Even though the end of July is near that doesn’t mean it is too late to do some spring cleaning! You can clean out much more than your closets to feel completely renewed and refreshed. Even though you have gotten rid of last years flip flops and some frayed towels try cleaning out your mental closet to get ready for a new greener healthier life.
Here are some quick tips to make your summer and self have greener:

1. The Summer is the perfect time to eat lighter and healthier! It’s too hot to cook heavy meals in the kitchen. You want to cook outside and keep yourself cool. Try sticking to local & organic fruits and vegetables if you can. When or if cooking meats find lean, organic meats for summer grilling. Try new things with your healthy diet to keep you interested and learning how to stay healthy. You can carry your summer healthy habits over into fall and winter with the more you know. Melissa’s Everyday Cooking with Organic Produce: A Guide to Easy-to-Make Dishes with Fresh Organic Fruits and Vegetables

2. Be Inspired! The warmer months inspire everyone to want to get into better shape. Take advantage of the warm weather by eating outside, going on walks, riding bikes, or going to the beach.   Enlist a friend for support. It is sometimes easier to stay motivated when you have some one to share your “thin-spirations” with. Start a routine by yourself and with a partner use the DVDs  and equipment that sit back of the closet collecting dust. The days are longer and the nights are perfect for evening swims or after dinner walks. Try 10 FREE at-home, online yoga classes. Yoga expert Rodney Yee guides your one-on-one practice through videos and podcasts!

3. Get involved! Again with this wonderful weather you are afforded the advantage of outside events. Children are off from school have a yard sale or bake sale. Get the block involved and have a summer block party for everyone to enjoy. Talk to local charities about helping with fundraising or volunteering. Talk neighbors and families about going on group day trips together. How about home wind turbines?

4. Clean out the crap! Go through your kitchen cabinets, pantry, refrigerator , freezer and donate or throw away anything that will not help keep you on your summer healthy track. Change curtains, wash rugs, open windows or grow some in door plants. Than clean your house from top to bottom. While doing this get rid of/donate anything you don’t need or haven’t used in the past 8 months or so.  If you cannot find a way to reuse any of these items there is no reason to hold on to them. Go to your locak Goodwill or drop box and donate!

5. Help your environment! Get your family to grow an organic garden to help you save money and eat healthier. Talk to your family about composting and collecting rain water. Learn about your environment by hiking, visiting parks, beaches or go camping. Use the time to observe your local environment, this way you can understand what it takes to keep your environment greener. Take the time to visit local farms, you can get excellent tips and ideas for your garden at home. Try to maximize your effort by keeping track of your carbon footprint.

6. Stay positive! Making any changes in life can sometimes be difficult. But holding on to what isn’t working for us won’t help either. Set goals for yourself in short and long time-frames, you don’t have change everything all at once but you want to stay motivated in the right direction. Make your own goal related affirmations to remind you of what you have done, where you are and want to be. Keep a journal of the entire process. Being negative doesn’t help you feel better ever, don’t waste your time with it. 160-Page Recycled Paper and Sugarcane Journal

Save up to 20% on hundreds of items during the Super Summer Savings Sale and Sweepstakes!

I realized that most of my pet picks have been for dogs & cats. I was leaving other fur-babies out!! I found this super cute tunnel that is completely green! Your little fuzzy can sleep in it, eat it and even reuse it if they just tear it apart!! Multi-functional and bio-degradable!! It’s green perfection for your little ones!!

Product Description:

Ingredients: High-fiber 100% Timothy Hay. Preservative and additive free.

SodaStream Home Soda Makers

So I am a huge water drinker. I need water with me 24/7. I bring bottles with me everywhere I go. My one green downfall is seltzer. I love seltzer. I need the bubbles. My sadness over all of the plastic bottles I would take to the recycling center forced me to find an alternative. I tried to go back to plain water but it just wasn’t the same. I had to find an answer to my seltzer issue and I did! SodaStream is a great way to make your own sparkeling water or soda at home! I’m not a fan of soda , it is too sweet for me but you do have quite a variety of flavors to choose from.

Ofcourse before I made any purchases I had to make sure they were really green. This is their corporate website http://www.sodastream.com/earthfriendly, this is just a portion of what they are trying to do:

SodaStream is an “Active Green” company. Our solution when used by consumers is actively saving CO2 footprint. The more the system is used on a daily basis, the more the user actively saves. This differs from “Passive Green” brands, which use green-friendly production processes, but their products are not inherently helping the consumer save on their daily footprint.

Because SodaStream uses water straight from the tap, the system makes traditional store-bought beverage bottles obsolete. That means, less plastic manufactured, less plastic waste and less transport of bottled beverages.

Globally, 206 billion liter of bottled water was consumed in 2008 (Zenith International Global Bottled Water Report, 2008); the energy required to make water bottles in the US only, is equivalent to 17 million of barrels of oil in 2008 (Container Recycling Institute, 2002); The bottle industry consumed 100 barrels of oil each year, excluding transportation.

According to the US Recycling Institute, more than 80% of bottles in the US do not get recycled and end their lives in landfills. Eliminating bottles in the US each year would be equivalent to taking 100,000 cars off the road and eliminating 1 million pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere.

We all know in a world of disposable that reusing is the way to go! We have reusable grocery bags, reusable eating utensils etc why not add a little fizzle to your drinking while helping decrease your carbon foot print!! Check SodaStream out!

Wabisabi Green Eco Art Pillows

I love decorating my new home and as I repeatedly mention I am trying one purchase at a time to “green it up” any way I can. Lately I have been lamenting over the fact that my bedroom isn’t up to par. I have been dreading buying new sheets, blankets and pillows because of the small zoo of animals that think my bedroom is their palace. I decided to get over it and begin the fun of decorating. I wanted to go all out this time and get the little things I never really thought to purchase before. Decorative pillows were high on this list. That is where I found these EcoArt Pillows by Wabisabi Green. Besides being hand printed with water based inks, using sustainably harvested kapok fiber or ecofibers from recycled plastic bottles it is also MADE IN THE USA! I love finding eco-products made right here at home. Not enough products are made in the USA anymore for a number of reasons but when I find them I make sure to keep a list! Check out Wabisabi Green today and see what they have to decorate your home!

Papyrus Lime/Slate EcoArt Pillow
A decorative green throw pillow hand printed with a stunning papyrus design.The modern Papyrus pillow available in a stylish lime/slate color combination provides a cheerful garden accent for your home.This design goes well with many the Branch, Frond and Rosette pillows.

Cover:
Soft organic cotton twill hand printed with environmentally safe water-based inks. The back cover is solid slate.

Insert:
100% hypoallergenic fill in unbleached cotton shell. Choose from luxurious silky organic kapok fiber sustainably harvested from the rain forest or soft and fluffy ecofiber made from recycled plastic bottles rescued from landfills. Designed, hand printed, and fabricated in the USA

Product Care:
Machine wash cold, gentle cycle. Tumble dry low. All pillows are constructed with a hidden zipper for easy removal and cleaning.

I know I wrote about a Method cleaning kit previously but this weekend while I was washing my dishes with my Method Cucumber scented dish soap I had to read the back lable. I am addicted to reading the backs of my products from ingredients, to fun facts to the company story. While reading the back of my dish soap I happened upon something that made me even happier that I use their products. IT WAS MADE IN THE USA!!!! I am still doing some research to see if all of the products are made in the USA but I know their dishsoap is! I have used Method’s laundry detergent, the hand soap, bathroom cleaner you name it. I am in love with their products. They are inexpensive and if you click below you can order your own Method Cleaning Kits. The Ultimate Green Store Green Cleaning. If you haven’t tried their products yet you should! Let me know how they worked out for you! Remember it is important to support companies they invest in supporting our environment and the USA!

Ingredients:
1 box whole wheat pasta (your favorite shape)
1 small can organic sliced ripe black olives
1/4 cup organic green pepper sliced
1/4 cup organic red bell pepper sliced
1/4 cup organic red onion, diced chopped
1/4 cup organic carrot chopped
1 oz. turkey pepperoni (optional)
1/4 cup organic uncooked broccoli chopped
1/4 cup organic uncooked cauliflower
1 tsp organic black pepper
1 tsp organic hot red pepper
1 tsp organic oregano
1 tsp organic parsley
1 tsp organic garlic powder
1 tsp organic basil
Organic White Balsamic Vinegar
Grated Parmesan Cheese
Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions:
Begin by boiling the pasta according to the boxes instructions. While the pasta cooks start chopping your peppers, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, olives & turkey pepperoni. After chopping all vegetables and pepperoni place in a large bowl. By this time the pasta should be ready to drain. Make sure the pasta is drained completely, then add the pasta to the bowl and mix. You can add some olive oil at this time to make everything mix smoothly. Also add a small amount of the vinegar as well so the taste has time to set in.
Now begin to add the basil, parsley, garlic powder, oregano, hot red pepper & black pepper. Mix thoroughly and add a little more olive oil and more vinegar. You don’t want to add too much vinegar because it can make the salad soggy while you let it sit and cool. You can always add more vinegar later to give it more taste. Place in refrigerator and let cool for 30 minutes minimum. When you are ready to serve you can add more vinegar if you need to add more for taste. Then mix in the parmesan cheese and sprinkle some on the top before serving.

It has been a while since I have posted any items Made in the USA. I decided to go on the hunt! I am always looking for furniture that is sustainable which is how I happened across this little beauty!
Oompa’s side board storage unit is perfect for children or college students. It is easy to assemble and
Description:
Assembles in seconds with Ecotot’s patented, no-tools assembly method. Ideal for bedrooms, playrooms, or living rooms. Available in an assortment of colors; seen here in fiery red.
Attributes:
100% FSC Wood Rainforest Alliance Certified
100% formaldehyde-free birch plywood SmartWood
Eco-friendly, non-toxic, water-based stains
UV cured finishes minimize greenhouse gases
No tools or hardware required
All materials sourced in North America
Wholly designed and manufactured in USA
Ecotots is a Member of the SFC (Sustainable Furniture Council)
W 39 x D 23 x H 22.5 in.

Ingredients

* 1 package organic cherry tomatoes
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 3 cloves minced organic garlic
* 1/2 chopped organic onion
* 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
* 1 table spoon organic sweet basil
* 1/4 teaspoon organic sea salt
* 1/4 tablespoon organic fresh ground black pepper
* 1 tablespoon organic dried parsley

Directions

Cut the cherry tomatoes in half or thirds if they are big enough. Make sure the tomatoes are not too ripe, that can get messy. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, garlic, onion, parsley, olive oil, basil, salt, and pepper. Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes in the refrigerator. Then add the vinegar. Not too much to start because you want the mixture to not be very watery. Add the remaining vinegar to the mixture about 15 minutes before you are ready to serve. You can also chop up fresh mozzarella to add to the salad when you are ready to serve. This salad can also double as bruschetta.

I have sensitive skin that constantly gets dry if I wash my face too much then I break out if I lotion my face at all. This, as you can imagine, is extremely frustrating in summer when I get a tan or burn or during the winter in the cold and wind. I am not a fan of just any cleanser and prefer to use the most eco-friendly products I can seek out. After some research I found Lily Organics Nourishing Facial Cleanser.

Lily’s Description
Perfect for daily use. Our non-detergent, emollient cleanser leaves the skin fresh, clean and balanced. It is made with our homemade soap consisting of Almond Oil and Essential Oil of Sage for cleansing and toning, plus Tea Tree Oil for its antiseptic qualities. Lavender is added to refresh and soothe your skin. Especially useful for normal to dry skin types. For all skin types; including sensitive. Apply a small amount to wet or dry face, gently massage and rinse with lukewarm water. Use with cotton ball or pad for a facial make-up remover (except eye make-up). Can also be used as a hand and body cleanser.
Lily’s Ingredients
(VEGAN) Lily’s homemade almond oil soap, Lily flower extract, kosher vegetable glycerin, Irish moss, witch hazel, lemon juice, essential oils of lavender, sage, tea tree oil, rosemary, camphor, and vitamin E.

After using this for a week I didn’t have any dry patches! My skin felt clean with out the some times harsh tingle of other skin care products. Also the smell and texture of this cleanser was amazing. The cleanser has a soft and silky. Many cleansers feel harsh and sting for me anyway which I thought meant it was working. This was cool and calming. I think I have become a life long user of Lily Organics because after using this cleanser and a few other products. After reading the book the Beauty, Health & Happiness, A Way of Life Lily I was inspired to take a closer look at what I put on and in my body in a way I never have before. I get excited when I find green products made by real green people. I appreciate she shared her experiences in her decision to become green. Her products reflect that along with the hard times that many of us face on our journey to be socially and environmentally responsible. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again we need to support companies that aren’t just green washing but have their actual beliefs invested in their products and companies. It is extremely important.

I have mentioned Ecoist before because after having one of their bags that I and everyone who sees it loves, I feel its necessary to mention them again! I love their stuff!!! I was browsing their site to see what new Ecoist design I NEEDED and right in there WHAT’S NEW section I saw placemats!! These placemats are the perfect addition to your home! They are made from recycled Doritos bags and are reversible!!! You can flip them over for a different color to match your dining theme!

The placemat is:
* reversible – each side is different
* water resistant
* easily cleans with a damp cloth
* handmade in Peru. Fair Trade

Check out the Ecoist today you won’t be disappointed!! They have bags, clutches, necklaces, cuffs, bracelets and now placemats and chip bowls!!!!! I cannot wait to get them!! Let me know if you do!