Healthy Savings

Twice as Nice Holiday Gift Guide

2008-11-25T14:37:00.008-05:00

Give gifts that keep giving this year.. Check out these organizations for unique and globally conscience gifts.

Arbor Day
Help preserve the Rainforest with Rainforest grown coffee.

My Husband ordered this for me!

Give-A-Tree Cards: Every card you send helps bring America's National Forests back to life by planting a tree in honor of the recipient. $5.95 each

Heifer International
Help the less fortunate feed themselves with the gift of various livestock. Gifts start at $20 and go up.

UNICEF

Go to your local Hallmark store for this beautiful ornament called Joy For All, for $15.

Proceeds benefit children everywhere by providing them with food, vaccines, medical treatment, and clean water.

They also have holiday cards for UNICEF.

Hallmark:
You can also buy:
the Inspi(RED) heart ornament to benefit the Global Fund for AIDS for $15

the Angel's Prayer ornament to benefit the Sickle Cell Association of America for $16.50

the True Beauty ornament to benefit Cards for the Cure for $15

St. Jude's
Target is just one of the many offering gifts to benefit St. Jude's. They are offering everything from wrapping paper, to chocolates, to an ornament, and even holiday cards. 10% of the proceeds goes to St. Jude's to help children with serious illnesses.

Amnesty International
Check out their site for great gift ideas. I spotted some great tees for my family. They also have cards, stationary, scarves...the list goes on and on. Help Darfur and human rights everywhere by shopping with Amnesty.

Household Tips

2008-11-12T03:37:00.000-05:00

Here's a few eco-friendly tips from Better Homes and Gardens.

Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save you up to 8 gallons of water per day!

Choose towels made from organic cotton or rayon from bamboo. They are free of synthetic pesticides and earth friendly.

Need new counter tops? Choose counter tops made from recycled glass and concrete.

Replace one 75-watt incandescent bulb with a 25-watt CFL and save up to $83 over the life of the bulb.

Product Review: Concealer

2008-11-11T03:17:00.000-05:00

Since I have been replacing my toxic makeup for healthy ones, I decided to try out Physician's Formula. They have an organic line out that is free of toxic chemicals. My first test is concealer. They only have stick concealer, in a recyclable container, available.

It contains jojoba seed oil, sunflower seed oil and avocado oil to moisturize the skin. But the stick is difficult to use. You can't smear it or dot it on your skin. You have to rub the concealer on your finger and then dot it on your face. It is not easy to rub it on your finger, either!

The concealer also has a strange smell to it. It smells like old olive oil, but that dissipates quickly upon application. The coverage is ok, but I think I'll keep looking for a new concealer.

Product Review

2008-11-10T15:05:00.004-05:00

I have been searching for a new face lotion. It's difficult to find lotions that are fragrance free AND free of toxic chemicals. But I found this...

..and thought I would give it a try. It is fabulous! I had my husband try it and he also likes it. We both love the light weight formula. It absorbs quickly and my skin feels really soft.

Here's the product description:

Almond-Aloe Facial Moisturizer, Fragrance Free

This ultra-light, ultra-rich lotion combines the benefits of Beta-Liposomes (nature's most effective skin softeners, soothers, and moisturizers) with herbal emollients and anti-oxidants to help protect skin from premature aging and wrinkling. Apply as needed to face, neck and hands.

Give it a try for $8.50!

Hello

2008-11-10T15:04:00.001-05:00

Hello! I'm back. It's been a while due to moving and illness. But now I'm back to share more with you. I hope you haven't given up on me!

Sorry

2008-10-23T12:32:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. I am in the middle of a move and its been very time consuming. Saturday is the big day, so I hope to be posting next week.

Please check back next week for some great posts and a new giveaway will be coming up early November!!!

Green Halloween: Costumes

2008-10-12T11:01:00.000-04:00

If you're in need of a costume and would like to go green, consider the following:

Visit consignment shops
I was able to buy the accessories for my toddler's costume at a local shop. I saved money and reused someone else's gently used items. I saw tons of costumes that had only been worn once.

Visit the thrift store
You might be able to find costumes or acessories for your costume

Partcipating in a costume swap
My city is sponoring one and yours might be too. Everyone that attends can bring a gently worn costume to trade for someone else's or you can just purchase someone's for cheap.

Recycling

2008-10-11T10:50:00.002-04:00

As I was out and about today, I noticed someone had piled up several computer monitors next to their trash can. Computer monitors do NOT belong in the trash because they contain hazardous materials.

So I began to think....our these people ignorant to recycling e-waste or do they just not care?
I'm hoping for ignorance.

E-waste(AKA computers, microwaves, TVs, etc) should be disposed of properly. Visit here to find out how to responsibly take care of your e-waste.

If you're not sure how to recycle something or if it can be recycled, go here.

In the News

2008-10-01T16:51:00.002-04:00

Here's some of the headlines that I read today. Enjoy!

New Food Labels
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-01-food-labeling_N.htm?csp=34

Walmart to cut down on plastic bags
http://green.msn.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx?bid=666

The reviews are in on 11 Organic Cereals
http://green.msn.com/articles/article.aspx?preview=true&aid=655

Hot Dog Ban?
http://green.msn.com/articles/article.aspx?preview=true&aid=655

Vote Natural and Win!

2008-09-26T14:48:00.003-04:00

"You’ve probably already made some changes to support a better world. Things like recycling, conserving energy and buying organic food are simple steps we can all take to ensure the best for our families, our communities and the environment. Choosing natural personal care products is a natural next step in committing to living consciously.

Now you can make your commitment official by casting your vote for Natural at votefornatural.com! Prizes are:

One Grand Prize winner will receive $500 worth of Burt’s Bees® Products.

Twenty-five First Prize winners will each receive one "Vote for Natural" t-shirt autographed by Julianne Moore

One Hundred Second Prize winners will each receive one "Vote for Natural" t-shirt

Deadline is October 31st. So enter now!!!

Brought to you by Burt's Bees.

Green Halloween

2008-09-25T11:11:00.001-04:00

10 Tips for a More Environmentally Friendly Halloween From the Jax Zoo

1 Make Your Own Halloween Costume.
Instead of buying a new costume for your child this year, it might be time to dig through your closet and create a costume from some of your less recently worn clothing. Another idea is to visit a local thrift store for some more creative inspiration.

2 Use a Reusable Trick or Treat bag
Plastic bags may be inexpensive but they can take thousands of years to breakdown in a landfill. Consider instead a reusable treat bag. Turn it into a craft project by helping your child decorate their own canvas tote bag the night before or decorate an old pillowcase with fabric paint and felt.

3 Give Pencils or Stickers Instead of Candy
Rather than purchasing those jumbo sized bags of candy with their over abundant treat wrappers, give pencils, stickers, or another environmentally friendly treat instead. To make your treat extra special, give stickers that show endangered species or that have conservation messages. If you do decide to give candy, look for candy manufacturers that support environmental causes and conservation agencies or that use locally grown or organic ingredients.

4 Purchase Durable or Reusable Halloween Decorations
Purchase more heavy duty and durable Halloween decorations that can be reused from year to year. Avoid buying decorations that are made of paper or that will be quickly discarded after November 1.

5 Make Your Own Decorations
Make your own decorations to use around the house. Make a scare crow from old clothing or a ghost from an old white or light blue sheet. You can also make a grave yard from wood scraps or some left over garden fence. Get creative and see what other uses you can find for some of your discarded household supplies.

6 Use Reusable Plates and Utensils at Your Halloween Party
Consider using washable plates and utensils for your Halloween party instead of paper goods that will go directly into the trash.

7 Send Party Invitations by Email
Organize your party online by sending your invitations by email rather than sending paper invitations by mail. There are many great online tools that can help you to organize and send invitations to all of your friends. This will also save you money that you can use for other areas of your party.

8 Decorate with Seasonal Plants
Decorate your yard with seasonal plants or pumpkins for a more natural fall feeling. Sign up for a Garden Tour at the Zoo, held on the first Saturday of each month, to find out what plants will bloom in our hot Florida weather.

9 Make the Most of Your Halloween Pumpkin
Bake the seeds of your pumpkin for a yummy fall snack or decorate with whole pumpkins and then use the pumpkins for pies or other baked treats throughout the next month.

10 Choose One Location to Trick or Treat.
Conserve fuel by choosing one location to trick or treat at and then by walking through the neighborhood. Or Come to Spooktacular at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and have fun and collect treats while you walk the Zoo.

Yea Target!

2008-09-22T18:22:00.004-04:00

During a recent shopping trip at Target I discovered something. If you bring your own bag, you get a $.05 discount. I know that's not a lot, but it's better than nothing.

So Kudos to Target! I appreciate that they realize I am saving them money by not using their bags (while saving the planet) and are giving me that savings back.

Hello

2008-09-22T18:19:00.002-04:00

Sorry about the lack of posts. I had to take a break and deal with family things. We are in the middle of preparing for a move in October. So, I probably will have more breaks in my posts between now and then.

Item of the Week

2008-09-04T02:39:00.000-04:00

Introducing Sun Coat Natural Hair Styling Spray.......

This hair spray is alcohol free, PVP free, fragrance free and vegan. It's $11.99 for full size or $7.99 for travel sized. Visit Sun Coat Products to order. Check out their non-toxic makeup, too!

Gorgeously Green

2008-09-03T02:25:00.001-04:00

Sophie Uliano, author of Gorgeously Green, is sending a message. She wants people to be more aware with how are daily choices are impacting our bodies and our world. You can make postive changes without giving up the things you love or changing who you are. Her book is supposed to teach us how to be green AND gorgeous.

I'm going to be reading the book, Gorgeously Green this month. I will share with you the information that you need to live a healthier, greener lifestyle.

Not in My Cart

2008-09-02T14:11:00.002-04:00

Finally, our children's products should be safer. Thanks to all parents, activists and Not in My Cart; Congress has passed a new safety law. The law states that the US will:

Virtually ban lead and certain phthalates in children’s products. These chemicals can seep into children’s systems where they remain for life, and are linked to serious health problems and cancer.

Prevent deadly imports from entering our borders. More inspectors will be placed at ports, and recalled products will be banned from being shipped to other nations, where they often found their way back to U.S. store shelves.

Make sure toys and kids' products are certified safe and meet rigorous standards before we buy them. In the first four months of 2008 alone, CPSC has initiated 121 recalls of unsafe products, totaling nearly ten million products.

Increase the CPSC staff to 500 and hiking its budget over 50 percent during the next five years. The watchdogs get more teeth by hiking fines on violators from $5,000 to $100,000, with a maximum penalty of $15 million. Employees who blow the whistle on their crooked companies will be protected, and states will have the power to act quickly if new safety hazards arise.

Give shoppers better information about dangerous products more quickly. A public, searchable Web site will have information from consumers, hospitals and public safety agencies about injuries, illnesses and deaths related to products.

Good job to everyone that fought back, because of you we have a wonderful victory!

And the Winner is.....

2008-09-01T10:52:00.002-04:00

The winner of our August Giveaway is.... #17 Amy from Dallas.

Congrats! I'll be in touch and get this right out to you. I hope you love it.

A new giveaway will start in a few weeks, so keep you're eyes peeled!

Tea Tips

2008-08-31T10:54:00.001-04:00

Did you know that tea bags have other uses, besides drinking? Well I didn't. Laura Childs, author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, really opened my eyes!

Here's some ways to use your tea bags:

A tea bag can be an air freshener in your car. Just stick an unused tea bag in the air vent!

A used tea bag can be placed in your refrigerator or litter box to absorb odors.

Used tea bags, especially Chamomile, can be placed on puffy eyes to reduce swelling.

Use can use tea to dye fabrics like cotton.

Use can also compost your tea bags.

Eco-Friendly Invites

2008-08-30T11:52:00.000-04:00

Have a party coming up? Check out Evite. Evite offers loads of invitations in any category you can think of. The invitation is e-mailed to your guest and evite keeps track of who accepts. I love how organized this process is. I know who read the invite, replied or didn't reply.

It's so easy and saves you money on postage and paper invites. Plus, you're saving trees!!!

Crafty Corner

2008-08-28T01:55:00.000-04:00

If you need a new bath mat, here it is. You use left over fabric scraps or fat quarters to make this beautiful mat. Go here for step by step instructions.

I love this project! I will be making this one for both my bathrooms.

DIY Beauty

2008-08-27T01:24:00.001-04:00

With all the toxic ingredients out there, I love the idea of making my own stuff.

Here's how to make your own:

Lip Balm

Bath melts

Sugar Scrub

And, if you're brave enough, homemade deodorant.

Good luck!

Kitchen Clean Up Tips

2008-08-26T09:38:00.002-04:00

I'm always looking for great tips for cleaning the kitchen. I guess I'm just hoping to discover a way to have a self-cleaning kitchen! One day, it WILL happen, but that's probably a loooong way off.

I saw this article for quick kitchen cleaning tips and thought it offered great eco-ideas. Check it out and let me know what works for you.

Crafty Corner

2008-08-25T09:43:00.000-04:00

I found a cute craft that can be done with the kids. Daily Danny shows how he made Mr. Roboto. He think he's so cute! Just another great idea on reuse what would otherwise go to the landfill.

Tropical Storm Fay

2008-08-20T14:46:00.002-04:00

Greetings from the rain drenched state of Florida.

Since Fay is inching her way up to my neck of the woods, I'm going to power down. I'm not sure what the next 24 hours holds for me and my family. So I'll preparing for power outages and a possible evacuation (in case of tornado threats).

To all of you in storm free states, please pray for all of us. I hope this isn't the beginning of more threats to Florida. We're still recovering for the trauma of 4 years ago (5 hurricanes in less than 2 months).

I'll be back in a few days, barring any major power outages.

Trans Fat = Breast Cancer?

2008-08-19T13:41:00.003-04:00

According to a new study by the American Journal of Epidemiology, less trans fat equals less chance of developing breast cancer. The study's conclusion:

"A high level of trans fat, presumably reflecting a high intake of processed foods, is probably one factor contributing to increased risk of breast cancer in women. "

Translation:
Read your food AND ingredient labels. If you see hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated, put it back and walk away, even if it says trans fat free. Companies are allowed to claim trans fat free if it's less than .5 grams. All those .5 grams add up quickly!

Also check the nutrition handouts at your favorite fast food places. Arby's and Krispy Creme are loaded with trans fat heavy foods, but Chick fil A has healthy options.