a day-to-night look that is truly stunning.

Jane Iredale was the first to bring a full-line of makeup based on minerals to the cosmetic industry, and the first to see the potential of offering physicians a makeup that was good for the skin.  Their beautiful products range from concealers and mineral foundations to eye shadows and liquid liners.

Put a Silver Lining on this Fall!

Up your Recycling Efforts This Fall

Friday, September 11th, 2009

I like to think of Fall as a season of new beginnings.  While nearly everyone creates resolutions in time for the New Year, I like to do mine in the Fall.  (I usually declare the same resolution again on January 1st because I haven’t quite mastered it yet).

If your Fall resolution is the up your recycling efforts, I’ve got just the gadget to make it easy and enjoyable for you.

reg-1245432444-102284My absolute favorite recycling bin is a tower of three stacked bins by the company Stacks and Stacks.  Earlier this year Better Homes & Gardens did a feature story on me, and on the last page of the article my recycling tower stands proudly alongside my beautiful German Shepherd, Makana.   Since the article ran I’ve gotten countless emails with people asking about this recycling tower and where they get their hands on one just like it.

If you check out the article you’ll notice that I got a little crafty using chalkboard paint to paint the words plastic, glass, and aluminum on the front of the bins.  This makes it easy for guests to sort out their own recyclables when they come over.

Even if your recycling program doesn’t require that you separate out your plastic from your glass, it still helps to encourage guests and kids to think twice before they toss something in the garbage.

The tower measures 14.5″W x 13.25″D x 49.8″H and can be bought on the Stacks & Stacks site for $79.99.

Get beautiful with Tarte this Fall

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Green Siren1

Just in time for Fall fashions to head into full swing, eco-beauty line Tarte has released a brand new collection highlighting the essential beauty color of the season:  GREEN!

But it’s not just any green.  Allow visions of rich, earthy forest to dance in your head.  Picture glamorous, jeweled green fairies flitting about.   And there you have the new Tarte Fall collection.

Peyton Place Eyeshadow

Green with envy over the couture-worthy look?  Not to fret!  Channel the runway and try a refreshing take on this frenzy-inducing color by lining, blending and smudging with Tarte’speyton place mineral eyeshadow and emphasEYES high definition eyeliner in green to achieve a look versatile enough for all eye colors. They pieces retail for $14 and $18 respectively.

Finish the look by dabbing cheeks with green siren natural cheek stain (it’s packed with skinvigorating™ ingredients) this look is eco-chic at its finest.

The new line has just hit shelves at  SephoraBeauty.comand Dermstore.com.

New snack bar keeps my energy up!

Friday, September 4th, 2009

Although I’ve been following a very specific eating plan as part of a 7-day detox, I had to stray for about 2 minutes yesterday afternoon so I could enjoy one of PROBAR’s newest delights – the Fruition.

3d-rendering-strawWhile the PROBAR, the company’s mainstay, is a meal in and of itself, the Fruition bar was designed to be a snack.  A fruit-based blend of flavorful ingredients, each bar nets out at only 160 calories and weighs only 1.7 ounces (in case you’re into hiking or climbing where every percentage of an ounce counts).  Each bar contains two servings of fruit, as well as organic rolled oats, and (here comes the surprise ingredients) white and black chia seeds.

Art Eggertsen, PROBAR founder, says, “We opted to use chia seeds because they are nutritionally dense, antioxidant rich, loaded with essential fatty acids, and deliver a wealth of good in a small package.”

Though I was visibly low on energy as I walked out the door yesterday afternoon, slowly un-peeling my Strawberry Fruition bar, I was ready to go once I reached my destination.  The fruit and chia seeds gave me the punch of energy I desperately needed.

I’ve been a long time fan of PROBARs, especially the Superfood Slam and Original Blend, for grab-and-go healthy, real food meals when I’m traveling.  And I’m now a huge fan of their Fruition bar.

Throw one or two in your gym bag.  They just hit shelves last month.

My “back to school” detox

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

k2219331Ok, ok.  So I’m not exactly heading back to school but Fall to me has always been about fresh starts and (let’s be honest) back to school clothes and other gear.  So, I figured, why can’t I give myself a clean colon/gut/belly, whatever you want to call it, this year for back to school season?!

I’ve done a number of other fasts, detoxes, and cleanses in the past.  I really enjoy a three-day juice fast…but no longer than that.  And I love a good cleanse, especially one that just lasts a long weekend.  Because I generally eat a diet of brown rice and cooked vegetables, lots of salads, homemade soups, and other fresh, living foods, I’m always fine with any detox or cleanse that focuses solely on unprocessed, whole and living foods eaten in a healthy combination that allows you to eliminate the bad stuff and replace it with more of the good stuff.

If you’re in select cities (like Blue Print Cleanse or The Love Cleanse in NYC ), there are fantastic juice fast/cleanse programs that allow you to pick up fresh juice daily, some even deliver it to your door, for your 3 or 5 days fast.  Some also include raw, solid foods while others are strictly juice.  But living within the requirements of any detox or cleanse is easily accomplished even on your own.  You may just find yourself missing your social life as you turn down dinners and cocktails with friends and the like.

But enough about that because I’m only on day 3 of my 7 day plan.  I’ve got a few days to go before I can enjoy a restaurant meal with any of my chosen friends (I wonder who I’ll break my “fast” with….??)  The detox that I’m trying this time is based around what Dr. Alejandro Junger, an NYC based physician and detox specialist, designed for Gwyneth Paltrow.  She talked about it in her weekly newsletter, Goop, which I came across while researching some other detox programs.

Essentially, I’ll eat a diet of juices, smoothies, and soups for 7 days.  Every once in a while a meal includes a small breast of organic chicken or poached salmon.  But even in those cases the food is prepared in a particular way (chicken is marinated in a fresh-made teriyaki sauce, salmon is poached over vegetables, soups are pureed in the blender to make them easy on the digestive system).

Being a bit of a nibbler and a grazer I don’t find myself missing big meals in any way.  In fact, I’m not very hungry.  But today, day three, is the most limiting when it comes to consumption so I’m a bit more tired than usual.

Over the course, I’m avoiding all dairy, glutenous grains, beef and shellfish, processed foods, fatty nuts (although sunflower and pumpkin seeds are allowed), nightshade vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant), alcohol, caffeine, and unnecessary seasonings.

Here’s a link to Gwyneth’s plan on Goop.  I’m following it loosely; modifying the recipes some, and starting each day with a teaspoon full of psyllium husk in 8 or 10 ounces of water (to keep things moving and “regular”).  If you’re looking for a plan for yourself, I’m also a fan of (did one last year)  an Ayurvedic based detox plan, or, as I mentioned earlier, a simple three day juice fast.

Even if your personal detox is just about eliminating dairy and meat, that’s a great first start.

As for me, it’s time to eat my miso soup for dinner.

Reminds me of being a kid again!