By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com

 Eco-Staycation

Ah August...the perfect time to get away and escape the stress of the eleven other months of the year. Typically, my husband and I take a week to ten days off in August and travel locally to Shelter Island, Nantucket or the Catskills. This year a variety of reasons kept us in NYC including the high price of gasoline and airfare. (What a shame that our politicians couldn't manage to vote on the new energy bill before their massive FIVE week vacation.)

So to make the best of it, I planned my five day "staycation" to escape my day-to-day routine and pretend I was visiting a fabulous eco-spa.

By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com

I gladly switched to better tasting organic produce and jumped at the chance to experiment with natural beauty products but using an organic dry cleaner seemed like such a risk. Since I moved to NYC in 1988, I have made a weekly trip to my friendly neighborhood, Korean dry cleaner. Until recently, in NYC the organic dry cleaner options were primarily outer borough businesses that would send a messenger to come pick up your dry cleaning at your building. Could I trust our expensive suits, my husband's custom shirts and my white silk blouses to a dry cleaner I couldn't actually look in the eye? Was it possible that my "dry clean only" clothes could get clean without those noxious dry cleaning chemicals I had grown up with?

You bet. This Earth Day my husband and I took the plunge and switched to Green Apple Cleaners - a new friendly neighborhood C02 green dry cleaner. This natural carbon dioxide technology is like washing your clothes in fizzy water...like club soda...and it is safe for our clothes as well as the environment. In fact, CO2 will actually remove the residual harmful chemicals hiding in your clothes from traditional dry cleaners who use harsh chemicals (perchloroethylene, hydrocarbons and silicone) that are hazardous wastes and ground water contaminants. These chemicals have been linked to the high incidents of leukemia among dry cleaner employees.

By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com

Oh, how far we have come in the 4 years since HBO's Sex and the City waved goodbye to their television audience from the streets of Paris and NYC. We, as a community, have been at war both in Iraq and at home: a global climate war, a racial and feminist political war, an economic war. Yet somehow, in the new Sex and the City movie, Carrie and her girl-friends remain unaffected by it all. How is that possible?

I'm so very disappointed. Last night my husband and I (yes, he joined me and was one of the 10 men in the NYC theatre) watched the movie in disbelief. Don't get me started on Mr. Big Screw-up as I don't want to be a plot spoiler. I just couldn't believe that these four women could live in such a time-warp. After all that has happened to our world in 4 years, how could they continue to live a life of label consumption and accumulation, jet setting and personal gratification?

Tires and Milk Jugs and Hemp... Oh My! ECOSNEAKS have arrived.

Shoes are personal. They not only protect your feet to get you to and from, but more importantly they help portray your personal style and at times can make a statement all on their own. I'm not going to lie, I participated in the jelly shoe trend and rocked heels of oh so many inches that at times I questioned my own sanity and love of fashion.

By Lesley Chilcott, Unscrewamerica.org

When I walk through any store, a little mantra repeats in my head. "Every dollar is a vote... Every dollar is a vote." Sometimes I hear "Waste equals food" as Bill McDonough says but most of the time it's just, "Every dollar is a vote." Now back in 1970 when Earth Day started I think people were thinking more along the lines of use less, rather than buy more, but let's face it, we DO need to buy things. And when we buy, we need to do so more responsibly. So after you've saved energy all day buy using natural light but you find you actually DO need a bedside table lamp, consider what you put in that lamp. In February we launched a little non-profit called Unscrew America. Basically, unscrew your regular energy-wasting light bulbs and screw in more energy-efficient ones like CFLs and LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). We did this because of radical facts like this one; Switching to LEDs could reduce U.S. energy consumption by 10%. That's a rather astounding fact. Memorize it. We also need people to know that when you use CFLs you must dispose of them properly due to their mercury content. We're peddling facts and safety. And we tell you about how to pick bulbs and make some suggestions on where to get them. And did I mention we have a dancing kangaroo on the site?

By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com

We all take it for granted... how could we not? We've been using it every day since we were teenagers and it becomes so routine, we don't even think about it. But despite our blase attitude, we need to take a closer look because these products we think are so helpful have a more insidious side and pose potentially serious health risks.

As a start, nearly all commercial deodorants contain aluminum salts, usually aluminum chlorohydrate. Manufacturers like aluminum because it effectively suppresses perspiration but the metal has a dark side once it makes its way into our body. Aluminum toxicity is a serious issue, but fortunately, for most of us one that can be easily avoided, I turned to my doctor husband, a cancer researcher, for the facts.

Dr. Nick Gonzalez:
Thirty years ago researchers first detected significantly elevated aluminum levels in the brain of Alzheimer's patients, and subsequently proposed a link between the heavy metal and the disease. Though scientists still debate the connection, certainly aluminum is a toxic heavy metal that has no useful biological function, and which we don't want building up in our bodies, ever.

Manufacturers long discounted any such effect from aluminum salts in deodorants, which they claimed would not be absorbed through the skin. This assumption has proven wrong, and over time users of commercial deodorant do accumulate the stuff, sometimes in significant levels. A recent medical report described a woman who ended up with severe aluminum toxicity directly as a result of her deodorant use.

Most commercial deodorants also contain parabens, which act as preservatives and stabilizers, but which like aluminum can be absorbed with systemic effects. Parabens mimic estrogen, and though the amounts we absorb on a daily basis might be small, over time, the accumulation can be significant. A report from England in 2004 documented a relationship between parabens and breast cancer.

Fortunately, natural, organic alternatives abound, containing neither dangerous aluminum nor the dreaded parabens. I spent a long time trying to find the perfect natural deodorant and the trial and error testing was at time embarrassing. Some natural deodorants work just fine for an ordinary, low stress, low humidity day. But I'll still turn to my basic alcohol prep swab when I think I'm facing a particularly tough day. Yes, alcohol swabs, applied directly to the underarms (but not right after shaving, ouch!). Alcohol doesn't inhibit perspiration, but it kills the bacteria. Bacteria lives on sweat, and creates the odor that can be embarrassing. So kill the bacteria, kill the smell! Alcohol may not be an elegant answer, but it's cheap, it's natural and it works.

Natural, Paraben and Aluminum free deodorants:
Kiss My Face Active Enzyme: $4.99; Fragrance Free, Patchouli, Lavender, Skin Deep score: 1
Dr. Hauschka: $19.95; Fresh (sporty) and Floral; Skin Deep score: not rated
Avalon Organics: $5.95; Peppermint, Wild Yam, Lemon and Lavender, Skin Deep score: 0-1
Nature's Gate Organics: $5.99; Chamomile and Lemon Verbena, Skin Deep score: 1

Hope this helps you keep fresh and cool in the safest and most natural way possible.

Mary Beth Gonzalez
iVillage.com
Please join my Going Green group and read my Green Blog

By Zem Joaquin, ecofabulous.com

Compai, a crafty green design studio in Brooklyn, is the collaboration of a sister-team that has been making waves since 2002, in Florence, Italy. “99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Tie And Rock Your Scarf” is a DIY treat. Those interested in recycling their scarves by turning tired treasures into ascot masterpieces will love "99 Ways." Their first two books in the DIY trilogy convey the same philosophy using t-shirts (their first publication) and denim (their second publication). Each page is decorated with clever drawings matched with a photo of the project, and detailed instructions with sketches and a glossary of terms, to make following along simple. Each project also gives you a heads up on the approximate amount of time it will take (and level of difficulty), so if you don’t have 45 minutes to dedicate, find a design that fits your schedule! "99 Ways" may sound like a lot of twists on a simple subject, but you might be as pleasantly surprised as we were. Amazon has copies for only $13.57, so click here to get your hands on your own book.

Zem Joaquin
ecofabulous.com

By Zem Joaquin, ecofabulous.com

We're loving the moms over at Mom Logic for giving us the heads up on the new Spring/Summer collection from LeSportsac. Vegans have always loved this mega bag maven for their fun, leather free alternatives, but now, through a partnership with one of our favorite sires of fashion, Stella McCartney, comes their premiere and truly eco-friendly line. Available on a pre-order basis only, you can be one of the first to tote (or roll) around one of these cute, yet sophisticated designs - made from entirely recycled fabrics. For the modern mom on the go, with a desire for form, function and sustainability, Stella's Sportsac's got it in the bag.

Zem Joaquin
ecofabulous.com

By Zem Joaquin, ecofabulous.com

Spring is definitely in the air for our East Coast contributors. Or wait, is it just global warming rearing its hot head? Either way, it's got some of us planning our spring wardrobes in the middle of February. For a sure thing when it comes to organic style, we checked out Loomstate's autumn collection. It's a good thing we don't believe in all that "no white after Labor Day" nonsense, because the Flux skinny white jeans are begging to be worn once the slush ceases to overrun the streets of New York. The slouchy green parka and long peach cardigan are spring staples for a sunny afternoon to breezy evening transition. Loomstate's clothing is made with 100 percent certified organic materials, so we won't blame you for stocking up on spring styles from their line, though remember to mix it with what you already have. Barneys has many of the best Loomstate pieces, and even has some styles unavailable elsewhere, so it might be worth a visit to one of their outposts.

Zem Joaquin
ecofabulous.com

By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com

I have had a re-occurring nightmare since childhood where I'm foaming uncontrollably at the mouth. And then animals and people come at me with their mouths engrossed in a white foamy mess. To this day, I simply cannot watch someone brush their teeth without being overcome by a deep rooted sense of fear. After much analysis, it seems that my unusual reaction is perhaps connected to being 10 years old and chased and bitten by a potentially rabid neighborhood dog or perhaps it is a premonition of the health dangers of foaming, chemical laden Sodium Lauryl Sulfate toothpaste.

As an eco-conscious Adult, I've learned that next to eating organic foods, the second best Green thing I can do for my preventative health is to brush with natural, Fluoride-free and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate-free toothpaste.

Why avoid fluoride? Hasn't this mineral been proven to lower our risk of dental decay? Well, not exactly. In fact, when scientists have closely evaluated the epidemiological "proof," that fluoride blocks dental decay, the data seems at best sketchy, with some claiming that areas with little fluoride in the water have less decay overall than highly fluoridated regions.

Fluoride can actually be quite toxic, hence the warnings on toothpaste cartons about swallowing the stuff! It has been linked, ironically, to stained teeth, weakened bones, even, in some animal studies, cancer. So why has it been so widely promoted as the answer to dental decay? Industrial processing yields huge amounts of fluoride or fluroro silicic acid, a highly toxic substance. Chemical companies, sadly working with government officials, thought the best way to dispose of the material would be to dump it into the water supply and claim it as a gift for our health. The widespread fluoridation of water actually represents one of the greatest human pharmacological experiments ever conducted with some claiming the end result will be massive degenerative disease.

What is so bad about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)? This detergent and foaming agent is often used in personal care products to create foam to properly disperse the ingredients and ensure easy rinsing. People have been conditioned to believe that the foamy suds are part of the cleaning process. However, SLS has been linked to cancer, liver and kidney damage and cataracts. The Environmental Working Group states in their Skin Deep Report that SLS may possibly be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers 1,4-dioxane to be a probable carcinogen.

Now I'm not a scientist. I simply prefer the no risk, no cancer option of a chemical-free toothpaste to clean and protect my teeth and gums. And whenever in doubt, I'll listen to my premonition.

Best Natural Dental Care Products:

Kiss My Face: Offers fluoride-free and SLS-free products with no animal ingredients, no artificial colors or unnecessary chemicals and their products are not tested on animals.
- Wake Up: Certified Organic Aloe Vera Toothpaste, Skin Deep score: 1
- Triple Action AloeDyne Toothpaste, Skin Deep score: 1
- Whitening AloeDyne Toothpaste, Skin Deep score: 2
- AloeDyne Fresh Breath Mouthwash: Skin Deep score: 2

Jason: A Hain Celestial Group company, their natural and organic toothpastes are fluoride-free and SLS-free.
- Healthy Mouth: Tea Tree Toothpaste, Skin Deep score: 3
- Powersmile Whitening Toothpaste, Skin Deep score: 1

Auromere: Auromere provides Ayurvedic products that are pure, authentic, cruelty-free and their toothpaste contains no fluoride or SLS. I love their non-foaming, Cardamom and Fennel herbal toothpaste.

Tom's of Maine: A Colgate-Palmolive company, Tom's of Maine sits on both sides of the fence. They offer SLS and Fluoride products as well as SLS-free and fluoride-free toothpastes with glycyrrhizin, derived from licorice root, to foam and disperse ingredients. Skin Deep scores not available for these specific recommended products but other Tom's of Maine products scores range from 0-5
- Natural Clean & Gentle Care SLS-Free Antiplaque plus Whitening Fluoride-Free Toothpaste
- Natural Sensitive Care SLS-Free Toothpaste
- Naturally waxed, anti plague, unflavored, flat dental floss

Finding the right natural toothpaste for your personal needs isn't easy. I've often spent more than 30 minutes at a time in the natural beauty aisle reading the detailed toothpaste ingredients. Some "natural" products sneak SLS in as one of the last ingredients. Others list sorbitol, a sugar, as one of the first ingredients. Though sorbitol, unlike common sucrose, isn't suppose to cause dental decay, why would I want to brush my teeth and gums with sugar? Aren't I brushing to get rid of the sugar that causes tooth decay? Manufacturers add sorbitol to appeal to the sweet tooth and sugar addictions of consumers.

We can be smarter and not fall for these tricks. We can take our toothbrush into our own hands and stop foaming at the mouth.

Mary Beth Gonzalez
iVillage.com
Please join my Going Green group and read my Green Blog