That is until I tried Burt’s Hand Salve! I’ve never been a big fan of tin containers of balm or lotion because of the mes they make but not any more. This fantastic salve helped heal my dried and chapped hands. In the New England winter it’s hard to keep your hands in tip top shape but this salve is great - I leave it on my desk at work; put it on once in the morning and once before I leave and I’m usually good to go for the day. Yes, even in my dry forced hot air heated house.

Want to win a free full size of this product?

Leave a comment about why you want to try Burt’s Hand Salve to save your chapped hands!

I was grabbing a two pack of Scrunci hair clips and spotted for the same price a two pack of 100% recycled Scrunci eco clips. The recycled hair clips have the same quality and hold that we come to expect from Scrunci and are a product I would highly recommend.

Scrunci has some other great eco friendly and environmentally conscious products out now as well including bamboo hair elastics and much more! I love their slogan on the eco products too, “Use your head, save the planet” cute!

All of the Scrunci eco and bamboo products are very comparable in price to the non eco-conscious products they produce; so consider switching the next time you need to pick up new hair products.  We as consumers need to put our money where our mouths are and buy eco when we spout eco!

These clips and elastics make great green stocking stuffers for the upcoming holiday season as well!

I grabbed the Vickery & Clarke Intensive Lip Treatment (95.75% natural) and the Intensive Moisture Lip Balm (94% natural).

Both are fabulous.  The Lip Treatment is more of a gel and comes in a refreshing mint flavor.  It’s great on chapped or split lips - it provides plenty of moisture and a great barrier from cold winds.  The Intensive lip balm is a cocoa butter flavor which is sweet and smells heavenly - like cookies or cakes or some sort of dessert.  the best part is is that it is flavor less - so your nose gets a treat without making your lips smack off all the balm.

About Vickery & Clarke

Inspired by Alice Vickery and Isabella Clarke, who broke new ground for women as pharmacists in the 1800s, Vickery & Clarke Natural Apothecary products are simple, effective remedies made with over 94% natural ingredients.

Vickery & Clarke Natural Apothecary products are made with natural ingredients:

• Paraben free
• Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate free
• Phthalate free
• Petrolatums free

You can buy Vickery & Clarke products exclusively at CVS at this time.

I was 10. A decade later as I started to take a look at how environmentally friendly my decisions were I started to reconsider. After a nasty bout with a cold I had a sore nose - I found some great natural solutions for my dry nose but could the dry nose have been avoided by not using 1,000,000 facial tissues?

Yes. In a recent purchase from Lunapads I ordered a few small Organic cotton handkerchiefs and contacted Lunapads customer support about the use and care of this reusable facial tissue.

One of their support staff, Sandra Allen, was quick with a response to me. I just asked her what was on my mind and after I read her response the first time I needed to blow my nose it felt right in that cotton hankie!

She assured me the following is the case with handkerchiefs:

• They aren’t going to leak snot everywhere or into your clothes in the wash
• If you have a cold you will produce more mucus and might want to rinse your hankie in warm water and hydrogen peroxide to keep it naturally fresh and white
• Just toss it in your pocket - use it - the toss it in your laundry. Then repeat!

Handkerchief Q & A With Sandra Allen of Lunapads

Are there a lot of germs in my snot and boogers (aka mucus)?

Sandra: I did a bit of reading and generally snot is produced to help keep the respiratory system free of germs. The time when it may have germs in it is when you are catching a cold. In that case I would soak them in hot water and add some hydrogen peroxide. But generally a hankie is a personal item that is used only for you so they’re your own germs. Check out Wikipedia’s definition of mucus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasal_mucus#Respiratory_system or do some Google searches to read more about it. I am all fascinated by our wonderful mucus-producing bodies now that I’ve done some reading up on the subject!

What should I do with dirty or used reusable handkerchiefs when I’m not at home?

Sandra: I personally just keep them in my pocket or bag, the snot really doesn’t go anywhere and unless you’ve got a bad cold it’ll be minor what comes out.

What’s a good solution to keep clean handkerchiefs separate from dirty in my pockets, handbag, desk, or home?

Sandra: Again, you don’t need to be so particular about it. I usually only have one hankie on me during the day, but sometimes I’ll keep a folded one in a pocket of my bag/purse. The used hankie can just be kept in your coat or pants pocket, always turn the snot part inwards and it won’t get anywhere. But we do have these cute little pouches – the Luna Pouch (nylon lined!) or the Pochette (pictured below) that you could use to store your hankies in.

Terri (me): I had to let her have that little sales bit ;) It’s just how I roll!

Should I soak my handkerchief first to make sure the snot doesn’t get all over my clothes?

Sandra: Unless you’ve got a cold (and therefore more snot!) you can just throw them straight in to the wash, no need to pre-rinse but you can if it makes you feel more comfortable.

How can I soak, pre-wash or clean a handkerchief?

Sandra: I’d just soak them in water, but if they seem little dirty then add a bit of hydrogen peroxide or a product like oxy-brite which are both natural bleaching agents. It’ll help keep them a nice cream-white and won’t damage the fabric or the environment.

Are you sure it won’t get on my clothes if I wash them in with my regular laundry?

Sandra: It won’t get on your clothes. I promise you won’t even be able to tell you had snotty hankies in with your laundry if you do combine them. Once you start using hankies you’ll be amazed at how the snot just kind of disappears in the fabric.

Terri (me): And yes, she does mean the “fabric of the handkerchief!”

Additional photo from the Lunapad website (that’s Sandra on the left.)

Here’s our top picks for Valentines Day 2009 - Be sure to order your Internet purchases early to ensure delivery by Saturday, February 14th 2008!

BambooDreams Cleo Gown by DreamSacks, Inc

This lovely nightgown is an empire waist, tank top that comes just above the knees. Made from 85% pesticide free bamboo - a sustainable and renewable resource. A beautiful cozy nightgown is a great deviation from PJ pants and will get much more wear for you dollar! Make every night as sexy as Valentines Day! Available in 6 colors, from small to x-large.

Price: $57 USD
Available from Dreamsack.com

Perfectly Imperfect Organic Cotton Lace Nighty

A beautiful imperfect gown - it’s fitted through the bodice with adjustable straps. Made from 90% Organic cotton the contrasting lace adds beautiful detail in numerous shades. The line is inspired by the wabi sabi way of life, an ancient Chinese philosophy for thos who like fresh simplicity and rustic natural beauty. Available in 5 colors, from small to large.

Price: $62 USD
Available from TheGreenLoop.com

O Girl Babydoll

Soft, delicate with all the bows, frills and lace a girl loves. An eco-conscious girl will love that it’s 100% Organic cotton jersey. As seen in Lucky Magazine in December 2008. Available in 2 colors, from small to large.

Price: $57 USD
Available from Eberjey.com

Mya Underwear by g=9.8

This hot bra and boxers set is made from ultra soft recycled white pine-tree pruning. Available in red and blue using low impact dyes. Sizes A-C and small - large.

Price: Separates are 38.95 / 21.40 ea. EU
Available from By Nature

Bedrock Betty Chemise by Enamore, Ltd.

How about some Flintstones for Valentines Day? This racy number is made from soft bamboo leopard print jersey with delicate details and a pink bow to complete the look. Get some animal on in the bedroom! Available in sizes small to x-large.

Price: 75 EU
Available from ENAMORE, Ltd.

Camisole & Boy Short Set by CEL Lingerie

This hot two piece is fair trade friendly 95% Organic cotton. The French embroidered lace accents perfect the pieces with beautiful detail. She can be comfortable and sizzle in this machine washable number! Available in two colors in sizes small to large.

Price: $155
Available from Noblivity.com

Sleeper Set

Simple can be sexy too! This cozy two piece sleeper set is made from Organic cotton with adorable ruffled edge accents. Available in black in small and medium sizes.

Price: $54 (marked down from $90 thru Jan 31) Available from Kaight

Lacey Set Handmade by Urban Fox

A sexy two piece - this perfect pair features wide lace details and a perfect unfinished touch. Adjustable or silk ribbon straps tie options at the shoulder and the lace detailed panties have extra tiers of wide lace across the bum. Too cute! All of it is sewn by hand using Organic cotton and bamboo blends. Available in sizes small - large.

Also check out their stocking and garter panties sets that would compliment the lacy cami look perfectly!

Price: $85 Cami set / $75 Stocking set
Available from Urban Fox xoxo

Green Knickers

These adorable panties are one size fits all with adjustable straps. They are low carbon, 100% recycled, with Organic cotton gussets. Each pair is unique and their site has a number of different colors to chose from. Each order includes an optional fair trade, recycled gift box. Guys, you can’t go wrong with a one size fits all gift! Just find a cure simple organic cotton cami to go with it and you’ve got a beautiful set.

Price: 15 EU
Available from GreenKnickers

Victoria’s Secret Organic Cotton Wireless Bra and Hip Huggers

Victoria’s Secret is starting to get into the Organic game and this new set is beautiful. In the past they have typically stuck to Organic cami, panties and shirts, but this bra is adorable. It’s refreshing to see them continuing to step into the Organic cotton apparel market. I own a number of VS Organic cotton cami’s and panties and i love them. I prefer them over all the other bottoms I own! There’s two matching prints for the set and it’s available in x-small - large.

Price: $26 USD Bra / $10 USD Hip Huggers
Available from Victoria Secret Online

More Ideas?

Got any other ideas, post ‘em in the comments! Don’t forget to find ways to jazz up boring lingerie you already own, a little lace, bows and some ruching will spice up any piece.

I know most people understand how to drop paper/plastic and metals in a bin and put it on the curb but it’s really interesting to see how it works out after the truck grabs your recyclables.

This is going to be a weekly series - Recycling Mondays, a great way to start the week. I’ll keep posting the videos from this series and then find some other great recycling topics for you every week.

Both green and black tea are include a number of active ingredients, especially potent antioxidants like catechin, flavonoids, polyphenols and a type of phytochemical called EGCG. Antioxidants help prevent or slow oxidative damage to our body which happens when our bodies use oxygen which can often produce pb-products or free radicals that can cause damage. Those antioxidants act as scavengers and reduce the free radicals and repair the damaged caused.

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a substance in green tea has been found to halt a specific stage in the cancer process more effectively than current cancer drugs do^[1] in lab tests. Though it is also reported that in large population studies the results are less consistent. Though green tea has been cited to decrease the cardiovascular disease mortality in a population study over the course of 11 years but not the cancer mortality rate. This Japanese study: Green Tea Consumption and Mortality Due to Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and All Causes in Japan published by the American Journal of Medicine discusses that study in depth.

Green Tea and Weight Loss

Green tea is always rumored to be linked to weight loss, Japanese researchers have claim replacing your morning coffee with green tea can help you burn more calories through thermogenesis, the process of heat production in organisms, due to the caffeine content and possibly even the EGCG content.

Organic Green Tea

It makes perfect sense to seek out Organic teas. You’re drinking water that has had leaves steeped in it. Even if tea leaves are cleaned after being harvested wouldn’t you rather drink tea that comes from leaves that have never been touched by chemical fertilizers or pesticides? I would!

Be sure to check your local market or a local tea/coffee shop for Organic tea varieties!

Should I Drink Green Tea?

Why not? It’s tasty, and seems to have plenty of health benefits. Green tea also has anti-inflammatory properties which can be good for you inside and out!

How to Prepare Green Tea

Boil water and allow your green tea bag to steep 3 to 5 minutes to bring out the antioxidants and be sure to drink it freshly brewed to ensure you enjoy the full benefits of those antioxidants.

Add sugar, lemon, milk or honey as you see fit. I enjoy Organic honey in my teas and have a bottle of it in the cabinet at home and work.

So go on, replace you coffee that probably isn’t doing your body any good with some green tea every morning.

Tea Leaves photo by indi.ca via flickr used under the creative commons

First stop was Bath and Body Works.

I have had a problem with B&BW since I was 16 and my pediatrician thought I had TSS, though it turned out my full body rash was actually from a dye I was allergic to in a B&BW soap.

Still people insist on giving me gift certificates here sigh. This one I had since December 2007 - I am never excited to go and shop in there.

So I wandered in amiss the mass of women digging through clearance bins and found a sales person. I asked ‘Do you have any Organic or all natural products?’.

Do you have any Organic or all natural products?

She looked bewildered as though no one had ever asked her such an absurdity. After a second she let me know the closes thing that had was probably their CO Bigelow line.

I wandered over to the meager display and selected the trial sizes of the CO Bigelow Not Your Ordinary Daily Shampoo, CO Bigelow Not Your Ordinary Daily Conditioner and CO Bigelow Lemon Cream Body Wash.

These products don’t claim to be Organic or all natural but it was the best they had to offer for my gift card purchase.

CO Bigelow Not Your Ordinary Daily Shampoo & Conditioner

The Not Your Ordinary Daily Shampoo’s ingredients include: Pathenol (sp) 1%, Coconut Extract 1%, Silk Amio Acids 0.5% and the Not Your Ordinary Daily Conditioner’s ingredients include: Soy and Wheat Protein 1.5%, Jojoba Oil 1%, Mallow Extract 0.5%

I’m not sure what ‘Pathenol ’ but Google seems to think it’s a misspelling of a chemical compound panthenol. I don’t know why they would boast that ingredient but to each their own.

I liked these shampoos enough but they’re not a green product like the kind I am trying to incorporate into my daily life. I like the natural scents and how they make my hair feel but there won’t be a long lasting relationship between me and the CO Bigelow shampoo and conditioners.

CO Bigelow Lemon Cream Body Wash

This product boasts 7.2% Lemon Oil and Extracts and 7.5% Safflower Oil as it’s natural ingredients, but I have got to admit I really enjoyed this body wash.

The smell of lemons wasn’t overwhelming but left me with citrus like refreshed feeling. The cream body wash is nice it lathers well on my bamboo poof and didn’t leave my skin feeling oily or too dry after I stepped on the shower.

Green Behavior doesn’t necessarily recommend or endorse these products for their green value but it’s the greenest that we have seen from Bath & Body Works. We’d only recommend trying these if you have a gift card that needs spending - they’re not bad products just not the most green conscious ones we’ve seen.

But what do you think about it?

I am personally a big fan of bans on standby modes. Standby modes are the biggest energy guzzlers using vampire energy when the machine is not in use.

Standby more has it’s perks:

• Quicker startup time
• Remote startup (using a remote control device)

But really? Yes, I pay for my electricity - even my wasted electricity but I support banning these wasting modes because many people don’t know any, let alone how much, energy is being wasted when a machine appears to be off but is merely in a standby mode.

I never leave my computer or laptop on standby - and my computer when not in use has it’s surge protector switch turned off to save electricity. Most time I am on my laptop which is a more energy efficient model and I always shut it down entirely when I am done with it.

What do you think?

Do you think it’s right for any government to ban energy wasting electronic appliances or to ban energy wasting standby modes? I want to hear from you!

Checkout the Big Green Switch for more information about switching your machines power off instead of leaving standby mode dormant.