Back to School Basics: Reusable Water Bottles

If you are providing your child with bottled water each day, you are potentially adding 200 water bottles to the landfill annually. Multiply this by 800 kids in my local elementary school and it makes 160,000. Yes, some schools have recycling programs, but is your 6 year old disposing of it properly? You see where I'm going with this. A much better alternative, a reusable water bottle. I recommend Sigg aluminum water bottles.

Of course, Madonna and Cindy Crawford's kids already use them, but who cares about them. The benefits of Sigg bottles are as follows:

1. Reusing is better than recycling and/or creating waste.
2. Aluminum bottles don't leach plastic bottle chems into the water over time.
3. Aluminum bottles actually keep the water cooler.
4. They come in about a million varieties - designs, colors and sizes- so that kids can find the one they love.
5. Your child will be setting a good example to others. Monkey see, monkey do.
6. The spill free design keeps things clean, and kids love to use them.
7. The flip top cap keeps the drinking spout germ free.

The only bad news is that they are next to impossible to find, due to high demand. I lucked out at the local Whole Foods and found one Paddington Bear bottle. It's so cute and my daughter loves using it. The price of the small bottle was $17.99 which was high but reasonable considering how much you could save on bottled water, plus the benefits to Mother Earth.

Visit the Sigg website, or go to Whole Foods, Dick's or other retailers. Try EBay if you are out of luck locally. Read more!

Fuel Efficient SUV Alternative

So my lease is up and I'm looking for a new ride. Since the Aston Martin doesn't come in a fuel efficient model, I guess I need to keep searching. (As if.)

The real story is that I have been on the waiting list for the Toyota Prius for about 3 months now, and I don't get the impression that they will be calling me back any time soon. My battered ego is sad to report that low cut blouses, shameless flirtation and heavy batting of the eyelashes did absolutely nothing to speed up this lengthy process. But the good news is that I think I found the answer for all those moms out there that are not looking forward to parting with their beloved SUV but need a nicely equipped, spacious car.

The Volkwagen TDI Clean Diesel Jetta Sportwagen. The photo above is just the regular Jetta, but I am referring to the Sportwagen, shown at Volkwagon's site. I know, its a VW, which is not what you were expecting but hang on there, princess. First of all, the gas mileage gets about 29 city and 40 highway, and some say that these EPA estimates are on the low side. The emissions are very low and are expected to be lower than a normal car. Plus, the car has got plenty of pep (like Usain Bolt), sporty styling (like May-Traynor and Walsh) and plenty of room in the trunk (like Lo Lo Jones). Just kidding Lo Lo, you are lovely! And the car comes with some super cool add ons: an all glass panaromaric roof, navigation, satellite radio, Ipod docking station, as well as cutting edge safety features. Best of all, the TDI Sportwagen is available soon at a dealer near you!

Check out all the specs of this vehicle and more at TopGreenCars or VW of America.

Photo courtesy of VW of America, Inc. Read more!

Free Pass to The Best Green Gym

Once a month, my refined sugar intake requirements elevate quite uncontrollably. I find myself noshing on anything processed with a high sugar and chocolate content. Also, my emotional sensitivity borders on the psychotic. It's very possible to find me sobbing after a touching TV commercial or in last night's case, the presentation of the gold medal to adorable Shaun Johnson. Either I need to be committed or it's simply that time of the month. I need to hit the gym offset this bizarre imbalance pronto!

The Olympic coverage is not helping either. I find my eyes glued to the TV screen in sheer exhaustion night after night, even to watch rowing! Kudos to NBC's mesmerizing coverage.

I love sports. Not only watching them, but participating in them as well. When I can't run and cycle on the street, I hit the gym. In a high stress and high calorie world, it's a requirement as a part of my green lifestyle - for both mind and body. So I don't go totally cuckoo.

Luckily, I stumbled upon a fantastic gym in my area: Equinox Fitness. It's a beautiful facility with great trainers, awesome yoga, a fabulous spa, and spic-n-span locker rooms. As a green junkie, this is all very nice but what really hooked me in was their green initiatives. Some of them include: low voc products used in the design and building of the gym, plastic and paper recycling, the use of low-tox/natural cleansers in the gyms, the use of recycled paper at corporate, a shop offering organic clothing and reusable bottles, and soon-to-be-implemented technologies that improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality and reduce water consumption.

If you need to tame those hormones, and look and feel great to boot, email me @klivesgreen@gmail.com for your 3 day free trial pass and I guarantee that you will love it! Read more!

Greening the Nursery

You plan your pregnancy. (Sometimes.)

You take special vitamins and get regular check ups to make sure the baby grows healthy.

You take classes to prepare yourself for the birth.

You learn about breastfeeding and baby care.

So why would you fill your baby's room with a bunch of chemicals?

Actually, most of us are guilty of this, myself included, until I got an education in "green." Shockingly, paint, carpeting, bedding and even furniture upholstery can contain or are treated with chemicals that produce dangerous gasses that linger in your baby's room and home for months, sometimes years, and result in poor interior air quality. Is there a link here to the rise in the rates of asthma and other childhood respiratory illnesses? There are no clear studies that indicate this (of course!) but you can draw your own conclusions.

The good news is that the popularity of the green baby is surging and now there are more choices than ever. Hollywood celebrities like Julia Roberts and Halle Berry have greened their nurseries, but they spent thousands of dollars on a green interior design consultant.

Try IDOG's Green Nursery Guide! The price is right!

Step 1: Pick out your colors! When painting the baby's room, you need to use a low or better, no VOC paint. Traditional paints contain volatile organic compounds that linger in a room for long periods of time. A great no-VOC paint is the Harmony line by Sherwin Williams. It's so safe that you can paint with it by day, and move in that night. Color choices are in the hundreds.

Step 2: Many parents like carpeting in a baby's room because the baby may be crawling on the floor. True, but the bad news is that wall to wall is treated with toxic chems- even benzene and formaldehyde in some cases, as well as moth repellents, stain repellents, and dangerous adhesives that can off gas into your home for months if not years. Imagine their little faces rubbing on it! No, no, that won't do. Check out http://www.flor.com/, a very eco-conscious company that offers natural fiber rugs that come in these cool, easy to install, easy to clean carpet tiles. If a tile gets stained, you just pull it off and replace it. The tile adhesive doesn't ruin the floors underfoot either. You can use it for wall to wall, or create an area rug. For true wall-to-wall and other flooring alternatives, try http://www.greenfloors.com/. This company's products are made from recycled materials and are some of the lowest VOC carpet on the market. Or stick with wood floors, especially if allergens are an issue, but make sure they are treated with a water based sealant, not the usual oil based polyurethane.

Step 3: Buy an organic mattress and bedding. New babies spend much of their day sleeping, and it's important they are not on or close to dangerous substances. Did you know that regular mattresses are treated with a host of chemicals, including PVC, phthalates, lead, or antimicrobial biocides, pesticides and even formaldehyde? This will not do for a pure newborn! Go to http://www.babyandmeboutique.com/ and purchase a Naturepedic mattress, a company that specializes in organic baby mattresses. I also found some well priced crib sheets at http://www.babycenter.com/ in pink, blue and ivory, and check out the "Best Blanket in the World" according to Esquire Magazine, at http://www.underthenile.com/. It's organic, and super soft!

Step 4: Stock your crib with organic crib toys like this adorable crate of veggies from Under the Nile. Babies chew on everything, and it makes sense that they chew on something that is made and stuffed with organic, pesticide free cotton.

Step 5: Make sure that you keep the room well ventilated, and get fresh air circulating daily!

Last One: If you are going green all the way, then consider natural furnishing as well. http://www.downtoearthhome.com/ offer a complete line of cribs, bassinets, changing tables and rockers made from natural wood, free from all types of toxic adhesives, paints, and finishes. Most of their fabrics are primarily hemp and organic cotton. If you don't want to take it this far, the first 5 steps should serve your baby very well!

Congratulations on taking the first step to a natural, healthy baby!

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Boost your Kids' Immune Systems with Organic Veggies

Back in October, I wrote an article favorably reviewing Jessica Seinfeld's new cookbook Deceptively Delicious. This is the "Results" post, so to speak. In the book, Jessica describes how to puree veggies and hide them in your kid's food. While many people criticized the book saying that she copied someone else's idea, and she gave Oprah 21 pairs of Manolos Blahniks for promoting it, I say "Who gives a shit!" It works. I found it to be brilliant and implemented her, or whoever's strategies. The only difference was that I went purely organic. Now this was at a time when my daughter was NOT consuming many (or any I should say) veggies at all. She was in and out of school almost ever other week with one ailment or another, and she would take a tremendously long time to recover. After several months of constant pureeing, and a vitamin supplement to boot, the results are in. I am happy to report that she is rarely sick at all. In fact- and I hope I don't jinx myself, she hasn't been sick all year, even though stomach viruses have passed around, and the flu, and a million other weird preschool sicknesses. I am a true believer that the power of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, etc. from vegatables have strengthened her little growing body. ( OK now I'm really jinxing myself!) And you know what, it's really not that much extra work and I like it in my food too. We make a mean turkey, broccholi and mushroom burger!

As a side note, my daughter and myself DO NOT eat beef or beef byproducts as a result of, what I believe, is unacceptable meat processing standards and lax quality control by the USDA. The hormones, the antibiotics and heaven's knows what else. We will pass on the 'downer cow' burger, thanks!

If your kids get sick a lot, try this...it worked for me. Read more!

Save Money & Energy with Balls!

Blue balls are usually not a positive thing, if you are male anyway! In this case, it's all good.

If you must use a clothes dryer, which is hard not to, consider spending $10 on a 2 pack of these dryer balls. You use them in place of those expensive dryer sheets that have that artificial perfume scent on them. Ick. They work to fluff and soften your laundry, as well as help the heat of the dryer circulate more efficiently, which reduces drying time. Naturally. No chemicals here. The balls last for about 2 years and really work.

Less energy used, fresh laundry scent, & you save on dryer sheets. Win win win.

Find them on http://www.asseenontv.com/.

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A Good Green Clean

This kitchen is in need of a good all natural cleaning! All of surfaces shown, with the exception of the stainless steel, can use the prescribed ingredients.

In my opinion, we are a bit brainwashed into believing that unless we smell the powerful odor of ammonia or other noxious fumes, our homes aren't clean. This couldn't be further from the truth. Natural products are just as effective if not more so.

You will have noticed many new "green" cleaning products emerging on market shelves. Many of them are good products and are non toxic to us and the Earth. The Method line of cleansers, Seventh Generation and even the Lotus Cleaning System are all wonderful products. Even Clorox is jumping on the bandwagon with their GreenWorks line of cleansers. However, they are expensive, and the jury is still out whether they are 100% natural. Thankfully, the most natural ingredients are effective and are affordable. Introducing...

Baking soda, white vinegar, and lemons. Just like Grandma used.

Vinegar is an all purpose cleanser and its cheap. One part water to one part vinegar will clean your kitchen and bathroom, floors, sinks, and tubs. It breaks down soap scum and water marks. For the toilet, use straight vinegar or sprinkle in baking soda. Never use any of these on marble or granite, or any natural stone for that matter. Nor stainless steel. I would use soap and water on stone, and a natural granite/marble/stainless polisher like Method offers. Or try the new Clorox product for that, which claims to be safe on stainless and sealed stone. Also, add a squeeze of lemon to polish fixtures for a nice shine. Lemon rinds are great in your disposal to freshen it up. And you can polish your wood floors with olive oil and lemon. Baking soda is great as a stain and odor remover for carpets and other surfaces. For tough stains, sprinkle baking soda on a 1/2 lemon and scrub.

Using natural cleansers is especially important when children enter into the equation. The less exposure to toxic chemicals during their fragile growth years, the better.

More info on using natural products can be found on About.com. Read more!

Fast, Energy Efficient Cooking

No, it's not a campfire or a blow torch.

I have a childhood memory of my mother making our dinner using a pressure cooker. It had a small weight on top of it that would bobble around when it reached full steam. I have to admit, it seemed a little intimidating, knowing that if you touched it the wrong way, it might explode all over the kitchen.

Fast forward to adult life. One of my holiday gifts was a pressure cooker. ( So much for jewelry and clothes.) Oh no, I thought. I'm not using that thing. It's old fashioned, it's passe, and most importantly, that thing is dangerous!

After a few years, I decided to open the box. I read the instructions. I inspected the pot. Hmmm...no more bobble weight on the top. The new models seemed pretty much idiot proof now. So I gave it a try, with careful supervision. I sauteed a little onion, carrots and celery and threw in some chicken parts, seasoning and water. I sealed it up and turned on the heat. I sat there, staring at the thing to make sure it didn't explode. It didn't, naturally. And in 15 minutes, I had made chicken soup. I was amazed. I will try this again, I thought. And I did. Again and again. Now I am a huge proponent of pressure cookers. I use it all the time, and my family is amazed at what comes out of there so quickly. Pot roast, chicken, our lamb and french bean stew...in the time you would boil pasta!

At some recent family gatherings, the ladies would congregate and swap stories, one of which was about their beloved crock pot. In only 8 hours, they would come home to a nice hot meal. That's all good but 8 hours? Not only is the pressure cooker faster, but it uses a heck of a lot less energy. 8 hours vs. 15 minutes. I mentioned this to the ladies. And they say,"Oh yeah, but I'm afraid of it." Aren't we all? Hell, if we can give birth, this is a cakewalk.

There are several good ones on the market. If you have an interest in an energy efficient way to cook your family a nice, healthy meal, this one is my choice.

Fagor Pressure Cookers. This is a great company out of Spain that makes good quality products. Go to www.fagorpressurecookers.com. Read more!

Does Your Child Drink their Bath Water?

I hope not, but mine does, and it drives me crazy! She acts like it's delicious but I think she just likes to irritate me (probably the latter.)Initially, my negativism was directed towards the dirt and germs that were washed off her and were now floating in the water. But then I started wondering about the cleanser used to clean the tub too. This is where the real harm is, and it became clear that an all-natural solution had to be found.

Lately, you can find a plethora of natural cleaning products and laundry detergents on the market, such as Method, and Seventh Generation. Or you may opt for the old fashioned method that is effective and economical, by using baking soda, vinegar, and lemons. I like using them in certain areas of the house like the kitchen, but in others, I feel like I need to bring in the big guns, so to speak. That's why I was so excited to find this revolutionary product called the Lotus Sanitizing System.

I first saw this product on "The Big Idea by Donny Deutsch." Essentially, this machine turns ordinary tap water into a chemical free sanitizer that kills microbes and removes toxins by super oxygenating it. It has several attachments, so your can either sanitize water for cleaning, or you can clean fruits and veggies from germs and surface pesticides, while increasing their shelf life. Additionally, there is a baby bottle attachment for sterilization, using the same process that hospitals use. During demonstrations, I have witnessed the removal of 10 year old carpet stains in seconds and the sterilization of counter tops after chopping raw poultry. Time Magazine awarded it 2006 Best Invention Award and sales are going through the roof.( Can I buy the stock?) This product retails somewhere around $149 and $199 depending on attachments and can be found online and through retailers like GaiamLiving.com.

This one is a great gift for a family with kids! Me likey!
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How Many Pesticides Make it to Your Thanksgiving Table?

Thanksgiving is my all time favorite holiday, and not just because it's a day of fabulous food, friends and family, but it's a great time for reflection. This year in particular, I will be giving thanks for my new found commitment to green living. After years of living blindly to the dangers that lurk in our food, our homes and the Earth, I finally realize that it is so important to the health of our families. Duh. I guess better late than never.

This year, we will be hosting the 1st Annual All Natural Organic Thanksgiving! Here are a few ideas for you to keep it chem-free.

Step 1: Order an Organic Bird. This can be done at a quality butcher shop, or even a local farm. If you want a really good one, based on a test of 9 turkeys conducted for the New York Times, buy an Eberley (also labeled D'Artagnan) certified organic or an Eberley (D'Artagnan) natural, which is similar except it's not fed organic grain. In taste tests, these turkeys ranked #1 and #2 hands down respectively vs. the other 7, which included a Butterball, a Bell and Evans, a kosher turkey and several wild birds. To order one, call 800-327-8246 and they will ship it right to you. It costs more than store bought, but this is one day to splurge. Or try IGourmet.com; they also offer organic turkeys.

Did you know the world famous Butterball brand is injected with the following: vegetable oil, water, salt, emulsifiers (mono- and diglycerides), sodium phosphate, annato color and artificial flavor. Is this supposed to be Thanksgiving or a high school chemistry experiment??

Not that I'm Giada de Laurentiis or anything, but I do highly recommend brining the bird the night before in a salt water mixture. This helps the turkey retain its moisture and tenderness. You can find many recipes using this technique at www.epicurious.com.

STEP 2: Organic Bread Stuffing. This is an easy one. Buy a few loaves of organic wheat bread ( or mixed varieties) and let them go stale. Not rock hard, just day old. Then cut off the crust and chop into bread cubes, add poultry seasoning, onions, celery, milk, stock or whatever you fancy and voila, fresh and natural dressing.

STEP 3: Haul yourself to the best organic market in your area or the local farmers market, if available. In my area, that is going to be Whole Foods. They have a wonderful selection of produce, and organic potatoes, both sweet and regular, should be on your list. Contrary to my own incorrect assumption, and according to the Environmental Working Group, 81% of potatoes were shown to have contained harmful pesticides, after peeling and washing. Here is a list of other Thanksgiving favorites, with the percentage of the sample that contained known pesticides, according to a study by the EWG:

Celery 94%
Carrots 81.7%
Green Beans 67.6%
Winter Squash 41%
Sweet Potatoes 58.4%
Cauliflower 84.6%
Spinach 70%
Lettuce 68.2%
Broccoli 28%
Frozen Peas- 23%

Not all veggies made it to the list, like my beloved brussel sprouts. But this list is fairly comprehensive. So shop accordingly.


Step 4: Dessert. I haven't found results on pumpkin, but I am confident that you can find a can of organic pumpkin puree at a good market, or use your old pumpkin off your stoop and hope it won't kill you. Based on the fact that you are only using the inner scrapings, my guess is that its not bad at all. Apples for that cobbler has a high concentration of pesticides also- 94%, and peaches 96%, strawberries 92% - but blueberries seem to be the big winner at 27%. Go figure. Or find an organic bakery and let them do some of the work!

I hope you found this information helpful. Enjoy the fruits of your labor, and be thankful for YOU- for putting out such a healthy and delicious meal!

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