A Good Dose of Realitee

If going glam's not your thing, but looking fabulous while being eco-savvy is.... then be sure to look into Realitees. These shirts offered at TopShop are a cute collection of t-shirts made from 100% organic cotton. They come in a variety of shapes and prints including a tieback and ruche detail making the perfect foil for your pretty floral skirts or your favorite pair of shorts.

TopShop also offers a 10% off  year-round discount to students. And keep up with the ever changing trends of fashion with their Style Blog.

Add This to Your Summer Reading List

Looking for something green to brighten your day at the beach? This New York Times Bestseller is sure to spark some change.

The Green Book by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen provides the reader with an everyday guide to saving the planet...one simple step at a time.

Embodying the age-old saying, "Ask not what your world can do for you, but what you can do for your world," this book encourages every individual to take an active interest in influencing our world for the better. (Yes, I'm aware that I changed the word "country" to "world," but hey, we live in a global era now).

Water. Energy. Waste. These are all worldwide problems that everyone can help to reduce.

Some tips given by the book include those that we've heard over and over again:

"Unplug Your Power Cords."

And others may have never really crossed our minds:

"If You Buy Sliced Bread From the Bread Aisle, Try to Find the Loaves That Are Only Packaged In a Single Wrapper."

And don't overlook the special contributions from A-list celebrities such as Cameron Diaz, Will Ferrell, Martha Stewart, Justin Timberlake and more.

You can purchase the book online at the website: www.readthegreenbook.com or in most any large bookstore. (I even saw one in the educational museum of the La Brea Tarpits in Los Angeles).

Happy reading.

Sophie Young's g=9.8 Organic Line Brings Sexy Back

Want to get even more intimate with organic fashion? Sophie Young, a French designer has developed a new line of eco-friendly lingerie and loungewear called g=9.8.

The clothing is manufactured from a fiber originating in the branches of white pine, and for every pine that is used for production, a new one is planted in its place.

The line is "naturally sensual" and produced locally in France. It is sold there primarily, but is slowly making its way into a few retailers in the U.S., Canada, and other parts of Europe.

Young's mission was to create a line of underwear that was respectful of eco-principles, such as minimizing the water consumption in the industrial production, eco-packaging, waste recycling and eco-marketing.

Leave it to the French to make green go sexy.

Green Notebooks at Forever21

Summer is here! Take some time out each day and write down everything that happened. Forever21 has a Green Notebook. Less than ten dollars, the notebook has seventy five pages of recycled paper for you to jot down every moment, wish, and list in your life.

Their other notebooks also have recycled paper pages so indulge a little and buy them all.


Forever21 is also offering a book entitled "1001 Ways to Save the Earth", by Joanna Yarrow. Forever21 claims that if you read this book you will learn 1001 different ways to help save the earth.

TOPSHOP Loves Rubbish

Do you have a pair of old jeans that you aren't using anymore? Donate them to TOPSHOP. Topshop has created a variety of eco and fair trade collaborations for several years now. 

Their most recent project with the help of recycling aficionados, Rubbish Magazine, is going to show you that there’s more to going green than simply recycling newspapers and your old jeans. Topshop Wants Your Rubbish week lets you get your hands dirty with a week of reusing and recycling activities.

When Pigs Fly... we get yummy chips

Flat Earth has proved to achieve the impossible, combining nutrition with superior yummy taste. I've attempted to eat more healthy and try various snacks that claim to pack all the best vitamins and benefits without lacking any of the flavor, however these are the first that I actually feel keep true to their statement.

They have six flavors to choose from; Apple Cinamon Grove, Peach Mango Paradise, Wild Berry Patch, Garlic and Herb Field, Farmland Cheddar, and Tangy Tomato Ranch. In their chips there is a half serving of fruits or veggies baked into every ounce of their crisps. And everyone knows you need a total of 9 servings of fruit and vegetables. It's great for kids and adults.

"They’re not impossible, they’re IMPOSSIBLY GOOD®."

Google Green Summer

Are you looking to have the greenest summer possible? Well, Google has these tips to offer:

1. Search for "environmentally friendly hotel" instead of just "hotel."
2. Switch to "Satellite" mode in the upper right for an alternate view of outdoor areas.
3. Save paper. Download Google Maps for Mobile.
4. Search for "organic spa" for spas specializing in organic products.
5. Search for "bike rentals" or "kayak rentals" in the city you're visiting to discover healthy outdoor vacation activities.
On the 'Summer of Green' page you'll see that the top destinations for summer vacations and activities are San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orlando, and New York. Using this page will help you find greener alternatives and activities.

If it's green color you seek, go "leafy" with Green Search.

Fiji Water is Green n' Clean

Fiji water claims that every drop is green. They have promised to remain negative with carbon, save the rainforest, reduce their packaging, and help recycle. You can read up on their progress on their carbon footprint, becoming carbon negative, and their recycling efforts at fijigreen.com.

While you're checking up on their progress be sure to check out the latest news on their site as well as their blog.

Glamour Women of the Year Awards 2008

Inspiring women in music, fashion and the arts were honored at the GLAMOUR Women of the Year Awards also known at the "Glammies," reports Glamour.com (UK).

Paul O'Grady hosted the event, which took place at the marquee in Berkeley Square. Some of the celebrities in attendance were Lily Allen, Kelly Osbourne, Hayden Panettiere and three of the Spice Girls (Mel B, Geri and Emma).

The winners were:

TV Personality: Dannii Minogue

UK TV Actress: Keeley Hawes

International Musician: Beth Ditto

Accessories Designer: Tamara Mellon

Entrepreneur: Kate Moss

Film-maker: Jane Goldman

Theatre Actress: Kelly Osbourne

Writer; Cecilia Ahern

Presenter: Fearne Cotton

Editor’s Special: Lily Allen

Radio Personality: Jo Whiley

Aussie Hair Care Newcomer: Hayden Panettiere

UK Solo Artist: Leona Lewis

Comedy Actress: Joanna Page

Band: Spice Girls

Man of the Year: Mark Ronson

Inspiration: Annie Lennox

Film Actress: Kate Beckinsale

Congratulations ladies!

The Launch of Planet Green

TreeHugger.com's sister site, Planet Green, has launched and is "filled with solutions-oriented tips and information that can help you make your life a little (or a lot) greener."

They claim to be the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle television network with a robust online presence and community. Launching in June 2008, on-air content will reach 50 million homes with more than 250 hours of original green lifestyle programming.

Both online and on-air, Planet Green's content is entertaining, relevant, and accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. By representing a broad range of ideas and perspectives, Planet Green is taking an active role in generating conversation and motivating individuals to take action when it comes to improving the environmental status of our planet.

California Files Lawsuit Against Avalon, Whole Foods Brand

The Great State of California (i.e., the Attorney General) has filed a major lawsuit against body care household-cleaning product companies whose products recently tested highest for the carcinogenic contaminant 1,4-Dioxane, according to the Organic Consumers Association, a "watchdog" organization that released a report in March about the issue.

Their main target? Avalon Natural Products. However, it includes other companies that "have sold products (e.g., body washes, gels, liquid dish soaps) that tested close to or in excess of 20 parts per million for 1,4-Dioxane in the OCA study," which were:

• Whole Foods Market California (365 brand)
• Beaumont Products (Citrus Magic)
• Nutribiotic (See all products tested in the study.)
  

What does this mean for the consumer? Not much - not right now. The complaint is not that this chemical was in the products, but that they were not labeled as products that "may cause cancer."

The lesson here? California is definitely leading the movement towards correct labeling and regulation of personal care and home products...but in the meantime, know your ingredients and READ LABELS. Here's what to look out for (from the OCA press release):

To avoid 1,4-Dioxane, the OCA urges consumers to search ingredient lists for indications of ethoxylation including: "myreth," "oleth," "laureth," "ceteareth," any other "eth," "PEG," "polyethylene," "polyethylene glycol," "polyoxyethylene," or "oxynol," in ingredient names.

Dr. Scholls Eco-Savvy sandals

Made with sustainable wood, biodegradable corn-based outsoles, recycled metal buckles and vegetable tanned leather uppers, you can feel good about wearing these classics.

Not only that, but they will plant 10 trees for every pair purchased!

Splash into Summer with Water Exercises

Summer is here in full fling and the weather just keeps heating up! But that doesn't mean that your workouts need to end. Although going for a jog at 3 in the afternoon during record highs or spending time in that humid, sweaty gym couldn't sound more unappealing, here's another option that many seem to overlook.

Work out in the Water!

Water exercises are the perfect way to work out under the sun without overheating. You can get a total body workout without even breaking a sweat. One of the great things about exercising in the water is that whether you are a veteran athlete or a fitness novice, anyone can perform the basic moves. Not to mention, it is a great way to burn calories, improve your strength and flexibility, tone-up, improve your cardiovascular system, and just get more fit overall. And for added fun, do these exercises with a friend, sister or mother who will challenge and push you even harder.

The Workout:

Cardio: Swim/Walk interval laps: Swim 1-2 laps (use any swim form you prefer: crawl, backstroke, etc). Walk 1-2 laps in the pool. Repeat sequence 4- 6 times.

Water Squats for Quads, Hams and Glutes: Stand in the water with feet about hip-width apart. Bend your knees slightly as you push your hips back as if you are sitting on a chair. Keep your knees behind your toes. Return to start position and repeat. The water provides extra resistance and makes this move more challenging.

For glutes: KICK! You can breeze around on a kickboard or hold onto the side of the pool, but the scissoring motion is great for the buttocks and hamstrings, and it indirectly tones the abdominals. What could be more fun than this?

For biceps: Bring your open hands to the side of each hip, palms forward, with your fingers close together. Exhale as you slowly bend at the elbow to bring your hands toward your shoulders.

For abs: Stand with your back to the side of the pool, holding onto the rim with your elbows. Keeping your knees unbent, slowly bring both legs up to a sitting position and hold it for ten seconds. Then bend at the knee to bring them down, repeating this as many times as you'd like to. Be careful to keep your back straight throughout this exercise.

For hips and glutes: Facing the edge of the pool, hold on with both hands and slowly bring one leg out to your side, keeping your back straight. Exhale while you bring it up as high as you comfortably can without turning at the ankle (this probably won't be as high as you could if you did turn your ankle). Bring it back down and repeat, doing a full set for each leg.

Important Note: You still need Water in the Water! Don't forget to drink water before and after your workout because you can still easily become dehydrated.

Union Street Festival a Green Success

San Francisco held its 32nd Union Street Festival this past weekend, one of the city's largest annual free events next year in June 2009. But this time, the festival which attracts over 100,000 attendees each year, added an eco-friendly theme.

Their goal was to inspire the forward-thinking city of San Francisco to promote the value of Green thinking in all aspects of our day to day lives during this two-day weekend event. The booths and entertainment go from Gough to Steiner on Union Street and contain a showcase of local artists and farmers with an eco-friendly focus.

This year, the entrance of the festival featured an organic farmer's market, arts and crafts created with recycled and sustainable materials as well as other eco-friendly exhibits. Additionally, the Festival showcases 150 arts & crafts booths, 20 gourmet food booths, two stages of live entertainment and bistro style cafes.

Guess Gets Green

It seems like every big name in fashion these days is tweaking their design strategy to focus more on the green market. We've seen it done at Banana Republic and on the runways of New York Fashion Week.

And now we have another player joining the mix. Guess is bringing sexy back with their completely green clothing line: Guess Green. The line consists of chemical dye-free denim and organic cotton tops for both men and women. Even the price tags on the clothing are made from recycled paper and printed with soy-based ink.

The pieces hit stores this April and retail at $178 for jeans, $29 for a womens tank, and $39 for a mens tee.

While the prices are a bit steep, 10% of the proceeds will benefit the Environmental Media Association, which uses the entertainment industry to spread the word on sustainability.

The Top 100 World's Most Ethical Companies

What do Aveda, S.C. Johnson and Son, and Whirlpool all have in common? They're all US consumer products companies that have been chosen as highly ethical. Note: Unilever (Netherlands) and Henkel AG (Germany) were also on the list.

Ethisphere released its June 2008 ranking of the world's 100 most ethical companies, and anyone who has ever poked a curious nose into the topic of business ethics should check it out. 

A few notes on the criteria:

1. Corporations that responded to a crisis with "real action" - as opposed to a PR campaign to cover up the mess - got extra points.
2. Products that clearly don't benefit the public's best interest pulled down a company's ranking.
3. Lawsuit particulars - even those that didn't hit the big media outlets - were taken into consideration.
4. Ultimately, companies that use "ethical leadership" and "purposeful method" were included in the list.

Tokyo-based global cosmetics company Kao (maker of Biore, Jergens, and John Frieda, among others) was the only one of its kind included in the list; executive vice president Shunichi Nakagawa chalks it up to their 120-year old code of ethics that governs all employees, even today. He cites 'integrity' to be their deepest value.

Are You Ready for Sheer Bliss?

Sheer Bliss is ice cream in a can. Don't agree? Pick a can up at your local grocery store. Sheer bliss comes in seven flavors, their most popular being Pomengranate Chocolate.

Sheer Bliss is 100% Natural and the can can be recycled and reused. The reycled and reusable packaging is not only beautiful but it was designed to protect freshness and quality.

SheerBliss Ice Cream also has a full line of novelty items including ice cream bars, sandwiches and bon-bons. Check out the SheerBliss product line at http://www.sheerbliss.com.

Kim Cattrall, the famous Sex and the City star says, "I love SheerBliss. I have never had ice cream that is as delicious and decadent. The name of the company says it all... it is SheerBliss!"

Suggestions for Green Dads!

Father's Day is coming up and we'd like to help make a few suggestions as to what to get him:

1. Golf is a perennial hole-in-one with dads.
Audubon International is making an effort to make golf courses more eco-friendly. You and your dad could take the Green Golfer pledge together. Gold-certified courses include Old Greenwood near Tahoe in California, the Old Collier Golf Club in Naples, Florida, and Palisades Golf Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Check out the silve-certified Audubon Park Golf Course in New Orleans. (Find the complete list here.)

2. Unique organic beer & DIY kit
Get your dad a Dad Brewing Kit from Seven Bridges Cooperative ($129.50). Treat him to the award-winning, organic 2004 Sangiovese red from California''s Frey Vineyards ($13). Other notable selections include the vineyard's Biodynamic Zinfandel ($16-$18) and Biodynamic Chardonnay ($12.25).

3. Quality time with your old man
Whether its on the beach, in a park, or even in your backyard by tossing around a recycled Frisbee. The iconic toy was first invented by "recycling" old pie tins, but familiar models have long been made of conventional plastic. Today, order a colorful Wham-o recycled Frisbee ($10) emblazoned with the Leave No Trace mantra.

4. A gift membership to a worthy conservation organization.
To find a local preserve he could support, contact the Trust for Public Land. Adopt an acre of threatened tropical forest in his name for $50 from The Nature Conservancy. A $50 TNC gift membership will also include a subscription to the beautiful Nature Conservancy magazine. For the animal lover, gift memberships are available to the National Wildlife Federation (prices begin at $15), which includes that group''s award-winning magazine.

5. Food is the way to any man's heart
Get your dad an organic and natural gift basket. There are assortments of snacks from cheeses, teas, fruits, cakes, and all kinds of gourmet snacks. The prices range from $50-150.