Licking My Lips: Dark Chocolate Orange Lip Balm from KokoKahn

I can’t keep this stuff on my lips! It is so delicious I keep licking it right off. Thank goodness it is natural, safe and full of organic ingredients and not any petroleum by-products.

The Dark Chocolate Orange lip balm by Kokokahn has to be one of the best tasting lip balms I have ever used. At one time I never would have believed that orange and chocolate was a tasty flavor combination but since trying it, it’s almost up there with chocolate and raspberry which is my most favorite flavor combo.

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The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Greening Your Business

Here’s a book businesses should take a look at. Whether they are big or small any business could use a green makeover, even in this tough economy. Better yet, they could do a green makeover because of the economy.

Many people do not realize that going green isn’t just about replacing everything with something greener, in fact many times going green can help cut costs, save energy, and save money. So businesses that go green save green and often end up making more green because of it.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Greening Your Business by Trish Riley and Heather Gardonniex is a valuable book business owners should invest in.

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Badger Balms Offer Quality, Nostalgia and the Green Products You Want

When you were young did your parents, or maybe grandparents, have those tins of strange vapor rub like goo they called balms or maybe salves?

My grandma had them for all sorts of things, from muscle rubs and arthritis relief to remedies for colds and flu.

Those are what Badger Balms kinda remind me of, though they smell and feel much better than those old metal tins full of questionable balms and salves. But they remind me of my grandma and give me that nostalgic feeling of comfort.

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Get ready for an EEK-O-friendly Halloween (Part 2)

When it comes to decor, Halloween lines right up after Christmas. Americans spend $1.5 billion decking their homes with the latest in ghosts and goblins, much of it tossed when the holiday is over.

In reality, there is no need to purchase decor. This is a definite area of want. And while we know that most people are short on cash this year, many will still want to make some purchases.

If you're one of those, keep these ideas in mind while spending green to celebrate green.

Buy less. Whatever your budget, cut it by 25%. Will anyone really miss that life sized witch among all the other yard decor?

Buy what will last. Dollar stores do offer great bargains. But poor quality items are likely to end up in the landfill. Better to spend a bit more on fewer items that can become a part of your holiday tradition. Be sure to wrap carefully after October 31, to preserve for the future.

Look for local and handmade items, especially those produced from recycled/recyclable or sustainable materials. Check for local artists through http://www.etsy.com/

A great solution to the decor challenge is to go DIY (do-it-yourself), preferably using materials you already have on hand, can secure via swap or, best of all, select from nature. This is the perfect time of year to pull together items from nuts to branches to leaves and use them to brighten your home (see activities below). If you feel challenged when coming up with ideas, of course the internet is an incredible resource. Just do a search for "recycled Halloween crafts."

Here are a few to get you started:

Wonderful ideas from Value Village including a t-shirt wreath and ghoulish goblets

Use recyled light bulbs to make pumpkins. You could hang these in a row or fill a basket on a table with them. Make a stand for each one and use to hold placecards.

Make this glass jug jack-o-lantern if you happen to have an old jug on hand.

Grab your tent pole sticks and make this scarecrow.

Goodie buckets can be used for trick-or-treating, but also for decor. Make several for your table and add branches with colorful leaves or berries.

Got extra clay pots? Make a scarecrow for the center of your table.

When it comes to table decor, simply bringing in a selection of natural items and arranging them in containers or even directly on the table, can create a stunning tableau. Best of all, everything can (and should) be returned to where you found it for totally wastefree decor.

If you're itching to purchase new lighting, look for LEDs or solar. (Get rid of the old ones by recycling them through http://www.holidayleds.com/.

Bonus craft: Shadow box picture frame chandelier

Here's a project that's easy to assemble, but packs plenty of punch.

Gather:

Shadow box picture frame or any frame that is deep enough for you to place items on the glass without them sliding off.

Leaves, moss (if you are taking moss from nature, be sure it is not in an ecologically sensitive area), whole acorns, acorn caps, small pinecones

Glue

4 screw eyes

Wire, ribbon, rope or whatever you have on hand for hanging

Directions:

Remove all backing from picture frame.

Turn frame over so glass rests on bottom.

Screw one screw eye as close to each corner as possible while avoiding the area where the two sides meet.

Randomly glue items like the acorns etc. to the frame. Use as many or few as you like.

Glue on moss.

Decide how low you want to hang the chandelier, then cut four pieces of wire to that length plus a few inches.

Feed each length of wire through a screw eye, then secure it by winding the wire around itself.

Bring the four lengths of wire together in the middle so that the chandelier is balanced. If you have a round item like a nut, you can wind the wires through that to secure. Be sure whatever you use has a large enough opening to hang from a hook in the ceiling.

Fill with leaves, acorns, candles (in holders), small pumpkins or whatever you like.

Note: If you prefer, make without screw eyes and wire and simply place in the center of your table.

Of course, when it comes to Halloween activities, trick-or-treat can't be beat.

But for parents who are green-leaning, this traditional activity presents challenges. They don't want their kids to miss out on the fun, but neither do they want them eating all the candy. If you're facing this conundrum, you might want to consider inviting the Halloween Fairy/Witch to your home.

Eco-friendly activities before and after the holiday can engage your kids and help them learn about green issues as well.

For instance:

Visit an organic farm/orchard to select a pumpkin or pick apples and talk to the farmer about how veggies and fruits are raised.

Spend an hour outside, hunting for decor. Be sure you have permission before taking items from nature, especially from parks or any ecologically sensitive area. Once you bring the items home, have each child make a special item for the table. Rotate the items during the week preceding Halloween.

Roll beeswax candles for pumpkins or other displays.

Do craft activities as a family each day leading up to Halloween.

Try out new recipes for Halloween menus. If you're hosting a Halloween party, making something to eat is can be a central activity and the resulting treat can be taken home as a party favor (if the kids can wait to eat it!).

~Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net

Organic Eco Lips

Always on the quest for all natural and organic goodies I stumbled across Eco Lips recently. They have a variety of organic lip balms- from pure and simple balms to eco tints.

They have Vegan bee free lip balms that are 70% organic but use no beeswax, hempseed oil Eco Lips that are 98% organic, medicinal Eco Lips with lysine to help heal cold sores, SPF sport lip balms, and more. Something for any of your lip needs.

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Tips for a Green Halloween from the Authors of Celebrate Green

Get ready for an EEK-O-friendly Halloween (Part 1)

Halloween should be fun, but every year it gets scarier--for parents and the planet. From the discovery of lead in fake teeth and candy, to chemicals in costumes, to the garbage left in the holiday's wake, it's a wonder more of us haven't given up the festivities and spent October 31 watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

The good news is, there are loads of child- and earth-friendly alternatives to the usual Halloween fare.

The most important point when planning to green up any holiday or celebration, especially those involving children, is to get their "buy-in." And of course, your approach makes all the difference. Telling kids, "We're going green this Halloween--that means, no candy," isn't helpful. What can be is a discussion about the challenges that Halloween brings. Obviously, what you say (or don't), depends on the age of your children. But helping them to see the wider ramifications of their actions can help make transitioning to healthier choices more appealing or at least understandable.

Many kids are learning about eco-issues in school. They often want to do something about them, but need guidance on where to begin. Talking to them about the excess and waste associated with Halloween (and all holidays and celebrations) and discussing how they can make a difference, may spark their altruism and inspire them to act in positive ways.

A great way to start a discussion is to list each aspect of Halloween (costumes, treats, decor and activities), and brainstorm child- and earth-friendly choices to what you've done in the past. Then, encourage your kids to choose one or two of the ideas to implement this year. After Halloween, talk about what worked, what didn't and what you'll do next year.

Costumes

In the "olden days," (the eighties?), many kids made their costumes, often with help from parents. Making the costume was actually an enjoyable, bonding activity. Today, millions of people spend millions of dollars on costumes that are made from non-sustainable materials (like petroleum), that are worn once, then discarded.

But there are earth-friendlier alternatives. If you usually buy costumes, consider:

Making them. Kids are incredibly gifted and creative when we encourage them. There are almost no costumes that cannot be handmade. If your children are stuck on turning a popular TV or movie character into a costume, brainstorm how you can make it happen with items you already own or can get at no cost by borrowing or making. Be sure to check online for ideas.

Purchasing costumes made from more eco-friendly materials or at least not from plastics. Choose cotton, organic cotton, silk or hemp, for instance. Unfortunately, these alternatives are not yet widely available, but if you're interested in them, ask local stores to consider carrying them next year. And check at the end of this post for some great online sources.

Trading them. Arrange a costume swap with neighbors, check online at swap sites like Green Halloween, or see if you can interest a local child-focused organization in sponsoring a swap.

When Halloween is over, don't throw costumes away. Save them, dismantle and hold on to the "parts," trade or take them to a thrift store.

Treats and treasures

Halloween may be all about the treats, but happily, there are great alternatives that kids, when given the option, will happily embrace. You can't do much about the sweets your children receive on their foray around the neighborhood (although you can have the "Halloween Fairy" replace the confections with a wonderful gift when the children are brushing their teeth...shhhh...), but when it comes to what your family hands out, planning ahead so that you are not making a last-minute dash to the grocery store, will help you avoid limiting choices to what's on the shelves at the moment.

If you have a local natural foods store, check out their offerings. Take your kids along and choose a few items to sample if you don't normally shop there. Honey sticks are a favorite and are very inexpensive (never give honey to children under age 2). Many natural food companies make small "bars" in flavors kids love like peanut butter and chocolate. Assuming you have the time to order online, check out http://www.greenhalloween.org/ for dozens of alternatives.

One issue that often comes up when discussing organic or green choices is cost. While it is true that many healthier items cost more, there is a simple solution.

Instead of handing out fistfuls (or allowing kids to take as much as they want, which has become the norm), try this:

Fill a bowl with a variety of great choices, whether sweets or "treasures" like sparkly stones, feathers (yes, kids love these), hair decorations, temporary tatoos, stickers etc.

Cover the bowl with a cloth.

When children come to the door, get down to their level and whisper, "At our house, we have some very, very special treats and treasures. You may now choose your favorite." Then with a flourish, whip off the cloth and let them sift. Compliment them on their choice afterwards.

If you're not yet ready to totally embrace greener treats and treasures you can still help cut down on expense and waste by choosing one of these options:

Put out two bowls, one with conventional candy, the other with "treasures." Let kids choose one item from either bowl.

Hand children whatever you are giving them. Do not allow them to take as much as they want.

Let older children know that unwrapped candy can be composted.

Whatever you do this Halloween, taking time to plan and implement will make the holiday a lot less spooky!

Eco tips for a green Halloween

Plan, plan, plan. Sit down and talk about what you need to buy or make, then schedule time to do it prior to the night before Halloween.

Get your local school involved. For instance, see if they'd like to host a candy composting party. Children bring in leftover candy, unwrap it and place it in a compost bin. They can be rewarded with a healthy alternative treat or treasure (see above).

Talk to your neighbors and friends about offering healthier, more earth-friendlier alternatives.
Older kids might enjoy reverse trick or treating. Check it out here.

Plan a neighborhood Halloween party with likeminded parents. You can control all aspects of the event so it is as eco-friendly as you want.

Eco picks for a green Halloween

Costume ideas:

Organic cotton costumes for "wee ones" can be assembled by pairing themed onesies and caps. (Try Kee-Ka's pumpkin body suit with Under The Nile's veggie cap.)

Sarah's Silks, Nova Natural, A Toy Garden and Magic Cabin sell costumes made out of silk, rather than petroleum. While these are more expensive than others, they can be used for years for dress up and kids adore them.

Check out BoxWorks' ingenious new templates for making costumes out of old cardboard boxes.

Treats and Treasures

Snack bars such as LARABAR, Cascadian Farm

100% honey sticks DON'T GIVE HONEY TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 2

Glee Gum "minis" or other individually wrapped small gums

Spooky S'mores Clif Kid's Organic ZBar

Organic licorice bars, rope, and gum, (cut into pieces), by Tundra Trading

Adhesive "bandages" with pirate, black cat and other fun themes (one per child. Great for older kids!)

Coins (US or non-US)

Confetti-biodegradable, water-soluble

Cookie cutters - mini

Cootie Catcher Note Cards (one card per child)

Crayon "rocks" (soy-based)

(I personally love YummyEarth organic lollipops, gummy bears and hard candies ~WN)

~Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net

Craft Green with Earth Safe Finishes

I found an awesome new company I can’t wait to try out, Earth Safe Finishes.

Instead of finding one eco-product here and one there, Earth Safe Finishes has paints, stains, sealers, varnishes, waxes, glazes and even fabric dyes…all in eco-friendly formulas.

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5 Tips for a Green Halloween from Ally Maize

Here's a spooky Halloween fact: Consumers spent $1.4 billion on Halloween decorations in 2007, including everything from plastic ornaments to throw-away utensils. As the 2nd biggest holiday for decorating after Christmas, Halloween negatively impacts the environment by generating a lot of waste.

17 year old Ally Maize, LA's resident "green" teen and founder of local nonprofit, the Green Youth Movement, is urging communities to reduce their environmental impact this Halloween with some simple, easy-to-do tips.

Here are a few things that Ally, along with the help of GreenHalloween.org, is doing to ensure every step of her Halloween preparations are "eek-o" friendly:

Top 5 Tips for a Green Halloween:

1. Shop your friends' closets. Costumes are half the fun in Halloween. Instead of heading to the mall to find new costumes, get creative and reduce your environmental impact by hosting a fun costume swap meet with your friends to trade and borrow threads from Halloweens past.

2. DIY (Do It Yourself). Give your Halloween festivities a personal spin and make your own decorations and treats. Acorns, pumpkins, and apples are great for "Hallogreen®"-friendly embellishments and make less of an environmental impact than store-bought decorations. You can even make your own natural face paint from corn starch, water, and organic food coloring!

3. Offer environmentally and socially responsible treats. Make a true green statement this year by handing out environmentally and socially responsible treats, like fair trade certified chocolate, raw honey and/or agave sticks, and organic fruit roll-ups. Better for the planet, better for the community, and better for you.

4. Recycle. Before you head to the store to buy Halloween supplies, take stock of what you already have. Everyday household items can be cleverly recycled into spook-worthy decorations. For example, pillow cases, table cloths, brooms and cans lying around the house are great for turning into Halloween ornaments. If you don't have the items you're looking for, head to a local thrift store - one man's trash is another man's treasure!

5. Use reusable bags for trick-or-treating. When you head out the door to trick-or-treat, opt for reusable grocery bags or pillow cases as an environmentally-conscious alternative to wasteful plastic/paper bags. They're also likely to hold more candy!

For more information on how to reduce your environmental impact beyond Halloween, go to http://www.greenyouthmovement.org/.

CitiBlocs: The New Classic Building Block

Crafty creators, budding builders, future architects…my children. Give them something to stack and build and they are ecstatic. From towers to barns to creative works of art, they love to make amazing things.

This new set of CitiBlocs has opened a whole new world to them as little builders.

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Liquid Nails Home Projects Repair Adhesive is Greenguard Certified

Liquid Nails Home Projects Repair Adhesive is GREENGUARD Children and Schools certified which basically boils down to it is very low in VOCs, has a mild odor odor and contains very minute amounts (if any) of hazardous materials like formaldehyde and phthaltes which makes it generally safer and less toxic to use than most adhesives.

Now it is not the whole line of Liquid Nails products that are now GREENGUARD certified just the Home Projects Repair Adhesive.

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All Natural Cosmetics: The Place To Get Eco-Friendly Make Up

I love my make up, I really do. I am a girlie girl when it comes to cosmetics. I love eyeliner, mascara, lipstick and of course my foundations and powders.

I’ve been greening my cosmetics one step at a time to test new products, see what works and what doesn’t freak my skin out. It is a journey. So far I’ve found the most fabulous lip balms and lipsticks. I even found a couple of mineral and organic foundations that I love but the perfect pressed powder has not been chosen yet.

However I have found an online store that has EVERYTHING. I can scroll through and search and find whatever I need in natural cosmetics and skincare at All Natural Cosmetics.

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