By BravoTV.com
We at Bravotv.com love us some instant nostalgia: Remember that coffee we got 10 minutes ago — that was delicious; Remember when Lindsay Lohan was in rehab? (You can fill that last one with your favorite celebrities.) Play at work or home — it really never gets old.
Anyway, remember when littering was something people tried not to do? When “litterbug” was an offensive term? We can recall a time when not littering was what it meant to “be Green.” But as the concept of “Green” advances, people forget the little things they can do, and used to do. One of our editors has recently noticed an upsurge (OK, she’s seen it once or twice) of people throwing things out of their car windows and onto the highway. Who does this anymore? Didn’t they go to elementary school and get all the lectures about littering? Sheesh!
We know the 90s are back in a big way — flannel shirts, anyone? — but littering?! Come on guys, some things should remain in the past.
Bravo Staff
http://www.bravotv.com/green/

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 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

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.

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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 Jenifer Morgan, IdealBite.com
You’ve heard the news – paper bags use up trees and plastic ones require landfills. Bring my own reusable bag? You bet that’s a good idea. Actually establishing new BYOB habit? Um…well…

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By Zem Joaquin, ecofabulous.com
It’s that time of year when we use heart shaped goodies and perishable treats to express our love for friends, family, crushes and for our one and only – how about showing your love in more ways than one this year? We’ve scoured the greatest sustainable and seductive gifts that are floating around in cyberspace, to bring you the most ecofabulous options available (across all budgets), and hope sparks will fly as you celebrate your passion. But amid all the shopping, don’t forget your mother… earth, that is.
Chocolates For Melting an Eco-Heart:
Organic Style: Nothing says Happy Valentines Day more boldly than a heart-shaped box of chocolates. Artisan Chocolates from Organic Style come from fair trade cocoa, from Costa Rica, which is what makes this 17-piece offering such a lovely gift. In this box full of love, you’ll find hand-decorated, heart-shaped ganache in three delectable flavors: Bing Cherry, Madagascar Vanilla Bean and Jamaican Spice Caramels. Your sweetheart is sure to be sweet on this slight twist on tradition.
Cocoa Vino: Everyone should indulge in these lovely chocolates at some point, so why not now! These regional, sustainable and organic chocolates, made by artisanal perfection, are a simple but powerful way to show that someone special how much you care (about them and the earth). The ecofab favorite is the olive oil bonbon with hazelnut and sea salt – yum!
Theo Chocolate: Theo pioneered the organic chocolate movement, in 1994, and has been blossoming ever since. The award winning bars capture the flavors of the regions in which the beans are grown – like Madagascar and Venezuela – and are available at Whole Foods.
Eco-Flower Power:
That bouquet may be a fragrant way to show your love, but it’s also, most likely, the result of unacceptable labor practices in foreign countries, where people (mostly women) are poorly paid and exposed to huge amounts of dangerous pesticides and fungicides. Make sure your next floral token carries its ethical weight.
Organic Style: Our favorite flower buys come from Organic Style. Go for the tried and true – what says “I love you, deeply” better than a velvety rich bouquet of a dozen red roses? Maybe two dozen? Organic stems are always appreciated (especially when the Rosa Parks Foundation gets a little boost from your purchase). Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, your beholder may prefer cosmopolitan lavender buds or the fresh-from-the-garden look of Aphrodite pink Roses. There are lots of colors and styles to choose from and all of their stems are Veriflora certified.
Or get really gifty and opt for a charity bouquet – in which 5% (10% in the case of the Rosa Rose) of the purchase price goes towards the organization paired with each made-to-order bouquet. To see all their Valentine’s Day specials, visit organicstyle.com
Or check out Local Harvest: find sources of local organics near you.
Conflict-Free Diamonds are a Green Girl’s Best Friend:
Jewelry is glamorous, however – from earth to finger – its making is not. The production of one gold ring is said to create 20 tons of mine waste! Additionally, the dirty business of where we get our rocks is getting difficult to ignore (hello Blood Diamond). Ensure the bauble on your lover’s finger (or anywhere else) will not support violence, human rights violations and environmental destruction by supporting ethical jewelers like the ones below.
Brilliant Earth: A shining example of earth-loving jewelry; they go beyond just pedaling beautiful jewels… they teach about diamond-related issues, offer gorgeous solutions and give back by supporting the Diamonds for Africa Fund. Their diamonds are exclusively mined in Canada, according to strict environmental laws, and – taking it a step further – they also use reclaimed precious metals (refined to be identical in quality to newly mined metals). And if you decide to choose Valentine’s Day to ask your significant other to share your life, or to just further celebrate your commitment to one another, Brilliant Earth is the chicest solution. If you’re just after a fancy find, a pair of diamond studs will do the trick.
Linda Loudermilk: this faucet necklace, constructed from reclaimed silver, will drop a fashion hint about water (one worth making) – part of L.L.’s “Water is a Human Right” Collection.
Verderocks: what designer Gwendolyn Davis has termed “nouveau vintage” employs only organic, vintage, recycled and “certifiably” sustainable materials. From condom cases to crowns, and all the jewelry in between, her stuff is contemporary with an antique twist that we just love, and we’re pretty sure so will YOUR queen… or king.
Verdier: handmade from components old and new, incorporating filigree, Lucite, glass and metals from the 1920s to the 1970s, these pieces are sure attract some eclectic tastes. Though the Brass Beetle pendant may not appear to be the most romantic of gestures, the right girl would be stoked to don it. If my son could afford it, he would love to make it my V-day gift (but I have a feeling I’m getting the collage card again).
Toby Pomeroy: When genius jeweler Toby asked the largest gold manufacturer to source pure gold, derived entirely from reclaimed sources, they agreed! So he and his skilled team of artisans use their Midas touch to churn out timeless, refined treasures with their brilliant Eco-Gold.
For Your Knight in Shining Amour:
CotoLuxe: any man would be lucky to don these duos – the Antler Corozo and the Indian Head Nickel Links, made from fallen rack antler horns and antique Native American nickels (respectively), and backed with corozo wafer buttons, made from South American tagua nut. And they come in the perfect gift package – a wooden box made from sustainably-managed, Canadian forests.
Citizen Eco Drive Watch: granted these watches are not made of recycled materials (which makes us unhappy) but they say goodbye to traditional batteries in favor of solar power. They come in a wide range of styles and colors, perfect for the man (or woman) in your life.
Apple iTunes Gift Certificate: we don’t have to tell you why downloading your tunes is more eco-friendly than accumulating a pile of disks. Feed a music addiction with amounts ranging from $10-$200. Maybe the recipient will use it to download some of your favorite love songs. That’s what we call a win-win.
For Love That’s on the Rocks:
If V-day drives you to drink, seek out a Veev “Valentini” or “Love on the Rocks”, which will be served at hotspots throughout LA, SF, San Diego and Miami. If you don’t live in one of these Veev-friendly cities, you can still order a bottle and make these organic, luscious libations at home.
For Your Queen of Green:
Vegan Queen: this red clutch comes from V.Q.’s collection of bags which are recyclable, non-toxic, organic, cruelty free, made in the USA and ooze “eco-luxury” from the core. Crafted with materials such as monogram-embossed 100% natural rubber, nickel-free zippers, PVC-free eco-polymers, organic cotton fleece lining and recycled crest medallions, it’s a hearty dose of goodness.
For the Frisky Environmentalist:
Enamore: it’s a fun and flirtatious lingerie collection produced in the UK from the finest organic hemp, soy, cotton and hand-selected vintage fabrics. Hard to say who is going to enjoy this sexy, sustainable stuff more!
Urban Fox undies: recently launched, Urban Fox’s handmade, eco-friendly undie sets are soft, silky and oh-so-sexy. We got to feel them over at the Eco Gift Expo, in Santa Monica, and can attest to their luxuriousness!
Eco-Boudoir: exquisitely sexy, this UK-based online boutique will take care of all of a sophisticated woman’s intimate apparel needs, while engaging in environmentally responsible business practices. Eco-luxury with a conscience – now that’s a gift.
Just Tell Me You Love Me:
Night Owl Paper Goods: these cute valentines are made from sustainably-harvested yellow birch, and come in five holiday designs. We’re partial to the “owl love you forever” of course, but to make the message loud and clear, send out the four letter word.
Care2 e-cards: go the most environmentally-friendly route, and send out one of these e-cards, from Care2. You’ll be able to find one for anybody and everybody who deserves your acknowledgment this year. The ThumbHug2 card will warm any parent’s heart, believe us.
World of Good Journal: a 100% wood-free journal made from recycled cotton waste, using a chemical free, handmade process in Rajasthan (thus supporting local economy). For the person who wants to capture their poetry, or the kid who needs a journal to pine over their childhood romances, these scribbles are where the heart is.
Beeswax Candle: Made from pure cinnamon essential oil and 100% natural beeswax, bring some light to your life this Valentine’s. A little ambiance goes a long way, this little candle burns for 5 hours, and is non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Sweet Thoughts Journal: this cute, little handmade journal utilizes a box of chocolate sweathearts as its cover and contains approx. 40% acid-free, recycled pages (not the most impressive of percentages, but…). Who can resist the little adages of this quintessential V-Day candy? “Be mine.” “Kiss me.” Carry them around in your pocket with this mini note pad.
Zem Joaquin
ecofabulous.com

By Rachel Gray, iVillage.com
With the green revolution taking off, there’s a serious push for sustainable, eco-friendly resources. Lately, I’m seeing bamboo test the waters of industries where cotton historically reins supreme.
I’m a huge fan of cotton clothing – comfortable, affordable and easy to care for – but because it’s a difficult crop to grow, it doesn’t have the best rep when it comes to the environment. Tremendous amounts of pesticides and chemicals are needed to produce cotton, which is not only hazardous to the environment, but the people who harvest it. Maybe it is time to look for a more earth-friendly fabric.
Bamboo fiber is a seemingly great alternative. Unlike cotton, it is sustainable and grows at rapid speeds without the use of pesticides. The fiber, created by crushing the woody stalks of the plant, is turned into a soft fabric that is noted for a breatheability ideal for clothing and bedding.
I plan to test run these bamboo sheets from Gaima to see if they’re just as smooth and comfortable as my favorite cotton sets. Order yours, or pick up these affordable ones on your next trip to Target, so we can compare notes.
I’d love to hear what you think.
Rachel Gray, Associate Producer
iVillage.com
http://housecalls.ivillage.com/home/

By Jen Boulden, IdealBite.com
There are two types of people: those who love a big beauty ritual and bathrooms full of products, and those who worship getting ready in 20 minutes or less and prefer an austere vanity cabinet. I fall into the second category. I can barely remember to wash my face or remove my summer toenail polish, let alone follow some multi-step beauty routine. And once I discovered that “parabens” are in most of the beauty products our skin drinks up, my vanity cabinet got even more austere. Then along came coconut oil; I went cuckoo. Now when I get out of the shower, I put it all over my body, and on the tips of my hair for frizz control and conditioning. Warm it in your hands and lather it on, and it absorbs almost instantly. Plus, I have eliminated the following products from my regime (and saved the bottles from ending up in the landfill), because coconut oil is oh-so-very multifunctional and dreamy:
- Body and face moisturizer – yes, I put oil on my face, but I have dry skin.
- Body firmer – every product seems to claim that it firms, so I just threw this in to motivate you to try it.
- Nail and cuticle moisturizer – applying coconut oil to the rest of your body means it’s automatically gonna make it onto your nails. See the beauty in the simplicity here yet?
- Fragrance/perfume – its light scent is reminiscent of a mai tai.
- Hair conditioner and anti-frizz controller – save water by getting out of shower sans conditioner and applying oil to the driest parts of your hair.
- Cooking oil – eat some, or toss into a smoothie to get your daily dose of lauric acid, an amino acid that helps you process fat. Yes, a fat that helps you shed other fat. Nirvana.
Look for coconut oil that’s fresh, virgin, non-GMO, and unrefined at your local health food store… I’m off to dream of a Caribbean vacation and pack extremely lightly.
Jen Boulden
Co-Founder, Ideal Bite

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?

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