Green Leaf Reviewer

The Highs and Lows of Creating DIY Beauty Products

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Wed, 18 May 2016 17:16:00 +0000

Recently back from a week in a humid location, my husband and I noticed something about our old friend humidity. We loved it!

As soon as the door opened to the jetway back at Sky Harbor we both started losing moisture from our skin. And let me tell you, for the week we were traveling our skin felt and looked better than it had since we moved to AZ.

For 5 years now we’ve forced ourselves to suffer. Well, suffer no more I say!

In recent years I’ve been on a mission to naturalize our home and beauty products.

It started with toothpaste, which we still use and love. Then I moved on to laundry detergent (also, love), eliminated even more chemicals with wool dryer balls, then went all-in and started buying a bunch of stuff in bulk.

Shea butter, cocoa butter, beeswax, arrowroot powder (because I had/have dreams of creating makeup), vinegar, baking soda, liquid castile soap, essential oils, coconut oil by the truckload…

And then it was time to start experimenting. So experiment I did, with mixed results.

I blame it on my inability to sit still during science classes 30 years ago. That and the fact we never learned about this kind of stuff in school to begin with– why do some oils need to be heated, what does it do to the properties of the molecule, why does that make it more likely to mix with another element, how come some things don’t mix, why do I need a carrier oil when using essential oils…

If they taught that shit in high school I’d be a master mixer by this point and probably would have gotten better than a C in science. But here I am, still learning today!

The good news? I’m a grownup now and get to do my research without the silly grading system or pressure to perform during the school year. So, with the time to properly learn and give things a try, I’ve managed to test out quite a few home products.

Here’s how things are going so far:

Lip balm – epic win!
Body butter – semi-win (turned out a little too solid, less cocoa butter next time).
Toothpaste – epic win!
Face lotion – win.
Lip gloss – meh (beet root powder didn’t blend well with coconut oil).
Face powder – meh (I don’t love loose powder but the color was okay).
Shampoo – EPIC fail (can we say greasy oil slick?)!
Deodorant – fail (either too loose or too solid).

The 2 things I was skittish on trying my hand at making? Body wash and shave cream/lotion. Which might sound strange but I didn’t want anything that would cause my klutzy self to take a dive in that wet location.

So I put it off until last week. Why last week? Last week a new, shiny product arrived in the house and rekindled my inspiration for creating shower products!

Allow me a minute to explain how that particular product came to be in our house.

One of the other things I’ve been doing in recent years is really looking at all the items we purchase and “consume” in addition to food. For example, my shaving razors.

I might go hippie chick to a point but I love being a modern American hippie girl. That smooth leg, pit, and bikini line feeling is something I love on my body so I don’t plan to give it up anytime soon. Of course, that means limited choices and I have to pick one.

Laser hair removal. I’m torn on this one. On the one hand I’d be altering the natural rhythm of my body by literally killing the hair root so it simply stops growing forever. On the other hand, it stops growing forever! Eventually. After a certain number of treatments I could stop spending time/effort/money on any or all of the rest of this list. It’s tempting. But cost prohibitive. Next…

Waxing. Never done it. Very skittish of pain. Plus, it isn’t one and done, I’d have to keep paying someone else to hurt me on purpose and let the hair grow out in the meantime. If I wanted pain on purpose I’d go get another tattoo, thanks. Next…

Esthetician. Do they still use those swirling at light-speed, rip your hair out, tweezer in a container things? Not sure I want to find out. And speaking of Tweezers, um, no. That’s okay for my brows but not so much for legs. Next…

Removal cream. For a while this seemed like the ultimate idea – no nicks, no razor burn, slop it on and it’s 3 minutes to done! – but then I realized what I’m really doing is giving my entire leg a chemical burn/peel. Absorbing all that crap into my body. Eek. Next…

Electric razor. So my MIL told me that’s what she uses. Sounded so smart! I tested it out on my legs using my husband’s (thanks Matt!) but quickly discovered that process isn’t for me. The thing felt awesome at first, gliding over my leg with ease. Until I saw the blood. Worst nicking/razor burn of my life and I tried both wet and dry. Next…

Disposable razors. Ah yes, the trusty old standby. The port in the storm. And probably the single most expensive piece of equipment in my bathroom. As a girl (because you know our products are always “better designed for women” AKA: more expensive for the same shiz the guys use) I can buy a 4 pack of the moisture strip razors for about $25. With legs to shave (even ones as short as mine) and various other bits and parts, I spent that $25 about once a month. Yes, that’s hovering at $300 every year just to feel sexy!

Now before you get all in my face about “feeling sexy starts on the inside” remember I told you I like my smooth legs for me. Because I feel sexy. So there it is. I buy into the line they feed me and I don’t really care because it makes me feel good.

But I digress…

Since the other options weren’t going to work for me for various reasons I settled on the fact that I’d be buying disposable razors for the rest of my I-still-want-to-feel-sexy life. So I started doing my research and even though it seemed like a gimmick at first, I’m the newest member of the Dollar Shave Club.

I used to use men’s razors all the time. My shin bones are prominent and women’s razors never seem to have the ability to bend. It’s probably because of the pounds worth of “moisturizer” they surround the blade with, trying to convince us that it might actually provide moisture.

It doesn’t.

Because it’s nothing more than a chemical compound that leaves a film of crap on my skin which supposedly allows the razor to glide across my skin.

Again, it doesn’t.

Most of the time I’d have worse razor burn with a first use of a women’s razor than a third use of the men’s. But men’s razors are pretty expensive too so I wanted something more pocket friendly. Enter DSC.

I’m only into my first month but I love the razors. They have some give in the blade head to get through problem areas but don’t have a ton of bells and whistles. They don’t try to convince you that a Dyson roller ball in the middle of your razor or a pound of moisturizer are essential to shaving.

When I ordered it was just the razor but of course they sent me a sample of their Dr. Carver’s Easy Shave Butter. I tried it.

Ho-lee heaven!

Thing is, the site says it uses sea algae and oats and barley and prickly pear cactus but the full ingredients list isn’t available on my little sample. Because I wasn’t sure I tried to make my own.

Based on a few bloggers I love, I tested out a few different recipes to see what might work the best. I came up with one using Shea butter, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, liquid castile soap, and lavender E.O.

Now here’s where things get tricky.

I whipped it so it could go into one of these open end tubes I bought back when I started making toothpaste (the tubes are too huge for the paste, we use a glass container and butter knife to apply to our toothbrushes). It scooped okay but my formula may have been a bit off because it started to fall and slightly separate as I spooned it into the tube.

But I persevered and tried it yesterday.

Um…

Pros:

It didn’t dry out my legs.

It smells awesome.

It glides on, sort of.

It is all natural.

But like Matt always says: Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s good for you.

Cons:

My razor clogged with every swipe. Which I didn’t realize until I pulled it up my shin 2-3 times, knowing right away I’d have razor burn (it was mild, I’ll say that much, but it was there). And the water wasted down the drain while I spent so much timecleaning out my razor hardly seems environmentally friendly.

The razor had only been used 1 other time so it wasn’t dull blades. In fact, I tried it after shaving my legs on my pits using the last of the DSC shave butter and it was a-ok.

Meaning I needed to track down an ingredients list for the shave butter.

According to Badger & Blade this is what you’ll find in the Dr. Carver’s Easy Shave Butter:

Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Oat Kernel Extract, Willow Bark Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Algae Extract, Papaya Fruit Extract, Pineapple Fruit Extract, Camelia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Panax Ginsing Root Extract, Propanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Phospholipids, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hydrolyzed Barley Protein, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Orange Peel Extract, Rosemary Leaf Oil, Lavender Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Dimethiconol, Potassium Sorbate, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexyglycerin, Phenoxyethanol.

No parabens, no animal testing. (Good, but not enough)

I got to the 4^th ingredient, looked it up and sighed. It’s a silicone. And a potentially scary one at that.

Sorry DSC but when the EWG deems an ingredient to be “bioaccumulative” with the potential for endocrine disruption, cancer, and neurotoxicity, I throw it away and don’t look back.

Razors? Check! Butter? Back to the mixing bowl.

Have you ever made your own shave butter/lotion/gel? What ingredients do you use and what would be your deal breakers if they were involved? Have you found a readily available all-natural product you could recommend? Leave a comment and let us know!

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DIY Whipped Body Butter and Other Stuff I Make on the Cheap

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 19:30:00 +0000

Just a quick note:

Blogger is being a PITA, every time I try to upload an image it pops up a sign-in request which loops back to the same sign-in request over and over, meaning I can't upload any images into the post. I apologize for that and will edit with images if this glitch ever gets fixed. Thanks for understanding and now, on to the post!

Good morning greenies!

It’s been some time since I’ve posted here, the last post was all about homemade toothpaste. But I promise, I have a good reason for my disappearing act.

For the past 11 months I’ve been a pretty busy gal. Between work (released two books this year which you can see at my Amazon author page) and figuring out ways to homestead(ish) in the city, my time to write about greener experiences has been limited.

Because I’ve been living them!

But today I’m going to give you a post-game wrap up of all things homemade that I’ve been working on for the past year. Hopefully it will inspire you to get out there and give DIY a try in 2016!

Before we go any further I want you to be aware that there are affiliate links in this post, that means if you purchase the products (other than my books above) you’ll pay nothing extra but I’ll make a small commission. It helps fund my green endeavors and I appreciate the support!

Now, with that said…

First up – whipped body butter

I’m a regular reader of (okay, I admit, I’m obsessed with) Katie, AKA: Wellness Mama. She’s been doing this stuff for a long time and has a good mind for creating healthful products from scratch.

So when I wanted to try my hand at a body lotion, her blog was the first place I went for inspiration.

I was excited to see that most of the ingredients she suggested were ones I already had in my closet/cabinets and some of the same ingredients I was considering using in my formula!

For this recipe I used:

The first thing I did was work out ratios. For this recipe I used: 2oz = 1 part (1 part can be anything you like – a pound, 6oz, ¼oz – whatever works for the needs you have).

Because, while Katie has a family to use up the items she creates, over here in Casa de Shon there’s just Matt and myself (and sometimes, like in this case, I’m the only one using the item in question).

Determining ratios helps with a couple things:

1. I can reduce / increase as necessary so my product fits in the container.

2. I want it to remain shelf-stable until I run out (nothing extra / wasted!).

Of course, #2 isn’t going to be a problem. I live in the desert. I’m using this stuff at least 3 times a day!

But here’s the thing, I’m kind of a lazy homesteader. There, I said it. I just loathe spending tons of time because I have a day job and a life to live on top of doing all this green stuff. I want things as efficient as possible so I can get in, get out and get it done.

That’s why I use a crock pot instead of a double boiler.

It’s one of the small ones but it works great – 1 “pan” = minimal cleanup. Convenient, efficient and simple…what’s not to love!?!

Here’s how I do it:

1 part cocoa butter

1 part shea butter

1-¼ parts coconut oil

¾ part sweet almond oil

Put everything in the crock pot, heat on warm until melted – stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Stir in 20 or so drops EO of choice. Put in fridge** for an hour and a half. Reheat on warm setting and add more cocoa butter (because mine was staying liquid, if yours starts to set don’t add more), stirring until melted. I put the crockpot back in the fridge and left it there overnight. Next morning it was hardened completely. Put on counter and once at room temp (3 or 4 hours), whip with a hand mixer until it resembles meringue. Scoop into container and / or slather all over your lizard-like skin. (Oh, that’s just me?)

In the winter it gets chilly in my house, so everything gets a bit more solid, but this stuff scoops right out of the container no problem and it’s light, fluffy and so chocolatey smelling!

I love using this after I shave my legs, all day as a hand moisturizer, and anytime I need a healthy glow to my skin.

A couple notes:

1. This doesn’t “spread” like a commercial lotion.

2. As you warm it in your hands it will resemble melting butter.

3. The oils can stain clothes, wait about 5 or 10 minutes after applying before dressing.

4. This won’t cure anything but it sure feels wonderful and is chemical free.

5. So far I’m on my second batch and haven’t had any problems with shelf stability (each lasting about 4+ months, I use a gasket air-tight glass jar and don’t let water creep in to harbor bacteria).

What else have I been working on?

This year has been about lots of experimentation with various household and beauty products. Some of which I’ve mastered (hello never having to buy lip balm again!), while others are taking numerous tries to get good enough that I’m comfortable sharing my method (I’m looking at you deodorant!).

Now, it may seem like a lot of money spent and up front, it is. But in the end I’m actually saving. I buy my ingredients in bulk and the good news is I can use many of the same ingredients across multiple items.

For example, in the past 2 years we would have bought a tube of toothpaste roughly every 2 months. That’s 12 tubes, at about $5 per tube we would have spent $60.

As of right now I’m still on the original box of baking soda ($4), vat of coconut oil ($25) and peppermint EO ($14).

Add it up and in 2 years I’ve spent $43 on toothpaste. It may not seem like $17 is much but all those $17 items add up over time and help our one income family live more healthful, planet conscious and frugally. And don’t forget, the coconut oil is also used for more than half my beauty products as well as our cooking oil when needed.

In the last couple years or so I’ve managed to switch over to the following chemical-free products:

Lip balm
Shampoo / conditioner (so much fail in this experiment, I use Shea Moisture brand now)
Wool dryer balls (best investment ever!)
Cleaning products (lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda – that’s it)
Laundry detergent (summers bode well for liquid, sadly winters in my garage are cold so I’m testing different powdered formulas now to see what works best with our hard water & will report back eventually)
Hair color (henna rocks)
Deodorant (I’ll get this one eventually but for now using Tom’s of Maine)
Candles (I use a wax burner, beeswax and a couple drops of EO)
Toothpaste
Face lotion (straight coconut oil works just perfect for me but some people have issues because it can clog pores so be aware)

Next on the list of items to DIY for health?

Body wash (exfoliating)
Dish soap
Dishwasher packs
Hairspray
Makeup (which I’ve started experimenting with and hope to get at least 1 good cover stick, loose powder recipe by next year)
Air freshener / fabric refresher

And that may not be everything but it sure feels great to be living more healthfully!

How about you? What commercially produced, chemical-laden products are you trying to replace in your house? Share your recipes in the comments!

**if you go right to the fridge it can strain the cold glass shelves, use a hand towel under the ceramic vessel to protect both from breaking.

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The Great Homemade Toothpaste Experiment of 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 17:07:00 +0000

For the past year or so I’ve been really thinking about the impact that chemicals and additives have on our bodies. I stopped drinking soda years ago and that seemed smart but in recent months I’ve been even more concerned about the other stuff.

Stuff like cleaning products, deodorant, toothpaste.

For the most part Matt and I have gone straight vinegar now for all of our cleaning needs. It works awesome at breaking down the calcified water we have here in Phoenix. Plus it’s:

Virtually streak free
Known to have anti-bacterial properties
Got an odor that dissipates quickly
Natural (so I don’t need to wear gloves while cleaning)
Not harmful if the fumes are inhaled

So I’ve been on the prowl for other stuff like that and over the summer I started what I’m now calling the Great Homemade Toothpaste Experiment of 2014!

I believe after some trial and MAJOR error (more on that in a bit) I’ve perfected a toothpaste that is refreshing, effective and costs next to nothing.

I’m going to switch up everything so I started here

Anyone who has been reading my blog for a while knows that one of my very favorite things is to explore new ideas in eco-friendly living.

Over the years I’ve tried all kinds of products touted as Green. A company would send an item for me to try. It was kind of cool to get free merch in exchange for an honest review.

But as far as I’m concerned, the Greenest possible option was not having all that extraneous stuff hanging around doing nothing.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that goes for ingredients too.

So I started doing all kinds of research, trial and error creation, and now (on our 5^th batch of homemade toothpaste) we’ve got a version that really works!

The general disclaimer

Please note that this isn’t meant to cure, diagnose or treat any health issues. I’m not a doctor or other health pro so I can’t offer advice on your ailments or maladies. This formula works for me but may not be right for everybody.

I’m only a Greenie with a blog. But, just because it worked for me doesn’t mean it will work for you. Use your own best judgment and/or consult your healthcare professional.

Got all that? Good. Now, on with the details!

Ingredients and information

Ingredients

2 Tbsp baking soda

2-ish Tbsp coconut oil

20+ drops Peppermint essential oil

10+ drops Organic Liquid Stevia (optional)

Let’s talk for a second about each ingredient.

Baking soda is a very mild abrasive. It only took a couple days for my mouth to get used to this ingredient and now I feel like my mouth is less clean if I have to use a commercial paste.

Coconut oil is the carrier oil. Basically that means it will “carry” the peppermint, Stevia, etc. to the corners of your mouth. It also helps dilute and spread the peppermint around the mixture itself.

Essential oil is the flavoring. Trust me, you probably want something because baking soda is not delicious. A word of caution: use a food or therapeutic grade oil, NOT Aromatherapy grade. Some oils are better than others; test on your arm or other inconspicuous place to make sure it won’t bother you before making a batch of toothpaste. For example, cinnamon can be an irritant for some people. Do research!

Organic Liquid Stevia is a natural sweetener. I like using a bit to cut the peppermint. Stevia is a plant based product. If you’re looking for some extra info on this herb check out this resource. I use it instead of xylitol because I’m still not convinced that xylitol is healthy.

Now, on to the mixing!

Remember I said I had a MAJOR error? Here’s where I went a little awry.

On the first try I added the coconut oil to the baking soda and then added the peppermint and sweetener.

BAD idea!

The carrier oil didn’t carry the essential oil as far as I would have liked. There was way too much coconut oil and my mix was nothing like toothpaste consistency.

Because baking soda is sodium bicarbonate – salt – it’s inherent flavor can be a little off-putting (to say the least!).

In that first batch, Matt and I were brushing with a soupy version of lightly pepperminted ocean water.

BLEH!

We used the whole batch of it (because we’re troopers and don’t like wasting stuff) but both of us were concerned that to be Green we’d actually turn green every time we brushed our teeth!

The second time around I got a little creative and that’s when we realized this whole thing was going to work out just fine.

Here’s what to do:

Put your baking soda into your toothpaste storage container.

Next, add most of the peppermint you plan to add (I generally use about 20-25 drops in total so I’d add about 15-20 drops at this stage).

Add in about half of the Stevia drops you plan to use.

With a small fork, blend the three ingredients together really well by smushing, mashing and stirring. The mixture should still be dry looking.

Slowly add coconut oil until the mixture gets to toothpaste consistency. Sometimes that’s a full 2 Tbsp and other times it’s not, so pour and stir slowly.

Finally, taste test a small dot of the mixture. Continue to add a small number of drops of essential oil and/or Stevia until it gets to the flavor you want. (Rinse and spit it out)

Keep in mind what happens when water and oil touch - the oil will spread. Too much peppermint can make it feel like your mouth is on fire. Use your best judgment.

My final thoughts on all things homemade toothpaste

After doing this for the past 6 or so months I’ve got a few observations to share:

One batch lasts about a month for two of us brushing twice a day.
I like to do a brushing rinse after spitting out the paste.
A pea sized blob is plenty.
I start by brushing “dry” (AKA – don’t put the brush under water or you’ll lose some of the oil’s benefit).
We scoop the paste out with a separate tool so no water enters the paste container which could add bacteria and shorten shelf life.
My teeth have actually whitened a bit since starting to use this paste.
This stuff is all pretty shelf stable for up to about 6 months (but we’ve never had it last that long!)
My mouth feels clean and refreshed every time I brush.
I’ll likely never go back to conventional paste.

If for no other reason than cost benefit!

I haven’t done the exact math yet (because I’ve had all the ingredients for months and use them in different stuff as well as the paste) but suffice to say the Stevia and baking soda aren’t even half empty. I’ve only had to replace the peppermint once. Buying a gallon of coconut oil brings the price down to pennies per Tbsp.

**Here’s the exact ingredients I use**

**Please note that there are affiliate links so if you purchase any of the products from these links I’ll make a commission but you won’t pay anything extra**

Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

Eden’s Garden Peppermint Essential Oil

Omica Organic Liquid Stevia

Baking soda has experienced some controversy in recent years. The alleged aluminum debate rages on. If you want to know why I don’t mind using this product as packaged from a big box store (until it is gone) this article should explain it nicely.

Like I said before, I’m not trying to treat or diagnose any ailments, so use your own judgment if you decide to try this or any other variation of this recipe.

My next experiments will include laundry detergent, body lotion, deodorant, face lotion, lip gloss and chapstick. Wish me luck!

Have you tried any experiments at making more natural versions of everyday products? How many tries did it take before you got it right? Does it save you money? Share in the comments!

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Happy Earth Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 15:37:00 +0000

Good morning friends of the planet, I love Earth Day because it reminds us that this rock we're standing on is something we really need to take care of all the time.

I came across this graphic on a friend's Facebook page today and thought it was the perfect Earth Day image to share.

What do you think? What are YOU doing to make the Earth a better place to inhabit on this day?

Have You Heard of Oil Pulling?

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 17:57:00 +0000

As I wiped the night’s cobwebs from my eyes and began the slow IV drip of caffeine (wishful thinking) I came across an article that immediately intrigued me.

Turns out that a couple weeks ago FashionLush discovered oil pulling. As of 15 minutes before reading her post I had no idea what this could be. And I’d wager a guess that you’re all thinking the same thing.

Rooted in thousands of years of wellness practices

Here’s the thing. All the parts of our bodies are connected, right? For example, when we eat sugary foods full of preservatives they can (and will) settle on our belly, ass, thighs, hell even fingers can get fatter!

So when we do something goodfor our bodies – eating organic, exercising – it’s safe to assume the same chain reaction would happen, right? Yes!

That’s the basic theory behind oil pulling so let me tell you a little bit about what I learned when it comes to this strange sounding activity.

What does Ayurveda have to do with oil pulling?

I set to research the act and got about 26 million hits on ‘what is oil pulling’. As a part of the ayurvedic approach to medicine the activity is actually pretty common in some cultures. Now, I’d never heard of Ayurveda either but it sure has a solid history. That’s because the ayurvedic approach to wellness began over 3,000 years ago.

Traditionally an Indian wellness ideal, this style of medicine and whole-body approach has roots in Indian, Greek, Tibetan and Chinese medicines as well. According to The Chopra Center:

“Ayurveda is a science of life (Ayur = life, Veda = science or knowledge). It offers a body of wisdom designed to help people stay vital while realizing their full human potential. Providing guidelines on ideal daily and seasonal routines, diet, behavior and the proper use of our senses, Ayurveda reminds us that health is the balanced and dynamic integration between our environment, body, mind, and spirit.”

Part of that full potential includes oil pulling, sometimes called oil swishing.

How does it work?

There’s no complicated process. Remember, thousands of years ago they didn’t have technology like we have today. But they did have a greater sense of connection to the earth and our place upon the delicate crust of this round rock.

In just 5 steps you’ll be on your way to better health:

1. Purchase organic, virgin (non-hydrogenated) coconut oil. I like the Whole Foods brand commonly found in the vitamin section. Here’s a little on the benefits of different oils.

2. First thing in the morning (before food or coffee) take a teaspoon of coconut oil and begin swishing with it.

3. Continue swishing for 20 minutes. Yes this seems like a long time but try doing it while you shower so the time passes faster. Something to note: as your mouth creates saliva the fullness factor might become overwhelming. Spit out a little if you need to reduce the volume in your mouth and try to swish for at least 10 minutes; but try for the full 20.

4. Spit the oil out. Don't spit the oil down the drain. Coconut oil solidifies and, over time, it will build up on the inside of your plumbing. Not good.

5. Rinse out your mouth and drink a glass of water.

That’s it!

What are the health benefits?

The theory is that toxins and bacteria are pulled out of your body through your mouth and directly into the oil. Clever name what with that whole oil pulling thing huh? ☺

When you remove toxins your whole body is going to start to feel better! And look better too.

Here’s just a few things you could see happen within a few weeks:

Whiter teeth
Lessened or eliminated halitosis
Healed gums and jaw
Clearer sinuses
Improved sleep
Cleared acne/skin conditions
Lessened general pain
Hormones brought in check
Saponification (cleansing) of mucus

Want to know even more? Check out the findings by the Indian Journal of Dental Research on PubMed, this article on Elephant Journal, or read the original post I discovered on FashionLush.

How has oil pulling worked for me?

In the interest of full disclosure, I don’t know just yet. In fact I discovered the article and all of this information after I’d already had my cup of coffee and breakfast. I plan to start this practice tomorrow morning and will absolutely report back on my personal findings.

However, I’ve become familiar with the vast health benefits of coconut oil (in particular) over the past year or so. As far as I’m concerned I’m willing to give this a try because:

Coconut oil is a natural alternative to chemically produced medicines
Coconut oil could have positive effects on preventing Alzheimer’s Disease
Coconut oil is thought to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties (Look at those Green housecleaning products you buy and note that the surfactants are generally coconut oil. This same theory could apply to our bodies (ie – reduce toxins inside).
Coconut oil has a bunch of other positive benefits that you can read about here.

Bottom line, I plan to start swishing, or oil pulling, tomorrow and hope to report back in a couple weeks as to what I’m seeing or feeling. If it does nothing then so be it. But if it makes me feel better, look better and improve my overall well-being then I’m probably in for life.

Have you tried oil pulling? What were the benefits you found from practicing this technique? Did it not work for you? Share your experiences in the comments!

Image courtesy Victor Habbick

Please note: I am not a medical practitioner and I make no claims to that end. Don’t misconstrue this article as medical advice. I’m just a writer and Greenie who likes to try different natural paths to better health and better living. Please consult your doctor or health practitioner with questions or concerns about your health.

• • •

I'm Jenn, a Content Marketing Strategist, Blogger for hire and owner of Copywrite That. I can write your blog posts, articles, emails, newsletters, web copy and more. Contact me today: info[at]copywritethat[dot]com

How do you feel about Shifting Perspective?

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:08:00 +0000

Recently, a friend shared a link to an article she thought I might find interesting. The article was clearly something that would speak to my environmental side as the photo in the link showed a long-stretching line of trash on a beach.

But I dove right into reading it because the title - “What if We All Quit Judging this Scene as ‘Sad’” – and the image didn’t seem to line up. I was, admittedly, intrigued.

My gut reaction

My instinct was to read objectively and I started out doing so because I like to view things as impartially as possible where other’s opinions are concerned. But the further I got into her post full of a moderately lackadaisical attitude toward her environment masked behind a Zen attitude about our planet, my objectivity went right out the window.

My gut reaction to this woman’s words and images was an emotional one, I will admit. The planet loving (especially the beach loving) side of me felt like it had been donkey-kicked in the side of the head after getting through the post.

If you haven’t already clicked the link above to read the article, please do so now.

Like I said, my emotional ‘punched-in-the-face’ meter was skyrocketing after getting through her tale and photos. I intended to post a comment back to my friend who had shared the link with me but it became far too long winded for a simple comment.

Word for word

Here’s what I was planning to say in response:

“Interesting article. I had no idea this extent of trash was washing up on beaches in the Yucatan. On the one hand I see her point about letting go of looking at it in a bad light, that it is what it is so we need to live with it as part of our everyday lives.

On the other hand that attitude reads as complacency and ignorance.

To just shovel directly through an obvious issue, without doing anything about it is sad; it’s a sad commentary on the human condition. At least that family’s human condition.

What would her take be if all that trash suddenly showed up inside her home and spread itself out across her living room floor? Would she just shovel a pathway to the kitchen and decide to see the filthy waste in front of her as an adventure for her kids to explore?

That beach is the home of some form of wildlife. And we humans screwed it up for those other living creatures. We trashed their living room. And now she wants all of us to embrace it?

In this case, it isn't as much the debris on the shore that's sad, it’s the attitude toward seeing it but not looking at it as an issue that's the sad part to me.”

Further investigation

Like any good blogger I did a little digging on the area where her photos were taken – Tulum, Mexico – to see if there was more to the story.

Turns out there isn’t much information out there on the beach trash in Tulum but the few links I did find were even more eye opening.

First, I came across this announcement:

It’s a year and a half old but I know the issue isn’t miraculously solved considering ‘Not Sad’ article writer posted her thoughts yesterday.

Then I came across a couple more beach cleanup posters – one from 2011 and another on a blog, owned by a Tulum resident, called I Go CentralAmerica:

The fact that this much debris is still washing up on the beaches there after at least 3 years’ worth of cleanup efforts got me thinking even more about the words and images in the original article.

And I realized she was right. I was no longer sad. I was mad. Furious in fact. What was I so angry about? This line from the original article:

“Then for safety’s sake, plowed a path from our picnic to the water…”

After reading this other resident’s polar opposite take on the issue and learning there could be all manner of items in the debris, up to and including needles, I was outraged at the lack of compassion present in that one statement.

They cleared a path to the water. Not that they brought trash bags and gloves to get rid of even some of the debris on their way out to enjoy the perfect beach day at the water’s edge in their own community. No. They knew the trash could be unsafe so they cleared it out of their way to access the ocean.

The very same ocean that had regurgitated all of that debris onto the shoreline in the first place.

The sad part is their few trash bags, had they filled them, are something that could easily be dropped off at the Centro de Acopio de Tulum (Tulum’s Recycling Center).

Everyone is entitled to their opinion…

But all I could think was that complacency breeds indifference.

The one thing I will agree with her on is that trash is there and that is simple fact. Accepting the fact that trash washes up on shore shouldn’t make a person sad.

Because we should be mad about it; mad enough to effect positive change.

I don’t live in Tulum and don’t suspect I’d be able to get myself there anytime soon to physically help clean up their beaches. So instead I’m writing this article in hopes that more people will be made aware of the bigger issue.

Based on the post I understand that our choices in life did open the door to products made from plastics that enrich our everyday lives. I’m typing this on a laptop right now. But that doesn’t make me okay with knowing hundreds of laptops might be sitting at the bottom of the ocean. How could I ever just accept that?

So when I’m done with my plastic product I don’t intend for it to end up there. Can I stop it if it does? I’d like to think that if my voice joined in with others we couldbring about that change eventually. I guess I just can’t come to terms with shifting my perspective to one of acceptance & awareness but lack of action on an issue like this.

I hope everyone gets mad. Then instead of offering your anger to the sea in Zen-like reflection, how about you go and channel your anger into taking care of the problem. Raise awareness however you can and be the change you want to see.

Unless you’re comfortable with seeing that change come in the form of millions of tons of petroleum based plastic washing around in the ocean for years before ending up inside fish you’ll be eating later. Or perhaps in the middle of your living room.

In that case, feel free to do nothing but accept it and move on.

Images Courtesy:

I Go Central America (photos 1 & 3)

In the Roo (photo 2)

• • • • • • • • • • • Content Marketing Strategist and Blogger for hire, Jenn has over 12 years of freelancing experience. Let her write your next webpage, blog post, article or newsletter. Get in touch with her today info [at] copywritethat [dot] com• • • • • • • • • • •

Wrap It Up! Chicken Salad Wrap Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 17:57:00 +0000

We've been going to a of hockey games since buying season tickets to the Phoenix Coyotes. Sadly, as any fan knows, arena food is a nightmare and most games start around dinner time. So what's a healthy eating fan to do? Make a protein rich, smart carb and healthy-fat laden, chicken salad wrap for the road! Matt and I will be better fed before we get there and you can do it too! Here's my favorite fall wrap recipe:

Thanksgiving Dinner Chicken Salad Wrap

Feeds 2-3 (I eat smaller meals so there’s usually some left over for the following day).

Prep time: 10-15 minutes

Cook time: 20-30 minutes

1 lb organic chicken breast

Organic flour wraps (I like white wraps because they wrap better and its one of the only "bad" white flour items I have in my diet - moderation! - but you can make them with any kind of wrap you prefer)

Rosemary to taste (we grow this so I use fresh but dried would work, a little goes a long way)

Pinch of salt/pepper

1 Tbsp whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp gravy mix (powdered)
1 Tbsp coconut oil (EVOO works too)

1 Tbsp mayonnaise

Dried cranberries

Crushed almonds

Spinach, lettuce, shredded carrot, bell peppers, onion, etc.

Mix rosemary, salt, pepper, flour and gravy mix on a plate.

Drag chicken breasts through the mixture until coated.

Add the coconut oil to a sauté pan until it becomes liquid (I keep mine in the fridge so it solidifies but you don’t have to, it might already be liquid), spread across the pan.

Pan sear the outside of the chicken until lightly golden brown.

Pre-heat oven to 350.

Cook chicken for 20-30 minutes on a rack (like in a roasting pan) on the center shelf.

Remove when center is white & juice runs clear.

Roughly dice/chop. Add to a bowl and stir in mayonnaise, cranberries & almonds.

Put veggies of choice in the center of the wrap, top with chicken mixture.

Wrap it tight using tin foil (tighter seal and easily peelable if you’re in the car, plus can be washed & recycled later!)

Enjoy warm or chilled.

If you want to eat cold chicken salad wraps don’t forget to allow for the extra time they need in the fridge.

Add it to wraps like this, top a salad with an ice cream scoop full of chicken, or eat as a side dish to something richer like baked butternut squash.

HINT: I like to mix up a batch of chicken salad and enjoy it from time to time over the next few days. This is especially great if you're seeing a game right after work and have minimal time to prepare dinner/drive or take public transportation to the arena. Pre-made chicken and pre-cut veggies assemble as a road-wrap in under 5 minutes.

• • • • • • • • • • •
Content Marketing Strategist and Blogger for hire, Jenn has over 12 years of freelancing experience. Let her write your next webpage, blog post, article or newsletter. Get in touch with her today info [at] copywritethat [dot] com

Instant Karma for Non-Profit in San Bernardino, California

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 16:05:00 +0000

Sometimes humans do things they aren’t proud of. Most of the time those people try to make amends or apologize for their transgressions. Though not always. Sometimes people don’t try to make up for their morally questionable behavior at all.

But then other times…

Other times the person who did something morally and/or ethically wrong makes good on that wrong in a truly bizarre and profound way.

In the case of the non-profit at the San Bernardino County Sexual Assault Services office, the people who broke in and stole a bunch of technology instantly attempted to reverse their karma by giving back.

Not by donating to the non-profit organization. Not by volunteering. But by bringing back all of the items they stole and leaving them on the doorstep with a note of apology for having taken them in the first place.

They literally gave back!

Accordingto the story on 4 NBC Southern California, Willian Avila reports that the burglars originally broke into the office on July 31 through the roof. The neighborhood was then canvased and word was spread about who was robbed and what was taken from the office run by executive director Candy Stallings.

And that’s when the most amazing thing happened. The story states “The following morning about 4:30 a.m., Stallings said she got another call from police about suspicious activity taking place at her office.”

When she showed up she discovered all her items had been returned along with a note from the thieves apologizing for taking them because they “had no idea what [they] were taking.”

It was reported that even though the police had to hold onto the note for evidence, Stallings made a photocopy of the emotionally charged piece of paper to frame and hang on her wall.

Now that’s what I call a beautiful display of instant karma!

Click on the linked text above to read the full story on 4 NBC’s page.

• • • • • • • • • • •
Published in multiple print and online sources, Author, Blogger and Freelance Writer Jenn Flynn-Shon has been writing for publication since 2001. Follow her antics on twitter @jennshon

Prayers for the Families of the Arizona Firefighters Who Gave their Lives in Yarnell

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 19:41:00 +0000

Here in Arizona summer fires are common and expected. With conditions so dry, lack of moisture hitting ground level, big storms that build near the mountains and the lightning strikes that go with them, there usually isn’t a year where a fire doesn’t start.

This season the first major fire broke out in Yarnell, Arizona (northwest of Phoenix) on Friday June 28, 2013. Tragically, on Sunday June 30, 2013 nineteen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots out of Prescott, Arizona lost their lives while trying to contain/fight the fire now deemed the deadliest in state history.

As of today, July 2, 2013, the blaze still burns out of control and has claimed over 8,000 acres.

According to CNN.com the loss of these brave men isn’t only devastating from a human and heart-aching perspective but also because they represented about 20% of the entire PFD, a truly hard-hitting blow.

Please take a moment and send a prayer to the families of these heroes who fought on the front lines in order to try to save homes and businesses in and around Yarnell, Arizona.

To those nineteen brave men who have left the Earth I say your service will never go unrecognized and your spirit will live on through those who loved you.

Image courtesy azcentral.com

Becoming a Freelance Writer with an Eco-Friendly Kick-Off Article on Yahoo! Voices

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 22:33:00 +0000

Image Courtesy domdeen

In the fall of 2012 I started to invest time into learning how to become an online freelance writer. I followed blogs, newsletters, read everything I could and began working on my headlines and copy. In November I was sidelined with health stuff and put my freelancing on hold. Now I’m back at it, healthy and energized!

My first article published on Yahoo! Voices is something I’m proud of. And I know it’s going to be something you enjoy reading as well.

Read the article on eco-friendly weed killing best practices

Natural Ways to Kill Weeds without Breaking the Bank

The article was conceptualized, researched and written by me and I feel it’s some of my best work to date. I share some tips and tricks for the most effective and more importantly natural ways to kill your weeds when trying to stay within a budget.

And as we Greenies know sometimes it’s even cheaper (or outright free!) to use natural methods for taming the garden jungle.

Here’s an excerpt:

“…you should start to see the edges of the leaf begin to curl and turn brown. Within twenty-four hours your weed should be dead. If the weed hasn't died by the next day just repeat the vinegar process. This is especially effective for areas where there are cracks in the pavement, in gravel areas, on pathways, or even around the…”

Read the full article on Yahoo! Voices

Thanks for always being supportive readers and I look forward to my next approved submission on all things eco-friendly. This freelance writer gig isn’t so bad; getting paid to do what I love is pretty much the bees knees!

Have a Green week!

Growing a Small Container Garden for Health

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Tue, 28 May 2013 16:49:00 +0000

There’s a buzz right now and it all has to do with GMOs or Genetically Modified Organisms. Using genetic engineering of the organism itself scientists can create an entirely new one from the original. And these modifications are purported to be beneficial as it will allegedly increase the food supply.

The jury is still out as to how healthy these practices are and many people are skeptical of what all this engineering of our food will do to our bodies. That was one of the main reasons my husband and I decided to start a small container garden in our yard.

According to the article What are GMOs? by Theresa Phillips

"Despite efforts to control gene expression there are many unanswered questions and issues that arise and stand in the way of full acceptance of GMOs by the public. Fear of the unknown is one cause of public reluctance to use GMOs and GEMs. However, this concern is validated whenever a specific case proves the technology has gone awry, and is widely publicized. Examples of this are products that have allegedly caused the mass destruction of non-target insect populations by genetically modified cash crops or bioethical issues surrounding questions of seed ownership once a crop has been harvested, and issues over the cost of seeds and availability to farmers."

As you can plainly see the issue is a big deal and something everyone in the United States and beyond should be invested in learning about as they do their shopping.

In an effort to reduce, and soon eliminate, GMOs from our diet we decided to grow a healthy number of veggies in our small container garden.

This year in just seventy-five square feet, split between two areas in the backyard, we grew spinach, carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower and tomatoes. Plus we had some basil, parsley, rosemary and lavender interspersed with the veggies.

We already harvested the spinach and broccoli. Sadly the cauliflower didn’t make it. Our meals have made use of fresh herbs and just recently we pulled up three huge hauls of carrots.

Now the tomatoes are coming. And oh my goodness are they ever!

It feels great, literally and figuratively, to be eating fully organic food that we grew in our own backyard. I wish I could say I was the green thumb in this household but my husband is the growing genius around here.

As our resident gardening authority, I asked him what he did to create such a healthy bounty in our yard and he happily replied,

“Choosing plants that would yield a big crop in a small space, and ones that we enjoyed eating, was key. Small space gardens are easier to keep watered here in the desert, and all in all require very little extra care beyond water and mulch.”

Big crop in a small space was an understatement when it came to the number of carrots we pulled up this spring. We’re both excited to have veggies and herbs to munch on through this early part of summer here in Phoenix. Plus I know they’re free of pesticides, additives, and/or modifications other than those nature intends - like a split in the skin or an unexpected color.

Do you want to grow your own veggies to avoid GMOs? Matt has some tips to make your garden grow in a small space.

Matt’s suggestions for a successful small space garden

► Water in the early evenings - the plants can then absorb the water overnight before the evaporation of the day sets in.

► Water slowly and deeply - I use a garden hose with homemade holes poked at strategic locations for each plant and run it for about an hour when I water.

► Train your plants to be more drought resistant. Water them daily when first planted, but ease them off slowly. Even here in the desert, I only water every 2-3 days for about an hour, and our tomatoes have very little leaf wilt or signs of stress.

► The smaller the container or space, the more often you need to water, but do less water more often. Don’t drown your poor plants!!

► A nice thick layer of mulch! It helps retain the moisture, and will keep the plants warm in the spring and cool in the summer.

I hope you have a chance to get out in your own yard and consider growing something delicious in a small container garden this summer so you too can live GMO free!

Where do you get your veggies? Do you know where they originated? Do you have space for a small garden or have a Farmer’s Market close by to acquire fresher, healthier vegetables? Talk about your experience in the comments!

Chill Out: Five Ways to Beat the Summer Heat while Staying Eco Conscious

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:30:00 +0000

Hello from sunny, and scorching, Phoenix, Arizona! It is mid-May and our temperatures have already started hitting the low 100 range on a somewhat regular basis. I can’t say for sure if this is early since it’s only my third summer here but it sure feels early. I started looking for alternatives to beat the summer heat while staying as eco conscious as possible.

Here are five simple things anyone can do to stay cool and comfortable even on the hottest summer days.

Adjust the thermostat by two degrees

This sounds like a small thing but by setting our air conditioner to kick on at eighty degrees instead of seventy-eight we can save approximately 2% in energy costs. The reverse can also be beneficial to cost and energy saving – turn the thermostat down in the winter. The two degrees on either end will barely be noticeable to the body but it will sure be noticed by the wallet when the savings roll in over the course of the year.

Block passive solar from entering the house

I use heavy weight velvet drapes in the living room and dining room, darker lined curtains in the bedroom, and wooden blinds in the kitchen. What do all these rooms have in common? They’re on the south face of our home where the sun pours in during the entire day. The curtains on the front of the house (north face) are lighter weight and lighter colored. Sunlight can still brighten up the house from these windows but the warming that comes with the sun doesn’t have to bake our rooms in the process. Once the sun passes by each of the windows I can pull back the curtains to let late afternoon light into the home. Bright and sunny doesn’t have to mean hot and wasteful!

Cover the pool

We opted to purchase a home with a pool, something we use just about every day from May through October. Not only does jumping into the pool help to cool us off (another way to eliminate air conditioning!) but it’s a soothing water feature in our yard. However, a pool uses a lot of water which is not only a hit to the wallet but is also a tough thing to justify wasting even a drop of here in the desert. When we first bought this place there were weeks we lost a full inch (or more) from our pool. By installing a simple solar cover (trimmed to fit our uniquely shaped pool) we are able to save from massive evaporation in our dry climate and not only cut back on the water bill but also extend our swimming season on either end of the summer.

Run the ceiling fans, not the AC

Installing ceiling fans is another great way to keep cooling (and heating) costs down. We leave our fans circulating all the time as it keeps continuous airflow through the house even when the air conditioner is off.

Invest in natural fiber clothing

I’ve seen a whole bunch of adorable sun dresses and other summer clothing on display recently but I’ve walked away from purchasing because of one reason – man-made fibers. Polyester and nylon may feel like they’re lighter weight because they’re so light to the touch but it’s an illusion. Synthetic threads such as those don’t breathe the same way a natural fiber like cotton, bamboo, hemp, etc. breathe because they are tighter woven in order to maintain a specific shape. Wearing them close to your skin will actually keep you warmer because the body’s internal cooling system (sweat) gets trapped under their surface with no way to escape. A natural fiber will help to wick away perspiration from the body but also release it into the air more quickly meaning the sweat can help keep the body cool. Cotton, bamboo, hemp, linen, etc. are wonderful alternatives to synthetic fibers and your cool bod will thank you for making the investment!

With just a few simple steps those of us in warmer climates will enjoy their hot and steamy summer by staying cool as a cucumber in the crisper drawer!

Image courtesy Stuart Miles at Freedigitalphotos.net

Phoenix Edition of Natural Awakenings Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:19:00 +0000

As I was leaving my Chiropractor’s office a few weeks ago I noticed they had a stack of Natural Awakenings Magazine marked as Free on the top of the checkout counter. I grabbed one so I could check out the content inside. I was pleasantly surprised!

The magazine is 60 pages in full color and that includes the front and back covers. The photo on the front of a butterfly on a flower (above) was sweet and made me think of spring right away. In Phoenix that means I’ll be turning on the air conditioner full time pretty soon. I want to find other ways to cut back or conserve so I opened up the magazine in search of tips.

There were articles on Earth Day, cleaning without five harmful chemicals, women’s issues, and lots more. The pages are newsprint and as the publisher says in his letter:

We proudly use recycled newsprint in our publication because it’s the gentlest option for the environment. Glossy paper requires substantially more chemicals and manufacturing processes, and it’s harder to recycle.

I was impressed from the first page! As I read articles written by environmentally and health minded women and men I was reminded of many things I’d read before as well as had my eyes opened to quite a few new facts. For example, in the article “Hormones Have Strong Impact on Weight Gain” by Alan Christianson, NMD I read that the hormone cortisol elevates in stressful circumstances. I didn’t know about this particular hormone before so it was nice to learn while reading.

With a calendar of events and Community Resource Guide in the back and a plethora of advertisements for consumers to find natural/holistic/organic/inner peace related companies the magazine is a complete package for anyone whether new to the area or not.

I’m giving Natural Awakenings 4 and a half green leaves and going now to sign up for their eMag email delivery so I don’t miss any great ads or articles!

To check out the magazine online please visit them at Natural Awakenings – Phoenix Edition

Important Notice About the EPA and some Pesticides

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:59:00 +0000

A few days ago I was reading through my local paper and a story struck me as very huge. Unfortunately the article was just a small blurb on an inside page. I wished it had been bigger so it seemed right to share the story here on Green Leaf Reviewer.

I cut the piece out and inadvertantly forgot to note the date it ran in my paper so I apologize for not being able to provide that information. It first ran in USA Today on March 28, 2013. The story is quoted from USA Today but I originally clipped it out of the Arizona Republic.

Study: Two thirds of pesticides got flawed EPA approval

Many pesticides used in consumer products and agriculture received federal approval through a loophole that doesn't require thorough testing, according to a study released Wednesday by an environmental group.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency used a regulatory loophole to approve 65% of 16,000 pesticides that pose a potential threat to public health, according to the two-year investigation by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The authors say the EPA's database makes it unclear how many of those pesticides received adequate, if any, testing.

"People should be concerned, because we have examples of at least two pesticides on the market that shouldn't have been approved," says NRDC attorney Mae Wu, who co-authored the study with Jennifer Sass, a senior health scientist. Wu points to nanosilver, which was approved as an anti-microbial agent in clothing but may damage brain and liver cells, and clothianidin, which was designed to be absorbed into plant tissue but is passed on fatally to bees and other pollinators.

"EPA has not yet had a chance to carefully review the issue brief," the agency said in a statement. It cites its own internal review, posted on its website, that said subsequent pesticide information submitted to the EPA "confirms that products initially registered on a conditional basis are not posing unacceptable risks to human health or the environment."

In that review, however, the EPA said it had widely (98% of the time) misused its "conditional registration" of pesticides from 2004 to 2010...

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

What would you like to see done to clean up this issue?

First Annual Arizona Gives Day

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:04:00 +0000

The entire state of Arizona - lawmakers, grass-roots activists, businesses, non-profits, and the citizens - are all coming together on Wednesday March 20, 2013 to celebrate the new partnership appropriately dubbed Arizona Gives Day.

This initiative was born just under a year ago when it was brought to the table by Patrick McWhortor and Marissa Theisen of the groups Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and the Arizona Grantmakers Forum. They were looking for a day of giving in our state that would be a collaboration between every citizen who calls Arizona home.

There are over 800 non-profit organizations participating in the day of giving tomorrow. Donations can be made online and the website is very easy to navigate. Recipients are involved with every corner of life for Arizonans.

Categories include:

Animals
Arts & Culture
Children & Youth
Community & Society
Economic Development
Education
Environment
Health
Humanitarian Aid
International
Religion
Science & Technology

To find out more about a cause or organization you'd like to support on Arizona Gives Day, visit azgives.org then donate as much as you can to help our state aspire to even greater heights!

Not in Arizona? No problem! We'd be happy to accept doantions coming in from across the country or across the globe!

Together, we can make Arizona the most generous state in the nation for even one day!

AAA Magazine As A Green Resource

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Flynn-Shon) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:30:00 +0000

I've been a member of the AAA Organization for as long as I can remember driving a car. They provide a valuable service, many in fact, and I've made use of their emergency roadside assistance in multiple capacities over the years. Recently while reading my Highroads magazine I came across a small article regarding Green Shops.

A car can be a huge strain on the environment if not properly maintained. Emissions are forefront in many consumer's minds these days but there are other factors that car maintenance can impact which may not even make our radar as we get our cars serviced and cleaned.

Solvents, fluid disposal, spills and energy efficiency are commonly overlooked pieces of the car care puzzle.

I get my oil changed, clean the interior and exterior of my vehicle and make sure my tire pressure is optimal for better gas mileage but where we take our cars to have these services performed can be just as vital as making sure the tasks are completed. AAA has compiled a list of over thirty shops that are on their Green Shops list in and around Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.

Per the Highroads magazine:

Performing beyond the standard environmental regulations, these shops have adopted additional environmentally friendly practices including:

- Using low-hazard, low-pollution solvents or water-based cleaning
- Recycling and reusing fluids whenever possible
- Practicing spill prevention, sealing shop floors, and recycling oil
- Saving energy with efficient lighting, "green" office equipment, and energy-efficient air conditioning
- Properly maintaining plumbing, installing low-water use fixtures, and using desert landscaping and dry-floor clean-up procedures

If you're in the Phoenix or Tucson area you can learn more about the shops on their list by visiting the AAA Green Shops. To find the list of Green shops in your area contact your local AAA office for more information.

It's just one way we can all ensure we do our environmental part.

Let's Make Phoenix An Even Greener City With Some Blue Bins

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:08:00 +0000

Good morning Greenies! It sure has been a while since my last post and I truly apologize for that. Between going back to school, moving across the country, writing/editing two novels and watching my Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup life has been pretty much non-stop action and I just had to let a few things fall by the wayside.

Sadly Green Leaf Reviewer was one of those things.

But now we're moved to Phoenix, Arizona, hockey season is over and I haven't started my next class yet so it seems as good a time as any to toss out a mini update on all things Green in the Southwest!

When we arrived at our apartment complex I was a little sad to see that there weren't separate dumpsters in the complex for recycling. Because we have so much stuff from moving (newspaper being the real biggie -- the boxes will be stored and given to my sister when she buys her house to move yea!) i was hopeful we would be able to make use of the blue bin for a good chunk of it.

Back in Boston, on average, we had at least double the ammount in our recycle bin to the regular trash bin. Not having a recycle dumpster was going to present a new challenge for us. Sadly we had no choice but to hate the environment for a couple days because 1) We had no internet access to locate the closest transfer station and 2) The building management couldn't give us any info on where it was.

Really? In this day and age I would think that there would be bins everywhere and if not at least there would be information available. but sadly I was mistaken.

I got relly tired of hating the environment by throwing away all kinds of stuff that I don't even want to talk about tossing so I finally started researching where the closest transfer/recycling drop off location is to me. Want to know what I found? A whole lot of nothing unfortunately.

I ended up on the City of Phoenix website, I meandered my way over the the Environment and Sustainability page, and then I found the Recycling Information link was broken. Bummer. Instead I found my way to the Green Phoenix site where I learned all kinds of great information on how Phoenix is striving to be the single most sustainable city in America.

Woah, that's a tall order for sure but they have some amazing initiatives they'll be addressing in order to get there including retro fitting buildings with solar, installing more efficient city lighting and a restoration of a huge stretch of the Salt River (a popular vacation destination among other things).

Of course then it seems totally ironic to me that they're on such a Green kick and I can't even recycle my plastics in my own complex. Nor can I find a bit of information where I can even take my recyclables to be dropped off locally. I started on my mission to find out if I could find out more.

The first order of business was to read every link on the page. A huge resource of information but none pertaining to what I was currently looking for. Next I located a pdf of what was acceptable to recycle. At the bottom of that I found an email address which I submitted my question of where to find a transfer station.

And I figured while I was at it I might as well inquire about how to petition to get my community onto a regular recycling pick up rotation. I mean what's the harm in that right? An extra dumpster is no problem in a parking lot this size!

I came across the un-broken link of the Pollution Prevention and Recycling page and there is a terrific summary of information on what/why/how Phoenix recycles...just no where!

Hopefully I'll hear back from someone very soon because for as many phenomenal programs that the city is/has spent money initiating of late one of the most basic is lacking in information. I'll keep the progress up to date and who knows, maybe I'll end up becoming a community activist after all!

Boston Bruins to Receive Merit Award from EPA

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 May 2011 11:45:00 +0000

Direct from the Boston Bruins website, yesterday's honor of merit from the EPA as a team committed to bettering the environment truly is a wonderful achievement for the team. There are few events that I go to where I see, what appears to be, so much waste and to know that the Bruins are taking steps to help local people in need makes me so overjoyed to be a fan!

Here is the full text from the article (to read online please follow the link above):

BOSTON, MA – On Wednesday, May 11 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will award the Boston Bruins with the Environmental Merit Award during a special ceremony in Boston’s Faneuil Hall beginning at 1:00 p.m. The Environmental Merit Award honors individuals and groups who have shown particular ingenuity and commitment in their efforts to preserve the region's environment. Boston Bruins Foundation Director of Development Bob Sweeney will be accepting the award on behalf of the Bruins organization.

At the start of the 2010 -11 season, the Bruins joined the NHL’s green initiative and partnered with Rock and Wrap It Up! to help fight hunger throughout the United States and Canada. The Boston Bruins committed to work with Rock and Wrap it Up! to pack up all prepared but unsold concession food and give it to local shelters and places in need citywide. To date, the Bruins have donated 4,950 meals and 6,950 pounds of food to the Boston Rescue Mission. Including TD Garden’s contributions, a cumulative total of 15.5 tons of food has been donated to the Boston Rescue Mission.

The Rock and Wrap it Up! project was founded by Syd Mandelbaum, a forensic scientist who in 1991 combined his love of music with a passion for wiping out hunger by redistributing leftover food from rock concerts. The program now works with more than 150 bands, 200 schools and universities and 50 sports franchises. It has collected more than 100 million pounds of food to feed more than 200 million people.

19 environmental awards will be given to Massachusetts environmental groups, individuals, businesses, non-profit and government agencies in Boston’s Faneuil Hall as the EPA presents its annual Environmental Merit Awards for 2011.

The Merit Awards recognize valuable contributions to environmental awareness and problem solving and are a unique way that EPA can recognize individuals and groups that are making significant impacts on environmental quality in distinct ways.

For more informaton on any of the groups mentioned please visit their websites:

EPA
Boston Bruins
NHL
Rock and Wrap It Up!

The Grownup Noise - This Time With Feeling

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:33:00 +0000

It’s no secret to readers of this here blog that The Grownup Noise is quickly moving up the ranks to one of my very favorite local bands. So when I got the 411 that they were releasing a new disc, it’s safe to say the anticipation for it was palpable. I was happy to tear off the shrink wrap and pop that baby right into my player the very day it arrived.

As expected, I was not let down.

This Time With Feeling was, as the title suggests, full of, well, feeling! Not to mention the band’s distinctive, signature sound. Lead singer and guitarist Paul Hansen put his pen to paper this time around and conjured up twelve songs with lyrics that provoke emotion from the listener, and that ethereal quality of musical reflection these hard working guys and gals have come to be known for.

Paul, along with cellist Katie Franich, bassist Adam Sankowski and drummer Aine Fujioka, (as well as Kyle Crane on drum and Todd Marston on accordian) spin their delicate, yet powerful, beats and strings into a blend of music that defies any labeling into one specific genre; their music truly has something for everybody to enjoy.

This album seriously crosses gender/genre/age/taste lines so smoothly I could play it for anyone and I guarantee they would find at least one track they love. But it isn't all over the place either. Like a runway show at fashion week, the songs stand alone yet still represent a cohesive collection.

When I loaded the disc into my iTunes it classifies as Alternative but there is an influence of jazz, urban/indie pop, folk and smooth summertime groove on every track of this album. Each member of the band (plus a host of featured guests) mixes it up among multiple instruments and vocal backing to bring the fullness of the entire band’s talent front and center; no matter what you call it, the thing is just plain great.

Right off the bat I recognized a couple songs as they were featured on their 2010 EP Shall We? including the lead off song “Strawmen” which was more than a pleasant way to ease right into this disc as if it was my favorite recliner chair. As I continued to listen my ears perked at three more songs from the EP -- “The Artist Type”, “Six Foot Solemn Oath” and “So It Goes”. It was fun to hear some grooves that I was already familiar with blend seamlessly into the additional eight tracks on the disc.

Then I got to track 9, “Just So You Know”. Within twenty seconds the words “this is a radio single” tumbled out of my mouth. And I mean it. I could picture hearing this song on just about any contemporary radio station and bopping along as I roll the windows down in the warm winds of spring. It’s a perfect song to drive to, to cook to, to dance to and to sing along with.

The lyrics are catchy, there’s that thing, that hook, that any radio song really needs, but it isn’t overtly in your face like some pop songs. They hug you with it and it washes over you like it’s your best friend and closest confidant. By the time I got to the end of the song it was like I’d already known it forever.

The last three tracks didn’t disappoint either and the final track, “Somehow We Escaped” is stripped down, ballad-esque and whimsical as Paul and a baritone guitar sweetly, and honestly, put you at ease with his utterly unique voice. You know, despite the fact that the lyrics are about anything but whimsical subjects.

And when it ends all you’ll want to do is start it over again from the beginning. Which I did. Immediately, and with a smile.

Where It All Began

My self proclaimed groupieness with this band started years ago, before I’d even heard a single note from even one of their instruments, when I found out they had converted a 30 some odd year old van to run on veggie oil and they were planning to use it to tour that very summer. The van, dubbed with the moniker Lorian (as taken directly from the side of the van), made two back to back summer tours and was put to rest before last year’s summer tour.

After speaking with Adam about why Lorian had to be put out to pasture I learned that, although veggie conversions are a great idea for bands, they’re still in the earliest stages of testing and, basically, the kinks were kind of outweighing the benefits.

That’s not to say the band is all about stomping on the planet now, quite the opposite! They’re still uber conscious, recycling on the road and keeping an eye on their fuel consumption by limiting the zig-zag of a typical tour. And that makes them even cooler in my book.

Where You Can See them Live

A kick off show for the release of This Time With Feeling is happening this Friday night at the Middle East Downstairs, right in Central Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Tickets are insanely cheap, $12, and are likely to sell out quick because these folks have a pretty healthy local following.

(Hint, hint -- go buy your ticket now!)

But if you can’t make it to that show fear not! The band is on every social media network known to man -- Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and you can listen to their live music on YouTube, just search The Grownup Noise. Not to mention a schedule of appearances is updated regularly on their official website.

Trust me, buy this new disc, you will not be disappointed.

Mixed Feelings on Swap.com

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:38:00 +0000

Good morning everyone, it sure has been a while since we’ve connected over here I know. I keep saying that too but luckily I know myself well enough to not promise that it will get better because who knows where the wind will blow me next. I just hope that the proverbial wind has a turbine to store its power because I feel like I’ve been around the world and back and that would be some useful energy reserves for sure!

I come to you today with a follow up of a company and concept that I talked about back on June 13, 2010, Swap.com. At the time they were named Swaptree.com and a bloggy buddy of mine turned me on to the concept as it was a one stop shop to trade books, movies, CD’s and video games. For just the cost to ship the item back and forth you could have a whole new library of media at your fingertips.

Eager to get started, I signed up right away. There were issues with setting up my account and my gut reaction was to give a Two and a Half Leaf Rating. After things were fixed I changed it to a Four Leaf Rating but I think I should have gotten a little further in the pool before throwing leaves around like that.

I listed a book that I had already read that was sitting on my shelf gathering dust. I created a wish list of books that I was interested in receiving. Then I waited. But not for long! By the end of July I had a trade partner who indicated they had the book I wanted and that they wanted the book I had. Sold!

Within a day or two I purchased a bubble mailer (couldn’t believe I was out of them in my stash!) and hit the post office to ship the book. All totaled I spent about $6.00 to get this book out. The book I traded for was one that our Book Club was going to be reading in the coming months so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.

Then I waited. And waited. And waited…

In the later part of August I initiated an issue with the trade on the Swap.com website. It was somewhat easy to navigate as there were links to click that said I hadn’t received my trade. We went back and forth through the end of August and into mid September before the trade partner (who had long ago given me a fantastic rating mind you) got in touch to let me know the book had shipped at the end of July.

That was it. No sorry you didn’t receive it, gee it must have gotten lost in the mail, nothing. I understand that things happen but with only one trade under their belt so far and such a lag in communication I was starting to smell the signs of something fishy.

With no additional recourse I had no choice but to just basically deal with it. I had spent money to get the book out to them but I chalked it up to my karma bank and went on with my life. Right after I cancelled my account with the site.

Then, early last week, a package arrived from Amazon and inside it was the book I had traded for. Mind you, I had already gone out to my local used book reseller in September when the trade died and purchased this book, so clearly I didn’t need a second copy.

I started to worry myself that I had somehow ordered it online without remembering and I checked all my accounts but there was nothing to indicate I had spent any money on this item. And with the return address being listed as my own, I was mystified.

Then this morning (November 3, 2010) I received this in email from Swap.com:

“Your trade partner provided the following additional information: The replacement has been purchased and sent through Amazon and the order info is: xxx-xxxxxxx-xxxxxxx The order will be received by the recipient on October 22, 2010 and tracking is available.”

October 22 was two weeks ago, pretty close to when the item was received. Way to be on the ball there guys!

I do not regret my decision to cancel my account as I feel that this is clearly the wrong outlet for me. I know that some of you have had great experiences with them and I hope you continue to have those great experiences because that is what makes the internet amazing, the ability to seek out and find what works and what doesn’t for each individual. For me…well, I’ll stick with Half.com when I’m ready to get rid of media from now on.

How to Seal a Bag and Make It Air Tight

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:26:00 +0000

Our great friend Trayce sent this terrific tip over and I was blown away! Not only does this help to seal the bag but the most thrown away portion of a plastic water bottle, the cap, is functionally utilized by extending its lifecycle. If we all learned to think creatively like this we could save countless pounds of non-biodegradable waste from landfills.

Air Tight Steps

Cut up a disposable water bottle and keep the neck and top.

Insert the plastic bag through the neck and screw the top – to seal.

The bottle is made to be air-tight, such that water will not leak, the secret lies with the top and screw! This is a great idea to share, feel free to pass on the link and let everyone see how easy it can be to save plastic waste and save the items inside the bag for even longer! Thanks for forwarding on the great idea Trayce ♥love♥

What Started Out As Newspaper…

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:57:00 +0000

The cleaning up and cleaning out of my grandparent’s old home continues so when Matt and I stopped by the other day to help my aunt get a chair out to the curb I wasn’t at all surprised to find this tacked up on the back of the door to the kitchen:

My old hometown is coming up on its 21st anniversary of recycling. Hooray!

The rest of that side of the page consists of the calendar of pick up dates and a cute little cartoon with a very enthusiastic stick figure announcing that they recycle, proudly! When I flipped the page over I discovered that in addition to newspaper, they were also collecting dropped off (and clean) glass items once a month. Oh, and the newsletter was printed on already recycled paper. Nice!

Rain or shine, in a paper bag or a bin, everyone’s newspapers became the catalyst toward a fantastic eco movement in Arlington!

According to the Recycling section of the Department of Public Works website, Arlington now recycles “yard waste, trash collection, white goods, household hazardous waste, CRT/TV collection and more.”, quite an achievement for a mid-sized town in only 20 years!

Good for you for thinking so progressively back then Arlington, thanks for thinking environmentally in the midst of the consumption age. You are the example of how to start small and build a program from one tiny shift in thinking. ♥love♥

Interested in your own town or city’s recycling history? Why not give your Public Works Department a call. Or better yet, stop by for a visit and chat with the employees. If your town has had a recycling program in place for even one day they are making a difference. Tell them thanks and shake their hand!

Happy recycling!

Burt’s Bees Is A Zero Waste Company

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:25:00 +0000

This past summer the super cool company Burt’s Bees announced it was going zero waste. They were always a company who cared about the planet (as evidenced by their commitment to natural based products) and recycled the basics -- paper, plastic, metal, glass -- but within just three short years their special task force of ECOBEES rendered their dumpsters useless.

So how on Earth did they do it?

Well it started out with six-bin waste-sorting stations being sprinkled all over their offices. Employees were encouraged to sort it out and harness the responsibility of, well, being responsible! In particular the company is most proud of the compost station as it has managed to keep 300 tons of material out of landfills over the past 31 months, since March 2008.

Not only have they managed to recycle or reuse the top four ‘basics’ items above, but they went that step further and now recycle every bit of their corrugated cardboard, chipboard, wood, shrink wrap and fiberboard too.

They created a way to give back to the Earth with the compost station. In the break room employees are encouraged to grab a one time type use utensil -- they are 100% compostable and made from potatos (reusable too)! They also found a way to extend the lifecycle of recycled waste other than as fertilizer or simply being melted down to create more of the same.

At special waste-to-energy facilities, the items that can’t be utilized for other sources (ie. compost into soil) are used as fuel to power cement kilns. Even after the items in question have been burned, the leftover ash is mixed in to make cinder blocks.

And oh yeah, they are also composting the waste residue left over at their water treatment facility.

The ECOBEES staged all manner of dumpster diving and bee-cycle swaps (Get it? Bee-cycle instead of Freecycle? Those Bees sure are a clever bunch!), and with their continued efforts who knows how far Burt’s Bees will be able to take their environmental awareness.

Thanks Burt’s Bees, it’s companies like yours that teach the rest of us that eco-responsibility can happen at work no matter how big or how small the staff or organization! ♥love♥

Thanks to GLR friend Julie for sending over this story idea!

Life Is Good!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:41:00 +0000

This past weekend here in Canton, Massachusetts the well known lover of all dogs, Life Is Good, held their rockin’ good time festival and Matt and I were lucky enough to attend on Sunday.

The festival, held on the grounds of Prowse Farm, featured so much it would be almost impossible to list it all here but I’ll highlight the stuff we took part in and saw.

We started the day with the best part of all -- free parking! Parking was graciously donated by Reebok as their building was about a ten minute walk from the field and they had a parking garage which housed a healthy number of cars. Instead of waiting for a shuttle bus, Matt and I walked the distance to the field with our beach chairs, backpack (filled with towels, a roll of toilet paper, our Nalgene bottles and travel sized Scrabble) and a smile.

We arrived right on time to get set up to see Emily Elbert. Originally from Texas, Emily went to school right here in Boston at Berkley. We’ve seen her live before and couldn’t wait to catch her act on a much larger stage. The music she does is a nice mix of bluesy, jazzy, poppy, rock and her voice holds so much soul you’d never think it was coming from such a teeny girl. She rocked and even had an interpreter signing for the crowd!

From there we made our way to get some food from the local vendors and the prices were really reasonable which was a welcomed change from most festivals I’ve attended. We passed the Life Is Good merchandise tent on the way. Oh yeah, did I happen to mention that 100% of the proceeds from this event of LiG merch are being donated to the Life is Good Kids Foundation?

Cool!

Next up for us was They Might Be Giants, one of Matt’s all time favorite acts. They have taken to doing lots of kids music in recent years but we’ve discovered that the jokes and chatting the guys do on stage in between the tunes is all for the grown ups. So, sans kids of our own, we hung out on the periphery and enjoyed the fun! They made a funny reference to Woodstock when one of the John's came up to make an announcement and I even recognized a few tunes (Alphabet of Nations I think is one of them) from having taken our nephews to their show a few months back.

We had a bunch of idle time until the next act we were interested in seeing so it was time to mingle -- festival style!

We passed on taking part in the sporting events because we just like to walk around (and also because we both had a drink so safety first!). There was a rock climbing wall, Frisbee toss, bocce, tug-o-war and a whole slew of other fun stuff for all ages to take part in! On the way around we passed the Art for All Mural (pictured at the top of the post) and I was in love!

It consists of 1500 tiles that are hand painted in pre-determined colors/palates by selected volunteers and when it is all put together this 25’ high by 31’ wide canvas is a most impressive piece.

We made our way around to catch a little bit of Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars on the main stage (who were quite grooving, I danced my way across the field!) and then headed back to the smaller stage to watch OK Go and Brett Dennen.

We played a little Scrabble (I won which is pretty normal around here, I come from a long lineage of fierce Scrabble competitors!)

Took a few photos.

And then, I had a Say Anything moment with my favorite eco-conscious musician, the headliner that night, Jason Mraz. Just like Lloyd Dobler and Diane Court “shared a moment” in a mall food court in that movie, my moment with Jason was quite the exciting sighting for me. He passed by about ten feet away with, I think, his Joyologist Tricia but I wouldn’t swear to it. They were walking with a purpose and headed toward the main stage.

I nudged Matt and pointed Jason out but he didn’t catch on until the man himself had already passed by. Oh well, maybe one of these days I won’t be so shy and just approach the guy. I mean really, we have the planet in common at least even if nothing else right?

After Brett was wrapped up we had a lot of time before the next act we wanted to see, Jason, so we kind of milled about the place. We caught a slight snippet of Guster (good!) and Corinne Bailey Rae (very mellow) but when we got to the kid’s tent I was really happy we walked all the way down there.

We were lucky enough to see most of Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and they were amazing! The name says it all, with Cajun, jazz and big band swing influence this act even got Matt dancing (a treasured moment to be sure!). These guys were supposed to open the main stage but had travel problems and couldn’t make it in for the 12:30 start. We were both really glad to have caught the act.

A little more wandering, people watching, throwing trash into the designated receptacles for compost, recycling and trash itself and claiming our spot to see the main stage from a vantage point a healthy distance away and we were ready for the main act.

Jason took the stage right on time and it was such a great performance we ended up heading closer toward the crowd so I could concert call a few friends, also fans of his.

Matt and I danced the entire set and it was a super fun show. Jason was opening his tour this month and I don’t know for sure but I think this was the first stop. He was full of energy and so was the huge crowd even when he performed a whole bunch of new music. At one point he tossed a piece of his cantaloupe into a guy’s mouth in the crowd then later invited the same guy (Joe) and another gal (Katie) up on stage to dance. Good times.

After the satisfying end to a day full of love, fun and music we walked back to the car, tired but happy to have had the experience and lucky enough to sit in zero traffic when leaving.

Thanks for such a great event Life is Good, the day was phenomenal and I can’t wait to hear how much you raised to support the Kids Foundation! ♥love♥

Green Streets Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 10:00:00 +0000

On the last Friday of every month Portland, Maine rolls out the eco carpet to host Green Streets Day. ‘What is that?’ you may be asking. Well it is a locally launched movement staged by the town’s residents to think planet.

I love to hear when stuff like this is taking place in my own region of the country, way to go Portland!

Residents and tourists alike are asked to wear something green while they think up Greener ways to live their lives. Local businesses who support and commit to a more eco-conscious way of doing things are staffed and ready to answer all manner of questions.

Whether it is the one day a month you take public transportation or the 365th in a row you placed scraps into your back yard composter, there is something about an entire community coming together for one likeminded purpose that makes me smile.

Upcoming dates include:
September 24, 2010
October 29, 2010
November 26, 2010
December 31, 2010

If you’re in the Portland, Maine area I highly encourage you to check it out!

Thanks goes out to my Aunt for forwarding on this story!