eco hits: sasha's picks

In honor of earth day I wanted to share reviews of my own earth-friendly products that I’ve acquired during the past couple of months.  I have been making an honest effort to green my every day life by buying eco-friendly products and being as environmentally conscious as possible without driving myself totally bonkers.  This endeavor has led me to some pretty awesome things, which I feel inclined to share with all of you!

makeup: Korres

The tinted moisturizer smells like watermelon and I’ve never gotten more compliments on my skin (shh, don’t tell them I’m wearing it).  The face powder isn’t heavy or greasy, and their lip gloss tastes like candy and looks delicious.  They use sustainable farming practices, natural ingredients, and recycled packaging, hooray!

http://www.korresusa.com/

mascara: Buxom - Bare Escentuals

Hands down the best mascara ever.  I’m not kidding.  Ask Kelley and Steph.  Made without all of the nasty scary ingredients that shouldn’t ever be put in makeup.

www.sephora.com

chapstick: Burt’s Bees

100% natural and feels glorious.

www.burtsbees.com

face lotion: Korres yogurt cream

Feels like creamy silk on your face. 

http://www.korresusa.com/

face wash: Pangea Organics – Egyptian Calendula & Blood Orange Facial Cleanser

Made with organic and fair trade ingredients, they use sustainable agriculture, recycled packaging, and it makes your face smell like citrusy goodness.  Plus it actually works.

http://www.pangeaorganics.com/

shampoo/conditioner: Burt's Bees - Pomegranate

Makes my hair smell like fruit all the time.

www.burtsbees.com

curl cream: Aveda - Be Curly

Doesn’t make your hair all crunchy and gross, plus it smells good (clearly I’m a sucker for anything that smells delicious).

www.aveda.com

toothpaste and floss: Tom’s of Maine

I love all of the minty ones.

www.tomsofmaine.com

chips: Food Should Taste This Good

OBSESSED.  Organic ingredients and lots of fiber.  All things amazing.  My faves right now are the Multigrain and Blue Corn, and whoa I just noticed they have CHOCOLATE.

http://www.foodshouldtastegood.com/#/home/

hummus: Trader Joe’s organic hummus

Because no day is complete without hummus. After trying several different organic hummus brands, this one remains my personal fave.

veggie burgers: Dr. Praeger's - Tex Mex

Yes, this is one of the most awkward names to pronounce, but these burgers are SO good and made with real ingredients - no preservatives.  Also, for anyone who cares, they're gluten free.

www.drpraegers.com

 

ice cream: Laloo’s Goat Milk Ice Cream

This is out of control delicious and worth every penny.  Plus it’s lower in fat and doesn’t have most of the negative qualities of cow’s milk.  And it has probiotics.  And they have crazy yummy flavors.  Please tell me how this could get any better, I bet you can’t.

http://www.laloos.com/

local ice cream: Bi-Rite

Bi-Rite is based out of SF and is God’s gift to ice cream.  They use local and organic ingredients, so go there now if you know what’s good for you.  If you don't live here, sucks for you.

http://biritecreamery.com/

toothbrush/razor: Preserve

Made out of recycled yogurt cups!  Just as good as the expensive toothbrushes and razors at the drug store.  Plus when you’re done with them, you can send them back to be recycled!

http://www.preserveproducts.com/

reusable water bottle: Gaiam and Earthlust

Aluminum water bottles are recyclable, and these have pretty designs. 

www.gaiam.com

http://www.earthlust.com/

yoga mat: Gaiam

Yes, it’s true, they have eco-friendly yoga mats. 

www.gaiam.com

organic drink: Synergy Kombucha

SO many health benefits: “Its adaptogen effect is seen mostly through its influence on the liver, the blood and the digestive system, where it normalizes the acidity or pH. Metabolic balancing and detoxification is perhaps the most important function of Kombucha.”  My fave flavors are Guava, Cranberry, and Raspberry.

http://www.synergydrinks.com/

sneakers: New Balance 070

They’re super comfortable, cute, and eco-friendly.  Best combo ever.

http://www.nbwebexpress.com/newbalanceWE070GN.htm

shoes: Olsen Haus and Terra Plana

I do not own these, but I really want to.  Both brands are vegan, support important social causes, and their shoes are adorable. 

http://www.olsenhaus.com/

http://www.terraplana.com/

apparel: Stewart + Brown

My fave dress (which I now own – thanks mom!!) by Stewart + Brown is the Varley Pleat dress made from organic hemp, which basically feels like heaven.  And the fit is amazing.  They are insanely ethical and innovative in every aspect of their business, read more about it and check out their collection on their website

www.stewartbrown.com

boutique: Eco Citizen

Located all too conveniently down the street from me, Eco Citizen carries only eco-friendly, fair trade apparel and accessories, many of which are local, some of which are one of a kind and really special.  Joslin, the owner, is super knowledgeable about the sustainable industry and is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met.  I love everything in this store.  You can also buy stuff online, so you don’t have to live in SF to shop there.  My fave things right now, which are also on the website, are the Josh Podoll Ikat Wings dress and shirt.

http://www.ecocitizenonline.com/

underwear: PACT

Made from organic cotton, eco-friendly dyes (I love their unique designs), packed in its own reusable fabric bag and shipped in 100% compostable packaging.  Each pair of underwear is designed for and donates 10% of their sales to specific causes.  There are so many wonderful things to say about this brand, you should probably read about it immediately.

www.wearpact.com

eco websites: ecofabulous, Gorgeously Green, treehugger

All are enlightening, fun, and filled with eco ideas.

www.ecofabulous.com

www.gorgeouslygreen.com

www.treehugger.com

green book: Gorgeously Green

Sorry dudes, find your own green book, this one is mostly geared toward the ladies.  Stuffed with important information and nifty ideas.  Definitely inspired me to make changes in my own life.  Check out their website (see above).

stationery: Hard Cards

Made with 100% post-consumer recycled paper and soy ink.  Perfect for sarcastic people such as myself.

www.hardcardsrule.com

e-cards (because e-cards save paper, duh): some e-cards

Totally inappropriate and hilarious with an overwhelming amount of options.

http://www.someecards.com/

a food revolution is the best kind of revolution

I

I can't even begin to explain how excited I am for this show, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.  I stumbled upon the first episode the other day on hulu.com and thought I'd watch just a few minutes.  Over half an hour later I was moved to tears (what can I say, food and passionate people make me emotional) and found myself motivated to make similar positive changes within my own life, like Jamie so eloquently does in Food Revolution.


The concept of Jamie's show is to make changes in America's bogus school meal systems.  He pays a visit to the most obese city in America to literally get to the heart of the problem.  What he found was disgustingly alarming: kids were eating pizza for breakfast, processed nuggets for lunch, and were mindlessly throwing away all things nourishing.  His mission is basically to educate people about food, especially our future generations, and explain why nutrition is so very important.  Jamie wants to reevaluate the school meal systems in a way that will incorporate fresh ingredients and eliminate the fatty, preservative-infused foods that these children have become so (sadly) accustomed to. 


Not only is the show moving, it is smart, funny (how can you not love British humor?), and educational.  It will teach you about nutrition and maybe even give you some cooking ideas of your own (he is a chef, after all).  Watch the show, and pay attention. 


Read more about Jamie, the show, his multiple missions (such a do-gooder), and more!


http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution

Seattle: local pride, eco (and volcanic) hot spot

I have a mouthful of wonderful things to say about Seattle, one of them being that it is home to two exceptional people, Lizzy and Dave.  During the 4 days I spent exploring the city, my top-notch tour guides took my friends Sarah, Jane, and I to some excellent spots.  As a self-proclaimed wannabe foodie, I took the most pleasure in discovering some of the city’s delicious little restaurants, many of which were organic, sustainable, and/or local.  I could tell just by looking around Freemont, Wallingford, Queen Anne, and even downtown that Seattle takes some serious pride in their local and organic industries.  There were farmers markets, eco-chic boutiques, art galleries, the most delicious coffee I’ve ever had (not surprising), and many a local brewery or winery.  Not to mention it was surrounded by glorious mountains, more bodies of water than I could keep track of, and a ginormous man-eating volcano.  Here are just a few of my favorite Seattle findings (most of which involve food… do I have a problem?):

Molly Moon Ice Cream – local ingredients (some organic; hormone free dairy), vegan choices, fantabulous flavors, compostable utensils, stores built from reclaimed wood and sustainable materials.  Stomach ache was definitely worth the 2 heaping scoops – 1 salted caramel and 1 chocolate.  All around uh-mazing.

http://www.mollymoonicecream.com/

Homegrown – sustainable sandwich shop, compostable utensils, recycled paper menus, fresh ingredients (many of which are organic and/or local), unique menu items, totally delicious.

http://www.eathomegrown.com/

Pike Place Market – local fruits, veggies, treats, knick-knacks, art, more honey and fish in one concentrated area than I’ve ever seen in my life.

www.pikeplacemarket.org

Snoqualmie Falls – get in touch with nature and visit this visual natural masterpiece (taller than Niagra Falls).  Then go get a cup or two of coffee in the lodge’s lounge upstairs and stare at the falls from a warmer, drier lookout point (home of Lizzy and Dave’s new favorite mochas!).

http://www.snoqualmiefalls.com/

PCC Market – my new grocery mecca, like Whole Foods gone somewhat local.

http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/

Freemont Farmers Market – almost anything you could imagine: local everything, fun people, delicious smelling food, candles, and teas.

http://www.fremontmarket.com/

Islandwood on Bainbridge Island – something I have yet to do, however it sounds like eco-heaven.  Teaching environmental awareness, working with the community, all about sustainable living.  My kind of place.

http://islandwood.org/

It is definitely worth taking a short trip up north to check out this lovely little city.  If you want to blend in with the other Seattleites, don’t use an umbrella, drink a ton of coffee that is NOT Starbucks or Peet’s, buy some local beers or wines, and support the local shops/restaurants/farmer’s markets.  And of course go say what’s up to Lizzy and Dave, they’re the best.

delicious urthy food

This past summer, I visited Urth Caffe in West Hollywood, and I am now officially addicted.  The menu is vast, delicious, and obviously organic.  Many of the items are vegan but don’t sacrifice the appeal of a seriously awesome meal, snack, or beverage.  All of their cups and utensils are biodegradable, and they work directly with sustainable coffee growers that are Fair Trade.  My personal faves out of the few times I’ve been there are the Arnold Palmers, Tuna Sandwich, smoothies, and pumpkin cheesecake (thank you, Kelley, for letting me mooch off of your sweet-tooth cravings).  

 

It is so important to support places like these, because if one place uses biodegradable utensils and cooks with organic produce, there is no excuse for others not to.  Spread the eco-friendly love!

http://www.urthcaffe.com/

deck the halls with eco-friendly, falalalala lalalala

I l o v e the holiday season.  Despite the insanity of it all (psycho shoppers, freezing cold, dark at 5 PM, etc), there is so much to look forward to: family, friends, gift-giving, decorations, and FOOD.  

This holiday season, try substituting some of your regular decorations, cooking, wrapping, and cleaning products with eco-friendly ones.  For example, if you MUST buy new Christmas lights, at least make sure they’re LED, like these ones I found on ecofabulous.com: http://www.holidayleds.com/ .  Here are some other nifty ideas to help eliminate the insane amounts of food and product waste:

-use recycled foil (found at Whole Foods or other specialty markets), and try rinsing it out after using it (if it’s not disgusting) to recycle it again.

-make good use of your leftovers (in other words, eat ALL of them).  There are some awesome recipes for leftovers on the Food Network and Cooking Light website.  Wow I’m a nerd.

-store leftovers in your tupperware instead of plastic bags or foil, they’ll stay fresher and will save a ton of unnecessary waste.

-clean up the catastrophe that is your kitchen with products like Method or the magnificent-smelling Mrs. Meyers (my personal fave is the gardenia scent).  This will help keep gnarly chemicals from seeping into our sewers and brains.  Method even has holiday scented cleaners.  Mmm. www.methodhome.com

-please tell me you only run the dishwasher when it is TOTALLY FULL, otherwise I will have to hunt you down.

-as far as wrapping goes, the least you can do is buy recycled paper such as Greenfield Paper products, which have fun holiday designs: www.greenfieldpaper.com (found on GorgeouslyGreen.com).  OR, you can save money AND paper by re-using all the crap you didn’t use last year.  Take all of those annoying scraps that didn’t make the cut in ’08 (anyone get the pun?!) and make your own personal, unique, magical wrapping creation.  Or go to town with your newspapers, magazines, etc.  Maybe even grab a sharpie and test your drawing skills to make your wrapping even more unique.  Go crazy and use a gift as the wrapping, such as a reusable canvas bag or an old tin box.  Be eco-conscious and reuse all your boxes from last year that are shoved somewhere in your laundry room.  The possibilities are endless!

-same goes for decorations – REUSE is your new favorite word.  It is pointless to spend money on new ones when I guarantee you already have some lodged in your attic/basement/storage closet etc.  Especially all those weird objects you made your parents or friends during elementary school.  Like I said, get creative. 

-if you are throwing a party, avoid paper plates and paper napkins.  They are the epitome of wasteful, and wasteful is the epitome of evil.  It will once again help you save your money and your morals.  If you MUST get disposable dinner wear, at least buy biodegradable or recycled ones.  Yes, they are slightly more expensive than the regular stuff, but throw Mother Earth a bone and deal with it.  You can probably find it at your local supermarket, but if not here’s a great website for biodegradables and other fantabulous eco products (maybe even some gifts..?):

www.branchhome.com

-keep tuning into your inner artist and try making your cards instead of buying cheesy ones at Walgreens.  It will be fun and meaningful.  If you do buy cards, make sure they’re recycled.  Check out the plethora of options on greenpromise.com. http://www.greenpromise.com/resources/environmentally-friendly-christmas-cards.php

Also browse through the wide selection of stationary and holiday cards on www.greenfieldpaper.com

-make your traditional meals even more delicious by using organic ingredients.  Humor your market’s produce dude by asking him what’s in season – you know they could use some company, they always look bored.  Try baking some tasty treats with seasonal fruits or making some side dishes with seasonal veggies.  Test your cooking abilities and try making stuff from scratch!  Pair that with organic wine and friends or family and you’ve got yourself a party.

Here’s a link to 5 healthy holiday foods (may help prevent one from chunking up on sugar cookies):

http://www.cookinglight.com/eating-smart/smart-choices/5-healthful-holiday-foods-00400000001519/

-R E C Y C L E - E V E R Y T H I N G you possibly can.  Buy every recycled product you possibly can.  Reuse everything you can.  You know you want to.

-about 8 months ago I decided to stop eating meat, so my mom is a little confused about the whole Christmas dinner situation.  People don’t realize that it’s easy and just as delicious (plus now I just get to pile on all the scrumptious side dishes, which I am more than OK with).  Check out some mouth-watering recipes for vegetarian holiday dinners on the Food Network website: www.foodnetwork.com.  Cooking Light is also one of my favorite foodie sites and magazines: www.cookinglight.com.  Save a turkey, pig, duck, chicken, or cow, and have a very happy, very green holiday.

IndoSole - the earth's new fave sandals.

The masterminds behind IndoSole are taking eco-friendly shoes to a whole new level.  Their sandals, manufactured in Bali, are made out of tires from Indonesian landfills and other natural materials like banana leaf, burlap, vegan leather, and Indonesian grass.  As it states on their website, 2 pair of IndoSole sandals can be created from 1 landfill-polluting tire.  Even the packaging is sustainable – the shoes come in reusable shopping bags made from rice sacks, and the boxes are made from 100% recycled cardboard.  Indos are handmade –which means zero pollution- by happy, fairly paid Balinese workers in clean factories.  I know what you’re thinking – it is possible that these sandals could get any cooler?!  ‘Tis. 

Not only are the sandals eco-friendly, they actually look and feel awesome.  I would know, since I had the opportunity to meet with the founders of IndoSole a few weeks ago.  Faye and Kyle are the definition of down to earth; they are friendly, interesting, have meaningful values, and created a unique, quality product.  The sandals are super sturdy, so you know they’ll really last.  The various braided or woven upper soles are surprisingly soft, especially with the foam inserts underneath.

             

IndoSoles will be sold in stores by Spring 2010, but if you can’t wait till then, men's sandals are currently available online (awesome holiday gift idea!).  Check out their website for more information on these spectacular sandals.  I will definitely be getting a pair for myself, and for my brothers (if they play their cards right).  You should probably do the same.  Also friend them on Facebook!

            

In the meantime, here’s some IndoSole fun facts:
Number of Tires saved To Date: 253 (First ever production order of 506 pair) - 2 pair of Indo Sandals saves 1 tire from the landfill
Number of Rice Sacks Saved To Date:  253 (First ever production order for packaging) - 2 shopping bags with handles are made from 1 large rice sack
Number of people employed in the workshop: 20

www.indosole.com

Green Friday

‘Tis the Season to Go Green.  I unofficially changed Black Friday to Green Friday, and I unofficially changed the date from the day after Thanksgiving to today, the first Friday in December (when the holiday season drops like a ton of bricks).  Since this is the season of giving (among other things, i.e. eating our faces off), I’d like to share some environmentally friendly gift ideas.  Tip: try bulk shopping online to avoid polluting the air by driving all over town, this will also help save your gas tank AND your sanity.  

west(eco)ast Holiday Gift Guide*  

-I know my family sends out at least 100 Christmas cards every year.  Let’s all save some trees by buying cards made from recycled paper, there are PLENTY o’ eco-friendly ones.  Also remember to recycle the mass amounts of cards you receive.  Explore your options on greenpromise.com.

http://www.greenpromise.com/resources/environmentally-friendly-christmas-cards.php

-Gaiam has so many products I don’t even know where to start.  Everything from aluminum water bottles to yoga mats to bath towels, it is a one-stop-shop for gifts.  Plus they offer FREE shipping till December 8^th! 

www.gaiam.com

-Sephora now has an entire section on its website (and in stores) dedicated to natural & organic products.  One of my personal fave makeup brands is Korres. 

www.sephora.com

-Show your girlfriend or significant other you care just as much about fashion (and animals) as she does by splurging on a pair of shoes from Olsen Haus.  They are vegan and faaaabulous.  www.olsenhaus.com

-Check out Preserve products for perfect stocking stuffers. 

www.preserveproducts.com

-Priti NYC non-toxic nail polish has an ungodly amount of colors to choose from.  They also have a non-toxic nail polish remover.  No more nasty smells or chemicals seeping into your nails.

www.pritinyc.com

-Dogeared is one of my favorite brands for jewelry, among other things.  They also have an eco-friendly section on their website with fun trinkets like candles, totes, bracelets, earrings, jewelry bags, the list goes on.  See for yourself, just type “eco-friendly” in the search box. 

www.dogeared.com

-PACT underwear are undergarments with a cause.  With designs for both men and women, they will make the perfect ethical present.

www.wearpact.com

-Green Toys for the wee ones. 

www.greentoys.com

-Organic Play Dough (found on ecofabulous.com)!  Yes, it’s true.  Is it weird if I get some for myself?...

http://organicfundough.com/

-Pacifica has delicious soy candles, fragrances, sopas, and body butters.  Yum. 

www.pacificaperfume.com

-For your creative, stationary-loving friends, check out Yellow Owl Workshop and Hard Cards for cards, stamps, and more. 

www.yellowowlworkshop.com

www.hardcardsrule.com

-Molly M jewelry is unique and eco-chic.  That rhymes!

www.mollymdesigns.com

-Branch has some super cool home items from ornaments to pillows to salad bowls.  See for yourself. 

www.branchhome.com

-Indosoles are my favorite eco sandals for beach-loving friends and family members.  www.indosole.com

-My roommate enlightened me the other night with this website, which is chalk full of glorious gift ideas.  Find the “Eco-Friendly Gifts” option under the Category tab, or type “eco-friendly” in the search box.  You can even edit your findings by price.  Warning: this could wind up occupying several hours of your day.  I’m not kidding.

http://www.gifts.com/

-Here’s some other awesome gifty websites I found on ecofabulous.com:

            www.organicadeluxe.com

            www.organicstyle.com

            www.ecoexpress.com

            www.earthtechproducts.com (for all the techies in your life)

            www.vivaterra.com

            http://www.holidayleds.com/ (for LED Christmas lights!)

While you're perusing the web, take a break from online shopping and watch this funny video of my friend and I busting a move and battling ourselves.

http://www.youtube.com/ihoptowhatship#p/u/0/Fhq2_usJlK0