Mommy Goes Green

I’m having a great time up at the Olympics this week and have noticed that Canada has taken several steps to ‘green’ the 2010 Winter Olympics.   There are recycling bins on every corner and in all the venues.  Not only are they recycling bottles, cans and paper but they have compost bins as well.  The concession areas have 100% recycled napkins and ecotainers for drinks – they are totally compostable.

Coke is a huge sponsor of the Olympics and has committed to being carbon neutral and recycling 100% of the plastic containers. The coolers and vending machines has new efficient refrigerant technology that has never been used in North America that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 5,600 metric tons – equivalent to taking about 29,000 cars off the road for two weeks during the games or about 1,200 cars off the road for a year.

Even the clothing has gone green.  We picked up rain ponchos for a super rainy evening ski event and surprisingly, they weren’t plastic – they were polyester and great for years of use.  The Coke employee clothing is made of recycled bottles and several of the products in the Olympic clothing line are made from bamboo or recycled polyester.

While sometimes inconvenient, you can’t park personal vehicles at the facilities so we are taking public transportation and walking a lot.  All of the Olympic communications and guides are online – they even have it in an iPhone app and I’ve noticed there isn’t much swag to be found which, in the end, is probably good since that is the kind of stuff that gets tossed once you get home.  The only swag I’ll be taking home are the reusable bags we’ve received when purchasing something at the Olympic venues or at local stores – I’ve hardly seen a plastic bag since I’ve been here.

Even the winning athletes are taking home eco-friendly gold, silver and bronze medals – they contain recycled metal recovered from end-of-life electronics.

If you’re at all crafty, you should pick up the latest copy of Green Craft Magazine. There are over 100 projects for taking your trash to treasures, from books made out of coffee sleeves to vintage paper decor . To complete the package, the entire publication is printed on recycled paper.

WHERE TO BUY: Find a local store here.

1. Make a fancy dinner at home. Spend some time in advance pouring over your favorite recipe books or searching recipe sites for elegant, lavish choices that you wouldn’t ordinarily splurge on. To make it even more special, treat yourself to a bottle of nice wine or Champagne, start out with a course of fantastic artisanal cheeses, and make or buy a decadent dessert. Be sure to buy all the groceries a day or two in advance and allow enough time to be able to cook together in a leisurely manner – sharing in the cooking process is half the fun. Pull out your fine china and linens, then light some candles to set the mood.

2. Give a living plant instead of cut flowers.A dozen red roses are a quintessential Valentine’s gift, but they’re not exactly good news for the environment – the flowers could be heavily sprayed with pesticides and other chemicals (bad news for you and the workers who pick and handle the flowers.) Many are flown from South Africa or Latin America, travel that uses resources and causes pollution. Instead, find an eco-friendly florist or garden shop and give your sweetie a living plant that will stay green long after those red roses wilt.

3. Make your own truffles. Don’t waste your money on fancy commercial chocolate brands – instead, head to the kitchen and make your own truffles. Recipes can easily be found online for a delicious, thoughtful gift that also helps the earth.

4. Buy chocolate responsibly. If playing chocolatier in your own kitchen is beyond your skill set, try to do a little research and find sweets that are organic, fair-trade and made locally so you’re supporting small business people in your community.

5. Shop for gifts at thrift and antique stores. Your local flea markets, thrift stores or even eBay can be a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind, meaningful gifts for your honey. Look for vintage purses, a pretty glass vase, or some beaded necklaces that you can take apart to make your own personalized piece.

6. Take a jewelry making class to make a handcrafted bauble.If you plan far enough in advance, you can take a jewelry making class (or, for the time-pressed, even a one time only afternoon workshop) so that you can make a piece that’s truly unique and from the heart. Look online for a class and you might even find someone who teaches you about giving new life to old objects, like this one taught at New York City jewelry store Lunessa.

7. Splurging on a diamond? Go conflict free.Most commercial diamonds are mined in ways that harm the environment and the workers. If you are going to splurge on a diamond, make sure it’s a conflict-free gem. There are plenty of eco-responsible jewelers, such as Green Karat who specialize in recycled precious metals and responsibly mined sparklers.

8. Create a home spa experience. Instead of a gift certificate to a fancy spa, create a luxurious spa experience in your own home. Find recipes for homemade bath salts, scrubs or facials, then light some candles and put on some Sade.

9. Make your own Valentines. Whether they’re for your child’s classmates or for friends and loved ones, making your own valentines can be a satisfying way to use the things you’ve been hoarding, such as scraps of fabric and ribbons, random buttons, and old greeting cards and magazines. Gather up all the materials you think you might need, buy some construction paper or card stock at your supermarket, and get to work.

10. Go risqué responsibly. Looking for some sexy underthings to spice up your night? Stay away from synthetic fabrics like polyester satin, and seek out lingerie made from natural and environmentally responsible fabrics like bamboo, organic cotton, hemp and silk. Green Cheeks Boutique has romantic options ranging from colorful thongs made from silk remnants to lace-trimmed, organic cotton babydolls.

This post originally appeared on RecycleBank and is reprinted with permission.

BonAmi is a great non-toxic alternative to Comet or Ajax.  The active ingredient in Comet is sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione dihydrate, a chemical rated ‘highly toxic’ by the EPA.  

Created over 120 years ago, BonAmi is made from calcite & feldspar mineral abrasives, and biodegradable detergent.  It contains no chlorine, dye, phosphorus, or fragrance.  It’s recommended for use by those with allergies or chemical sensitivities. I use it on all of my stainless steel appliances and in my ceramic sink – it’s not abrasive so it cleans without scratching.  At just over $1 per can, it’s totally affordable.

For tips on how to use BonAmi for cleaning crystal, swimming pools, wooden decks and other items, check out the BonAmi website.

WHERE TO BUY:  BonAmi is available at grocery stores, mass retailers, hardware and health food stores.  You can search for a local retailer by state.

My diet is not vegan or gluten-free and it’s definitely not sugar-free but I picked up this BabyCakes recipe book anyway.  The baked goods looked delicious and I am always looking for healthier ways to eat sweet treats. 

The author, Erin McKenna, was diagnosed with wheat and dairy allergies in 2004.  After uninspiring trips to the grocery store to find snacks that met her dietary needs, she decided to make her own.  Erin spent more than a year testing out all types of ingredients and recipes and eventually opened her bakery in New York City, BabyCakes NYC.

BabyCakes starts out with a comprehensive list of kitchen tools needed to bake the recipes and ingredients, complete with the reason behind the use of each ingredient.  For example, “xanthan gum is used in tiny amounts because it gives gluten-free batter viscosity and stickiness.  Without it, your cakes and cookies will fall apart into sad crumbles.”  It also gives advice on ingredient substitution, measurements (“never use clear measuring cups with a spout and handle”) and the difference between spelt and gluten-free.

The recipe book has 8 chapters filled with photos and recipes of delectable treats like chocolate shortbread scones, lemon-poppy teacake, volcanoes, red velvet cupcakes, triple-chocolate fat pants cake and healthy hostess – the healthy version of a Hostess cupcake. 

I’m a novice in the kitchen so I particularly appreciate all the tips woven between recipes such as ‘how to color frosting naturally’, ‘making applesauce and other purees’ and ‘advanced biscuitry’.  Tucked in at the end of the book is a page of resources listing a group of ingredients that BabyCakes NYC uses exclusively.  After all the testing Erin has done, she believes these are the highest quality ingredients to use in her recipes:

• Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour
• Omega Nutrition Coconut Oil
• Organic Nectars Agave Nectar
• Gluten-Free Oats
• Temptation Ice Cream
• India Tree
• Singing Dog

Whatever your diet, if you like to bake, this is a great recipe book to have in your kitchen.  You can make any recipe healthier by exchanging traditional ingredients for those recommended.  Erin takes you into her kitchen and shares all her secret tips for making yummy, healthy sweet treats.

If you ever have your clothing dry cleaned, you definitely need The Green Garmento.   It’s a reusable dry cleaning bag – take your clothes in it TO the dry cleaner and HOME from the dry cleaner.  It eliminates all those annoying plastic bags you bring home from the dry cleaner (and who knows what kind of chemicals are hanging out in those bags!).   It’s made from a recyclable, non-woven polypropylene so it doesn’t trap chemicals in it like plastic does.

The Green Garmento is not only a reusable dry cleaning bag but it functions as hanging garment bag, carrying bag and hamper. Check out this video to see all the ways it functions.

It’s washable, in cold water, and you can hang it to dry.  If you need a new one, you can send your old one in for a discount on a new one and the company will recycle your old Green Garmento for you. 

If your local drycleaner doesn’t carry The Green Garmento, supply the company with their contact information and they will send you a free Green Garmento – you pay for shipping and handling. 

WHERE TO BUY:  Purchased online, The Green Garmento comes in several colors and lengths – at $9.99, this is an easy and inexpensive way to go green!

Stormwater drains are created to collect rain or melting soak that doesn’t soak into the ground.  Unfortunately, that water often collects other things while it flows down the road into the drain.  These pollutants include oil, leaves, chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers, and animal poop. 

Ever wonder what happens with water ( and pollutants ) that goes down the storm drain?  Do you assume it gets treated by the wastewater treatment plant?  Likely not!  It often goes directly into your local streams and rivers.

You can take several steps to make sure you don’t contribute to dirty waterways:

• sweep your driveway and sidewalk and then recycle or compost the debris – don’t hose it down as the water runs into the storm drain
• don’t wash your car at home – use a commercial car wash – they use water more efficiently and dispose of it properly
• wash tools and toys over a grass or dirt area so the water can soak into the ground
• don’t use chemical fertilizers or pesticides – use natural solutions
• clean up pet poop and put it in the trash
• if you drain or fill automobile fluids, make sure you catch it and dispose of it properly
• educate your kids – don’t let them throw things down the drains 

VOC free paint isn’t cheap but it is worth it as the chemicals in paint can off gas in your house for over 3 years!   That’s over 1000 days of breathing in chemicals like formaldehyde, benzene, and perchloroethylene – not so good for the body and particularly not good for our little children’s bodies.  In the past couple years, several children’s furniture and decor companies have partnered with paint companies to design VOC free paint lines specifically for children’s areas.  The next time you need to paint, check out these safe, non-toxic options.

The Land of Nod and Mythic Paint – Mythic Paint is a VOC free, solvent free and carcinogen free latex paint.  In 55 colors with names like ‘Grass Stain’ and ‘Tutu’, your child can have fun picking out their next room color!  You can purchase online or at some Land of Nod locations.  4oz samples are available for $6.99 and 1 gallon cans are $44.99.

Pottery Barn Kids and Benjamin Moore Paint – Benjamin Moore’s line of VOC free paint is called ‘Natura’.  Natura is a waterborne acrylic paint that is VOC free both in the base paint and the colorant.  Natura is very low odor – I used it to paint my son’s nursery and with the window open for a day or two, the smell was gone (unlike other “low odor” paints I’ve used).  Pottern Barn Kids comes out with a new paint palette 2 times a year and you can pick up the current paint deck in their stores.  Their current spring/summer line has 15 cheery colors. You can purchase online or at Benjamin Moore stores.  8oz samples are $7.99 and 1 gallon cans are $49.99.

Restoration Hardware Baby & Child - The RH Baby & Child line of latex paint is VOC free and low odor.  Available in 6 signature colors, they perfectly match any of the bedding and decor items from Restoration Hardware.  Available in satin sheen and sold online only. 4oz samples are $4.25 and 1 gallon cans are $29.00.

In my stocking this past Christmas, I received this Eco-First reusable coffee cup.  The problem?  I’ve never used it.  My husband claimed it for himself and has used it every day since.

The concept is self-explainable -  tote along your reusable coffee cup and forego the paper cup at your favorite coffee shop or at the office.  The Eco-First cup is heavily insulated to keep drinks warm and is BPA free.  It’s dishwasher and microwave safe – unlike other travel mugs.

WHERE TO BUY:  Available exclusively at Bed, Bath and Beyond in brown, pink and green. $7.99

Mineral makeup seems to have exploded in the last couple years but since I’m a little behind the times in the makeup department, it wasn’t in my makeup bag.  In fact, until several weeks ago, I hadn’t yet replaced most of my makeup with safer and chemical free products.  My favorite blush had “paraben” written all over the ingredient list, yet I hadn’t had time to find something new.

Mineral makeup was at the top of my “to try” list and then I read about a line of makeup created by Christopher Drummond Beauty.   One of the primary reasons I decided to test out the line was because the powders are free of titanium dioxide, bismuth oxychloride and zinc oxide – three ingredients found in many other mineral makeup lines and potentially irritating to your skin and even harmful.

Mineral makeup is exactly what it sounds like – comprised of finely ground minerals and free of perfume, talc, dyes and chemicals.  For instance, the Christopher Drummond foundation contains ingredients such as serecite, mica, organic cornstarch, and several organic essential oils.  

I typically do not have dry skin but on the first day I used the makeup, I happened to be getting over an allergic reaction to a face lotion I had used so my face had a small bumpy rash all over it, combined with a nice red glow.  Yah, it was pretty.  Fortunately, because mineral makeup is free of so many chemicals, it’s perfect for sensitive skin.  The makeup sat on top of the rash covering it up instead of highlighting it, like a cream based makeup would.  

I’m always nervous about picking new makeup colors without testing them out on my skin first – you never know what tone is going to match.  I have a favorite concealer I’ve used for years because the color matches my skin perfectly but I have to say that the Christopher Drummond concealer in ‘Light’ worked just as well.   Creamy but not cakey.  I don’t need any caked makeup under my tired eyes (my son is 9 weeks old and I’m tired). 

I used my EcoTools to apply the powdered makeup.  It’s a little tricky at first to get the application right as a little goes a LONG WAY!   I had to wash my face again after my first try with the blush – a LOT too much.  The Sateen Blush definitely added a light shimmer to my cheeks and I’ve found a new favorite Eyeshadow color.  Next time, I’ll definitely go with a lighter shade of  lipgloss (the Cinnamon was a little too dark for me), but I like that it’s free of petroleum, parabens, dyes and fragrance.

If you are looking to replace some of your makeup products with safer ones, I definitely recommend trying mineral makeup.  I’ve thrown out some of my old chemical filled makeup products and replaced them with the Christopher Drummond line.  Next up, I plan to try the bronzing powder.  I’m already dreaming about summer!

I have to mention that the packaging came with ‘green’ packing peanuts – I definitely appreciate it when a company takes an eco-friendly concept all the way!

WHERE TO BUY:   www.christopherdrummond.com